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LIBEARY
OF THE
Theological Seminary,
PRINCETON, N. J.
Case, Div
Shelf, Sect ion
Book, No> -
■
A DONATION
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72 £ - 727 - 72? . 73o . 703 - 73S * 737 - 73? .
SERMON
Preachd to the
SOCIETIES
FOR
Reformation of Manners.
A T
SJLTERS-HALL;
On Monday June 2g7 1719.
By Samuel Rosewell;M.A.
Published at their REQUEST.
LONDON:
Printed for E m. Matthews at the Bible in Pater-nc (let- Row> and R. Ford at the Angel in the Poultry. 1719.
■UJ»,UUJ*.J»J»" *^ *'«" %i*
■!
To the Right Worshipful
Sir JOHN FRYER, Sax*.
Alderman of the City of LONDON.
Honoured Sir*
I! HO' I knew not that you were a Hearer of the following Sermon^ 'till after it was preached ; yet when I fuggefled in it the Obligations the Societies for Reformation are un- der to fome of the chief Magiftrates of the City ; and the jufl and feafonable Encouragement they re~* ceive from them : I acknowledge that I had a more fpecial Regard to yourfelf; and to aytother * excellent Perfon in the fame eminent Station, who has pafs'd thro3 all the fuperior Offices of the City, with di~ flinguijh'd Reputation and Honour.
I HA V E heretofore had occ a/ion to addrefs my- felf in fuch a Manner ar this, to that Worthy and Religious Gentleman ; whofe condefcending Friendjhip to mey exerting itfelf on fpecial Occafionsy has laid me under fuch Obligations to him as I Jhall never for-
* SIB, THOMAS ABNEY,
get:
Dedication.
get : And what is much mere, whofe generous and prudent Conduci in the Government of the City, has obliged the Community in fuch a Manner as will not be forgotten.
NOR are you, Siry lefs careful to adorn your Honourable Station with the mofl ufeful Services. It is well known with what Equity, Refolution and Prudence, you, as a Magifiratey affifl the Societies in their unwearied Endeavours to ferve GOD and the Nation. 'This makes the Joy confpicuous with which many of the Friends of Both are expecting the approaching Seafon of your Advancement to the Chair : In which they doubt not but you will, with equal Refolution and Vigour, efpoufe the Cauje of Religion and Virtue ,• and oppofe the daring Efforts of open Profanenefs and Vice.
TO UR piom Zeal for GOD and his Caufe; the ardent AffeElion you bear to our Rightful Sovereign King GEORGE, and to your Country; your invio- lable Regards to the jufi Liberties of Mankind, with refpeEi to their Minds as well as their Bodies, and in which you have atled all along with an irreproach- able Self-confiftency, have recommended you to Many who are fpeaking your Praifes upon thefe Accounts ; but to none more than to,
S I R,
Your very humble
and
moft obedient Servant, Hackney, „
June 30, 1719. Samuel Rojewett.
SERMON
PreachM to the
SociETiEsjfcr Rfformation0&cc.
Nehemiah xi. 2. The People hlejfed all the Men that willingly offered them- f elves to dwell at Jerufalem.
Remember that feveral Years ago you were pleafed to in- vite me to the Service that I am now engaging in ; and I have the more readily com- plied with this fecond Call to it, that I might make it appear, that it was not out of any Difrefped to thefe Worthy Societies, nor from the leaft Diflike of your Noble Enterprise, that I declined it for a Seafon only. The Ends you have in View, and for the obtaining which you have wifely untied your B Strength
C.*J
Strength in a blejfed Confederacy are fo generous and Godlike ; and the Meafures, by which you purfue them are fo honourable, prudent, and chriftian; and the Succefs with which GOD has blefs'd your Endeavour has been fo considerable, and of fuch Importance to Religion and to the Nation ; that fince I have had any Knowledge of thefe things, I could not but blefs the Men [the Heroic Chriftians] who have willingly offered them/elves to this Service. And I chearfully afcribe Thankfgivings and Praifes, on your be- half, to that GOD, whofe Bleffings I have been wont 'to implore on your felves and on this glori- ous Catife.
I am fatisfied that all truly Religious Perfons, who are rightly informed of your brave Defign to ftem the impetuous Tide of Wickednefs, and of your very commendable Conduct and Manage- ment in the Profecution of it, will be thus affeaed towards you, and difpofed to acl in like manner. They will be ready to fay, The Blejfing of the Lord be upon you ; we blefs you in the Name of the LORD ! May your Bow abide in Strength, and the Arms of your Hands be made firong by the Hands of the mighty GOD 0/ Jacob ! Eflablijh thou, O LORD, the Work of their Hands upon them ; yea, the Work of their Hands eflablijh thou it !
Such Thoughts and Apprehenfions. as thefe occurring to my Mind, when reflecting on the Work you .are fo laudably engaged in, have oc- cafion'd my chufmg the Words of this Text for the Subje<S of my Difcourfe to you : From which I would attempt to perfuade your Perfe- verance, to quicken your Induftry, and to invi- gorate your Zeal, in what is fo truly honourable, and fo greatly and extenfively ufeful. The Words, I hope, will appear pertinent to this
Defign,
(3)
Defign, when we have taken Notice of the /fe- cial Occajion of them, which was thus.
NehemiahfNho was a JevjyWTxd whofe chap, ii, 3. Anceftors had formerly been Citizens of Jerufalem, being, notwithftanding this, Cup- bearer to Artaxerxesy a Place of great Honour and Advantage in the Perfian Court, fucceeded Ezra in the Government of Judab and Jerufa- lem> by Virtue of that King's Commiffion *, wherein full Power, Licenfe and Authority, were given him to repair the Walls, and fet up the Gates of Jerufalemy and to fortify it again in the fame Manner as it was before the Babylonians had difmkntled and deftroy'd it. Purfuant to this Commiffion he goes from the Perfian Court to Jerufulent) where he immediately engages in the Work for which he came 5 and accomplices it in a fhort time, in fpite of all the Oppofition that was made againft him, both from the falfe Prophets and other treacherous Perfons within, and from Sanballat, "Tobias and Others, without. After which he deputed Governours of the City ; and, according to the King's Appointment f, returned to Court. Where he obtain'd a New Commiffion for proceeding in what was further needful for the Safety of Jerufalem, and for the Welfare of the Province ; and then comes back again to his Government, and vigorously engages in that great Work of Reformation^ in Church and State, which Ezra his Predeceflbr had hap- pily begun fome time before. One of the firft things he now attempts is the Re- peopling the City, which was large Chap.vii.4. and great j but the People were few there- in; and therefore an Encreafe of their Numbers
* Fide Prideaux'* Hiftory, Vol I f. &<> 1 Ibid, p, #7,
B 2 was
(O
was neceflary, that the Buildings might be com- pleated, that the Honour and Safety of it might be provided for, and that the Ordinances of GOD at the Temple might be the better obferv'd.
Matters being thus; at the Inftigation of TSIehemiah, or of their own Accord, the Rulers and Great Men of the Nation, the Members of the Sanhedrim, and other Magiftrates, agree to fettle themfeives at cJerufalem ; that their Exam- ple might invite and encourage others to fix their Dwellings there : And tho* many followed them thither, yet it was neceffary a large Addi- tion fhould be made to them ; and therefore the moft unexceptionable Way of Obliging a competent Number to refort thither was thought of, and agreed to ; whieh was that the People
fhould cafl Lofts to bring one of ten to Vcrfe i. dwell in Jerufalem, the holy City ; and
nine Parts to dwell in other Cities. And the Lot falling, by GOD's Difpofal, upon fuch and fuch particular Perfons, it is to be fuppos'd that they removed the more readily, when they found that HE did thus appoint the Bounds of their Habitations : But while feme were compelled, by this Means, to that which they would not have chofenj there were others of a more publick Spirit, and more generoufly difpofed-; of whom the Text intorms us, that the People bleffed them, lecaufe they willingly offered themfeives to dwell at Jerufalem. In fpeaking to which Wcrds I fhall take Notice
'The Perfons who were thus honourably
diftinguifh'd by the Bleffing of the
People.
