H LIBEAEY OF THE Theological Seminary, PRINCETON, N. J. % SCBL&i Case, v»_JL^«W Shelf, Book, / No, A DONATION /^ r.^ ?' A < ftt tkf A J&A deceived /^T, /^/^. SERMON T O T H E SOCIETIES FOR Reformation of Maimers-, Preach'd at Salter's-Hall, July i. 1728. By O. H U G H E S. Publi/h'd at their Requeji. LO NV O N: Printed for E ma n u e l M a t t h e w s, at the Bible in Pater-Nofter-Rvw. 1728. To the worfhipful Justices of the Peace, in and about the Cities of London and Weflmwfter^ who coun- tenance and encourage the Societies for Reformation of Manners, Gentlemen! THE following difcourfe is publifid at the requeft of the focieties for reforma- tion of manners. I beg leave to infer ibe it to you, whofe activity and zeal in the eaufe of virtue, gives you a title to every thing that is wrote with a view to defend or promote the re- forming defigns. Tour zealous endeavours to fupprefs vice, by executing the laws on daring tranfgrefjors, mufl a ford pleafure to your own minds upon reflecti- on ; and command the regard of all good men, who cannot but be greatly affected to fee wicked- nefs abound, wtwithflandmg all your laudable attempts to put a flop to it. Ton will perflfl, gentlemen, in this glorious work : let not your zeal abate ; aci flill upon thofe noble principles, which have hitherto ani- mated you. The honour of the great GOD, the welfare of your country, and the recovery of the ked, fljould flill invigorate your endeavours A 2 to DEDICATION. to check vice and profanenefs. The caufe is the fame that ever it was : the temper and manners of the age require its being carried forward as much as ever : And there are fome conf derations, which methinks fhould prevail upon you to exert your felves in the prosecution of this bleffedwork, more than ever. The death of many of your brethren in the magiftracy, who were eminently ufeful in en- couraging the caufe of reformation, fhould ex- cite your mofi vigorous endeavours to put a flop to vice. Within the compafs of a few years mayiy worthy magi fir ates have been removed * : and fuch flrokes of providence ftoould awaken your diligence in the faithful dif charge of your office, upon a twofold account ; both as they put you in mind of your own mortality ; and as there arefo many the fewer left to promote and carry on this good work. Bcfides, there are many gentlemen who ap- prove the caufe, and your conduB fo well, that they would gladly join with you in equal fervice to your country ; if they were not prevented by a law. which does not admit their fervice upon any other terms than the violation of their con- fciences : a law which deprives our mofi graci- * Sir Thomas Abaey, Sir John Fryer, Bart. Sir Ifaac Ttllard, Sir Francis Forbes % and Sir Daniel Dolins, who adorned the magi- ftracy. 1 • ' OUS DEDICATION. ous fovereign King G e o r g e of the ufeful la- bours of many good men, not only among pro- teftant diflenters, but alfo of the eftablifhed church j who apprehend the being obliged to take the facrament as a qualification for a civil office \ to be a profiitution of the mofi folemn ordinance in our holy religion. And in that view I con- fefs Ifhould not wonder, if the bifid ops and clergy themfelves were the firfi and mofi zealous in endeavouring to procure the repeal of that aci. It is well known, moreover, that fever al gen- tlemen, who have the honour to be in the com- miffion of peace, care not to aci at all : and others, who aci in fome affairs, will give no af- fifiance in this caufe ; Jo that infiead of dis- charging their truft, they rather encourage vice, by not executing the laws upon the immoral and profane. JVhat fuch gentlemen think of a future day of accounts, I know not. I hope, however, you will not flacken your commendable indufiry, but with a firm and tin- JJjaken refolution will go on to be terrors to evil- doers, and a praife to them that do well — And GOD almighty profper'you: may your endea- vours to reform a vitwus age be attended with defired ficcefs i may they be a means of d divine blejfmg upon your (elves cud your fa- milies at pre lent ! And may the vard be ajfigned you hereafter in that happy world, where time DEDICATION. none of the blejfed inhabitants Jhall need re* forming} Thefe are the fervent prayers of many, but of none more fincerely than of Gentlemen, Your mod humble Servant, ^SErtat O. Hughes. Jvly%. 1728 PSALM [I] PSALM CXIX. 158. / beheld the tranfgreffors, and was grieved. TH E defign of our meeting together this day is well known. It is to animate and encourage thofe of you, who have join- ed in focieties for reforming a wicked and diflb- lute age ; and to recommend the work of refor- mation to others, who have not yet engaged in it. The caufe, Sirs, is moft glorious ! no man fliould be either afhamed or afraid to appear in it. When wickednefs abounds, when vice and irre- ligion prevail, it becomes every man, of what- ever rank or character he be, to bear his testi- mony againft them, and to exert himfelf to the utmoft in endeavouring to prevent their growth and progrefs. All men fliould then account them- felves obliged to rife up for God again fi the evil-doers ; and to Jiand up for him againft the workers of iniquity *. This the great God ex- perts from all, who profefs themfelves his fer- vants, or hope for his favour and acceptance. Under the influence of this conviction, fevc- ral worthy gentlemen agreed to enter into an aflbciation for this purpofe 5 wifely judging, that private attempts would be inefficient to give a Pfal. xciv. 16.I check I * J check to growing wickednefs, and that united force and counfels were mod likely to bring about this defired end. This work was firft begun in the reign of King William and Queen Mary of immortal memory. The proclamations and letters, which their Majefties published on this occafion, fuffi- ciently demonftrate their royal hearts deeply af- fected with the great fpread of immorality, and refolutely determined, if poflible, to fupprefs it. Happy was it for thefe nations, that Cod raifed up thofe glorious princes to rule over us, whofe hearts were fet upon the advancement of reli- gion and virtue. Their acccilion to the throne was peculiarly feafonable 5 