THE Lay-Man's Religion: Humbly offered as a HELP to a MODEST ENQUIRY For every Man into his own Heart; both as being the only Means to judge and save himself, and the best way to unite us all against our Common Enemies.  
The Second Edition.  
Psal. 16.2, 3. O my Soul, thou hast said unto the Lord, my Goodness extendeth not unto thee: But unto the Saints which are in the Earth, and to the Excellent, in whom is all my delight.  
Psal. 119.15. Depart from me ye Evil-doers: for I will keep the Commandments of my God.  
LONDON, Printed by Eliz. Holt for Walter Kettilby, at the Bishop's-Head in St. Paul's Church-Yard, in the Year 1690.   

licenced,  
November 13. 1690.   

THE CONTENTS.  

AS our Divisions, Animosities, and Immoralities have arisen from uncharitable Censuring of one another; so nothing can heal or remove them, but impartial judging ourselves, before we censure our Neighbour. page. 5.  
The pure Love of God, and a meek Spirit, have ever decayed with the increase of Knowledge, when 'tis not guarded with profound Humility. ib.  
Inordinate pursuit of Ambition and worldly Design, is equally Moral Idolatry with the same Sin, in sensual Pleasures, and lower Enjoyments. p. 6.  
To the end every Man may discover his own, we may distinguish our crying Sins,( the Cause of our Calamities) under Three Heads. 

1. Avarice, or Inordinate Love of the World.  
2. Debauchery, and Immorality.  
3. Ambition, Pride, and Worldly Design. p. 7.    
1. Self-Love the Fountain of all Evil. Love of ourselves, inclines us to wish lower Enjoyments might not hinder Happiness hereafter, and to think Saints ought to rule, rather than Sinners. The Inconsistency between the love of God and Mammon. The true Cause why all our Comforts here below, ebb and flow with the fading Nature of the Object of our Love. Real Happiness centres in God alone. p. 8.  
The wretched State of the covetous Worldling, whose God is of a perishing Nature. p. 11.  
2. Of Debauchery and Immorality. ib.  
Such as do not comply with outward Acts of Piety and Devotion, but give themselves up to Sensuality, ought not to be reckoned among Professors. ib.  
Of the Drunkard, the profane Swearer, and the unclean Person; a brief Discourse of each, as of the worst of Men; uncapable of Trust, or Office in the Government; cannot be good Soldiers, as uncapable of true Courage, or good Conduct. p. 12, 13, 14.  
Of the Doctrine and Discipline of our National Church: The chief Cause and Continuance of Separation arises from Scandal of some of our Clergy, and Immorality of some of our Members, which is the Case of the Gospel itself: The Removal of this, the proper Medium of Uniformity. p. 15.  
Of the great Evil from bad Example of Magistrates, Parents, and Masters of Families, and neglect in their Duty: The ruin of Posterity threatened thereby. p. 16.  
Reformation of Manners( the only Cure) must begin in their own Pattern and Example. p. 18.  
3. Of the great Danger and Evil of Ambition and Worldly Design, under the Vizor of Zeal for Reformation, and of Liberty of Conscience, and the Extent of it, as the Christians Birthright; and of the great abuse of it, by designing and ambitious Persons, who, under that Umbrage, seek Dominion and Rule. p. 21.  
The Result of all, in a Modest Enquiry how far Separation, or Indulgence hath wrought for the better. And the proper, and only Medium of our Healing and Cure propounded, enforced by Arguments from the greatest Examples and Instances. p. 24.  
How the ill Managery of the Tongue, or the bad Husbandry of our Time, will render all Religion vain. p. 32.  
The Author's Apology in a Post-script.    

The Author's Humble Dedication, Appeal, and Address.  
O Most Gracious God, the Creator and Susteiner of all things, Thou alone art the Fountain of Being and Happiness, to whom all things are eternally known, and from whom no secret can be hide; thou callest the things that are not, as if they were; and by the weakest means, canst effect thy greatest Designs. Lord, thou knowest my aim and end in these my weak Endeavours, and the Motives from whence I have made them public: How earnestly I have laboured( since, through thy Grace I have turned my back on Folly) after a satisfactory Rest to my anxious Mind. And how unwearied I have been by an impartial Enquiry into the various ways of Religious Worship, which( though but Shadows in Religion) are so much insisted upon by Men of different Persuasions, to cause Separation from our National Communion: In which( if I understand it right) no more stress is laid on any Rite or Ceremony, than Decency and Order do require.  
O my God, thou who art the searcher of Hearts, and by thine all-seeing Eye( as in open day) thou discerns the most secret Designs of Men; thou knowest what ill use hath been made of these Fig-leaves of external Profession, by subtle and designing Persons, under pretence of Liberty of Conscience, and Zeal for Reformation, to separate from our public Established Discipline into a pretended purer Worship, thereby to impose upon, and misguide the most sincere, and well meaning Christians, to implant themselves into separate and gathered Churches,( as into a more secure Ark of Salvation) only to serve their own Turns, and to promote their own private Interest in their Worldly Design; from whence our unhappy Divisions have arisen, and Sects like Locusts have increased, to the great scandal and Offence of such as are willing to do, or suffer any thing to be safe, and to the hindering many others from returning, who might have continued holy and happy Pillars in our public Communion, to the Advancement of thy Glory, in the Harmony and Tranquillity of the whole Kingdom.  
I do most humbly aclowledge thy infinite Goodness towards me, for the gracious guidance of thy Spirit, in disposing my Heart, when I had examined and inquired into all other Persuasions, then to fix and join in that Communion, where I am fully persuaded I may serve thee most acceptably, agreeable to thine own revealed Will, and where I may most benefit my Fellow-Creatures, to my Comfort here, in order to my eternal Felicity.  
O my God, thou knowest how I have endeavoured in the Simplicity of my Heart, to make known to others, what thou hast in Mercy discovered to me, and done for me, in sparing me as a Monument of thy Mercy, and a Miracle of the Age I live in; having no other Cause to assign why I survive my Companions in Evil, but that I should at my Peril explode that unmanning Sin of Drunkenness and Intemperance, and warn all others to shun, hate, and forsake it, as the Parent and Nurse of 'vice, Immorality and Debauchery, the monstrous Bane of Humanity, and blast of all Religion; as it eclipses Reason,( the Sun in Man's little World,) rendering Men below Brutes, careless and senseless of their Duty to Thee, their Fellow-Creatures, and themselves; bold and daring in bare-faced Impiety, more barbarous and cruel than tigers to their own Flesh and Blood; and in the dreadful Consequence, without Repentance, Butchers and Murtherers of their own Souls, as well as of their Posterity.  
O Lord, in Mercy behold this sinful, divided, and distracted Kingdom; and by thine Almighty Power, put a stop to that spreading hypocrisy, Atheism, and Immorality, which every where abounds among us. increase the number of holy, learned, and painful Pastors in this our National Church; and in thy gracious Wisdom, over-rule, order, and dispose the Minds of all that are fitly qualified for that high and holy Calling, that they may join in that Communion, as the surest and tried Bulwark against Popery, the best Prop and Support of our Monarchical Government; and which( whilst it continued at Unity, and in Harmony of Worship) was the Beauty and Glory of the Reformation, and the Sanctuary for all distressed Protestants. Woe be to those subtle Foxes( the Jesuit and Sectary) that have been so long endeavouring to undermine and supplant it, in poisoning it with Error and false Doctrine; and pulling down its Fenc●●, to make may for the wild Boar, the practical Atheists and Debauchee, to root up, and choke all its sacred Seeds with profaneness and Sensuality.  
Awaken, and convince( O Lord) all scandalous, ignorant, and slothful Clergy, and all profane, and vicious Magistrates, and Members of our Communion, with a dreadful apprehension of the Woes pronounced against all that cause such Offences, whereby thy ways are evil spoken of, and our holy and pure Religion reproached and despised by our Enemies round about us.  
O Lord, I beseech thee( so far as it consists with thy Holy Will) prosper, and succeed my honest Design in this Work: Open the Eyes, and undeceive all those, who agree our Doctrine( the Substance in our Established Religion) to be pure, and yet do separate from it into so many different Persuasions,( the Shell and Shadows of Religion,) to increase our Heats and Divisions, and lay us open( as a Prey) to our Enemies. Do thou, O Lord, by thine own over-ruling Grace, incline and dispose them, to return into the bosom of this our Church, that by good Living in one Communion, we may all win, and work one upon another, by brotherly Kindness and watchful Love, as the most likely means to heal all our Divisions, and to effect an universal Reformation among us, by restoring that Piety, Sobriety, and Righteousness in Christian Charity, and Harmony of Divine Worship, which for so many years kept up a venerable Awe of thy Holy Majesty in the Minds of Men, and rendered Religion amiable in this Kingdom.  
O blessed Redeemer, thine own Pattern, whilst thou didst converse with Men, is the fairest Copy we can writ after, and thine own Precepts and Counsels, our surest Guide and Instruction: Thou didst both teach and practise Meekness, Humility, and Self-denial, as the surest Touch-stone of thy true Religion; and pure, and unmercenary, and impartial Love, and tender Compassion, towards all that bore the Aspect of Humanity. Thou hast made the knowledge of our Duty easy and plain, to all that will hear thy Voice, and attend to thy Teaching, though subtle Deceivers( for Worldly Design) labour to render it dark and difficult: But both the Deceivers, and the( willingly) deceived, shall one day justify thee as righteous in their Condemnation, that if they perish, it is because they would not, and not because they could not across and resist their own corrupt Will, to comply with thy Holy Will, according to what they knew, or might have known, in order to their own Happiness.  
Grant, O thou Conductor of Souls, that we may all, through thy Grace, steer our whole Christian Course, by this thine own unerring Compass of Truth, between the two Extremes of Pride, Ambition, and Worldly Design, and Atheism, Debauchery and Immorality, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom with thy Holy Majesty and blessed Spirit, Three Glorious Relations in one God, be Glory and Praise for ever.  
Amen.   