Of \ The People who thus diftinguifh'd and
blefs'd them.
J The Importance of that Bleffvg ; or,
V. What is included in it. I.
(5)
I. The Perfons who were fo honourably diftinguifhM by the Bleffing of the People are thus defcribed ; The Men 'who willingly offer d themfelves to dwell at Jerufalem : Which leads us into the Reafons why they were fo diftinguiftv'd.
Their Dwelling at Jerufalem was dejignd to promote the Glory of G O D, and to be fubfervient to the publick Interefl.
Some of them, no doubt, offered themfelves to dwell there, that they might the more frequently attend the Worfhip and Service of G O D in the Temple ; and that they might glorify him, by a greater Care about his facred Inftitutions there. And their Endeavours to defend the Holy City, where GOD had fo fpecial a Concern, and to pre- ferveit from the malicious Defigns and the outra- giouslnfults of their Heathen Neighbours, would redound to the Honour of Jerufale/ns GOD. They fought the Good thereof becaufe of the Houfe of the LORD their GOD. And it appears that they confulted the Publick Welfare, wrhile they went thither for the Defence of the City, which would redound to the Advantage of the whole Province. And we find the Governours of Judah looked upon them, as their Strength in the LORD of Hofts, their ZacLxiii.^. GOD; and valued them according- ly. And, indeed, they deferved that Honour, that is due, by common Confent, to Men who feek the Good of their Country.
Which, at the fame time, they promoted in a felf-denying Wayy and prefer/ d to their private In- terefts and Eafe.
I t would have been more for their wrorldIy Advantage to have continued where they were : For at prefent it was rather Expenflve than Pro- fitable
CO
fitable to live at Jerufalem; whereas the Country did more eafiiy afford them Supplies, and an Opportunity of encreafing their Eftates by gain- ful Commerce. Jerufakm, tho' the Metropolis, was no Trading City : There was no Opportu- nity for Merchandizing, as there was eifewhere; at leaft in Corn and Cattle. That thefe Men did not contract themfeives within their own perfonal Interefts ; but bravely poftpon'd thefe to their Care for the Publick. Nay,
By this voluntary Removal they did not barely deny themfeives, but were expofed to Circum- fiances of apparent Difficulty and Hazard.
The Ammonite Syths Moabites,the Samaritansyand other neighbouring Nations round, were implaca- ble Enemies to the Jews; not only becaufe of their different Religion and 'Manners, but more efpecially at this time *, becaufe of their Lands, which, during the Jews Captivity, thefe Nations had feized, and were forced to reftore to them on their Return. They were therefore waiting for an Opportunity, fbmetime or other, of re- fuming the Prey they had loft : And, in the mean time, were fo enraged to fee the Walls of the City built, were fo jealous of its Greatnefs, and fo refolute in their Defigns to prevent its arifing to its ancient Splendour, that they wrere continually plotting fome Mifchief againft it, by which they greatly difquieted and endangered the Inhabitants. They hated this capital Gity the moft ; and could they once deftroy that, the reft of the Country would be a more eafy Prey. Thefe things made Jerufalem the Poft of Danger, as the Poft of Honour is w7ont to be. And thefe things might cccaiion fome Apprehenfions that
* Prideaux, tiH. I £ 365.
(7)
'ere long the City might be fuffering by a Siege, and its Inhabitants expofed to all thofe diftreffing Evils, thofe dire Calamities that neceflarily at- tend it. Such Hardfliips and Dangers as thefe they would be liable to at Jerufalem. And yet
Thither they went with great Readinefs, and with full Confetti of their own Wills ; while others ignobly and meanly declined to do the like.
They were not prefs'd into this Service ; nor determined to it by the Fall of the Lot ; but, they willingly offer dthemfehes: And by doing fo,exprefs'd a greater Regard to G O D and his Honour ; a warmer Affe&ion to their Country ; and a more ardent Defire for its Welfare : A more generous Difpofition of Mind, and greater Degrees of true Courage, than they could pretend to, who declined dwelling there; either becaufe a greater Stridnefs of Converfation, and feme more fpecial Acts of Piety might be expelled from the Inha- bitants of the Holy City, which they were not willing to come up to ; or becaufe they preferred their own Pleafure,Eafe and Secular Interefts,to all other Conliderations, and fo w ere tempted by the Delights and other Advantages of the Country to continue there ; or from a pufillanimous Fear of the Outrages and Infults of Enemies, and of fome threatning Dangers by their Means. Up- pon fuch Accounts thefe pious and heroic Men were diftinguifh'd with fo much Honour.
II. By whofe Benedi&on they were thus di- ftinguifh'd, is what I proposed to confider in the next Place. Now the People who blefs'd them, cenfifed (as we may fuppofe) of thofe who camey and of thofe who declined coming to jferufalem.
Thh who came bleffed one another. Thofe who removed firft were defervedly citeemed, and,
no
(8)
no doubt, applauded by them who prefently fol- lowed their Example : And, they whofe Example they followed, could not but be pleafed with and recommend them who came to ftrengthen their Hands, and to purfue the fame worthy and ge- nerous Defigns with themfelves. It cannot but be very comfortable and encouraging to fuch as are engaged in great and good, but difficult Work, to find other well difpofed Perfons coming in to their Help ; and upon apprehending how needful it is, affording their Concurrence in eve- ry proper Way : And the Bleffing of thofe to whole Help they come, will be lure to attend them. And,
I t is not improbable but that thofe who declin'd coming to jferufalemy would joyn in re- commending the Men, who willingly offered them- felves to dwell there. For the whole Province was like to fare the better for what they did : And they who thro' Selfifhnefs, Cowardice, or fome- thing elfe as mean and faulty, would not ad: as they did, yet could not but approve that Con- duce of theirs, by which their own Interefts were like to be tne better fecur'd and eftabliftvU ; and thereupon it is likely they wifh'd them Suc- cefs, and fpake well of them.
The Confciences of Men do frequently ap- plaud thofe good Actions, in which they finfully and meanly refufe or neglect to bear a Part : And many of thofe who have no Heart to do the Publick any further Service, will do fo much as is confident with being excufed from helping with their Hands, their Prefence or their Purfe ; that is, thofe who fo help fhall have their good Word, their good Wiflies, and perhaps their Prayers too ; and, in this they do better than if they fpake Evil of them, and (as fome have
done,)
(9)
done) curfed their Perfons and their Defign i But fare they do not enough to anfwer the Ex- pectations of GOD and Good Men, from thofe who have fuch Apprehenfions and Convi&ions about thefe Affairs as they feem to have.
It remains that I enquire in the Third Place^
III. Into the Importance of this filefling j or, What is included in it. Now Men cannot be faid to blefs one another in the fame Senfe in which GOD does blefs them : His Bleffing confifts in making them bleffed ; or, in imparting to, and beftowing real Bleflednefs upon them. This is the Divine Prerogative, and is not in the Power of Creatures : But they are faid to blefs3 when they fpeak weU of and commend any, for what they obferve to be truly excellent and worthy of Praife in them ; and when they pray to GOD that He would fucceed, profper and blefs them.
Accordingly, "the People bleffed thefe Men by freaking well of them. They might recom- mend them in fuch a Manner as this : cc What €C excellent Perfons are thefe ! What pious, gene- " rous Souls, who difcover fuch a Concern for the " Glory of GOD, and for the Welfare of their Peo- " pie ! Who drop the Confederation of their own " private Advantage, while that ftattds in com- cc petition with thefe ! And chufe to deny thent- u felvesy that they may fubferve and promote <c what they know deferves their firft and chief * Regards ! Nay, who bfaVely Venture on fo u many Difficulties? and are riot difcourag'd bjf " thofe threatning Dangers to which they ar$ " exposed at Jerusalem ! How worthily have they u diftinguifh'd themfelves from thofe amongit " m (may fome be fiippos'd to add) who front £ C u Lcv$
(IO)
cc Love of inglorious Eafe, or from a fordid In- cc difference about the VVorfhip of GOD and " the Fate of the Jewijb Nation, or from " foire other mean and mercenary Views, have u declined to aft as they have done ! Yea, how cc worthily have they diftinguiflVd themfelves cc from'thofe alfo, who by the Fall of the Lot c< have been compelled to dwell there !
