lieve, but are influenced by their Belief in other Respects, instead of confeffing their Lord and Mafter before Men, as he hath most folemnly commanded them *, are filent and indifferent, whilst he is denied, or difregarded ever fo much; and feem afhamed of a Cause they ought to glory in: by which means they give bad Perfons a Colour for pretending, that few or none are Chriftians in earnest; and take away from fuch, as are well-difpofed, the Encouragement of feeing how great a Number yet remains. For, God be thanked, they are still no small Number, who continue after all bearing Testimony to the Gospel of Christ. But of how many Sins against it, not a few even of these are guilty at the fame Time, by deviating from the Form of found Words †, by unwarrantable Divifions, and uncharitable Animofities; it is a great deal better that they fhould confider, than that others should say: only thus much cannot but be faid, that these Things add a peculiar Gloom to the View, which we are taking. Religion, it must be owned, hath never been practised any-where, as it ought. But * Matth. x. 32. Mark viii. 38. Luke ix. 26. + 2 Tim. i. 13. 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 thoughtlefly 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 fupport 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 fuffer, 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, poffibly do not quite approve of profane Persons, but are astonished at pious ones; and by their Indulgence to the former, and their very great Proneness to defpife the latter, plainly fhew, whether they perceive it themselves or not, which Party they are on the Road to join? We have indeed many ftill, who frequent Divine Worship: but how many of all Ranks, and of that Rank particularly, which ought to be an Example, and will be one either of Good or Bad; how many that omit this Duty entirely, or near it; and though it be an evident Part of the Law of Nature, and an exprefs Precept of Chriftianity, can yet talk, not only of their own neglecting it, with much Gaiety and Humour, but of other Perfons attending upon it as Matter of Conscience, with much Raillery. And fuch an Ascendant hath this contemptuous kind of Impiety got, that there are many Perfons, who fincerely honour their Maker in their Hearts, but dare not for fear of Derifion fhew it in their Behaviour. Let it be thought of a little, what the Appearance and Conftruction of these Things is: and let those who are qualified for it, judge; Is not this the one Nation upon Earth, in But, indeed, the Belief of ajuft 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 seldom 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 Profligateness, 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 lieve, but are influenced by their Belief in other Respects, instead of confessing their Lord and Mafter before Men, as he hath most solemnly commanded them *, are filent and indifferent, whilft he is denied, or difregarded ever fo much; and feem afhamed of a Caufe they ought to glory in: by which means they give bad Perfons a Colour for pretending, that few or none are Chriftians in earneft; and take away from fuch, as are well-difpofed, the Encouragement of seeing how great a Number yet remains. For, God be thanked, they are still no small Number, who continue after all bearing Testimony to the Gospel of Christ. But of how many Sins against it, not a few even of these are guilty at the fame Time, by deviating from the Form of found Words †, by unwarrantable Divifions, and uncharitable Animosities; it is a great deal better that they should confider, than that others should say: only thus much cannot but be faid, that these Things add a peculiar Gloom to the View, which we are taking. Religion, it must be owned, hath never been practifed any-where, as it ought. But * Matth. x. 32. Mark viii. 38. Luke ix. 26. + 2 Tim. i. 13. |