ii * LIBRAEY OF THE Theological Seminary, PRINCETON, , sSCBlSb PRINCETON, N. J. Case, s ._£ t.!j-jtf...H!^ Shelf, Book, A DONATION ^.^ A< tfnfa A A&A Received ?Ur. /S7{. I Our Duty and Inter eft infeparable. A SERMON Preached to the SOCIETIES FOR Reformation of Manners, A T SALTERS-HALL, On Monday, July 2. 1 7 3 3 • By J o h x Partington, M . A . Andno'jjnidde 'Publick at their Requeft. L N D AT; Printed for E M I A T TBI W s, a: the Bible in Patcrvjjler-j li. (Prio- (3) SERMON FOR Reformation of Manners. Matth. x. 32. Whofoever therefore Jhall confefs me before Men, him will I confefs alfo before my Father which is in Hea- ven. H E Work of Reformation is fo good a Work in itfclf, and at- tended with fo many Advantages to Mankind; whether feparatcly confidered, or as united in Socicrics greater and lefs : that to recommend it, one would think, there fhould be little Occafion, and to apologize for it none. A z In- -^Sermon to the Societies Indeed there would be none, were it not that fome Men have entieaWqrd to confound all Diftin&ron between ^V?f ttie and Vice, and will allow no Difference be- tween them, tho' there be the moll obvious one, unlefs it be to give Vice the prefe- rence, and to thinLit, of the two,, the moft eligible. Among{£ this unhappy-Number are too many of bur Feliow-Chnfuans ; Per- fons that bear the Chriftian Name, however unworthy of it, who are become Patrons of Wickednefs, and are neither afhamed to pra&ife nor defend it. Now this it is, that makes a Vindica- tion of the Truths and Ways of Religion necefiary ; the many, I mean, that oppofe and run them down : fome as is pretended out of Principle, others by their Pra&ice. And fhouid engage all who profefs to have the Redeemers Intereft at heart, to do every thing in their power to encourage and pro- mote it. And blcfled be God, we want not for Encouragements the fulleft and moft fatisfa&ory that can be given to a Work of this kind. The Golpel of our Lord |efus Chrift, which with io much reafon we look upon and value as a Revelation from God to us, is richly ftor'd withMotivcs to a Life of ufeful and undifjembicd Piety. Nay, thefe Encourage ments lpread through the whole Bible in a manner, that wherefcever we caft for Reformation of Manners. caft our Eye, we might meet with an in- viting Charm to Goodnefsand Virtue. What a powerful Argument is there in the Text, to own the Caufe of Chrift ourfelves, and to ftand up for and plead it with others ? Whofoever therefore flail confefs me before Men, him will I confefs alfo before my Father which is in Heaven. This Chapter contains our blefled Sa- viour's Inftru&ions to his twelve Difciples, when he firft ferit them into the World to preach and publifh his Golpcl. From the firft Verfe to the fixteenth, we have an ac- count of their Power, and Authority, the Places wherein, and the Manner how it was to be cxerciied : after thcfc Regulations come the grounds of their Encouragement in the faithful Difchame of their Office, from the fix tee nth Verfe to the fortieth : Then follow the Promifes to fuch as fhould cive their Aleflasrc a welcome Entertain- ment, to the end of the Chapter. The Text is one of thole Arguments which our Saviour makes ufc of to encou- rage his Dilciples firft, his Minifters after them, and all his finccrc Followers in the different Succcifions of timc,toafteady Ad- fnm, and open Acknowledgment of him before tlu id we may pbfervethe of to per- fuade to thi n c Topick, that I .The whole -^Sermon to the Societies whole is as if Chrift had faid j It's true, this is likely to prove a very hazardous Bu- fmefs : the Errand I am fending you out into the World upon, will, I certainly forefee, ex- pofe you to confiderable Difficulties and Dangers : but be of good heart, take cou- rage, for I who have the Rewards of ano- ther World at my difpofe, as well as thofe of this; laffure you, that whatever you fuffer for my fake and the Gofpel's at pre- lent, you fhall be unfpeakable Gainers at thelaft. In the Words, thefe two Things are obfervable. A Duty enjoined, with a proper Motive rightly to perform it. The Duty is that of confefiing Chrift ]efus > a Duty in which we are all very nearly concerned : tho' fuch as are eminently qualified for it, either by the Excellency of their Gifts, or the Ad- vantage of their Station in Church or State ; have greater Obligations lying up- on them to a Profeflion of Religion in a more noted way, than others of meaner Gifts and a lower Rank. Magiftrates, and Minifters, and Men of great Quality, and great Eftates, whole Circumftances of For- tune ^llow them to make fome Figure in the World, and whofe Influence over o- thers muft for this reafon be the more ex- tenfive, have a fpecial Opportunity above the lower Sort of private Chriftians, of honouring God and his Son Jcfus, in thofe higher for Reformation of Manners. f higher Stations in which divine Providence hath fet them. Riches even without Places of Authority, carry a kind of Authority a* long with them ; as God therefore hath fet your Candle in an higher Place than that of others, fo you fhould be careful that it may^ fhinethe brighter. Tour Light Jhould/b fhine Mttt.rUt. before Men, as that they may fee your good Works, and hereby be induced to glorify your Father which is hi Heaven. Oh how lovely a Sight is it to behold Greatnefs and Goodnefs in conjun&ion ! znd what a pity is it, fuch a Sight is not much more com- mon ? There is not, however, themeaneft Chriftian that is exempted from this Duty. No, not thofe whofe Capacities are weak, whofe Learning is fmall, and who with great difficulty, which is the Cafe with many of the poorer Sort, make their paf- fage thro' an unequally divided World, Every Child of God mud be one of his Witnefles : and bear Teftimony for him a- gainft the Impieties of the Times in which he lives. And the worfe the Age, or Place is, where his Lot is caft, the more vigoroufly fhould he exert himfelf againfl: the Vices that moft prevail : Like Stars, we fhould fhinc the brighteft in the darkeft Night. And when our Station, or Circumftanccs in Life, will not permit us to do fo much for God as fomc S A S e r M o n to the Societies fome others, wc are to do what we can, and that fhall be accepted. The Words are general, and tho' fpoken more immediately to the twelve Difciples, yet fcem not confined to them. Whofoever therefore fhall confefs me before Men, i. e. fhall fincerely own me to be the true