for, according to the hiftories of thofe times, it is judged, that this nation was then arriv'd to a moft prodigious height of wickednefs ; religion funk in its cre- dit and reputation 5 immorality triumphed, vice w r as fafhionable ; and through the fad corrupti- ons of the two preceding reigns, the contagion was epidemical, and had fpread itfelf amongft all ranks of perfons; and fin was become no longer the objed of fliame, but of glory : In fhort, matters feem'd to be come to a crifis ; x that either wicked- nefs or virtue muft be fupprcfs'd ; for vice was now grown boifterous and outrageous, and a tor- rent of profanenefs had broken in with an im- petuous violence. Every one, who is acquaint- ed with our Englifh hiftory, will vouch the truth pfthis, It £ i 1 It was high time, you'll fay, to endeavour to flop this threatening evil ; but how to effect ic, was the difficulty : And confidering the hazard that was run, and the manifeft dangers and troubles they expofed themfelves to, it was brave- ly done in thofe few gentlemen, who firft united to oppofe the wickednefs of the times, to do what they could towards ftemming the tide of vice ; and who thus became (to their everlafting honour be it fpoken) the founders of reforming fockties ; which, I hope, will be perpetuated as long as open wickednefs is praftis'd among us. Since the rife of thefe focieties, you have had many excellent fermons from miniiters of diftin- guifli'd worth, both in the cflablifli'd church, and out of it : they have all heartily concurr'd in affifting you to carry forward this good work, and have feverally otfer'd a variety of arguments to direct and animate you in this fervice. I wifli to God we might once fee them as heartily agreed in every thing elfe, that would tend to promote the honour, and advance the kingdom of Jefus Chrift in the world. I am well aware that nothing new can be ex- pected from me, when fo many men of great name and abilities have gone before me in this fervice : And upon this confideration I had de- clined complying with the requeft of thofe gen- tlemen, who invited me to it ; were it not that my eftccm and affection for this glorious work forbad me to be I rd in contributing the molt I could (how lif that might be) B to co the promoting of it-, and I wifh, that what I have to offer may fubferve this good defign. The words I have chofen for my text, will lead to feveral thoughts, which I apprehend may help to encourage and confirm you in the lau- dable work you have undertaken : they inform us, how David was affected with the iniquity of the times in which he lived ; he beheld the tranf- grejfor^ and was grieved. In this, as well as in many other things, David fhould be confi- der'd as an example to good men in ail future time. It is doubtful when the hundred and nine- teenth Pfalm was penn'd 5 the title does not in- form us, nor is there' any certain criterion to judge by. I apprehend it was compos 'd in Da- vid's advanced years ; and may be confider'd as a colle&ion of his experiences and obfervations. In the general courfe of his life he had clofely adher'd to the word of God' ; and he had found it of fingular fervice both to comfort and counfel him in the different fcenes through which he had pafs'd : and now being near the clofe of life, the good man gathers up his re- marks, and in a moll; exa£l * manner puts them * Thofe who can read this Pfalm in the original, muft admire the accuracy of its compofition : it plainly appears to have been no hafty performance, but a work of time and care : it confifts of twenty two parts, according to the number of letters in the Hebrew alphabet; each part begins with a different letter in order; and the eight verfes which compoi? each part, begin all with the fame let- ter that (tends at the head of the part. This was fo contrived, pof- i*bly to aflift the memory : but however that be, it is plain it was ths prgduct of thought and care. toge- [ J ] together, that they might be ufeful to others in all after ages of the church. David in the courfe of his life had met with a variety of providences ; he had his changes, it may be, as much as moffc men ; but in all he had fenfible evidence of the divine favour, and in the main his heart was right with God. He had his failings as well as others, and fome mif- carriages of a very heinous nature too ^ but yet up- on the whole, he was a man after G O Us awn heart. However he might be fometimes over- taken, it appears from the hiftory of his life, that he had a prevailing regard for the honour of God, a follicitous concern for promoting re- ligion, and difcountenancing immorality. He ufed his influence and authority for thefe glori- ous purpofes ; and nothing more imprefs'd his tender heart, than to find his endeavours fail of defired fuccefs. He had a rooted averfion againft iin y and as he would not allow it in hirnfelf, to neither could he behold it in others without re- lu6lance and concern: I beheld the tranfgrejfors, and was grieved. We may in thefe words confidcr Dav i d fpeaking, either as a King, or as a good man only. In thefe two capacities, I apprehend, he will be found a fit example both for magiftn: and for private perfons in the bleiled caufe of reformation. It will not be amifs to carry both thefe views in our thoughts, while we are meditating upon this fubject. f B 2 We : « : We find there were tranfgrejjbrs in David's time. No age has been entirely free from fuch. Sin made an early entrance into the world: and though God has evidenced his refentment againft it by feveral terrible judgments executed upon mankind (witnefs the univcrfal deluge in Noah's time; the fending fire from heaven to deftroy many large and populous cities at once ; the cutting off his ancient people Ifrael from be- ing a nation, and (battering them upon the face of the earth, and the like) yet the hearts of men are fo corrupted by the iniquity of the fall, that they are fit in them to do evil; and we muft not expeft to fee fin entirely extirpated, till the earth it felf (hall be burnt up. Sin and this world will have an end together : and fo far is (in from lofing ground, or growing weaker by age, that I wifh there were not fo much