THis Psalm gives us a full and lively ac­count of the pious zeal and concern which King David exprest for the Good of the Church; and by what Steps and Me­thods [Page 2] he thought it most advisable to proceed, for the advancing the Interest of it; Namely, by promoting Peace and Unity among its Members, and by seeking and praying for one anothers Good.

I shall have no occasion to press the neces­sity of following this Great Example; nor shall I enter upon a description of the Vertues here recommended; The Charitable design of our meeting this day, to establish a lasting Friendship among Brethren, and to consult one anothers Good: Our forward Intention to assist those amongst us that call for our Help, that they may not be destitute of a Lot and Inheritance with the rest of their Tribe, has already made any further discourse upon either of those Topicks, Superfluous and Unnecessary.

And therefore I think it to be more my pro­per business, to entertain you with the pro­spect of those Happy Effects, which will neces­sarily follow such Noble and Christian Designs. The Duties which the Text recommends to us, are Peace and Charity. And in the sincere study and observance of both these, our present Undertaking has firmly engaged us; so that to consider the success which will necessarily at­tend it, may be of some use to create in us [Page 3] that true Pleasure and Satisfaction which ought always to accompany the doing of Good.

The Method therefore I shall take in the following Discourse, shall be only this.

I. In the First place, I shall endeavour to re­present the Blessed Effects, that will certainly fol­low our practise of these Vertues.

II. And then in the Second Place, I shall consider the Advantages we enjoy for the promoting such good Works, and the returns we are obli­ged to make to God for them.

I. First then, I shall endeavour to represent the Blessed Effects that will follow the practise of these Vertues. I need not observe how much the Happiness of Society depends upon it; that Men of Peaceable and Charitable Tempers are the greatest Benefactors to Mankind; and that we more especially answer the Ends and Designs of our Being, when we are most useful and ser­viceable to others. Nor shall I mention how these good Offices raise a Man a Name and Reputation in the World, command an uni­versal Reverence and Esteem, and are the most certain marks of a Noble and Heavenly Di­sposition. I shall also omit those many Prayers and Blessings they will obtain for us, and that [Page 4] certain Interest they will secure us in Heaven.

These are the natural consequences that flow from the exercise of these Duties; and they equally belong to all those that consult the Be­nefit of Mankind either of these ways. But there are other Advantages which we have more particular reasons to expect from our present En­deavours; and which we are more obliged than others to have an especial regard to.

I. And first, We may Hope by this means to advance the Interest of Religion.

II. Secondly, To raise the Honour of our Church.

III. And Lastly, To Vindicate the Clergy from Contempt.

And First, That our design of promoting Peace and Charity will be of great advantage to Religion. And that I am perswaded is a Satisfaction that we of this Assembly should be ambitious of purchasing at any rate. For it must be a very pleasing Thought to every one of us, that we can be able to strengthen the In­terest, or support the Authority of that Re­ligion, to which we owe so great a share of our Well-being and Happiness in this Life, and all our Hopes of a Better.

[Page 5] And that we shall do a very considerable ser­vice to it, by this means, is evident, from the great stress the Divine Author of it, has laid up­on these Duties, and the Blessings he has pro­nounced to the observers of them. He has made Love and Unity the Distinguishing Marks of his Disciples in this World, and the Conditions upon which he will pronounce that joyful Sen­tence, Come ye blessed, in another. To the Peace­makers he has given the Glorious Character of being the Children of God; as tho they alone were of a Divine Original, and had the true Image of God stamp'd upon them.

If then there is so high a value set upon these Vertues, and they have so much the preference given to them above others, by God himself: If they are the brightest Ornaments in a Christi­an's Life, and transform him into a resemblance of the Divine Nature; we may be assured, the more we excel in them, the higher do we raise the Honour and Reputation of Religion.

