The Communication of Sin

J

SERMON

PREACH'D at the

ffizes held at DERBY,

AVGVST 15th, 1709.

By HENRT $ACHEVERELLyn.D. Fellow of Magdalen-CoUege^ Qzony and Chap* lain of St. Saviour's^ Southwark.

PubliillM at the Requeft of the Gentlemen of the GRJND-JVRT*

LONDON:

Printed for Henry Clements, at the Hdf^Moon in St. Paul's Church* Yard, 1709.

To the Right Worfhipful

George Sacheverel/.Efq^; j

High-Sheriff of the tlie County of'DERBT, and to the Honourable Genlemen of the Grand-

G EN T L E M E N,

T^S Peculiar Honour you were pleas" d w confer upon me after the tie- livery of this plain Difcourfe, was fo Signal, that nothing lefs than this Publick Acknowledgment can acquit me of Ingratitude*

Now, when the Principles, and Interefts of our Church, and Conftituti- on, are fo Jhamefully Betray'd, and Run Down, it can be no little Comfort to all thoje who Wifh their Welfare *M Security, to fee, that notwitbflanding j^fecret Malice, and Open Violence they are Ferficuted with, there are ftillto be found fuch Worthy Patrons of both, who dare Own and Defend them as well againft the Rude and Prefumptuous Infults of the One Side, as the B^fe, Undermining Treachery of the Other } and who Scorn to fit Si- lently-by, and Partake in the Sins ofthefe Aflbciated Mal'ignants.

Tftf the Truth feems to be fo much Forfaken atprefent, yet God be thank'd, I they fpaU yet find to our Honour, thavWe have ftiB among® Vs thofe who have i Courage to Speak it, as well as thofe who have Lives and Fortunes to A Maintain it ; And tho* the Age is Sunk into the Lowqft Dregs of Corrup- J ruption, that it cannot endure Sound Do&rin, there are not wanting Some tt> Preach it, and Others to Support it, at the Expence of Both. May the J Influence of your Good Examples, which as much Animates our Friends, as it Terrifies our Enemies, be as diffufivdy Prevailing,** 9tis nobly Con- i fpicuous; and the Bleffing of that Chuxch attend you, which you fo eminent- ] Jj Adorn, and Suftain !

And, as 1 am obligd by the ReUttin 1 have the Honour to bear to your I Family, may a double Portion of Divine Favour reft on you (Mr. HIGH- | SHERIFF) whofe Commands / was very ready to Execute in this Office, finceyou thought neither the Advancement of your Years, fo gene- ) roufly Expended for the Good of your Country, nor the great Trouble attending this Poll, fufficient to exempt you, from fbewing that fleady Loy- alty and Zeal to ferve Her Majefty and ^Government, for which you -J have been fo remarkably Diftinguitb'd.

Jam, with aS Regard, Gentlemen,

Tour very Humble Servant,

HENRY SACHEVERELL, |

3

I TIM. 5* Part of the 22cL Verfe. '

-Neither be Partaker of other MerPs Sins.

WHEN St. Paul, by the peculiar Defignation of the Holy GhonS had Ordaiird Timothy Bifhop cf Ephefus, that he might not be wanting in fufficient Inftruftions for the Difchargeof fo Weigh- ty and Sacred an Office, he fends him -in this Epiflle the Credentials of his Authority, with thofe Rules of Government for himjelf in his Private Life, together with thofe Canons of Ecdefiaftical Difcipline, which were abso- lutely neceffary for the PubJhk due Adminiftration of the Church of God. And to excite in him a full Senfe of his Duty, and the great ..anger of Neglefting or Abufing his High-Calling, the jipoftle charges him before God, and the Lord Jefus Chrift, and the & eft Angels, to con- V. 2i. fider that a double Burthen lay upon him, that he muft anfwer I for the Lofsof all thofe other Souls committed to his Care at the Expence ! of his own; that he muft be Refponfible for their Gjrfilt and Mifcarriage, as )ins own proper Crimes; and that therefore he fhould aft with all the

* ftrifteft Vigilance and Circumfpeftion in fomomentuous a Concern, and lay hands fuddenly on no Man : Which, whether underftood of Ahfolution of Penitents) by that Ancient and Primitive Ceremo- V. 22. ny us'd in it, (as fome Writers contend) or of Ordination, fas others) would involve him in all the ill Conferences of fuch a Rath and

* Precipitate Aft ion, and make him Partaker of other Men's Sins.

The Words however may be taken in an unreftrain'd Senfe, as an ex- cellent Maxim for the Conduft of Human Life m General^ or as an llni- verfal Prohibition of Contributing towards, Concurring, or Complying with, the wicked. Praftices of others, left as we thereby become Accomplices In their Iniquity, we may be alfo Sharers in their Guilt, and PeKow- Sufferers in their Punifment. Under which unlimited Acceptation I (hall proceed todifcourfeontheText, and (hall endeavonr to (hew,

I. Firft, How many Ways we may be Partakers of other Often $ Sins. And,

II. Secondly, I will urge fome particular Motives to deter tis from fall- ing under fo great and dangerous a Guilt.

I. And Firft, I wiSfhew how many Ways we may be Partakers of other Mens Sins. In order to the ftating this Point clearly, I muft beg leave to premife this Refleftion, That al1 Immoral Atlions may be confjderti under a double View, and confequently divided into two Sorts. Either fir ft, fuch as are Internal, and Perfonal ; or fecondly, fuch as are External, and Derivative. Now as the Firfl areconfind within the Offend or, and tranf- afted only betwixt God and our Confciences ; fo they extend their Guilt no farther than the Man, and are circumfcrib'd within the Bounds of his own Soul. ' Thefe Sins are of a reftrain'd, and Pofitive Nature, and to be meafur'dbytheiv Ejfential, and Intrinfical Malignity alone. But the Others have, befid.es this, a fylnive Addition of Guilt, drawn from all the mif- , chievons Effetts, aridw.kkM Covfefeence*&iiu&& from them •, according

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to which they rife in proportion of Impiety, increase in the Degrees of Hei~ voufijt'fs, and Aggravation, and ftlll #ztfo?r as they are further propagated, and advancM- And as they are afted in Conjunction, in this Communion, and Society of Vice, (as T may call it) it grows fruitful , And multiplies ; and tho' the Sin'confider'd in /t/e/fmay be Single, and Vncompounded, yet with refpeft to the Multitude engag'd in it, it maybe alfoof a Complicated Na- ture, as it's commnnicated Influence is transfus'd thro* feveral different Channels, which may all fpringout of, run into, and joyn in One Indivi- dual Body. According to which Notion, any Criminal Atlion may diftin- guifh all thofe that are Confederate in it's Commiflion, into thefe three fe- veral £ Uffes ; either firfl, as they are Principal Agents in it ; or fecondly, as they are Acce fortes to it ; or thirdly , as they aipe Privy to it's Execution, by a tacit Compliance with it, wilful Neglect of it, or Omiffion to prevent it. All which are to be confider'd as fo many Gradations of Sin, charg- ing the different Tranfgreffor with an Higher, or Lower Imputation of Guilt, as be ftands delinquent in either. But to render this Matter more fully evident, I will draw out; and exemplify thefe General Heads in fome of the moft Important and Particular Cafes contain'd under them, to which the reft may be eafily reduced. We may therefore be Partakers of other Me?;'s Sins, either by,

i. Commanding, or Commijjiovlng their Execution.

