Concerning the Remissness of the Magistrate. A SERMON Preached in the Parish-Church of Bovey-Tracy, LAST Easterday in the Afternoon.  
By FRANCIS STOOKE, M. A. And VICAR thereof.  
EXETER: Printed by Sam. Darker and Sam. Farley, for Charles Yeo, John Pearce, and Philip Bishop, Booksellers in Exon, 1698.   

THE PREFACE.  
READER,  
THE only occasion of Printing this following Discourse, is to vindicate Myself and it, from the unchristian Calumnies and Reflections that are every day cast upon us: It was not my Design in Preaching of it, nor is it so in Printing of it, to exasperate any Man, but only to contribute what I could towards the suppression of Vice and Immorality: And in pursuance of His Majesty's Proclamation, for preventing and punishing Immorality and Profaneness, I concluded the best means of effecting it, was to reprove the Remissness of Magistrates, and to excite them to a diligent Execution of the Laws against notorious Offenders. And this I was moved to do from no other principle, but an hearty Zeal for the Honour of GOD, and the Interest of Religion; which are very much diminished by the bold and unrestrained commission of Wickedness  
But instead of the Success I intended and hoped for, it was condemned as a personal Reflection, and a very rude Treatment of the sublime Dignity of the Magistrate; and a for: of Indigitation, to be preached only before one of them. Now, I do sincerely protest, I had no such intentions, and should have done it as soon before a whole Congregation of that Order; and it may be with better acceptance, and less hatred, than now I have met with. I have therefore ventured to send it abroad into the World, to let Men see how much I am wronged, and how unjustly I have suffered in my Reputation, upon the account of it. I am conscious enough of its being unworthy of an Impression, and of my own inability for such a performance, and should have gladly declined the Undertaking: but the perpetual incessant Clamours that are risen against us, together with the terrible Threats, and false Reports that are given out, have constrained me to it; besides which I know nothing could have prevailed with me to appear in public: And all that I have to desire of the Reader, is, that he will vouchsafe it a candid Censure, and give some allowance for the Occasion.  
Farewell.   
ACTS xviii. Ver. 17. 
And Gallio cared for none of these things.  
THE Words are a description of the Carriage and Behaviour of a great Magistrate towards the most intolerable Impudence and Indignity that could be offered in his Presence; no less than striking, and laying violent Hands upon a Person in open Court; a Crime of so heinous and culpable a Nature, that it is accounted Capital in some Courts, and would have been punished with Death. But Gallio did not account it such, nor show so high a Resentment of it, and took as little notice of it, as tho' it had been an innocent, or an indifferent Action: He cared for none of these things.  
Indeed it is a matter of great Consequence in all Governments to make choice of such Magistrates as are impartial and courageous, active and resolute in the execution of their Office; and will spare neither Friend nor Foe, wherever they observe the Laws to be violated, or any Insolences or Outrages committed. This would be a means to suppress the present Disorders, and to prevent the like audacious and rude Attempts for the future. This indeed is the original design of Magistracy and Government, to restrain Men from doing Evil and Mischief, and to keep them in Peace and good Order; and as often as any shall transgress and deviate from these Rules, to assign them a condign Punishment, according to the demerit of their Offences. And if this Method were duly observed, the World would not have that cause to cry out of Rapine, Extortion, Oppression, Fraud and Injustice, that now it hath: the Rich would not grind the Faces of the Poor, nor the Poor have cause to complain of the Oppression of the Rich; Superiors would not tyrannize over their Inferiors, nor Inferiors murmur and rebel against their Superiors. Vice would not be so bold and bare-faced, nor Profaneness so common and reputable, but Peace and Holiness would go hand in hand, and a universal Piety and Justice would overspread the Face of the whole Earth, and Righteousness would run down our Streets as a mighty Stream.  
It is generally esteemed a great Honour to be a Member of those that make Laws; I am sure it is a much greater to be one of those that put them in execution: For, to what purpose are they made, if they are never executed? But 'tis much to be feared, there are too many which are invested with this Power, are of the same Temper and Disposition with Gallio, They care not for these things: Although the greatest Indecencies and Disorders are perpetrated in their Presence, and to the very Face of them. The Apostle tells us that the Magistrates Power was given them for this purpose, To be a terror to those that do evil, and an encouragement to those that do well, Rom. 13. 3. And he supposeth the Sword to be born in vain, when the Magistrate is not the Minister of God in this respect, A revenger, to execute wrath upon him that doth evil.  
