106

Vol. I.

Devotion and Charity.

ACTS X. 4.

Thy Prayers and thy Alms are come up for a Memorial before God.

S

COME obferving what Blood and Ruine, what Luxury and Avarice fills almost all places in Chriftendom, have been fometimes tempted to queftion, whether Chriftianity had wrought any effect in the World anfwerable to thofe glorious Eulogies beftowed upon it. The Power of God, Rom. 1. 16. And the Wisdom of God, Ephef. 1. 8. Tis true indeed, Idolatry is well nigh banifhed the World, at least the reformed World: But fince Men facrifice (though not to Baal or Moloch) to Ambition and Cruelty, (though not to Afbtaroth and Mammon, yet) to Luft and Covetoufnefs, they are to be judged not to have quitted but exchanged their Idols: 'Tis true, there are vaft numbers abroad and at home, who dedicate themselves to the Service of the now known God; among these we may find Religion abroad (if

it be to be found) here in the pompous Serm. 4. Ceremonies, or Proceffions and Feftivals, there in the Antick habits and Selfdenying dresses of Monks and Nunns: At home in Volumes of Controversies and Superftitious Separations. But fince 'tis apparent how much Evil the one and the other served to disguise, and how little good they have been able to produce; if this were all the Fruits of Chriftian Religion, I fhould be yet to feek what it had brought forth answerable to the glorious Prophecies relating to it, or to the great Characters of

it.

But in this Affembly, and the Occafion of it, I meet with a very fatisfactory Answer to this Objection, against the Vertue and Efficacy of the Chriftian Religion; here we may behold one, and that no Spurious but true and natural Off-fpring of the Chriftian Faith, and fuch a one as doth abundantly vindicate the Glory and Reputa tion of it: I mean Charity; Such a Charity, as for the Largenefs of its Bounty and the Prudence of its Regu lation, may become the Wealth and Grandeur, I may add the Majesty of its Founders, and the Wisdom and Piety of its Governours; a Charity which in H 2

one

Vol. I. one word may become the Excellence and the Power of the Christian Faith.

That this Charity fo happily begun, fo piously and profperoufly conducted hitherto, may not only be preferved but daily encreased, is the End and Business of this Solemnity; to which, that I may contribute what I can, I fhall propose to your Imitation an example which for you to equal can be no difparagement, because approved of God and Angels. To outdo will be a great Honour and Advantage, but to fall short of it, a Reproach and Scandal; great and wealthy Citizens of the best governed City, by a Roman, by a Souldier, Chriftians by a Pagan, or at best but a Profelyte of Judaifm outdone in Devotion and Charity; It must not be, no I hope better things of you, things that accompany your Salvation, the Honour and Reputation of our Religion, and the Profperity and Glory of this great and opulent City; for I have reafon to expect that nothing elfe will be the reward of a pious and generous Charity, when I confider with what a glorious Applaufe, with what miraculous favour it was crowned in Cornelius; An Angel being difpatched from Heaven to let him know how welcome his Sacri

1

fices were there, and to what Glory and Serm. 4.
Immortality they had recommended
him: Thy Prayers and thine Alms, &c.
In thefe Words we have two parts,
Cornelius his Character, and God's Ap-
probation: ft, Cornelius his Character
confifting of two eminent Vertues, De-
votion and Charity, Thy Prayers and
thine Alms: 2dly, God's Approbation,
are come up for a Memorial before God:
Ift, Of his Devotion: Devotion is an
affection of Mind derived from the Con-
templation of the lovely Perfections of
God, from a lively confideration of his
bounty and goodness towards us, and a
just sense of our dependance upon him:
It expreffes it felf in the perfumes of
Praife, and Thanksgiving, the Flames
of Love, the Pantings and Breathings
of Defire, the refignation of Faith, and
Religious dependance, the Importunities
of humble Fears and the Vigor and A-
ctivity of an unfeigned Zeal and grow-
ing Hope: In this grace or rather emi-
nence or height of Religious perfection
Cornelius excelled: He was a devout Man,
one that feared God with all his house,
and prayed to God always, Verf. 2. There
are two things fo confiderable in this
Character, that though I haften to the
main Design, yet I cannot pass them
with-

H }

Vol. I. without making fome remark upon them: He prayed to God always. This was true Devotion, as fteady and conftant as it was fincere and fervent; the effect not of a heated Imagination, or a fhort-liv'd Paffion, but of well-rooted Principles, and of a purified and exalted Mind: The next thing remarkable is, He feared God with all his Houfe: How lovely, how charming is a bright Example? and how active and invincible is a devout Zeal of God? 'twas it seems in Cornelius like light that could not be confined, but breaking out fhed a vital Influence round about it? But to find now all this in a Pagan, 'tis not a little furprizing; Devotion clad in Steel, hands armed with Inftruments of Death lifted up continually in Prayers; Valour govern'd and fupported too by the humble fear of an invifible Power; A devout Souldier, a devout Roman; I read of the Apostles being continually in the Temple bleffing and praifing God, Luke 24. But this was a Man of a different Light and Profeffion too. I read of Mofes and Joshua whofe Devotion was equal to their valour, who owed their Victories no less to their Prayers than Arms, but this was owing to extraordinary Infpirations and miraculous Appearances of

God;