2. Conniving at , Confinting to, or Concealing them.

3. Adminiftring Court f el, Direction, or Afftfiance towards them.

4. Commending, Approving, Excufwg, or Defending them.

5. Giving Offence, or Scandalous Example.

6. Authorising, Propagating, or Publifnug any Herefy^ Falfe JDotlrin, Schifmy Fdclion, Irreligwn, or Immorality*

1. And iirfi, We wz^ partake of other OAerCs Sins, by Commanding, or Commifftonbig their Execution. This particularly refpe&s all fuch as are in- vefted with any fmfiiSion^ or Authority over their Inferiors, all Princes and Mtgiflrates, Civil and Ecclefiaflical, CMafters and Governors, Parents and Guardia-nsj or anv others that enjoy a I{ight of Dominion or DifcipMne, Granted and Eftablilh'd by the Law, and a Preeminence requiring all Al- legiance and Subjection to them in all things tfuft and Honefl. Now tho* this Sovereignty is reflraind within the Hulesoi tfuftice and Equity, of %ea- fon and Keligion, and no'Power upon Earth can Authorise, tfujtifie or Excufe the Violation.oi them, there lying a Superior, Indefeaftble Obligation that exempts all Men from an ///^/ or X^/I/rp d Obedience ; yet the controlling Swav, and overbearing Awe of Force and Authority, the affrighting and al- irtoit irreiiftible Terrors of Threats 2nd Punijlments, the dazling Glory of J^M and Grandeur, together with the perfuafive Influence of Intereji and Ambition, mak? great AUotvances for Flefh and Blood, not eafily ca- pable in it f elf, without the merciful Afliftances of Divine Grace, to ftrug- gle with, and vanquifti fuch preffing Difficulties and Temptations; and therefore charge back a double Portion of Guilt npon thofe Perfons who abufe their Dominion to bale and iinfui Purpofcs, who in this Cafe are tp becoofider'd as the Prinapxl Authors of thefe Evils, as the Prime Cmjs and Original Ground-Spring from whence they flow. Not that this Re- flation of a Greater Degree of Guilt upon the Commander, can wholly ac~ quit the Subordinate Tranfatlor of his, who knows he h Rdponfible to a much Greater Mtfcr and Soxcreign. He mn& jbtrc his Prof onion, and

• bear

at the Affizes at Derby. $

hear bis own Burden, tho'ofmuch lefs Weight than tliat of his Superior. It is obfcrvable that the l{oman Law inclin'd very much in favour to fuch unhappy Perform as lay under thefe Difadvantages of Power and Obligati- ons, whereby they were obnoxious to be compelled to execute, or comply with any Injun&ion that might contradift their Zwfiience, or interfere with their $ufthe and Integrity, imputing the Offence chiefly to thofe un- der whofe Government they afted as the adequate and Impulfive Caufe of, the Crime, and true Ob\eh of the Penalty ; efteeming the ImmtifotcWe* linquents to be properly non fui Juris, or capable jfudg/k \n the Cafe, and therefore not fo much the Authors of Iniquity, as meer Paffr.e {Machines, dire&ed by the Hands of Deipotick and Overruling Managers-* As doubtlefs the Strength of the temptation , the Prevalence of Inducements, and the Want of Liberty, do very much Extenuate the Tranfgreffion in the One, fo muft it proportionabty Aggravate that in the Other, in Perverts ing and Proftituting that Authority and Sacred Trufi that was repos'd in him for the Promotion of Virtue 2nd Piety, to the fcandalous Propagation of P/Veand Debauchery. Upon which Reafons are founded thofe feveral Maxims of the Civil Law, that Exempt all thofe that aft under a Command from the Guilt of the Offence. And on the fame account we find in the Scriptures many Inftances of very flagrant Sins, committed by fome«5W/wi- ftersof State, afcrib'd o&ly to the Supream Power, under whofe Comm'njion they afted. A very Convincing Example whereof we read in the difmal Cafe of Uriah, whofe Execrable Murther, tho5 tranfafted by foab thro' pavi£% Order, was not only charg'd upon the IQtig himfelf, in his own Words in his Penitential Pfalm compos'd on that lamentable Occafion, but by the Hoty Gbofl alfo in the 2d of Samuel 12. 9. Thou haBtilfd Uriah the Hittite with the Sword, and haH flxin him with the Sword of the Children of Ammon. Tho* doubtlefs his Subjects were Guilty of a very heinous Sin, in Obeying their Sovereign's impious Command ; yet did God viiit that abo- minable and ungrateful Faft upon the Prince's Head, in a Punifhment that wore the Colour of his Crime, and branded hisotherwife fpotlefs Charact- er with a Bloody Mirk to all Pofterity. And fo was the Parallel Murther of Naboth both Afcrib'd to, and Exphted in the Perfons of Ahab and fjfcf* bel, who remain upon Record as Frightful and Infamous Examples of abu^'d Power, Avarice and Ufurpation. Where Princes thus prefume to force the Confidences of their Subjefts, and break in upon their Rights and Laws, not only their Private and Perfonal, but the Publick and National Crimes will be requir'd at their Hands ; and for this reafon the Idolatry of the $ews ischarg'd upon Jeroboam, for which the Spirit of God has ftigmatiz'd his Pedigree to Eternity, in that Odious and Reproachful Charafter of being the Son of Nebat that made Ifrael to fin, When Aaron had fofar fubmitted to the im pious Requeft of the People as to Dethrone their God and Sovereign, and change their Glory into the Similitude of a Calf thateateth Hay, we find CMofes accufing the High-Priett of their Rebellion and Idolatry, in this (harp Expoftulation, What did this People unto thee, that thou haft brought fo great a Sin upon them t The Exod. 32. fame Reafon will be found to hold good in all Cafes of Govern- 31. mem, and Authority, which in the very loweft Degree are Offices of Commiffton, znATruft, lodg'd astne Delegacy, and Vice-Gerewy of God, the Fountain of all Power, in the Hands of CMagislrate $, and Superiors, who ftand accountable to birn for the Crimes of their toferfoptj ia which they

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are Panthers, and-confequently will bear the Load of a double Damnation, when the Souls that aie loft thro5 their Mi f conduit are requir'd at their Hands.