THE LAY-MAN's RELIGION, In an affectionate Epistle to all Mankind.  
Psal. 30.3. O Lord, thou hast brought up my soul from the Grave: thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the Pit.  
Psal. 6.16. Come and hear all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.  
AS there is nothing hath more occasioned, and increased our Heats, Divisions and Animosities, than the rash and uncharitable Censures, which Men of differing Persuasions are apt to pass one upon another, to the great scandal of Religion, and encouragement of Debauchery and Immorality: So nothing in the World can sooner heal our Breaches, reform our Manners, and unite us all among ourselves, than an impartial Scrutiny by every Man into his own Heart and Life; so as first to give Sentence at home upon himself, before he adventures to censure or judge his Neighbour.  
It is a manifest Truth( but a lamentable one,) That as the pure Love of God, and a meek Spirit have, ever since Man's Fall, decayed with the increase of Knowledge in the generality of Mankind; great Knowledge not guarded with profound Humility, rendering Man but more like the Devil: So from the beginning of Christianity, Pride and Self-love have always in a gradual Course jostled out Truth and Goodness wherever it hath been planted, and turned the vital part of Religion into Sophistry and Dispute, which begets Quarrels in Professors about Shadows and Circumstantials, whilst they neglect the Substance in good Living, thereby banishing Christian Charity, to make way for Interest and worldly Design, though under a specious Vizor of Zeal for Reformation.  
Now as we all agree, 'tis more easy to know than practise; so we must all allow, that when Men's Actions run counter to their Words,( though never so charming,) it renders their Advice( in a great measure) ineffectual to others, because they do not follow it themselves. This made St. Paul so careful of himself, lest while he was preaching to others, he might become a Cast-away. And that others might do so too, he left as a standing Rule, his Advice to all, to have a peculiar regard to their own inbred, and habitual Evil, as that Clog which hinders us all in our Christian Course. Let us( saith he) lay aside every weight, 
Heb. 12.1.  and the Sin which doth so easily beset us, that we may the better run our Race after our Redeemer's Pattern.  
By God's Grace, I am a Witness from my own Experience of this sad Truth, having been a Spectator of the many Revolutions of late among us, and one of the greatest Instances of the Divine Goodness the present Age affords, for this very end, that I should hang out my Experience, for a Light to warn others from farther adventuring, either in a false Persuasion of Religion to secular ends, or in the practise of any known Sin: And therefore,  
I have here adventured to publish my weak Endeavours( as a Layman's Religion) to awaken and quicken all others, whether Professors, or Profane, to leave off all farther pursuit of Shadows, and to embrace the 
* O Vitae Philosophia Dux O Virtutum Indagatrix vitiorumque Expultrix! unus dies benè & ex praeceptis tuis actus, mill in peccato acts diebus est ante ponendus, Cic. Who would not be Religious, were he once convinced that true Pleasure, and real Happiness( which all desire) are alone to be found in a pious, sober and virtuous Life. O thou only Paradise on Earth! well might the holy Prophet solemnly avouch One day in thy Courts, is better than a thousand elsewhere, Psal. 84.10.  real Substance, that both may forsake their Idols, and return to God, from whence all such are fallen.  
For though the Object of Men's Love and Delight may be different, as the one is in extreme opposite to the other, according to their different Inclination and natural Dispositions; yet both are equally guilty of Moral Idolatry, as the one pursues inordinate Ambition, and worldly Design, and the other sensual Pleasures, or lower Enjoyments; both equally robbing God of that Love, Complacency, and Delight, which we all owe him, as the Fountain of Good, and supreme Author of our Being.  

This I shall endeavour to demonstrate in the following Discourse.  
THE primary Cause of all our Evils is Sin; and to find out this Truth, we must trace it to its Original, in our first Parents Disobedience; whose Foot-steps we now tread in, when we sin after the Similitude of their Transgression,( that is) against Knowledge and Means. Their Sin was Disobedience to their known Duty, in dis-believing Truth itself, and giving Credit to the Father of Lies; forsaking God the Fountain of Good, to seek their Happiness in the Creature; by which they, and all their Posterity for ever lost Paradise in this World, and all Right and Property( farther than as Stewards accountable) in all we possess here below.  
This is a Truth owned by all, but such as are Strangers to God and themselves; and which none can deny, but such as are wilfully ignorant of God's revealed Will in the Scriptures, and unacquainted with their own inward Frame, the proper Schools for this Discipline.  
For God hath placed in every Man's Breast the flaming Sword of Reason and Conscience, to hinder his inordinate pursuit of Happiness here below, and to chase him out of all hope of ever returning back to his earthly Paradise, or finding any real Satisfaction for that infinite Principle of Love and Desire( which is the Radical Affection of his Nature) in these lower Enjoyments.  
So that the Disorder we feel within us, and all the external Misery that befalls us from the Creatures( as Instruments of God's Justice) without us, are but the effects of our Disobedience; and in Love designed for our Correction, to awaken us out of our sensual Security, and cause us to 
* Conversion is nothing else but ceasing to do evil, by thus turning from Satan to God in newness of Life. Which in its effect, is Repentance from dead works; and Saving Faith is when we do both, from a firm Belief o●… God's Truth in his threatenings agains●… Sin, and in hi●… Promises to reward Obedience, so a●… from thence t●… purify ourselves for his Service here, i●… order to partake of his Glory hereafter.  return from pursuit of Vanity in the Creature, to God the Fountain of Happiness from whence we fell.  
Now forasmuch as all Mankind( since the Fall) are naturally blind to themselves, and partial in judging of God's Dealings with them, ever willing to excuse themselves: And as they follow their first Parents Steps in Rebellion; so when they suffer, are too apt( with them) to transfer the blame on others; The Woman thou gavest me, cries Adam; and when she was charged, The Serpent beguiled me, was her Evasion. And so to lay the Cause of all our Misery at some other Door; which is in effect, to throw back all on God, as if he caused what he doth not prevent.  
I shall endeavour briefly here to demonstrate, that every Man,( Saint or Sinner, Pharisee or Publican,) of what Persuasion soever he be, that doth not first look home into his own Heart, so as seriously to consider his own Ways, and judge himself, doth still share in the procuring Cause, which hath brought all these Evils upon us.  
And that I may convince every Man of the Truth of this, I shall endeavour briefly to show what are those crying Sins that have caused all those Judgments( which we either feel or fear,) that every man may the better judge himself how far he stands guilty before God and his own Conscience therein. And those Sins may be comprehended under these Three Heads.  

I. Avarice; or, an inordinate Pursuit of Mammon.  
II. Debauchery and Immorality.  
III. Ambition, Pride, and Worldly Design.    

I shall begin with Self-Love, the Fountain of all Evil, as that which includes all the rest; and in the first place discourse of Avarice, or Inordinate Love of the World.  
WEre I possessed of the whole World, or the greatest share in it, I should be happy or miserable only, according to the good or ill Use I made of all I possessed. It has been the great mistake of many wise Men in all Ages, to account themselves Proprietors of what God consigns to them in Trust, as Stewards only, for the Good of the great Family of Mankind, whether it be Riches, Honours, Power, or Endowments of the Mind: And when Men thus esteem all they possess their own, they assume to themselves God's Title therein, and from thence naturally draw this Inference, That they may do with their own what they please; either keep their Wealth locked up in a Chest, or lay it out according to their own Humour and Fancy; in building a delightful Palace, and pulling it down, when they have done; in the purchase of empty Titles of Honour; or in prodigally treating and obliging the Grandees of the World; or lavishly consuming it in Luxury and Sensuality.  
And being thus miserable mistaken in their Reckonings, they value themselves by the abundance they possess, not considering that their great Revenue, as well as their Health, Time, and Opportunities increase their Care, as Talents of which they must give a strict account; and as they hoarded up, or sacrificed them to their vain Glory, or Pleasure in their Life-time; so, when they die,( still reckoning all their own) they usually dispose of what they have left to others, who being equally Slaves to their own Passions, either follow the same foot-steps of immoderate scraping together, or else prove as great Vassals to the like inordinate Desires in scattering, as they( that went before) were in gathering,( for in both, Mammon is the commanding Power or Deity,) each seeking that Satisfaction from the finite Enjoyments of this World,( wherein the Shadow only of the Divine Excellency is scattered,) which can be no where found below God himself, the Fountain and Original of all Perfection; who, like the beloved Pole to its Needle, can alone give rest to Man's boundless and immortal Appetite.  
Thus have I known great Estates gotten and spent within the compass of my own Memory; as the one from a small beginning rolled together his Mole-hill of Wealth, so nothing remains of his prodigal Successor's, save only this infallible Truth, That both laboured in vain for satisfaction in that which cannot satisfy.  
It is easy to know these Trhths, but only difficult for such to practise, who have not yet thoroughly learned that( seeming hard) Lesson of Self-denial, and the across, the first terrible Blow to Flesh and Blood, and Touch-stone of true Religion; which our Saviour makes an indispensible requisite to the very Being of his Disciples, though it seems an hard Saying to them that have not so learned Christ.  
Our Love to ourselves easily inclines us to believe,( at least, to wish in our Hearts,) That the Happiness and Glory of the World to come, might consist with a full Enjoyment of our Portion also in this Life; which renders all those Doctrines so pleasing and agreeable, that do allow Saints a greater Right than Sinners in the Riches, Dominion and Government of the World, though this be quiter contrary to what our Saviour himself taught, when he declared the Love and Service of God and Mammon( or the World) to be inconsistent in one and the same Worshipper, as irreconcilable as Heaven and Hell, for that the one is in direct opposition to the other. Our Love to God aspires upwards, towards him, as the Centre of our Rest, and the only Happiness our Souls do thirst after: Our Love of Mammon( or the World) is grovelling downward to the Earth, and always centres in ourselves, but never quiet; insatiably desiring, though never satisfied. For our Soul is an eternal Principle, and cannot feed on fading Enjoyments: Goodness itself is her proper Food, of which all the World is but a faint Shadow. The Love of Mammon craves sensible Good; 
Psal. 4.6, 7.  but the Love of God begs rather the Light of his Countenance.  
This is the Reason why all our Comforts in these lower Enjoyments are never certain, but do ever ebb and flow, according to the fading Nature of the Object wherein we seek our Happiness,( whether it be Riches, Honours, or Pleasures;) all which, like Weeds, that seem Flowers to Sense, yield nothing but Emptiness and Vanity to the Mind, and do always end in Vexation of Spirit. Which is a plain Demonstration, that it is impossible for the ●oul of Man to find true Rest or Satisfaction in this outward World, till she return( by inward retiring of the Mind) home to God, from whom she first fell, as the living Fountain of Good. How pathetically does David bear witness to this Truth, by his own inward▪ Experience in Psal. 63. O God, thou art my God, early will I seek thee: My Soul thirsteth for thee, my Flesh longeth for thee, in a dry and thirsty Land, where no Water is, to see thy Power and thy 
* By this external Glory ●n the Sanct●a●y, we are now to understand the Internal Beauty of Holiness, which, by intellectual View, we 〈◇〉 hold from our Contemplation in the inward Temple of our Mind; reflecting on the Purity of God's Worship, in the Assembly of his Saints.  Glory, so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary: Because thy Loving Kindness is better than Life, my Lips shall praise thee: Thus will I bless thee while I live, and will lift up my hands in thy Name: My Soul shall be satisfied, as with Marrow and Fatness; and my Mouth shall praise thee with joyful Lips, when I remember thee on my Bed, and meditate on thee in the Night-Watches; because thou hast been my Help; therefore in the Shadow of thy Wings will I rejoice.  
Now, forasmuch as such an holy Frame of Spirit is purely wrought by God's Grace, so it is our Duty in an humble manner to pray for it; and God, who is faithful in all, hath promised to bestow it on them that diligently and sincerely seek it.  
And I wish every Member of private Congregations, who are so apt to be puffed up with an over-weening conceit of their own Ability, as to think themselves above all set Forms of Prayer, were so convinced of their own Ignorance and Weakness, as to make use of this one Collect in our Church-Liturgy, for their Ease and Help herein.  

