of London, this is evident to a demonstration: for, are no the very meanest of them able to instruct both the King and all his Counsellors? What cobbler in London is not wiser than the Principal Secretary of State? What Coffeehouse disputant is not an abler divine than his Grace of Canterbury? And how deep a contempt of others is joined with this high opinion of ourselves? I know not whether the people of other nations are greater masters of dissimulation; but there does not appear in any nation whatever, such a proneness to despise their neighbour; to despise not foreigners only (near two thousand years ago they remarked, Britannos Hospitibus feros) but their own countrymen; and that very often for such surprising reasons, as nothing but undeniable fact could make credible. How often does the gentleman in his coach despise those dirty fellows that go on foot? And these, on the other hand, despise full as much those lazy fellows that loll in their coaches. No wonder then that those who have the Form of Godliness should despise them that have not: that the saint of the world so frequently says to the gross sinner, in effect, if not in terms, "Stand by thyself; come not near unto me; for I am holier than thou!"

27. Yet what kind of holiness is this? May not God justly declare of us also, "This people draw near to me with their mouth, but they have removed their hearts far from me. They do but flatter me with their mouth, and dissemble with me in their tongue." Is it not so with you? When you speak to God, do your lips and your heart go together? Do you not often utter words by which you mean just nothing? Do not you say and unsay? Or, say one thing to God, and another to man? For instance, you say to God, "Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep me this day without sin." But you say to man, This cannot be done; it is all folly and madness to expect it. You ask of God, That you may perfectly love, and worthily magnify his holy Name:" but you tell man, There is no perfect Love upon earth: it is only a madman's dream. You pray God, to" cleanse the thoughts of your heart, by the inspiration

66

of his Holy Spirit." But you assure your neighbour, there is no such thing as inspiration now, and that none pretend to it but enthusiasts. What gross hypocrisy is this! Surely you think, there is no "knowledge in the Most High." "O be not deceived, God is not mocked. But whatsoever ye sow, that also shall ye reap!"

28. Such at present is the religion of this Christian nation! So do we honour him by whose Name we are called. And yet was there ever a nation more careless and secure? More unapprehensive of the wrath of God? How can a man more effectually expose himself to the ridicule of those who are esteemed men of understanding, than by shewing any concern, as if the judgments of God were hanging over our heads? Surely then "a deceived heart hath turned us aside, that we cannot say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?" Surely this our confidence is not of God: it is rather a judicial infatuation; a stupid insensibility; a deep sleep, the forerunner of heavy vengeance,

"Ruin behind it stalks, and empty desolation." Surely never was any people more fitted for destruction { "Impudent children are they, and stiff-hearted. Are they ashamed when they have committed abomination ?" When they have openly profaned the day of the Lord? When they have committed lewdness? Or when they have uttered such curses and blasphemies, as are not heard of among the heathens? Nay, "they are not at all ashamed, neither can they blush." And though God send unto them all his servants, rising up early and sending them, yet "will they not hear; they harden their neck! They do worse than their fathers."

What then can God ❝ do more for his vineyard which he hath not done?" He hath long tried us with mercies, "giving rain and fruitful seasons, filling us with the flour of wheat." We have had plenty of all things; and while war roared around," peace has been in all our borders." But

* N. B. This was written in the year 1744, but I am afraid it is too true, even at this day.

+

still" this revolting and rebellious people say not, Let us now fear the Lord our God." Nay, they gave him no thanks for all his mercies; they did not even acknowledge them to be his gift. They did not see the hand of God in any of these things; they could account for them another way. O ye unwise, when will ye understand? Know ye not yet, there is a God that ruleth the world? What did ye see with your eyes? Was the race to the swift, or the battle to the strong? Have ye forgotten Dettingen already? Does not England know that God was there?-Or suppose your continuance in peace, or success in war, be the mere result of your own wisdom and strength; do ye command the sun and the clouds also? Can ye pour out or stay the bottles of heaven? But let it all be nature, chance, any thing-so God may have no hand in governing the earth!