IT. Secondly, We may be Partakers of other {Men s Sins, by Conniving at, Cmfenting to,' or Conceding them. Now the Guilt in this Particular rifes in proportion to the Power, and Obligation, that differently binds, or engages

vjricnfo exert that Parser, there can be no Communication of the Aftion . put where we are inverted in fuch Authority, as in the Cafe of all Publick Office's, and Adminiftrations, or where the Precepts of Humanity, Civiltfu- fiice or Religion require us to interpofe, and reftrain the Commiflion of any vicious Aft, either thro' Careleffnefs, and Negligence, Partiality, or Impunity in the One, Connivance, Confent, or Concealment in the Other, they both become Partakers of the Crimes committed, in an unfaithful Difcharge of their Duties, and a Tacit Violation of their Truft, and are not only Re- fponiibie for the pre fern Ms alone, but alfo for all the mifchievous Confe- rences attending them. For vicious Cuftoms fteal upon us gradually, and by every frefh Advancement get Ground and Strength, till at laft by ma- ny multiply'd A&s they eQablifi themfeives, grow Head-ftrong, Trrefifti- ble, andoutof the reach of Control! or Correction, which the leaft Difci- pline feafonably apply *d to, in a State of Infirmity, had check'd and fup- prefs'din their very Birth. Errors in Vraftice being like Abfurdities in Reafoninz, the Admiffion of One Fallacy will draw a Thoufand after it. Ne- gtett, and want of Animadverfion, make Delinquents Bold and Impudent, and will bring 5em from Extenuating, to ^uftifying their Faults.

A Tacit Admiffion in any One that has the lmht of Prohibition, amounts to an Approbation of any thing in the Senfe of the whole World, and in- volves the Perfon fo Confining under a double Guilt, both as being a pmy concern'd in the Sin, and as a Traitor of his Authority. Silence where a Man ought to fpeak, is as Culpable, if not more than, an MuaL and open Engagement. Thcfe Things haji thou done, and J held ffalxc. 21. my Tongue, and thou thoughxeft that I was even fuch an one as thyfeljf, fays the Pfalmijf, and the Natural Inference moll Men are apt to draw from the Cowardly. Compliance, and bafe Obfequi- bufnefs of fuch as ought to (hew their Power, and Principles to the contra- ry, He that does not appear in eppofition to that which it is his Duty to pzvent, or fupp/efs> muft at the leaft juftly be concluded not to be

againfi it, according to that Aphorifm of our Bleffed Saviour, Mir* 9. 40. He that is not againil us, is on our pan, which indeed may

bear a further Interpretation, that the Man that afts not -evidently Again ft any Party, or Defign, is a real Promoter, ' or Encourager of it's Interefts. For certainly any Perfon in Authority does much more mnribme to the Advancement of Evil by a Vermijfive Silence, and VaJJtve Forbearance, than an Inferior can in the moft vigorous Expreflion of his Zeal, and Fervency for "it ; becaufe by him Vice feems to be Legitimated, a, 'twere Ejtibliftd by a Law, and to have its currant Paftpon without Control] in the World. Thus does he that Acquiefces in, Submits to, or it a Crime that by his ?ofl and Homr he is qualify'd to Forbid, " . Vreventi

. at the Jljjiz>es at Derby. 7

Trevent, Kedrefs, or Corretl^ become pofnively Guilty of that very Crime HmCelf, as much as if he had been the Single, and Perfonal AggreJJbr. Both the Old, and New TeUament abounding with pregnant Examples for the Proof of this Affertion, I (hall trouble you with but two drawn out of each, which (peak very home to the purpofe. TheFirft is that Re- markable, and Notorious Cafe „of old Eli, under the joynt Confideration both of a Parent, and Magistrate. He, like a i Sam* 2. too Indulgent Father, and Governor, conniv'd at the abomi- 20, See. nable Trafgreffions of t'he Priefis his Sons, who, by turning the very Temple into a Brothel- Houie,xhaA made the Sacrifice of the Lord to ftink, and his Service Deteftable in the fight of the "People, an£ when he ought to have Purg'd the Church of fuch Sanctify d Villainy, and Exe- cuted the fevereft Punifhments that Juftice could inflift upon fuch Helliih Crimes, and as 'twere to have Reconcile God to his Altar, by the Effu* fion of his own Guilty Biood upon it, he could not find in his Heart to give them fo much as a Rebuke, till the Clamours, and Outcries of the People fore'd him to that Ungrateful Office. And even then too his Colv reftions were fo Soft, and Gentle, fo full of filly Fondnefs, and Dotage, that they rather Encouragd, than ftetfrain'd their Odious Impieties. High time was it for God to awake, when his Liftlefs Tawning Vice-Gerent was thus fcandaloufiy Drowfy, to vindicate that crying Reproach he had brought upon his Worjhip, and Honour by fuch Supine Ofcitancy, Sloth and Negligence. Accordingly we find God charging all thefe monftrous Sins upon the Old Prophet, with the higheft Exprobation of the blackeft Ingratitude, and Injustice, fpurning the ufelefs and unworthy Dotard out of his Office, and executing Vengence upon hi#i, and his wh^le Poftern ty, with the utmoft Indignation and Difdain.

§. The other Inftance we have Recorded by St. Paul, in his Eirft Epi- file to the Corinthians, c. 5. wherein he very (har ply charges his new Con- verts as Partakers in the foul Sin of the Incestuous Perfon, becaufe they Connivdzt it, and did not pofitively proceed to Execute the Church-Cen- //m?jupon him, in totally cutting off fuch a Corrupt and Rotten Mem- ber from it's Body. Te are puff d up, (fayshejrfw<i have not rather mourn 'df that he that hath done this Deed might be taken away from amongyou. For the Underftanding whereof, we muft obferve that in the Primitive Ages of Chrifiianity, Excommunication denoted by thefe Expreffions, s£ai?«07$ hi \j\<tx J//£:y and n$^&£Zvcu t&J ^etla.vA9 being never us'd, but on ve- ry great and enormous Occafions, and being juftly efteem'd of fuch a Dreadful and Damnable Confequenee, was always attended with the fad Pomp, and mournful Solemnities of a Funeral; the Congregation were array 'd in Black, accompanying the Execution with Lamentation, and loud Weeping, as o'er the Spiritual Death of the Criminal's Soul. So that the Jpoftle here expoftulates with the Corinthians, as Encouraging, and Shar- ing in the Vice, in Omitting to Punifhit, tho' in fuch a Severe and Defpe- rate way, wherein Mercy, and Cempajfwn might be allow'd to take place, if in any Cafe in the World.

