have not both the Practice and Profeffion of it decayed most remarkably, in this Nation, within the Compass of but a few Years? Is not the Profpect before us, that of its declineing yet mnch lower in the Generation that is coming on? And what do we imagine this will end in? If God is, it must be a Matter of ill Defert, either wilfully or thoughtlesly to treat Him, as if He were not. If he hath given a Revelation of his Will to Mankind, it cannot be innocent to neglect it, as if he had given none. And if he is the righteous Governor of the World, He will support his Government by punishing where Guilt appears. If the Guilt be National, it must be expected the Punishment will be so too. And though it were not, yet amidst the innumerable Connexions of Things, one Part of a Society cannot suffer, but the Whole must partake.

What Judgments in particular God will execute at any time on impious Nations, we cannot fay. All Nature is in his Power: and they, who offend, have every thing to fear. But one fure Method of Correction, (a very merciful Method, as the lower Degrees of it give Warning of the higher, but a dreadful one in

2

deed,

deed, if that Warning be not taken) is by appointing the natural Confequences of every Sin to be Part of its Reward. The Confequences of Irreligion then what are they, and what must they be, on every Community? True Piety cannot induce Men to injure their Country; and comprehends peculiar Inducements to serve it, of the greatest Force. But in Times of public Danger efpecially, Belief of Religion gives a Spirit, and Defence of Religion a Motive for exerting it, which Confiderations of a lower Nature will never equal. For what is there, that can equal the Exhortation, Be of good Courage, and let us behave ourJelves valiantly for our People and for the Cities of our God: and let the Lord do that which is good in his Sight *. Fear not, neither be dif mayed: for the Battle is not yours, but God's. Whereas, if fome through Infidelity have no Hope in him, and others through Wickedness have only Fear of him, fo far as thefe Ways of Thinking can influence, all Hands will be feeble, and every Heart will melt .

* 1 Chron. xix. 13. Ifai. xiii. 7.

† 2 Chron. XX. 15.

But,

But, indeed, the Belief of a juft and good Being, who fees and will reward, is at all times the great Support under the Sufferings of Life, the great Incitement to every thing worthy, the great Restraint from every thing base. Human Weakness evidently wants these things and there is nothing else, that can always furnish them. The virtuous Dictates of their own Minds will have little Influence comparatively on most Men, when they are confidered no longer as the Voice of God speaking inwardly to them. And the Penalties of human Laws, without those of the divine Law fuperadded, will often be evaded, and not feldom defperately braved. For if once Men think there is nothing beyond Death, they will foon come to think there is nothing in it, which ought to with-hold them from preferring a short Life spent as they like, to a long one spent otherwife. Feeling themselves free from the Terrors of Religion, they will fly out into Profligatenefs, merely to fhew they are free: And it will be Encouragement enough to them, to purfue every Appetite, Paffion, and Fancy, without Reserve; that whatever Inconveniences may happen to arise

from

from it, one Moment can deliver them from all at once, whenever they please. How then will they act in the numberlefs Cafes, to which the Power of the Magiftrate either cannot or is not likely to reach at all, or but imperfectly at beft? How, for Inftance, will the Properties and even the Lives of Men be fecured, when Perjury is no longer dreaded? A Confideration of peculiar Weight in this Country: where, with amazing Inconsistence, we are multiplying Oaths, as if we could depend upon them for every thing; and flighting the Care of Religion, which alone can give us Caufe to depend on them for any thing. But in general, What or Whom can we poffibly hope Mankind will regard to any conftant good Purpose, if they will not regard God: And how can we pretend to regard him, whilft we go on as we do? Nor let it be thought, that the Belief of a future Recompence is neceffary to the lower Part of the World alone: though if it were, they when they fee

will never preserve it long,

But the higher

their Superiors have it not. Mens Station, and the greater their Power is, the more is the Importance, both to others

and

and themselves, that they be ftrongly influenced to do Good and not Evil, by this only Motive that can never be outweighed.

It is very true, neither Irreligious Perfons are always fo bad, nor Religious ones always fo good, as their Notions lead them to be: But still every Way of Thinking produces, more or less, its natural Effects. The deeper Root Religion takes, the more Benefit will fpring from it: and the wider Irreligion fpreads, the more Mischief it will bring forth. At prefent it must endeavour to appear as harmless as it can, to recommend itself: and fome degree of the good old Impreffions will remain, and have Influence for a time, even on those who have done their beft to wear them out. But when Profaneness fhall once have attained its Maturity, then it will be felt, if Men are refolved not to fee it before, Which were in the right: the weak and credulous Creatures, who contended for honouring God or the Perfons of fuperior Knowledge and Freedom of Thought, who fcorned and forfook him.

But we must remember, our Maker is forfaken, when Virtue, the Law He hath given to Mankind,