A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

In a word, Be the accusation against any particular person just or unjust, nothing is more sure and clear then that he is most unjust that will charge the Christian Religion as guilty of Countenancing any Rebellions, Conspiracies, sedition, disobedience, faction or divisions. Christ went before us in his own example to pay tribute to Caesar: and commanded us to give to Caesar the things that are Caesars: and their false accusing him and condemning him as an offender against Caesar, did no whit move him from the duty of his state of humiliation. What can be more against all Treason and perfidiousness, then that holy doctrine which commandeth us the exactest performance of every lawful promise, much more of our Oaths, and duties of Allegiance? what can be more against Rebellions then that holy doctrine which teacheth us a life of patience and meekness, condemning private revenge, and commanding us rather to turn the other cheek to him that smiteth us, and to give our coat to him that taketh away our cloak, and go two miles with him that would compel us to go one, that is, to suffer yet more, rather then revenge our selves or break peace, or order, or raise wars, to escape such injuries? It is a crucified Christ that conquered by suffering, that ⟨p. 172⟩is your example: And our Religion is but our Conformity to him in his sufferings and his holiness. He hath made it part of our duty to himself to obey Kings and Rulers, and all Superiors, not only the good, but the froward, and to take it patiently if we suffer for well-doing, and not to return so much as a reviling, dishonouring word, or murmuring, rebellious thought. It is not fighting for our selves, but following him with the Cross, and forsaking all that we have, that Christ hath made the work of his disciples, and the necessary condition of his promise of salvation, Luke 14. 33. There is no Master in all the world that so strictly commandeth Patience and forbearance, and forgiving and Love, and Peace and submission to one another as Jesus Christ doth: He sets the hearts of all his servants on another Kingdom, and tells them they have greater things to mind then riches or honours or domination upon earth. He taketh the bone of contention from before them, and bids them leave such things as these to the men of the world, that have their portion in this life.

In a word, Be the accusation against any particular person just or unjust, nothing is more sure and clear then that he is most unjust that will charge the Christian Religion as guilty of Countenancing any Rebellions, Conspiracies, sedition, disobedience, faction or divisions. Christ went before us in his own example to pay tribute to Casar: and commanded us to give to Caesar the things that are Csars: and their false accusing him and condemning him as an offender against Caesar, did no whit move him from the duty of his state of humiliation. What can be more against all Treason and perfidiousness, then that holy doctrine which commandeth us the exactest performance of every lawful promise, much more of our Oaths, and duties of Allegiance? what can be more against Rebellions then that holy doctrine which teacheth us a life of patience and meekness, condemning private revenge, and commanding us rather to turn the other cheek to him that smiteth us, and to give our coat to him that taketh away our cloak, and go two miles with him that would compell us to go one, that is, to suffer yet more, rather then revenge our selves or break peace, or order, or raise wars, to escape such injuries? It is a crucified Christ that conquered by suffering, that