O Almighty God, who alone canst order the unruly Wills and Affections of sinful Men, Grant unto thy People, that they may love the thing which thou dost command, and desire that which thou dost promise; that so, among the sundry and manifold Changes of this World, our Hearts may surely there be fixed, where true Joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord.   
To which I shall subjoin but this one short Prayer, as another part of the same Liturgy; which here followeth.  

ALmighty God, unto whom all Hearts be open, and all Desires known, and from whom no Secrets are hide; cleanse the Thoughts of our Hearts by the Inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; through Christ our Lord,  
Amen.   
And now I have mentioned the Liturgy, I humbly appeal to all charitable and well-disposed Followers of the blessed Redeemer,( who have tried and examined it,) whether this plain and brief Form may not svit with the Capacity and Disposition of the most Learned, and least Knowing; the Pharisee, and the Publican; the soundest Believer, and the most scrupulous and tender Conscience; so as they may all join together in their public Devotion.  
And whether there be in any other way of Worship, a Standard more agreeable to the Frame and Faculties of Man's Mind, than in our Liturgy established among us, so as by frequent and solemn assembling themselves together, they may thereby provoke, encourage, and dispose one another to Union of Heart, and Harmony in Divine Worship, as the highest Happiness attainable( in Common) among Christians in this World; though for a time the Case may be the same with them, as it was with me, and many others, to have an aversion to it, from the Misrepresentation of others, or want of a right apprehension of some things contained in it. But to return:  
How miserable a Creature then is the Covetous Worldling, who so little troubles himself with the things of Religion, or the World to come, that he feels no other Hunger or Thirst, but after Mammon, or this World; being so possessed with the Love of it, that he hath no room left in his Heart for Love of any thing besides? And whilst he labours under the Tyranny of an insatiable Desire of more, he feels no Comfort in all that he doth enjoy, though he hugs his Mammon as his only God and Portion, the Object of all his Thoughts, Love, and Delight, till his Soul be ravished from him; leaving his Body and Mammon to perish together.  
And this is the first sort of crying Sins, arising from Self-Love, or Moral Idolatry, in such as seek Heaven and Happiness in Mammon here below, judging and censuring all others but themselves.   

I shall now proceed to speak of the Second; which is, Debauchery and Immorality.  
AND as for such as have given themselves up to Sensuality and Debauchery, so as not to wait upon the Posts of Wisdom's Doors, in a conscientious and sober Use of the Means; as, Reading, Hearing, Praying, conversing with themselves alone, and with good Men, in order to be reformed; but are so far from desiring or endeavouring to be reclaimed, that they are rather ready to offer violence to sober Reproof, and to deride and scoff at all Advice and good Counsel: I say, such as these, who are too apt to name themselves Sons of the Church, ought not to be reckoned among Professors,( though our Adversaries most uncharitably or designedly father too many of them upon us,) because they do not own God's Livery in any visible Acts of Piety and Devotion; but having desperately shut their Eyes, and hardened their Hearts, do by their wilful Rebellion declare themselves Enemies to God and all Religion: And that such as these have been both the Cause, and Instruments to bring God's Judgments upon us, none can doubt; though they all, as haters of God and Goodness, are ever apt to vent their Fury and Malice( when God's Hand is upon them) against the most righteous and innocent Persons.  
And I shall address myself to them, as they distinguish themselves by their crying Abominations; and name but Three for all the rest.  
1. In that unmanning and brutish Sin of Drunkenness, the Parent and Nurse of many other Sins, as it puts out the Lamp of Reason, Man's healthful Guide unto all virtuous Actions, and safe Pilot to shun 'vice. This Sin disposes Men to all that may be called wicked, to betray their Prince, their Religion, their Country, and all to serve their Lusts; for he that has abandoned his Reason, and lost all Sense of Honour and shane, is false to his own Soul, and can never be true to any thing else.  
Nor is that Man's Crime less, whose Body and Brain can bear most: Nay, the Scripture pronounces the greatest Woe against the Mighty Drinker, as a murderer of his Brethren, by provoking them beyond their strength, to bear an equal part with him, in a most impious Abuse of God's Creatures. In which servile Drudgery of Sin and Satan, he is a kind of Felo de se; he consumes his Time and Patrimony, his Parts, his Body and Soul, and so falls at last a Sacrifice to the Sin that he loves above all these, nay, above God himself.  
2. The profane Swearer, who so cheaply sells his Soul to the Devil, for neither Pleasure, Honour, nor Profit, the three Shadows of Good, wherewith he baits his Hook to incline Men to all other Sins besides, is surely the worst sort of Prodigal in the World.  
What Words can utter his prodigious Folly, and daring Impiety, who with bloody Oaths calls for Damnation without ceasing,( when he is already under the Sentence,) as if he scorned the least moment to prepare for his Execution?  
Such a desperate Caitiff had need go to Tyburn to learn Discipline of those miserable Criminals; who, though they have been all their Life unmindful of their latter end, being now sensible their Time is limited by Man,( and may be sooner determined by God,) would make any Terms of better Obedience, if they might have but a time of Trial.  
Certainly were not Men grown past feeling by long practise, they might tremble to think, that the same God who, in terrible Thunder, published Man's Duty in Mount Sinai in Ten Precepts, made no difference between the Thief, the murderer, and the Swearer: How desperate then is the common Swearer, who can abstain from Robbing, and Killing, for fear of being hanged by the Law of Man; yet dares blaspheme the living God, the Law-giver of Heaven and Earth, and stab his Redeemer with bloody Oaths, though he be already sentenced( without Repentance) in Body and Soul unto hellfire.  
3. The Unclean Person, especially he that glories in his shane; how wretchedly does he cheat himself in the Object of his Love, when he forsakes his God, the Fountain of his Being, and the most amiable satisfying Good, in exchange for a sordid and insatiable Dust; transforming himself into a lascivious Goat, to hug and caress the poisoned Carcase of his filthy Hag in loathsome Embraces; wallowing in the polluted Mire of impure and unchaste Thoughts, till his Mind become the Den of Satan, and a Cage of unclean Birds.  
Well might Solomon denominate the Saint and Sinner, by the Character of a Wise Man, and of a Fool, without any other Note of Distinction. How can he be accounted wise, that refuses Counsel, and hates Knowledge? How can you be Christians indeed, when by your Lives and Language you proclaim yourselves your Redeemer's Enemies? You must measure your Love to God, by the Sense you have of Evil. Never pretend to be Honourers of God, when you can be unconcerned at the highest Dishonour done unto his Name, make a Mock of Sin, and divert yourself with the filthy Conversation of the Wicked.  
To what a desperate pitch are ye now grown, who can thus sin without Recoil? You have now conquered a tender Mind, and can ridicule what is sacred, ard scoff at all that is serious; for 
* Nemo repertè fuit turpi●…simus. Juv.  no Man was ever so extremely wicked on a sudden. Wonder O Heavens, and be astonished O Earth! that a Christian Age and Nation should produce such daring Rebels to an holy God, to pull down Vengeance on us all.  
Do but call in your Mind, and hear God's Voice by his Prophet, thus speaking, If I be a Father, where is mine Honour? If I be a Master, where is my Fear? Mal. 1.6. Let every Man examine and judge himself, how little share God can have in his Love, when he seldom thinks of him, or never seeks after him, but when those his Idols( or filthy Lusts, wherein he most delights) do fail him: For, according as Men's Comforts ebb and flow from these lower Enjoyments, so usually God hears from them in their Danger, Want, and Misery. And let any Man, in his Wits, ask himself the Question, Whether he could bear with such Ingratitude, and base Usage from his Fellow-Creatures.  
And to you, Scarlet-Sinners, I speak, and dare not be silent: To you, the shane of our Religion and Government: To you, the Reproach of our Church and Nation, and Grief of all good Men. How dare you call yourselves Christians, when you hate to be reformed? You are the Pest of the Kingdom wherein you live, infecting our Youth, the Seed of Posterity. And as these crying Sins, by the Law of God, do render you most unworthy to share in our Civil Government, so you, above all Men, are most unfit to be entrusted with any Military Employment; for we have found by woeful Experience, that  

