Men have always complained of their own times : and always with too much reason. But though it is natural to think those evils the greatest, which we feel ourselves; and therefore mistakes are easily made, in comparing one age with another: yet in this we cannot be mistaken, that an open and professed disregard to religion is become, through a variety of unhappy causes, the distinguishing character of the present age; that this evil is grown to a great height in the metropolis of the nation; is daily spreading through every part of it; and, bad in itself as any can be, must of necessity bring in most others after it. Indeed it hath already brought in such dissoluteness and contempt of principle in the higher part of the world, and such profligate intemperance, and fearlessness of committing crimes, in the lower, as must, if this torrent of impiety stop not, become absolutely fatal. And God knows, far from stopping, it receives, through the ill designs of some persons, and the inconsiderateness of others, a continual increase. Christianity is now ridiculed and railed at, with very little reserve: and the teachers of it, without any at all. Indeed with respect to us, the rule, which most of our adversaries appear to have set themselves, is, to be, at all adventures, as bitter as they can: and they follow it, not only beyond truth, but beyond probability: asserting the very worst things of us without foundation, and exaggerating every thing without mercy: imputing the faults, and sometimes imaginary faults, of particular persons to the whole order; and then declaiming against us all promiscuously with such wild vehemence, as, in any case but ours, they themselves would think, in the highest degree, unjust and cruel. Or if sometimes a few exceptions are made, they are usually made only

to divide us amongst ourselves: to deceive one part of us, and throw a greater odium upon the other. Still were these invectives only to affect us personally, dear as our reputations are and ought to be to us, the mischief would be small, in comparison of what it is. But the consequence hath been, as it naturally must, that disregard to us hath greatly increased the disregard to public worship and instruction: that many are grown prejudiced against religion; many more, indifferent about it and unacquainted with it. And the emissaries of the Romish church, taking the members of ours at this unhappy disadvantage, have begun to reap great harvests in the field, which hath been thus prepared for them by the labours of those, who would be thought their most irreconcileable enemies.

Yet, however melancholy the view before us appears, we have no reason to be discouraged for let us take care of our duty, and God will take care of the event. But we have great reason to think seriously, what our duty on this occasion is; and stir up each other to the performance of it: that wherever the guilt of these things may fall, it must not fall on our heads. For it must needs be, that offences come: but woe to that man, by whom the offence cometh *. Our grief for the decay of religion might be attended with much comfort in regard to ourselves, could we but truly say, that no faults or infirmities of ours had ever given advantages against it. But though, God be thanked, we are far from being what our adversaries would represent us; whose reproaches perhaps were never less deserved, than now when they are the most violent: yet, it must be owned, we are not by any means, even the best of us, what we

* Matth. xviii. 7.

ought to be. And the present state of things calls loudly upon us, to correct our mistakes, to supply our deficiencies, and to do all we are able for the honour of God, and the happiness of mankind.

If we can be unconcerned now, we have neither piety nor common prudence in us. And if we are concerned in earnest, we shall be very desirous, both to avoid all wrong methods of shewing it, and to make use of all right ones.

Complaining of our superiors for those evils, which perhaps they cannot prevent; or complaining of them with disrespect, for what we may apprehend they could prevent, would both be undutiful and imprudent conduct: would give our adversaries joy, and do our cause harm. Indeed to beg earnestly of God, that he would direct the hearts of those, who preside over the public welfare; and humbly to represent to them, on all fit occasions, the declining state of religion, the importance and the means of preserving it; these things are unquestionable duties, But then we must always approve ourselves, at the same time, conscientiously loyal both in word and deed; reasonable in our expectations; sincerely grateful for the protection, which we are assured of enjoying; and duly sensible, that every thing of value to us, in this world, depends on the support of that government, under which we now live. We cannot be good men, if we are bad subjects; and we are not wise men, if we permit ourselves to be suspected of it.

A second proper caution is, that to speak unfavourably of liberty, religious or civil, instead of carefully distinguishing both from the many abuses of them, which we daily see; or to encourage any other restraints on either, than public utility makes evidently

needful: can only serve to encrease that jealousy, which, being in former ages grounded too well, hath been most industriously heightened, when there never was so little pretence of ground for it; that the claims of the clergy are hurtful to the rights of mankind. It concerns us greatly to remove so dangerous a prejudice against us, as this: not by renouncing those powers, which the Gospel hath given us; for we are bound to assert them: but by convincing the world, that they are perfectly innocent; and avoiding all appearance of assuming what we have no right to: by shewing our abhorrence of tyranny, especially over the consciences of men; and satisfying them fully, if possible, that, we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus, the Lord; and ourselves, their servants for his sake*. Then, with respect to the privileges, that we derive from human authority: as, on the one hand, receding from any of them without cause is only inviting fresh encroachments, and giving needless advantages to such as will be sure to lose none: so, on the other, straining them too far is the likeliest way to destroy them all at once: and both our usefulness and our security depend very much on our appearing plainly to desire nothing inconsistent with the common good; to have the truest concern for all reasonable liberty, and to be zealous only against licentiousness and confusion.

Thirdly, If we should be tempted to oppose profaneness, by encouraging the opposite extreme of superstition: this also would be unjustifiable in itself; would have bad effects upon as many as we might mislead; and give great opportunities to all that should see them misled, either of accusing religion, or exposing us, as corrupters of religion. Not that we

2 Cor. iv. 5.

are to give up inconsiderately, whatever some persons are pleased to charge with superstition; for there would be no end of concessions at that rate : but only to avoid encouraging any thing, that can be justly charged with it; and then we shall stand upon sure ground. For nothing can be more unjust, than those imputations of it, which our adversaries are so fond of throwing, some upon Christianity itself, others on the doctrine and worship of that church, of which, through God's merciful providence, we have the happiness to be members.

Another very pernicious error would be, if we should think to serve our cause by intemperate warmth in it. Christian zeal indeed is a duty that never was more needful, and never less shewn. But passion will do no good. If expressed against those, who are indifferent about religion, it will turn them into enemies: if against the enemies of religion, it will make them yet more vehement enemies. Besides, the extravagant things, that men say and attempt against us and our profession, are not always designed injuries; but frequently the effects of misrepresentations, and prejudices, that have imperceptibly taken hold on persons, who otherwise mean tolerably well. Now mildness to such as these, is but justice and to all others, it is prudence. Railing is the province, which our adversaries have chosen: and let us leave it to them. For whatever success they may meet with that way, as indeed they excel in it, we shall meet with none: but only make the spirit of Christianity be misunderstood and ill spoken of, by our own want of it. Therefore, how injuriously soever we may be treated, let us return neither injuries nor harsh treatment for it: nor endeavour to mark out those persons for objects of popular hatred,