They blejjed them farther, by fraying to GOD that be would, juceeed and pre/per them. This is the moft fignificant Way in which one Man can blefs another. Many of them, no doubt, would intercede for them with GOD in fuch a Man- ner as this : " O LORD, as thou haft graci- " oufly infpir'd thefe Men with a becoming f* Concern for the Honour of thy Name, the " Worfhip of thine Houfe, and for the Welfare " of Ifrael ; and in purfuance of this haft put it cc into their Hearts to go to Jerufalem : So we <c humbly befeech thee to preferve them there c< by thy good Providence ,• and to defend them " from all their Enemies : To own and accept cc them in all the Service they fhall perform to cc thee ; and to fucceed and profper them in all u their Defigns againft the Enemies of thy Peo- <c pie,- and in all their Endeavours to ferve their <c Nation, to eftablifli Jerufalem, and to make* <c her a Praife in the Earth. And as thou art cc wont more fignally to favour and to blefs thofe, <c who, with ciiftinguiflv'd Goodnefs and Zeal, " efpoufe thine Interefls, and feek the Welfare <c of Ifrael-, {o we befeech thee to honour and cc to reward thefe Men in fome more eminent " and bountiful Manner. "
And with fuch Petitions as thefe they would intermix their Thankfgivings and Praifes to GOD, for difpofing them to aft io generous a
Part,
( l.« )
Part, and for the Mercies they hoped to receive by their Means.
Thus much I have thought neceflfary for opening and iiluftrating the Text : From what has been faid, you'll readily gather this Truth, viz,.
The bejl Afftflance they can afford, and the moft proper Returns they are capable of making, are due from all the People of the Land to thofe good and ge- nerous Souls, who in a felf denying Way encounter fome Difficulties, and willingly expofe themj elves to a malicious Oppojition, for the Sake of promoting the Glory of GOD and a Publick Good.
I n fpeaking to this Obfervation I muft con- fine my felf to the prefent Occafion ; and ac- cordingly,
I. Shall fliew how much the fpecial Bufe- nefs of thefe worthy Societies for Reformation of Manners is fitted to promote the Glory of GOD, and a publick Good.
II. Fl l confider the Perfons who form them as acting much Sejf-denial, willingly encountring Difficulties, and expofing rhemfelves to a mali- cious Oppofitibn in the Profecution of their noble Enterprise.
III. Ft l fhew what Afllftance may and ought to be afforded, and what returns made, by the other Inhabitants of the Land to Perfons thus bravely employed.
IV. I Shall then clofe with a fhort Ad- dref$ to the Societies ; and to others, in their Fa- vour
I. I am to fliew how much the fpecial Bu- finefs oi thefe worthy Societies for Reformat1 Manners is fitted to promote I { of GOD,
and a publick Good.
C 2 I
( «)
T h « Glory of GOD is the ultimate End that
every Chriftian fhould have in his Eye ; and that
he fhould endeavour to fubferve in all the Actions
of his Life, according to that of the jCor. x. 31. ApoftlC) whether _ ye e„t cr drinJh Qr
wkatjoever ye do, do all to the Glory of GOD.
Now there is all the Reafon in the World to conclude that thefe Societies are very much influenced from a Convi&ion of this Truth ; and that they proceed with a diredt Regard to it. I know not what fhould occafion any un- charitable Suggeftions to the contrary, except it be Ignorance of their Defigns, and of the prudent and chriftian Methods by which they purfue them ; or a ftrange and unaccountable Enmity to ail Attempts ol this Nature, how regular and cautious foever.
Nothing is more evident than the Ten- dency there is in fuch an Undertaking as this to glorify GOD. For if he be difhonour'd by open Profanenefs, by the outragious Impudence of Sin, and the audacious and avow'd Practice of it, (and how can Men be more guilty of difhonouring their Maker?) then your wife and chriftian Endeavours, Honoured Sirs, to difcoun- tenance Men of diflblute and debauched Lives, to put a Stop to the {preading Infe&ion of Vice, to promote moral and regular Living ; Obe- dience to G O D's Commands, and real Reli- gion and Piety, muft redound to the Glory of that GOD whofe you are, and whom you thus ferve. And we glorify GOD while we are Followers [Imitators] of him as dear Children; copying after that grand Exemplar that we have in himfelf. But we never ad more like to GOD, than when we are doing Good, and are as extenfively Beneficent as we are capable of
Being;
t*0
being ; ferving the Intereft of publick Commu- nities, yea, and of the whole World of Men, at leaft in our Wifhes, Eflays and Endeavours that Way. You therefore glorify GOD while you are intending and promoting the publick Good. And how much your Bufinefs, as fuch Societies, is fitted for fuch a Purpofe as this, I proceed to fhew in the following Particulars, viz,.
It has a direct Tendency to avert, and to keep off the Anger and the Judgments ot God from the Nation ; and to afcertain his Favour and Blefling to it.
I t is dire&ed and fitted for preventing the frefent DeftruBion and Ruin of great Numbers of particular Perfons and Families. And
You are herein aiming at, and are purfuing fuch Methods, as, thro' Divine Grace, may be eftettual to the Eternal Salvation of many Souls.
Laftly-> You hold forth a glorious Example to the World about you, which has been followed by many already, and it is to be hoped may yet have a proper Influence on more.
Firfty I fay, The Work you are engaged jt in has a direB Tendency to divert , and keep off, the Anger and Judgments of GO D from the Nation ; and to afcertain his Favour and Blefling to it.
Nations are guilty before GOD, when there is a General Diflbluteneis of Manners to be found amongft the Inhabitants of them ; when Wickednefs becomes publick and infolent, and the Practice of it is open and avow'd ,• not dif- countenanc'd, not reftrain'd, nor punifVd as it ought to be. And fuch National Guilt provokes the Anger of GOD, and is wont to draw down his judicial and vindictive Rebukes upon the Lands that are fo defiled; according to thofe
awful
C i+ )
awful Notices contained in the Sacred Writings ; The Nation and Kingdom that will not ferve thee, flail ferijh ; yea thofe Nations
Jhall be utterly deflroy'd. A fruitful Land be
turneth into Barrennefs for the Wicked- nefs of them that dwell therein. And thus it has been in Fact ; particularly with G O D's once peculiar People the Jews ; of whom their own * Jofepbus obferves, that " As he thought no other People had fufter'd <c fuch things ,• fo no Nation had ever ar- <c rived to a greater Degree of Wickednefs <c than they. " "The Scriptures furnifh us with fever al other In fiances to the frefent Purjpofe, which I need not flay to take notice of; and other Hi- fiories inform us at large, how much the De- ftru&ion of the Babylonian, the Perjian, the Gre- cian, the Roman Monarchies, and many others of lefs Name than they, have been owing to the Growrth of Luxury, and the fpreading of Vict amongft the feveral Degrees of Men who liv^d under them. And the more enormous and cry- ing the Sins of any People have been, the more fore and dreadful Judgments have fallen to their Share. An horrid Inundation of uncontrord Wickednefs, has generally been followed by an overflowing Deluge of Divine Wrath, and of the moft calamitous Evils. The Judgments of GOD bearing fome proportion to the greater Number of Sinners, and to the more aggravated Degree of their Provocations : According to that Ooferva- tion of Mcfes, — An Ezcreafe of Jinful Num.xxxu. j\£en tQ aUgment yet the fierce Anger of
the LORD towards IfraeJL Which
* De Bello Judaico Lib. VI Ca$. n.
Words
m )
Words I once intended fhould have been the Subject of my Difcourfe to you.