Mef- Jias, the Son of God, and the Saviour of Mankind i and (hall acknowledge in the face of an unbelieving degenerate World, my Truths and Cmlc, my Ways and Ser- vants j Him will I confefs alfo before my Father which is in Heaven. This Man will I own, by declaring and approving this Ac- tion of his, and the Perfon for it, before my Father j and by rewarding him amply in the prefcnce of his holy Angels, and be- fore all the World at the laft and great Day. This is the Encouragement which our Sa- viour lure gives, and what greater can be given, to a iincere and open Confeflion of him ? If to be fare of an Intercfl in his Favour ,.if.to kve his Countenance and Pror tection, if o » e dear to him now 5 to have the honour of a p&bliok Acknowledgment from him at the judiaacnt-Diy, and to be happy with )vm for evet ,• y/ill not prevail with its. to relieve in him, to live to him, and to tland ,up ibr him agam-ft all oppofing Powers 2 what will ? It's much to be, feared, ali other A-guments will loie their Force? upon us, and prove ineffc&ual. There for Reformation of Manners. $ There is nevcrthelefs a very powerful one in the words next following the Text : But whofoever fha/l deny me before Men,M*tth.*. i. e. (hall either disbelieve in me, or turn33- his back upon me and my Religion, upon any pretence wharfoevcr : or it he call him- felf a Chriftian, yet by a Life and Conver- fation the very reverie of what my Gofpel requires* makes it evident that he is no ge- nuine Difciple of mine : I will be fo far from owning him'under that Character, that I will utterly difclaim all Relation to him as a Saviour : and when I come to call the World to its laft reckoning, will deny him before my Father, and inftead of faying unto him, well done good and faithful Ser- vant, and bidding him enter into his Matter s Joy \ 1 will bid him depart out of my Pre- fence, and fend him down into the Lake, that burneth with Fire and Brimftone, to be a Companion for Devils, and other wicked Men like himfelf: where his unwarrantable Unbelief, his bafe Cowardifc, and unre- pented of Wickcdnefs (hall meet with a Punifhmcnt fuch as they deferve. Having thus briefly cxplainM the Words : what I propofe further to fay to you from them, fhali be in this Method. I. I would fhew you more fully what it is to confclsjelus Chrift before Men. B II. 10 A S e r m o n to the Sochttes II. I n how many Ways this may, and ought to be done. III. Ifliall enforce the Duty, with all the Advantage the Text gives. This done, fome fuitable Improvement (hall conclude the whole. I am, I. To (hew you more fully what it is to confefs Chriftjefus before Men. It is nei- ther more nor lefs than this, to let the World know that we are Chriftians 5 which can be done in no other way, but by be- lieving the Gofpel, and living as near as we can agreeable to the Holy Rules and Pre- cepts therein laid down. Or in other Words, you may take it more largely thus : To confefs Chrift before Men, is openly and ingenuoufly to declare to others that we be- lieve him to be the true MeJJias, the only begotten Son of the Father, given by him for the Salvation of all, that (hould accept him as their Saviour, and obey him as their Lord : that he is to this end furnifhed with Ability and Authority fufficient to fave Heb.vii. themto the utter *mq/l y that come unto God **' by htm : and that we,for our parts,let others do as they pleafe, receive and fubjed our- felves to him as fuch, refolving in an hum- ble Dependance upon divine Aids to be ru- led and faved by him, and by no other, whatever the World, the Flelh, and the Devil, may fay and do to the cootrary. The for Reformation of Manners* The Duty of confefllng Chrift is here oppofed to denying him, as appears from the following Verie. To prevent which, we are carefully to watch againft thofe two Affections of the Mind, the Paflions I mean of Fear and Shame \ which are apt to have fo great an Influence over Men in the Con- dud of their Lives. Thefc, when regulated in a proper manner, are very ufeful and powerful Principles, and both concur to fecure a Chriltian in the way of his Duty. But if either of thefe Affedtions becomes irregular and degenerate, it very much re- tards the Soul in the ways of God, and is the Caule of many foul Mifcarriages. The greateft Danger arifes from the Paflion of fear : when once that is perverted, and be- comes inordinate, it lometimes occafions Men to defert their former Profeilion and Pra&ice, and to turn afide into crooked Paths ; which is highly provoking to God, and caufes him to treat thole who formerly feemed to be his Friends, as Workers of Ini- quity. Let this then be obferv'd, A true Confeflbr will not deny his Sa- viour thro' fear: it's neither the Scoffs nor Frowns of others, neither the Ficrcenefsof thofe that would gladly lupprefs the Truth, nor the Frowardneis of the Ids malicious, who neglect and deride it, that makes him afraid. Tho' Men and Devils Ihould com- bine againfthim, the Kin^sof the Earth fct B z them- II 12 ^Sermon to the Societies themfelves, and the Rulers take Counfel together how to filence or punifti him ; he will not defift from the Profeflion of the Truth, much lefs renounce it. Such an one was Luther, who when his Friends Warned him of his Danger, if he went to WormS) and earneftly difiuaded him from going; faid, if there were as many Devils as Tiles there, he would not fail to go. Our Saviour we read witnejftkd a good ConfeJJion 1 Tina, ^before Pontius Pilate. He was not afraid to let the World know who he was, and what was the kind Errand he came into it up- on. St. *Paul, when arraigned at the Bar of Felix, and falfely accufed there, after he had cleared himfelf from the firft part of his Charge, which was Sedition ;: fays, with a Courage becoming himfelf, and the Caufe in which he was engaged, the Caufe of Chrift and Religion, the beft cer- Aas xxiv.tainly in all the World j But this I con-> 14, &c yjyj unt0 ffog^ addrc fling himfelf to the chief Magiftrate, that after the way which they call Herefy, fa worship I the God of my Fathers, believing all things which are written in the Law and ^Prophets : and have hope toward God, which they them- f elves alfo allow, meaning his Accufers, that there (hall be a Refurreffion of the dead, both of the juft and unjuft. And herein, or confequent upon fuch a Belief as I have now mentioned, do I exercife my felf to have for Reformation of Manners. 