reafon to fay, it every day becomes more ftrong and impetuous. David beheld the tranfgreflbrs of his day. By which phrafe I underftand more, than barely that he faw them, that he knew there were fuch, and that their wicked a&ions came with- in his obfervation. The term denotes, that he (pent many a ferious thought upon the conduct of the wicked, he took particular notice of them, he carefully coniider'd their behaviour, and re- volved it frequently in his mind, till his heart was deeply affe&ed. He was grieved : he felt an inward concern of foul, his tender fpirit was moved at the wick- 4 edneft [7] ednefs he beheld ; he laid it to heart j he could not ftand by as an unconcerned fpectator of the iniquities which were practis'd in the world : he was grieved. Grief is an inward pafflon or affection of the foul, arifing from a reflection up- on fomething melancholy or afflictive. This pafflon Dav id found was excited in him by the wickednefs of -men in a very extraordinary de- gree ; fo that he compares his tears, (hed on this occafion, to rivers : rivers of water run down mine eyes *. And in another place *j- he fays, horror hath taken hold upon me. The good man was in a vaft diforder and concern : the original word, which we rranflate horror ', lignihes a tem- peji or jlorm. There was, it is plain, a vehe- ment commotion and ruffle in his mind : fome- times he wept bitterly, at ocher times he was in a kind of tremor, feized with horror and fur- prize: But let the outward fliape, in which it appear'd, vary ever fo much, the inward affecti- on remaind the fame; he grieved, his heart was impreffed with an holy concern at the impieties of thofe among whom he lived. The general proportion to be infifted on from!, thefe words is, that it is the property and cha- racter of a good man, to grin t tranfgref fions of the wicked. Whatever rank or place he fills up in the world, if he be a truly good man, he will find himfclf thus affeded, when he beholds the tranf- grejfors : the growth of vice will excite this paf * Vcr. i j 6, oi :n. f Ycr. r;. fion C 8 ] fion in the foul of every pious and good man. How was Lot affe&ed with the unlawful deeds of the wicked Sodomites ? The facred text ex- preffes it very fttongly ; That righteous man, in feeing and hearing, vexed his righteous foul from day to day *. Thus we read of Ezra, that his concern on the like account was very great ; he did eat no bread, nor drink water,- for he mourn- ed becaufe of the tranfgrejfion of them that had been carried away f . In like manner Jeremiah (ays, My foul fh all weep in fecret places for your pride, and mine eye fhall weep fore and run down with tears p The apoftle Paul's fpirit was Jiirred in him, when he faw the city of Athens wholly given to idolatry, or full of idols **. What was the objed of pleafure to others, he could not bear the fight of without a || paroxyfm of forrow ; his fpirit was exafperated and exceeding- ly grieved- Inftances might be multiplied, to (hew that the faints of God in all ages mourn over the vices of the times in which they live; it is their character and property. The exam- ple of our blefTed Saviour is what I will only mention farther. We read that our Lord looked round about him with anger, being grieved for the hardnefs of their hearts ^: The obftinacy and perverfeneis of the Jews gave him jufi: caufe of refentment, but it excited his pity and forrow together with his anger. How full of tender- nefs and compafTion was his conduft, when he * 2 Pet. ii. 8. f Ezra x. 6. % Jer. xiii. 17. ** A&sxvii. 16, -J| Ilctfw^mTo, f Mark iii. f. view'd [9] view'd the city Jerufalem, a city that had mod injurioufly treated him : TVhen he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it, faying, if thou hadji known, even thou, at leafi in this *thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace ! but now they are hid from thine eyes * This laft is the perfed pattern ; and from it we infer, that to be grieved at the fins of mankind is a Chrift-like difpofition and temper, a condud ve- ry fuitable to the difciples of the holy Jefus. In whatever fituation men are in life, if they partake of this fpirit, they will difcover it in fuitable endeavours to check the prevalence of vice: thus did David, both in his publickand private capacity. You all know what refoluti- ons he made with refped to his condud, when he (hould come to the full pofleflion of the re- gal authority ; he would do every thing in his power to difcourage immorality in his own court, and wherever elfe his influence reached f. I wifh all princes would follow fo lovely an exam- ple ! If they did, we (hould foon fee the world much amended ; profanenefs and vice would then ceafe to be fo fafliionable and in fuch re- pute as now they are. If David had only (hcd a few tears, and griev'd over the tranfgrcilion of the wicked, without endeavouring to put a flop to it; his tears and all his cxprcllions of grief would have been cenfurcd as artificial and pretended, or at lcaft as not flowing horn thofe noble fprings, to which we juftly alcribe his re- • Luke xix. 41 , ft. * Sec Pulm ci. fentments : [ ,o] (entments : for where this inward grief is real and genuine, fpringing from right and generous principles, it will difcover it felf in outward a&s, difpofing the good man to do every thing in his power towards (uppreffing the evil which he la-* ments and mourns over. And I'll venture to (ay, that every man has it in his power, whatever his circumftances in the world are, to do fomething towards preventing the fpread and increafe of vice and immorality. Let us in the farther profecution of this fub- jeft, enquire into thefe two things, viz. I. In what outward a£ts will a fincere con- cern for the wickednefs of mankind difcover it felf? II. What are the principles which give rife to this concern, and influence the good man to exprefs it in fuch ways ? After having offer'd to your ferious confide- ration (bme hints under each of thefe heads, I will clofe with a few remarks by way of appli- cation. I. In what outward a£ts will a fincere con- cern and grief for the wickednefs of mankind exprefs it felf? In the general let it be obferved, that a good man, w