kJ 
 
 w 
 
 r 
 
 
 'A 
 
LIBRARY 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Theological Seminary, 
 
 A DONATION 
 
 ^.^/d^i^^^ 
 
 Beceived 
 
 ?U>r, /J-7^. 
 
} 
 
i3 
 
 Reformation upon the Gofpel-Scheme. 
 
 A 
 
 SERMON 
 
 Preached to the 
 
 SOCIETIES 
 
 FOR 
 
 Reformation of Manners^ 
 
 A T 
 
 S ALTER S-H ALL, 
 
 On Monday^ Jujie 30, 1735. 
 
 By J H N GUT S E, D. D. 
 
 Publiflied at their Requeft. 
 T^Ijc Second Edition. 
 
 L O N D O N: 
 
 Printed for J. Oswald, nt the Rofe d^nd Crcivn In the 
 
 Poultry. M DCC xxx V. 
 
 [Price Six-pence.] 
 
He 
 
 B. IX. lO. 
 
 -U'fitil the twie of reformatio?!. 
 
 all the reformers that have 
 appeared in the world, there 
 never were any comparable to 
 cur Lord Jefus Chiift, the great 
 _ ^p^fi^^ ^^d high'prieft of our 
 pofelJion 3 and of all the fcbemes of reforma- 
 tion that have ever been advanced, none are 
 worthy to be nam'd the fame day with his. 
 Neither the celebrated -f- Niuna^ Lyctirgus^ 
 Soloriy Confucius^ nor any other among the 
 A 2 heathens, 
 
 •f- I^uma was the fecond king of the Rojnansy who inflituted 
 many facred ceremonies, and ena(ft:cd uieful hiws ; and to give 
 them the greater credit with the people, pretended that he re- 
 ceived them from the Nym.ph jEgeria, v/ho recommended them 
 as moH: acceptable to the Gods. Lycurgus was the famous La- 
 cedernonian lawgiver, who reformed the government, enabled 
 good laws, and pretended a divine fan(ftion for them. ^oJon 
 was one of the fevcn wife men of Greecfy who being governor 
 of Athensy abrogated Draco\ cruel laws, and enaded better ia 
 their rtead. AnA Co f7fuci us was '^Chinefe Philofopher, whcfe 
 fuperior abilities in politicks and morals gave him a great in- 
 fluence in the eilablilhment of their laws ; and he is Hill held 
 in vail veneration among that people ; the' they don^t idolize 
 him, he having oppofed that doctrine. 
 
[4] 
 
 heathens, no nor even Mofes himfelfj the in- 
 fpired prophet and law-giver of IJrael^ could 
 ever pretend to a dignity and abihty hke our 
 Saviour's, who "was Godmanifejled in the fiefh ;* 
 or to an attempt fo excellent and fuccefsful as 
 his, who gives life and efficacy to all that is 
 worthy to be called a reformation, as he is 
 head over all things to the churchy and is af- 
 cended far above all heavens^ that he might Jill 
 all thi?2gs -f-. 
 
 What a refined and perfedl fch^me of do- 
 ctrine did he publifh and injoin ! what a clear 
 light did he difFufe thro' the minds of his fol- 
 lowers! and what a furprizing alteration did 
 he make in the world, which lay in wicked- 
 nefs at the time of his appearing in flefh! 
 What a fpiritual, reafonable and holy fervice 
 did he fet up among the Jeivs, inftead of their 
 carnal ordinances and figurative inftitutions, 
 and inftead of their corrupt traditions ! and 
 how prevalent was his gofpel to reclaim fome 
 of the moft obftinate among them, and to 
 triumph in its glorious conquefts over all the 
 fecular interefts and oppofition of Gentile na- 
 tions! Where can we find an account of fuch 
 wonderful changes, in the religious and moral 
 temper and behaviour of mankind, in all the 
 volumes of facred or civil records, of antient 
 or modern date, as are colleded in one jQiort 
 epitome, chiefly of the a£ts of two of Chrift's 
 apojiles^ as a Ipecimen of what was done by the 
 
 the^ 
 
 * 2 Tim. iii. i6. f Eph. i. ?2. and iv. lo. 
 
[5] 
 
 the reft, within the compafs of about thirty 
 years after his afcenfion to heaven? 
 
 There you fee that thefe apoftles themfelves 
 became quite other men than they were before : 
 The apoftle of the circujiicijion was no longer 
 weak or timorous in the caufe of God and 
 goodnefs, or aiming at temporal dominion and 
 worldly grandeur; but was bold and refolute, 
 bravely expofing himfelf to hardlliips and fuf- 
 ferings for the honour of Jefus and the fal- 
 vation of men : And the apoftle of the Gen- 
 tiles was no longer raging with fury againfl 
 the church, and violating all the laws of re- 
 ligion and humanity in cruel perfecutions; but 
 became meek and merciful, and trod in the 
 fteps of his great Lord and Mailer, who went 
 about doing good. And there you fee how 
 the word of the Lord ran and was glorified ; 
 what numerous converts were made among 
 "Jews and Gentiles^ to the overthrow of the 
 fuperftitions of the one, and the abominable 
 idolatries of the other, together with all the 
 errors and prejudices, lufts and paffions, im- 
 moralities and profanenefs of both. This is the 
 time of refo7'viatio7i pointed to in our text, as 
 the fruit of the priclthood of Chrift, who en- 
 tered once by his aicn blood into the holy place ^ 
 ha'vi?7g obtain d eternal redemption for uSy as 
 it follows in the next verfes. 
 