1 3 have always a Confcience void of Offence* toward God, and toward Men. The A- poftle Teter once indeed denied his Lord thro 7 Fear. But it was in very difcouraging Circumftances he did it ; and at a time when he was not lb fully fatisfy'd of his being the true MeJJias, as he was a little after. And it fhould be remembred, this his Weak- nefs and Denial coft him a very fevere Re- pentance, and that afterwards he became one of his boldcft Confeflbrs, not thinking Life itfelf too dear to part with for his Sa- viour. The Apoftles owned Chrift before Kings and Councils, and the greateft Ap- pearances $ at Jerufalem, at Antioch, at Athens, and at Rome : fometimes before Men of great Learning and Gravity, and at other times before the mod cruel and bloody Perfecutors, being nothing terrified by their Advcrfarics. The falle-hearted Profeflbr is foon daunted, whena Storm a- rifes, and Dangers threaten : but he that has thelntereft of Religion truly at heart, is rather hcightned in his Courage than difpirited by the Rage and Malice of wicked Men. He fees there is the more occafion for him to fhew his good liking to the ways of God, when lb many vilify andoppofc them. It is observed of St. Tan/, that brave Chriftian Hero, that the more oppofition he met with from the Enemies of Chriftianity, the *4 ^Sermon to the Societies Aasix. f}j e more he encreafedin Strength* and con- **' founded the Jews which dwelt *tf Damas- cus, proving that this is very Chrift. A n d if Fear cannot enjoin the true Chriftian iilence, much lefs fhall Shame do it $ That being by far the weaker Temp- tation of the two, it is far more inexcufablc Pf«ix. to yie ]d to it# lwillfpeak of thy Tefti- monies before Kings, fays the Tfalmift, and will not be ajhamed : and Timothy had this aTim.i. Charge given him ; Be not thou therefore a foamed of the Tejiimony of our Lord. A s to Ififahlii. the Perfonof Chrift, tho' he appeared in the J +- Form of a Servant, and his Vifage was more marred than any Man-, and his Form more than the Sons of Men : the true Chriltian is notafhamedtoown him under that very re- commending Chara&cr, as God his Saviour. Neither is he afhamed of the Gofpel of Chrift: tho' ibmeof itsDoftrines are contrary to the corrupt Reaionings of carnal Men, and to the received Traditions and Cuftomsofthis vain World, and directly oppofite to the In- clinations and Interefts of the Flcfh. Tho* the Religion of jefus was to the jews a Stumbling- Bio ck^and to the GcmilcsFoolifh- nefSy yet fays St. 'Paul, 1 am not afhamed of the Gofpel of Chrift, for it is the Tower of God unto Salvation, to every one that believeth, to the Jew fir ft ^ and alfo to the Rem.i. Greek. So far was this great Apoftle from 1 6 - being afhamed of the Christian Difpenfation, that for Reformation of Manners. 1 5 that he gloried in it, as the cleareft and beft this lower World was ever favour'd with. Nor is the true Chriftian afhamed of the Ways of Chrift, and the Worfhip which he has prefcribed : as Prayer, reading and hear- ing the Word, attending upon Sacraments, and living well. But is heartily glad of all Opportunities, efpeciaily Lord's-day Oppor- tunities, of engaging in the Duties of Reli- gion, and of Affiftancc to dilcharge them in a proper manner. Let none that wait on thee y fays 'David, be a foamed: no, they have no reafon to be Co. But let them be?a.xxw. afhamed \ which tranfgrefs without caufe.i- Let the profane and ungodly Wretches be afhamed of their impudent Wickednefs and Follies : Let the Formalift blufh when he thinks of his lifelefs Profeflion : Let thofe who fpeak and act againft Religion, and bid defiance to every thing that is facred, be a- fhamed. But as for others, who are a&ive in the Ways of God, this is not their fhame, but their glory. Nor is the fmcerc Chri- ftian afhamed of his Fellow-Confcftbrs, who own this Chrift, and therefore hold thefc Poftrincs, and pra&ife thefe Duties. Be the Time and Place in which he lives never fo bad 5 it does not abafh him, that the World and Mammon have fuch Crouds of Vota- ries paying devotion to their Shrines, whilft Chrift hath but comparatively a few fincere Followers, He is afhamed of the World's Wicked- 1 6 ^Sermon^/^ Societies Wickednefs, but he values a good Chriftian the more, and not the lefs, becaufe there are but few like him* If he be a poor Man, yet if he be a true Servant of Jefus Chrift, he loves him much. He hath indeed a more than ordinary value for a rich ufeful good Man, upon many accounts $ this is the Man of his right hand : but it does not humble him, that many of Chrift's Followers are poorly provided for as to this World. Of nothing is he afhamed of in them, but their iinful WeaknefTes and Infirmities- And as the true ConfefTor will not deny Chrift thro' Fear nor Shame, at leaft will not ordinarily do it $ fo I now add, nei- ther will he do it for the fake of any Ad- vantages arifing to him from this Earth. The World indeed has proved too powerful a Temptation for fome Profefibrs of Reli- gion to withftand : and they have rather chofen to give up all Intereft in Chrift Jefus, than part with any confiderablc Portion of a Tim. iy.it for him. Demas hath for faken me? fays ,0 * St. Paul, having loved this perfent World. He preferred his Riches to his God, his In- tereft on Earth, to his Happinefs in Heaven, But good Men have a very different Turn of Mind : the Honours, the Profits, and the Pleafures of this World have in a good meafure loft their Influence over them. They admire and value fomething more than thefe, crying out with T eter, whither fiould wt for Reformation of Manners. i f we go, Lord, but unto thee ? thou haft the Words of eternal Life. They find a much greater Satisfaction in the Ways, and amongft the Servants of Chrift, than they can find any where elfe. They prefer an Intereft in their Saviour to all other Interefts ; and as God hath profpered them in the World, Will ufe their Wealth and Power and In- fluence for him, counting all things but lofs for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Chrift Jefus their Lord. Having now (hewn you what it is to confefs Chrift before Men, I proceed to the fecond general Head of Dilcourfei which is to (how you, II. In how many Ways this may and ought to be done. To which I anfwer : lb many ways as there are of making known to others our Belief of the Doctrine, and Obedience to the Authority and Commands of Chrift ; fo many ways there are of con- ceding him. There are two ways