Is^, Then, I shall willingly lay this down for a principle, that he is not religious who is not also righteous; as also, I shall not much value his righteousness who is not religious. He that is righteous doth righteousness ; he doth so, in the bent of his spirit, and course of his ways and walkings. If a man hefroivard, heady, high-minded, sensual, unjust, oppressive, worldly, self-seeking, a hater of good men, false, treacherous, let him pretend to wdiat he will, that man's religion is in vain ; he may have a form of godliness, but he hath not the power of it. This principle we shall agree upon.
2dly, There have been, in the days wherein we live, many false jyrofessors, hypocrites, that have thought gain to be godliness; by reason of whose wicked lives, ways, and w^alking, the name of God hath been evil spoken of. And woe to them by whom those offences are come! — but yet, also, woe to the world because of offences! If these offences turn off men from an esteem of the remnant of Christ, in whom is his presence, woe to them also ! I acknowledge, these days have aboimded with offences; but woe to them who are turned aside l)y them from owning the portion and inheritance of Christ!
:klly. It cannot be denied, but that many of them who do belong unto Christ have wofuily miscarried in these daya " O tell it not in Gath, publish it not in Askelon!" O that om- souls could mourn in secret on that account! that we could go backward, and cover the nakedness and ioWy of one another! But, alas! this liath been far from being our frame of spirit! We have every one spread the fail- ings of his brother before the face of men and de\ ik But yet, not-
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THE GLORY OF A NATION. 469
withstanding these miscarriages, those that are the people of Christ are his people still ; and he loves them still, whether we will or no ; — and commonly, those who are least able to bear with the miscarriasfes of others, have most of their own.
4:thly, That differences oi judgments, in civil affairs or church mat- ters, ought not presently to be made argiraients of men not being righteous. Some men think that none are righteous that are not of their principles ; than which principle there is nothing more unrigh- teous. Let men that differ from them walk never so holily, profess never so strictly, yet, if they are not of their mind, they are not righ- teous ! If men are offended on such accounts, it is because they will be so.
bthly, This hath ever been the way of the men of the world ; that when any have been unblamable and zealous upon the account of religion, they will attempt their reputation, though without any gTound or colour, upon the account of righteousness. So suffered the Christians of old; and so the Puritans of former days; — unjustly and falsely, as God will judge and declare. The world, then, in this mat- ter, is not to be believed ; the common reports of it are from the devil, the accuser of the brethren, who accuses them in the same manner before God night and day. These are but pretences, whereby men, ignorant of the mystery of the gospel and the power of grace, harden themselves to their ruin.
Qthly, This remnant of Christ, with whom his presence is, who are the glory of a nation, is to be found only amongst the professors of a nation. For, although of those who are professors there may be many bad, yet of those that are not professors there is not one good. Where there is faith there will be a profession. If I should not know well where to find them, I am sure I know where I cannot find them. I cannot find them in the ways of the world, and conformity to it ; in darkness, ignorance, neglect of duty, and utter unaccpiaintedness with gospel truths, — the gifts and graces of the Spirit. There I cannot find them. I shall not say of them, " Behold the Lord's anointed!" let their outward, worldly appearance be what it will. Now, by the help of these considerations, those who have in themselves principles of life and light in Christ, will, or may be (setting aside their tempta- tions), enabled to discover this generation of the Lord's delight; and for others, I cannot take down the enmity that God hath set up. So then, notwithstanding this objection, I shall cei-tainly esteem this remnant of Christ to lie among those who, having received gospel light and gospel gifts, evidently do make also profession of gospel grace, union and communion with Christ, separation from the world and the ways of it, in a conversation acceptable unto God in Christ. And to this portion shall I say, as Kuth to Naomi, let what will be
470 A GOSrEL PROFESSION
glorious or npperaiost in the world, " AVhitber thou goest, I vvdll go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge : thy peoj^le shall be my people, and thy God my God. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought Lut death part thee and me." With them let my portion be, and the poition of my family, whatever their lot and condition in this world should be; and the Lord say. Amen.