Thus t\\Q Toleration of any Sin in Others by Perfons of Power, and Au- thority, Translates it back on their own Heads, and renders them aftually Guilty of it". This Aflfertion muft be allow'd Evident and Undeniable in all Inftancesof Government-, but then there arifes a fr-^Queftion, How for we may be Partakers of other 3\tn?s Sins in the/w .^Intercourfe and

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Affairs of Human Life betwixt OAan and Man, in Common Converfation ? We are certainly obliged in Charity to bear always an hearty and tender Concern for our Neighbour's Good and Safety, to confider one Hei. 10. another, to look net every tftan on his own things, but $very Man 24. alfo to the things ofothrs ; to Edify one another, to Advifey Warn*

PW/.2.4. Rebuke\ and by all other Methods to Promote his Welfare as %om. 14. Occafion ferves, or we have opportunity of Maintaining and 19. &c Propagating the great Intereft of Truth, Piety, and Virtue in the World. But on tke other hard, do not the fame exprefs Injunctions of Charity, Religion, and tfuftice oblige us with equal Force, and Penalty, to the no lefs neceffary Duties of Peace, and £ujetnefc For- bearance, and Forgivenefs, in Mercy, Compaflion, and Good-Nature to Cover, and Conceal, our Brother's Sins, and Infirmities ? Do not tnefeas ftriftiy command us not to thruft ourfelves trigtrimulfy into his Bufi- nefs, or meddle with thofe Concerns that do not belong to us, or under theSanftify'd Pretence of Reformat ion of Manners, to turn Informer, affume an Odious and Fa&ious Office, arrogantly intrench upon Other's Cbri- ftian liberty, and Innocence, and under the Shew of more Zeal^ and P«- rity, (tke moll infallible Token of a Dextrous and Qefn'd Hypocrite, and Quve) turn the World upfide down, and fet all Mankind into Quarrels, and Confufions ? Now to Reconcile thefe Differences, and to Steer our Courfeeven between the Limits of Duty and Error, which indeed is not fo eafy a Matter precifely in all Inftances to do, thefe three Conclufions may help to folve moft of the Difficulties in the C afe before us.

1. Firfl, We may be Partakers of other Mens Sins, if we do not endea- vour to the utmoft of our Po,wer, to prevent, or flop their Commiflion, when they openly break in upon Religion, or aflault the Glory of God. In this Cafe we lie under a Double Obligation to interpofe, in Vindication of the Divine Honour, and for the Eternal Salvation of our Brother ; both which ought to be more Dear to us, th<> n any other Confiderations in the World. When we hear God's Holy and Dreadful Name Blafphemd, his Being Denf-d, his Providence Arraign d his Goodnejs CenfurJd,h\s Power Contemn'd,f«/??^^e/?/o«V,hisM?rrv MgcPifit theSacreduMv/fo7ei of our Faith Villi f/d or Ri dicuVd, noz to ft a;-; i up in theirDefence,and with all the Courage, Authority, and Argument we are Mafters of to affert the Glori- ous Caufe of God and truth, is to Renounce our Allegiance to One, and Pretentions to the Other. In fuel* bate, and cowardly Dijhyalty to God, Silence and Connivance make us A&ual Aggreffors ; not to Speah, is to Approve ; not to AB, is to Commit ; not to Rebuke, is to Confent to; not to fhew our Difpleafure againft, is to have Complacency in it •, not to f^efent, is to Submit to it -y not to endeavour to Deftroy,\s to Promote the Kvtgdom of the Devil, and to Side with the Power $ of Darknefs. There vs no Trimming {Moderation in this Cafe, no ftanding in a Neutrality and Indifference, we muft be Off en five or De fen five, and ferve God, or Belial. This is a Negative Dtnia] vf God, (If I may fo fpeak) and communicates a deep (hare of the Guili\ but how much greater then does a Pofitive derive ? When Men out of a Time-ferving Fear, Scycophantizing Flat- ttry, or miftaken Complaifance, (hall tall in with the Damnable Humours, or Debauch'd Opinions of Lewd Sots, and Atheijis, fmile at their Smutty and Prophane tfefts, tamely hear thofe Holy Oracles, by which, w* expert to brSav'd, Scaft at, mi Derided, and impudently Criticis'd upon, and

give

at the Affiles at Derby. 9

give an Approving Laugh to that Excellent Drollery, for which the Speaker's Tongue ou&ht to be cut out, left they fhould difpleafe a Crew of Ignorant and Profligate Infidels, by (hewing unfeafonably before Brutes and Buffoons, that they themfelves are Men, that is; Creatures, entfu'd with Reafon, and Reflexion, that are not afham'd of the God that made them and have fo much Gratitude as to Own and Vindicate the Saviour that I(e- deem'd them. Not to Rebuke fuch Daring Impieties, f which fly in the Face of Heaven, and call aloud for fpeedy Vengeance y for Thunder and Earthquakes to Blaft and fwallow fuch accurfed Mifcreants, who thus pro- voke, and as 'twere anticipate their Damnation ) notwith- ftanding the moft powerful and dangerous Oppofuions in Epb.j. rr. the World, is, in the Apo file's Language, to have Fellowflnp with the Works of Darknefs, to affociate with Devils Incarnate, and to en- ter into a Covenant with Death, and an Agreement with Hell, as the Prophet elegantly fpeaks, which fuch treacherous Ape- !fa. 28. 18. flates to their Religion, will atlaft, to their Eternal Sorrow, find their juft Reward hereafter.

2. Secovdly, We may be Partakers of other OAens Sins, if we do not to ( the utmoft of our Power, endeavour to prevent, or obftrutl their Com- miflion, when they manifeftly endanger the Good of the PublUk. As we are Members of any Government, or Society, we are All oblig'd, in point of Honour, Intereft, and Conscience, to Maintain its Security, Promote its Welfare, and Guard it againft any Fattious Vefgns, or Seditious Covfpira- ciesj that may threaten it's Conflhution^ difcompofe \V$ Peace* or Violate and Subvert it's Laws. God, and Nature, has inverted every Subjetl from his Cradle, with a Commi{Jion to Engage, Difcover, and Difappoint the Enemies of his Church, and Country •, arid he that is either Privy to, indu- ftrioufly Conceals, or any ways Abets, their Sckifmatical, Illegal, or Re- bellious Enterprizes, both in the Eyes of Human, as well as Divine Laws y is an Accomplice, and Partaker in the Guilt, a Traytor to God and his Prince, a Patron and Pmetlor of Jnjuftice, and a Common Adverfary to Himfelf, as well as all Mankind.

