(1.) Labour personally, eveiy one of you, to get Christ in your own hearts. I am very far from thinking that a man may not be lawfully called to magistracy, if he be not a believer; or that, being called, he should be impeded in the execution of his trust and place because he is not so. I shall not suspend my obedience whilst I inquire after my lawful governor's conversion ; but yet this I say, considering that I cannot much value any good, but what comes in by the way of pro- mise, I confess I can have no great expectation from them whom Got) loves not, delights not in. If any be otherwise minded, I shall not contend with him; but for this I will contend with all the world, that
THE GLORY OF A NATION. 467
it is youi- duty to labour to assure Christ in your 0"\\ti hearts, even that you may be the better fitted for the work of God in the woild. It is tlie promise of God to Zion, tliat " her oiSficers shall be peace, and her exactors righteousness," Isa. Ix. 17; and then shall she call her " walls Salvation, and her gates Praise," verse 18. It will be little ad- vantage to any, to have the work of God raised in the world, and not to have the foundation-stone laid in their hearts. If there should be in any of you an enmity unto Christ and the power of godliness, — a hatred and contempt of the people of God, — an evil heart of unbelief, — an evil course of life, worldliness, oppression, vanity of mind, etc., — would it advantage you to be intrusted with power in these nations? Would it not hasten your destruction, and increase your account? It is a noble promise that we have, Isa. xxxii. 17, "And the work of righ- teousness shall be peace ; and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever." It is a gospel righteousness that is spoken of; and that not of tlie cause as such only, but of the persons. The per- sons being righteous, and that with the righteousness of Christ, the effects mentioned shall follow their righteous undertakings. We have peace now, outward peace; but, alas I we have not quietness; and if any thing may be done that may give us quietness, yet, perhaps, we may not have assurance. We may be quickly shaken again ; but when the righteous»ess of the persons and cause meet, ail the rest will follow.
(2.) Set yourselves to oppose that overfioiving flood of profane- ness, and opposition to the power of godliness, that is spreading itself over this nation. Know you not that the nation begins to be over- whelmed by the pourings out of a profane, wicked, carnal spirit, full of rage, and contempt of all the work of reformation that has been attempted amongst us ? Do you not know that if the former profane principle should prove predominant in this nation, that it will quickly return to its former station and condition, and that with the price of your dearest blood ? And yet, is there not already such a visible prevalency of it, that in many places the very profession of religion is become a scorn ; and in others, those old forms and ways taken up with greediness, which are a badge of apostasy from all former en- gagements and actings ? And are not these sad evidences of the Lord's departing from us ? If I should lay before you a comparison betvv^een the degrees of tlie appearances of the glory of God in this nation, the steps whereby it came forth, and those whereby it seems almost to be depai-ting, it would be a matter of admiration and lamen- tation. I pray God we lose not our ground faster than we won it. Were our hearts kept up to our good old principles on which we first engaged, it woidd not be so with us ; but innumerable evils have laid hold upon us ; and the temptations of these days have made us a
4G8 A GOSPEL PROFESSION
woful piey. Gray hairs are here and there, and it will be no wonder if our ruin sliovild come with more s[>eed than did our deliverance. Oh, then, set yourselves in the gap ! by all ways and means oppose the gi'owth of an evil, profane, common, malignant spirit amongst us. But I haste.
(3.) Value, encourage, and close with them in and with ivhoin is this presence of Christ. They are the glory of the nation ; its peace, safety, and prosperity will be found wrapped up in them. I know there lie divers considei-able objections against the practice of this duty. I shall name some few of them, and leave the exhortation unto your consideration : — -
[1.] Who are tliose persons in whom is this presence of Christ ? Are they such as profess indeed religion, but neglect all rules of righteousness I — that would ])e accounted godly, but care not to be honest, — the marks of whose miscarriages are written on their fore- heads? Are not these so far from being the glory, that they are the shame of any nation ? I pray give me leave to endeavour the rolling . away of this great stone of offence, in these few ensuing considera- tions:—