By this Method Christianity first flourish'd and prevail'd in the World; that love and unity which was so apparent among all its Disciples, and those lively Instances which they perpe­tually gave of Kindness and Charity, gain­ed it every day fresh Admirers and Proselites. [Page 6] This Practice won upon Mens Tempers, and as mild and gentle as it was, overcame all op­position. The like Behaviour will always re­commend Religion; and then especially, when it appears in the Lives of those who are dedica­ted to the Service of it. They are in Stations that make them more observed, and their Acti­ons more nearly look'd into than other mens. And therefore these Graces must shine brightest, and their influence reach farthest, when they are most visible in their Conversations. This shews that Religion has a true force and efficacy upon them; and they can propose with better ad­vantage, that greatest Example of Kindness and Charity that ever appeared in the World, to the imitation of others, when they follow it in good earnest themselves.

But it is yet more for the Interest of Religi­on, when their Children follow their Steps, and have bequeathed to them that best of Inheritances, the knowledge and practice of these Duties; and it will be much for the Reputation of Religion, that those Early Impressions of Vertue and Piety, which were made upon their Minds, still retain their full strength and vigour, and that no other avocations can take off the Engagements were laid upon them to do good unto all men, but especi­cially [Page 7] to those of the Houshold of Faith. For here it is, that the Obligations of Religion, as well as nearness of Relation, first challenge our Servi­ces. We are indeed forbid to do Ill Offices to any man, and are commanded to follow peace with all in general; but we cannot be equally serviceable to all; and there are some who have a better claim to our regard than others. The sense of Gratitude has a particular tye upon us; and no one here can doubt but Religion upon this account, can plead the best Right to our Ser­vices; and consequently those who are nearest related to it, may challenge our more especial Consideration. This is the true and regular method of shewing our Zeal for Religion; the most proper means to make it valued and esteemed, and the best hopes we have left of raising the Credit of despised, neglected Vertue.

I need not shew the reverse of all this, or ac­quaint you how much Religion will suffer by our disregard of these Duties: I must not open so Melancholy a Scene, when we are met to­gether to rejoice and triumph at the good we are capable of doing for the House of our God; and where 'tis to be hoped there is nothing at so great a distance from us, as a malicious, uncha­ritable Temper. I will not suppose there is [Page 8] any here that pretends to be on the side of Reli­gion, that is not endued with the Spirit of it; or that is come hither to pray, and use his En­deavours for the peace of Ierusalem, that would any way disturb its Tranquility. God forbid that there should be any one among us, as there was at the Marriage-Feast in the Gospel, not hav­ing on his Wedding Garment. Our Saviour indeed hath told us, that there may be Wolves in Sheeps Cloathing; and we must not say, that 'tis impos­sible there may be an unchristian Spirit, under the fairest Pretences of Conscience and Zeal for God and his Church; but we can't but be sensi­ble, that the Crime is of a higher nature, and the Injury done Religion much the greater upon that account. We have a sad Instance in Holy Writ of Corah and his Company, Numb. 16. Sons of Levi, that rose up against Moses, and disputed the Authority of the best of Princes and Lawgivers: They pre­tended indeed to be Holy, and to consult the Good of God's own People; yet we find that their Offence was of a heinous nature, and their Punishment very severe: Both of them were probably the greater, for these two Reasons: The one was, that they insulted so Good and Mild a Governor, that had the Character of be­ing the meekest man in all the Earth, and who 'tis [Page 9] probable if God Almighty had not interposed, and avenged his own Cause, would have dis­miss'd them with this gentle Rebuke, Ye take too much upon you, ye Sons of Levi. The other reason was, That they were of that Tribe; their being Sons of Levi render'd their Crime the more unpardonable. For they being Teachers and Guardians of the Law, their Characters and Stations made them more observed, and their Examples sooner followed than other Mens; and therefore it was necessary their Punishment should be more exemplary, by how much the more fatal their Examples would have proved to the Cause of God and Religion. Some in­deed of these Mens Confederates were of ano­ther Tribe, but 'tis probable that Corah was the first, and the most considerable in the Conspi­racy; since he is often mentioned in Scripture as the Author of it, without any notice taken of the rest. But God be thanked, these men were but few in number, and 'tis to be hoped they have had fewer Followers. 'Tis very observable, that when these Men were destroyed, most of their Children perish'd with them; not upon the account, probably, of their being accessary to their Crimes, but lest they should have suck'd in the same Poison, and be infected with the Pride and Arrogance of their Fathers.