 This reformation gathered ftrength, and 
 fpread its vital powers for fevcral ages through 
 the nations of the earth; but there was :if- 
 tcrwaids a gradual decline, by means of the 
 
 corruptions 
 
[6] 
 
 corruptions of men, till at length an anti- 
 chriftian fpirit and temper defaced the fim- 
 phcity of the gofpel, and the complicated abo- 
 minations of Popery, in doftrine and pradiice, 
 exalted themfelves upon its ruins : However, 
 a little above two centuries ago, this gofpel, 
 attended with the power of God's Spirit, dif- 
 played its illuflrious light and virtues again in 
 the Frotejiant reformation 5 then a new face 
 appear'd upon the religion and morals of the 
 people, to the honour of God, the benefit of 
 human fociety, and the falvation of multi- 
 tudes who were turned to the Lord. Whilft 
 the firft principles of this reformation fubfifted 
 and prevailed, immorality and profanenefs were 
 put to the blufh, and forced to hide their heads 
 in a corner^ religion v/as in fafliion, and wick- 
 ednefs was accounted, what it is, the worft of 
 reproach. But, as the fad: appears to me, 
 when the purity of the gofpel came to be 
 corrupted, a degeneracy in practice enfu'd, and 
 gradually funk into the various forms of de- 
 praved manners, which have been the juft 
 complaint of good men for many years pafl, 
 and are the growing burden and difgrace 01 the 
 prefent age. 
 
 To oppofe this fwelling tide, feveral worthy 
 gentlemen form'd themfelves into a fociety, 
 under the patronage of Queen Mary^ of glo- 
 rious memory, in the year i69i.'f' From this 
 original we may date the Societies for refor- 
 
 7nation 
 
 f See the account of the Societies for reformation of Man- 
 ners, /. 6. 
 
[7] _ 
 
 matioji of manners^ which continue to this 
 very day, and which confift of generous pub- 
 lick-fpirited Proteftants of all denominations, 
 \^o, breaking through their lefler differences, 
 unite like Chriftians in the common caufe of 
 God and religion : And, as they are fenfible 
 that all their own attempts will prove unfuc- 
 cefsful unlefs God be with them, they have 
 order'd a religious folemnity, twice in the year, 
 to implore his bleffing on their righteous de- 
 fign, and to fubferve it by fuitable inftru- 
 (ftions, encouragements and enforcements from 
 the facred oracles. Their commands have 
 now put the honour of this important fervice 
 upon me ; may God enable me to anfwer the 
 prefent call of his providence, with fome advan- 
 tage to the noble caufe they are ingaged in ! 
 What I wou'd attempt on this occafion, is, 
 
 I. To ftate the jiotion of reformation. 
 
 II. To fhew the advantages of the gofpeU 
 fcheme to promote it. And 
 
 III. To point out fome proper methods of 
 improving this fcheme for the reformation we 
 are aiming at ; which may fervc for a pra- 
 dical improvement of the fubjcft. 
 
 We will begin with the firfl of thefe, 
 which is, 
 
 L Briefly to (late the notion of reformatio. 
 
 The word {^'.p^nc) rendered reforma- 
 tion in our text, fignifics a correcting, or fet- 
 ting things to rights that were out of order 
 before, and directing them to their proper 
 
 fcope 
 
[«] 
 
 fcope and end 3 and the reformation here in- 
 tended relates to fuch a regulation of dodlrine^ 
 worfhip, difciphne and obedience, in religious 
 concerns, as makes a happy and holy change 
 in the heart and life. 
 
 All things were defecflive and out of order, 
 when our Saviour appear'd to fet up a new 
 difpenfation of grace ; the worfhip of God 
 had very much confifted in ceremonial and 
 typical inftitutions, which, as they fandlified 
 to the purifying of the flefli for legal clean- 
 fin g, are called carnal ordinances ; thefe were 
 abus'd and perverted by the additions of men, 
 and the principles and manners of the people 
 were grofsly corrupted : But Chrift came to 
 fulfil the antient types, to throw off human 
 impofiticns, to eftablifh a more pure and fpi^ 
 ritual worfhip and government, and to give a 
 fyflem of dodlrines, which, by the power of 
 his Spirit, fhould make a blefied alteration in 
 the church, and in the world. Then was the 
 judgment of this worlds and the prince of this 
 world was caji out^ \ a reformation was fet on 
 foot, Satan was dethroned, and the laft and 
 befl difpenfation was introduced for raifing up 
 a kingdom of grace and holinefs, which is to 
 continue, without any other to fucceed it, to 
 the end of time : Hence it is called a kingdom 
 which cannot be mo'ved^ and it contains provi- 
 fions of grace whereby we may ferve God ac- 
 cept abh with reverence and godly fear, % 
 
 * But 
 
 * John xii. 3K J Heb. xii. 28. 
 
[9] 
 
 But the reformation, which the prefent oc- 
 caiion calls us to conlider, mcft dired;Iy re- 
 lates to a regulation of the external condud: of 
 life 3 and yet, as a reformation of the life will 
 be attended with infuperable difficulties, and 
 the corruptions of mankind will prove too hard 
 for all human laws and reflraints, unlefs there 
 be a change upon the heart, it is very neceffary 
 to take this into the account 3 which leads us 
 to the next branch of our difcourfe, and that is, 
 
 II. To fliew the advantages of the go/pel^ 
 fcbeme^ to promote a refomiation in the heart 
 and life. 
 
 And concerning this, we may obferve the 
 following things. 
 
