cloth; from the greatest of them even to the leaft of them. And God faw their works, that they turned from their evil way, and God repented of the evil that he had faid that he would do unto them, and he did it not. Oh! let us then remember from whence we are fallen, how much we are degenerated from our former piety and virtue, and repent and do the first works, and thereby retrieve the antient honor and dignity of the nation. The wifdom of the government and legislature may certainly contribute moft to a national reformation by inforcing old laws, by inacting new ones, and fettling things upon a right and folid foundation; and they no doubt will act in a manner worthy of themselves and of their high station at this dangerous conjuncture: but ftill every body may contribute fomething, every body may reform some, may reform one

at

10.

at least, and not add to the finfulnefs of his fins by bringing difstress and ruin upon his country. This is not a time to speak smooth things; it Ifa. xxx. behoves us to deal freely with ourfelves, and to confider feriously and impartially what are those national vices, which may have been the principal occafions of the prefent national calamities, and of which the reformation therefore ought to be more speedy, as it is more neceffary.

And one of the most melancholy symptoms in our cafe is the great decay of public virtue and love of our country. Self-love is now the prevailing paffion, and every thing almoft is turned to private emolument and advantage. Public fpirit is become ridiculous; it hath been fo often pretended, where it was not, that it would fcarcely be credited, where it really was: and love of our country

F 4

country at best is only a popular topic of difcourfe; it is like mufic upon the tongue, but seldom finketh into the heart. If we had any true love and affection for our country, fhould we be fo fond of every thing foreign, and encourage French manufactures and French commodities to the prejudice of our own, and thereby contribute to the furnishing of our worst enemies with the finews of war against ourselves? or would fo many act in open defiance of all law and justice, and defraud the public revenue for the fake of their own private gain, carry on an illicit trade, and not only convey our treasure, but (what is even worse) intelligence to Our enemies? would fo many of our fellow-fubjects have taken part in this unnatural rebellion, and have joined in league with our most cruel and inveterate enemies to transfer the feat

or

of

of war into our own ifland? It was not this spirit that infpired our anceftors in the fields of Creffy and Agincourt, and inabled our two glorious queens to humble the pride of Spain and France in two of their greatest kings. It was not this fpirit that animated the old Romans, and raised their country to the highth of glory and of empire. And to the commendation of our enemies the French be it spoken, that they are actuated by a different fpirit; they love and honor their king and country; prefer every thing of their own, and despise every thing foreign in comparison and as we are fond of imitating their manners and fashions, it would be well if we would imitate them in the most laudable part of their character. This would be gaining a complete victory indeed over our enemies, and would be a more fatal blow to them, and

1

:

a

41.

3.

a greater check to their conquests than the most fortunate campaign. Love of our country is our duty,

not only as Englishmen but as ChriLuk. xix. ftians. Our Saviour himself wept over his country at a distant view of the calamities which were to befall it. And St. Paul expreffes fuch ardent affection for his countrymen, Rom. ix. that he could even wish that himself were accurfed from Chrift, for his brethren, his kinsmen according to the flesh. O pray then for the peace of our Jerufalem; they shall profper Pfal. cxxii. that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and profperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions fakes I will now fay Peace be within thee; Yea for the fake of true religion, because of the boufe of the Lord our God, I will feek thy good.

6, &c.

Another thing that requires immediate repentance and reformation

is