more e- fpecially of doing it : the one by our Words, the other by our Actions. i. We arc to confefs Chrift by our Words. For with the Heart, Man bel:e f veth Rom ^ unto Right eoufhefs ; and with the Mouth, 10. Confejfion is made unto Salvation. Such was St. ^Peter's Contortion, And Simon Pcrcr Nhr x>| anfjuered and [aid, thou art Chrijl the Son 16. of the living God. This conteiling of Chrift by words, implies more than a bare owning C his 1 5 ^Sermon /o the Societies hisTruths and Ways •$ namely, a defending them, as our Capacities vary,againft all Gain- fay ers. We fhould ftand up for the Truths of the Gofpel againft every Oppofer, and by all prudent, charitable, good-natur'd Methods, take pains to inform their Judg- ments better : and the rather fhould we do this, becauie an erroneous Judgment muft have in many Cafes an ill Influence upon the Practice. And as for fuchPerfons, as are not only out of the way of Truth, but of Righteoufnefs too, Perfons of bad Prin- ciples and bad Morals 5 fo far as any thing we can fay is likely to have a good EfFed, our bed Endeavours fhould not be wanting to reclaim them. To this end, we are to reprefent to them the Odioufnefs of Sini the Beauty, the Excellency and Neceflity of Religion, and to convince them if poflible, that to be religious is to be wife. We are to fet before them a State of Rewards or Retributions, that is yet future , and to fhew them, that as they demean themielves here > they muft be difpofed of for ever after Death. Bid them think of a judgment to come, and of the many awful Circumftances that will attend the great Day : and ask them where the Courfe of Life in which they are engaged will end, and how? And delke them to con fidcr whether for any the greatcft Pleafures Sin can afford them, it's worth their while to be always unhappy. Make them fcnfiblc, that tho* their Cafe be a bad one, for Reformation of Manners. i 9 one, it is not yet hopelefs ; tho' they may foon make it lb, by dropping into Hell, or finning till they are quite forfaken of the Spirit of Goct. Shew them thai God is re- conciling the World unto himfelf by Jcius Chrift, and has Mercy in (tore for the vileft Offenders, provided they become true Pe- nitents. Let the wicked for fake &f w^i&iahfa and the unrighteous Man his Thoughts J and let him return unto the Lordh and he will have mercy upon him, a?id to our God, for he will abundantly pardon* God has pardoned innumerable Sinners already, and ibme of the word fort, and he is as ready ro forgive as ever : but as ever any hope for Mercy at his hands, let them not expert it without Repentance and Amendment of Life. Repeat, fays the Prophet, and turn £ 2C k. your fehes from all your Tranfgrejfions, yjxviii^e Iniquity fh all not be your Rum: a plain In- timation, that if we repent not, Iniquity will be our Ruin moft inevitably. Who can tell but by thefe and iuch like Arguments, we may, thro' the divine Billing accom- panying them, be the happy Inftrumcnts of turning Sinners from the Error of their Ways ? And can we do too much to favc a Soul from Dj^ath, and to h;dc and prevent a Multitude of Sins J TbU rocadeavour, as we would not betray the Caufe of Chrifl, itlert his Truth, md become the Doners Of it in his Account. C 2 2 . 2 o A Sermon to the Societies 2. Another* way in which we are to confcfs Chrift, is by our A&ions, It is not barely faying a great deal for him, and faying it well, that will much avail us. It is not calling Chrift, Lord, Lord, that will gain us Admiflion into his Favour here, or into eternal Glory hereafter. No, He himfelf Matth.vif. hathfaid . £j ot every one that calleth me Lord, Lord, Jhall enter into the Kingdom of Heaven : who then is the happy Man that fhall have a place there ? fVhy y he that doth the Will of my Father which is in Hea- ven. An outward Profeffion always ought in due place to accompany the inward real Holinefsof the Heart, and will do fo : but we muft take heed of confounding thefe two, in their own Natures fo vaftly differenr. They do wickedly and unreafonably, who blame Chriftians for making a Profeflion of Godlinefs ; but thofe who are fatisfied with a meer external Profeflion, will find them- felvps no lefs miferably miftaken. Oh how cafy a thing were it to be a Ghriftian, if this were all, to own Jefus Chrift for my Lord and Saviour in Words, when my Heart dc? jiieth him, and will have none of him ? To perform a few cuftomary Services to him, which are mod open to the View of Men, when I have no inward fpiritual Delight in him. nor in his Serviced Nay, how cafy were it to profefs, as the Papifts do, a more ftridt and fevere way of living, than what Chrift himfelf hath taught or commanded, an4 for Reformation of Manners. and at the fame time to keep the Lufts of our Hearts unmortifyM? Satan will let you go thus tar, and give you little or no dif- jurbance; nay, perhaps encourage you in it, and make you think yourfelves iecure e- nough in this Condition. But anure your- felves, to be a true Chriftian, is more than all this amounts to. Religion is our like- nefs to God : we are therefore to fee to it, that the Temper of our Minds be right in his fight, and this we arc to evidence by the Actions of Life : which are more in- fallible Signs of our Thoughts than the beft compofed Speeches, and often ipeak the Truth when Words are only meant to de- ceive. The practical Chriftian is certainly the only Man that makes a Profeilion of Religion to any good purpofe. I have fomc- where read of a Philofopher that denied there was fuch a thing as Motion, till ano- ther filenccd his wrangling by walking cro(s the Room : a practical Anfwer is clearly the beft. If wc arc true Chriftians, and would have the World think us fuch, wc muftlet them fee it, by leading Lives becoming the Gofpel. We cannot give a better Evidence, nor indeed any other fo good, of our high Efteem and thorough Approbation of the Religion we profefs, and of our Subjection to the Authority that cllablilhed it, than by .conforming ourfclves to the holy Rules and Precepts therein laid down. It 2 2 A S e r M o n to the Societies It is a ftrong Proof. of oar Loyalty to our Prince, if we are careful to oblcrve and obey all his Laws. This {hews that we acknowledge his Sovereignty and Jurif- didion over us, and that we have devoted ourfelves to his Service. And if a Man fhould make never fo many formal Protef- tationsof his Loyalty and Fealty to his So- vereign, and in the