But then as National Guilt provokes the In- dignation of GOD, and extorts his righteous Revenge ; fo a Publick Reformation of Manners conciliates the Divine Favour, and fecures the beft of Bleffings to the Reformed Land : For GOD has declared this to be a part of his Conduct in his Governing of the World, that If a Nation againfl whom he has pro- nounced, turn from their Evil, he will repent of the Evil that he thought to do unto them. And, If they throughly amend their Ways and their Doings ', and obey his Voice, he JeI^^11# will be their GOD, and they Jh all be his People. If they walk in all the Ways that he ha? commanded them, it jhall be well unto them. And with refpeft to Jerufalem in particular he fays, Run to and fro thvo her Streets, if ye can find a Man ; if there be any that exe- J cuteth Judgment^ and feeketh the Truth, I will par- don it.
Now the Defign of your Societies is to reform the Nation, by giving an effeftual Check to ipreaaing Debaucheries, and by oppofing your- felves to thofe Enemies of Religion and Virtue, who dare openly to rebel againft GOD, and to caft Contempt on his Sovereign Authority, and on his Righteous Laws. Your Deiign is to pre- vail with them (if poffible) to amend their Ways and their Doings ; or, at leaft, to prevent their Guilt from being charged on the Nation; that fo the Anger of GOD may be turn'd away, and that he may become propitious and favoura- ble to our Land. And we have reafon to be- lieve, that many a defolating Evil has been di- verted, and many a ii^nai Bleffing fecur'd to the
Corn-
( iO
Community, as a gracious Requital from a mer- ciful GOD, for what you have done in this Way. And on this Account the Nation is inf- menfely indebted to your Societies. We know- how kindly difpofed GOD was towards Zoar for Lot's Sake : And how well it would have been for Sodom itfelf, had there been but ten Righteom Souls, who, to the beft of their Power, would have been Reformers there.
Secondly \ Your Defigns are directed and fitted for preventing the prefent De- ftruSiion and Ruin of* great Numbers of particular Perfons and Families.
B y the Infliftion of a more gentle Penalty, you hope to difcourage Offenders from perfifting in their Sins, that might at length end in thofe greater Enormities, that would expofe them to forer and to capital Punifhments.
Some Vices are deftrudive to Men's Confti- tutions ; they enervate their Bodies, and effemi- nate their Minds ; and have both a Natural and a Moral Influence that Way : They frequently reduce them to the utmoft Poverty, and to the moft loathfome and painful Difeafes. What Numbers of miferable Debauchees have been fo many living (and fome of them dying,) Proofs of this melancholy Truth ? Multitudes have brought themfelves into fad and deplorable Cir- cumftances thro' the Remainder of their Lives ; and fhortned their Days, by Intemperance, and a brutifh Indulging their Lufts: For which Rea- fon the Ancient Romans were wont to have their Funerals at the Gates of the Temple of Ventu.
And how many Families have grievoufly fuf- fer'd by means of the diffolute Lives of fome who belonged to them ? How many comfortable Eftates, that would have ^fforded a goodly Supply
la
( '?)
to the numerous Branches of fome Houfes, have been entirely drained in the Gratification of one Man's vile and extravagant Lulls ? How many fpend that precious Time in the Nurferies of Vice ; and amongft the moft effe&ual Incentives to Sin, that fhould be improved in making an honeft Provifion for an indigent Family ? And hew frequently is the whole Produce of Labour and Pains, that fhould be expended that lVay7 made the Price of a Debauch ,• or thrown away in Gaming, and in licentious Living ? How many Parents and Mafters have been horridly abus'd and injured by their Children and Servants; their Subftance indifcernably wafted, and them- felves plunged into Difficulties before they were aware ; while their Stock has been long confu- ming, in defraying the Charges of the very ex- pensive Lufts of fuch fraudulent Villains ?
Now by the Checks and Discouragements you throw in the Way of thefe Sinners, you are attempting to recover them out of the Snare of the Devils and fo to prevent that further Mifchief and Diftrefs to themfelves, and to others, that might be confequent on their perfifting in fuch lewd and abominable Practices. And by making Examples of fome of thefe, you deiign to itrike Terror in others, and to deter them from Sinning in like Manner ; "That they may hear and fear , and forbear to do fo prefumptuoufly . Smite a Scorner (fays the Wifeman), and the Prov.xix.15 Simple will beware. And, When the Scorner is puni/b'd, the Simple is made ~ — *xxi. n# wife. Such as were in danger of be- ing drawn into Sin, by the malignant Influence of bad Examples, may, by this Means, be brought to confider, and to lay Matters to Heart ; and poffibly, To watch and to pray that they enter not
D into
(i8)
into Temptation. And, how much Sin ; and how many Sufferings may this prevent ? And what Reafons may fuch Perfons have to blefs GOD for your Ways of Proceeding, and for the Effects they had upon them ? And how much Good may they become the Inftruments of in particular Families, and in the World ?
Thirdly, TO U are aiming at the Eternal HI- Salvation of Immortal Souls : And are pur- fuing fuch Meajuresy as mayy thro Divine Grace, promote and Jecure it.
The Word of G O D does exprefly exclude Drunkardsy unclean Perfonsy and fuch other Sinners as you have to do with, from the Kingdom of GOD; and appoints them their Portion in the Lake that burns with Fire and Brimflone : Aflfuring us, that becaufe of thefe things cometh the Wrath of GOD upon the Children of Dif obedience. That if they continue impenitent and unreformM, they muft perifh and be loft for ever. But you there- fore defire their Reformation, and their Return to G O D and to their Duty, that they may fly from the Wrath to come : And that their Souls
may befaved in the Day of the LORD. i Cor.x. 33. Toufeek not your own Profit y (no, nor their
Punifhment, as your ultimate End) but the Profit of many that they may befaved.
I n Imitation of GOD himfelf you defign that lighter Afflictions, tho* for the prefent grie- vow, fhould prevent their being adjudged to thofe Miferies ana Terrors cf the Infernal Prifony which are inconceivably great, and will be everlaftingly durable. And, I queftion not, but you make Confcience of joyning your Prayers with thefe other Means, that GOD, by fanftifying them, would render them effectual to fo great and de- Arable an End. You would fain awaken Sinners
out
( 19)
out of their lethargick Sleep, and make them apprehenfive of their Danger, that they may efcape the Damnation of Hell, and lay hold on eter- nal Life: And the Means you ufe have an evident Tendency to promote their Repentance, and their everlafting Salvation. For as AfR-<5tions are often defign'd and fent by G O D to reform Men, and in their own Nature appear to be pro- per for fuch a Purpofe ; fo the legal Correction of Offenders is to be confider'd as a feafonable Af- fliction, which, thro* the gracious Influences of the Divine Spirit, may produce that defirabl© Effect. When the Prodigal was redu- ced to the Want of Husks, he came to Lukexv-itf* himfelf. When Manaffeh was taken a- mong the 'Thorns, and bound ivith Fetters, zChr.xxxiii. he be/ought the LORD, and humbled «»•:**« himfelf greatly. And Solomon tells us, the Rod and Reproof give Wifdom. }£j XX1X,§ When you are hedging up the Sinners Way with Thorns, you may bring him to confider what need there is, that he fhould amend his Ways and his Doings ; And this may be followed with his ferious Enquiry, how he may do it. And who knows how far the good Spirit of GOD may concur, while the foftned Delinquent is refle&ing on the Penalties and the Difgrace that his Crimes have made his Due, and that he is now differing under ?
I would hope that many an, once, profligate Wretch, has become a real Convert, while he was under the Sentence of Condemnation ; and that when he was cut off by the Sword of Juftice, he has gone from the Place of Execution to be With Chrift in the Heavenly Paradice. And I cannot doubt, but you have fucceeded to the Converting many Sinners from the Error of their . D % 'Ways,
( 20 )
Ways, and to the faving their Souls from Death, when I receive that joyful Information, " That <c many have been recover'd from Courfes of cc Wickednefs by the Societies Endeavours : And 1C feme have joyn'd with them, like the Apoftle iC Paul, in fupporting a Defign, which once they u deftroyM. They owe their Recovery to the u Reforming Societies, and pay their Acknow- " ledgments in chearful Services towards the €C Recovery of others *. " Thefe you havefaved with Fear, pulling them out of the Fire.
