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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.

I

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.

VERY plan of happiness that depends

EVE

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.

The chief sources of man's infelicity are to be found in his guilty conscience, and his disordered passions; and till some effectual remedy be applied to these evils, he cannot long be at rest under any government or in any situation.

I. A sense of guilt naturally produces fear; fear of divine displeasure, and of its awful consequences beyond this life. It is to relieve themselves from this anxiety that men turn towards every quarter, and apply to every resource; to the engagements of business, or the dissipations of pleasure; to philosophic speculations, or to some species of religion or of superstition.

1. To assert that men often have recourse to business as a relief to that inward dis

quiet which arises from an unpacified conscience, is to assert what charity must be pained to admit, but what I fear is unquestionable fact. When Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, we are told that he dwelt in the land of Nod, eastward of Eden*;

* Gen. iv. 16.

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