carefully examined by all its Profeſſors. A Religion, that heartily embraces all the Counſel of God, but with a juſt Indignation rejects the additional Articles of Men; and will not ſubmit to the Tyranny, of Idolatry in Practice, and Contradictions in Belief, being impoſed as Terms neceſſary to Salvation. A Religion ſo exactly Calculated for the Perfection of all divine and human, moral and ſocial, private and publick Virtues; that the Zealots of Rome have nothing truly Primitive and Chriſtian which We want; Nothing particular to Their Communion, which We are not better without; In plain Engliſh, Nothing which they ſtickle for converting us to, but newer or older Errors, Uncharitableneſs and Faction, Diſloyalty and Slavery. Laſtly, (which comes up cloſer to the Occaſion of this Aſſembly) A Religion in Meekneſs and Innocence ſo like its Divine Author, that it will not allow Us to take Sanctuary in thoſe infamous Means for our own Preſervation, which our Adverſaries, without any Scruple or Remorſe, make choice of for our Deſtruction.
On theſe Two Privilges then let us, alter the Example of Moſses, fix our Contemplation, and ground our Happineſſ. The Convenience of our Situation, The Benignity of our Climate, The various Productions of our Country, the Benefits of our Navigation, The Wealth of our People, The Wiſdom of our Laws, The admirable Temper of our Conſtitution, The Terrour of our Arms by Sea and Land, And the ſhining Graces of our Queen, Theſe are glorious Advantages, and an unexampled Concurrence of Bleſſings. But let me notwithſtanding crave leave to ſay, that, to aſcribe our preſent Enjoyments or our future Expectations to any or to all of Theſe, is to ſtop too ſhort. They are indeed proper Inſtruments and ſubordinate Cauſes, but the Original and Efficacious Cauſe of all lies higher yet. It is the Favourable Providence of God, It is the Excellence of our Relgion, that conſtitute our true Greatneſs and Glory, our Hope and Crown of Rejoicing. For ſuch is the mutual Connexion and Dependence of theſe Two, that to the Favour of God we owe the Preſervation of his Truth
