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in the christian church, who, instead of yielding due obedience to the existing powers, have attempted to seize the government into their own hands, from a fanatical conceit, that dominion is founded in grace: as if the design of the gospel was to dissolve all our civil obligations, to reverse the order and state of the world, to set servants on horses, and bring down princes to walk like servants upon the earth. The primitive christians knew nothing of this frenzy; and their passive conduct under the most barbarous tyrants, is a standing reproach to such modern christians, who, if every thing does not come up to their mind, and tally with their code of rights, can think of nothing less than binding their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron.

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Let me then press upon the reader, if he be one (as I hope he is) who is jealous for the honour of the christian name; to manifest to the world in his temper and conduct, that christianity, so far from superseding the duties arising from our natu

ral or civil relations, binds them more strongly upon us, and in forming good men, forms good subjects; that by enforcing a supreme regard to God, it most effectually promotes a quiet and cheerful submission to the ordinances of men; and that it is only by a prudent and peaceable deportment, that good christians are ambitious to vindicate their profession, and to put to silence the calumnies of their enemies.

CHRISTIAN POLITICS.

PART IV.

ON THE WAY TO LIVE HAPPILY UNDER ALL GOVERNMENTS, AND IN ALL SI

TUATIONS.

SECTION I.

The Foundation of the Happiness here proposed, must be laid in Peace of Conscience, and in holy and well-regulated Affections.

EVERY plan of happiness that depends

on external circumstances, is neither practicable in its nature, nor, if practicable, would be of long duration. Let us suppose (as some have supposed) that a perfect system of legislation and government was sufficient to render every individual of

a nation happy; yet where shall we find such a system? and, if found, how shall we 'secure its continuance? A single tyrannic prince, or seditious chief, would be enough to derange the whole fabric, and lay it prostrate in the dust.

We must therefore, in our search after happiness, learn to extend our view beyond all the contrivances of human wisdom, and the efforts of human power; and, if with seriousness and humility we thus prosecute the inquiry, it will not ultimately be in vain. For since next to the glory of God, happiness is the great end of human existence; and since so many notices of divine philanthropy, confirmed and ratified by express declarations of scripture, appear through all the works of creation and providence; we have reason to believe, notwithstanding the apostasy of our nature, that no man's condition, without his own great default, ever becomes so utterly hopeless and wretched, but that some path lies from it, which, if pursued with persevering diligence, will bring him at last out of darkness and misery into a state of light and comfort.

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