29. Will his judgments bring us to a better mind? Do we "hear the rod and him that has appointed it?" Let us observe: what fruit do we find in those who are 66 even consumed by means of his heavy hand?" Let any that desires to be clearly satisfied herein visit the hospitals of this city. Let him judge for himself, how the patients there receive God's fatherly visitation; especially there, because mercy also is mixed with judgment; so that it is evident" that the Lord loveth whom he chasteneth." Go into any ward, either of men or women, look narrowly from one end to the other: are they humbling themselves under the hand of God? Are they trembling under a sense of his anger? Are they praising him for his love? Are they exhorting one another, not to faint when they are rebuked of him? How do nine in ten of them spend their time, that important time from morning to evening? Why in such a manner, that you would not easily learn, from thence, whether they were Christians, Pagans, or Maho

metans.

Is there any deeper distress than this to be found? Is there a greater affliction than the loss of health? Perhaps there is, the loss of liberty, especially as it is sometimes circumstanced. You may easily be convinced of this, by

going into either Ludgate or Newgate. What a scene appears, as soon as you enter! The very place strikes horror into your soul. How dark and dreary! How

unhealthy and unclean! How void of all that might minister comfort! But this is little, compared to the circumstances that attend the being confined in this shadow of death. See that poor wretch, who was formerly in want of nothing, and encompassed with friends and acquaintance, now cut off by an unexpected stroke, from all the cheerful ways of men; ruined, forsaken of all, and delivered into the hands of such masters and such companions! I know not, if to one of a thinking, sensible turn of mind, there could be any thing like it on this side hell.

What effect then has this heavy visitation of God, on those who lie under it for any time? There is, perhaps, an exception here and there; but in general they are abandoned to all wickedness, utterly divested of all fear of God, and all reverence to man; insomuch that they commonly go out of that school completely fitted for any kind or degree of villany, perfectly brutal and devilish, thoroughly furnished for every evil word and work.

30. Are your countrymen more effectually reclaimed, when danger and distress are joined? If so, the Army, especially in time of war, must be the most religious part of the nation. But is it so indeed? Do the soldiery walk as those who see themselves on the brink of eternity?Redeeming every opportunity of glorifying God, and doing good to men, because they know not the hour in which their Lord will require their souls of them? So far from it, that a soldier's religion is a by-word, even with those who have no religion at all; that vice and profaneness in every shape reign among them without control; and that the whole tenor of their behaviour speaks, Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die.

Have those who are exposed to still more danger, the English sea-forces, more religion than those at land? It is said they were once remarkable for this: and it is certain Sir Francis Drake feared God, as did most of his commanders; and we have reason to believe, his mariners and

sailors too. But what shall we say of the Navy that now is, more particularly of the ships of war? Is religion there? Either the power or the form? Is not almost every single man of war a mere floating hell? Where is there to be found more consummate wickedness, a more full daring contempt of God, and all his laws, except in the bottomless pit? But here description fails: and the goodness of God endureth yet daily! But shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord? Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this? O that the prospect of national judgments may suffice! That we may remember ourselves, and turn unto the Lord our God, before his long-suffering is at an end, and he pours out the vials of his wrath

mercy

upon us!

But how small ground have we as yet to hope for this! For who will now "suffer the word of exhortation ?" How few will" endure sound doctrine," and the honest, close application of it! Do they not " say unto the seers, See not; and unto the prophets, Prophesy smooth things?" And if a man will do thus, if he will "sew pillows to all arm-holes," and "cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before them; if he will prophesy of wine and strong drink, he shall even be the prophet of this people."

31. I am sensible how nice a subject this is, and how extremely difficult it is so to speak, as neither to say too little nor too much, neither more nor less than the cause of God requires. I know also that it is absolutely impossible, so to speak as not to give offence. But whosoever is offended I dare not be silent; neither may I refrain from plainness of speech only I will endeavour to use all the tenderness I can consistently with that plainness.

In tender love then, I ask, Are there none among us, (I speak to you, my brethren, who are priests and prophets of the Lord, set apart to "minister in holy things," and to "declare the word of the Lord,") are there none among us who commit lewdness, as did those by whom "Israel was defiled?" Hath not the Lord seen a horrible thing, in some of the prophets of this land also, even, that “they commit adultery, and (to conceal it) walk in lies?" God