T hofe heart is deeply afte&ed with the prevalence of vice, will ftick at no labour, nor trouble, but will do all he can to fupprefs it : he will difcountenance immorality to the utmoft of C » 1 of his ability, according to the ttation and ranlc in which the providence of God has placed him. But more particularly, i. He will take care, that his own life (hall be fo regularly conducted, as to give no counte- nance to yice^ but to be a (landing reproach to the wickednek of the age and place in which he lives. Thofe who are truly grieved at the fins of others, will be very cautious of themfelves. Ex- ample is more powerful than precept $ special- ly the examples of perfons in high places, and in advanced circumftances. Their fellow-crea- tures look up to fee how rich and great men live, and generally form themfelves upon their model. For this reafon it would be a defirable thing to fee the great become truly good, or thofe who are good become great. Under the convidion of this, the honourable Houfe of Com- mons addrefs'd the mod glorious King William, in the following remarkable words : * cc Since the " examples of men in high and publick (tations " have a powerful influence upon the lives of " others; we do mod humbly befeech yourMa- " jefty, that all vice, profanenefs, and irreligion " may in a particular manner be difcouragcd in a all thofe, who have the honour to be em- " ploy'd near your royal perfon ; and in all " others, who are in your Majesty's (ervice, by °1 There is therefore a duty incumbent on all private perfons, in order to carry forward this glorious work. Here the builncfs of informing comes under confideracion. It is a name of harfli found in the ears of many perfons •, and thofe wha have engaged in the work, have been load- ed with bafe reproaches. Nevcrthelefs, it is eafy to prove it a neceffary duty, and all the friends of virtue fliould think themfelves obliged this way to oppofe the growth of vice. It cannot be expefted that the magiftrate's power will be very Significant in the fupprefling of immorali- ties, if private perfons do not lend their kind af- fiftance. The magistrate can be witnefs but to a fmall part of the vice which is committed ; and it will be but feldom that he can punifli the pro- fane and irreligious, if he is to fee only w T ith his own eyes, or hear only with his own ears, and may not be allow'd to receive information from others. The main ftrefs of the reforming de- fign feems almoft to depend on the faith fulne(s and diligence of private perfons, in giving infor- mations againil the vitious : and fliould all deter- mine to forbear this, it is eafy to tell what would be the confequence ; vice would go unpunifh'd, and the profligate (inner would grow bold in his wicked nets. This then is another outward expreflion of the good man's grief at the wickednefs of others; he will, when gentler methods have no effed, do all he can, according to his Station in the world, to bring the criminal to puniflimenr. I add, 5. The C *« 3 5. The good man exprefles his grief on this occalion, by fervent prayers to God. This is a way which all good men, whatever their circumftances are, can ufe : for the throne of grace is open to them all; and thofe who (carce have it in their power to help forward the blefTed work of reformation any other way, may affift and be ferviceable in this refpeft. And I doubt not but the prayers of good men have contributed very much to the fuccefs of this caufe, as far as it is already carried. 'Tis God alone that is able effectually to fupprefs the wicked : he can fend forth his Spirit and convert them ; or if they will not attend to his motions, God can flxetch out his arm and deftroy them • or by his over-ruling providence can difcovcr their wickednefs, and bring them to fuller the juft de- fer ts of their folly. The petitions moft proper toaddrefs to God, in reference to this glorious caufe,are fuch as thefe. That God would reclaim the wicked from the error of their ways : that by the influences of his Spirit he would efte&ually convert and turn their hearts. That God would pardon and forgive them all the former iniquities of their lives, and re- ceive them to his mercy upon their repentance, according to the declarations of the Golpcl. That God would put a ft op to the riowth of guilt, and would bring the uifckubufs of the kick- ed to an end *■ * WU, vii. 9. D z That That God would fpirit up our rulers and ma- giftrates, that they may be faithful in ufing their authority to the encouragement of virtue, and the fubduing of vice. That God would reftrain the wrath of the wicked; and take under his fpecial prote&ion all thofe, who expofe themfelves to manifeft dan- gers in profecuting this work. That God would own and blefs ail endea- vours of every kind, which are ufed in order to bring about a national reformation. And That God would gracioufly accept, and abun- dantly reward all thofe pious fouls, who willing- ly offer themfelves to this fervice, with the ble(- iings of this and another world- In petitions of this nature all good men will concur ; and let all the people (ay, Amen. II. I am now to enquire, what the principles are which give rife to this concern, and influ- ence the good man to expreft it in fuch ways. There are three things which I would here offer to your coniidcration, as the proper princi- ples, which influence good men thus to grieve at the growth of vice; and thefe, I perfuade my felf, you are a&uated by in your attempts to pro- mote a reformation of manners in this degene- rate, diflblute age. i. An high regard for the honour of God. The apoftolical canon is, whatever ye do, do #11 to the glory of God * : This muft be the go- * i Cor, x. 3 1 • verning C nl verning end and principle of all our a&ions : and this is what makes the good man grieve to fee abounding wickednefs, and do what he can to fupprefs it. David in thisPfalm frequently refers to the troubles and perfecutions he had been un- der ; and no doubt he refented the injurious treat- ment he met with : but the good mans concern feems more to be for the breach of the divine law, than for any detriment arifing to himfelf. He was grieved to fee men in defiance to the divine authority, break the law of God : This he himfelf gives as a principal reafon for his con- cern, becattfe they kept not thy word. The good man has a deep veneration for the laws of God, and a profound reverence for his Majefty : in virtue of this, he is never more fenfibly troubled, than when he fees infolent finners openly affront God, by boldly violating his righteous precepts : and his zeal for God's honour will make him do what he can to bring the offenders ropunifliment. 