Fourthly, 7 O U hold forth a gloricm , IV, Example to the World about you, which has been followed by many already ; and it is to be hoped may yet have a proper Influence en more. And upon this Account you are defervedly efteemud amongft the greateft Benefa&ors to Mankind. Several Parts of the Kingdom are reaping immenfe Advantages from what many Communities have nobly enterpriVd, in Imitation of your Example ; being excited by your lauda- ble and fuccefsful Zeal, and directed by your wife and chriftian Meafures. Hence glorious Things have been accomplifbud, not only in ma- ny Cities, Corporations and Towns of this united Kingdom ; but in other Nations, and in diftant Climes. So far and wide has the beneficial In- fluence of your inftrudtive Conduct fpread itfelf, I need not remind you what has been done, on this Foot, in Ireland, Flanders, Switzerland, Den- mark, Sweden, in feme Parts of Germany, in our Plantations in America, and in feveral other Places. Some f Excellent Perfons have recorded
* Otcafional Taper, Vol. 3. Numb. 12.
t Vide Account of the Societies. Prefent Bifhoj) of Peterborough'* Sirmon to the Societies. Pr. Woodward'* Account of ihz Rife and Fvgrefs of the Societies, &C.
very
(ai )
very entertaining Accounts of this : And I hope by your becoming chriftian Perfeverance, and your continued prudent Zeal in fo righteous and religious an Undertaking, you will iiilh offer a worthy Example, that may yet be follow'd by others.
Thus I have fhewn how great and good the Work is in which you are engag'd ; and how well it is fitted to fubferve the Glory of GOD, and the Interefts of the Publick. But Work fo good as this, will be attended with many Difcouragements and with Difficulties of feveral fcrts ; and through the Malice of Men, and Devils will meet with great Oppofition in the Worid.
I therefore proceed,
II. T o confider the Perfons who form thefe Societies as afting much felf-denial, willingly en- countring fome Difficulties and expofing them- felves to a malicious Oppofition in the Profecu- tion of their noble Enterprize. Acting in this refped: like thofe generous Souls, who willingly offered themfelves to dwell at Jerufalem.
I wrould obferve,
Fir ft) That many of you are at confider- U able Charges in carrying on this great Affair* The World has lately been reminded, that cc your <c Defign has been rendered very coftly by Suits " and incidental Charges, as well as by a ne- €C ceflary ftated Expence; and yet upon the Con- cc vi&ion of Offenders, that half which the Law " allows to the Informer, you conftantly remit " to the Poor of the Parifh, to prevent any Um- " brage of felfifh and mercenary Views*." and
* Isajl Occajional Ta]>cr9 p. 2,5.
certain
(22)
certain it is, that a Bufinefs of this Nature can- not be concluded and managed as it ought to be, without great Expence. That the Defign muft be dropt, if liberal Contributions were not made for upholding it. And while GOD has blefs'd many of you with plentiful Fortunes, he has alfo done more for you than that, in infpiring you with Principles of true Generofity, and dif- pofing you to honour the Lord with your Subflance. It is the Duty of All to do this. And nothing is more reafonable than that we fhould improve for the Glcry of G O D, what we have received from his bountiful Goodnefs. But while there are Multitudes who prefer their Gold to their GOD; and from whom it is one of the moft difficult Things imaginable to extort any Thing for his Sake, and for ferving his Caufe and Intereft in- the World ; it cannot but be the more wor- thy of Praife in thofe amoKg/l you> who though they decline not other Parts of Service ; yet do liberally contribute towards the defraying your Charges : Not but there is ftill great need cf fur- ther Help this Way ,• and more Good may be done, in proportion to whatever Affiftance you fhall receive of this Sort. Of which prefently.
Secondly, SEVERAL of you (I apprehend) are willing as the Necefftties of fo important a Service may require to make your worldly Affairs give Way to it. You are free to redeem Time from thefe, that you may attend to this Work of God. If one may fuppofe that the lefler Concerns of the Family, of the Shop, or of your particular Callings, do fometimes interfere with thefe, fe- veral of you, I am fatisfied, prefer that which is more important : And will rather fuffer fome Difadvantages, then withhold your Prefence, your Countenance, or, your Advice, upon any fpecial
Occalions
(*3)
Occafions that may render them peculiarly need* ful. And then to be fure no trifling Pretences, no unfeafonable Recreations will be enough to fatisfy you in abfenting your felves from the Places and Company, where the Exigences of this Service oblige you to be.
Thirdly, TO U are to expe£l7 and you have 3. been inured to, the malicious Defamations and the Revilings of wicked Men ; and the hard and un- charitable Cenfures of others.
Wicked Men who do Evil themfelves, do fpeak of you as Evil-doers. They defire that the World fhould think better of themfelves than is confident with Truth ; and for that Reafon would have them conceive fuch an Opinion of you, and of your Defign, as is dire&ly contrary to what both deferve. I wonder not that you have been the Song of the Drunkard, and the Sport of lewd Buffoons; that prophane Huffs and Bul- lies have reprefented you as deferving all thofe dreadful Execrations and Curfes, that their im- pure Lips have vented againft you. I do not fuppofe it has greatly moved you to find your- felves defamed by the Obloquy and Clamours of thefe ; and that they reprefent you as Troublefome Bufy-Bodies, as Mifchievous Informers, as Artful Hypocrites, and the like : For from your firfl: fet- ting out you could not but exped fuch Treat- ment as this from Men of their Character. Some of them have charged you with extorting Money from furprized Offenders, as the Price of their Impunity, and an effe&ual Bribe to prevent ex- emplary Punifhment: But you have difcharged it in fuch a Manner, as cannot but fix an indelible Brand on all thofe who invented, or wrho fpread the Scandal. I fay, I think it not ftrange that fuch Reproaches as thefe fhould proceed
from
(H)
from the prpphane Mouths of that exafperated Crew, the Sons of Belial> the Generation of Scorn- ners, againfi whom you are rifen up in Vindica- tion of the Laws and the Honour of GOD ; and at his Call. No wonder that thefe turbulent Wafps do attempt to do you all the Mifchief they can, while you are difturbing their Nefts,
and driving them out of their filthy Recefles.
But ftrange it is! and I cannot forbear to wonder a little at this, that you fhould be revilM from the Pufyity and from thence expos'd to the Odium of Worfhipping Affemblies : That thofe w ho fhould be the Miniflers of Righteoufnefs and Peace fhculd allow themfelves to calumniate, I will not fay your righteous Caufe, but the Caufe cf Righteoufnefs itfelf, which you have efpoufed ; and to proclaim War againft you from that facred Place, where they fhould be promoting the fame
Defigns as you have in View. But then
I ceafe to wonder3 when I confider who are the Men who have done this, and what is their Communication ;and in how many Refpefts they are unlike to thofe great, and good, and learned Men of the Clergy, who have rejoyced to come in to your Help.
Such unreasonable Treatment as this, the beft Men have been wont to meet with, when they have engaged in the moft ufeful Defigns, for the fake of G O D and the Publick. Yea, this was the Cafe of our great Lord himfelf, when he came into the World to reform and to fave Sinners, and went about doing Good. And indeed Reproaches from fuch Mouths add to the Reputation of your Caufe : For it is only of what is really good, and ought to be commended, that wicked Men are wont to fpeak ill : and the mere excellent it is, the more they reproach it.
But
(*5)
But befides this, Fourthly, M A N T of you expofe your* $ felves to dangerous Infults from irritated and enraged Men, in the Profecution of your Righteoui Dejigns. While you fet yourfelves to confront and oppofe the hardned Sinners in their fcandalous Enormities ; they will rife up in defence of their darling Lufts. This occafions many a hazardous Struggle ; and fome brave Encounters [on your Part,J with defperate Villains* and incenfed Bra*-. <voes. You frequently hear them threaten you with the moft formidable Inftances of Revenge 5 and they have, fometimes, put them in Execution too. It will be no Difcouragement to Men of true Chriftian Courage to remind you of thofe Heroes in this Caufe, who have fallen in the Field of Battle ; and diedy indeed, in the Bed of Honour : I mean Mr. Cooper the Conftable, who was barbaroufly murder'd at May-Fair ; and af* ter him Mr. Dent, another Martyr in the fame Caufe : Whofe Names fhould be mentioned (as f their Funeral Rites were obfervM) with peculiar Honour. " Thefe are the * only Inftances* I " think, of your fuffering unto Bloody in your " Strife againft Sin ; I mean, unto Death : For cc feveral of you have been wounded and loft " your Blood, upon this Occafion, by a fort of " Living Martyrdom." Tho' it is very re- markable, and muft be afcribed to GOD's fpe- cial Concern and Care for you, that there have
f Vide Pf. Woodward'* Funeral Sermon fit if r. Copper, preach' d At St. James' * Church y May zi. ijol. And Dr. Bray's Funeral Serm&te for Mr. Dent, preached at <fr. Clements Danes, . Weftmi niter, in March 14, 17C8-9. And the Account of his Funefal in the F re face.
