tyrs are not to be difcourag'd. These Crimes hold out against Juftice and Power, are punish'd, and ftill committed.

And as for Diffolution of Manners, what Age, what Country, has not been feiz'd with the Infection? The old Pagans had Impurity wrought into their Worship, their Altars were debauch'd, and their Gods an Example of Licentioufnefs. 'Tis no wonder therefore to find the Heathen run Riot, and imitate what they ador'd. But when God fent forth his Light and his Truth, beyond the Bounds of Jewry, when his Tabernacle was no longer confin'd to Salem, nor his Dwelling to Sion; when the Sound of his Apoftles went into all the Earth, and their Words unto the ends of Rom. 10. the World, when Eternity was difco- 18. ver'd, and Heaven and Hell, as it were drawn to Sight, one would have thought Practice should have improv'd proportionably. And fo it did: For during the firft Ages, nothing could be more fober, more devout, than the Chriftian's Behaviour. But this Regularity is no more, this Fervour has long fince abated. We are now fallen back to Pagan Liberty. There's not only Impunity, but Reputation in being Vitious. 'Tis with fome

C 4

People

People counted an Argument of Brains, and a Teft of Quality. To be afraid of being damn'd is a vulgar Fancy, and Conscience paffes for Cowardife. What more common than to fee People debauch to the Length of their Health, and Fortune? They travel this Broad way without tiring. 'Tis Age muft ftop their March, or Poverty found a Retreat. And when they are difabled by their Speed, or worn up by Time; they languish and lament under the Misfortune. They are more disturb'd for their Impotence than their Folly. Their Melancholy is Diforder, and their Spleen Licentious.

And that Vice may be kept in Countenance, and fit eafie upon the Spirits, what Systems of Liberty, what Schemes of Infidelity, have been lately fet up? What Pains has been taken to make Re

ligion a Jeft, and throw Virtue and ConBlunt's fcience out of Credit? Have we not feen Translation Christianity attack'd in Form, Romance of Appollonius Tya- oppos'd to Revelation, and Imposture e

næus.

quall'd to Truth? Have we not feen the Hierarchy expos'd, the Sacrament burlefk'd, and the Almighty blafphem'd in Print? 'Tis true, the World, the Flefh, and the Devil, will always be fworn Enemies: But have not their Hoftilities

stilities been more open of late, and their Infults bolder than formerly?.

Were the Church-Doors ever barr'd against the Heathen, or the Progress of the Gospel discountenanc'd? Do the Chriftians use to be afraid their Faith fhould grow too common, or their Numbers encrease too faft? How active were the Apoftles in propagating their Doctrine? With what Hazard and Fatigue did they execute their Commiffion? No length of Journey, no difadvantage of Climate, no Barbarity of Country, could difcourage them. And to give a leffer Inftance: The Pharifees compafs'd Sea and Land to gain one Profelyte; and without Question, if they had gain'd Him to Truth, and Virtue, their Zeal had been commendable.

Of what Spirit then are our American Colonies? By what Impulfes are fome of our Planters govern'd? They are challeng'd to make it their Bufinefs to hinder the Converfion, of the Infidels. They Goodwin's pretend the Negroes have no Souls: They Negroes Adperfecute the Minifters of Religion for inftructing these

poor People, and bringing them to Baptifm. And what may be the reason of this prodigious Conduct? Why, they are afraid there's Manumiffion in the Font, that Chriftianity gives

vocate.

civil Freedom, and that the Service of their Slaves must be loft. Now this Opinion goes wholly upon a Mistake, and has no manner of Foundation in Law: Yet fuppofing 'twas true, nothing could be more wretched than fuch a Pretence. To fout the Kingdom of Heaven against thofe that would enter in; to prefer a paltry Intereft to the Honour of their Redeemer, and the Happiness of Mankind, is a moft Antichriftian Temper. What Punishment must these People exHeb. 10.28. pect that thus prophanely tread under foot the Son of God, count the Blood of the Covenant an umboly Thing, and do fuch despite to the Spirit of Grace?

But to go farther into Generals. Has not the Bulk of Mankind been in a Revolt from the Beginning? Have they not rang'd themselves under the Prince of the Air, and been Agents for the Kingdom of Darkness? Have they not acted as tho' they defign'd to defeat the Counfels of the Almighty, to baffle his Authority, and make his Government fignific nothing? The more Power they have, the more Mischief they do: They riot in the Liberalities of their Maker, and defie Him upon the Strength of his Bleffings. How many Ages of Ingratitude has the Patience of God fuffer'd under? How has his

Favour been over-look'd, and his Majefty defpis'd?

Confidering the Wickednefs of Mankind 'tis a wonder God does not arreft the Course of fecond Caufes, make the Creation wither, and call off the Succours of Humane Life. 'Tis a wonder the Sun does not retire, and the Stars withdraw their fhining: That the Seasons are not disturb'd, and the World thrown back into Chaos. A lefs Being than God Almighty, we have reafon to believe, would have ftruck Nature dead long fince, and put an end to the Sons of Adam. But his Goodness is infinite, his Mercy is over all his Works. 'Tis this Attribute which reftrains his Vengeance and overrules his Power: Thus the greateft Sinners have often time for Recolle→ ction; a Refpit to make their Peace, and prevent their Ruine.

But nothing can be a ftronger Evidence of the Goodness of God than the Incarnation of his Son. That God who was always Happy and Impregnable should ftoop to the Littlenefs of our Condition, and take a paffive Nature upon Him! That He fhould make Himself capable of Pain, and chufe a way of living without Eafe or Ornament! That He fhould expofe Himself to Poverty and Contempt,

to