Drunkards, Swearers, and Whoremongers can never be good Soldiers, as being uncapable of true Courage, and good Conduct; and therefore we may safely conclude,   
Such as you are the worst of Men, an horrid Scandal and nuisance, but no way serviceable to your King and Country: The worst of Soldiers in time of Danger, though fool-hardy in your Mirth and Jollity, thus highly to provoke your Maker. In time of Peace you stifle your Conscience, you silence it with your Curses and Oaths, as Drums and Trumpets drown the Cries in a battle; but in the Face of an Enemy, when you should defend your Country, you tremble at judgement to come; shunning the Danger,( as Malefactors do Execution, in hope of a Reprieve,) that you may have Time to repent, though the Kingdom perish.  
'Tis only the virtuous Man, and the sober, that can be Men of Conduct and Resolution, whose inward Testimony animates their Courage, by assuring them of their Reward, That if they live, they gain immortal Honour; if they die, their Life is a Sacrifice in defence of their Religion and Country.  
All other Courage is either without rational Conduct, arising from the Ferment of Blood and Spirit, wherein Game-Cocks and Mastiffs outdo the greatest Heroes; or else it is fool-hardy Valour, arising perhaps from Brandy, or such intoxicating liquours, which operate into Frenzy, evaporate into frothy Folly, and expire in drowsiness and Stupidity.  
And how unfit such a Creature is for Conduct, or to look Death in the Face, when inward Guilt, and Reflection on past Folly, strikes him with horror, and Apprehension of a future judgement, none know better than his own Conscience; which, when it should animate his Courage, strikes him with terror, and makes him a fearful Coward.  
Consider now, all you that thus force yourselves against God's inward Teaching; it is no more than what the Heathen allowed to be 
* Video meliora, proboque, Deteriora sequor.  innate in every Man's Breast, and what your own Conscience, if you give it leave to speak, will witness to be true; nay, you will and must hear it on a dying Bed, or at a shameful End,( the just Reward of such impious Folly.) It is continued Disobedience to this inward Teaching( after long striving with God's Spirit) breeds Despair, which often ends with the Knife and Halter, as a terrible Warning to all that survive.  
Dread therefore the Thoughts of judgement to come, where the Worm that never dies, an eternal Anguish, shall, like a Vulture, gnaw upon your wounded Spirit, by Reflection on your past Follies, and long Abuse of God's Patience, waiting to bring you to Repentance.  
Be wise yet, before it be too late; God still waits to be gracious, with a Turn ye, turn ye: Why will ye die? I have survived Forty Thousand that are all perished in these Quick-sands, and am only spared for your sake, to hang out my Experience for your Light, to warn you all from desperately adventuring farther in the same wicked Course. Be not deceived, abused Mercy will turn to Fury: Never pretend to be Lovers of your Country, Church men, or Loyal Subjects, till you resolve to be Christians, and good Men.  
For it is most certain, Rebels to God and their own Conscience, can never be good Subjects, or true Friends: And it is as certain, our holy Religion( the best Support of Monarchy, and the surest bulwark against Popery) is( with the Gospel itself) equally uncapable of suffering, but from the vicious Lives and Immoralities of such wicked Members, who thereby expose themselves as the vilest Criminals on Earth, and Objects of God's eternal Displeasure. I shall now briefly speak  

Of the Doctrine and Discipline of our National Church: The chief Cause and Continuance of Separation from it, arises from the Scandal of some of our Clergy, and the Immorality of some of our Members; which is the Case of the Gospel itself. The Removal of this Offence, is the proper Medium for Uniformity, as the only Means to unite us all against our Common Enemy.  
OF this Matter, I humbly beg leave to speak plainly the Sentiments of my own Mind, without Flattery, or Railing, or giving just Offence to any.  
Our Religion established commands and approves of all that is excellent, and praise-worthy; it forbids and condemns all that is evil; exciting most powerfully to an holy, exemplary Life.  
It esteems all external Mode, Form, and Gesture, to be but the Crust and Shell of Divine Worship: It lays no more stress on any Rite and Ceremony, than only Decency and Order require. Neither could I ever find those Members of our Communion, who might truly deserve the Name of Pillars of our Church, so fond of any thing that was indifferent, but they could most willingly part with it, to purchase Union with their Dissenting Brethren; if desired in such a manner, and to be done in such a way, as may preserve Unity and Peace in the Church.  
Our Doctrine and Discipline manifestly disclaims all Superstition and Idolatry, as most abominable; and( to the shane of such ill Members) is defective in nothing but good Living; which ( none can deny) is the Case of the Gospel itself: Therefore the greater Woe is pronounced against them that thus scandalise it, by giving Offence to othe●s, or expose it with prejudice to any.  
We are blessed with a great Number of pious, learned, and reverend Fathers and Pastors: But, hinc illae Lachrymae, we have had too many others,( and I wish it were more laid to heart,) that have caused our Religion to be evil spoken of. And we know who said it; Woe be to them by whom such Offences come.  
I pray God grant, all that take upon themselves that high and holy Calling, may so qualify themselves for it, and so regulate their Lives, according to the Examples of those I first mentioned, that by a pious, humble, and blameless Conversation,( the most powerful living Preaching,) they may put to silence those Adversaries who are too apt to take causeless Offence, and make a great Matter of it, where little is given; that they may thereby remove that Prejudice, which the Miscarriages of some of their Brethren have created in the Minds of too many towards our Discipline and Worship; giving them occasion, not only to separate from us, but even to reproach our Religion, as countenancing such Enormities. This would wonderfully contribute towards so desirable a Blessing, as Uniformity and Harmony in Divine Worship.   

Of the great Evil in bad Examples of Magistrates, Parents, and Masters of Families; and from their Neglect in their Duty.  
AND in order to so great and public a Blessing as Harmony in Divine Worship,( for the Foundation must be laid in a Reformation of Manners,) it highly concerns you Magistrates and Rulers, as God's Vicegerents, to consider your Duty, both high and low, in every Quality and Degree; and even you Parents and Masters, as well as public Officers; for you are every one, in his peculiar Province, as a God here below, set up and appointed in his stead, to punish and discountenance Evil Doers, and to defend and encourage them that do well.  
And where by evil doing, you give bad Examples, it aggravates your Crime ten fold; and you shall assuredly answer for all the Evil which thereby you give occasion, or encourage others to commit.  
And you may be also assured of this, that where you are remiss, 
Qui non vetat peccare, cum potest, jubet.  or negligent, to exert your Power and Authority, to hinder 'vice and Wickedness in others, it is equally the same, and you shall be accordingly judged, as if you had commanded or countenanced it.  
It is you must reform the Age we live in, and assist the Government we live under: The Trust in you reposed, is a great, a sacred Talent, for which you must account, as under a strict Obligation to God and Man, to be just and faithful therein.  
It is from a Neglect in you, that our good Laws are trampled under foot, and rendered useless, at a time when there is more need than ever of their due Execution.  
That public Houses, at first designed for Conveniency, in Moderation on lawful Occasions, are now erected, multiplied,( and as it were consecrated) to be Shops and Nurseries of Prodigality and Intemperance, and Seminaries of Debauchery in all Disorder and Impiety.  
That our Streets do swarm with the worst of Vermin, Shoplifts, and Pick-pockets, lewd Ballad singers, Rioting and Ribaldry; and( which is now become our common nuisance,) with Beggars in the Day-time, and in the Night with the Spawn of the bottonles Pit, those Drabbs called Night-walkers, Panders, Pimps, and Common Drunkards, with innumerable Thieves, as the Product of all, in aiding, receiving, abetting, or conniving. All this arises, increases, and continues through your Neglect.  
It is also from your Neglect that such numberless Troops of Infernal Agents, Bullies, Cheats, and Gamesters, the Locusts of our Age, are peaceably suffered openly to frequent all public Places, in the disguise of Gentlemen, to have free and undisturbed Opportunities, as Inhabitants and Residents amongst us; and by all their subtle Arts and Insinuations, do corrupt and debauch our Youth, as well in Schools, as Families, especially the Universities and Seminaries of the Law; as also Servants( Male and Female,) Apprentices and Cashiers, to dispose and discipline them by all the Lures and Baits of Pride, Pleasure, game, Drunkenness, and Wantonness, to defraud, filch, purloin, and at length desperately to betray their Trust, by downright Robbery. Picking of Locks, False Keys, and Counterfeit Bills, and all the ways wherein the Devil instructs those Agents, to bring them to ruin.  
And as by Luxury, Prodigality, and Intemperance, men thus consume their Estates, lose their Credit, and become desperate in their Fortune, they from thence( as naturally as Effects hold of Causes) turn Gamesters, Cheats, highway-men, House-breakers, Horse-stealers, and such like caterpillars, to devour and destroy; associating themselves into Cabals and Parties in their several Divisions,( as it were) the Banditi of the Kingdom.  
Nay, we so far exceed other Nations in bare faced and daring Wickedness; that whereas they allow only of secret Stews and Brothel-Houses, we have innumerable open Shops,( as Warehouses of Hell,) where impudent Strumpets expose themselves as the Devil's Nets, to catch their weak and silly Prey, having their Factors abroad( those Bullies and Hectors) in disguise of Gentlemen, to inveigle young and old to those Chambers of Death.  
If the Laws made by our prudent Ancestors against these Enemies of Mankind, That all Persons, Lodgers, and Inmates, that live high, fare well, wear a garb of Persons of Quality, and are suspected to spend above their Income, as having no certain visible Estate, or other lawful ways to support their expenses, shall give an account to Magistrates, what they are, from whence they come, and how they live, and from time to time find Sureties for their good Behaviour; how many of these Evils might be removed and prevented?  
If the Laws made in all those Cases, as also against the Profanation of the Lord's Day,( the Spring and Source of all these Evils,) were duly put in execution, this would be the most effectual Means to cause an universal Reformation of Manners, and secure us at home and abroad against our secret and foreign Enemies.   