* J have fince been informed that one Mr. Hobbs, *
worthy Ferfon, died of the Kurt he r'eceivd in an Encounter1 in thf Societies Service. He teas the Father of my worthy Friend, who died fome few Tears ago in the good Tow,i of Bedford 5 and whofe Death V3& greatly lamenUd by the Inhabitants of that Flace,
E Ueen
(26)
been no more Inftances of this Sort, thro5 the Space ot fo many Years ; wherein a great many Thcufands of lewd and defperate Perfons have been provoked to the higheft Degree, and in the Heat of their Lulls, and have been duly con- victed and brought to condign Punifhment, by your Means. And yet by how much the greater the Dangers are, to which the good Soldiers of Je- fus Cbrift expofe themfelves for his Sake ; by fo much the more Honour redounds to them whom they threaten ; and by fo much the greater is their Reward like to be : Their LORD having affur'd them, that if they are reviled Matt. v. ii. and ferfecuted for bis Sake 7 their Reward Jlali be great in Heaven. Having thus far conflder'd the Nature of your Work, and the Excellency of it; the Diffi- culties you encounter, and the Dangers you are expcs'd to in the Profecution of it ; methinks the reft of this Aftembly, like the Jewijh People in the Text, fhculd now be difpos'd to blefs you ; ar.d being fo, fhculd defire to know what they can do in your Favour, and what Part they may aft in fo glorious a Cauie : Which leads me to fhew,
III. What Affiftance may, and ought to be afforded ; and what .Returns made, by the other Inhabitants of the Land, to Perfons thus bravely em i lo} 'a.
3 y.b re ought to be no Neuters in an Affair of: fuca Confcquence as this ; and in which the G:o:y cr GOD, our hcly Religion, the Intereft or cur Couna;-,and o. our Pofierity, are fo greatly ccncern'd. And, indeed, there can be no Neu- ters htrz , for he wbi is not, ere ty ay or another, iLith Cbrifi, up n fuch an Occafion, is again]} him. And the' All are not capable of ferving
fuch
(*7)
fiich a Djefign in every Way that is needful, yet each individual Chriflian, of whatever Rank or Degree, of what Sex and in what Circumftances ibever, may contribute his Help, by Blejfing the People who willingly offer themfelves to this Service, i. e. By fpeaking well of the Work in whicn they are engaged, and by recommending "Them and That to the Bleffing of G O D in their Prayerr. And tho* thus much will be accepted by G O D at the Hands of thofe who have nothing more to offer ,• yet he demands, and does expect, more from thofe whom he has favour'd with other Ad- vantages and Opportunities. And I know not how they will anfwer it to him, ii they decline their Concurrence, in their refpective Stations, and according to the Opportunities they have, for promoting a National Reformation of Man- ners. But,
Firft, WHAT Help and Afliftance, our Recommendation, or our good Wordy will af- ford themy is their due.
If any amongft us continue to this Day igno- rant of the Nature of this glorious Undertaking; or, of the Rules that the Societies have formed for themfelves, and the Meafures that they pur- fue ; they may eafily acquaint themfelves with thefe Things. And when this is done, it cannot be fuppos'd that any ferious and well-difpos'd Man can have any thing to fay againft the Work itfelf, or the Methods proposed for carrying it on. If thofe who are unacquainted with thefe Things, and might be better informed, will, notwithftanding, allow themfelves, to fpeak Evil of you, and of your truly-Chriftian Employment; they muft be look'd upon as Enemies (fo far, at ieaft) not only to yourfelves, but tp GOD, tp Rejigip'n, and to the Nation.
E 2 We
(28)
We fhouM not give into any Mifreprefentations and Slanuerb that Prejudice or Malice may fpread; nor unwarily cry down a Defign which muft aj. prove itfeil to all impartial Enquirers as wor- thy of Praife. Now thofe Recommendations, that are due to thefe Societies, may, upon feme accafions,be very ferviceable to their Caufe: While the unjuft Reproaches of Enemies, taken up and reported by Men of a better Character, may be mere prejudicial and hurtful to it than they are aware. It will not be ftrange if in a Work of fo much Difficulty, and in which fo many Per- fons are employed, (we hope all of honeft Minds, but of fuch different Capacities) there fhould be fome letter Miftakes ,• and now and then fome Imprudtrcies in Conduct : But wife and good Men know, that even themfelves are fubjed to fuch tilings as thefe; and are difpofed to make thofe candid Allowances for humane Frail- ties, that will fecure this Caufe from fullering with them, or by their Means, upon that Ac- count.
Secondly, EVERT ferious Chriflian may and ought to afford to themy the Help of his Prayers.
'THE effectual, fervent Prayer of James v.i*. a jijg{jte0m Man availeth much. And
then of what Service may the Prayers of Multi- tudes of fuch be, in behalf of an Intereft fo dear to G O D, as this is ?
We fhould pray that he would appear to- own it. That he would ftrengthen the Hands,
and encourage the Hearts of thofe who are enga- ged in iu That he would infpire them with
all thofe Virtues and Graces that may render them every Way equal to the Work. - — That he would fucceed them in all their regular En- deavours
(29)
deavours to advance his own Glory, to Reform the Age, and to do good to the World. — That he would make them his Inftruments for bringing the Wtckednefs of the wicked to an End ; caufing it to rail before them.-—* Thar he would prcferve their Perfons, and proted them from the oucragious Infults of violent Men. — — That he wouid gracioufly reward them for their Labour of Love 'y beftowing on them and theirs the beft of Btefllngs at prefent -> and Life for evermore. — — And tnat^he would render their Good Example^ effectual tor exciting others to rife up for him againfi the Evil-D ers, as they have done.
Thirdly, THOSE whom GOD has ft bleffed with Ability for it^ may greatly affift by Pecuniary Contributions towards the fupporting and carrying on this good Work.
I t has already been hinted, that it is a very expenfive Service : And great Sums of Money (which, you have heretofore been told, is no lefs the Sinews of this, than it is of other Wars) muft be yearly laid out in purfuing it. We have lately been informed of * the chargeable Profe- a cations of the mod fcandalous Wickednefs, cc where there is Money to delay the Tryal, and cc Cunning to evade the Laws. That the Con- " tenders for Virtue are often obliged to defend u themfelves, at confiderabie Coil, from malici- ic ous Suits ; and that they are at a large Ex- " pence to fpread ufeful Books, and publick ic Accounts of their Proceedings,^.—— Andean cc you think it reafonable (adds that Author,) " that fo great a Burden Ihould always lye on cc the Generous Few, who firft lifted themfelves in u this difficult Service ? * It cannot be reafon-
* Jj9$ Oicafiojjal ¥aj>er9 p, j,
able
(3°)
able it fhoulcL Nor can it be fuppos'd that fo much Good can be done, as if there was a greater Fund for defraying Charges. And therefore thofe whom GOD has blefs'd with Eftates fhould be ready to diflribute, willing to communicate in Favour of fo Great and Godlike a Defign. You are but Stewards under GOD, Ye rich Men, in thofe Eftates which you enjoy ; and you ought to disburfe your LORD's Money, as he directs ; and to return to him bis own, at his Call. And that he calls for a juft Proportion on fuch an Occalicn as this, appears from fuch Places
of Scripture as thefe. Honour the Prov. iii. 9. LORD with thy Sub/lance, and with
the firft Fruits of all thine Encreafe. —
Charge them who ure Rich in this World * j™' vu that they do Goody that they be rich in Good
Works, ready to diftribute, willing to com-
... municate. —But to do good and to commu-
U. ' *U" nicate, forget not : For with fuch facri fees
GOD is well f leafed. How can we employ our Eflates in a more proper Way of doing Good, or in a Way that conduces more to the Honour of GOD, than this ? And how much are we obliged in Point of Gratitude, fo to employ what we have received from diftinguifhing Goodnefs, and from his libe- ral Hand?
