(1.) Wherever you see any work of real reformation, tending to the advancement of the gospel, discarding of old useless forms received by tradition from our fathers, separating the precious from the vile, according to the several measures of light which God, in his infinite
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wisdom, liath graciously imparted, let not needless objections and hiuderances lie in the way, but give in all due encouragements to the men of such engagements. Perhaps the business of carrying on reformation is grievous to some, who, in their anger and wrath, re- venge and disappointment, may make complaints of it to you, in pri- vate or in public. The Lord give you wisdom, that you may never weaken the hands or sadden the hearts of men who are willing to join hearts and hands with you to save a poor nation, and to keep life in the work of God in the midst thereof!
(2.) What you find established already in this kind, encourage, preserve, imj)rove, that the work fail not.
(3.) Find out what is wanting, and pursue it as God gives you advantage and opportunity.
(4.) Where men, under pretence of religion, make it their business to defile themselves, or disturb the civil peace and quiet of others, let them know that the sword is not borne in vain. I can but name these things.
Honourable I — -My heart's desire and prayer to God for you is, that you may be the repairers of breaches, and the restorers of paths for men to walk in ; that you may be the preservers of the good old cause of England, according to the growth it received in and "under several providential dispensations. Many particulars lie in my heart to pro- pose unto you ; but, on very many considerations, I shall name none at present of them, but close all with some few general dhections.
[1.] Secure your spirits, that in sincerity you seek the public good of the nations, and the prosperity of the good people therein, who have adhered to the good cause of liberty and religion. If this be in your eye as that which is principally intended, as you may pray in faith for the presence of God with you, and have a comfortable ex- pectation of his protection and favour; so if, in the pursuit of it, through human frailty you should err, or mistake in the choice of means, paths, ways, tending to that end, God will guide you, and lead you, and not leave you until he hath made straight paths for your feet. But if at the bottom there lie secret animosities, self-will, de- sire of obtaining greatness or power, on the one hand or other, — if every such thing be not on all hands subdued unto pul^lic good, — prayers will be weakened, carnal Avisdom increased, the counsel of God rejected, and you will wander in all your ways without success.
[2.] Keep alive this principle (which whether any will hear, or whether any will forbear, I know not; but this I am sure of, in the latter end it will be found to be true), according as you regard, cleave to, promote, protect, on the one side, or despise, contemn, and op- pose, on the other, the common interest of Zion, the people of God, before laid down ; so will your affairs either flemish, prosper, and sue-
426 god's WOllK IN FOUNDING ZION.
ceed, on the one hand, or wither, decay, and be fruitless, on the other. In all other things that shall fall under your consideration, that re- late to the civil government of the nations, prudence, conjecture, probabihty, consideration of circumstances, and the present posture of things, may take place ; — this is capable of no framing to the one hand or other, upon any pretence whatever.
[o.] If it be possible, keep up a spirit of love and forbearance among yourselves; "love thinketh no evil." Do not impose de- signs on one another, and then interpret every thing that is spoken, though in never so much sincerity and simplicity of spirit, in a pro- portion to that design; — this will turn judgment into ivornnuood, and truth into hemlock.
SERMON XL
GOD'S PRESENCE WITH A PEOPLE THE SPEING OF THETK PROSPERITY;
WITU
THEIR SPECIAL INTEREST IN ABIDING WITH HIM.
PREFATORY NOTE.
Before the same Parliament to which the last discourse was delivered, Dr Owen made a similar appearance on October 30, 1656. The close of the sermon gives a vivid picture of the religious state of Wales. We have seen that, in the first sermon he ever preached before Parliament, lie took the opportunity of urging the necessity of some measures for promoting education and religion in that part of Britain. The circumstance that he was descended from a Welsh family, may account for the special interest which he evinced in the religious welfare of Wales. Great religions destitution jirevailed in it. The AVelsh at this time had neither Bibles nor Catechisms, and had scarcely sermon four times in the year. In 1649 an act was passed for the better propagation of tlie gospel, and the ejection of scandalous clergymen, in Wales. From the report of the commissioners in 1652, one hundred and seventy-five ministers had lieen ejected since 1645. Through the exertions of Parliament, one hundred and fifty preachers were appointed to offi- ciate in thirteen Welsh counties; whose zeal in their duties may be judged of from the fact, that most of them preached three or four days every week. A schoolmaster was appointed for every market-town; and two of superior qualifi- cations, educated at the university, were supported in all the larger towns. In addition to all this agency, six itinerant preachers were appointed for each county, at an allowance of £100; these were aided by the services of thirty-two minis- ters; and as all these arrangements were insufficient to meet the necessities of the case, pious laymen travelled through the counties, and conducted public devotio- • in the presence of the people. The first sermon of Owen had, accordingly, borne ample fruit. Wliitelocke tells us, tliat in 1649 every Friday was devoted by l^lrliamcnt to the purpose of consulting in regard to the si)read and maintenance of religion. These facts deserve to be known to their credit, as evincing a lively and zealous interest in the highest welfare of the peojile, whatever view nuiy be taken of the duty or competency of the state to make such provision for the sup- jiort of the gospel and the spiritual enlightenment of a nation. Fur full details on these i)oints, the reader may be referred to Neal, vol. iv. jip. 14 and 104, and till' publications of the llev. Vavasor Powell, one of the commissioners, in defence of their proceedings. — Ed.