But this Reformation must begin from your own Pattern and Example.  
Therefore especially remember, you are entrusted, as God's Representatives; and the best way is for every Man to begin at home with himself, to reform that which will inevitably ruin all, if continued a little longer, and leave the succeeding Generations a Wilderness of savage Beasts, whose Blood will lye at your doors, for from hence spring all the Evils I have already spoken of.  
That Masters and Heads of Families, when they should be at home sober Patterns and Examples to Children and Servants, with their Family, offering up their Morning and Evening Sacrifice to the God of their Being; even for them to be then consuming their Time, as well as Substance, abroad in Coffee-Houses, and other public Houses, leaving their Children and Servants obnoxious to all the snares may be laid for them by the Devil and his Agents. This is a Matter deserves the consideration of all, especially such as are under so great Obligations to reform it.  
The putting of a stop to these growing Evils, is the only Means to restore a sober and industrious Education of Youth, under sober Tutors, Masters, and instructors, by severe Discipline, the only Foundation whereon to raise the ancient Glory of the British Isle, in a stock of such Natives of our own, as by prudent steerage of the Helm at home, and marshal Conduct abroad, may again give Law to all the World.  
And to deal plainly, if you impartially examine yourselves, you will find all this Neglect proceeds from the Poison of Self-Love, as being blind towards yourselves, and afraid to look home, and too forward to censure others.  
And that makes you partial, and swayed with Interest or Affection, like old Eli, too gentle in reproving your Relations, or afraid of your Superiors; unwilling to disoblige your Friends, and too apt to gratify your Neighbors, Customers, or your Tenants; and it may be, loth to punish in another, what you are guilty of yourself. Thus it will be when our Love to God, the Spring of all our Happiness, is turned on ourselves, the Fountain of all Evil: Then Governors, appointed by God to be his Deputies for the good of their Inferiors, turn Renegadoes, and act in the Devil's Work, to the inevitable ruin of Posterity, whose Punishment hereafter will be answerable to their Crime, if they escape( as seldom they do) their Portion of shane and Misery here.  
But that which should be the greatest grief( though few lay it to heart) is the Dishonour done to God, and the Scandal done to our Religion, from such gross Neglect, and evil Practices in the Professors of it.  
From hence, it is manifest, our Adversaries on all sides take occasion by their venomous Tongues, and the virulent Pens of mercenary Knaves, and scribblers, in printed Libels and railing Pamphlets, maliciously and falsely to charge the purest, and best established Religion in the World, with such Immoralities and execrable Treasons, as have been hatched in secret, by the most flagitious Villains and Traytors.  
It argues little Charity for our Religion, or Kindness for us, at this time-a-day, in so public a manner to blemish the settled Doctrine, and Discipline of our National Church, with such side-wind reflections, as if it countenanced, or allowed the Wo●ds or Actions of some designing Knaves,( who can be of any Persuasion,) and some profligate Villains, the proper Tools of such Knaves,) who have given themselves the Name of Church-of-England-Men; but are indeed of no Religion at all, and have been really concerned in the late damnable Plot, or do dispute whether there be any such Plot or no, as if our Doctrine or Discipline instructed them therein.  
Christian Charity, without reflection, would rather have concluded;( as our Religion teacheth;) That sincere Christians will ever be Loyal Subjects, Honest Men, and Good Neighbors. But Rogues will be Rogues in all Climates; and designing Knaves and Time servers, will be Hypocrites and Traytors in all Persuasions.  
What Mercy can we expect at the Hands of these Men,( were they but armed with Power,) who thus publicly arraign and explode, not only our National Church in general, but also such Persons, whose Piety and Meekness in the whole tenor of their Lives,( especially under their late Trial,) might have obliged their worst Enemies, in Silence, to bewail them in their present Condition, and leave them to stand and fall to their own Maker; at least, to a more charitable Opinion of them, than thus rashly to charge them, as Betrayers of our Laws, Liberties, and Religion; nay, of the whole Kingdom, by inviting the most barbarous, tyrannical Disturber of Christendom to accept it.  
This is far from Love of Truth, Christian Zeal, or Loyalty for their Majesties now in the Throne: But we may( with more Charity) conclude it to be done at this juncture, on purpose to expose our Religion, and all its Adherents, so as thereby to excite, and enrage the credulous and ungovernable Multitude( who are easily imposed upon) against them, as Authors of all the Miseries and Calamities we now groan under, as a ready way to set us all in a flamme, even now that we stand in most need of Union.  
When God knows, they that are thus censorious, and rash in judging, may have had as great a share( as any) in the procuring Cause. I speak my own Mind plainly, as apprehending it my Duty; for should I be unconcerned, when I hear my innocent Mother publicly slandered and exploded, I should declare myself worse than an Infidel.  
But all this still proceeds from the same Original Fountain, and Poison of Self-Love.  
This would be no Riddle, if Men would first look home, and judge themselves; for Men of all Persuasions are so ready to blame others, before they do this, that they are too apt wholly to excuse themselves, with the Pharisee, I thank thee, O Father, I am not as this Publican.  
But the right way of Judging, is( as I have said before) to trace our Misery to its Cause, and from thence look up to him that appoints the Instruments of our Punishments, and can remove or change them at his pleasure.    

Now let us consider the Third and last, but the most sublime and subtle sort of Moral Idolatry; or, The great Danger and Evil of Ambition and Worldly Design, under the Vizor of Zeal for Reformation; and of Liberty of Conscience and the great Abuse of it.  
'Tis true, as God Almighty hath various Ways and Methods to reform and discipline his Children, according to their various Tempers and Dispositions; so the Devil, by his janissaries, Designing Hypocrites, and Time-servers, who can readily take any Impression in Religion, be of two or three persuasions at once, to promote their own Interest, puts himself into various shapes, and baits his Hook with various Objects, suited to mens different Inclinations, that he may catch both Pharisee and Publican; as well the spiritually proud, as the Debauchee, that no Fish may escape his Net, and( if it were possible) the Elect too should be cheated by him.  
Thus he baits the Luxurious with Pleasure, the avaricious with Riches, and the Ambitious with Pride, Dominion, and worldly Design.  
When he designs to subvert a Kingdom, or overthrow a Government, he doth not appear immediately in Arms and open Hostility; but first under a Disguise of Zeal for Reformation, which he generally prosecutes, by removing all Foundation laid in the first Principles of Religion; and then proceeds to create various Opinions in the Minds of honest and well-meaning Persons, of easy and credulous Dispositions; continually raising Niceties and Scruples,( before any Foundation be laid in fundamental Knowledge of the first Principles of our Religion, contained in the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commands, and the Creed,) and those Niceties and Scruples are more and more irritated by subtle and designing Teachers, under a Disguise of Liberty of Conscience.  
God forbid Liberty of Conscience( if regulated by the Standard of the Scriptures) as it is the Birthright of every Christian, should be denied to any that in sincerity desire it, to live peaceably under the Government in all Godliness and Honesty; because many persons of honest and well-meaning Principles, may, from their Education in Foreign Parts, or in Families of different Persuasions, either misapprehend, or not rightly understand the Truth of our Doctrine and Discipline established among us.  
And many others, in the simplicity of their Hearts, when they see the vicious Lives and Actions of some of our Members, or the Scandal of some of our Clergy, in things that are open and manifest, may be so imposed upon, by Jesuitical Whispers on the one hand, and private insinuating Teachers, on the other hand, as to imagine that our Religion established, must either countenance or allow of such Evils in the Professors of it. Which( as I have already said) is the Case of the Gospel itself.  
Now forasmuch as our Government is founded in the Law of God and Nature, and our Religion established, is settled and framed from no other Standard or Original but God's revealed Will in the Scriptures, and so both may be a just Standard for all other Governments. It must therefore be a Strain of great Arrogance and Presumption in any State-Mountebank to propose any Foreign President for alteration of either.  
And to silence all Complaints but theirs, whom nothing less than All will satisfy, As our Religion and Government so established, do allow a peaceable and innocent Liberty of Conscience, the Grand Charter of Christianity itself;( which we have found by experience, no other differing Persuasion but ours, would ever allow any longer than they wanted power to restrain it;) so none can deny it to be both prudent and just in the Government,( from the Law of Self-preservation,) to take care of, and secure itself against all abuse of so great a Blessing, by such, who have pure Religion only in their Mouths, but the rankest Poison of Ambition and Worldly Design in their Hearts; making no Scruple( as Opportunity offers) to devour Widows Estates, as well as the Houses and Patrimony of them and all others, to make way for their own Ambitious Designs; For we find it most certainly true, by woeful experience, that it is impossible to secure any Government in the World on a lasting Foundation, but by annexing it with the Religion established, so as to make them inseparable, according to the Policy of New-England;( where Liberty of Conscience first planted their Law-makers.) They that do not first approve of, and embrace our Religion established, ought to have no share in our Government.  
But such as would come into the Government on other Terms, have Liberty of Conscience only in their Mouths, but Ambition and worldly Design in their Hearts; which they carry on by multiplying Sects under several Leaders,( each ambitious to be Head of his own Party,) who, by their influence on credulous and well-meaning Persons, enclose them, as in so many Peculiars, each Pastor to incline and led his own Flock; the only Method to divide, and consequently to weaken both the Government and Religion established; That whenever their Interest is in danger, they may easily( as hath been practised in like cases) by the same Art, dispose all to unite( for the same end) against the Government they live under.  
And thus one and the same common( though invisible) Enemy of Mankind, putting himself into various shapes, and baiting his Hook with proper Objects, suited to mens various Inclinations and Dispositions,( which all centre in Self-love,) can first divide and weaken, and again unite to destroy the best Religion and Government in the world; though the designing Party are ever lurch'd in what they aim at, which is Dominion and Rule.  
For no sooner is any Party gotten uppermost, but the same Principle of Ambition and worldly Design animates the rest( that are under) to supplant that, in order to advance themselves into the Government; so that their whole Babel of Designing and Contriving, ever ends in Anarchy and Confusion; which hath caused many of their Chief Builders( convinced by their own woeful experience) at last to aclowledge their Error, and to declare, That to seek a Kingdom in this world by carnal Means and Weapons, is no true Badge of the Blessed Redeemer's Followers.  
What clearer Demonstration can we have that there is always such a Designing Party at the Bottom, under the most specious Vizor of Zeal for Reformation, and Liberty of Conscience, than to see those who pretend to the greatest Purity and Sanctity( though of several Persuasions) all to unite, and dilgently apply themselves to such Patrons and Leaders, whose Interest and Influence may best promote their Design, though they all know them to be of no Religion at all; nay, such as are guilty of the greatest * Immoralities; who can thunder out bloody Oaths without reluctancy, and make use of their Power and Interest to oppress others, and engross the Widow and Orphans Estates: Such Men as these, are proper Objects of all the Courtship and Address of those consecrated Politicians; for they well know they are adapted for their Turn, who readily prostituting their Conscience to their Interest, can be most serviceable to their ambitious Designs, And as they are favourites in the highest station, so they are capable of the greatest Acts of Oppression and Injustice therein,( by alienating the Hearts of Subjects,) they may contribute more to dethrone a Monarch, or subvert a Government, than Ten Thousand Armed Men; especially as these designing Hypocrites manage it to their own advantage; who, though they always carry the flattery of a Loyal All-hail in their Mouths; yet by secret Trumpets in every corner they arraign the Prince himself, as Author of all Acts of Injustice and Oppression, done by such his Ministers, to render Monarchy uneasy to the People; and at the same time, with no less industry, both in public and private, expose the most Faithful and Loyal Counsellors and Magistrates, who are most true to the Church and Government, and the very Pillars and Security of the Throne, as Betrayers of their country; their Laws and Liberty; rendering them odious to the Prince and People, that they may remove them, in order to get Champions and Agents of their own Faction, into all Places and Offices of Trust and Power in the Government,  
This discovers plainly that the Patrons and Clients are both governed by one and the same Principle of Self-Love, which ebbs and flows with their own Interest, the vital part of their Religion, and so disposes them to divide or unite against that which opposes their Designs, and at length to quarrel among themselves about( what they all aim at) Dominion and Rule.    