mean time run on in a Courfe of Rebellion againft him, and be guilty of one Treafon after another, till there was fcarce left a Crime to make him blacker ; he would juftly be proceeded a- gainftasa Rebel and a Traitor, and would meet with no Favour at all for his earneffc Protections of Innocency and Loyalty: becaufe his feditious Practices manifeft the Vanity of fuch Pretenfions. So Mens pro- fefled Devotednefs to Chrift, if they act contrary to their Profeflion, does but render their Diflervice the greater, and their Per- fens more odious and vile before God, and all good Men, But there are certain Seafons, wherein it will not be fufficient for a Subjed quietly to perform the common Duties which his Relation to his Prince obliges him to : but he muft moreover exprefs his Fidelity by luch Speeches and A&ions extraordinary, as the prefent Exigence of Affairs requires. Sometimes \he muft declare againft the In- trufions of Ufurpers, that invade the Rights of his Prince : and muft at other times act ' vigoroufly for Reformation of Manners. vigoroufly for the Prefervation or Reitera- tion of his Dominions. And thus it is with the Subje&s of Chrift Jefus, A Strain of ferious Piety fhould run "thro' the whole Life of a Chriftian, and every thing he does fhould be a frefh Proof that he is one. But there are fomc Duties wherein this Profeilion fhould be more ex- plicite, and which when difchargcd in a proper manner, will give a more full and exprefs Teftimony to Religion. Thcfc arc fuch as follow. i. A refufing to comply with the Vices of rhc Times in which we live, and ufing all our Inrereft to oppofe them. When Ini- quit) fir. wain upon us as a Flood, and Im- moralities of all kinds abound, it's high time to lift up the Standard againft them, to try what can be done toftcm the overflowing Tide, and ro prevent thethreatning Danger, the impending Ruin. How very daring *is Vice? What dreadful Abominations arc there in the midft of us ? Some, that even Heathens themlelves would be afhamed to be guilty of 5 and yet Chriftians blufh not to commit. Let me mention a few that pro- perly come under this Day's Notice. I begin with profane Swearing: how fhocking is this Sin, yet how common a- mongit all Hanks ot Men, efpecially the lower Sort? The Name, the glorious and fearful Name, the Lo;d our God, winch fhould never be mentioned but with all poifiblc ^Sermon/* the Societies poflible Reverence and Regard, is treated with that Levity and Wantonnefs, with that Boldnels and Impudence, as would be dif- honourable to an earthly Majefty, or even to a meaner Magiftrate. An Oath is an Appeal to God, concerning the Truth of what we fay, as the Patron of Truth, and the Avenger of a Lye, and an imprecating his Wrath in cafe we wilfully deliver a falfc Teftimony. So facred is an Oath, that it is not to be given, but where there is a juft Call to it 5 and when given, it fhould be done with the utmoft Solemnity. Now this cannot be pleaded for Swearing in our or- dinary Converfation : there's no Neceffity for it. Nay, what makes this Sin the more audacious and provoking, is, that there is no Profit, no Pleafure, no Honour attends it : it is finning for finning fake, and juft as if. a Man fhould purpofely go out of his way to affront Almighty God. This is a Sin, which dire&ly difhonours God : a Sin which involves the Perfon that is chargeable with it, in abundance of guilt before God ; and 1 it renders him vile and contemptible, and juftly fo, to all good Men, let his Accom- plifhmentsotherwife be never fo confider-* able : and with refped unto moft,it weakens his Credit as to his Veracity. In regard to orhers, this Sin hath its very bad Effecfts. It is apt to fpread its Contagion, and to in- fed all that are not well armed againft it. How eafrly do even Children learn to fwear for Reformation of Manners. fwear when their Parents or others fet them the bad Example ? What is more, when, this Sin grows common, it is a very high national Provocation: It ftrikes at the v. foundations of all good Order aniongft JMcn, and looks as if Religion was leaving a Country. Religion is the great Support and Stay of Society ; now this Sin openly defies and denies all Religion. An Oath folcmnly taken upon juft Occafions is many times the dernier Refort, the laft Refuse a- gainft Injuftice: But there cannot be con- trived a more effectual Way to leflen Mens Reverence for this great Inftrument of So- ciety, than to apply itlooieiy and rudely to Things mean and trivial, or to ufe it upon no occafion at ail, I ;u!c it. Since then the bin of profane Swearing fo much dishonours Gol% is fo very preju- dicial 10 thole who are guilty of ir, and looks with fo pernicious an Afpccl upon So- ciety :^ it may with the highcli Re, cxpecicd from us, that we careful d it ouriclvcs, and difcourage i| in others, we do too much to prevent ilu ng JEvil ? Ir ill, mcthink and he Gentleo the C hnitian, in tliis profane I to abuie thple two is hereby his Crfqatofhai Sit nifhed him ft urcsbciow him. His Capacil , of knowing XjoJ, and his Faculty of Speech. Oh how D :ch -^Sermon to the Societies much better were it for many Men, if like Brutes they wanted a Faculty to conceive of God, and a Tongue to (peak of him, than that inftead of exalting him, they fhould thus rudely tofs his Name in their unhal- lowed Lips ! That is a pofing Queftion, which I would defire the common Swearer to ask himfelf, what he means by praying fe- veral times the fame Day, Hallowed be thy Name, and in the next Company he comes thus intolerably defiles it ? What is this but a Mockery of God, and downright Hypo- crify ? Have we not reafon to wonder at the Patience of God, that fuffers fa ch Wretches to live, were it not, I was going to fay, the greater Wonder of the two, there Ihould be a Wretch lb vile ? There are other Sins befides, that I have been expofing, which we Ihould bear our Teftimony againft. As the Ncglcft and open Contempt of the Lord's Day, which God hath mercifully let apart as a Day of Reft to the Body, and of Improvement to the Mind. This is by too many made a Day of Bufinefs, of Recreation, and Pleafure : if not of finfui Pleafures, which I fear is often the Cafe, yet ofiiich Pleafures, which tho* not finfui in themfelves, and on other Days, yet are by no means to be juftified on this. Inftead of fpending the chief Part of it in the private and publick Hxercifesof Devotion, too many fpend it in Revellings and Drunkenncfs, in Debaucheries and Ex- cefles. for Refonnation of Manners. 