 I. It reprefents the atonement of Cbriji^ as 
 the ground 07" bafis of reformation. 
 
 I the rather begin with this, becaufe it is the 
 chief argument which our apoftle labours in 
 this epiftle, and leads our thoughts to in the 
 next verfes to our text, where he fpeaks of 
 Chriji's being co??ie as an high-prieji^ and of his 
 having obtained eternal redemption for us by his 
 own bloody when thro the eterjial Spirit he of 
 Jered hi^nfelf 'without fpot to God, that he might 
 purge our confciences from dead liorks to Jirce 
 the living God'^'. Upon man's apoftacy from 
 God, all holy intercourfe was cut off between 
 them, and all grace was forfeited, whereby the 
 finner might be enabled to return to him; 
 divine juflice might have fcized upon the tranf- 
 
 B greffor, 
 
 * Ver. II, 12, 14. 
 
[ lo] 
 
 greflbr, and infifted that he lliould die for 
 his iniquity, and divine mercy might have 
 withdrawn fo as never to influence and accept 
 his return; and what muft have been the 
 confequence of this, but that we fhould have 
 been as irreclaimable from our evil ways as the 
 Devils themfelves ? But our Emmanuel has ap- 
 pear'd to take away fin by the facrifice of 
 himfelf, that an honourable way might be 
 opened for communications of divine favour 
 to us, and for our efFed:ual and acceptable re- 
 turn to God thro' him ; for he fuffcred for fins ^ 
 the jufi for the unjiifl^ that he might bring us 
 to God^^ in a way of obedience and accep- 
 tance here, and in a way of compleat enjoy- 
 ment hereafter 3 and he gave himfef for us 
 that he might redeem us from all iniquity^ and 
 purify unto himfelf a peculiar people zealous of 
 good "Works -f-. 
 
 But, befides this great defign of his death 
 for the converfion and falvation of a peculiar 
 people, God was thereby fo far reconciled to 
 the whole human race, as to preferve it from 
 utter confufion, and to beftow upon all man- 
 kind fuch common gifts of moral goodnefs, as 
 are neceffary for the benefit of human fociety. 
 In this refped:, fays an excellent writer J, 
 *' Chrift upholds all things by his mediatory 
 as well as divine power |[ , which elfe would 
 have funk into the abyfs : By virtue of this 
 mediation, fome power is given back to man, 
 
 as 
 
 * 1 Pet. iii. 1 8. f Tit. ii. 14. 
 
 J Charnock, VoLz.edit. 2d. p, loj, (| Heb. i. 3. 
 
[ " ] 
 
 as a new donation ; yet not lb much as that 
 he is able by it to regenerate himfelf 3 and 
 whatever power man has, is originally from 
 this caufe, and grows not up from the ftock 
 of nature, but from common grace ; hereby 
 thofe divine fparks in their underftandings, 
 and what ever is morally praife-worthy in them 
 is kept up by the grace of God ; which was 
 the caufe that Chrift, by the grace of God^ 
 tajied death f 07^ every 771 an^y or, as this author 
 had before exprefs'd it, in this fenfe he may be 
 faid to tafle death for every man ; whereby the 
 apoftle feems to intimate, that by this grace, 
 and by this death of Chrift, any remainders 
 of that honour and glory whereuuth God 
 crowned man at firft, are kept upon his head, 
 as will appear if you confider the eighth Pjab7i^ 
 whence the apoftle cites thefe words, which 
 are the ground of his difcourfe of the death 
 of Chrift/' 
 
 Without this appeafing death of the Son of 
 God, our apoftate world would have funk in 
 its own ruins, and there would have been no 
 room for a reformation 3 but this has laid a 
 foundation for it, that, by divine aids, the peace 
 and order of human fociety may be maintained 
 in a regulation of its manners, and that many 
 fons may be brought to glory; hence natu- 
 ral virtue, as well as fpecial grace, is called 
 the gift of God, as the apoftle fpcaking o^ co?:^ 
 tinence^ fays*, every maTi has his proper gift of 
 God-f y and* our Lord tells us, that they only 
 to who7?i it is give72 1, could receive a fugge- 
 B 2 ftion 
 
 * Heb. ii. 9. f 1 Cor. vii. 7. % Matt. xix. 11. 
 
[ 12 ] 
 
 ftion v/hich the difciples had made againft 
 marrying. 
 
 2. The gofpel-fcheme gives us the rnojl ex-- 
 cellcnt plan of right eoujhejsy as the 7^ule of re- 
 formation. 
 
 It has furniflied us with the fineft draught 
 of morals that ever was feen in the world ^ and 
 all our modern Deifts, however they reproach 
 it^ are beholden to this for their more refin'd 
 fyftems of morality, than the wifeft of the 
 heathens could ever work up. It explains the 
 duties of the eternal law of nature, in their 
 utmoft fpirituality and wideft extent ; and di- 
 vinely inforces their obligations by the imme- 
 diate authority of Chrift. Here, as the do- 
 d: ines of religion toward God, fo the do- 
 (fl.ines of felf-government, and of righteouf- 
 nefs and goodnefs toward men, and every 
 perfonal, focial, and publick virtue, are fet out 
 with vaft variety and exad:nefs. Here every 
 thing is prefcribed, that is worthy of human 
 nature in its own conftitution, and in all its 
 relations to God, and fellow-creatures. There 
 is no good but it enjoins, and no evil but it 
 condemns, from the highefl to the loweft in- 
 ftances of each that can be imagin'd^ for the | 
 gofpel of the grace of God teaches us that de- 1 
 nying ungodlinefs and worldly hijisy ive fhould || 
 live foberly^ right eoujly and godly in this pre- 
 fent world "^ 'y and that whatfoever things are 
 true^ honeji^ juft^ piire^ lovely and of good re- 
 port^ if there be any virtue^ and if there be any 
 
 praije, | 
 t 
 
 * Tit. ii. 12. 
 
[ 13 ] 
 
 praife, we fhould think of thefe things^^ fo as 
 to obferve and pra6lice them. 
 