3. Thirdly, We may partake in other {Mens Sins,by Conniving at, or Cosi- fenting to, any imminent Danger, or great Injury, that may voiolently af- feft the Body, or Soul, the Life, or Eftate, Spiritual, or Temporal, of our Neighbour. Where tbefe vifibly lie at ftake, they demand our Succours, and Common Humanity mterrcfis us in their Defence. Where his Tnno- cent Reputation is fcandaloufly Afp^rs'd, his naked Perfon openly Affxulted^ or /$ffaffmated% his Fortune fecretly Struck at, or VndcimitM, every Man is bound to follow the Example of that Heroic Cbampicv, and Deliverer of his Country-men, Mofes, who tho'endow'd with fuch an VnparalltU'dMeek- vefs, as nothing but fuch an heinous Provocation could ♦ diftnrb, Seeing one of his Brethren fuffering wrong, De- A&s 7. 24. fended him, and Avenged him that wasopprefsd-. and f mote the

Egyptian. Otherwife we lie obnoxious to the I mputation of ihtPfahnift^ When thoufawefi a Thief, thou confentedfl unto him,and hafi been Partaker with the Adulterers, He muft at leait be fupposd Pfal 50.18. a Well'Poijher to the Villainy,that can behold it's Commiflion without Compxffion, and Xefemment. terTanlh weer ft adding by, and hold- ing tJ:e Garments of St. Stephens Executioners, w^s enough to have At- tainted the Apoflle, and render d him Guilty of the fflxrryt's Blood. I^oW if barely vkwivg the Perpetration of a Corporal Crime in Ot^~rs

when

io ^Sermon Preached

when we can obflru.fi it, may make us ZMalefaflors ourfelves, certainly the Permiffton of a Spiritual much more, as 'tis of a more dreadful Confe- quence to the Better Part of Man. To prevent which, we areoblig'd to inter pofe with the moft Fraternal Concern, gentle Admonition, tender Reproof kind Advice, and infinuating Perfusions, ft ill with a cautious and due Confederation of Time, of Place, and of Verfon. But if thefe Friendly Overtures cannot prevail, we have rvafh*d our Hands of the Guilt, and ftand Acquitted before God, and our Covfcience; but Zn.\'io. 17. without them, we are pofitively faid even in the CMofaic Law, to fuffer Sin upon him, and confequently liable to par- take of the Penalty. But however* we muft ftriftly obferve, that thefe Duties are are always connVd to Overt Atts, and Vifible Cafes ; for l{e- Jigionhzs left in this Matter, a wide Room for the right Exercife of our Prudence, and Diferetien ; for it does not oblige to charge Men at random : upon bare Surmife, and Sufpician, or to pry officioufly into their lives, and fecrt$ Affairs, and to invade their private Rights , by ufurping a sfurifdi&ion, which we have 00 Title to juftify, or with a rude Air of Superiority^ to obtrude ourfelves upon 'em as Privy-Counfellors, and Dog- matically Cenfure, Rebuke, or Advife in our Neighbour's Proceedings, that ' don't belorg to us, neither lie under the Verge of our Cognizance. Whatever Godly, and fallacious Glomes fuch troublefom Waffs, thatereft into Illegal Inqurfnions, may caft upon fheir Aftions, they are donbtlefs the unwarrantable kffefts of an Idle, Encroaching, Impertinent, and Medling Quricfity, a Vice as contrary to the the true, Generous Spirit of Chriflianity, as 'tis to Good-Marniers, and tfujiice- It is in (bort, the bafe Produftof Ill-Mature , Spiritual Pride, Ceyiforioufnefs, and S an tlifyd Spleen , pretending to carry on the Bleffed Work of Reformation by lying, Slan- dering, IVbijperhg, Backbiting, and Tale-bearing, the moft exprefs Cha- racter of the Devil, who is Emphatically ftyPd the Grand Accufer of the Brethren, No wonder therefore, that St. Paul has fo feverely ftigma- snatis'd thefe Bufie-bodies in other Men s {Matters, thefe AXKo]eiot7ri<TiLQ- wot that prefurne to exercife the Office, and Difciplive of a Bijhop'm other Men's Provinces (as the Original maybe rendefd) whom he juftly ranks with Nlurtherers, thieves, and -Malefactors, 1 Vet. 4. 15. as the moft proper Perfons to keep one another Company.

Hi. I come nov to the 'Third General Mead propos'd, namely, that We miy partake in other Aden's Sins, by admin ifiring Counfel, Virellion, or Af- fiftance towards them. It is almoift impoffible that any Great A£l of Vil- Lany fliould be car. v'd on, and accompiiuYd by any One Single Verfon ; there muft be Co-operators, Partners, and Under --workers in it, who, like the feveral ASors in a well-form'd tragedy, muft contribute their various Parts to the main Body of. the Atlion, and all Confpire and Vnite in the 'Haul Citafoobbe. Few Men, tho' of the moft exalted Genius, %each,an& Depth, have in themfejves, either Heads, or Hearts fufficisnt, Power, Con- du&, or Policy, to Contrive, (Manage, and Cample at an Elaborate and Con- fummate Piece of Sin, a Sin of Bulky Figure, and Extent: There muft be many Hands employed, many Confederates let into, and trufted with the Secret, any One whereof Mifcarrying, may endanger the Beft- profcfted Plot in Nature. Therefore the Grand Deceiver of lAankind is careful to pick out his Privy-Cou-uil, nven of fhrewd Dexterity and Cun- ning, well vers'd in all his Artificial Wiles, and fnbtile Stratagems, that \Vi:hf4r CoHmitnJpices, mdjtymk Tovguei} can Hypocritically Blanch, znd

falliate

at the JJJizes at Derby. i \

PaBlate the molt Odious, and Deform'd Iniquities, and (lily infinuate them into the Weak and Undifcerning. Abfalom muft have his Achitophel% $ob his Bofom-Serpent, his Wife, tfudas his Sanhedrim ; that under the facred, and endearing Pretence of Friendjhip, for the Gratification of their Ambition, Pleafure, or Avarice, nuift perfwade the fine to Rebels entice the Other to 'Renounce his God, and Bribe the Third to Brertray his very Sa- viour. Now certainly thefe Agents, and Sollicitors in the DeviTs Caufe% who Advife, Viretl, or Promote it, are to be ccnfiderd not only as the Allies, but as principal Sharers in the Sin, whether' they bring about their Defigns by skilfully applying to the Humours, Affetlions, or IntereflsxA the Perfon Betrayed, or by Importunity, and the winning Charms of Addrefs% enforced by proper Arguments, Objetls, and Occafwns to Catch,; and Infnare an Vuguarded Heart. Nay further, He that: thus Inveigles any Perfon, and Seduces him againft the Relu&ance of his Conscience, by Menaces, or Solicitations, muft be concluded under z deeper Imputation 0$ Guih, than the very j4#0r himfelf, as thofe Words of our Saviour feem pofi lively to infer, as 'twere a little in Excufe of that Corrupt, and Self condemn d 'fudge,. Pontius Pilate, overborn by the Clamonrs and Outrage of the tumultu- ous Jews, into the moft Villainous, moft Execrable Sentence, upon the tfufteft, and Innoce,ntefl Perfon in the World, even agaift all Convi&ions of the mofl: undeniable Truth, and Rgafon. He that delivered. me unto thee, hath the greater Sin, which does affert the Tray- \ tfoh.19.11. tor more a Son of Perdition* than the Falfe Condemner himfelf. So highly are we oblig'd in the Words of rfacob to befeech God to keep us free from any Communion with thefe lnfirumems of Cruelty, 0 my Souly come not thou into their Secret, unto their Ajfembly, mine honoerbe not tbou uni- ted. Now tfbareCounfel, or Ajfiftance, cznEnt'itlc us to any Sin before its Commiflion, certainly.