[Page 10] There was once a Proverb in Israel, The Fa­thers have eaten sower grapes, Ezek. 18. and the Childrens teeth are set an edge: Ill-nature it seems was then often propagated, and the Children grew bad by In­fection. The Parents were of angry, turbulent Tempers, and the Children felt the Ill Effects of them. And this is very natural; restless and haughty Spirits do a great deal of mischief; their Ill Examples spread far, and their whole Poste­rity is commonly much the worse for them. And thus the Evil Practices of those who pretend to Religion, prove very prejudicial to its Inte­rest; and the more sacred their Characters are, the Consequences are still the more fatal and pernicious.

If we that have made it our business to en­quire into Religion, who have been constantly instructed in it, and have informed our selves throughly of the Reasons and Designs of it, should oppose it in our Actions; and if we that have searched into the Natures of Vertue and Vice, and understand the differences of Good and Evil, should confound them in our pra­ctice, 'tis too certain that both Religion and Ver­tue will fare the worse for us. If we our selves do not follow the things that make for peace, do not preserve that Unity which ought to be amongst us, and keep our Friendships inviola­ble, [Page 11] 'tis too much to be fear'd that other men will have less notions of these Duties, upon our neglects. If we cannot forgive and pass by In­juries; if our Resentments run high, and last long; if we only carry an appearance of Peace and Reconciliation, with a design to fall on with greater fury, and more security; like Ioab, to kiss, that we may the better kill; it will occa­sion others to take more liberty in their Revenge, and cite the Authority of their Teachers for it.

If we that have studied the Nature, and known the Excellence and Advantage of Cha­rity, and have often press'd and inculcated the Necessity of it to others, should be mean or narrow-spirited in our Contributions, 'tis probable that we shall not only give Offence to others, but put a Stop even to their Good and Cha­ritable Intentions. If we, that cannot of all men be ignorant, what we ought to do for our Brethren and Companions sakes, should not con­tribute all we are able to the encouraging and promoting this Good Design, begun and carried on purely for their Interest, it can't be supposed that others who are removed something farther from the Relation, should be more forward in their Endeavours to support it. Good Exam­ples do great service in all such cases; and the higher mens Characters and Stations are, so [Page 12] much the greater and stronger Influence have they. The Royal Psalmist describes to us the Joy and Satisfaction he felt in himself, when he was called upon to assist at the Worship of God. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the House of the Lord: Not only glad of the opportunity of offering up his Prayers and Praises to God; but also, doubtless, that he met with an occasion of countenancing Re­ligion by his Presence, and of encouraging others by his Example.

And thus have I considered the great service we shall do Religion by our present Designs of promoting Peace and Charity; and have also observed how much prejudice may be done it, by the neglect of these Virtues. The latter of these I should have pass'd by, as being foreign to our present Business, had I not thought my self obliged to take no­tice of that double Pleasure which always at­tends such good Actions; the one arising from the sense of the Services we do; the other from the thought of having avoided all those Incon­veniencies, all that Uneasiness of Mind, and Guilt of Conscience, which are inseparable from the contrary Practices.

II. I proceed in the Second place, to represent another Advantage of this Good Design, name­ly, [Page 13] the raising the Honour of our Church: For we are not only to consider the Service we can do Religion in general, but also how we can best answer the Obligations we are under to that Church in particular, whereof we are Members. And that these Virtues of Peace and Charity will advance the Credit and Reputation of it, is more than probable, since they tend most to Unite and Preserve it. And when it is like Ie­rusalem, compact together, and at unity in it self, the gates of hell cannot prevail against it.

The Royal Psalmist repeats his Prayers and Wishes for Peace several times in this short Psalm. Whether or no there were then any divisions in the Church, or any heats or con­tentions among any of its Members, that occa­sioned his being thus earnest and sollicitous: 'tis certain he very well knew, he could ask for no other Blessing, that could gain it so much respect and veneration abroad, that could make it so strongly oppose the attempts of its Enemies, or that could so firmly establish and so long preserve it.