'Tis recorded to the honour of Phinehas, and God took it well at his hands, that being zea- lous for G O TJs fake, he executed judgment up- ment upon Zimn and Cosbi *. When the ho- hotir of God lies at (take, or is any way infringed, the good man grieves, and, like old £//, his heart trembles. The honour of God is evidently (truck at by the diflolute and debauch'd lives of the drunkar 1 and unclean, by the flocking oaths and cirl of the common (wearer, by the profanation of * Numb. xxv. 1 1, &c. Sec Pftl. cvi. 30. his t *4 ] his holy day, and by the fpreading of vice and irreligion : this the good man cannot behold with- out an inward grief,and this puts him on trying all pofTible methods to reftify matters. And all who have any regard to God, will be concerned to do what in them lies to prevent fuch difhonour to his Name, and fuch contempt to his Autho- rity. Can a child of an ingenuous temper ftand unconcerned, when he hears his tender father affronted ? No, his refenrment will rife, and put him upon methods to vindicate his father's ho- hour. Thus the horrid curfes and profane fwear- ing, which are fo frequent amongft us, grieve the good man, as they vilify the majefty of his heavenly Father ; and no wonder that he fliould endeavour to make the daring (inner (mart for his folly: I rather wonder, that thefe things are fo patiently tolerated, and that more offenders of this kind are not punifiVd. 2. A real concern for the welfare of the com- munity, of which he is a member, is another principle upon which the good man's grief at the wickednefs of the world is founded : and as a true friend to the fociety, he does what he can to flop the growth of it. The profligate and profane willfcarce allow it ; but 'tis certainly true, that good men who at- tempt a reformation in the place where they live, are the beft friends to the publick. A truly pious, and good man confiders he was not born merely for himfelf, and therefore ab- hors felfifli views: he aims at general good, he fecks L M J feeks the good of the land to which he belongs J 'twas David's refol union, I will feek thy good, oh Jerufalem *. Upon this foot every good man is a publick bleflfing : by his prayers he ofcen pre- vails with God for mercy to his country, and is a means of warding off impending judgments : by his example and advice he recommends virtue, and cafts a reproach on iireligion : and by his exerting himfelf vigorously in the caufe of refor- mation, and bringing to punifhment obftmate of- fenders, he mod efte&ually promotes the com- mon welfare. However itrange this may feem in the opinion of diflblure and vitious perfons ; it may eafily be proved ■, if we only confider the vaft prejudice prevailing immoralities are to any nation ; and by confcquence, he who attempts to put a flop to the growth of vice, does the com- munity the greatcft fervice. Sin is not only a reproach to any people f ; but often deftroys a nation : a city is overt hi mm by the mouth of the wicked \. Wickedncfs has a twofold tendency to ruin any fociety, both a mo- ral and a natural tendency. i. A moral tendency ; as it expofes a commu- nity to the wrath of God, and awakens him to judgment. Oh what havock has fin made in pub- lick focietics, as well as brought mifchicf on par- ticular perfons ! If vice and profencnefi are openly praftis'd with impunity, and no c^rc is taken to check and reftrain the daring tinner; whatever crimes arc thus committed become national ; and • Pfil. exxii. p. f Prov. xiv. 34. \ Prov. xi. 11. ^ the [ *«] the fociety rauffc exped that God will arife to plead his own caufe ; fince there are none in it, who will ftand up for him againji the evil-doers. Particular offenders often are permitted to go on in fin, without feeling the refentment- of God in this world; becaufe there is another ftate in which divine juftice will avenge itfelf upon them; But communities are diffolved with this world, and as fuch cannot be reckon'd with hereafter t and therefore publick judgments are now to be expeded, when publick vices are tolerated. The hiftories of feveral nations will confirm this ob- fervation : Efpecially if we examine the condud of divine providence towards the Jewijh nation, which was God's peculiar people, we (hall find that when vice abounded, and no care was taken to fupprefs and punifh it, then God arofe to judg- ment; he not only withdrew his protedion, but frequently deliver'd them into the hands of their enemies, or fent fome defolating evils upon them. The Pfalmift's remark has been verified in more than one of the nations of the earth ; he (i. e. God) turneth a fruitful land into barrennefs, for the wickednefs of them that dwell therein*. The wicked are the mod formidable enemies any na- tion can have : the good are its beft friends, as they do what they can to prevent national judg- ments, and to obtain of God national blef- fings. z. Publick vice has a natural tendency to ruin any nation. Impiety and immorality tend in their * Pfal. cvii. 34.. very C *r ] very natures to fink a nation into contempt and mifery. And when thefe are not difcouraged, what evils may we not exped: ? The utmoft: con- fufion and diforder muft be the necefTary effect of unreftrained vice. There is no nation under heaven can furnifh us with a more remarkable inftance of this than the Roman date : which whilft it continued virtuous, made a great figure in the world, was raifed to the high eft degree of glory; but when once luxury and vice had fpread themfelves into the feveral ranks of people, the glory departed from them, their ftrength was gone, their fpirits foftened by de- bauchery ; civil wars arofe at home, and the fword of foreign enemies at length utterly over- threw