And what a Blessing would it be to this Nation, if all our Magistrates would resolve upon this Course, Act in conformity to the Apostle's Rule; and be magnanimous and fearless in the execution of their Office in such a manner as he here directs. But instead of that, may we not justly complain of a Coldness and Indifferency, Remissness and Neglect, in taking cognizance of, or Punishing Offences; and altho' they are many times Eye witnesses and Ear-witnesses to the foulest Vices and the greatest Lewdness and Profaneness, yet will they for all that, pass by such Actions, and show as little resentment of them, as the great Man did in the Text, who would not be offended, altho' there could not be a greater occasion given, then for Men to revenge themselves with their own Hands, and to offer Violence to a Person in the Court of Judicature, and in the sight of the Judge. And yet we read of some that did so, for the Greeks took Sosthenes, the chief Ruler of the Synagogue, and beat him before the Judgment-seat, And Gallio cared for none of these things.  
In discoursing on which Words, I shall do these three things; 

I. I shall treat of them particularly, and as they relate to Gallio.  
II. I shall consider them in general, as they concern the whole Order of Magistrates.  
III. I will show what use and improvement may be made of them: And of these severally.    
1. And first, let us observe them in their particular concern, as they relate to Gallio, who is said here to care for none of these things; wherein we may inform ourselves, 1st, Who this Gallio was; a chief Magistrate. 2dly, What was the Crime objected against him; Neglect and Remissness in the execution of his Office; he cared not for it. 3dly. Wherein the peccancy and culpableness of his Crime consisted; he was careless in these things, (i. e.) in things of the greatest Moment and Importance.  
1. As to the Person here spoken of, Gallio, he was a chief Magistrate, no less than Proconsul of Achaia; viz. the Lord-Deputy of that Province, under Claudius Caesar the Emperor of Rome. This Gallio was a Roman by Birth, and of a noble Extraction; he was the great Seneca's elder Brother, and a Man of great Eminency and Note in his time, otherwise he could not be fit to manage such a difficult Post as the Government of Achaia was, a Country very full of Factions and Divisions, and the People of it very stubborn and headstrong; and where they could not prevail by Law, and obtain their Purposes by Justice, they would fulfil them by Force and Violence; as appears by their beating a Man in the presence of their Governor; a very rude and unmannerly Action.  
2. But yet it did not move Gallio in the least, he passed it by, and took little or no Notice of it, or at least, would not seem to do so; he would not concern himself on either side, but as they quarrelled, so they might agree again for him; it was all one to him whether they were Friends or Foes, so long as they were Loyal and Obedient to Caesar. But however, this is censured by all Interpreters as a great Fault in him, and taken as a particular Remark fastened on him by the Spirit of God, and adjudged thereby, a careless Magistrate, and a very ill Man, because he cared not for these things; but otherwise, of a very good Temper and Disposition; for he is styled by the Poet, Dulcem Gallionem, which imports no less. But whatever the Nature of the Action was, he thought it would be no Policy in him to take either part, and so far he was safe, for than he was assured he should disoblige neither side; but all this proceeded from a cowardly and pusillanimous spirit in him; for being newly entered upon his Government, probably he might be afraid of the Rabble. He knew not but the Jews, had he favoured St. Paul's Cause, might have accused him as no Friend of Caesar's: And 'tis most likely the Greeks, had he rescued Sosthenes out of their Hands, might in that boisterous Humour have served him in the same kind. Therefore he concluded it the safest way to pass it by, that so he might escape their Fury; and save himself in a whole skin.  
This was the Humour of our great Magistrate here in the Text, he cared not what Violences and Outrages there were committed; nor undoubtedly, if Murder itself had ensued, would not have been much concerned, provided he could keep himself out of Harms way. But this Behaviour of his is so far from being commendable, or indeed justifiable, that it is very criminous and blamable, and deserves to be branded with the ignominious Character of Cowardice and Popularity.  