We are therefore very much indebted to the Wisdom of those, who first formed this Chari­table Corporation, and contrived this Annual Meeting, for the preventing and making up, all such unnatural differences among us, and for [Page 14] the preserving that Love and mutual Agreement, which is so necessary for the Honour and Secu­rity of our Church.

We are this day, the best Constituted Church in the whole World, and its Doctrines the most Pure and Primitive; and I hope we may add, that it is most Catholick and Apostolical in its practice of Christian Duties. The first Believers did more Honour and Service to Christianity by their good Actions, than by their Faith; and they appealed to their Lives, for a confirmation of their Do­ctrines: And I hope it may still be used for an Argument for the best Religion in the World, that it is the best observed.

That we are reformed from the Errors and Corruptions that were crept into the Church, is owing to the pious Care and Zeal of our Fore­fathers; but let it be owing to us, that this pre­sent Age shall leave behind it more lasting Mo­numents of Kindness and Generosity, of Love and Unity. It is a great Happiness to be of the True Faith; but it will be a greater, to su­peradd to it the meek and peaceful Spirit of the Gospel. This one would think should be made the chief Mark of a True Church; for nothing, not even Faith it self, without Charity, can ever make a good Christian; and I don't see, how it is possible it should ever build or keep up a Church.

[Page 15] Love and Tenderness ought always to at­tend Truth, for they are the best able to gain it Friends: They are of an insinuating Nature, and lay open an easy Passage to the Understand­ing. A sowre, ill-natur'd Argument was hard­ly ever known to convert an Adversary, how strong and powerful soever it might be to si­lence him. There's no body can bear to be affronted even into Truth it self, or to be brow­beaten, though it should chance to be into Right Reason. Truth indeed is Bold, but 'tis never Insolent and Imperious: But Falshood and Ignorance are generally so. And if we judge of them by that Mark, we shall not oft­en be mistaken: For we have great reason to suspect that for Counterfeit, which is swell'd with Pride and Ostentation. However it be, Truth never wants an Haughty Advocate; and a Good Cause is always the worse for an Ill­natur'd Management. And what is more to our purpose, the Best of Churches must suffer great Prejudice, if there is found an Uncharita­ble Behaviour among any of its Members. But 'tis my Business only to commemorate the Bles­sings we enjoy, and not to tell of Mischiefs which 'tis to be hoped we shall never feel.

III. Let us then consider the Third and last Advantage of our Pious Designs, and that is, The [Page 16] vindicating the Clergy from Contempt. This will be Justice to the Memory of the Dead, as well as a Service to the Living. And I doubt not but we shall guard off Contempt from them, at least set them above it, in relation to those common Objections that are formed against them: And these respect either their Self-Inte­rest, their Poverty, or their Posterity.

I. And first, We shall in some measure vindi­cate them from the Imputation of Self-Interest, or Private Designs. We are indeed many times upbraided upon these accounts; but if our Enemies would but consider the many Chari­ties that have been bestowed by that Order of Men, they would be a little more sparing in their Censures. We are told that Charity it self shall cover a multitude of sins: And if God Al­mighty will be so merciful as to pass by a great many Offences for the sake of that one Virtue, methinks Men might overlook some Defects for the sake of it too. I am persuaded I may venture to say, That the Good Works of a great part of the Clergy speak for them; and 'tis but just that the Number of those who have been serviceable to the World, should plead something in the behalf of those who have been less so. God Almighty would have spared even Sodom, if he had found but Ten Righteous there.

[Page 17] But I might wholly have omitted the defence of the Clergy, upon this Head of Self-interest: If they had been led by Principles of such a na­ture, no doubt but their Children would have acted upon the same Motives, and we should have seen no such Generous Designs encouraged as we are now so happily engaged in.

