to fearch out and understand what is the true Religion, and that not only in respect of God, that he may worship Him in a way acceptable to his Will; but in refpect of himself, because thereon depends all the true Comforts of his Life here, and eternal Happiness hereafter.

But if Religion be fo much the Concern of every fingle Man, certainly it ought to be much more the Care of Governors, especially the Supreme. For the Safety and Well-doing both of themfelves aud others, of Governors and Governed, of Rulers and People, doth or ought to oblige them to a more than common Care in this matter. And tho' the Strength and Security of any Government confifts chiefly in the Unanimity, Agreement, and Obedience of the Subject, without which neither the Authority, nor the Wisdom of the Ruler can do much; yet People are not very forward to fee their Intereft in this, but being prone to evil, and by Nature corrupt, turbulent and unruly, they are too apt to create Quarrels, foment Disturbances, and embroil Affairs, which always makes Government

weak,

weak, often overturns it. Now in this cafe, true Religion is, if not the only, yet the chief Remedy; as that which alone can effectually procure the one, and reftrain the other. All other Ties have not the ftrength of Pack-thread, and will be as eafily broken as Sampfon did his Wyths; because there is nothing elfe that can oblige the Subject to his Duty in Confcience. And unless he can apprehend the Eye of Heaven beholding all the moft fecret of his Actions, which when it pleaseth can punish him here, but will certainly hereafter deal him eternal Rewards or Punishments, according to his Behaviour in this Life, he will no longer regard the Commands of his Superiors, than they fuit with his Intereft or Humour; but if they crofs either, or be uneafie, he will fet them at nought, tho' they be never fo juft and neceffary, if he thinks he hath ftrength to withstand them, or cunning enough to evade them: And tho' they may doubt of their ability to oppofe the Power of Authority, yet they are very prone to prefume upon their Skill, to outwit the Law. And tho' they are often caught in their A 3

3

own

own Trap, yet this proves not fo effectual a Warning to others, but that whatever Thoughts they may have of their Strength, they feldom fail to retain too great an Opinion of their own Wit, and at every turn to betake themselves to their as foolish as wicked Politicks. Princes therefore, whether they regard their own Safety or their Subjects good, ought by all lawful means to endeavour, that their People's Minds may be so truly and throughly poffefs'd with a Senfe of Religion, that they may think themfelves conftantly obliged to the Practice of it: And then will thofe, who rule for God, govern most fafely and honourably, when they rule by Him and his Affistance.

Upon this account in the general (tho' they were mistaken in the particular application, and therefore not justifiable) it was, that the wifeft Heathen Emperors, Kings and States, would never endure, that the Religion of their Country should be oppofed or affronted; as being fenfible, that it was not poffible to fecure fuch Men firm to any Humane Authority, who were regardless of a Divine Power; and

jealous,

jealous, that upon opportunity no Mifchief would be unattempted against themselves, by those who were not overaw'd by the Scourge of Heaven. Hence it is obfervable, that such Persons, right or wrong, were generally reputed Atheists, and fuffer'd under the Accufation of Atheifm. Under this Notion fell Anaxagoras and Socrates; and even our glorious Chriftian Martyrs were not try'd upon the true Principles of their Religion, but fuffer'd under the malicious and lying Suggeftions of being either downright Atheists, or Men of the vileft Principles and Practices, and fuch as were dangerous to all Government, and unfit to be fuffer'd in Humane Society. And tho' much may be attributed to their noble Sufferings, which startled others, and made them enquire into that Cause, which infpired Men with fuch unparallell'd Courage; yet seeing all the World, and Hell it felf, were obftinately bent against it, it could hardly have prevail'd against Error, had not God by a special Providence maintained it, and supported those who embraced it; and seeing that Gol

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God designed it for the Good and Salvation of Man, it might certainly long e're this have poffefs'd the whole Earth, had not the Degeneracy of the Profeffors of it hinder'd its progrefs, by being a Scandal and Difcouragement to the Reception of the true and pure Religion.

But tho' it may feem, that even a false Religion, furnished with Maxims for the fecurity of Government, is much better, with refpect to the Community, than no Religion at all; yet this fatal Confequence attends it, that how ferviceable foever it may be here, both Rulers and People shall eternally perish under it hereafter. And indeed the benefit of it here is of no certainty. For difcerning Men will discover the Cheat, and find out the weakness and falfity of it, upon which one of these two things will follow: Either that thence they will rafhly take up a disgust against all Religion, falfly concluding, that because there are so many wrong ways, therefore there is none right, and fo become Atheistical, and confequently dangerous to Government; or else they will employ themselves to find out that only true Re

ligion,