SERM. gate Hatred, Difcord, and all manner of

VI.

Cruelty.

Was there nothing meant here by the Sword, but only the Hatred and Perfecution that Christians were to expect from their Enemies, the Prediction might stop here, and there would be no great Wonder in it; for 'tis no more than what one might very well fuppofe would happen. But there is a further more aftonishing Meaning in it than this, and that is, the Cruelty and Perfecution that Chriftians fhould exercise upon one another; of which we have too great a Proof from the Hiftory of all Ages, ever fince Christianity was advanced into an Eftablifhment.

'Tis no Wonder that Unbelievers fhould be offended at the Chriftian Religion, and evil entreat the Profeffors of it, fince it was not only contrary to their old Prejudices, but as it tended also to destroy and root out that Ill-nature they were willing to indulge, and to mortify and subdue those Vices they were loth to part with. But, could it ever be imagin'd that Chriftians themselves fhould be offended at it, who had profess'd to renounce all this? That they, whofe Religion taught them nothing but Peace and Love, fhould turn it into Contention and

Hatred?

Hatred ? Yet thus it was:

For when SERM.

Unbelievers had left off to perfecute Chri- VI ftians, and Christianity became the Religion of the Country, by an unaccountable fort of Madness, they fell to perfecuting one a-' nother. Thus the Chriftian Religion, that was at first a happy Cement to join People together in Love and Friendship, foon became a Name to fall out by, and at length, by the Help of a great deal of Malice and Hatred, it became a Refuge for Spite and - Ill-nature; and fo the Gospel of Peace was turn'd into an open Proclamation of War.

Whoever looks into Ecclefiaftical History, will find that the Heathens never perfecuted the Chriftians with more Rage and Fury than they perfecuted one another; so much Pains did they take to fulfil the Words of the Text in a literal Senfe, and undo, for many Ages, all our Saviour had done be fore.

'Tis furprizing that any Body of Men, who call themselves Chriftians, fhould be guilty of fo much Barbarity: And yet I believe it is a Truth no one can deny, that the ten perfecuting Emperors of Rome, tho they were Heathens, never maffacred fo many Chriftians as the Church of Rome has done fince, tho' profeffing Christianity, and O 2 pre

SERM. pretending to a greater Perfection of it than VI. all the reft of the World: A Church, which,

to the Sorrow of all good Chriftians, subsists not by the Purity of her Doctrine, but by the Sword; that is not founded, as every Chriftian Church fhould be, in Love and good Works, but in a certain Degree of Hatred and Malice, which they flew against thofe who have a Right to differ from them; and in an ill-natur'd Faith, that fwallows up every thing clfe, and deftroys the Principles of natural as well as reveal'd Religi on; that, instead of promoting Good-will, and univerfal Charity and Benevolence, is perpetually contriving the Ruin and Deftruction of Mankind: And accordingly, as it muft be in fuch a Cafe, he is reckon'd to have the greateft Faith who has the leaft Charity. But can there be fuch a thing as a Religion fo void of Humanity, especially pretending at the fame Time to be Christian, as not to confift of Love and good Works? One would think it hardly poffible; yet what will you fay, when Murder fhall be reckon'd among the chiefeft of good Works? When he that killeth you fhall do it out of Love, and therein be thought to do God Service? If this be Love and good Works› what evil Work can be worfe, or what

Mischief

VI.

Mifchief can Hatred do more than this? SER M. And indeed we fhould be too partial to the reft of the World, did we not acknowledge that all Sorts of Proteftants have fhewn too much of this unchriftian Spirit. They, who have in the moft folemn Manner protefted again't it, have, nevertheless, when they have had it in their Power, made too great Ufe of it in perfecuting and harraffing one another; as if they protefted not against the Thing, but against any one's making ufe of it but themfelves; not confidering, that Hatred or Cruelty is never the better, or the lefs fo, for being Proteftant, but will be just what it is, in what Shape foever it appears, and what Name foever it ftands distinguish'd by.

The firft Thing that offers itself to us in the Gospel is Love, which is the diftinguishing Badge of a Chriftian. For as every Profeffion has fomething to diftinguish its Profeffors by, fo the true Profeffors of Chriftianity are known by this Mark of loving one another: And as far as any one wants this charitable, benevolent Temper, fo far he wants this diftinguishing Mark, and be longs to fome other, and not to that Profeffion. For as he is by no means a true Phyfician, who is not skill'd in Medicine,

whatever

SERM whatever he may think fit to call himself, VI. fo neither is he a true Chriftian that wants

Charity, because he wants that which is ef fential to his Profeffion as a Chriftian. And indeed 'tis very furprizing that this should want to be prov'd at all; for what can be plainer than this Expreffion of our bleffed Saviour's, By this fhall all Men know ye are my Difciples, if ye love one another? And yet if we were to look round us a little, one would think the Rule was revers'd, as if he had faid, By this fhall all Men know ye are my Difciples, if ye hate one another. For how many are there, whose Religion confifts in little elfe, but in hating all of the oppofite Side! That think they can't fhew their Zeal but by their Wrath, and as long as they hate one another heartily, they imagine they give fufficient Proof of their Integrity, and of their ftedfast Adherence to Religion. Inftances of this Kind are too frequent; and yet these are the Men who profess a Religion of Love, that would be thought Advocates for the Gospel of Peace at the fame time that they delight in nothing but Hatred and Difcord; as if they were to commence Brutes in order to be Chriftians, and diveft themselves of Humanity to prove their Zeal for Religion, Thus