3. But that which heightens his Crime, and makes it the more culpable yet, is that he was of the same temper in all things, in every Complaint that came before him, and those of the greatest moment and importance; such as Controversies about Religion, as this is generally supposed to be: If he had been remiss and indifferent in one particular case only, and that too but a small and inconsiderable matter, the Crime had not been so great; but he cared for none of these things, small nor great: he would not concern himself in any of them. Now by this general neglect and remissness of his, he did but encourage and enbolden them to do the like again, and to be the more insolent and irresistible for the future; had he put the Laws in execution, and punished them as soon as they had offended, they would have been under some terror and dread of committing the like, or any other offence again; whereas the impunity of one Crime is not only taken for a toleration of that, but is also a temptation to another. And this was the fault with which Gallio was justly charged; he neglected the doing Justice upon one sort of Offenders, and presently he is disturbed with the insolences and clamours of another; had he punished the Jews for their Insurrection, the Greeks would never have fallen upon a Person in such a violent manner, and beaten him in his presence.  
You have heard what this Gallionian temper and disposition was, and wherein the criminalness of it lay; which was the first thing undertaken to be shown. And I think what is here alleged against this Magistrate in particular, may with as great a truth be asserted of the generality of that Office: they are too careless and remiss in the execution of their Authority, and are worthy of as great blame as Gallio, or any other of that Order: they care but little for these things; if they did, Sin would not so much abound.  
2 . For the neglect of doing Justice upon Offenders, is one of the principal causes of that deluge of Vice and Immorality, which at this time overflows the World. And this is the general Proposition deduceable from these Words, and the second Point we are to speak to.  
And to confirm what is here asserted, I need go no farther than Experience; I say Daily Experience is a sufficient Proof to this Purpose: But I shall not content myself with this only, but shall assign you a Scriptural one; which is that of the old Eli, who we are told 1 Sam. 4. 18. had been Judge of Israel forty Years; and behaved himself undoubtedly very well in the Office; for we hear no ill character fixed upon him, but only too much gentleness and lenity, in the execution of his Office: but we find this was a just cause of incensing the divine displeasure against him, and of God's denouncing such heavy Judgements against his Family. Nay the old Man, as soon as the Complaint came to his Ears of the profane and dissolute lives of his Sons, he took particular notice of it, and immediately reproved them for it, saying unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil do by all this People: Nay, my Sons, it is no good report that I hear; for ye make the old People to transgress. The good old Man seemed to be hearty sorry and troubled for his Sons follies, but this did not answer God's end: And he was offended with him for this reason, because his Sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. God expects more than mere words, and bare reproofs; especially where his Honour, and that of Religion are so much concerned. For when Profaneness, and Looseness, and Irreligion crept in among them, and grew too hard for the Government, God threatens to do such a thing in Israel, at which both the Ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle, 1 Sam. 3. 11.  
Now the principal Reason why God entertained such an indignation, and denounced this heavy judgement against the House of Eli, was because those Crimes his Sons were guilty of, were of a very contagious nature, and might infect others, as well as themselves; and by not restraining them, the whole land would soon be overrun with profaneness and debauchery. So that it was not Eli's personal miscarriages that God thought himself so dishonoured by him; but for want of taking due care for the suppression of Lewdness and Immorality in others. And this shows us the true way how every Magistrate may best serve God In his Station, acquire the applause of being an Honour to God and his Profession, and best answer the end of his Function; which is by giving all due encouragement to Religion and Virtue; and by a diligent application of the most effectual means for suppressing Irreligion, and Profaneness.  
This indeed is a great and noble Design, worthy of the greatest Minds; and an Employment fit for Persons of the most celebrated Valour and Courage; and no way proper for Men of dastardly and effeminate Spirits: For it must be acknowledged to be a work of some difficulty, to do this effectually. It being much easier to subdue the Bodies, than the Passions of Men: For many are so wedded to their Lusts, that they account it as bad as Death to be separated from them; and would rather mortify their Bodies in the Literal sense, than to be deprived of their beloved Sin. For do we not daily see that Men will forgo Honour, Reputation, Interest, Health, and the hopes of Heaven, rather than those Vices they have been accustomed to the practice of? It is in vain then to imagine, that the mere fears of the Execution of Human Laws should presently restrain those, whom no fear of Hell or Damnation, could hitherto reform? However there may, no doubt, be a means found out how this blessed Design may be perfected; how Vice may be brought into Disgrace, and Virtue become genteel and fashionable: And there cannot be better expedient, than good Examples; especially of those who are Men of Fortune and Grandeur: Let such as these set the Example, and there is no fear but they will soon be followed. For Virtue is as attractive as Vice, when it is recommended by the practice of Men of Riches and Authority: for whatever a Great Man practices, be it good or evil, it is mighty influential, and seldom fails of success: For, for the most part, (I know not how) it strikes men's Eyes, and charms their Hearts and Affections into a Love first, and then into an Imitation of it.  
