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A Good Conversation.

A

SERMON

Preached at the City

OF

New-York,

January 19th 1706, 7.

By Francis Makemie, Minister of the Gospel of CHRIST.

Math. 5. 11. Bleffed are ye when men fhall revile you, and perfecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my Names fake.

Acts 5. 29. Then Peter, and the other Apoftles answered, and faid, We ought to obey God, rather then men.

Preces et lachrymæ funt arma Ecclefiæ.

BOSTON in N. E.

Printed by B. Green, for Benj. Eliot.
Sold at his Shop. 1707.

I

Dedicated,

To the Small Congregation,
who heard the following

SERMON.

My Brethren,

Appeal to you, as Witnesses, that this is the Ser mon, for which I am now a Prisoner. And when you are informed, I designed it for Two Discourses, you need not be amazed at its bulk, beyond the New Mode of Preaching: Tho' you may remember I mentioned all these heads, now Published; to which I only add some enlargements. As I first delivered this prac tical and plain Sermon to few, so I am now commit ting it to Publick view of all; that both you and they may try it, at the bar of Scripture, Law and Reason, and impartially determine, whether it contains any thing favouring of Pernicious Doctrine, and Principles; any thing to the disturbance of the Church of England, or of the Government. If I had been thoroughly ac quainted with New-York, and the irregularities thereof, which afterwards I was an Eye, and Ear Witness of, I could not have fixed on a more Suitable Doctrine; which must be purely attributed to the Divine Providence: This was not among the least of my induce ments for putting this Sermon into the hands of those who heard it not. And that this Discourse may be blessed of God, to awaken Sinners to reflect on, and detect the irregularities of their past Lives, and furnish any with prevailing Considerations, to a more universal Conformity to the Rules of the Gospel, is and shall be the Sincere desire of him, who is a Well-Wisher to Immortal Souls.

March 3d
1706, 7.

Francis Makemie,

A Good Conversation.

PSALMS L. 23.

To him that ordereth his Conversation
aright, will I shew the Salvation of God.

The Christian Religion has so full, so compleat, and perfect a Rule, or Canon for its guide and direction, that there is nothing deficient that is necessary for the Christians Counsel, and for advancing his accomplishment, in every State and Condition, in every Station, Capacity, or Relation, men may be placed in of God, in the World; whither for instructing blinded and dead Sinners, what Glory and Perfection they were originally Created in, and wilfully forfeited and lost, by Adams Apostasy; or for detecting the Enormities and Irregularities, both of Heart and Life, as a clear Looking Glass, wherein we view both the inward and outward man. And not only points out to Sinners the true way of Life and Salvation, but most particularly instructs us, how to Think, how to Speak, and how to Act, both towards God, and towards one another. And this is the Word of Life, the Revelation of Heaven, the Rule, and Test, both of Faith, and Life; which was not originally at Sundry times and in diverse manners, communicated to the World in Vain; neither preserved, nor propogated through the several Periods, and many Generations of this corrupted World, by the powerful, and wonderful over-ruling Providence of Heaven, from the deepest Malice of Hell, and corrupt designs of men; but that it might be valued by us, and embraced, as an Universal guide, and Special Directory for regulating our Lives, and Conversations, and

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