ed too far: that every Diminution of Autho rity is fo much Gain, every Increase of it fo much Loss, to the Community. Now if this be true, Laws and Government are a publick Nuisance. And if not, Men ought to confider, what Reftraints are requifite, as weil anwhat may be abused; and remember, that

No

gat to do Things, neceffary to be done, t be vested somewhere, and must be exerte... Authority indeed is of a growing Nature: but fo is Averfion to Authority: and Freedom unrestrained is Power unreftrained. Tyrannies have been more infupportable, than thofe of the Multitude: nor can any Perfons be more justly dreaded, than they who declaim for Liberty, in the Spirit of Perfecution; and demand it with Infolence, in the Midst of the Enjoyment of it. Such Behaviour plainly fhews, that not content with being free, they want to rule and fince they cannot plead, that any harsh Treatment hath provoked them to thefe Outrages; they are fo far less excufable, than fome of their Predeceffors in the Times of our Troubles.

But however ftrongly we are cautioned against Licentioufnefs, by the Sufferings of former Days; there hath arifen notwithstanding in our own, one very fhocking Kind of it, almoft peculiar to this Nation: that of publickly treating Religion with Contempt; and after magnifying Morals, merely in Oppofition to it, explaining them away to just nothing.

Setting

Setting the World at large in thefe Refpects, appears to be a principal Point, which fome have at Heart: whofe Character in Scripture might furely have given a more general Sufpicion of them, than it hath: that while they promife others Liberty, they are themselves the Servants of Corruption *. And too many, who have no Defign of contributing to the Progress of Irreligion, fee it however with great Tranquillity. Let Men think, let Men act, juft as they will, provided they are not Bigots, but Perfons of free Principles; the Publick is fafe, and all is well. But is it safe, that they fhould be Bigots to Atheism, Bigots to Profigatenefs? Or can it be a Matter of Indifference, whether they have a good and right Rule of Conduct, though it were with fome Miftakes; or whether they have none at all, or a quite wrong one? We own, that falfe Notions about Religion were one great Cause of the Sufferings of this Nation. But fo were falfe Notions about Freedom, another. And why are Mistakes, or even wilful Abuses, a Reafon for trampling upon the former, when they are not thought a Reafon against exalting the latter without Bounds? We own, that Superstition and Enthusiasm ought to be guarded against: and that this is a moft important Leffon of Providence to us, on this Day. But it cannot be right to guard against › them, by rooting out of Mens Minds the Re

2 Pet. ii. 19.

verence

verence due to the Author of Nature: or by taking Methods, which, in the natural Course of Things, will bring one or both of them back upon us, as perhaps we have begun to experience; or at least will bring Evils, not lefs formidable. Publick Happiness cannot fubfift, without focial Virtue and moral Self-government: nor can either of these fubfift, without Regard to God. Nothing, but the Thought of His feeing and rewarding, can poffibly have Force fufficient, in all Cafes, to reftrain Mens Paffions, to counterbalance their present Interefts; to excite the Indolent, keep the Enterprizing within due Bounds, and unite all in making the common Good their common End.

We shall therefore neglect the most important of the Counfels of Providence on this Day, if we learn not, from so instructive a Difpenfation of it, that juft Sense of our Duty to the Governor and Lawgiver of the World, which if our Forefathers had preferved, these Miseries had never happened; and if We preferve, they will never happen more. For as, on the one Hand, Religion enforces powerfully that neceffary Caution, expreffed by the Prophet Ezra; Seeing thou our God haft punished us less than our Iniquities deferve, and baft given us fuch Deliverance as this; fhould we again break thy Commandments, wouldst thou not be angry with

us, till thou hadst confumed us*: So on the other, it fupports us with that noble Confidence, expreffed by the Prophet Samuel: Fear not; but ferve the Lord with all your Heart: for the Lord will not forfake his People, for his great Names fake. Only fear the Lord, and Jerve him in Truth: for confider, how great Things he hath done for you †

* Ezra ix. 13, 14.

† 1 Sam. xii. 20, 22, 24.

SER

SERMON VI.

Preached before the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts, in the Parifh-Church of St. Mary-le-Bow, on Friday, February 20, 1740-1,

MARK VI. 34.

And Jefus, when he came out, faw much People; and was moved with Compassion towards them, because they were as Sheep not having a Shepherd: and he began to teach them many Things.

HIS Paffage of the Evangelift expreffes,

THI

in fo ftrong and engaging a Manner, the benevolent Temper of our bleffed Lord, and his tender Regard to the fpiritual Wants of Men, that, if we fuffer our Minds to dwell upon it a while, it cannot fail of exciting the fame Difpofition in Us: efpecially if we confider, that the View, which he is here defcribed to have had, of their deftitute Condition, not only induced him to teach them Himself many Things concerning the Kingdom of God; but caufed that most ferious Re

Luke ix. 11.

flexion