The Kingdom of God Among Men, Tract 1 · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
Religions main strength next under the Power of God, lies in its own intrinisick excellency.
THe propagating of true Christianity, and the sound state of Religion, agreeable thereunto against the enmity of the adverse World, is worthy of the utmost indeavours of all pious men; and to search into the right ways and means thereof, is a necessary and noble speculation. But it must first be known, that its Stability and Victory in the World depends primarily upon the Wisdom, Truth, and Power of God ingaged for it, and therefore it cannot fall by the Power and Policy of Adversaries, nor sink and lose it self by the weakness or defectibility of its Professors; but it remains firm and sure, and the same for ever.
Next after the Power of God, its main strength is its own intrinsick excellency. It is upheld chiefly by its own principles, which are mans perfection, and place our nature in its due state, and put both Persons and Societies into the only right frame, and reduce all things into their own place and order. They have nothing in them of iniquity, impurity, vanity or unfitness; but are perfectly holy, just, and good, and give unto God his due, and unto men theirs, and that upon the most excellent grounds that can be laid; as the Glory of God, our conformity to him, our fellowship with him, our reward from him and in him, and all in and through a Mediator, who is God and Man in one Person, and the Head of all the faithfull, who are his Body. The Godly practice conformable to these principles, is from a cause that faileth not, to wit, the inhabitation and influence of the Holy Spirit of God.
Though true Christianity be far above the strain and reach of meer nature, yet it is practicable by Divine grace; and notwithstanding the imperfect state of its Professors, it faileth not of its end, which is to bring into the Possession of the heavenly Kingdom, the fruition of God and everlasting glory: yea, it doth effect great and excellent things in the present world.
Its rules are pure and perfect, its motives are great and high, and of indubitable verity. They that live after it, are a Law to themselves and an aw to others. No other institution Philosophical or Religious, is so powerfull to restrain inordinate affection, and to settle the minds and affairs of men in the greatest peace and order, as far as human imperfection can arrive. It denies all vicious excesses, and sensuall pollutions, yea all offensive levites, and unchristian irregularities, and all fellowship therewith: Yet morosity and sowreness of Spirit, it by no means approves; but serenity of disposition, and freeness and sweetness of conversation is both commanded and caused by it.
It reacheth the hidden man of the heart, and awes the Conscience; it forbids the inward motions of intemperance and injustice, it condemns and loaths Hypocrisie, and makes all external works to be nothing without sincerity. It makes sincere love the principle, and placeth it at the bottom of our whole behaviour towards others, and therefore prompts and powerfully ingages to mutual succour in the time of need. It maintains a charity unknown to the Infidel World, and which is a vertue peculiar to it in the greatest vigor and extent. It injoyns the love of enemies.
It exalts Humility, meekness and mutual forbearance as chief vertues, which were contemned by the pride of moral Heathens; And therefore it makes men just and peaceable: And yet withal it hath the best grounds of true fortitude and magnanimity; And therefore Damns that pusillanimity and foolish softness of disposition, which betrays truth and vertue. Self-denial is one of its grand precepts, without which none can live under its discipline and so it over-rules and controles that selfishness which is the Arch-rebell against God, and the root of all mischief, and turns the World upside down. It teaches men to live above the Honors and riches of the World, and takes off the heart from them.
Its principles most intirely accord with the true interest of the Higher powers, it declare their authority to be from God as they are his Vicegerents, and teacheth them to rule in Subordination to him according to his laws; And it awes the Consciences of Subjects to obdience. If Rulers command any thing repugnant to the Laws of God, it forbiddeth subjects to perform such-commands, yet withall obligeth to submit with patience to the unjust penalties of non-performance, and to avoid Mutinies and Rebellions. It also teacheth the people in Spiritual matters to receive the Churches directive with their own discretive judgment, and so not to derogate from the just Authority of Ecclesiastical Superiors.
It is indeed the chiefest strength of all just Governments and Societies. The truth is, it doth hedge in with thorns the lusts of men, as Pride, Malice, Revenge, Covetousness and Sensuality; but it secures and inlarges their wholsome comforts and injoyments, their proprieties, immunities and all just priviledges. It advanceth Righteousness, Temperance, Beneficience and all other duties appertaining to mankind. Wherever it roots and spreads, it makes no small part of the Prudence, Courage, Industry and Frugality, and by consequence of the wealth and strength of a Nation. There is no aggregation of men in the world, wherein appears more of that which is good and profitable to men, than is found where the influence of this profession becomes predominant, whether in a Nation or Kingdom, or City or Family.
The Spirit of Christianity is the Spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind, which gives great advantage for Prudence, Soberness, steddiness of Conversation. The seriousness and gravity of this way disposeth not to futil talking, childish credulity, easiness and rashness, but to a considerate freeness, and direct dealing with a generous caution and reservedness in due Season.
Though its followers cannot link themselves to Factions, and serve all times and occasions, and go along with the men of this world in their designs throughout: yet they shall not fail of interest in a Nation not wholly vitiated; nor is it hard for them to maintain an influence upon the publick State, if they accommodate themselves to serve it so far as conscience and prudence leads them. Considerate men will not contemn them, and they that own them shall know where to find them, and in pursuing good designs shall find them fast friends. Religion doth not cast men down into stupidity, pusillanimity, or sluggish neglect of opportunity; but erects them to a Prudent, and temperate vigor of Spirit, and regular activity, whereby they become fit for the affairs of human life in a higher or lower Sphear, according to their different capacities.