6. Thus, where _the Lord omnipotent taketh to himself his mighty power and reigneth_, doth he _subdue all things to himself_; cause every heart to overflow with love, and fill every mouth with praise. _Happy are the people that are in such a case; yea, blessed are the people who have the Lord for their God. Arise, shine_, (saith the Lord) _for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Thou hast known that I the Lord am thy Saviour, and thy Redeemer, the mighty God of |Jacob|. I have made thy officers peace, and thy exacters righteousness. Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders: but thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates praise. Thy people are all righteous; they shall inherit the land for ever: the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified. The sun shall no more be thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory._
IV. Having thus briefly considered _Christianity_, as beginning, as going on, and as covering the earth, it remains only that I should close the whole with a plain practical application.
1. * And first, I would ask, where does this _Christianity_ now exist? Where, I pray, do the _Christians_ live? Which is the country, the inhabitants whereof are _all_ thus _filled with the Holy Ghost_? Are _all of one heart and of one soul_? Cannot suffer one among them _to lack any thing_, but continually give _to every man as he hath need_? Who one and all have the love of God filling their hearts, and constraining them to love their neighbours as themselves? Who have all _put on bowels of mercy, humbleness of mind, gentleness, long-suffering_? Who offend not in any kind, either by word or deed, against justice, mercy, or truth? But in every point do unto all men, as they would these should do unto them. With what propriety can we term any a _Christian country_, which does not answer this description? Why then, let us confess we have never yet seen a _Christian country_ upon earth.
2. I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, if ye do account me a madman or a fool, yet _as a fool bear with me_. It is utterly needful that some one should use great plainness of speech towards you. It is more especially needful at _this_ time; for who knoweth but it is the _last_? Who knoweth how soon the righteous Judge may say, _I will no more be intreated for this people? Tho’ |Noah|, |Daniel|, and |Job|, were in this land, they should but deliver their own souls._ And who will use this plainness, if I do not? Therefore I, even I, will speak. And I adjure you, by the living God, that ye steel not your breasts against receiving a blessing at _my_ hands. Do not say in your heart, “_Non persuadebis, etiamsi persuaseris_: Or, in other words, Lord, thou shalt not _send, by whom thou wilt send_. Let me rather perish in my blood, than be saved by this man!”
3. _Brethren I am persuaded better things of you, tho’ I thus speak._ Let me ask you then, in tender love, and in the spirit of meekness, is this city a _Christian_ city? Is _Christianity, Scriptural Christianity_, found here? Are we, considered as a community of men, so _filled with the Holy Ghost_, as to enjoy in our hearts, and shew forth in our lives, the genuine fruits of that spirit? Are all the magistrates, all heads and governors of colleges and halls, and their respective societies, (not to speak of the inhabitants of the town) _of one heart and one soul_? Is _the love of God shed abroad in our hearts_? Are our tempers the same that were in him? Are our lives agreeable thereto? Are we _holy as he who hath called us is holy, in all manner of conversation_?
4. I intreat you to observe, that here are no _peculiar notions_ now under consideration; that the question moved is not concerning _doubtful opinions_, of one kind or an other; but concerning the undoubted, fundamental branches (if there be any such) of our _common Christianity_. And for the decision thereof, I appeal to your own conscience, guided by the word of God. He therefore that is not condemned by his own heart, let him go free.