Nor Secondly, will it appear, that the Pover­ty of the Clergy is a sufficient ground of their Contempt. Poverty indeed is what a Man has no great reason to be ashamed of, especially where 'twas not in his power to avoid it; and 'tis Providence that places Men in low Conditi­ons; nor does it detract at all from real merit, and therefore is not a proper foundation of Con­tempt: Nor ought a Man to be much valued upon the account of his Riches, if he has nothing besides them, to defend him from being despi­sed. But whatever these things may be in the Theory, Wealth will command esteem, whe­ther guarded by Internal Worth, or not: And Poverty will be despised, let the Treasures of the Mind be never so considerable. But I hope the Clergy have no great reason to suffer much in their Reputation upon that account. I think it would be too mean to boast of their Riches, whatever Advantages they might have that way; but we may very lawfully commend their Bounty and Liberality. I might mention a great many In­stances [Page 18] of this kind, and recount a vast number of their Publick Acts of Charity; and I am con­fident I may suppose a great many more that were always design'd to be kept private. But I should not pass over in silence that Generous Benefaction lately left by a Right Reverend Fa­ther, Dr. Tur­ner, Late L. Bp. of Ely who left 1200 l. to it. to this Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy. But the perpetual Good it will do, will be a more lasting Memorial than any Commendati­on that can be given it.

But I shall leave it to you to finish this Head, and to testify by your own Examples, that the Liberalities which Providence and your Fathers have put you in a condition to bestow, have rai­sed both you and them much above Comtempt.

III. And this leads me to the other Objection against the Clergy, and which you also can best answer; namely, that their Posterity are more un­happy and unfortunate for the most part, than others: And this is urged not only by those of the Romish Communion, as a Judgment upon us for transgressing their Order of Celibacy; but is also pretended by some to be a Common Obser­vation among our selves. I know not from what particular Instances such general Conclusi­ons are drawn; both the Scriptures, and Matter of Fact declare on our side. The Psalmist as­sures us, among all the Observations he had made, He never saw the righteous forsaken, nor his [Page 19] seed begging their bread. 'Tis indeed too certain, that several of the Posterity of the Clergy are in low conditions, but thanks be to God, there are others of them that are in a capacity to raise them higher, and that don't want Hearts to do it: So that the meanest of them are so far hap­py, that they are sure never to be destitute of the especial regard and consideration of those who are in better Circumstances. But the Scriptures are yet more full and express in this Matter, where they assure us, That they that turn many to righteousness, Dan. 12. shall shine as the Stars for ever and ever: Which does not only relate to their Glo­rified State in Heaven, but also to the Happiness of their Posterity on Earth: For the Stars are often spoken of in Scripture in reference to Generati­ons to come: As God often promised to the Fa­ther of the Faithful, to increase his Seed as the Stars in Heaven for multitude.

And this Day I hope this Prophecy is in a great measure fulfilled, when there are so many of us met together, to make Grateful Returns to God for the many Blessings we enjoy. And particularly we must not forget, that he has rai­sed One from amongst us to be at the Head of the Church; Another to be the Chief Guardian of Equi­ty and Good Conscience; and that we had a Third, but the very last year to be Governor of this great City. [Page 20] And what more shall I say, to shew that God has made good his Promise, That the Posterity of the righteous shall be blessed?

There is indeed commonly one event to the righteous and to the wicked; and the same Lot happens frequently to both, if they take mea­sures alike in Affairs of this Life. Providence does not often deny equal Success to the same Endeavours. But granting this to be for the most part so, yet the Clergy have upon this ac­count as fair a prospect, at least, as others, to leave a happy Posterity behind them, since they pursue the best Methods that can be taken for that end.

II. And this brings me to what I proposed to consider in the Second place; The Advantages we have had for the procuring our own and others Good, and the Returns we are obliged to make to God for them.

Now the greatest Advantages a man can have towards making his Life happy and useful, are a careful Education, and Good Examples. These make strong Impressions, and have a mighty Influence upon every Action of his Life.