2y cedes. Some Pcrfons have obferved, that there is more Wickcdnefs committed on this Day, than on any other Day in the Week, and I wifh there be not a great deal of Truth in the mclancholly Obfervation. Drunkenness is another Sin, which I would not pafs by without a Remark or two upon it. A Sin of a very pernicious Nature in iifclf, and dreadful many times in its Conlcquences : As it injures a Man in his Hea th, breaks in upon a good Confli- tution, often prejudices, if not ruins his Eftate and Family, and expofes him to many other Vices ; as Fornication, Adultery, In- ceft, Swearing, Curling Gaming, Revenge, nay, and Murther itfclf. What mifchief may not that Man do, who has loft the ufe of his Rcafon ? and who can think himfelf fafe in his Company, who neither knows, nor cares what he does? How does the in- temperate Debauchee unman himfcif, and degrade his noble Faculties in the ufe of thofc good Creatures, which he ought to receive and ufe with Moderation and Thankfgiving? how ungrateful is he to his God ? how unkind to himfelf, to his Fa- mily, and to his Friends? how unworthy, if rich, to have the Lleilings of Providence continued ? and if poor, of other Mens Liberality and Bounty ? A Perfon com- monly addicted to this Sin, eipecially if a. Magiftratc or a Minifter, dellroys hereby his Ufefulnefs in Lite, and docs more hurt D 2 to 28 A S e r m o n to the Societies to Religion by his Example, than he is ever like to do good by his other Influence. Let thofe who are thus guilty, confider the Character which this Sin bears in Scripture, the Company it is joined with, and the Th s ocrounced auainft it there. i Cor, vi J£ now H not that the unrip ht eons (hall not inherit the Kingdom of God ? Be not de- ceived, neither Fornicators, nor Idolater s y nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, nor Abufers of themfelves with Mankind, nor Thieve s y nor Covetous, nor ^Drunkards, nor Re- vilcrs, nor Extortioners fhall inhtrit the Kmgdorn of God. The Sin I ihall laft mention, tho* not the leaft odious, is that of Unclcanncfs : by which (o many thoufands of both Sexes, in and about this great City, have ruin'd their Bodies, and it's greatly to be feared, undone their Souls. Very worthy Endea- vours have been tiled formerly, and of late, for the Supprcflion of this Immorality, both by MagiCratcs and others, for which Thanks are juftly due to them from the Publick : and they hive heartily mine j and it's very- much to be wiflVd and hoped their laudable Example may be followed by others of the worfhipful Bench, and that Encouragement will be given for the further Difcovery of Night-houfes, thole Schools of Debauchery, and Seminaries of this, and of all other kinds of \Vickednef$ : and lor the prevent- ing loofe and dilordcriy Perfons walking the for Reformation of Manners. 29 the Street* at unfeaibnable Hours, and thole indecent and criminal Liber- luch they but too commonly do. e rather is this to be hoped for and c d, became not only the Religion we profefs, but the Laws of our Country give a Sanction to luch Proceedings agaiuft ^ rs of this Sort, and the Good of Nc nuhoods; nay, the Peace, the Safety, and Tranquillity of the Publick, io mucn require it. I f we would bear our Tefti irony for Chrill, we rnuft bear it againft thefc Sins : by reverencing the Name of God, reiigioufly pbfenving the Lords-Day, frequently and reverently attending upon the Minillry of the Word, and devoutly communicating at the LordVTablc : by living fober!y,and being careful to cleanfe ourfelves from a'l Fiithinefs, both of Flcfh and Spirit. To pradliie thefc Duties, andconlcicntioufly to oppofc the Vices that are contrary to them, is giving a notable Tcftimony to Reli- gion. 2. Another way in which we are to confeb Chrift, is by honouring his Mem- , relieving them as there is occaiion, and givi the Encouragement we are capa- to Works of Piety and rvleixy. As to hate and pcrlecute any ot the Followers of Jc(iu Chrift, mecrly upon the fcorc of dif- fering Sentiments in Religion, is highly dilhonourable and dilplcaling to him, and altogether 36 ^Sermon to the Societies altogether unchriftian 5 fo to fhelter them from the Malice and Rage of their Enemies, to relieve their Neceflities, to preferve their Reputations, to vindicate their Fame from falfe Afperfions, and by all lawful Means to caerifh, comfort, and countenance them ; PM.iv. this, as St. 'Paul fays, is an Odour of afweet Smelly a Sacrifice acceptable^ well-pleafing to God. What we doto the poor Members of Chrift, or indeed to any of his Members, he refents as done to his own Perfoa 5 for he dwells in them, and is in a fort repre- fented by every one of them.- As may be feen in that account w r hich he himfeit gives of the Procefs of the great Day, in the Conclusion of the 25th Chapter of St. M*t. xxv. Matthew's Gofpel : In as much, fays he, as ye have done it unto one of the leafi of thefe my Brethren, ye have done it unto me. To be charitable, obliging, and be- neficent, and ready to every good Work, wherein the Honour of God, and the In- tereft of Religion is concerned ; is the Cha- racter, the endearing Chara&er, of St. Pauls Ram. v. good Man, for whom it is laid Jome would 7m even dare to die. 3. Reproving Sinners is another e- mincnt Act of Confellion. When we dare not j in with them in their evil Courfes, and are fo far from feeming to do fo, that we enrcr our Proteftsagainft fuch Proceed- ings, (how our Diflike to them, reprehend the guilty, and, when it is in our power, rcftrain for Reformation of Manners. 