But how powerful and efficacious soever great men's Examples may be to this purpose, yet this of itself will not do with all; for mere Examples, altho' of excellent use to men of ingenious minds, yet to others, they are not so, but are likened to Mercury-posts which stand in the Road and point to the right, but men will go which way they please notwithstanding.  
But if Examples will not do, surely Laws will; and it cannot be denied but that we have excellent Laws against Vice and Debauchery, and there is as great an Encouragement for the Execution of them as was ever known in any Reign. But yet there is a just Complaint of a mighty Deluge of all sorts of Wickedness still among us; Are not Drunkenness, and Uncleanness, Unrighteousness, and Oppression, Profanation of the Lord's day, and Contempt of Religion, as common Vices now as ever? And done't we hear as horrid Oaths and tremendous Curses, and as great a Plenty of them, as we heard before that excellent Act was made for the suppressing of these Vices? Nay, How few of those whose Concern it is to see it done, are so hearty and zealous in punishing of them as they are required to be? And what should be the reason that there is no abatement of it all this while, especially at a time when Gratitude, if not our holy Profession, should oblige us to a Reformation? Why, it is easy to resolve all into the Corruption of human Nature; men are degenerated from the Virtues of their Ancestors, and are become feral and brutish: but this is a general Answer which serves for all Times and Places, and may not be so peculiar to the present, but I shall assign one as much more probable and likely; which is, that the bad Examples of those who ought to reform others, bring Vice into fashion, and do thereby propagate and increase the Practice of it. It is to little purpose therefore to talk of Laws, Religion, or Reformation, unless there be a Power made use of to restrain the Vices, altar the Customs, and change the Lives of Men.  
Therefore to Examples and Laws the Magistrate's Power must be added, which was originally ordained for this end; that is, to be both a Terror to those that do Evil, as well as an Encouragement to those that do well. And then the Apostle supposeth the Sword is not boar in vain, when the Magistrate is the Minister of God in this respect; a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil. But if they suffer this bold Commission of Sin to pass without Correction, it will ere long pull down the Vengeance of God upon the Kingdom, and cause him to rain Fire and Brimstone upon it, as he did upon Sodom and Gomorrha, till it be consumed: And if it should happen that this or any other terrible judgement should be our fate, where can we lay the blame? Will it not lay at the door of the Magistrates and Officers of Justice; because they might, but would not redress these Impieties. For it has always been an allowed Maxim, That he who did not forbid Sin, when it was in his power, does in effect command it. And he that doth not punish it, when it is in his power, encourages and upholds it.  
But the great evil and mischief of the Magistrate's Neglect, in doing justice upon notorious Offenders, will more fully appear from these following Considerations; because God is thereby dishonoured, Religion disparaged, the Government weakened, Authority despised, and Atheism increased.  
1st. First, I say, God is thereby dishonoured; when Vice and Immorality are countenanced, and tolerated in a Nation: or, which is all one, when they are connived at, and uncorrected; Men will be apt to judge irreverently of God, and say, That if he do not take complacency and delight in such actions, yet he is not very highly provoked and offended with them. For, if he was, he would either shower down an immediate Vengeance upon the actors, as he did upon Hophni and Phineas, who for their Immorality and Lewdness, were taken off both in one day: Or else, he would denounce an heavy judgement against those, who had it in their power to restrain such Indignities, and affronts to the Divine honour, and yet were so negligent as to overlook them; as he did to old Eli and his House, so as utterly to cancel and extinguish it.  
Should Pagans' and Infidels observe the debaucheries of Christians, and how they escape without punishment, they would be apt to entertain mean and unworthy notions of the Deity whom we worship; that he is an impure or careless Being, and unconcerned for his Honour; otherwise he would never suffer such intolerable Abuses against his Divine and Sacred Person. Holiness and Purity are most essential to GOD; herein does his Image chief consist, and whoever acts in conformity to these Virtues, bears the nearest resemblance to his Heavenly Father, and may (in some sense) be said to dignify and illustrate the Deity whom he adores. And it is so accounted even by GOD himself, who takes it as an Honour done unto Him; and has promised to compensate such services with Honour, Those that honour me, I will honour with God; (i. e.) Those who by Holiness of Life and purity of Manners, do profess to believe in me, such as these I would choose for my Votaries; for they are an Ornament to the Religion they profess, and a credit to the Numen they adore: But they that despise me, shall be lightly esteemed, (i. e.) such as profess to know GOD, but in their works deny him; who own a GOD, and yet live as if there were none; who give themselves up to a profane and irreligious temper of Mind, and let lose the reins to all sorts of wickedness in their Lives, such as the Sons of Eli were, who are said to be the Sons of Belial; that lived without yoke or restraint, who knew not the Lord. 'Tis true, GOD cannot be despised for his glorious Perfections; yet his Authority may be despised, when Men presumptuously break his Laws, and do not regard what he hath commanded or forbidden them. And seeing he hath appointed an Order of Men for this purpose, to see his Commands executed, to punish Vice, and reward Virtue; he accounts it as a great affront done him, if they neglect it.  