I. And First, We ought to esteem it a very great Advantage to have had the Happiness of a Care­ful Education; that the Principles of Kindness and Charity were early sown in us, and had taken deep root in our Minds betimes. This is a [Page 21] Blessing which we can never over-rate. And I question not, there is none of this Assembly but has given God thanks many a time for the Happy Effects of it. To this we ought not only to impute the prosperous condition we are in, but those desires we find in our selves to be Benefactors to others: We that have expe­rienced the advantage of having our Lives and Manners formed in our younger Years to Ver­tue and Religion, can't but find a pleasure in contributing to the breeding up of others in the same practice and exercise of them. Their Misfortune and not their Fault has rendred them uncapable of providing for themselves, and 'tis our Happiness that we are able to remedy that Defect. 'Tis a satisfaction that we have the Power, but 'tis certainly greater, that we have the Wills to do it. And that we have both, is probably very much owing to the careful ma­nagement of our younger Years.

II. But Secondly, The other Advantage we had, was the Benefit of Good Examples always before us. And that is not a less Happiness than the other. For Children especially act by Imitation more than Instruction. A Virtuous and Good Disposition is much sooner wrought in them by Example than Precept. Prin­ciples are not easily instilled into them, and not [Page 22] quickly understood; and what they See, does much more affect them than what they Hear: The sight of a good Action fixes a lasting Idea, and is never forgotten. And if we had such advantages, the same are we obliged to convey down to others. The Cause of Religion, the Honour of our Church, and Gratitude to God, do all require it of us. There are some who take much Pains to make others Miserable, to seduce them into bad Courses, before they have learnt to know the Evil from the Good; and are always contriving new Methods to make Proselytes to Vice and Irreligion. It must cer­tainly then be our Indispensible Duty, who profess to be of a superior Order of Christians, to fence against these Opposers of God and Re­ligion; and to apply our utmost care and di­ligence, that others who have equal pretensions to Immortality with our Selves, should not for want of right Management and good Examples, be for ever miserably lost in another World.

The study of Peace and Unity among our selves will do no small service to the Cause we espouse. For Religion never appears so invi­ting, as when 'tis adorn'd with a sedate and quiet frame of Mind; that is its true and genu­ine Shape; and it must appear Deform'd, when it has lost its native Beauty and Excellence. [Page 23] If therefore there are hatreds and variances among our selves, both our Order and Re­ligion will be aspers'd, and the Enemies of God will take occasion to Blaspheme.

Let us then take care that we give not the least suspicion of our dispensing with those ob­ligations we are under, to promote Friendship, and mutual Agreement among our selves; and we need not fear any Attacks of our Enemies. We shall then never be uneasie at any Reproach or Calumnies that are thrown upon us, but shall follow with satisfaction the Blessed Ex­ample and Precepts of our great Master and Saviour; and Pray for them that despitefully use us. It would be almost a Scandal to us to be spoken well of by those who treat our Religion it self with Scorn [...]. And indeed our Saviour hath pronounced a Wo unto us, when all men shall speak well of us. Let us then but have the pleasure of discharging our Duties conscientiously to­wards God and one another, and we shall never be dissatisfied with the delight which others take in contemning and reviling us. Let us give no occasion to others to upbraid us with unhappy differences among our selves, or with contemn­ing and despising one another, and no other Weapon formed against us can prosper.

[Page 24] But above all, let us put on Charity, the Great bond of peace and of all vertues, and never be weary of well doing. Let us never suffer the ways of Sion to mourn, and never shut our Ears against the Cries of Her Fatherless Children and Widows: and then we may be sure that Heaven will hear those many Prayers and Good Wishes they will send up thither for us. And, as we have had large Advantages, perhaps beyond most others, by a Careful Education and good Examples, so let us shew that we are truly sensible of them, by giving others, as much as we are able, the same Encouragements. By this shall all men know that we are the true Disciples and Followers of Christ; and by this means we may hope to see both our Church and Religion Flourish; and that Glory shall dwell in our Sion. O let Righteous­ness and Peace Kiss each other; and then we shall find that the Lord will Bless us, he will Bless the House of Aaron. The Lord will Encrease you more and more both you and your Children. Wherefore praise the Lord, O Ierusalem, praise thy God, O Sion; for he maketh Peace in thy Borders, and hath blessed thy Children within Thee.