The Result of all which may be this; to put us upon a Modest Enquiry,  
WHat endeavours have been made by all the Separate Congregations in general, towards an universal Reformation of Manners, and Allaying our Heats, to heal our Divisions, in order to Union among ourselves; the only Means under Heaven, to secure us in these perilous times against our Foreign Enemy.  
And wherein Christian Charity and Purity of Life( farther than in cheap and easy fruit of the Lips) hath appeared in Dissenters, or those that separate from our National Communion, and pretend to Extraordinary Call and Conversion, so as to distinguish them by any visible Change in their Lives and Conversation, from those of our Communion, who live according to the Doctrine and Discipline of our Church, or from what they themselves have ever before been in their life-time.  
And also what visible Effects the late Indulgence granted to Dissenters, hath wrought for the better, in procuring more meek, humble, and peaceable Spirit, or abating Pride, Murmuring, or Discontent; railing against, and censuring of others,( even among their own Party,) in order to heal our Breaches, and compose our Differences.  
Nay we may modestly inquire, whether the Scope and tendency of all endeavours in the Leading Party among them, hath not been more after Dominion and Rule here below, than to advance the Kingdom of Christ in the Hearts of Men? And in order to that, whether they have not, with the greatest subtlety and Partiality improved their Factories and Agency by human Policy, to direct, order, or influence the choice of Magistrates and Officers in every Colony among us, from whence the greatest Heats and Disturbances have arisen, let the visible Effects speak for themselves?  
And when we have so done, we may( from the History of the last Age) reflect upon that happy Union, which continued among Protestants, in this Kingdom, in the open practise of Piety, Sobriety, and Righteousness, from the first time of the Reformation; but especially during the forty four years of Queen Elizabeth's Reign, when all( as one Soul) joyfully and constantly assembled together at the set times appointed by the Church, to celebrate Divine Service, and hear the Scriptures daily red, as the only Means to keep up a venerable Awe and Sense of the Majesty of God in the World, and in the Mind of every individual person, and to maintain and increase Christian Charity and Brotherly Kindness,( the alone Medium of Union in a Kingdom,) as being all fully persuaded in their Mind, it was a Service most acceptable to God, without any other Discipline, or way of Worship than what had been so settled among us by those Pious and Learned Martyrs( the Founders of it,) who carried their own Faggots, ( not loving their Lives unto death,) to bear their Testimony for it.  
By which means that happy Queen so long reigned in Peace,( by Love,) in the hearts of all her Subjects, and a Terror to all her Enemies; whereby our National Church became the Envy of Rome, and the only Sanctuary for all Distressed Protestants abroad.  
All this plainly demonstrates, That pure and undefiled Religion, founded in Piety, Sobriety, and Righteousness, may be easily known of all, as it consisis in Humility, Self-denial, and sincere practise of what we know,( all epitomized in good Living,) and not in profound Knowledge, needless Disputes, long Prayers, or fruitless Discourses.  
If these things were laid to heart, so as to be well weighed and considered by all sincere and well meaning Christians, who now separate from our public Communion, into private Congregations, that from thence they might be awakened, to examine, and( with me) seriously inquire into the Truth of things, they would soon find how miserable they have been imposed upon, and drawn into prejudice, and an ill apprehension of the purest and best established Religion on the Earth, by such designing Leaders as can be contented to sacrifice the Peace and Safety of the whole Kingdom, to promote the Interest of a Party, in order to gratify their own Ambition and Worldly Design, though under a Disguise of Liberty of Conscience; when in truth by Separation from us, they do but exchange one Shell of Religion for another; for so I reckon,( and so our Church doth esteem) the most refined Discipline, or outward Way of Worship to be; and lays no more stress in it than Decency and Order requires: Therefore it is no wonder that the most Ignorant, and Short-sighted, and such as look no farther into Religion than the outward Appearance, but are never capable of discerning the Vital Substance, should, from the Scandal of some wicked Members,( from which the Gospel itself was not wholly exempt,) be so apt to despise our established Discipline, and yet at the same time idolize another Form, or Way of Worship; as if God were more pleased with one Shadow, than another.  
Whereas we esteem our outward Discipline no otherwise than as outward Means, composed and adapted by the most pious and learned Men, from the sacred Fountain of the Scriptures, suited to every Capacity through a whole Kingdom; the least knowing, as well as the most learned; that all may join together. In which, the pious, and well-disposed Christian may worship God in the Beauty of Holiness; and the Youth and Ignorant, as with a Leading-step, may be trained up, from the first Principles of Religion, to the greatest Perfection; and whereby also the Profane and Loose are, by a venerable Authority, influenced and reclaimed, at least kept within some Bounds, from scoffing at Religion; which is daily occasioned by the Separation of such who are still subject( with their Neighbours) to the same Infirmities attending human Frailty, as well as to Pride, Ambition, Self-Love,( in the inordinate Love of the World,) railing at, and censuring of others, and yet puffed up with a false conceit of their Way, do herd and distinguish themselves under their several Leaders, into so many and various Ways, Opinions, and Persuasions;( I wish it were not so near a Resemblance of the several Orders in the Church of Rome;) and all under conduct of their peculiar Guides.  
From whence it comes to pass, that vain and loose Persons, beginning first with light Thoughts of Religion, and by degrees declining the public Prayers of the Church, and private Family-Duties; and from thence giving scope to boundless Lusts, at last cast off all Religion, and become downright Debauchees, and practical Atheists.  
This may satisfy any but such as are in love with a false Persuasion, and beforehand resolved to know no better, that the Offence is taken, and not justly given, by those that thus separate from our National Communion; especially when they may be all so clearly convinced, that the original Cause of Separation from the Communion did not arise from any thing either in our Doctrine, or the Discipline of our Church, but from what was acted by Temporal Rulers,( as they were steered by jesuits, and Popish Interests,) in Ecclesiastical Courts, procuring a Toleration of Sports on the Lord's Day; and Indulgence to be granted in other Matters, which our holy and pure Religion expressly condemns and abhors; which could not but be very offensive to many honest and well-meaning Persons; especially when so industriously improved by subtle jesuits, and whispering Sectaries,( the secret Enemies of our Church,) who insinuated into the Minds of the easy and Credulous, that our Religion did countenance such Evils, and thereby drew them into separate Congregations; whereby they had opportunity to introduce so many strange Doctrines, and variety of Persuasions, the Seed and Cause of all our Heats, Divisions, and Animosities, on the one hand; and of practical Atheism, Debauchery, and Immorality, on the other: Both which,( as gross hypocrisy, and bare-faced Impiety,) do equally expose us to the Divine Vengeance, and lay us open to our foreign Enemies. For it is most plain, the Enthusiastick, as well as the Debauchee, when thwarted in their Designs, have an equal Tendency to Rebellion and Treason.  
I say, were sincere,( though mis-persuaded;) well-meaning Persons but once fully sensible of these great Truths, and of the unavoidable Necessity of their returning into our Communion, as t●e only Means left to unite and save us, by restoring True Piety, and Christian Charity, in Sobriety and Righteousness among us, it is impossible they should sleep quietly one Night, before they returned into this Bosom of Safety: For( God knows) I fear there is no other Cure left for our universal Distemper; and it is high time to begin so happy a Work,  
Wherein their Leaders, if they have( as they all pretent to have) the Spirit of Primitive Christianity, may( as faithful in God's Vineyard) outstrip all our idle Labourers in painful and powerful Preaching; and especially, by their exemplary and holy Living, so influence their Doctrine on the Mind, as to reclaim many profane Persons, who now take occasion, from their Separation, into so many Forms and Shadows of Religion, to inveigh, and rail against them all.  
And the Lay-Members, if they return into our Communion, and live up to what our holy Religion( which is defective in nothing but good Living) doth most plainly and powerfully teach, may boldly reprove,( by our Church-Authority,) and put to silence many open Transgressors, and Evil Doers, who now take occasion, from so many Fashions of Religion among us, to deride and scoff at all Religion in general; and also( to their great Comfort) may thereby shane a scandalous Clergy-man into a Reformation of his Life, by saying,( with the Spirit of Meekness,) in the Language of the holy Prophet, I have more Understanding than all my Teachers; for thy Testimonies are my Meditation, Psal. 119.  
And this( I bear witness) is countenanced by all our reverend and pious Fathers and Pastors, who would have all to come to the Knowledge and practise of the Truth, and who it is most manifest) are willing and ready to comply with any thing that may tend to heal our Breaches, and to purchase Union with their Dissenting Brethren, if desired in such a way, and to be done in such a manner, as may preserve Peace and Unity in the Church.  
Which we can never reasonably hope should be done, without some orderly Application of such as must own themselves inferior to those whom the Government( under which they live) have made their superiors; which nothing can hinder, or obstruct, but Pride, Obstinacy, or Worldly Design; all which are directly contrary to the meek, yielding, and self-denying Temper of Primitive Christianity.  