IV. Fourthly, We may alfo become Partakers of it, in Commending, Ap- proving, Excufwg, or Defending it afterward. In this Cafe a Man con- trails the Guilt of a Prior Attion, he fins by Precedent, and derives Ano- ther's Tranfgreflion upon Himfelf by his Affent to it . Thefe are the Patrons, and Advocates of Satan *s Court, who tho' they dare not Perfo- mUy appear in the Crime, yet are his faithful Friends in the purifica- tion of it. We may frequently obferve many of the Crafty, Timeser- ving Politicians of this World, to aft always in. Vublick on the Referve, and never to declare their Opinions, and Principles, to keep Mankind in fufpence, and hold their Adverfaries at a parry, but never fail to fall iq with the Party, and clofe with the Victorious fide, when their Intcreft lies Jure, and open. They are content till that, to aft behind the Curtain, fee Others expos'd to Difficulties and Dangers, and draw the Tools in with Flattering Panegyrics, that they may reap the Fruit of their Labours. Such Men are as much in their Thoughts, and Imaginations engag'd ia the Sin, however they may fancy themfelves Secure, and Innocent, in this miferable Salvo, of not being Atlual, and Direct Agp/effors in it. Tho' it muft be confefs'd to be impoffible for any one to do as much with his Heart and Inclinations, as he can with his Hani and Purfe, yet confidering the Caufe which may reftrain him, which perhaps is only Cower dice, Fiat of Succefs, or Want of Opportunity, he may become Partaker of the Guilt, by the malicious Intentions of his Mind, and the Depravation of his Will, by which the #1 dignity of any Crime is to be meafufi, and God will judge us at the Loft bay, JThe Scribe's and 'fb*r ifceU Hypocritical Pxofefiion

of

12 A S E R mo N Preached

of their Tnnocency, was not diffident to exempt them from the Imputa- tion of their Forefather's Murder, and Sacriledge, whilft they retained and abetted their Principles^ upon which thatfevere Woe is denouncd upon them. Becaufe^ build the Tombs of the Prophets, And Matt. 23. 29. CSV. gamifh the Sepulchres of the Righteous, arid fay, if we had been in the Days of our Fathers, we would not hive been Partakers with thenuin the Blood of the Prophets. Wherefore ye beWitneffes imto your f elves that ye are the Children of them which kiO^the Prophets. Fill ye up then the Mcafure of your Fathersyye Serpents, ye Generation of Vipers, how can ye efcape the Damnation of Hell? If therefore we may thus by the fecret Approbation of our fUgment of any Crime contraft it's Guilt, cer- tainly much more by Commending, Excufwg, Extenuating, or Dofending it, which not only JufHfies Evil, but Encourages, and Conpnns Men in the Practice of it ; and has fomuch more Malignity in it's Nature, in that neither temptation, or Infirmity can be pleaded in it's behalf. Nay farther, St. John afferts, that the verv Wifh of Succefs towards it, can ren- der the speaker an Accomplice, if there come any unto you Eph. 2. 10, 1 1. (fays he) and bring not this Dottrin, Receive him not into your Moufe, neither bid him God-fpeed; Far he that biddeth him God-fpeed is Partaker of his evil Deeds.Whevc we fee that even a bare Entertainment, Civil Salutation, or a Flattering Compliment beftow'd upon any Perfon, relating to the Vices % or Errors wherein he is engag'd, Actu- ally makes them Ours, and derives the fame Guilt on our own Heads. St. Paul carries this Critical Cafe of Confidence even yet to an higher Ex^ tremity, and tells us, that a meer Complacency in Other's Sin Appropriates it to Us, For in his Epiftle to the Romans, c. 1. after having recounted the moft horrble Catalogue of Sins, that Human Nature can be Guilty of in the utmoft State of Corruption, he concludes all with that Superlative Degree of it, that hftfinijhing Stroke^nd (if I may be allow'd fo to fpeak) Hyperbole of Iniquity, in this Confummate a.\l Dreadful Character, Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit fuch things V. 32. are worthy of Death, not only do the fame, but hope pleafure in them that do them. Thus a Man by a Grateful ftefletlion upon, and a Wilful Propensity to Vke, may be Guilty of all the CMifrhief and Calamity, all the Villany and Debauchery that was ever committed by Man- kind ; and by the help of a Lively Memory, and a Lewd Imagination, Spi- ritually aft over all the moft f lagicious, and Heinous Impieties, that the Soul is capable of Fjprefeming, the Devil of Suggefling, and the United Annals of h'iftoi ims Recording. He may be the very Reverfe of his Blejfed Saviour (of whom he fo defperately ftands in need) not only Bear, but be pofitively Guilty of the Sins of the whole World. Thus we may partake of Other Men's Crimes, by a Phaniaftical Delight in them.

Vm Fifthly, We may partake in other Men's Sins, by giving Offence, or fcandalous Example- As Men an? Members of Society, they ftand Refpon- Jible not only for the Pofitivc Legality of the Aft ions }as confider'd in them- selves, and their own Natures, folely with refpeft to the lubjett- Matter of them, but alfo for their Relative Conferences, as they may affeft the Covfciences of Others, to which we are bound *by the Laws of Charity to give no Violation, Difiurbance, or occasion of Travfgr effing ; and in all our peportmevt to confiilt not if only it's Lawfulnefs, but it's Decency, and Expediency, with regard to our Brethren, again (i whom we ,may Sin, (as Si* Pmti jay&j in the admirable Su\t of thij Cafe, 1 Cor, 8. 10. ) and wound

