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their own Folly. And to this it might be added, if there were Room, or Neceffity for adding it, and confirming it by an Enumeration of Particulars, That there are not Many of the Fundamental, Effential Principles of the Chriftian Religion, whether relating to Faith or Practice, but what were, in That Unhappy Time, Rejected, or Perverted and Violated, by Men of One Denomination, or Other. But it may perhaps be no Inconfiderable branch of Compaffion towards Them, to Avoid defcending into a more Particular Account of Them. And if any one should be defirous of faying the Higheft things that can be faid, of the True Greatness and Firmness of Mind, and Spirit of Goodness, which fhone forth Illuftriously in our Suffering King: Let it be faid, That They were Equal to the Debasement, and Impiety, and Iniquity of the People, which Devised, and Executed thofe Sufferings upon Him.

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But the obligations of Duty to God, and to my Country will not fuffer me to Close this Difcourfe, without this Further obfervation from it; That the most

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Useful, and Effectual Evidence, which Faithful Subjects can give, of their Fidelity and Loyalty to the King, and of their Sincere and Ardent Love of their Country, confifts in their Sincere and Sedulous Endeavours, as their Various Capacities require or allow them, to Defend and Promote the Honour of God, the Supreme Governour and Judge of Humane Society. For This Confequence feems Neceffarily to arife from what hath been faid, That the Stability and Glories of the Throne are never to be Intirely Depended on, Unless Virtue and Religion, in Those who stand Below, be the Supporters of it. And it appears, to a Demonstration, in the Hiftory of the Jews, and from the Exprefs Declarations of God's Holy Spirit, that the Profperity of a Nation does Ufually Rife or Fall, in Proportion to the Provifions which it makes for the Security and Propagation of Religion.

That an Univerfal and Inviolable Concern for God's Honour Demonftrated by Effectual Provisions for the Prefervation and Advancement of our Holy Religion,

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may Ever remain Here, as the Firm and Immoveable Foundation of the Profperity and Happiness of the Kingdom, God of his Infinite mercy grant, by the Influence of his Holy Spirit upon us, and our Pofterity, through Jefus Chrift, our Bleffed Lord and Saviour. Amen.

To Father, Son, and Holy Ghoft, three Perfons and One God, be all Honour and Glory, Power and Dominion henceforth and for evermore.

Amen.

SERMON

SERMON X.

A Difcourfe of Murther.

T

EXOD. XX. 13.

Thou shalt not kill.

HOSE Natural Impreffions and Obligations of Moral Duty, which immediately relate to the Prefer

vation of Humane Life, are, in fo Peculiar a manner, Strong guards upon it, that furely it must be a very Powerful Temptation, which is able to break through Them. Other Sins do more eafily Prevail over us, because they are Agreable and Pleafing to our Corrupt Inclinations and Difpofitions; But, Corrupted as our Nature is, there is something still so shocking to us in the Sin of Murther, that a Man muft undergo as much Struggle and A a 3 Self

Self-Denial in Complying with This kind of Temptation, as he ufually feels in Refifting Others. The Utmoft Violence must be offer'd to his own Difpofition, before he can prevail with himself to offer Violence to his Own, or to his Neighbour's Life. The very Thoughts of this Ghaftly Sin do Startle, and Diftract, and Distort the Soul; which Recoils and flies back from them with Confufion and Detestation. And, left any thing should be wanting, which could render thefe Strong Bonds of Duty ftill more Inviolable, God hath been pleased to Confirm and Inforce the Voice of Nature, by this Express Revealed Law,

Thou shalt not kill; In difcourfing of which it will be neceffary,

I. First, To Adjust the Latitude or Extent of the Commandment, and

II. Secondly, To reprefent the Guilt, and Danger, which Men incur by the Tranfgrefion of it.

I. It will be necessary to Adjust the Latitude or Extent of the Precept. For, as there are fome Inftances of Murther, which are not Univerfally Allowed to be

Such,

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