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God, we have fo ftood thefe Trials, that we have no Reason to be afhamed, nor have they any great Reason to boast of their Victory. We are now, by the good Providence of God, in fuch a Pofture, that we hope we shall not need to have much Apprehenfion of that fort of Trial for the future. But ftill there is another fort of Trial of this Nature that we remain expofed to; viz. the Differences and Diffentions among ourselves; and oh would to God fome Balm could be found for the healing of thefe Wounds! Is it not a Pity that we who are all of one Religion, and do equally profefs an Aversion to the Tyranny, and Corruptions, and Superstitions of the Church of Rome, fhould yet be at fuch a Diftance from one another that we cannot worship God together? is true (as I have faid) that this is no juft Exception againft our Reformation, but yet it muft needs be owned that it is a great Blemish to it. It is true that there will always be Herefies and Schifms in the Church, and there would be, tho' all Proteftants were united: But yet for all that, it is a great Reproach to us that they are not better united. I grant that as to Unity of Opinion in all Points of Religion, the Thing is impracticable; for when all is done, Men, according to the Variety of their Parts, and Tempers, and Educations, must of Neceffity think feveral Ways, and

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confequently they will always differ in their Notions of Things; and there can no more one fix'd Meafure or Standard be fet for Mens Apprehenfions and Judgments, than there can be for their Statures and Complexions.

But it may be thought, notwithstanding our little Differences in Opinion, it is hard we cannot all agree in the common Terms of worshipping God, and partaking of his Sacraments, especially fince we do all acknowledge that we do agree in more Things than are precifely needful for the carrying us to Heaven. Certain it is, nothing is more recommended, nothing is more preffed in the New Testament than this Unity and Communion among Chriftians. Nay, this very Apoftle who hath told us that there must be always Herefies and Divisions in the Church, yet is fo far from countenancing them, that he of all the other facred Writers is the moft earnest and passionate in his Exhortations to Unity, and the most severe against those who cause Diffentions, and break the Peace of the Church. Oh! that God would be pleased to affect all those who profefs his Religion in the Truth and Purity of it, with a deep and lively Senfe of these Things; that they would heartily apply themfelves to follow after the Things which make for Peace, (as our Apoftle fpeaks) that they would be like-minded, be of one

accord,

accord, of one Soul, fo that the God of Peace might be with them! Ineftimable indeed are the Benefits that would accrue hereby both to the Church and State, and to every one of us in particular. By this Means we might the more affuredly expect the Bleffing of God upon the whole Community; because hereby we should give the best Evidence that we are the true Difciples of his Son, in that we love one another, and have Peace one with another. By this Means we fhould remove the Scandals that our Divifions give to the Enemies of our Religion; and should disappoint them of the moft confiderable Advantages they have againft us for the making Profelytes to their Party.

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laftly, by this Means it is to be hoped that our fierce Difputes and Contentions about smaller Things being laid afide, our Zeal and Fervour would be employed in Things far more momentous; in Things wherein the Honour of God and the Salvation of our own Souls is truly concerned; that is to fay, in feriously ftudying to live well, to be pious, and juft, and fober in our Converfation; in adorning the Doctrine which we profefs by all the heavenly Qualities and good Fruit that fo excellent a Religion as ours doth naturally tend to produce in all the Believers of it.

SERMON

SERMON II.

Some remarkable and important Obfer vations upon the Hiftory of Cornelius his Converfion to the Faith.

Preach'd before Q. Mary, Aug. 30, 1691.

ACTS X. 4.

Thy Prayers and thine Alms are come up for a Memorial before God.

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O put this Text and what I have to fay upon it, into a due Light, it will be neceffary I should give fome Account of the Hiftory that is related in this Chapter. It is the Hiftory of Cornelius his Converfion to the Chriftian Faith; and a very remarkable one it is.

This Cornelius was Captain in the Garison which the Romans kept at Cæfarea for the better bridling and fecuring the Jews whom they had conquered. As for his Birth, he was not an Ifraelite, but a Roman. As for his Religion, he was not a Jew, but a Gen

tile or Heathen. But yet fuch an Heathen, as had renounced the Pagan Idolatry, and owned the one fupreme God, and worshipped that God in the Way that natural Religion taught, tho' not in the Way of the Jews. Such Men as these were by the Jews ftiled Profelytes of the Gate, and many fuch there were among them.

The Character which is here given of him is, that he was a devout Man, and feared ver. God with all his Houfe, and gave much Alms to the People, and prayed to God continually. Here was a worthy Heathen Soldier indeed, and fit to be a Pattern not only to all thofe of his Profeffion amongst Christians, but also to all Christians of what Profeffion foever. He did not only fear God himself, but he took care to poffefs all his Family with the fame Senfe of Religion; and tho' he did not know the particular Way in which God had declared he would be ferved, yet he did all that he could to recommend himself to his Favour; and natural Reafon taught him, (as well as the Law of the Jews, among whom he might converfe) that if any thing in the World could procure the Divine Acceptance, it must be fervent Devotion towards God, and hearty Charity towards Men; and therefore he laid himself out in thefe Duties to the utmost of his Power. And he was not miftaken in his Belief for fuch a Man as this God would not fuffer to perish, but rather than he fhould want VOL. VI.

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