them. Where vice prevails, the bands of government muft foon be difTolved, riots and diforders will enfue, the fpirits of a nation will be enfeebled, and they will become an eafy prey to any in- vading enemy ; witnefs the known ftory of a King ofdljjyria, who thought it rather the eafier way to overcome the city of Babyloti, by fend- ing in players and lewd women to debauch ir, than to invade it with a mighty army; and he anfwer'd his end effe&ually. Thus Balaam pro- jected to infnare the Israelites with the daugh- ters of Mtdian. And thus I doubt not was the contrivance of Rome and Hell, in the reigns be- fore the happy Revolution, to debauch the na- tion fas they had it may be to the grcatefl: do E grcc L l8 J gree ever known, when your glorious defign was fir ft fet on foot) that fo they might enflave us and fend in popery with all its curfed retinue. The Bifhop of London has made the fame re- mark, with refped to the mafquerades being in- troduced among us by the embafladors of a prince, who was then purfuing meafures to lubjed us to popery and tyranny *. When men become unbridled in their lufts, they will cowardly fubmit to any burden, which men of tyrannizing fpirits would impofe upon them. Or it may be, unreftrained lufts may take an- other turn, and bring the members of a publick fociety into a ftate of war among themfelves ; they won't ftand in need of foreign enemies to invade them; but they will bite and devour one another, till they be confumed one of ano- ther f. 3. A companionate tendernefs for the welfare of the wicked themfelves, is another principle, upon which the good man a£ls, in difcovering his refentment and grief at the growth of vice and profanenefs. The facred fcripture teaches us to account that man a hater of his brother, who fujfers fin upon him \. And indeed is it not hatred in effed, to ftand by unconcerned, and fee a fellow- * Sermon to the Societies, 1723. f Gal. v. ifL X Levit. xix. 17. creature L »5> J creature going on in courfes which I know will be his eternal ruin, and at the fame time I take no fteps to prevent it ? What would you think of fuch a conduit in another cafe 2 Suppofe I lee a man attempt to take away his own life, would it not be barbarous in me to (land ftill, and not endeavour to fave him ? Certainly it would be in- terpreted unnatural cruelty, and a conduct no way reconciieable to the great law of love ; fhould I not do what I could to prevent my brother from taking away his natural life. The barba- rity is unfpeakably greater in the other cafe ; in as much as the unhappy wretch expofes him- felf to the wrath of God, and to everlalhng mi- fery, by perfifting in the pra&ice of vice. Mere companion would fureiy prompt us to do any thing in our power, to turn a foul out of the way to hell. Let vicious men put what con- ftruclion they pleafe upon the good man's exert- ing himfelf againft their vices; it certainly is in him an inftance of moll: real kindnefs, and the beffc way of exprefling his charity. The good man loves the perfons, tho' he abhors the vices, of the wicked: he would, if poflible, deftroy thefe, in order to fave their fouls. If it be faid, that grieving at their fins, praying for them, fetcing a good example, rep and admonifhing them, may indeed be evidences of good- will to the wicked; but n bringing them to punifliment be any argument of al and companion to them ? The reafjn is obvi E 2 becaufe I 3° J becaufe corre&ion and reftraints are fometimes neceffary, in order to bring a wicked man to consideration ; (however improper they may be in the cafe of miftaken opinions ,) he will hearken to no inftru&ion or admonition, but the rod and reproof only will give wifdom. Now how un- pleafant foever methods of feverity may be to flefli and blood ; yet they are merciful, when the (inner by them is reclaimed from his evil ways, and prevented from running defperately on the eternal ruin both of foul and body ; and as fuch methods have a tendency to bring about this effe£t, they muffc be interpreted as proceeding from a real hearty concern for the welfare of the (inner. And this is one main principle, which influences the good man thus to exert himfelf in the glorious caufe of virtue and religion againfb vice and immorality. APPLICATION. i. We fliould take occafion to lament the wickednefs of the land. It is an argument of a good heart to be grieved at the fight of tran£ grefTors : and have we not caufe to mourn over the vices of the age in which we live ? The oaths and curfes, the drunkennefs and lewd- ness, the contempt of religion which abounds in our day, call for pity and compaflion ; they (hould affeft our hearts, and excite us to do L 3' 3 do what we can to put a ftop to the growth of them. 2. Let us expoftulate with the wicked, who thus grieve the holy foul. What moving lan- guage may we ufe with them, when there is any profped of fucceft ! What means the pro- fane faearer, whofe tongue fpeaks only the lan- guage of hell, by all thofe vollies of oaths and curfes, which come as thick out of his mouth as words ? Dofi: thou think that God will al- ways hold thee guiltlefs, tho' he has expreflly declared the contrary ? Art thou an equal match for God, that thou ventured thus to affront his Majefty ? Or what doft thou expect will be the confequence of falling into his hands, that thou ftill multiplied provocations againfl: him? What means the drunkard, the unclean, the profaner of the fabbath, by flying in the face of heaven, as if the terrible day of the Lord would never come j or as if they thought they could then ftand, tho' their doom is fo explicitly declared in the records of truth?