the difpofers thereof, be obtained for perfons who are no ways deferving of them; but when all matters are concluded, it will be otherwife. The Divine Judgement will be impartial ;-no tricks of policy, nor force of bribes, will have any influence upon the Almighty. Money, in your Spiritual Courts, will oftentimes carry a bad Caufe; and the influence of friends prevent deserved punishments; when those who are poor, and want intereft, fuffer for their iniquities to the full extent. Things will be managed otherwife at the General Affize, when the merits of every cause will be ftrictly regarded, and thofe, who have been deserted in this world, find a friend that will stick fafter than a brother,

4. It will be according to law. The Almighty will not judge men's actions capriciously. My Lords, you will have a fair trial. Men's works fhall be tried of what fort they are; which fuppofes N 3

that

that there is fome law and rule by which they are judged. The law will be fairly laid open to every one. The books fhall be opened, and those that are tried shall be judged out of the things which are written in the Books. No persons will have occafion to fay, that they are judged by Laws which they had no opportunity to know; for the Word of God will be the rule of all Judgement. If men's works are agreeable to Divine Revelation, there is no fear that they will be condemned on account of them; but all works of human invention, that have been fubftituted in the place of those commanded in the Divine Word, will certainly be disapproved. If the Almighty had intended that his rational creatures should walk according to their pleasure in any thing pertaining to the Kingdom of Chrift, he would never have made it a crime to depart from thofe pofitive rules which he hath given in Scripture; but as he hath declared the written Word fufficient

cient for all things relating to his Church, it is evident that all human contrivances are excluded. If all these political manœuvres of yours are according to the Law of God revealed in his Word, there is no doubt but they will be approved; but in cafe they are found contrary to that Divine Rule, they will be condemned as unlawful, and you yourselves be in jeopardy. Whatfoever any perfons receive into their religious fyftem, which is not to be found in the book of Divine Laws, must be considered as evil works, because it is received in despite of that compleat rule of righteousness,

The Word of God will be a fufficient rule for judging all things; and, with regard to what pertains to your Lordfhips, you will find it competent. By this Law your titles, offices, and behaviour, will be tried. If there is fuch a title as Lords Spiritual in the Scripture, then your claim to this dignity will probably

N 4

bably be accepted, at least you may be acquitted for affuming it. But, pro

vided that is not to be found in the Scripture, how will you look, my Lords? Before the approach of this folemn day, let us try if we can find such a title applied to men in religious offices. It may be of some service to you to know the truth of this point, for the benefit of your own Consciences; for if fuch titles are not to be found in Scripture, you have now an opportunity to repent of affuming them, and may prefently give them up, with all their appendages; and, provided they are authorised by Divine Authority, your Confciences may rest at ease, and you may wait the day of trial with confidence and affurance. The word of God gives the title of Lord to the Deity, to Kings, Hufbands, Mafters, and Prophets; but all thefe characters are very different from that of Lord Spiritual. You are Lords in your own houses, Lords to your wives and fervants;

vants; but you cannot be Lords over the Confciences of either of them, nor can you lawfully receive titles of Lordfhip for any religious character which you affume. In all the Scripture there is no Spiritual Lord mentioned, except : Jefus Chrift, who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings. This title, as it is not to be found authorised in the book of Divine Laws, you ought quickly to lay afide, left the judgement of God come upon you unawares, and you be found guilty of affuming titles altogether contrary to the Law of God.

As this dignity is not warranted in Scripture, it is reasonable to fuppofe that Christians fhould not affume it; but if it is positively forbidden, it argues great guilt to claim honours prohibited by the Word of the living God. In the kingdoms of this world the Laws fet bounds and regulations to honorary titles, and no person is allowed to affume the titles

which