SERMON VII.

Of Peace and Submiffion, Religious

and Civil.

I THESS. IV. II.

That ye ftudy to be quiet, and to do yout own Bufiness.

I

Thath been acknowledged, even SERM. by the Enemies of the Chriftian VII. Religion, that the holy Books

in which its Doctrines are delivered contain many wise and excellent Rules of Morality, formed upon the most accurate and comprehenfive Views of the Happiness and Interests of human

Life,

SERM. Life, and manifeftly calculated for VII. the Promotion of them. And it is

.

an Argument of no small Advantage to the Gospel, that what the Infidel himself is forced by natural Reason to approve in its Directions, the Religion of the Chriftian binds him to practise, under the strongest Ties of Confcience and Duty, as an Obedi dience he owes to God, and the Condition of attaining eternal Salvation. This Inference at least we may be allowed to make, that an Inftitution prefcribing, and by the most powerful Motives obliging Men to Rules of Life, whofe excellent Ufe and good Tendency are univerfally confefs'd, has a Title to Protection and Encouragement, from all who are concern'd for private or focial Happinefs; and that all Endeavours to leffen the Authority, or weaken the Restraints of this Religion, ought to be refented, as Attempts against the Public Peace, and fubverfive of the

common

A-SERM.

common Interests of Mankind. mong the Precepts which recommend our Religion to this favourable Regard from the World, there is none that better deserves our Attention, than this in my Text, That we study to be quiet, and do our own Bufinefs. A Precept of constant Use, and daily Application; which extends to every Part of our Conduct Spiritual and Temporal, requires our Observance both as Men and Christians, and is of equal Importance to our Happiness prefent and future.

This, as other general Directions, delivered in fhort, thro' comprehenfive Terms, must unavoidably leave Room for Mistake in particular Applications. It fhall therefore be my present Endeavour,

1. To explain and affert this Precept, under its proper Sense and Re ftrictions.

And then,

VII.

SERM.

II. I fhall recommend it to your VII. Practice, by obferving the Advantages arifing from a Conduct fo govern'd, and the many Evils that attend the Tranfgreffion of this Rule. And,

I. 'Tis certain, the Apostle did not here mean to recommend an idle, useless, inactive Life, as agreeable to the Spirit, and injoin'd by the Precepts of the Gofpel. To be thus lazy and indolent is not to be quiet, but to be asleep, or dead to all the Purposes of Life, and can never be reconciled, either to Wisdom or Duty. Man is born for Labour and Action; and therefore the Quiet here recommended, is confiftent with, and properly explain'd by what immediately follows, doing our own Business. 'Tis our Duty to be bufy, neither can any Man be too active, when he is properly employ'd; but then our Activity must be confined within the Li

mits