effectually be brought in to the truth, and knowledge, and fear of God, as well as the Israelites. 12. Moreover, since the holy prophets made prayers, and supplications for all men, as well for the _nations_, as the _Israelites_, how should not we do the same, for the nations, among whom we inhabit, as ingaged by a more especiall obligation, for that we live under their favour and protection? In _Deuteronomy_ 23.7. God commands _Thou shalt not abhorre an Egyptian_, notwithstanding the heavy burthens they afflicted us with, onely _because thou wast a stranger in his land_, because that at the first, they entertained, and received us into their country. As on the other side, _Ezek._ 23.11. he saith, _As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live_. We ought therefore to imitate his actions, and not to hate any man, upon the mere account of religion, but onely to pray to the Lord for his conversion; and this also, without giving offence, or any kind of molestation. To detest, or abhorre those, to whom we owe that prosperity which we enjoy, or who endeavour their own salvation, is a thing very unworthy, and ill becoming; but to abhorre their vices, and sins, is not so. It was a very excellent observation, of a most wise, and vertuous Lady, _Beruria_, who (as it is recorded in the _Talmud_, _Berachot_ cap. 1.) when her husband _R. Meir_ was about to pray to God, to destroy some of his perverse, and froward neighbours, that had no lesse grievously, then maliciously vexed, and molested him, gave him this seasonable admonition, that such a thing _ought not to be done in Israel; but that he should rather make his prayer, that they might return, and break off their sinnes by repentance, alledging that text_, Psal. 104.35. _Let sin be consumed out of the earth_; it is not said _sinners_, but _sinnes_; and then _the wicked shall be no more_. 13. We have now in this Section shewn, that it is a mere calumnie to imagine, that we _Iewes_ should pray to God, so as to give an offence to the Christians, or cause scandall, by any thing in our prayers, unlesse it be that we are not Christians, we have declared to the contrary, how we daily pray for them. As also that during the temple, we offered up sacrifices, for nations confederate with us, and how all Emperours desired this. Yea, and we offered sacrifices, not onely for particular princes, but for all mankind in generall. How, since sacrifices ceased, with the temple, we at this day, do the same in our prayers, and how we beseech God for their salvation, without giving any scandall, or offence in respect of religion; and how we think our selves obliged to perform all this, by the sacred Scripture. By all which layed together, I hope I have sufficiently evidenced the truth, of that I have asserted. THE FOURTH SECTION.