thei*

At the Affizes *,t Derby. 15

their we*k Confidences, and fin againfl Qrift. Thus the Abufe even of an Innocent Liberty cannot be rfuftijyd by zgeod Intention, and we are liable to Anfwer for the Fall of thofe to whom we become a Stumbling-block, and a Rock of Offence. And if we are thus obnoxious for the Confequences of even our Lawful Atlsons, how much higher will the Obligation rife in the IllEffetls of thofe that are really in themf elves Unlawful? Here we pro- pagate our Malignity, fpread our InfeSion like a Walking Pefliknce, com- municate outpoyfonous lnflueme to all about us, and tranfgrefs as 'twere, by Proxy. Number and Example carry a much more Controlling Evidence, then theDemonftrations of Keafon and Argumeyn. For thcre are vifible to the Eye, and ftrike quicker and deeper upon the Jmagination,than Prin- ciples and Speculations upon the Underftanding ; which is deceived, and hurry'd away with a defire of Imitation, and is apt to deduce, and frame Fjiles by Examples, inftea^ of Examples by %ules 5 efpecially where they fall in with the corrupted Inclinations of Nature, and have the Advan- tage of being well Recommended, they fcarce fail to Jbock the moft con- ftant Virtue, to confirm thofe that are already in a vicious Courfe, and pervert weak and unftable Perfons into Sin and Errcr, who have not their Senfes exercised, to difcern betwixt Good, and Evil. And thus, whether we follow, or lead Others, we both ways become Partakers of their Sins. In the firft Cafe the temptation is very ftrong, and without God's preventing Grace, almoft Irrefiftible : For a Man mult have a iteady Government over Himfelf, and his Pafiftons, together with an Inflexible Eye fix'd on his Duty, and an unfhaken Contempt of the World, and its Flatteries, and Cenfures, he muft be ftanch in his ^efolutions, and Mafter of his Conduct^ neither to be corrupted by Shame, hopes, or Fears, that is not born down in z Throng, and funk in the Tide of Popular Authority. For when onee Vice gets into Fafhion, it makes Religion look Singular, and Un-creiiubte* On the other hand, let but a CtAan of Figure, and Character,' of IntereH and Quality, lead the way, how many implicit, and fawning Profelytes w:il! follow the Temporising Courtier, like Beafis in a 'Track, with a refin'd Un- derftanding to give up their Creed, abandon their Old Friends, with thei? unprofitable Principles, Carefs their moft implacable Enemies, and Betray and Sacrifice both Church and State to their infatiable Luft, Pride, Avarice, and Ambition \ Such a Man, like Lucifer, muft Fall with, and Damn Jus Legions, and like him too, be accountable for all the ViUany, Trexcbary, and Rebellion, into which his HeUifio Example fedue'd them*

VI. Laslly, We may be Partakers of other {Men's Sins, by Authorising, Vropogating, or Publishing any Berefy, Falfe Dotlrin, Schifrn, Fatlion, jfrre* ligion, or immorality. For thefe Corrupt, and Debauch Men'* Minds ; and confequently Influence, and Pervert their Lives. For 'tis very rarely J?en, that wicked "Principles lie ftill, and dormant in the Confidence, and not ex- ert, and (hew themfelves in Aftion; And he that lays the Voyfon is. the Caufe of his Death who fwaUows it. He that puts a Cheat, and Lye tjpoii another, leads him Hoodwinkt into Faljhood, and MiHake ; and when once a Man is got into Error, he goes headlong, and Blindfold into Pentiiioti, There is a ftrange lmfatuation, and as 'twsre fort of Witchcraft in Falfe Votlrin, that unaccountably befoxs, and ttupifies the %e a fiun\ and fcarce* was there ever any Broach9 d, however Impious, or Abfurd, but foumt fom« Patrons and Profelytes, to Believe, and Maintain it, Are not therefore a]j the vile Enormities, that are the Natural Produil of Wild, Licentious, kvft BmhufiaUick Opinions, to be charg'd back upon the Original Autlyr, in

Who1ft>

i 4 , ^Sermon Preaclfd

whom they muft all Center, and Ccnterminate, as in that Km of Bitter* fiefs from whence they fpmng ? Heterodoxy, and Blafphemy, Lewdnefs, and Vrophanenefs, are of fuch a £/<*<:£, and Frightful Completion in themfelves, that represented in their Native Deformity, they would gain few Votaries in the World : Therefore thefe SpiritualPanders in [niquity cover the odi- ous Monger with Artificial Guifes, and Diffembl'd Colours, to make it look Amiable, and Engaging. And when Sophrffiy, and .Ez//i »>/* cloath the JiZfr#, they eafily Seduce, and Beguile the Ignorant, and Vicious; and Men are oftentimes tempted to fwallow that Diet for the Sauce, which they would otherwife Loath, and Naufeate. When the Dire flours of Men s Conferences turn Imposlors, and Betray, and Mi/lead them into thofe Sins they fhould teach them to avoid, fuch Pernicious Infidelity to their Sacred Office, ought juftly to Entitle them, to all thofe repeated Woes, denounc'd by God and Chrifl againft thofe Palfe Prophets, and Pharifaical Dotlors, who perverted the Divine Law, and made even the Blejfed Word of Godf the fad Inftrument of Damnation to Mankind.

Thus in all thefejnftances, we fee there is an Union, or as 'twere Con- federacy in Vice, n \oyns hand in hand, and draws out into Leagues, and Combinations; it's Contagion fpreads like a Leprojy ? there's no Breath- ing in it's Air with Safety; we cannot look on it without endangering our Health and Innocence, nor touch it without Vncleannefs and Pollution. In all thefe Cafes there is a Communication of G«/7* both Backward, and Forward, whereby we become Partakers of other Men's Sins. 1 n the G?w- viander, Parent, or Governor, it fiecoils upon the "P erf on in Authority, bafely Abufingbis Power, Profiituting the Vice-Gerency of (7oi to exe- crable Purpofes, Betraying his Sacred 7™/?, and Commiffon, and Violating his Paith and Honour, in Conniving at, Consenting to, or Concealing thofe Impieties, we ought to Punifh, Prevent, or Reftrain, we are pofitively ^c- ceffory to their Coram ijfun, by a tarn Ar probation, and a Confcious, and Cowardly Forbearance. By adminiftring Counfel, Direction, or ^Jp- /fo»rc towards them, we aft the Part of the Tempter himfelf, inftigating Evil, and promoting the Kindom of Darknefs, and theDeftru&ion of our Fellow-Creatures. In Commending, Approving^ or Defending any Crime, we Appropriate it to ourfelves, Tranfgrefs at fecond hand, become the Guardians of Iniquity, and commence the Drai'j Champions, to fight his Battles, and maintain hisCzw/e, and reprefent him in themoft detefta- ble Quality of his Nature, a Delight in the Dijhonour of GW, and the CMifery, and T^w/V of Mankind. In £w'tfg Offence by our Anions, we 'life our liberty for a Cloak of DAalicioufnefs, and make what would be otherwife Innocent, Culpable. By a ftandalous Life, and Example, we derive a Reproach upon our Holy Profeflion, and muft anfwer for thofe that are feduc'd by it's baleful and infectious Influence. By Inftilling, or Propagating Heterodoxy Schifmatical, Atheifxical factious, or Immoral Principles into Others, we turn meer Anti-Chrifts, and Emifaries of HeU% and muft anfwer for all the Souls that perifb thro' our Treachery. Guile, or Delufion.