2 . And as GOD is highly dishonoured, by such a sinful Neglect, so is Religion no less disparaged and contemned. Some will be apt to take it for a cheat and imposture, and say, It is imposed upon Men for Secular and Politic ends, and no way conducive to the Honour of GOD, or the benefit of Souls. Whereas if the Magistrate did profess an awe and veneration for it, and act in conformity to his Profession; then most Men, especially such as are dependent on him, would be brought by his Authority, or won by his Example, into a love and liking of it. But when Magistrates are careless and indifferent themselves, it maketh others so too; and renders Religion as a mean and contemptible thing: When those whose main Duty it is to look after it, who are constituted Guardians and Defenders of it, do slight and neglect it, and will not concern themselves in restraining Immorality and Profaneness, the great blemishes of Religion; then will Men be apt to slight and ridicule it, and account it a thing of indifferency whether they are subservient to it, or no.  
3 . But this is not all; their Contempt does not stop here; they will at last despise Authority itself: What an insignificant thing is Power and Superiority, if it be not employed to the uses for which it was ordained? And where it is not duly executed, it will at length be slighted and despised: It is a true Saying, Too much Familiarity breeds Contempt; but never more true than in respect of Magistracy and Ministry; a too great Freedom and Familiariry of Conversation, does very much depreciate and degrate these subblime and honourable Functions, and makes them disesteemed and neglected: whereas Strangeness and Distance, will create a reverential Aw and Deference in all accesses to them, and preserve that Honour and Dignity, which is justly owing to their Character.  
4 . Another evil Consequence of Carelessness and Remissness in the Magistracy, is, because the Government is very much weakened, and made impotent thereby. The Sins of a Nation do naturally tend the weakness and dishonour of it: Profaneness, Debauchery, and Vice, are not only the reproach of a People, but they are the readiest means to destroy it: who can deny that Luxury, Debauchery, and all sorts of Intemperance, not only sink the Reputation of a People; but also softens and effeminates them, and makes them careless, idle and regardless of any thing, but what conduces to Ease and Voluptuousness. In all probability, such a Nation cannot stand long; especially if it chance to be encountered by another of more Wisdom, Courage and Resotion, it will soon be overcome by it. So that it is plain, that such Sins as these have a natural efficacy in them of weakening the Power and Interest of a Kingdom. But there are other Sins, such as Profaneness, Contempt of GOD and Religion, common Swearing, Hypocrisy, Lying, etc. are the moral causes of a Nation's Ruin; and when the measure of the People's Iniquity is filled up, it will accordingly succeed with them; as it did with the Jews, who are now a Lo-ammi, that is, no more a People.  
5 . The fifth and last evil Consequence of Remissness in the Magistracy, is, that Sin is thereby increased and propagated; he that does not dread the power of a Magistrate, will make but little conscience of his Actions, but indulge himself in his Lewdness with all imaginable freedom and licentiousness, and suffer nothing to restrain him, till he has gone through all the classes of Impiety, and is become a great proficient in it: and having drowned his Senses and his Reason, he is at last tempted to say with the fool in the Psalm, There is no God. And the Consequence of that, is to be corrupt and abominable, or to commit all Uncleanness with greediness, in the Apostle's phrase. This is the pernicious effect of Sin, if it be not timely restrained and prevented: It is of so contagious and spreading a nature, that it presently infects the whole Neighbourhood, diffuses itself from City to Country, and at last becomes Epidemical.  
These are some of the mischievous Effects of Remissness in the Magistracy; by which it evidently appears to be most true, what was asserted in the general Proposition, That the Neglect of doing Justice upon Offenders, is one of the principal causes of that deluge of Vice and Immorality, which at this time overflows the World.  
