People; and eſpecially for quickning them to Repentance; but it certainly anſwer'd not their End, at leaſt not in Proportion to the injury it did another Way; and indeed, as God himſelf thro' the whole Scriptures, rather draws to him by Invitations, and calls to turn to him and live, than drives us by Terror and Amazement; So I muſt confeſs, I thought the Miniſters ſhould have done alſo, imitating our bleſſed Lord and Maſter in this, that his whole Goſpel, is full of Declarations from Heaven of Gods Mercy, and his readineſs to receive Penitents, and forgive them; complaining, ye will not come unto me, that ye may have Life; and that therefore, his Goſpel is called the Goſpel of Peace, and the Goſpel of Grace.
But we had ſome good Men, and that of all Perſuaſions and Opinions, whoſe Diſcourſes were full of Torror; who ſpoke nothing but diſmal Things; and as they brought the People together with a kind of Horror, ſent them away in Tears, propheſying nothing but evil Tidings; terrifying the People with the Apprehenſions of being utterly deſtroy'd, not guiding them, at leaſt not enough, to Cry to Heaven for Mercy.
It was indeed, a Time of very unhappy Breaches among us in matters of Religion: Innumerable Sects, and Diviſions, and ſeperate Opinions prevail'd among the People; the Church of England was reſtor'd indeed with the Reſtoration of tie Monarchy, about four Year before; but the Miniſters and Preachers of the Presbyterians, and Independants, and of all the other Sorts of Profeſſions, had begun to gather ſeperate Societies, and erect Altar againſt Altar, and all thoſe had their Meetings for Worſhip apart, as they have but not ſo many then, the Diſſenters being not thorowly form'd into a Body as they are ſince, and thoſe Congregations which were thus gather'd to-gether,