Give me now leave very,Bfiefjy,'and by way of Application of this whole Difcourfe, to urge One or Iwo particular Motives to deter us from falling . under this great and dangerous Guilt of Partaking in Other Men s Sins.

i. The Firfl may be drawn from the Confederation of that heavy Bur-' then of Guilt, which liesupoa every Man'i own Confcience* too Great to r^ed the Additional Weight of Others. That kk itfelf {QqA knows; is

enough

At the Jfflzes at Derby. i$

enough to fink us, without his Infinite Mercy, and the All-atoning Merits of our Saviour. Now if the Malignity but of the leaft, ftngle Tranfgrefli- on, without that, can confign us over to Eternal Tardition, if as the Scrip- tures, and our own wretched Experience convince us, that even a tfuft Man falls J 'even times a Day, what a fearful Heckonirg is he lij^e to make, who befides his own immenfe Summ, almoft without Number, or Bounds, ftands Char gable for fuch a long, ,and frightful Catalogue of Other Nietfs Sins ? Can he by any Means (to ufe the Elegant Exprefiion of the Pfalmifi) Redeem his Brother , or give to God a Ramfom for his Soul, that he has thus plung'd into Mifery, and fedue'd- into Ruin ? Can he be a Mediator for Another, that fq much wants the Inter ceffton of One for Himfelf? And if the Righteous can fcarcelybe favd, where (hall this Ungodly, this Over-grown, . this 'Exorbitant Sinner,' laden with Iniquity, appear? Therefore,

2. Secondly, The vaft Extent, and Duration, with the infinite, lamen- table Conferences, of this Method of Sinning, fhould Caution, and Deter us from falling into it. All other Crimes lie under fome Limitation ; they are at an End, or Die with the Man: But here a Man's Sin furvives his Funeral; and even when he is Dead, he Sinneth.- He that Propagates, or Publifhes any pernicious Writings, or Tenets, knows not how far their Toyfon will reach, or where the Deadly Contagion will (lop. It is an Epi- demical Evil, a National Calamity ', an Everl aft ing Plague, that has /lain it's Tboufands, and its ten thaufands, that in the Hands of that Veftrtyivg An- pgel, the Devil, can taint whole Famli^s, and Kingdoms, and'tranjmh its [Venom down to Pofterity, and continue Spiritual Death to the End of the I World; How do thofe Execrable Mifcreants, Arrius, and Socinus, tho* fo many Years Rotten in their Graves, ft ill fihk above Ground, and live |agen in znHett'ittiTranfmigration of their Damnable Blafplemies, and He-' [refies.! How do they now Crucifie the Son of God afrejb, male him Die [daily, and put him to an open, andcontinud Shame ! How do thofe Atheijiical WMonfiers, Hobbes, and Spinoza,, in their Accurfed Booh, 1 and Profelyles, ftill deny the God that made them, and a null Oracles of $ga~ , the Covenant, whereby we are feaVd unto the^day oft Redemp- fon. Rights of \tion! What a Magazine of Sin, what ail Inexhaufiible Fund the Cfajftian of Debauchery, and Dcftru&ion, does any Author of He- Church, &c. refie,Scifm,or: Immorality fet up!. Which tho' perhaps they may appear at firft as Trifling, and Inconfiderable, will like Elijhas CJouf9 from being no bigger than a Mans Hand, gradually increafe, till they fin the Heavens with Darknefs, Thunder, zndTempefl. Who would have thought, Three fcore Tears ago, that the Romantich, and filly Enthufiafms, of fuch an lUeterate, and Scendalous Wretch as Fox, fhould in the fmall Compafs even of our Memory gain fuch mighty Ground, Captivate fo ma- ny Fools, and Damn 'em with Diabolical In fpiration, and Nonfenfial Cam? Or to go higher, Who would have imagined that Two or Three $efuits in Mafcjuerade crept into a Conventicle, fhould fow thofe Schifmathal Seeds of Faftion, and Rebellion, that in a few Years fhould rife to that Prodigious Degree, as to be able to grajp the Crown, contend with the Scepter, and not only Threaten, bu£ Accompli ft) the Downfdl both ofChurch land State? But how were thefe Numbers rais'd, and this Mi/chief with fuch amusing Succefs carry'don ? Was it not b" many Wild, Latitudinari- \an, Extravagant Opinions, and Bewitching Falfe Dotlrim, the Impudent [Clamours, the Lfing tfyifreprefemations. the Scandalous, and Falje libeh% I bosh upon the %v»g, and the Church, that every Day were Trumpeted cut

of

1 6 ^ Sermon P reached. Sec.

of the Pulpit, and the Prefs, thofe Mints of Atheifm, and Irreligion, tha then Poyfond the Nation, and Befotted it into its own Ruin ? And an not the fame Hands at work agen, and the fame Villainous Methods par- ftfd ? Were ever fuch Outrageous Blafphemies againft God, and ail Qeli gion, Natural, as well as KeveaVd, vented PublicBy with Impunity, in an; Chriflian Chunk, or kingdom in the whole World, as at prefent in oiii own ? (be it fpoken to our Shame, and if not retaedy'd te our Confufion for if they fail of jhe fame Effeft, not to Embroil us agen in Blood, anc jRuiny it can be owing to nothing but God's Infinite, but Unmerited QAer cj, and Long-Suffering, that we are not utterly Comfum'd.

Laftly, This manner of Sinning ought with a more peculiar Deligena to be avoided, becaufe 'rwas what without the Super-Natural Affiftance o: the Divine Grace, we can never Repent of, and for which confequentlj we can never be Forgiven* All Sins intail Damnation upon the Offendor but this almoft with an inevitable Neccjftty. Eor befides that before we can arrive to this fad Degree of Impiety, we muft quite have Entinguijbic the Light of our Consciences, and the Power of God's Spirit upon them, il happens, Firft, that we can have no through knowledge of the Extent oi this Sin, it being Communicated fo unfufpettedlj, and at fuch a Viftance, And, Secondly, that it is a Crime, for the Injury whereof we can never make Reparation, or Eefthutim to the Per\on feducd into it, and confe* tjuently obtain no Compleat, and Acceptable Repentance for it's Guilt. And thq'it could be fuppos'd, that weftould Repent of it Ourfelves, yet the Unhappy Perfons we have Betray % may be either fo firmly fettled in their Errors, as to be incapable of Convitlien, or gon into an Vnchangabk

, State, and fo out of the Reach of being Reclaim d. Certainly, if there be any Sin in the World, that does moire eminently carry the Image, and Superfcription of the Devil upon it, it is this, and what will infallibly in- herit this feveresl Punifimevts. if there are Different Degrees of Glory in Heaven, as the Apottle tells us, and by Anolopy we may conclude, that there are different Degrees of Torment in Hell, according to the Si^e, and Quality of the Offendor, no Manfwn in that Difmal Place will be too Bad for fuch Exceffive, and abominable Criminals ; where were they to meet no other Aggravation to their Mifery, but that of Beholding, and Converfing with fo many Wretched Ob'yetls, whom they brought into that Place ef Tor*

tnent, it would heat the Furnace feven times hotter, add Fury to Hell-Flamesf and a Double Weight to their Damnation. Nowfrom this Tremendous Sin, which no Good Man can think of, without Honour, or fpesk of, without

Trembling,

Good Lord deliver uu

FINiS,