A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

VI. What man upon Earth can peremptorily assert, whether Peace, or §VIPersecution, be just at such a time, infallibly best for the Church of Christ? 'Tis easily granted, that we must at all times pray for, and endeavour the universal (both outward, and spiritual) Peace of the Church: and this, that we may at all times do any thing but Sin, to avoid or put an end to Persecution; but let's consider each as in the former instances.

That the Peace of the Church is beyond Expression desirable, he is §1no Christian that denies it; those that are the greatest troublers of the Churches Peace, do usually proclaim their Friendship to it, calling their Affection to a party, Love to the Church, and the welfare of their party, the Peace of the Church: Now though their Charity is too narrow to contract the Church into a party, their Notion of Peace is large enough, they would have it commensurate with the Church. So that I need not be large to prove what no body denies: Outward Prosperity was so much the Blessing of the Old Covenant, that some confine it to that, but others upon better Grounds expect more under the Gospel; for^d this was no inconsiderable end of Christs coming into the World, to deliver us out of the hands of our worldly Enemies, to serve him, without affrighting fears of men, in Holiness before God, and Righteousness before men, all the days of our Life: Which Prosperity when the Church hath enjoyed, according to Christs purchase, and Promise, then they have walked in the filial fear of the Lord, and in the encouraging^e Comforts of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied in number of Converts, and increase of their Graces that were formerly converted: But here, as we use to say of pleasant weather, 'Tis pity fair weather should do any harm; so 'tis pity the Churches Prosperity should do any harm.