— -What! have you no regard for God ? No defire to promote his ho- nour ! No dread of offending him ? — What are you no ways concerned for the nation to which you belong, but do what you can to bring ruin upon it? — If neither of thefe confidera- tions will make thee forbear thy fins ; let me ask farther ; Do you not know you have fouls to be faved ? Or have you no regard to them ? Will a bed in hell be fofc ? Or is it ca(y L 5* J eafy and pleafont to dwell with everlafting burn- ings? 3. How criminal are thofe, and far from the true Chriftian temper of foul, who are uncon- cerned at the wickednefs of the times and places in which they live ! The minifters of religion, who can fee the growth of vice without any concern, fall un- der reproof here : and fo do indolent magi- ftrates, to whom the execution of the laws is committed, but they look on and fee vice tri- umphing upon the ruins of virtue, and don't fo much as attempt to prevent its increafe. I add, if fuch are to be blamed ; much more thofe of either chara&er, who are themfeives vitious ; and by the irregularity of their own lives are continually increafing the ftock of na- tional guilt. 4. How fad a cafe is it, when men inftead of grieving at the wickednefs of the world, make a banter, a jeft and mock of fin 1 It was an odd temper in Dernocritus, to be always laughing at the follies of his fellow-creatures : Heraclitus furely was more properly affeded with them, when he continually wept over them. The merry fatyrift may be preferred, if we (hould give in to fome celebrated notions of ridi- cule; but the mourning philofopher certainly difcover'd the beft: temper : his behaviour ar- gued a fine fpirit, and would have had the applaufe of a more grave and ferious age, when 4 the c 33 : the poet was clapp'd for that beautiful expref- fion : " I am a man, and fo think my felf " concerned in all human affairs *, and not un- " concerned in any thing that refers to man- cC kind. " Good men are more difpofed to com- pafllon than raillery and ridicule ; efpecially where the follies they obferve, have a ten* dency to real mifchief. It gives them fenfible trouble to fee men in open defiance of the di- vine authority, ad fuch a part as muft expofe their own perfons and their country to God's vengeance. y. How criminal are they, who inftead of grieving at the tranfgreftbrs, rather fet themfelves to incourage and promote vice. There are thofe, whofe very bufinefs it teems to be, to lead others into wicked courfes ; they draw the unwary youth from one fcene of vice to another ; till at laft he can find the way without the afliftance of his guides, and even vies with them in the pradtice of ini- quity. Under this head I will venture to place all thofe unfaithful magiftrates, who will not pu- nifh tranfgreflbrs, will* not exert themfelves to fupprefs vice, but let the violated law be un- executed. By this means they give encourage- ment to vice ; for the wicked will grow bold in fin, and be harden'd in his impious practices, • Homo futn, humani nihil a mc alienum puto. Ter. he'll I 34 ] hell be prompted to go on in vitious courfes, when he finds the laws lie dormant, and they may be violated with impunity. — 'Tis not eafy to imagine what aggravated guilt the unfaith- ful magiftrate lies under: — but we may be aC- fured the King of kings who knows the extent of his guilt, will award him proportionable pu- nifhment, when he comes to enquire into his criminal condud. 6. How defervedly fhould they be applaud- ed, who do what they can towards reforming a wicked age. Every man is to be commended for (hew- ing a zeal againft vice ; in doing fo he ads the part of a faithful fervant to God, a kind- friend to the nation, and a companionate well- wiflier to the good of the wicked themfelves, whofe iniquity he oppofes ; and in every view he merits refped. And now if every man in his private capa- city is expeded to do what he can to fupprefs the vice he laments ; it would be very ftrange, if there were any harm in good mens combi- nation to this purpofe. There may indeed be accidental ill effeds of ftich a pious confede- racy ; but I hope that is no more an objedion in this cafe, than it is in many others; the beft things being liable to abufe. While there is frailty in good men, and while the wicked continue in the world, no good defign can be carried on but under fome difodvantage. Paf- (ion C 3J 1 fion will mix it (elf with zeal, and fometimes intereft too ; and villains will, if poflible, thruffc in, where there is the profpeft of any advan- tage : But (hall we for Peter's intemperate hear, or Judas 's treachery, condemn the beft fociety that ever the world faw ? Or (hall we difcou- rage the beft defigns, becaufe the managers of them are not perfed themfelves, nor have the gift of difcerning fpirits to prevent their being betray'd by others? By this I am led particularly to addrefs my felf to thofe worthy gentlemen, who compofe the focieties for reformation of manners in the cities of London and Weftminjler. And before I put an end to this difcourfe, I beg they would allow me to offer to their confideration a few hints both by way of counfel and encourage- ment. Your defign, Sirs, is very laudable : it ar- gues a noble and generous fpirit in you to un- dertake fo good a work — To attempt the reformation of a wicked age, what more brave, what more glorious l — And as your delign is good, fo the methods in which you have purfued it, are wife and juft. Go on there- fore in this blefled work, and God profper you. You are to be exhorted to look to your own fincenty • fee that your lives are not the coun- terparts of thofe vices which you would re- form in others : take care that you act upon F good [ 3-5] good principles : not only mean well, but en* deavour to ad wifely: ufe all precautions to guard againft offence ; and learn particularly to join a fpirit of meeknefs with your zeal. This is indeed a difficult thing thus to temper zeal - y but the fuccefs of focieties for reformation depends very much upon it : for if men appear to be aded by a proud and pharifaical or a peevifli and four fpirit ; the world will be ready to judge, that they are only beating down the Devils kingdom in one part, to fet it up the more ef- fedually in another; and that with the fikhinefs of the fpirit they are combating againft that of the flefli. Let a meek and humble fpirit therefore vifibly appear in your whole conduit. Perfift with a noble firmnefs of mind in this good work ; and fuffer not your courage to fail, neither flacken your induftrious endeavours to conquer wickednefs, tho' you meet with many difcouragements, and run many hazards in fo doing. You have met with llander and with cruel oppofition ; and I fee no reafon to exped