A Christian Directory

§. 98. 15. Christianity and true Godliness containeth, not only all these Precepts that tend to peace and order in the world, but also strength and willingness and holy dispositions for the practising of such precepts. Other Teachers can speak but to the ears; but Christ doth write his Laws upon the heart: so that he maketh them such as he commandeth them to be: Only this is the remnant of our unhappiness, that while he is performing the Cure on us, we retain a remnant of our old diseases, and so his work is yet imperfect: And as sin in strength is it that setteth on fire the course of nature, so the relicts of it will make some disturbance in the world, according to its degree: But nothing is more sure than that the Godliest Christian is the most orderly and loyal subject, and the best member (according to his parts and power) in the Common-wealth; and that sin is the cause, and holiness the cure, of all the disorders and calamities of the world.

§. 99. 16. Lastly, Consult with experience it self, and you will find, that all this which I have spoken, hath been ordinarily verified. What Heathenism tendeth to▪ you may see even in the Roman Government (for there you will confess it was at the best). To read of the tumults, the cruelties,¹ the popular unconstancy, faction and injustice: How rudely the Soldiers made their Emperors, and how easily and barbarously they murdered them? and how few of them from the days of Christ till Constantine did dye the common death of all men, and scape the hands of those that were their subjects; I think this will satisfy you, whither mens enmity to Christianity tendeth! And then to observe how suddenly the case was altered, as soon as the Emperors and Subjects became Christian, (till in the declining of the Greek Empire, some Officers and Courtiers who aspired to the Crown did murder the Emperors): And further to observe, that the rebellious doctrines and practices against Governors, have been all introduced by factions and heresies, which forsook Christianity so far before they incurred such guilt; and that it is either the Papal Usurpation (which is in its nature an enemy to Princes) that hath deposed and trampled upon Emperors and Kings; or else some mad Enthusiasticks that over-run Religion and their wits, that at Munster (and in England some lately) by the advantage of their prosperity, have dared to do violence against Sovereignty; but the more any men were Christians and truly Godly, the more they detested all such things: All this will tell you that the most serious, and Religious Christians, are the best members of the Civil Societies upon Earth.