And, tho* Rich Men ought not to defer their Contributions of this fort to the Time of their Death ; and only to refer to their laft Wills for what they will do this Way, (for nothing is more plain than that it is their Duty to be doing Good, while they have it in the Power of their Hands) yet I cannot but think, that befides theijr prefent Contributions, Legacies beftow'd on fuch a pious Undertaking as this for Reformation ~of . > "' 'Manner S;
(3* )
Manners, muft be as well dire&ed, and as ac- ceptable to GOD, as thofe that are appointed for other Charities ; in favour of which Great Things have been done, in this Way, bleffed be G O D for it !
And now I would befpeak you in the Words of David, when he was exciting the People to contribute towards building a Houfe for GOD. Who then is willing to £^£°" confecrate his Service this Day unto the LORD? Or, as it is in the Hebrew, Who is willing to fill his Hand this Day unto the LORD? i. e. to beftow fome generous Gifts towards fo Great and Good a Work ?
Fourthly, THESE excellent Per Jons 4. • may, and ought to have Afftjlance from 0- thers, uniting with their Societies; and affording their Prejence, and Jome Portion of their Time in carrying on the Defigns of them.
Some of you may be capable of helping by your Advice. You may ftrengthen their Hands by attending their Meetings, defigncd for mu- tual Inftrudtion, Quickning, and Encouragement. It may be of vaft Importance to this Bleffed Cauje for a Number of Gentlemen to concur with thofe already engaged, in fuch a Manner as this ; fupplying the Places of thofe whom Death has removed, or who are otherwife ta- ken off from the Work : For, hereby you may prevent fome fatal Difcouragements to their Confutations and Meetings, which otherwife may be totally dropt : And then I fee not but the Great Defign which has made its Way through fo many Difficulties, and ior fo many Years, muft inevitably fail ; and the Day be yielded to vi&orious and triumphant Vice : And the Confequences of that would be, be-
ycnd
( 32 )
yond Exprefllon, dreadful, both to ourfelves and to Pofterity.
Others may be very honourably ufeful by contributing towards the feiz,ing and the convitiing Offenders. So much has been faid for the Vin- dicating fuch an Office as this; and in An- swer to all the Objections that can be ftarted againft it. The Neceflity and Ufefulnefs of it has fo fully been made to appear ; and fo many Arguments us'd to excite Perfons to undertake it in Subferviency to the Societies, and under their Direction, that there is not room to add any thing upon that Head.
I am far from encouraging any to a faulty Negled: of the Bufinefs of their Callings : It is certainly their Duty to be diligent in that Sort of Bufinefs; and it is highly commendable to fee them fo. But as fome have a great deal more leifurc than their Neighbours ; fo others who are inclind to ferve GOD tnis Way, will find it eafy enough to make it confident with their Other Affairs. And if upon fome more than ordinary Emergencies it rfiouid fo happen that "worldly Buiinefs muft be poftpon'd, or the Work of G O D neglected, I leave you to juage wiiich of thefe ought to be done. Bat it has been truly obferv'd, that for Things of this Nature, Want of Lei jure is but a mere Pretence when want ot Inclination is the real Caufe. Tho', blefled be GOD, it is not fo with all : And I would fain hope, that I may now prevail with fome, wiBing- l) to ,fftr themfelves to this Service, Who is on the LOR D's Sice 1 Who ? Let him come into thefe Societies.
Fifthly, WERE I to [peak to Magi-
ftrates, *ubo have their Cornmijjions for exe~
mting the Laws upon Offenders ; / would Prefu?ne to
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fuggefl what fpecial Affiftance they fhould a ford to Perfons thus emphfd. The Wifdom of our Legifla- ture has fupply'd us with excellent Laws againft Immorality and Profanenefs. But what are thefe without Execution ? They are but a dead Letter 'till that infpirts them with Life and Vigour. The Deiign of tnefe Societies is to animate and render efteftual fome of the beft Laws of the Land. That they are really come in to the Affiftance of the Magiflrate, who is the Guardian of thefe ; and whofe Commiffion from GOD obliges him not to bear the Sword in vain ; fir he is the Mi- nifter of GOD ; a Revenger to execute Rom.xiiU; Wrath upon him that doth Evil. To which he is further obliged by thofe good and whole- fome Statutes of our Country, that have their Foun- dation in the Laws of Nature and of Scripture.
Now while thefe worthy Societies endeavour to fubferve the Magiftrate in the Difcharge of his Duty ; it is but reafonable that he fhould give the utmoft Encouragement to them, and make their Work as eafy as may be. He fhould coun- tenance thofe who appear on the Side cf GOD and the Law^ and turn his Frowns on them who dare to rife up in Oppofition to both. He fhould not be remifs and negligent in that which is his Part : But fhould endeavour as much as he can to he in the Way^ that they who are Peking for Juftice may know where to have it ; and that thofe manifold Mifchiefs may be prevented, which are frequently occalion'd by delaying it. Certainly they who receive fuch an important Truft, and who accept of the Honour attending the Title of Magi- ftrates, and of GOD's Minijiers^ fhould continually attend upon this very thing. It Rom.xiii.£, is too well known (I fpeak to thofe who know it too well) that fcandalcm Criminals
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grow more audacious and infolent ; and that thofe who have feizM them, meet with many peculiar Difcouragements, when, after hurrying from one Place to another, with much Expence of Time and Pains, they cannot meet with one proper Magiftrate to apply themfelves to. Would to GOD that amongft all thofe worthy Perfons who are in Commiffion in this Great City, fome more of them would ferioufly confider this Matter, and lay it to heart! It is with great Reafon that the Eftablifh'd Church directs its Members to pray, u That all who are put in Authority may truly " and indifferently minifler Juftice, to the Punifh- cc ment of Wickednefs and Vice, and to the ic Maintenance of GOD's true Religion andVir- cc tue. " Bleffed be GOD there are fome excel- lent Magiftrates, who are eminently ufeful this Way. The Beft of the People do blefs them, and their o\\ n Works praife them : But we cannot but wifli and pray that the Number of fuch may encreafe, to the greater Difcouragement of Vice and Pro- fanenefs, to the Advancement and fpreading of Virtue and true Religion, and to the Encourage- ment and Joy of your Societies, and of all Good Men.
IV. I would now clofe all with a fhort Addrefs to your/elves ; and afterwards to others, in your Favour.
Firfl, To the Members of thefe Societies. And let me entreat you, Worthy Sirs, to be frequently reflecting on the Nature of the Work in which you are engaged, and as often reviewing the ferjwajive Motives that prevailed with you to be fo far con- cerned in it. And then confider whether it be not the fame excellent Work ftill ; and whether there are not as flnnutm Reafons for ferfevering in it, as
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there were for entring on it at firft. I know you meet with many Discouragements ; but I cannot apprehend them to be more, or greater, than what you had in view when you firft fet out. Watch therefore over your own Spirits, that you grow not remifs and indolent ; and that your Concern and Endeavours for Reformation of Manners become not faint and languid. Remember thofe awful Words of your Great LORD, that no Man having put his Hand to the Plough, Lukeix. 6zl and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of GOD. A Retreat from this Service mull be no lefs dangerous, than it is inglorious.