 Here we are called to humility, meeknefs 
 and patience, temperance and fobriety, felf- 
 denial and chaftity, even in our inmoft 
 thoughts, as well as outward behaviour : Here 
 we are obliged to a regulation of all our paf- 
 fions and appetites, even unto the fufFering of 
 injuries with patience, forgiving of enemies, 
 and praying for them that defpitefully ufe us; 
 and to all difpofitions and ads of love and 
 charity, of brotherly-kindnefs, courteoufnefs 
 and beneficence, of mercy, fidelity and righ- 
 teoufnefs^ or, in a word, of doing to others as 
 we would that in like circumftances they 
 Ihould do to us : And here holy zeal and cou- 
 rage for God and religion, refignation to his 
 will, a manly behaviour, and proper diligence 
 in our refpedlive callings, together with all the 
 duties which refult from the various relations 
 of life, fuch as neighbours and acquaintance, 
 friends and foes, rich and poor, parents and 
 children, husbands and wives, brethren and 
 fifters, mailers and fervants, magiftrates and 
 fubjeds, are explain'd, recommended and in- 
 culcated upon us. 
 
 And, on the other hand, all their contrary 
 vices are exposed in their odious forms, and 
 ftricftly forbid ; fuch as wrath, anger, clamour 
 and evil fpeaking, with all malice and re- 
 venge, curfing and profane Iwearing, and the 
 like. Here all rioting and drunkennefs, cham- 
 bering and wantonnefs, fornication and un- 
 
 cleanneis, 
 
 t Pliil. iv. 8. 
 
[ '4 ] 
 
 cleannefs, adultery, effeminacy, and the mon^ 
 ftrous unnatural wickednefs of fodomitical 
 pra<5tices, are feverely cenfured: And here 
 are prohibitions of all hypocrify and pufilla- 
 nimous fear, fretting and murmuring at God's 
 difpofals, extorfions and oppreffions, lying 
 and flealing, knavery and cheating, hatred, 
 variance, emulations, envyings and murders, 
 and every kind of injury to the perfons, re- 
 putation, liberty and property of others. 
 
 All thefe things, as every one that reads 
 the New Teftament may fee, are laid down 
 in a clear and eafy light 3 and our obligations 
 to fquare our condud: by them are put upon 
 the plain and well attefted authority of God, 
 which injoins or forbids them : They are not 
 left to work their way to our minds and con- 
 fciences by the laboured deductions of our 
 own thoughts concerning the fitnefs and rea- 
 fons of things, which is a more tedious way 
 of being convinced of them ; and which, in 
 many inftances, not one in a hundred is ca- 
 pable of going into, or perhaps of feeing the 
 force of 3 and concerning fome of w^hich 
 there might have been endlefs difputes and dif- 
 ferent fentiments about their obligation, as was 
 in fadl the cafe among the heathen, who had 
 not the benefit of a divine revelation : But the 
 gofpel-fcheme places all thefe moral duties in 
 a flrong point of light ; and after it has done 
 fo, our own judgment and confcience, unlels 
 dreadfully corrupted, can't but yield their con- 
 fent, that the law of God, about them, is 
 
 boly^ 
 
['5] 
 
 holy, jujl and good^\ and that, as in their 
 own nature they are good, fo in their ufe they 
 are profitable to 7nen *f-. 
 
 But divine revelation don't flop here, it goes 
 much further Hill \ it puts a religious refped: 
 upon every moral duty ; in order to which, it 
 not only reprefents them as the will of God, 
 and lays an obligation upon confcience to per- 
 form them with a reference to his authority 
 as enjoining them, but alfo to his glory 
 as their higheft end, and to his w^ell-pleafed- 
 nefs with them thro' Jefus Chrift our Saviour. 
 We bcfeech and exhort you brethren, fays the 
 apoftle, by the Lord ^efus, that as ye have 
 receivd of us how ye ought to walk, and to 
 pleaj'e God, Jo ye would abound more and more ; 
 for ye know what commaridment we gave you by 
 the Lord "Jefus, for this is the will of Gody 
 even your JdnBifcation, &c. J: And whether 
 ye eat or drink, or whatfoever ye do, do all 
 to the glory of God\\. And Chriiiians are 
 caird a holy priejlhood, to offer up / pi ritual 
 facrifices, acceptable to God by "Jefus ChriflJ^. 
 
 The law of God has likew^ife, as appears 
 by the foregoing account, a further reach than 
 all the laws of men : Thefe are only conver- 
 fant about external actions, which are all that 
 can fall under the cognizance of man ; but 
 God's law has a fovereignty over the inmoll 
 thoughts, defigns and diipofitions of the foul ; 
 it commands that they be clean, and makes 
 
 us 
 
 ♦ Rom. vli. 12. f Tit. iii. 8. % « T^hclT. iv. 1—7. 
 H I Cor. X. 31. \ X Pet. ii. 5. 
 
[ i6] 
 
 US accountable for them to him, who is the 
 only Lord of confcience, and fearcher of the 
 heart. And whereas the dired: view of hu- 
 man laws, in commanding virtue and forbid- 
 ding vice, chiefly refers to the good of the 
 community, under the guardianfhip of the ci- 
 vil magiftrate ; the divine laws, by their hold 
 upon confcience, moft effedlually anfwer that 
 view, whilft they proceed upon ftill higher 
 principles : They command all righteoufnefs, 
 and forbid all lin, under the formal notion of 
 their being fo, and that becaufe of their own 
 excellence or deformity, their own correfpon- 
 dence or contrariety to the nature, authority 
 and will of God, and their being honourable 
 or diihonourable to him, and beneficial or 
 injurious to ourfelves, as well as others. And, 
 to fhew that human nature is capable of the 
 pradlice of all moral virtues, they have been 
 exemplified with fliining beauty, and to the 
 utmoil perfed:ion, in the temper and behaviour 
 of the bleffed Jefus, who was boly, har7nlefs^ 
 nndefiledy a72d fepar ate from Jinners -y and have 
 been exemplified in very remarkable degrees 
 by his holy apoftles. What a perfpicuous and 
 extenfive, what an engaging and awful, ftrong 
 and binding plan of righteoufnefs is this, to 
 be the rule of all reformation of manners in 
 ourfelves or others ! 
 