you will meet with lefs from the prefeat age : But faint not-. There are many arguments to encourage your perfeverance, and to animate your zeal ; which may likewife ferve as confiderations to ftir up others to join with you in making head againft vice. — I wifh they might have this kindly effed upon others: however, let them not fail to quicken jour refolution and diligence in at- tempting Li7 1 tempting to ftop the torrent of impiety and wickednefs. Confider, You are only ftriving againft im- morality and prophanenefs : you only fet your- felves to punifli thofe crimes, which the wicked man's confcience muft condemn him for. You are endeavouring to promote virtue and reli- gion, in oppofition to vice and impiety. A glorious conteft this ! You mud needs have the approbation of yotnr oivn confciences in the affair: an inward plea- fure and tranquillity of mind muft refult from a refleftion on your zeal and activity in fo good a work. You may be affured of the approbation of that God, who is greater than confcience. He looks down from heaven, and obferves with pleafure your zeal and concern for his honour and intereft in the world. His approbation you may fet againft the revilings of the whole world. The great author and fnifloer of our faith, Jefus Chrift, ccnnot but approve of an under- taking fo agreeab.e to his defign of coming into this world. You are earning on the fame work in which your dear Redeemer is en- gaged, namely to dejlroy the ^orks of the De- vil, and to promote his kingdom amongft men. From him you may expect affiftance and fup- ports, in proportion to the d faculties and dif- pourageipents you mcec with. F x All [ 38 ] All good men wifli well to you, and applaud your undertaking. The beft men of every de- nomination concur in approving the caufe of reformation: you have the generous contribu- tions of fome, a&ual labours and expence of time from others, and the hearty prayers of all. I apprehend I am not miftaken in faying all good men wifh well to you: fince that man, who fpeaks againft, or difapproves of attempts for a national reformation, does in my opinion fo for forfeit the chara&er of a good man. I know indeed, there are fome who profcfs reli- gion and defire to be thought good people, that have not been willing to commend your pious confederacy, if they have not proceeded to dis- commend it: whether their chara&er be good or bad, I will not enquire : I am fure their con- dud is very criminal: if they are themfelves free from open vice, I'll venture to fay, they are too much void of that regard for God and religion, that love to their country, and that companion for the fouls of their fellow-crea- tures, which fhould inflame the heart of evety good Chriftian. I muft attribute fuch a beha- viour and difpolition towards your defign, in men of appearing virtue and religion, chiefly to one or other of thefe caufes. Either to their ignorance: they are not themfelves well ac- quainted with your defign and methods of proceeding, and hafirily take up reports, it may be, from the whifpers and reprefentations of thofe > [ 39] thofe, whofe vices you oppofe — But this their way is their folly.— —Or to their cowardice: they are afraid of the dangerous confequences, which may arife from attempts to curb the wicked. If this be their temper, you need be under no concern, that they do not join them- felves to you ; for if they did, their timorous fearful fpirits might tend to render vonr en- deavours lefs vigorous and fuccekful. — Or to their covet oujhefs : if they applaud your defign, they reckon it will be cxpeded they fhould con- tribute towards the defraying the neceflary ex- pences, which attend the execution of it; therefore they will appear not to approve of it, or to have fome frivolous obje&ions againft your methods of proceeding, that fo they may efcape follicitations to part with their beloved pelf. But men of fuch ftingy tempers are the worft members of any fociety, and the mofl infignificant creatures upon the face of God's earth : and therefore 'tis fitteft they fhould live by themfelves, (ince 'tis manifeft they defign only to live to themfelves. The whole community is unfpeakably indebted to you. God has often blefled a nation for the fake of a few righteous men in it ; and they have prevailed with him to ftay his hand, when he was juft giving the blow. The wicked may reprefcnt you as the troubles of IJrael \ but you are indeed as the chariots of Ifrael and the horfe- men thereof ; the ftrength, and glory of the na- 4 tion ; [ 4°] tion ; you are doing the higheft fervice to the publick intereft, by endeavouring to ftem the tide of thofe abominable vices, under which the land groaneth, and which (if allowed and per- fifted in) threaten us with the moft defolating judgments. The wicked themfeives, if reclaim'd, will blefs Gol> for you. You cannot expect, that while they are fond of their vices, they fhould approve your defign, tho* all along yfcu have their con- sciences on your fide ; but if by the methods you ufe, any fhould be brought to have truer Id idris of vice, and be converted from their fins, they will thank you, and blefs God for you to all eternity. — And you are not to de- fpair, but that you may fee many loofe and profane perfons brought to themfeives, and reclaimed from their evil ways. Some have already been recovered , and 'tis to be hoped by the Spirit of God concurring with your endeavours others will be alfo converted: the intereft of virtue and religion (hall flourifli, while vice and profanenefs by degrees lofe ground. But whatever the fuccefs be, your reward is fafe in heaven : let the certain profped of a fu- ture glorious racompence animate your attempts to reform a vicious age. Tour labour /hall not be in vain in the Lord*: you may at prefent * i Cor. xv. ^ S. meet [41 ] meet with reproach, with cruel fufferings in the difcharge of this work; but let none of the fe things move you ; heaven will make you an infinite amends at laft: and in due time you flo all cer- tainly reap, if you faint not: a happinefs laft- ingas your natures, and large as yourdefires is referv'd for fuch as you.- — I pray God 'we may all attain to it. Amen. finis. mm I ■u*'