That

Mercies we have hitherto enjoyed. he would protect our Religion, and make it to flourish more and more. That he would preferve our King, our Government, our Laws And in order thereunto, that he would influence and direct all the Pub

lick Councils, especially the great Council

of the Nation now affembled in Parliament, that this Seffion of theirs may have a happy and a glorious Iffue. Which God of his Mercy grant, &c.

SER

Put them in mind to be fubject to Prin cipalities and Powers, to obey Ma→ giftrates.

Yo

OU all know what Kind of Ar gument this Day calls for: For by the Defign of keeping it, the Bufinefs that the Preacher hath to do, is to prefs Obedience and Subjection to the Government we live under, and to Preach againft

against Faction and Rebellion. And accordingly it is prescribed in the Rubrick of this Day's Service, that if there be a Sermon at all, and not a Homily, it fhall be upon this Argument.

It is very well that Authority hath taken care, that at fome folemn Times we should Preach upon this Subject in a more folemn Manner. Because though it be as needful as any, yet there are fome among us that think it a very improper Theme for the Pulpit. I must confefs, I had an eye to this Suggeftion, when I pitch'd upon these Words which I have now read to you: Because I think there is fomething to be observed in them which will effectually confute it.

St Paul here lays his Charge upon Titus, That he should put the People that were under his Care in mind, to be fubject to Principalities and Powers, and to obey Magiftrates.

Two Things I would here confider. Firft, The Perfon that is order'd thus to put the People in mind: And Secondly, The Thing that he is to put them in mind of, which is, Suljection and Obedi ence to Principalities, and Powers, and Magiftrates.

I begin with the firft Thing, the Perfon to whom St. Paul writes this Epifle; and to whom he gives it in Charge,

That

That he should put the People in mind, to be fubject.

Who was this Perfon? Why it was Titus, an Ecclefiaftic, a Bishop, a Preacher of the Gospel; not a Lay-man, not a Magiftrate, but a pure Church-man. What can be more plainly gather'd from hence than this; That it is not foreign to a Clergy-man's Office to Preach Obedience and Submiffion to the Government; but, on the contrary, a Part of his Function, a neceffary Duty incumbent upon him to do it. If any Man affirm otherwife, he muft either fay, that St. Paul did not rightly inftru&t Titus in his Office, but enjoin'd him to do that which he had nothing to do with Or he muft fhew that the Cafe of Titus was different from that of the Ministers of the Gofpel at this Day. Neither of which Things can, I believe, be easily made out.

And yet in fuch Times are we fallen, that it is taken ill, by many, that Minifters should in their Pulpit-Difcourfes meddle with these Matters. I must confefs I think, that of all Men, it moft concerns a Minister of Religion not to be a Bufie-body, or a Medler in other Mens Matters For in truth, he hath Work enough to do of his own; and such Kind of Work too, as, let him behave himself as inoffenfively as he can, will create him Difficulties and Enemies enough. And

there

therefore it would be very imprudent in him to ufurp other Mens Provinces, and to burn his Fingers where he needs not: Efpecially, confidering, that the Success of his Labours and Endeavours among the People doth in a great Measure depend upon the good Liking they have of him.

But what is it that gives Offence? Or what is it that renders this Argument we are speaking of fo improper a Subject for a Clergy-man to treat of? Why, several Things are pretended, and I fhall name fome of them.

Firft, It is faid, that the Work of a Clergy-man, is to instruct Men in Chriff's Religion, to preach against Vice and Sin, and to preach up Holinefs and good Life, and mutual Love and Charity: But what has he to do with State-Affairs, as Matters of Government are?

I Answer, He hath nothing, indeed, to do with them: But his only Work is to make Men good Chriftians, by endeavouring to poffefs them with a hearty Belief of our Saviour's Doctrines and Promifes, and perfuading them to a Conformity in their Lives to his Precepts. This is our proper Work, and this is that we ought to attend to, all the Days of our Life; and with Government and StateAffairs we ought not to meddle, in our Sermons especially.

But