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to have but very little of either, who will not contribute what he can to the maintenance and propagation of Righte oufness,and the fuppreffing Wickedness. It often happens, and it is a deplorable face of things when it does fo, that the great, and the Rich, Men of place and power, are the Fautors and Abettors of Sin; not only doing ill themselves, but delighting in those that do fo. It often happens that Vice has gain'd that Afcendant and Authority in a Nation (unhappy the Nation where it has ;) that it defies, not only all the Exhortations and Denunciations of the Pulpit, but the Force and Majefty of Laws too. In this cafe, not fubordinate Magiftrates only, but even Princes themselves will need the counsel, the industry, the help and fervice of others; and shall we be accounted the Servants of God, and Lovers of Vertue, if we express no concern or zeal for either upon such an occafion?

If it be faid, we do not difpute our Obligation to do what we can in fuch a Cafe as this is; but what is it that we can do? I answer, I do not doubt but that frequent Opportunities will offer themselves, when you may feasonably teftifie your good will to it. But befides

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thefe, there are fome general ways of doing it, to which we are all equally tyed. Such are, for inftance, a cheerful Obedience to the Magiftrate, a fair and candid conftruction of his Conduct, a just honour and Esteem for him on the account of what he does well, fervent and conftant Prayers to God for a Bleffing upon him, that he may be endow'd with a Spirit of Wisdom and Counsel, of Courage and Conftancy, and may be ever under the protection and guidance of God. Nay, there is fomething more than all this that we can do: we may reform our selves, we may employ much care about our Families, we may countenance and encourage the Publick Worship, by our conftant Attendance upon it, and an awful and reverent Deportment at it, and we may, in all Converfations, fignifie our dislike of every thing that has any tincture of Impiety. By this means we fhall make the work of the Magistrate very eafie, we shall ftrengthen his Hands, and confirm him in his just Resolutions; and we shall give check to the confidence of Sinners, and Sin will again fneak and hide it self in Dens and Darkness, when it meets with that open and honeft oppofition which

it ought, from all that make profeffion of Chriftianity. Do you yet defire more particular Directions? confider by what Arts ill Men endeavour to propagate Wickedneß, and from hence you will foon fee how you are to obviate and countermine 'em. Are they induftrious to advance ill Principles, and to fubvert Primitive Christianity? we must contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints, and be industricus to keep it firm upon its first grounds. Are they for cashiering Churches, Liturgies, Priests, and Sacraments? It is even from hence plain, that 'tis the Intereft of Religion that we fhou'd pay a juft regard to 'em. Do they combine to blast and oppreß by Calumnies and Ill Arts all good Men, and especially those who are more peculiarly engag'd in the Defence of Religion we must encourage, vindicate, Support, and honour fuch. Do they labour to divide and embroil us? we must fincerely follow after those things that make for peace.Finally,are they Zealous to promote ill Men? we must be so to fet up good ones. I will now fum up all and conclude.

Our City and Nation are miferably cor rupted and debauch'd; and while they are so, we can never promise our selves

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Prosperity or Safety. God has, 'tis true, at this time given us a Peace; 'tis another Trial, 'tis another Call; we indeed may make it a great and lasting Bleffing. But alas! unless a Reformation follow, Peace does but skin our Wounds: we bleed inwardly, and our very Vitals wafte. What will it avail us to repair our Loffes, if at the fame time we purfue and multiply our Sins? What will it fignifie that we are deliver'd from the Fear of a Mortal Enemy, when, on this fuppofal, God must still have a Controvér fie with our Land? A Reformation then you will all acknowledge neceffary: and certainly, if you confider what Influence the Conduct and Morals of this City have upon the whole Nation; and what an account both Magiftracy and People have one day to give of their Ability to do good, you cannot but conclude that it ought to begin from hence, and to be ftrenuously profecuted by the joynt Endeavours of the Magiftrates and others of this great, and if you will do your Duty, I doubt not but I fhall foon be able to add, flourishing and happy City. Whether now you will hear, or whether you will forbear, I must leave that to you; but Heaven and Earth will one time wit

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neẞ that I this Day have fincerely put you in mind of your Duty. If you neglect it, certainly your Profperity and Honour will be a very little,or a very fhort Blaze. For are they not the words of God in a much like cafe? them that honour me, I will honour: and they that despise me, shali be lightly esteemed? 1 Sam. 2. 30. But alas! fuppose our Temporal Profperity fhould be prolong'd? what then? Is there not a day, a terrible day coming, when Parties and Paffions fhall be no more, when the Strength of Sides and Factions fhall be scatter'd and difpers'd for ever, when all the little Politicks and fubtilties of Man fhall be miferably exploded and expos'd, and the Lord alone fhall be exalted in that Day? Then fhall Electors and Elected appear before the Judgment Seat of Chrift, and give an Account of your trust, and then shall ye all receive according to what you have done in the Body, whether it be good or evil. Ah! Day joyful to the Righteous, but difmal to the Wicked! I will add one fhort Remark, and I have done. The Language of the Text feems to me to be wholly Metaphorical, confifting of Military Terms: this indeed fuggefts to us that Reformation is a Work wherein you must expect to be encounter'd with

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