 3. The gofpel-fcheme leads us to the bejl 
 means and ajjijiances for reformation. 
 
 It is a conftant monitor in our hands, to 
 which we daily may and ought to have re- 
 
 courfe. 
 
L '7 ] 
 
 courfe, to fliew us our way, and to imprefs 
 our confciences with a fenie of our obligation^ 
 to walk therein. It contirms the orio;inal con- 
 ftitution of civil government, as the ordinance 
 of God for the good order of fcciety, and 
 continues the rights and powers of magiflracy 
 to be a terror to ccil-doerSy and a praijc to them 
 that do "I'cell^y and under this confideration of 
 our rulers, it adds a demand of fubjedlion to 
 them for confcience fake. It 2;ivcs us rich ad- 
 vantages of a religious education as well as 
 example s it has provided a Handing miniilry 
 to explain and enforce its holy dod:rines, and 
 to remind us frequently of them, that we may 
 be not only hearers of the word, but doers of 
 the fame ; and it dire6ts us to God In Chrift, 
 for his Holy Spirit to make a change upon our 
 hearts and ways, and to enable us to die unto 
 fin and live unto righteoufnefs. 
 
 Our blelTcd Saviour promised to fend his Spirit 
 to reprove or coircince the icorld of fni^ of righ^ 
 teoti/nefs and judgment\ \ and the gofpel-difpen- 
 fation is by way of emnnence called the minifra- 
 tion of the Spirit X\ he breathes in it and works 
 by it, he owns and honours it with a gracious 
 influence, and ufually wreftles more or lefs 
 with finners that come under it, to bring them 
 back to God. He often ihews them their fm 
 and danger, and their need of pardoning and 
 recovering mercy ; he often checks, and warns, 
 and wounds their fpirits in refled:ion upon their 
 evil ways, makes them afraid of per filling in 
 them, and reftrains them from many a pra- 
 C died 
 
 ♦ Rom. xiii. 3, 4, 5. | John xvl. 7, 8- 
 
 X 2 Ccr. iii. 8. 
 
[ '8 ] 
 
 £tice of iniquiiy, which they had ventured up- 
 on, and otherwife would continue to indulge ; 
 and he fometimes makes them refolve to aban- 
 don their vicious courfes, and to feek after 
 God and Chrift, heaven and holinefs, that 
 they may be converted and faved. 
 
 But alas ! many of them fo frequently, and 
 "at length fo obftinately, refift the Holy Ghoft 
 in all thefe motions upon their hearts, that he 
 righteoufly takes his leave of them, and will 
 no longer ftrive with them; and fo they fhut 
 themfelves out from all the benefit of the gof- 
 pel-fcheme for their reformation. However, 
 there are others with whom he ftrives till he 
 gets the maftery ; he carries on their convidlion 
 by his word and providence to a thorough con- 
 verfion ; he humbles them from their fins, ena- 
 bles them to believe in Chrift for the remif- 
 fion of them, and turns them from difobe- 
 dience to the wifdom of the juft; fo that they 
 are no longer the fervants of fin, but the fer- 
 vants of righteoufnefs to God 3 and they 
 dare not fin, as they formerly ufed to do, 
 becaufe of the fear of God. They pafs un- 
 der the wajhing of regeiteration^ and the renew-- 
 ing of the Holy Ghoji^y their fouls are puri^ 
 fed in obeying the truths thrd the Spirit -f-, and 
 they thro the Spirit 7nortify the deeds of the 
 body and liveX: He purifies their hearts by 
 faith II, and infpires them with that love of 
 Gody which inclines them to keep his command^ 
 ments ** , and not to think them grievous : 
 And he continues a gracious influence to ena- 
 ble 
 
 * Tit. ill. 5. f I Pet. i. 22. J Rom. viii. 13. 
 g Aftsxv. g, ** I John V. 3. 
 
[•9] 
 
 ble them to hold on in his ways : This makes 
 duty our choice, the way of the Lord our 
 delight, and every difficult felf-denying fer- 
 vice eafy to us : This work of God's Spirit, 
 by means of the gofpel, upon our hearts, 
 changes us into new creatures, alters our prin- 
 ciples and views, our refolution and tafte, and 
 draws after it a fuitable alteration in the courfe 
 of our lives -, fo that we deteft and fly from 
 the evil ways we formerly lov'd and pracftis'd, 
 and on the contrary efteem and purfue the 
 ways of virtue and religion, which we before 
 difrelifhed and neglected ^ and by the conti- 
 nued aids and affiftances of the Holy Spirit, 
 we foon find that all wifdom's ways are ways 
 of pleafajitnefs^ aiid all her paths are peace "*. 
 
