which hath been, and is, in several respects, heavy on us; that so, instead of depressing us lower still, he may exalt us again in due time.

There are not many comparatively, but in their cooler hours at least, believe the Author of nature to be also the wise and just Lawgiver and Ruler of mankind. Nay, lamentable as the apostacy of our days hath been, the generality still entertain a persuasion, grounded on the firmest proofs, that he hath notified the conditions of eternal felicity by Jesus Christ. But, having this knowledge of God, do they glorify him as God? Do they pay any homage to him, do they cultivate any regard for him? Do they consider him as the giver of all good, to whom their thanks are due for every thing they enjoy; as the judge of the whole earth, who shall reward every one according to his works? Will they, in obedience to that reason, which he hath bestowed on them, resist their vicious appetites and passions: will they, on the authority of that revelation, which he hath superadded, receive any thing, but what they can see of themselves to be true; or do any thing, but what they can see of themselves to be requisite? Is it not indeed their stated practice to set their own inclinations and fancies above all his assertions and laws: disdaining to mind what is right or wrong, even when it relates to this life; and much more, to be swayed by the tendencies, which doctrines or precepts may have, to fit them for the happiness of another?

Nay, such as imagine themselves perhaps very steady believers, and sufficiently good Christians, do not many of them, though less professedly, and without distinctly seeing it, yet almost as effectually make their choice just as they like, in what things their

* Rom. i. 21.

Christianity shall consist; and what they will go on to think or practise, however plainly forbidden in any one's judgement but their own? Are they at all willing to seek, with serious humility, what the Gospel teaches? Are they withheld from any sin which it forbids, merely by the fear of their Lord and Master? Do they perform any duty which it enjoins, merely from love to their Redeemer? Try them but in one point. The sacred writings have repeatedly directed a regular attendance on public worship and instruction. Yet they neglect it perpetually, on pretences, for which they would neglect scarce any one thing besides: when they condescend to come they would usually be understood to do it as matter of prudence, or propriety, and compliance with custom; but by no means of obedience to God. And in general, they substitute the fashions and usages of what they call the world, that is, of the persons with whom they are pleased, and whom they desire to please, in the place of the divine commands. This wretched rule they follow against their consciences first to this by degrees they bend their consciences afterwards and when once they have accomplished that, they will not reflect, they will not hearken, they will not bear the mention of an argument or a hint to the contrary; but exclaim against it as absurd, before it can well be brought out; let reason or Scripture say what they will: till at last, not even yet renouncing their faith, they have hardly a single good impression from it left: no gratitude to God, no hope in him, no dread of him; no thought of themselves in earnest, as his creatures; nor any recollection, how profligate a treatment this is of our Maker, of our Saviour, of the Holy Spirit of grace. We do not know, I believe, nor suspect very often, how

inconsiderable God is become in our eyes, and how near advances we have made to what is in effect mere atheism. But we have cheated ourselves with disguises, and shifted between religion and irreligion, till we have no perception whereabout we are. And it is high time for us to fix, once for all, which we will stand to. For if the Almighty deserves any regard, he deserves a most dutiful and universal one. Will we therefore pay him that, or will we avow paying him none?

But were many of us, whose appearance is more decent, to be examined, what there is in us beyond appearance: were many, who have some inward restraints and pious feelings, questioned how far they extend; and if there be not mixed with them, a much less indeed, but still a very criminal neglect and contempt of the Supreme Being; what do we think the result would be? Were such to be asked, how often they pray to him in private, or whether they remember perhaps, when they did so last; with what attention they pray at such times, or whether hurrying over a set of unmeaning words contents them; what care they take in his house, that their hearts join in the things they say, or improve by those they hear; how often they meditate, as in the presence of God, on their duty, and their condition with regard to another life; whether in truth they almost ever think of a future state, as their principal concern, or have not inwardly chosen their portion here; whether they indulge no secret immorality, are chargeable with no injustice or unmercifulness; what expression, or what tincture, there is in their common conversation and behaviour, of a Christian spirit; what zeal they have, what expences they are at, what methods

they encourage, what pains they take, for promoting the present and eternal welfare of their fellow-creatures: how must they answer? Nobody hath a right, it may be, to put such questions to you: but surely they are very important ones for you to put to yourselves. And for God's sake do it: and press your souls home to make an honest reply. For if religion be any thing, these are most material things. Do you then find, that you have hitherto been, in relation to them, such persons as you ought? And if not, do you experience a proportionable concern for your failures? Are you even now resolved to become such? And will you remember and keep to what you resolve or run away from your convictions to the first employment or amusement you can hope to lose them in, or however suffer them to wear out for want of being renewed; so after a while, neglect your Maker and his laws as much as ever; and possibly despise yourselves for having once, in a sort of fright, thought to do otherwise? If you relapse so far, your case will be a very dangerous, God grant it be not a desperate one.

Yet amongst all these blamable sorts of persons, there are many perhaps not ill-disposed, were they left to follow their own judgments quietly, towards becoming sincerely and throughout religious. But the world would wonder at them, their acquaintance would ridicule them: and that they cannot bear. But which is your God then? The world, or the Maker of it? And which is it fitter you should humble yourselves under? The rightful authority of the greatest and best of Beings; or the usurped tyranny of a few vain mortals, whose friendship means you no good, and whose enmity can do you no harm? But

so it is: we are cowardly one to another, and brave only against him, who hath power to cast into hell *.

Even the lowest part of mankind, they also now have learnt from their superiors to lift themselves up in defiance of the Most High: to plead openly and boldly for gratifications, expressly prohibited by his commandments; to prefer their diversions or their idleness before his worship; some of them to sit in, and others to surround the seat of the scorner †. For poor wretches, that know nothing else, imagine they know enough however to be above instruction in their duty, to contemn God's word, and scoff at his ministers.

Such is the condition, and I appeal to the observation of you all, alas! to the consciences of too many of you, if it be not daily more and more, if it be not, I had almost said, universally, the condition of the people of this land, especially this city. Help, Lord: for the godly man ceaseth, for the faithful fail from among the children of men ‡.

But how great and general soever our transgressions have been; it will be alleged, that they cannot have arisen from a principle so very shocking as pride, directed against the Author of our beings, but from inconsiderate indulgence of less heinous, though still blame-worthy dispositions. But were there, and O that there were! much more room for this plea than there is, yet bare inconsiderateness and forgetfulness of God is, in no small degree, contempt of him. However, some offenders have not adventured on so direct impiety as others. And we ought to judge with all possible tenderness of every one's case, besides our own; but it concerns us beyond expression not to flatter ourselves in that. And we may

* Luke xii. 5.

† Psalm i. 1.

Psalm xii. 1.