Now the Application is as follows: If this than be the Cause of most of the Sin and Impiety that abounds in the World, it does certainly then very much concern all the Magistrates, and Officers of Justice among us in this Kingdom, to use all due care to prevent the growth and increase of Atheism and Profaneness. Let them abandon that Popular and lukewarm Temper (which has been the cause of so much mischief, both to Church and State, for the future, and be more active and diligent in their Office; especially where the Glory of GOD, and the Interest of Religion are struck at: they should blush to be found remiss and negligent in Executing the Laws, upon wilful and notorious Offenders. To do so, is an argument they are too much in love with Sin themselves; otherwise they would be more careful to punish it in others. I wish I could lift up my Voice, and speak loud enough to awaken every one of them, and persuade them to be diligent and vigilant in their Office; to chastise all public Offenders, and do Justice strictly upon those who dishonour GOD, and are a scandal to Religion. Stir up yourselves, and be zealous for your. GOD, as the Scripture speaks. Let not the Drunkards, the Blasphemers, the profaners of the Lord's-day, who despise his Worship and Service, go unpunished. Be just and impartial in all your Corrections; spare neither Relative, nor Dependent; let your Indignation be extended against Sin in general, and as often as you find it perpetrated, be sure to punish it. Discountenance Make-bates, and sowers of Discord among Brethren: reprove the Profane and Common-swearer, and lay the Penalty as often as you find him to offend. In a word, let the severity of the Law be executed against all open Wickedness.  
And this indeed would be the most effectual way, to produce a Reformation throughout the whole Kingdom. This would be the readiest way to make us an happy People. For tho' there might still be a great many sins committed amongst us, in secrecy and under covert; yet they would not be National Sins, nor be imputed to us as a public Gild; but every Man should bear his own Iniquity. Whereas without such a Reformation as this, or an hearty and an honest Endeavour after it, all our Pretences to Religion, will serve only as so many marks of our Insincerity, and of the mean Opinion we have of GOD; as if he would be moved with such Services, wherein we present Him only the form and surface, and neglect the weightier concern of doing Justice, showing Mercy, and walking humbly before Him. There cannot be a greater dishonour done to His Divine Majesty, than to be unconcerned at the great Scandal that is cast upon Religion, by a bold and public Profaneness, and to suffer it to escape without check or punishment.  
It will be to no purpose for Ministers, to decry Vice in their Sermons, nor to divert from it in their Lives, if the Magistrate's Authority do not second their Endeavours; for let them do the one never so powerfully, and the other never so regularly, yet it will be all in vain, without the concurrence of the Magistrate's Sword, to terrify and restrain them from Vice, and over-awe and compel them to Obedience.  
And this is no private conjecture, or groundless surmise; but the wisdom of the Nation has concluded this to be the most effectual means of suppressing that flood of Sin and Impiety, that at this time overspreads the Kingdom; and have rightly adjudged the cause of it to be want of Care and Diligence in the Magistrate, of putting the Laws in execution.  
As you would therefore answer the great Ends of your sublime Order, omit no opportunity of doing all that is conducible thereunto: use your utmost Power to promote the Honour of GOD, and the Interest of Religion: And this cannot be better done, than by discountenancing all lewd and vicious Persons, and encouraging the Virtuous and Good. And above all, be most careful to avoid all the kinds, nay, and the very appearance of evil in your Lives and Actions: Consider the Dignity of your Character; the Scripture calls you Gods; and sure to answer that Character your must not only refrain yourselves from all Wickedness in general, but also be eminent and exemplary in all holy Conversation and Godliness. Let your Light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glory your Father which is in Heaven. And let us constantly pray, as our Church directs in that pertinent branch of her Litany, That GOD would be pleased to bless and keep the Magistrates, giving them Grace to execute Justice, and to maintain Truth.  
And to close up all, let me exhort and beseech you, in the words of St. Paul, That every one that nameth the Name of CHRIST, would departed from Iniquity: As we expect the Blessing of Heaven upon us, and wish the Happiness of these Kingdoms, and that the great work of Reformation may go successfully on; let us every one in our several Conditions, Stations and Places, set ourselves seriously against Vice and Wickedness, and labour to root it out. For not only our Temporal, but our Eternal Interest is depending on it: Which GOD give us all Grace to do, etc.  
FINIS.