depend greatly on ourselves, and an in, crease of Grace cannot reasonably be expected but in proportion to the fincerity of our endeavours after improvement. It must be the united force both of our own will and God's affiftance, which is to determine the conflict between Flesh, and Spirit, and give the latter that pre-eminence which is agreeable to the Reason, Duty, and Happiness of Man. SER SERMON IX. ST. JOHN, Chapter xiv. Verse 27. My Peace I give unto you, THE declared intent of our Saviour's coming into the world was to restore peace to Mankind; the Angels at his Birth fang Glory to God in the highest, on Earth Peace-Good will towards Man. He was styled by the Prophet the Prince of Peace; And this was the bleffing which before his departure he bequeathed to his difciples," My Peace I give unto you." Yet whoever looks into the History of man mankind, and enquires for the cause of the many evils which have made the world, in the degree it is, a fcene of violence, will find much which at firft view may appear chargeable to the account of the Chriftian Religion. Notwithstanding that univerfal benevolence so strongly recommended by the precepts, and example of our bleffed Saviour, the profeffors of his Gospel have been in almost every age fince its first publication engaged in difputes, which have too frequently ended in all the miseries of War, and Perfecution, It must indeed be confeffed, that the mild influence of our holy religion, breathing nothing but gentlenefs, forbearance, and charity, has proved in numberless inftances too feeble a restraint against the corrupt paffions, and worldly interefts of mankind. The uncharitable spirit of contending parties has at times filled the world with Calamities and Crimes that have difgraced the Chriftian Name, while under the fervor of intemperate zeal every senti ment ment of humanity has been too often utterly extinguished. The Disciples themselves to whom the promife of Peace was expressly given, and who were particularly commiffioned to preach the Gospel of Peace, experienced all the perfecution which the malice of their enemies could inflict upon them; fo much more applicable to their condition was the former declaration of their Master, that he came not to fend Peace, but a Sword. How then (it may reasonably be asked) is the plain fenfe of the text to be reconciled either with Chrift's own words, or with the circumstances which have accompanied the propagation of the Gospel? The difficulty of this feeming contradiction is at once removed, by attending only to the distinction which our Lord himfelf made, between the Peace of God, and the Peace of the World. In a very early communication with his Disciples when he first called them to him, and commiffioned them to preach the Gof |