 4. The gofpel-fcheme affords us xh^Jlron-- 
 geji ?notives and encGurageiiients to a refor- 
 mation. 
 
 If the common providential goodnefs of 
 God leads to repentance, how much more 
 muft the kindnefs and love of God cur Saviour 
 which has appeared toward nian'fy and not 
 toward the fallen angels? How inviting and 
 engaging are gofpel-difplays of the divine phi^ 
 lanthropyl What ftrong attradion of the heart 
 toward God is there in the rich diiloveries 
 he has made of his abounding grace to all 
 forts of finners, and in the matchlcfs love and 
 tender compaffion of a dying redeemer j in 
 proclamations of pardoning mercy to relenting 
 rebels, and of the kindeft entertainment to re- 
 turning prodigals 3 and in the afllirances the 
 C 2 Saviour 
 
 * Prov. iii. 17. f Tit. iii. 4* 
 
[ 20 ] 
 
 Saviour has given, that nvbofcever comes to him 
 he will in no wife caji him out I And when fuch 
 thoughts as thefe are fet home upon th^ heart 
 by the Holy GJioft, who comes to glorify 
 Chrifl, and to take of his things and reveal 
 them to us, how do they melt and overcome 
 it, and what powerful conltraints have they 
 upon us to love and live to God ! 
 
 Tho' we have grievoufly linned againft him, 
 yet a way is opened thro' the great propitiatory 
 facrifice, for an acceptable return to him ; and 
 tho' we are naturally prone to evil, and unable 
 to recover ourfelves, yet the purchafe of Chrift, 
 and the grace of the gofpel are encouraging 
 grounds of hope for relief ^ for where fm has 
 abounded^ grace much more abounds -y the 
 blood of Jcfus Chriji cleajtfeth from all fm ; 
 and there are promifes of the good Spirit of 
 God, who takes pleafure in making an effe- 
 ftual change upon fuch as feel their need of 
 him, and can't be fatisfied without him. Hence 
 our Lord himfelf hath faid, Afk and it p:all be 
 ^iven^ feek and ye Jl:) all find^ knock and itJJjall 
 be opened unto you 5 for every one that afketh 
 recei'veth^ and he that feeketh findeth^ and to 
 'him^ that knocketh it Jhall be opened : And for 
 our further encouragement, he adds a beauti- 
 ful illuftration, from earthly parents, faying. If 
 ye being evil know how to give good gifts to your 
 ^childreny how much more JJjall your heavenly 
 -Father give the Holy Spirit to them that afk 
 [hini^. And then, as to the final ilTues of 
 things, we are affured, that he who has be- 
 gun 
 
[ 2' ] 
 
 gun the good work will perform it until the 
 day of Jefus Chrifl j and that to them, icho 
 hcvce their fruit unto holinefs^ the end (hall be 
 everlajiing life, tho' not as the wages of their 
 righteoulhefs, in like manner as death is the 
 wages of fin, yet as the gift of God tb^d Je- 
 fus Chrifl our JLord^\ according to his free 
 promife on Chrift's account, and the fure con- 
 nedlions of his covenant. 
 
 On the other hand, another part of this 
 icheme tells us, that the iiTath of God is re- 
 ''oealed jrom hewoen cigaiiifl all unrighteoifnefs 
 a?2d ungodlincfs of men \ that the unrighteous 
 f:all not inherit the kingdom of God \ and that 
 luithout holinefs no 7nan JJ:all fee the Lord ; but 
 that the Lord Jefus fl:all be revealed from hea- 
 ven with his inighty angels, i?i flaming flre^ 
 taking vengeajice on the?n that know not Gody 
 and that obey not the gofpel of our Lord Jefus 
 Chrifl, who floall be pu?iifl:ed with everlafling 
 deflruSlion from the prefence of the Lord, and 
 from the glory of his power \. In fliort, it 
 plainly tells us, that in the day of judgment 
 God will re?ider to every 7nan according to his 
 deeds ; to them wlyo by patient continuance in 
 well-doing, feek for glory, and honour and im- 
 mortality, eternal Ife-, but to them that are 
 contentious and do not obey the truth, but obey 
 unrighteoifnefs, indignation a7id wrath, tribula^ 
 tion and anguifl: upon every foul that doth 
 evil %. 
 
 And 
 
 * Rom. VI. 22, 23. + 2 ThefT. i. 7, 8, 9. , 
 
 J Rom. ii. 6 — 9. 
 
And even as to this prefent life, if our time 
 would allow, it were eafy to fhew that the 
 gofpel-fcheme confirms all which the light of 
 nature and antient revelation fuggeft, and fup- 
 plies additional evidence, that deJlyniBion and 
 i^ijery are in the ways of fin ^ and xh'dX godlinejl 
 is profitable for all things^ having the promife 
 of the life that now is^ as well as of that which 
 is to come : It fhews the conveniences and in- 
 conveniences, the joys and forrov/s, the fafety 
 and the danger, the happinefs and the mife- 
 ries of thefe different courfes refpedlively, even 
 whilft we are here, as well as what muft be 
 expected hereafter. And fo, with relation both 
 to the prefent and future world, it touches the 
 two grand fprings of human adtion, our hopes 
 and our fears, to influence us by them ; it 
 works upon our fears to keep us out of the 
 way of lin, and upon our hopes to bring us 
 into, and keep us in the way of duty, and 
 thereby riffords the moil powerful motives and 
 encouragements of every kind to a thorough 
 reformation in heart and life. This leads us 
 to the lafl general head, which I defign as the 
 application of the foregoing 3 and that is, 
 
 III. To point out forne proper methods of 
 improving this fheme for the reformation we 
 are aiming at. 
 
 The beft fcheme in the world will be of no 
 advantage, unlefs it be improved and applied 
 ^o anfwer its beneficial defign s and what re- 
 mains, is to dired: the method of doing this, 
 which, by the bleffing of God, may be effe- 
 
 dual 
 
[ 23 ] 
 
 tftual to promote the reformation fo much 
 needed among us, and fo much defired and 
 aimed at by the worthy gentlemen of the 
 focieties for reformation of manners, and 
 by all that have a due concern for the glo- 
 ry of God, and the good of their fellow- 
 creatures. For this purpofe I would fuggeft 
 the following hints, 
 
 I. We fhould be deeply affeBed "with a 
 
 Jenfe of the great degeneracies of the age, which 
 
 need to be reformed 3 and of the rich ad'-jaji- 
 
 tages of the gofpel-fcheme, which encourage our 
 
 hopes of a reformation. 
 
