union, reverencing the Lord our God, fhould enjoy the sweet influences of his presence, and the joy of his falvation.

Why are we members of a separate society, but to be more clofely connected with the divine fource of all purity and goodness, walking in the light of the Lord, that it might shine in our lives, as way marks to neighbours and fober enquirers, that they, being won by our good converfation, may have cause to blefs God on our behalf? Thus were many convinced of our principles, and drawn into our fociety, even at the hazard or loss of all that was dear to them in the world.

II. I think it neceffary to enter upon fome points more particularly, and to add fuch exhortations thereupon, as my prefent concern may engage me to impart.

"Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man "for the Lord's fake:*" actively, when not contrary to the law of God; paffively, when it is oppofite thereto. This is conformable to the example of Chrift and his apostles, as well as of good men, in former ages, and of all the worthy martyrs in later days.

* Peter ii 13.

The jews complained of Christ, for tranfgreffing or breaking their laws: at last when Pontius Pilate faid repeatedly, "I find no fault in him," they answered, "We have a law, and by our "law he ought to die."*

From our fundamental principle, beforementioned, proceeded our well-known principles, or teftimony for Chrift our Lord, in it's fundry branches, which it is our incumbent duty to bear, and to fhew forth to the world; as in the following inftances.

III. Our bleffed Lord commands us "not to "fwear at all." It is our duty firmly to obey his command, whenever we are tried herein, and rather to fuffer patiently what human laws may inflict, than to take an oath on any account whatsoever. Thus Daniel and the three worthy Hebrews, chofe rather to facrifice their bodies to the lion's den, and to the fiery furnace, than to comply with the law of man, when it demanded a revolt from their duty to their fupreme Sovereign.

IV. The law of man fometimes requires Wars and fightings, and actively to contribute thereto: but Chrift commands us to love our enemies, and do to all men nothing but what is good. As his

* John xix, 4, 6, 7.

profeffed fubjects, we cannot therefore actively contribute to military affairs, Our Lord faid to Pilate," if my kingdom were of this world, then "would my fervants fight."* Again, whatever injuries or ill ufage we receive, we must follow his pattern, not rendering reviling for reviling, leaving vengeance to the Lord to whom it belongs. None among us must either fight, or do any violent action, tending to provoke thereto, We must truft in the Lord, and then he will discover the best means of helping and healing the evil in others, or animate us innocently to bear our testimony against it, where hearts are too hard to admit any offered help. In this case our Lord affures us, that great is our reward in heaven: for fuch ufage the righteous who were before us, have met with,

V. Our dear Lord commands his own minifters freely to give, as from him they freely receive; and he changeth not: a hireling man-made ministry therefore, is none of his; nor can we join in fupporting it as fuch. Though the law of man hath established it, we ought to do as the apoftles did, “And to obey God rather than_man.". The gospel of Chrift is free, not subject to worldly traffic, It can neither be bought nor fold. It † Acts v. 29,

* John xviii, 36,

is the power of God to falvation. It brings the foul, which receives and fubmits to it, into immortal union with the father of lights, by leavening it into his divine nature. That which felfifh priests purchace and demand money for, is therefore not the gofpel; and their pretending it to bẹ fo, is an artful impofition.

This with many other things of a like kind, our ancestors discovered in the true light, and therefore (like holy Daniel and his brethren) paffively fubmitted to the laws which required the fupport of this impofition, and to the rigorous execution of thofe laws. By their courage and conftancy herein, they made the way smooth and easy to us, our fufferings being light, in comparison of theirs. It was nothing but the love of God, that animated them chearfully to suffer great fpoiling of goods, with long and hard imprisonments: feparated from all that was near and dear to them in the world. It was in the fupport of their teftimony to the univerfality of God's love to mankind, who invites them that are athirst, and them that have no money, to come and buy wine and milk, without money and without price.

May their defcendants and fucceffors, from generation to generation, come up after them in

the fame noble caufe. So would they minifter joy to fuch as have no other interest in view, but the spiritual health and vigour of the body, and of every member therein. Some indeed of late years, have degenerated from that fidelity to God, which those worthies ever firmly manifested. Thefe throw down what their forefathers laboured to build up, and diffolve that fpiritual bond, which should unite us in faith and love. I earnestly defire they would draw near in fpirit to Christ, and to his militant church, to be a help to faithful friends. When any of you are tried with future demands, on fuch accounts, I cannot but wish for you, as I look back to the worthies gone, that like them ye may stand fast, in the freedom of the gofpel, without flinching, or any way evading our testimony for it. I fully believe that your fidelity, in fuch trials, would be the means of giving you new life and strength, for the zealous and upright discharge of other christian duties, and of making you both useful and honourable members, not only of civil, but also of religious fociety.

As to that formal worship, which is begun and carried on in the will of man, our faithful predeceffors could have no unity with it, nor actively