31 reftrain and punifh them, this is complying with the Apoftle's Exhortation: Have #0Eph. ▼. Fellow f\np with the unfruitful Works of 11 - *Darknefs> but rather reprove them. Re- proof, it rnuft be owned, is one of the mod ungrateful Parts of a Chriftian's Work, and it will try our Prudence as much as mod things to manage it well : fuch is Men s Untowardnefs, and fo foon do they give in- to Paffion, and angry Refentmenr. But difficult and unpleafmg as it is, this is Work that muft be done. And when milder and more gentle Methods, which arefirft to be tried, and Reproofs too, fail of reclaiming thofe, who for the prefent feem incorri- gible in Vice ; then we arc, inTendernefsto them, and out of regard to the Welfare of the Community to which we belong,to have recourie to the civil Magiftrate, and to en- deavour in our places to bring luch Offen- ders to Shame and Punifhment, ib far as the Crimes they are guilty of, come under the Cognifance of the Laws made for the Sup- predion of Immorality and Vice. 4. The laft Way I fhail mention of con- feffing Chrift, is by lufrering for him. If we fuffer for the Teftimony of Jcfus in our Liberties, or in ourEtlatcs, as mod of the primitive Chriftians did, and many in later times have done: Or if it be but in our Names by Reproaches, it we differ like Chriftians, we exhibit our Belief rfaat God will be true to his Promilcs, and reward thefe 32 A S e r m o n to t he Soc ieties thefc Lofles. But if God fhould call and enabl us not only to endanger our Lives for the Name of the Lord jelus 5 but even to feal the Teftimony of our Lips with our Heart's Blood, rather than deny our Saviour : we hereby give the moft cortly and leaft ques- tionable Evidence of our Sincerity, and brin? the hisheft honour to God, and our Re- deemer. Hence Cuilom bath obtained, that the Word Martyr ', which in its firit Signifi- cation is a common Name for all that bear witnefs to the Truth, fhouid be appropriated to this one, and the moft illuftrious Order of Confeflbrs. But 1 need not infill more largely on this Head, fince we are in no vi ftble Danger of fuffcring in the Caufe of Religion, unlcfs it be from the Reproaches of the Wicked, whofe Reproaches are an Honour, and often turn to advantage ,• for God biefles us the more fonxtimes, when Men curie us, and becaufe they do io. We live under a mild and gentle Administration, which maintains to us our Rights and Privi- leges, religious as well as civil, and have a- bundant rcalon to own, and tobkfs God, that we are Subjects to the beft of Kings, and Governments in the World. Yea, io happy are we, that I know not any thing, but a more thorough Reformation, could make us more lb. Thus far we have gone: I have fhewn you what it is to confeis Chrift, and in how many for Reformation of Manners* 33 many Ways this may and ought to be done. And now I come, III. To enforce the Duty from the En- couragement here given. Whofoever there- fore jhall confefs me before Men ; that's our Duty; the Motive to it follows, him will I alfo confefs before my Father wfyifh is in Heaven. Our Bleffed Saviour hath in thefc Words clofcly connefted our Intcrcft with our Duty, and back'dit with an excellent and glorious Promife. He does not only give us leave to acknowledge him, but encourages us to it, not only with the Afiiiranceof a kind Acceptance, but of Reward. Nor docs he intend to put us off with fomc for- ry Requital, but will afford us an ample Rccompcnce. Perhaps you can fee little Profpecf of doing good by your Profcflion, and that all your Endeavours for others Re- formation, arc likely to be in vain. Well, be it fo, tho' perhaps it may prove otherwifc, yet Chrift is fo juft that he will not break his Word, and fuffera good Aftion to which he hath promiled his Clclling to go unre- warded j and he is fo merciful, that he will not mcafurehisReward by the Succcfs which your Care and Pains have had upon others, but by the good Intention from which they proceeded in youriclvc:*. Good Men arc dear to their Saviour now, he looks upon them with Approbation and Delight: he makes them h 34 A S e r m o n to the Societies deny them any thing that is good. The K xi. 7. righteous Lord loveth Right eoufnefs, his Countenance doth behold the upright. His Face and Favour are ever towards Men of this Chara&er. He remembers their Ser* vices fo as to make them fome fuitable Re- turns for them in this World. But be this as it will, I mean, with refpeft unto the Rewards of Religion in the prefent Life: if we openly and honeftly confefs Chrift be- fore Men, we fhall have a full Recompencc in a future State, which will fhame all our Loffes and Sufferings for him, it will fo far exceed them. If Salvation can make us a- mends, all is well 5 and if the Word of Cod may ftand for good Security, all is fure. Happy it will be with us when we dic,and at the laft great accounting Day, Jefus Chrift will mention our Names and Services with Marks of Honour and Refped before his Fa- ther, and that numerous Atfembly of Angels and Men which fhall then be convened be- fore him. cc Thefe, will he fay, are the Per- €i fons whom 1 have redeemed with my u Blood, I offered to be their Saviour, and " they have accepted of me as fuch, upon €C my own Terras;- they efpoufed my Ganfe " and Intereft,when they were in the World, " and I now own them for mine, and will " take them with me into Heaven : where iC I am, they fhall be alfo, and partake with and the Lord heark- l6illt ned and heard it, and a Book of Remem- brance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought on his Name. And the next Words are ex- ceeding comfortable, They fhall be mine, faith the Lord of Hofls, in the "Day when I make up my Jewels. Oh what Encou- ragement is this to be religious ! that a Life fpent in the Service of Chrift, and to his Glory here, fhall end in Heaven at Jail. Should any of you make light of the Promifes, and think the good things con- tained in them, too diftant to have any great weight with you; I befeech you, bethink yourfclvcs of the Thrcatnings denounced a- gainft thofe who deny the Lord ]efus. Be- sides the Verfe following the Text, But Luke i*. whofoever fhall deny me before Men, him 16 - will I alfo deny before my Father which is in Heaven, which are very awful Words ; confider thofe of St. Luke : H'hofoever jhall be afhamed pf me, and of my /Fords, of him flail the Son of Alan be afjjamed, vJhen he fhall come in his own Glory, and in his Father s, andofthe holy Angels. And thofe alio, If we fujfer with him, we flail alp) reign with him \ but if /we d, ny him, he will deny us. A fc i I havedonc. E z Jp- 3 6 A S e r m on/0 the Societies Applic. 