 Unlefs we are feelingly touched with a fenfe 
 of thefe things, we fhall have little concern 
 about a reformation, little heart to endeavour 
 after it, and little profped: of fucceeding in it: 
 The work, in my way of thinking, muft be- 
 gin here, if ever it comes to a good iffue. The 
 degeneracies of the age are too notorious to be 
 concealed ; and a fhort fketch of the advantaees 
 of the gofpel-fcheme, for a recovery from them, 
 has been attempted in this difcourfe. But I am 
 afraid that a difregard to this glorious fchcme in 
 fome, and a contempt of it in others, has not 
 ii little contributed to a defeat of the hopes we 
 might otherwife have had from it. 
 
 Some will fubmit to the authority of Chrift, 
 only juft as far as they like it ; others would 
 deprive us of the peculiar glories of his gofpel ; 
 and others would lead us into an indifference to 
 all its diftinguifliing principles. How far each 
 of thefe, tho' undefignedly, weaken the gof- 
 pel-lchcme for reform at i'ju, they would do 
 
 well 
 
[ 2+] 
 
 well to coniider. But there are ftill others, 
 who either throw up the whole of Chriftian 
 religion, or elfe make a tool of it for indul- 
 ging their own vicious inclinations, or for car- 
 rying on worldly views to the total fubveriion 
 of the defign of this reforming fcheme. The 
 fhocking errors of infidehty are making head 
 againft us on one hand, and the fenfelefs er- 
 rors of Popery on the other : Among the 
 friends of thefe two parties, fome are labour- 
 ing to unfettle our religious principles ; and 
 others to fettle them by uniting us under a 
 pretended infallible head : Some would entire- 
 ly rejeft the authority of Chrift, and others 
 would impofe the authority of anti-chrift up- 
 on us ; fome treat the whole gofpel as a fable, 
 and others would put us off with the moil 
 ridiculous legends inflead of the gofpel of 
 Chrift: Some are endeavouring to bring us to 
 no religion at all; and others to a religion as 
 bad as none. What are the tendencies of thefe 
 flruggles, on the one fide and the other, but to 
 downright fcepticifm ? And if people once turn 
 fcepticks, they are in a fair way to be deifts, 
 or atheifts, Papifts or debauchees, or any 
 thing, to ferve their own pride, or humour, 
 irregular appetites, or fecular views. 
 
 And alas ! in what various lliapes do impie^ 
 ty and immorality ftain the confciences and 
 characters, and threaten the ruin of a people 
 which are called by Chrift's name ! How do 
 profanations of the Lord's-day, a negled: of 
 publick, family and clofet worfhip, and an ir- 
 reverend and abufive. treatment of the lovely 
 
 and 
 
[ 25 ] 
 
 and yet tremendous name of God abound in 
 aChriftian nation ! How do curling and fwear- 
 ing, lying and cheating, luxury and extrava- 
 gance, drunkennels, lewdnefs and debaucheries 
 caufe our land to mourn ! What contempt of 
 magiftracy, and infults on publick authority ; 
 and what horrid outrages and cruelties, robbe- 
 ries and murders, and even felf-murders too, 
 do we often hear of! How hardened and da- 
 ring are many in the practice of all thefe, 
 and numberlels other abominations, even to a 
 committing them with greedinefs, and with- 
 out fear or fhame ! What vengeance may we 
 not expedt to burft upon our heads from hea- 
 ven, if we continue to fill up the meafure of 
 our iniquity, according to the example of 
 former nations, whom God has deftroy'd ! 
 And as many profeffing Chriftians amongft us, 
 who Ihould fland in the gap to avert impend- 
 ing judgments, have gone too far into the pro- 
 vocations of the age, to bring them on ; what 
 but repentance and reformation can prevent 
 them? Except ye repent^ fays the Saviour hiin- 
 felf, ye /ball all like wije per ijlj"^ : And if judge- 
 ment hegiyi at the hoiife of God^ lihat Jhall the 
 end be of them that obey not the gofpel of 
 God?\ 
 
 But how can we ever hope to be reduced 
 from thefe deteftable crimes and apollacies, 
 and fkreened from the vengeance they pro- 
 voke, unlefs, thro' the merits of God's own 
 Son, and by the aids of his Holy Spirit, our 
 hearts be divorced from fin, and engaged to 
 D have 
 
 * Luke xiii. j, f i Pet. iv. 17. 
 
[ 26] 
 
 have a refpe^l unto all his commandments ? In 
 what other way can our grievous wound be 
 cured ? In this we may, and in this only we 
 can, warrantably hope for it: If God, for 
 Chrifl's fake, has not mercy upon us to ani- 
 mate our returns to him, we certainly (hall 
 remain impenitent and polluted ; and fooner 
 or later, God only knows how foon, we mull: 
 perifli in our lins ; But bleffed be his name, 
 there is yet room in the gofpeUfcheme for 
 hope, that we may be reformed and faved, 
 if we don't continue obllinately to abufe it. 
 
 2. We {hould be earneji in prayer to God 
 for his Spirit to reform us. 
 
 Without this, all our attempts will come 
 to nothing : If we begin without God, wc^ 
 Ihall end without fuccefs ; for as all iniquity 
 and compliance with temptation is from our 
 felves, fo every good and perfeB gift is from 
 above ^ and comes down from the father of 
 lights : And the way to obtain fuch gifts as 
 we need, is to ajk them of God, who gives to 
 all men liberally and iipbraideth not^. We 
 fhould alk them with all humility of mind, 
 under a fenfe of our own infufficiency and 
 unworthinefs, with faith in the mercy, power 
 and promifes of God, and in the mediation 
 of Chrift, and with importunity and holy fer- 
 vour, like neceflitous and yet encourag d Ap- 
 plicants, that will not let him go till he has 
 bleffed us. 
 
