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SERM. heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency: II. for all the day long I have been plagued, and chastened every morning.

Job xxi.

14, 15.

To these considerations, disadvantageous in this respect to piety, may be added, that the constant and certain profits emergent from it (although incomparably more substantial, and to the mind more sensible than any other) are not yet so gross and palpable, that men, who from being immersed in earth and flesh are blind in error, dull of apprehension, vain and inconsiderate in their judgments, tainted and vitiated in their palates, can discern their worth, or relish their sweetness. Hence it is that so many follow the judgment and practice of those in Job, who say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? and what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?

For voiding which prejudices, and the recommendation of St. Paul's project, I shall, as I said, propose some of those innumerable advantages, by considering which the immense profitableness of piety will appear. And first, I shall mention those considerations which more plainly do import universality; then shall touch some benefits thereof, seeming more particular, yet in effect vastly large, and of a very diffusive influence.

I. First then, we may consider that piety is exceeding useful for all sorts of men, in all capacities, all states, all relations; fitting and disposing them to manage all their respective concernments, to discharge all their peculiar duties, in a proper, just, and decent manner.

II.

It rendereth all superiors equal and moderate in SERM. their administrations; mild, courteous, and affable in their converse; benign and condescensive in all Eph. vi. 9. their demeanour toward their inferiors.

Col. iv. I.

Correspondently it disposeth inferiors to be sin- Eph. vi. 5. cere and faithful, modest, loving, respectful, diligent, apt willingly to yield due subjection and service.

1 Pet. ii. 18.

It inclineth princes to be just, gentle, benign, Col. iii. 22. careful for their subjects' good, apt to administer justice uprightly, to protect right, to encourage virtue, to check wickedness.

Pet. iv. 9.

Answerably it rendereth subjects loyal, submis- Rom. xiii. sive, obedient, quiet, and peaceable, ready to yield Tit. iii. 1. due honour, to pay the tributes and bear the bur-1 Pet. ii. 13. dens imposed, to discharge all duties, and observe all laws prescribed by their governors, conscionably, patiently, cheerfully, without reluctancy, grudging, or murmuring.

Phil. ii. 14.

Col. iii. 21.

I

It maketh parents loving, gentle, provident for Eph. vi. 4. their children's good education, and comfortable 1 Tim. v. 8. subsistence; children again, dutiful, respectful, grate- Eph. vi. 1. ful, apt to requite their parents.

Col. iii. 20.

Eph. v. 22.
Col. iii. 18.

Husbands from it become affectionate and com- Eph. v. 25. Col. iii. 19. pliant to their wives; wives submissive and obedient 1 Pet. iii. 7. to their husbands. It disposeth friends to be friends indeed, full of Tit. ii. 5. cordial affection and good-will, entirely faithful, firmly constant, industriously careful and active in performing all good offices mutually.

It engageth men to be diligent in their calling, faithful to their trusts, contented and peaceable in their station, and thereby serviceable to public good.

1 Pet. iii. 5.

It rendereth all men just and punctual in their Gal. vi. 2. dealing, orderly and quiet in their behaviour, court- Phil. iv. 8.

10.

SERM. eous and complaisant in their conversation, friendly II. and charitable upon all occasions, apt to assist, to re1 Thess. iii.lieve, to comfort one another.

12.

2 Cor. ix.

13.

It tieth all relations more fastly and strongly, assureth and augmenteth all endearments, enforceth and establisheth all obligations by the firm bands of conscience; set aside which, no engagement can hold sure against temptations of interest or pleasure. Much difference there is between performing these duties out of natural temper, fear of punishment, hope of temporal reward, selfish design, regard to credit, or other the like principles, and the discharging them out of religious conscience: this alone will keep men tight, uniform, resolute, and stable; whereas all other principles are loose and slippery, will soon be shaken and falter.

In consequence to those practices springing from it, piety removeth oppression, violence, faction, disorders, and murmurings, out of the state; schisms and scandals out of the church; pride and haughtiness, sloth and luxury, detraction and sycophantry, out of the court; corruption and partiality out of judicatures; clamours and tumults out of the street; brawlings, grudges, and jealousies out of families; extortion and cozenage out of trade; strifes, emulations, slanderous backbitings, bitter and foul language, out of conversation: in all places, in all societies it produceth, it advanceth, it establisheth, order, peace, safety, prosperity, all that is good, all that is lovely or handsome, all that is convenient or pleasant for human society and common life. It is Prov. xiv. that which, as the Wise Man saith, exalteth a na34. xvi. 12. tion; it is that which establisheth a throne.

xx. 28.

xxix. 14. viii. 15.

xxix. 8.

It is indeed the best prop and guard that can be

II.

of government, and of the commonweal: for it SERM. settleth the body politic in a sound constitution of health, it firmly cementeth the parts thereof; it put teth all things into a right order and steady course. It procureth mutual respect and affection between governors and subjects, whence ariseth safety, ease, and pleasure to both. It rendereth men truly good, (that is, just and honest, sober and considerate, modest and peaceable,) and thence apt, without any constraint or stir, to yield every one their due; not affected to needless change, nor disposed to raise any disturbance. It putteth men in good humour, and keepeth them in it; whence things pass smoothly and pleasantly. It cherisheth worth, and encourageth industry; whence virtue flourisheth, and wealth is increased; whence the occasions and means of disorder are stopped, the pretences for sedition and faction are cut off. In fine, it certainly procureth the benediction of God, the source of all welfare and prosperity: whence, When it goeth well Prov. xi. 10. with the righteous, the city rejoiceth; and, When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice. saith the great politician Solomon.

xxix. 2.

12.

It is therefore the concernment of all men, who, as the Psalmist speaketh, desire to live well, and Psal. xxxiv. would fain see good days; it is the special interest Pet.iii.10. of great persons, (of the magistracy, the nobility, the gentry, of all persons that have any considerable interest in the world,) who would safely and sweetly enjoy their dignity, power, or wealth, by all means to protect and promote piety, as the best instrument of their security, and undisturbedly enjoying the accommodations of their state. "Tis in all respects their best wisdom and policy; that which will as

SERM. well preserve their outward state here, as satisfy II. their consciences within, and save their souls here

after. All the Machiavelian arts and tricks, all the sleights and fetches of worldly craft, do signify nothing in comparison to this one plain and easy way of securing and furthering their interests.

If then it be a gross absurdity to desire the fruits, and not to take care of the root, not to cultivate the stock, whence they sprout; if every prince gladly would have his subjects loyal and obedient, every master would have his servants honest, diligent, and observant, every parent would have his children officious and grateful, every man would have his friend faithful and kind, every one would have those just and sincere with whom he doth negotiate or converse; if any one would choose to be related to such, and would esteem their relation a happiness; then consequently should every man in reason strive to further piety, from whence alone those good dispositions and practices do proceed.

II. Piety doth fit a man for all conditions, qualifying him to pass through them all with the best advantage, wisely, cheerfully, and safely; so as to incur no considerable harm or detriment by them.

Is a man prosperous, high, or wealthy in condition? Piety guardeth him from all the mischiefs incident to that state, and disposeth him to enjoy the best advantages thereof. It keepeth him from being swelled and puffed up with vain conceit, from being transported with fond complacence or confidence therein; minding him, that it is purely the gift of God, that it absolutely dependeth on his disposal, so that it may soon be taken from him; and that he cannot otherwise than by humility, by gratitude, by

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