YOU know your Calling, Brethren ; and who are the Enemies you are to continue to oppofe. You have been frequently reminded of various Inftan- ces of rampant Vice, and of feveral Sorts of the Devil's Agents^ to whom your Animadverlions are due ,• and who require your Notice. I fhall only fuggeft, that I apprehend greater Care is neceffary with refpect to thofe diminutive Under- factors for Hell, who are fo induflrious to debauch the meaner and more neglefted Youth, by their impudent and obfcene Songs. And I wifli fome Way could be found for preventing thofe impure Suggeftions that are chalk' d out in the Plages of Publick Concourfe ; and that defecrate the very Walls and Doors of our Churches. If there be no Way to prevent this, would it be amifs if fome of your Officers were employed, at proper Seafons, to expunge, or ftrike off the loathfome Filth, which muft raife a reproachful Wonder in the . Breads of fober Strangers who vifit our City ; which cannot but be oflfenfive to pure Minds ; and to others is like the Spark to the Tinder, which prefently kindles into a Burning ? But this by the Way. To ret&rn,
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I must further remind you, that if you will perfevere in this glorious Defign, you muft be confcientioufly careful about the Means that are neceflarily fubfervient to it. Oblige yourfelves to attend as much as you can thofe ftated Meetings for mutual Advice and Encouragement, which it was your Wifdcm to appoint; and without which (as I hinted before) your whole Undertaking muft drop 'ere long. Is it poffible you fhould fpend your Time to better Purpofes ; or that you fhould be employed about more important Bufinefs when the Return of thefe Meetings call for your Pre- fence at them ? Are you reaping fuch Advantages elfewhere, as you can think fufficient to counter- vail the Damage, if your faulty Neglects fhould at laft undo the great Defign of Reforming a vicious Age ? And pray, my Brethren, how Will you anfwer it to GOD; how will you fatisfy your own Confciences, if Matters fhould come to this ? But I hope better things ofyou> tho Ithmfpeak: And that every one will ftir up himfelf to greater Diligence in this Refpeft. Let no Man fay there will be enough prefent, tho5 I am not there : For this may become the Language of fo many, 'till at length there be none to meet : And What will remain then but to take up that fad and mournful
Complaint; Help, LORD, for the godly Pfalm xii. i. Man ceafeth ; for the Faithful fail from
among ft the Children of Men ? GOD has eminently profper'd and blefled many of you, fince you firft engaged in this pious Employ ; and I hope fuch cf you will look upon Vcuifelves under Jpeciai Engagements to ferve your bountiful Benefadidr in this part of his Intereft, to the utmoft of your Power, and in every Way in which he has made ^ou able to do it.
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B y way of Encouragement, let me put you on reflecting, that tho' the vileft and worfi of Men fpeak evil of you, the beft and thegreateft have been wont to blefs you,and continue to do fo. Princes and Nobles, Clergy and Judges; and in a word,Good Men of all Orders and Degrees, have greatly applauded this Enterprize, and your regular Conduit in the Ma- nagement of it. They have recommended it to the World many Ways : And to the Care and Bleffing of Heaven, in their Prayers. You have GOD and the Government on your Side : And no Enemies need be formidable, while you have fuch mighty Allies as thefe ; no, not all the united Forces of the Devil, the World, and the Flefh in Array againft you.
How well difpofed the beft of Princes, our rightful Sovereign King GEORGE mull be to the Caufe in which you appear, you may rea- fonably gather from what he very lately faid in his gracious Letter to the General AJfembly in the Church of Scotland^ viz. " you may moft firmly aflure your- <c felves of our fteady and chearful Concurrence " in whatever Methods fliall be taken for pro- a moting true Religion and Piety; the difcoura- iC ging Profanenefs and Immorality ; and for the <c preventing the Growth of Popery. ,J And we cannot but fuppofe, that a Defign calculated for the Happinefs of Mankind muft be very agreeable to the moft Renowned Hero of the Age, who diftin- guifhes himfelf by unwearied Endeavours for the Good of the World.
Besides all this, you have heard how many Great and Iliuftrious Communities have praSli- catty recommended your brave Defign, by follow- ing your Example, and copying after you. And add to this, That the Confciencesof thofe Sinners with which you contend, cannot but often ap- prove
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prove of your Conclude and fome of them, reco- vered by your Means, have blejfed you. And the Time is coming when all of them fhall do fo : When the Righteous Man fhall ft and in Sgrnnms/ &reat Boldnefs^ before the Face offucb as have affiiEied him, and made no account cf his Labours and they /hall fay within them- felves, "This was he whom we had fome time in Deri- jion-y and a Proverb of Reproach. We Fools accounted his Life Madnefs, and his End to be without Honour. How is he numbred amongft the Children ofGOD; and his Lot is amongft the Saints ?
Having fuch Encouragements as thefe, go on, ye heroic Friends of G O D and Mankind ; go on, with new Refolution and Vigour, in your noble Encounters, and your pious Efforts for the legal Suppreflion of fcandalous Wickednefs, and for approving yourfelves Benefactors to the YVorld. Having (aid thus much to yourfelves ; I would now,
Secondly, Address myfelf to others, in your Fa- vour : Who being already informed of the Nature of your Work, and having been pointed to the . particular Ways in which they ought to affift and help you, I fhall now only hint at a few things that may farther excite them to blefs the Men who are thus engaged, and to contribute towards their Succefs, as much as they can. Coniider that this is the Caufe of GOD, and that thefe Worthy Perfons concern themfelves in it for his Sake. They exert themfelves againft that wrhich is difhonourable and oftenfive to him ; and they purfue that which pleafes him, and redounds to the Glory of his Name. They a£t in Imi- tation cf him, in what they do : For GOD himfelf is endeavouring to prevail with wicked Men to forfake their Ways$ and to return to him.
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His eternal Son was manifefled to deftroy the Works of the Devil; and endured the Contraditiion of Sinners againfl himfelf while he was purfuing this as the Bufinels ot his Life; and for the Sake of effe&ing it, became obedient unto Death. The Bleffed Spi- rit of G O D is fent . from Heaven to convince Men of Siny of Right "eoufnefs, and of Judgment ; to affift them in amending their Ways, reforming their Lives, and returning to GOD. And while thefe blejfed Societies have the fame great Defigns in View, they are alfo purfuing them with much Wifdom and Care. They delire to have their Inftrudions from GOD; and therefore betake themfelves to his Word, and to Prayer. This they do, in a fpecial Manner, on the Returns of fuch Seafons as thefe. They acquaint themfelves alfo with thofe Laws of their Country, with which they are more particularly concerned ; and endea- vour to proceed in an exad Conformity to them* Persons of different Perfwajions about the Extraeffentials of Religion do chearfully unite m profecuting this Work, in wrhich Vital Religion is interefted fo much. They therefore agree in what is of greater Importance than any thing about which they differ. And that they dif- fer in fome things, will not feem ftrange to fuch as conhder, that it has pleas'd GOD to deliver fome Truths of the Gofpel in fuch a Manner, as does admit of a Variety of Sentiments con- cerning them : And that the Minds of Men are fo varieuflyform'd, and their Light fo various, that an Unifrmity of Opinions would be a much more wonderful thing than fuch Difference : Not- withstanding which they have formed themfelves into a noble Army of Chriftians, to oppofe with joint Forces the common Enemies of GOD, and of all that is Good ,• who have fometimes afloci-
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ated themfelves to make Head againfl them. I would in the Lafl Place,
Remind you how willingly thefe well dif- pofed Chriftians have offered themfelves upon this Occafion. It is what ALL are coiiged to in their refpetitive Stations, and according to their feveral Opportunities : But while the many neg- lect their Duty ; and even the greater Part of good Men themfelves think it enough, if they can maintain their own Character, without attempt- ing to give a Check to publick V/ickednefs, or troubling themfelves to be their Brothers Keepers ; Thefe excellent Perfons have freely come in to the Help of GOD and the Nation. And while this entitles Them to the Bleffing of all good Men ; If You will now be prevailed with to join iffue with them, and wiSingh to offer yourfelves in like Manner, you will certainly lhare in the Bleffings of the Wife and Good ,• and in thofe greater Rewards which GOD will beftow on thofe who employ themfelves in his Service ; and to w7hom he will fay, at length, IVell done. Good and Faithful Servants, enter ye into the Joy of your LORD.
F I N I S.