And here I may, with an humble Confidence, enforce this Argument from the greatest Example, and the most excellent Pattern; even that of His Sacred Majesty, now in the Throne, the Head of our Government, and Chief of our Communion; whose incomparable Perfections( whether we consider Him as a Man, or as a Christian) are sufficiently known to the whole World.  
WHO, to give us the clearest Evidence of his Zeal and Sincerity, hath exposed himself to the greatest Dangers, for Defence of the Reformed Religion. And though his Education was in a different Persuasion,( the Discipline established in his native Country,) yet, to demonstrate both his Piety and Prudence, when he had preached into, and was fully satisfied, that the vital Part of that Religion wherein he was bread, and the Doctrine here taught in our National Church, was one and the same, he was neither tenacious in his own Opinion, nor bigoted to the outward Form, or Persuasion( which is but the Crust and Shell.)  
But( as best became the Head of his People) he, together with his Royal Consort,( as one Soul,) do openly profess our established Religion; the greatest Blessing Heaven could bestow, if we know our Happiness. And Oh that all His Majesty's Subjects would resent it accordingly.  
And farther, I might urge another eminent Instance in His Royal Highness the Prince of Denmark, whose Education was most strict in the Lutheran Church,( the established Religion of that Kingdom,) where the Discipline is as different from that of the Calvinists in Holland, as ours is from both; and yet, from the same Christian Principle, founded in the vital Substance of Truth and Goodness, and not wedded to the Shell and Shadow, finding the pure Doctrine still the same, he joins himself with His Sacred Majesty, in the same Communion.  
Who both, during their late Expedition abroad, in the defence of their Religion and Country, have constantly, in a devout manner, offered up their Morning and Evening-Sacrifice at the public Prayers, according to the Discipline established in our Church.  
From whence we may appeal to all impartial Christians herein, whether such as are Natives of our own Country, and Fellow-Subjects with us in one Kingdom, and do all pretend to hold Unity in Doctrine with the Reformed Churches abroad, and with us too, in our National Church, and can so readily comform to the Fashions, Garb, and Attire of the present Age, and are apt enough to insist on the least minute Particle of Precedency( with the rest of Mankind) in Honour, according to Order and Decency in Temporal Government; yet are so tenacious in their Opinion, and wedded to their own outward Form, or Shadow of Divine Worship, as, by a continued Separation, to sacrifice our Religion, and the Peace and Safety of our Government, our Laws, our Liberties, and our Lives, as a Prey to our Foreign Enemies, rather than, with those most Illustrious Persons, and many other eminent modern Instances,( who were all as strictly bread in different Persuasions, under Foreign Governments,) to embrace that holy and pure Religion, so here established and settled among us, from the first Reformation, by those pious and learned Martyrs, the Founders of it: I say, whether this Stiffness and Obstinacy doth not arise from Ignorance and Prejudice in the Honest and Well-meaning, who are seduced, and imposed upon, from Self-Love, Ambition, and worldly Design in the Leaders and Seducers, rather than from any pure Principle of Primitive Christianity, I leave all Persons concerned herein, to be themselves Judges of the Matter.  
But after all, I would be so understood, that I do not design, in the least, by any thing I have here said, abridgement or Restraint of that honest, innocent, and peaceable Liberty of Conscience,( of which I have already discoursed,) which we must allow to be the Christian's Birthright.    

And now, from all, we may( with humble Submission) draw this most certain Conclusion.  
THat the true Christian Religion, according to the Doctrine and practise of our blessed Redeemer, the Founder himself, must be laid in sincere Humility and Self-denial; both centring in the pure Love of God,( from which Man fell,) which we call Charity: This cannot he hide, but naturally( like the Sun) darts forth its Influence, in Love to our Fellow-Creatures, causing us to love as God loves, for Goodness-sake; and from thence, to love our Neighbour as ourself; which is directly opposite to Concupiscence, or Self-Love, the Fountain of all Evil.  
And such a Religion as this( and no other) will make good Princes, and good People; good Ministers, and good Magistrates.  
This is such a Religion alone, as will inspire our Councils with true Wisdom, and our Armies with true Courage, and good Conduct; and unite us all, as Christian Brethren, Members of one mystical Body, and of one National Communion, as best becomes Subjects of one Kingdom; so as to be at one within ourselves, by preventing all home-bred Divisions, which will most certainly secure us against all Foreign Force; when with Comfort we may truly say, God being with us, who can be against us.  
And now I appeal to all impartial Christians, of what Persuasion soever, that have so examined and tried, as to be competent and capable Judges of Truth herein, Whether any established Religion on the Face of the whole Earth comes so near this Standard, as that of our National Church.  
O blessed and happy forty four Years Reign of that Maiden Queen, in Piety, Sobriety, and Righteous Dealing one towards another, in Harmony of Hearts, and Divine Worship, without the least Blending, or Mixture of any other way of Worship, Discipline, or Teacher, but what was so ordained, settled, and established from the Standard of the holy Scriptures, in this our National Church, by those pious Founders, and holy Martyrs, our triumphant Witnesses, now with God.  
And last of all, to the end these my weak Endeavours may prove successful, I shall close the Lay-man's Religion with one Prayer contained in our Liturgy, and a few brief Paragraphs out of the Litany of our established Discipline, as a farther part of that Standard, so suited to all Capacities, that all may see our Charity extended to the whole Race of Mankind, without partial Regard, either to peculiar enclosures, or Exclusion of any. And so I do most humbly beg all that love and fear God,( as they cast their Eye with an impartial Mind on these Lines) to join with me in humble Prayer to Almighty God herein: 

O God, the Creator and Preserver of all Mankind; We humbly beseech thee for all Sorts and Conditions of Men, That thou wouldst be pleased to make thy Ways known unto them, thy Saving Health unto all Nations: More especially we pray for the good Estate of the catholic Church, That it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians, may be lead into the way of Truth; and hold the Faith in Unity of Spirit, in the Bond of Peace, and Righteousness of Life. Finally, We commend to the Fatherly Goodness all those who are any ways afflicted or distressed in Mind, Body, or Estate; That it may please thee to comfort and relieve them according to their several Necessities, giving them Patience under their Sufferings, and an happy Issue out of all their Afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ his sake.  
Amen.    

Against Worldly Design and Debauchery, the Sin of the Professor and the Profane, as the two extremes that poison and choke all Religion and Morality.  
FRom all Blindness of Heart: From Pride, Vain Glory, and hypocrisy: From Envy, Hatred, Malice, and all Uncharitableness.  
From Fornication, and all other deadly Sin: From all the deceits of the World, the Flesh, and the Devil.  
From all Sedition, Privy Conspiracy, and Rebellion; From all False Doctrine, heresy, and Schism: From Hardness of Heart, and Contempt of thy World and Commandment,  
Good Lord deliver us.   

For Universal Peace and Charity; and for Grace, and Guidance of God's Spirit, that we may serve him acceptably, with Reverence, and Godly Fear.  
THat it may please thee to give all Nations Unity, Peace, and Concord.  
That it may please thee to give thy People Increase of Grace, to hear meekly thy Word, and to receive it with pure Affection, and to bring forth the Fruits of the Spirit.  
That it may please thee to bring into the Way of Truth all such as have erred, and are deceived.  
That it may please thee to forgive our Enemies, Persecutors and Slanderers, and to turn their Hearts.  
That it may please thee to give us true Repentance, to forgive us all our Sins, Negligences, and Ignorances; and to due us with the Grace of thy Holy Spirit, to amend our Lives according to thy holy Word.  
We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord.   

