The glory and interest of nations professing the Gospel preached at a private fast,…

3. Value, encourage, and close with them, in and with whom is this presence of Christ. They are the Glory of the Nation; it's peace, safety and prosperity will be found wrapped up in them. I know there lie divers considerable objections against the practise of this duty; I shall name some few of them, and leave the exhortation unto your considerations.

1. Who are those persons in whom is this presence of Christ? are they such as profess indeed Religion, but neglect all Rules of righteousness; that would be accounted Godly, but care not to be honest? the marks of whose miscarriages are written on their foreheads; are not these so far from being the Glory, that they are the shame of any nation. I pray give me leave to endeavour the rolling away of this great stone of offence, in these few ensuing considerations.

1. Who are those persons in whom is this presence of Christ? are they such as professe indeed Religion, but neglect all Rules of righteousnesse; that would be accounted Godly, but care not to be honest? the markes of whose miscarriages are written on their foreheads; are not these so far from being the Glory, that they are the shame of any nation. I pray give me leave to endeavour the rolling away of this great stone of offence, in these few ensuing considerations.

1. Then I shall willingly lay this down for a principle, that he is not Religious, who is not also Righteous; as also I shall not much value his Righteousness, who is not Religious. He that is righteous doth righteousness; he doth so, in the bent of his spirit and course of his ways and walkings. If a man be froward, heady, highminded, sensual unjust, oppressive, worldly, self-seeking, a hater of good men, false, treacherous, let him pretend to what he will; that mans religion is in vain; he may have a form of Godliness, ⟨p. 19⟩