1. We may all from hence learn pur Duty, a Duty which we rnuft per- fornij as ever we hope to find favour with God in the Hour of our Death, at the Judgment-Day, and for ever after. This is to confefs Chrift, which, as hath been ex- plained, is to own his Truths and Ways, his Caule and Servants, againft all the Oppofition that is made to them by a perverfe World. The Magiftrate is here taught his Duty ; and give me leave, Gentlemen, to mention it with all due Submiilion, you are by Office ap- pointed to be Terrors to Evil-Doers, but a Praife and Encouragement to them that do well* The Honour of God, the Intereft of Religion, and the Good of your Country, all loudly call upon you, faithfully to difchargc the important Triift : and you cannot in any other way fo effectually confult your own Honour, and promote your own beft Hap- pinefs, as by countenancing Virtue, and difcouraging the Vices of a finful Age, in the wife Execution of the Laws that are made againfi them. May I be allowed to addref$ myfelf to my Reverend Fathers,and Brethren in t^e Miniftry. Our Duty is to live well, and to preach well. Thus much the World looks fqr and expe£ls from us : and if thclc things are wanting, they will defpife both us and our Profeilion. We are to cry aloud* and fpare not, to lift up our Voice tike a Trump t^ to foew t he Teopie their Tranf- grejjions, for Reformation of Manners. 37 grcjjionsi and the Houfe of Jacob their Sins. He fpends his Days and Strength, and im- proves his Talents to the beft advantage, that winncth Souls to Chrift. This is the way to fhine as the Brightnefs of the Fir ma- Dzn.xii rnenty and as Stars for ever and ever. Nay,*- as the Sun in the Kingdom of our Father. If we do but ttneerely endeavour the Con- verfion of Souls, our Reward will be much the fame : fort ho 9 Ifracl be not gathered, we fhall be faved. Shall I addrefs myfclf to Parents? here Reformation fhould begin, and it's in vain to expect a thorough Reformation of Manners, if Parents and Matters of Fa- milies neglect their Duty to thole under their Inftru&ion and Care, and inttcad of letting them a good Example, fet them a bad one, which is too commonly the fad Cafe. It's true, a good Example in Parents and Matters has not always its defircd and defigned good Effect upon Children and Servants 5 wc fee Religion lie gafping and ttarving at feme doors, where ic ufed formerly to meet with the kindett, and moft friendly Entertainment But this is the moft likely Method to mend the World 5 and the Magidrate's and Mi- nittc cavours arc likely to be to little ; w ithout ir. Train up a Child in thep roVt (Vay he fbouldgo> and ivhcn he is old, he 6 - foiilfiot depart Jrom it. It's certain he fhould not, and it is to be hoped, he \vill not for- thc good Inftru&ions that were early imprciVd upon his I ; Nav, he cannot So ZSt] ^8 A Sermon to the Societies fo caftly indulge himfclf in a Courfe of Wickednefs, as one who hath been a Stran- ger to a pious Education. That is a very honourable Chara&er, which God gives of Abraham, and is worthy the Imitation of every Chriftian Parent and Head of a Family. Gen.xviu.Iknow Abraham, that he will command his l 9- Children and his Houjhold after him, and they ftall keep the way of the Lord to do Juftice and Judgment. It is faid, to the everlafting Honour of Cornelias, that he feared Cod with all his Houfe. Happy family ! whofe Head does not only fear God, but all under his Roof: Did every Family do fo, how nearly would this Earth refera- ble Heaven ? And as for thofe who have voluntarily entred themfelves into Societies for bettering a degenerate Ages yours is a very Praife-worthy Undertaking, and happy are you if you fucceed in it: 1 doubt not but you will think your Coft and Pains well be- ftow'd if this be the Cafe, and all good Men will think fo too. A bare harmlefs Profcf- fton in you is not enough, nor fhould it be thought fufficient in any, becaufe Chrift re- quires more, tho' even this were to be wifh'cl for in all. Your Bufinefs is to be attive for God and Religion, your Difcouragementsin a Work of this kind are confiderable, but your Encouragements are greater ftillj which leads to a fecond Inference. 2. We hence fee our Encouragement. By {landing up for the Caufe of Religion, you for Reformation of Maimers, 3:9 you will fecurc, if fincere, the Peace and Comfort of your own Minds, which is an invaluable Treaiure : no rejoicing like that which is the Produce of a good Confcicnce; you hereby recommend youriclves to the Fa- vour and Affection, to the Love and Efteem of all who are truly good, you have theeiv* tire Content of the beft Men in the World to your Conduit, tho' perhaps not of the mod. It is a very honourable thing to be a Profeflfor of Religion, there is ibmething in it veryauguft, and that commands Rcfpect from all, as ungenteel and unfafhionable as fomc may reckon it. And what do you know but God, in anfwer to your Prayersand Endeavours to ferve him, may have kept off fuch fwecping judgments as would have ruin'd all, and involved your Perfons and Eftates ^00, in the common Defoiation ? The World is not fcnfiblehow much they owe to the fincere Profeflbrs of Religion 5 if they were, they would treat them in a better Man- ncr. Bcfides, you have the Approbation of God and Chrift Jefus 5 you arc lure of a pub- lick Acknowledgment at the great Day, from the ]udge of the whole Earth, and of bci happy to Eternity : and this is more than all the reft > nay, and infinitely more than all o- ther Encouragements and Advantages what- foevcr. To conclude, 3. Let us ice to it, that our Profeflion proceeds from a Principle of icrious Pier othcrwife whatever good Effcfts our End, vours 40 A Sermon fo the Societies , &c. vours for others Reformation may have up- on them, they will be loft with refpedt unto ourfelves. To this end, let us pray to God that he would put his Fear into our Hearts, and w r rite his Law upon our Minds. Let us eye his Providence and Grace, and beg of him to give us Wifdom and Difcretion, in our Chriftian Courfe, and to encreafe both curHoiinefs and Ufefulnefsin Life; and that when he calls us out of this vain,finful World, it may be to the World of perfect Purity, Peace, and Joy. Now to him who hath loved us, and died to wafh us from our Sins in his own Blood 3 who is able to keep us from fal- ling? and toprefent us before his Father with exceeding great Joy : even to the Lamb that Jittethupon the Throne ,• be a fcribed through- - out all the Churches ', Glory and Honour y Salvation and Bleffing, for ever and for ever. Amen and Amen. FINIS. Lately Tublified, A Sermon on the Reafonablencfs of a? quiet Submiflion under affii&ive Difpenfa- tions of Divine Providence : with a parti- cular Reference to the Deaths of near Rela- tions and dear Friends. By John 'Parting- ton, M. A.. Printed for Richard Hett at the Bible and Crown, in the Tmltry* Princeton Theological Seminary-Speer L'braO! 1012 0101 5089 - v ■ *" • ■' * R > M fpi-l « 1 * * 1 ^$p$ iPS ■H II* CTBBW 1 < Pi si EL 1 1 1 '■* mm ii Jt'^N ^^i Hi m * ^fcb 1 Jl* PP 31 ■ -