To conclude: The ill Management of our Tongue, or the bad Husbandry of our Time, will render the best Religion vain.  
A Word briefly of Each: And First, Of the Tongue.  
I Must add one Ingredient more, as a principal Part of the Layman's Religion; without which, all External Profession of Religion is but a Shadow: For which I have a very good Authority; If any Man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his Tongue, he deceiveth his own Heart, and that Man's Religion is vain, Jam. 1.26.  
The Tongue is Man's peculiar Glory, and was originally designed to enable him to praise God, and benefit Mankind; as we find it exemplified in the Man after-God's own Heart: Awake up my Glory: I will give Thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the People, I will sing unto thee among the Nations; so will I teach Transgressors thy Ways, and Sinners shall be converted to thee. This is the just Inference of the Son of sirach, in Eccles. The Lord hath given me a Tongue, and I will praise him therewith.  
And as God designed in Creation, every thing should answer the End of its Being, so we have here an infallible Test to try all our Words and Discourses: And we may be assured, whatever part will not answer one of these two primitive Ends of Speech, either to glorify God, or benefit Mankind, will not hold weight in the Balance of the Sanctuary.  
Therefore let as to Day( even from this moment) hear his Voice, and no more harden our Hearts herein. God hath placed in every Man an inward Check, as a rain upon his Tongue; though too many wise and sober Men frequently wound themselves by their too ready compliance with others( as Opportunity offers) to barter 'vice and Folly herein. How often have they forced themselves against this inward Caution; either to fabricate, or to relate filthy and frothy, if not obscene, or profane Stories, Jests or Squibs, to obtain the Honour of a Fool in the Play, by diverting and pleasing the sinful and easy Inclination of others, in that which is not only barren and unprofitable, but oftentimes sinful and offensive to tender and chased Organs; and ends, at last, in some overt sinful Act. How excellent Advice have we from the Apostle, to shun this great Evil, Eph. 4.29. Let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your Mouth, but that which is good, to the use of edifying, that it may administer Grace to the Hearers: And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby we are sealed to the Day of Redemption.  
The prudent Management of the Tongue, hath in all Ages been accounted the most excellent Part of human Perfection: And herein St. James seems to allow Perfection in this Life. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole Body.  
But how degenerate is the Age we live in? How far short do we come herein of many of the pious Heathen of old, who made the Fruit of this Noble Member of the Tongue the chief part of their Hospitality for entertainment of their best Friends, in the Communication of the Divine Life, as more suitable Food, and purer Nourishment for their immortal Souls, than to eat and drinks together like Hogs in the same through, or Horses in the same Manger.  
I may adventure to speak it,( though it be a hard Saying,) if we should measure God's Friends( by this Standard) in mens Words and Discourses in Conversation, the Devil will have Twenty for One that appears on God's part; which plainly demonstrates that many are called, but few are Christians.  
I pray God all that red this Paper, may seriously consider this great Duty; and tremble to think of the dreadful Account must be made of this great Talent of the Tongue, to which we owe so much, both of our spiritual and our secular Advantages; that for the future they may set a strict Watch before the door of their Lips, so as to endeavour all they say may answer one of these two Primitive Ends of Speech, either to glorify God, or benefit Men.  
Well might St. James say, Life and Death are in the Power of the Tongue, when the Mouth of Truth itself had before pronounced the Sentence: By thy Words thou shalt be justified, and by thy Words thou shalt be condemned.  
The Tongue is the Helm, by which the Soul of Man steers the whole Course of his Conversation among Men: It is so voluble a Member, that it needs not so much as the flexure of a joint, and often moves without giving us any Warning; and as Children easily set those rolling Engines in Motion, which stronger Men cannot suddenly stop; so when our Mind( which is the Pilot of our Tongue) wanders abroad, and leaves this unruly Engine at liberty, our Passions and our Fancies( which are the Childish Parts of our animal Nature) are too apt to set our Tongues into such a loose carrier of Folly and babbling, as our Reason cannot easily restrain it. Therefore David, to prevent this great Evil, said, Psal. 39. I will take heed to my ways, that I offend not with my Tongue. I will keep my Mouth as with a Bridle, while the Wicked is before me. And that he might do it effectually, he fixed his Mind at home, in Contemplation of his own frail Mortality; My Heart was hot within me, whilst I was musing( thus inwardly intent) the Fire( vehement thoughtfulness) burnt within me; then spake I with my Tongue: Lord make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is, that I may know how frail I am.  
How can the Tongue be worse employed, or the Speaker rendered more odious, than in railing at, and censuring others, when at the same time he himself may be guilty of that, or worse Crimes, which might have been butted with him in Silence, had he not thus provoked others to blazon them to the World.  

Qui alterum ●… cusat pro●… ri, ipsum se ●… ntueri opor●… et.  But all proceeds from Self-love, in being partial to ourselves, and censuring others, before we look home and judge ourselves.  
For though Men may imagine their Words vanish with their Breath which utters them, they may be assured they are all recorded with God, and shall be produced hereafter, as Witnesses for, or against them. Therefore let them carry in their Memory this short Caution to be in all Companies their Monitor.  
Remember God hears, and writes down  
All things that Men do say;  
And every idle Word shall be  
Accounted for one Day.   

Of the right Improvement of Time; or, the great Evil of Procrastination, or deferring our Duty.  
Many are gone to their Place, with a too late Repentance, though they daily renewed their good Purposes. To the end therefore those that remain, may no longer harden their Hearts, but While it is called to day, may( by a better Obedience) hear his Voice, I shall conclude with a brief Discourse of the great Evil and Folly of Procrastination; or deferring our Duty from the present( which is our certain) to a future uncertain Season: The putting off this Day's Work till to Morrow. This, like subtle Poison, kills insensibly, not perceived, till 'tis incurable.  
OF all the Follies incident to Man, there is nothing more natural, or more destructive to him, than to defer the present opportunity of doing what he should do, either out of a lazy indulgence to sloth, or with a design of doing that which is less profitable, or perhaps really injurious to himself or others; so stupid and inconsiderate, as if the heaviest load were most easy to carry, when the Body is most indisposed. The Work of Life is appointed us at our entrance, and no part of our time our own; so that when we leave the least Duty undone to day, the best we can hope for( if we live) is to double our diligence to morrow; Hodiè operanti, cràs levius opus. Time is so precious, that the loss of the least moment can never be recovered: All that can be done towards it, is to spend what is to come better. This Life is wholly in order to another; and Time is the sole opportunity God hath given us, for transacting the great business of Eternity. Our Work is great, and our Day of working short; much of which also is lost and useless, through the Ignorance and Inadvertency of Youth, and the Diseases and Infirmities of Old Age. Our Portion of Time is not only short, as to its duration; but also uncertain in the possession. The loss of it is irreparable to the Loser, and profitable to no body else; it shall be severely accounted for at the great day of judgement. Then certainly if such a thing as the Philosoper's ston may be found, it consists in giving Time and Season, as well as other Creatures their due, and doing every Day's Work within it's compass,( which the best find but short to do it well,) and not put off any part of this Day's Duty till to Morrow; which hath already the proper Work of itself, appointed by him whose Day it is. We cannot know( the least moment before) what additional Task our Lord may appoint to Morrow; which may be such as may require our utmost capacity. Sufficient for the day is the Evil thereof, in all its Circumstances. The present Instant alone is ours; our Health and Strength may fail, as well as Opportunity; but our corrupt Inclinations are too apt to increase; so as to morrow we may be less disposed to our Duty, and too apt again to put off till another Morrow: Nay, we may never have a Day more to work; or be rendered uncapable of working more. Qui non est hodiè, cra● minus aptus erit.  
I cannot have a better Tutor than the Roman Perseus, instructed by Natures Light, on this Subject; though it is a shane so many who pretend to be Leaders of the Blind in Gospel-Light should come so far short of what he taught in the practise of his known Duty.  

Cras hoc fiet; idem cras fiet: quid? quasi magnum  
Nempe diem donas? &c.   

To Morrow we'll do this: Alas, you'll do  
The same to Morrow, Why ask we of you  
So much? To wit, One only Day; but when  
The Third Day comes, we have consumed then  
To Morrow, Yesterday; and thus to borrow  
Of time, though yet to come, still on to Morrow,  
Will secretly drive out our time at last,  
When every Day, a new Day will be past,  
Never to be recalled; for thou, O Wheel!  
Which dost about the second Axle reel  
Hind-most mayst strive in vain for to o'retake  
The fore-most turning forward, which doth make  
Like hast, with equal speed, although thou be  
Hard by it placed, under the self-same three,   
12o Die Martii, Anno Libertatis, Gratiâ speciali mihi abundante, restitutae, 10.    

POST-SCRIPT.  
IT might have been expected from such a Title as The Lay-man's Religion, that I should have begun with some Preface, by way of Apology, for presuming to treat of any thing sacred: Therefore as I have already propounded my end, and shall leave what I have written, to show Cause why; so it becomes me here in the close, to tell the World more plainly what hath induced me hereunto, and my Design therein.  
In the first place, I do most humbly aclowledge my own Incapacity, to trace many things in this small Treatise to their Original: And that whatsoever I have thus composed and published, relating to the Doctrine and Principles of Religion, or Man's Duty, is no more mine, than as I have collected, digested, and registered it in my own Mind, from the Works and Labours of pious and learned Men, who prepared, and handed it down to me and others, for the common Good of Mankind. Wherein I have forborn to quote the Authors Names, whose Words and Sense I have so made use of, to the end, wholesome Truth( which sufficiently commends itself to a Mind well qualified) may not be less welcome to an impartial Reader, though conveyed down by Men of different Persuasions, which hath been the Fate of many excellent Treatises, among such as are too apt to have Men's Persons, rather than their real worth in admiration; not considering, that the most refined are but earthen Vessels, when the Treasure is( in all) still the same.  
When I beholded( to my great Grief,) the generality of Dissenters, though scarce acquainted with the Fundamental Truths of Christianity, and having no more knowledge of the Doctrine and Discipline of our Church, than from the false and malicious Reports of our Enemies; yet puffed up with an high conceit of the excellency of their own Way; and wilfully tenacious every one in their own several Persuasion; and so prepossessed with prejudice against this our established Religion, that they were so far from reading, that they rather despised all that hath been written, in Tenderness and Love for their instruction, by the most reverend and learned Clergy of our Church; saying, It was only done to promote their own Trade and Interest; I could no longer bear with such Affronts and Indignities, to be openly cast upon Truth itself, lest I might by my silence become guilty of that, which I did not endeavour( as much as in me lay,) to hinder.  
And therefore, in obedience to the Dictate of my own Conscience, having with an impartial Mind preached into the Truth of all, so as to he rightly informed, and fully persuaded in my Mind;( neither imposed upon, or influenced by any Party;) I judged myself under the highest Obligation to God and Man, as a proper Witness for Truth, to publish to all the World, what God hath been graciously pleased thus to make known to me: Solemnly appealing to the Searcher of all hearts, 'tis done, to the best of my Understanding, Knowledge, and Belief, purely for discovery of Truth, and for the Good of Men's Souls in all Persuasions.  
And as my whole Design herein hath been; so it shall be my hearty Prayers and Endeavours to stem the Tide of Debauchery and Immorality, which threatens universal Desolation to the present Age, and ruin to Posterity; and( as the best means to effect that) to promote Charity, and Brotherly Kindness among all that make Profession of Christianity; that they may so live and act, as to keep their Conscience voided of Offence towards God and towards Man; the only Medium to render Religion amiable, thereby to promote, and restore that Harmony in Divine Worship, which, for so many Years, rendered our Nation the Goshen of the whole Earth; a Blessing( if well understood) most desirable in all Nations.  


Waller.  Could we forbear Disputes, and practise Love,  
We should agree as Angels do above.   

Self-Love would cease, or be dilated, when  
We should behold as many Selfs as Men:  
All of one Family in Blood allied,  
His precious Blood, that for our ransom died.   

Love as he loved, who left his Glorious Seat,  
To make us humble, and to make us great:  
This Iron Age, so fraudulent and bold,  
touched with this Love, would be an Age of Gold.    
The End of the First Part.