 In this manner we fhould cry mightily to 
 the Lord, and ftrive together and apart in our 
 
 prayers 
 
 * Jain. i. 5, 13,-17^ 
 
[ 27 ] 
 
 prayers to fetch down help from heaven; we 
 (hould humbly implore a plentiful effufion of 
 his Spirit, as a Spirit of truth and holinefs, 
 upon reforming focieties themfelves, and upon 
 all ranks and degrees of men, whether they 
 be more or lefs infefted with the contagion 
 of the age : We fliould beg that a right fpi- 
 rit may be given to fuch as profefs to be en- 
 gaged in reforming work, whether by their 
 civil or facred office, or by voluntary affocia- 
 tion; that they may be united together in 
 love, and may have wifdom, zeal and cou- 
 rage, and a hearty concern for the glory of God, 
 and the good of human fociety, with a tender 
 compaffion to immortal Souls: And we fliould 
 be earneft in our pleas that God would affifl, 
 and command a bleffing upon their laudable 
 endeavours, and that by their means a return 
 to him may be as general, as our revolt has 
 been ; and fo iniquity may not be our min, 
 but God may delight to dwell amongfl us. 
 
 3. Every one fhould be ferioiijly concerned 
 about perjbnal reformation upon the foot of 
 the gofpel-fcheme. 
 
 As none of us are already perfedl, or got 
 beyond need of amendment, fo we fhould not 
 fet about reforming work like heathens^ who 
 know nothing of Chrifl: and the gofpel of the 
 grace of God, or of the blefled Spirit and his 
 promised aids, or of the hope of glory and 
 the encouragements that arile from thence ; 
 but fliould fet out upon the great principles of 
 Chriftianity, and take heed that we don't 
 grieve the Spirit of God, and thereby defeat 
 
 D 2 their 
 
[ 28 3 
 
 their happy effeds upon us. We fliould la- 
 bour after a true acquaintance with thefe prin- 
 ciples, fhould confider their vaft importance, 
 and purfue their peculiar advantages for a re- 
 formation of the whole man, till we find that 
 we are thoroughly moulded into that holy 
 form of dodlrine which is delivered to us in 
 the word of God, and are enabled to depart 
 from all iniquity. Every one, that is defircus 
 of a reformation, fhould in this maner be- 
 gin firfl at home, that we may be reformed 
 one by one, till the good leaven fhall fpread 
 itfelf thro' the whole community: For exam- 
 ple is the life of counfel and precept; and 
 when this fhines in a man's own charad:er, it 
 gives a decorum to the execution of righteous 
 laws againft vice and profanenefs, and it keeps 
 him in countenance, and gives him weight in 
 all his wife, compaffionate and faithful dri- 
 vings againft fin in others. 
 
 But what fignifies bewailing their abomi- 
 nations, and endeavouring to reform them, if 
 we ourfelves are ftill in our fins, and are unaf- 
 fected with our own condition, and lead the 
 van in the like or fome other inftances of im- 
 morality? With what heart, or with what 
 face can we fet about reforming others^ or 
 what likelihood is there that we fhall be faith- 
 ful and vigorous in our attempts for it, or that 
 God will own us in them; or of what advan- 
 tage will it be to us in the great day of ac- 
 f count, even to have had a hand in reforming 
 the world round about us, in cafe we continue 
 to love and live in the pradice of the wicked- 
 
 nefs 
 
[ 29 ] 
 
 nefs from which they are recovered ? If we 
 ourfelves are ftrangers to faith in Chrift, and 
 repentance toward God, to a w^ork of heart- 
 changing grace, and a regular courfe of Hfe, 
 all will turn to our ow^n confufion at laft. We 
 muft firft caft the beam out of our own eye, 
 as ever we would fee how to help the eyes of 
 others ; and if we are carelefs how things 
 ftand with ourfelves, while we fhew abun- 
 dance of zeal to corred: what is amils in o- 
 thers, we cannot anfwer it to God, to them, 
 or to our own confcienccs ; but muft one day 
 feel the flinging reproach, which the apoftle 
 juftly urged upon the vain-glorious Jeiv, who 
 ma^ie his boajl of God^ and confidently called 
 himfelf a guide of the blind^ and a light of 
 them which are in dark?tej's : T^hoic ichich teacheji 
 ajiother^ teacheji thou not thx/elf? Thou li'hich 
 preacheji a 7nanjhculd ?iot Jtealy do/i thoujieal? 
 Thou that fay eft a man /1:ould not commit adul-- 
 tery\ doft thou commit adultery ? Thcu that ah- 
 horreji idols^ dojl thou conifnit facrilege ? Thou 
 that makeft thy boajl of the lau\ thro breaking 
 the law dif:o?70ureJl thou God? For the jiame 
 of God is blajphemed among the Gentiles^ thro 
 you '^. 
 
 4. We fliould take the beft care a?id pains 
 we are capable of, in our refpecftive ftations, to 
 promote the reformatioJi of others together with 
 ourfelves. 
 
 Tho' we muft begin with ourfelves in fo 
 excellent and neceftary a work as this, we 
 fliould not ftop there ; but, as we are fellow- 
 creatures^ 
 f Rom. ii. 17 — 24. 
 
[30] 
 
 creatures, fellow-members of civil fociety, 
 and' fellow Proteftants and Chriftians, we 
 fhould fludy and labour for the good of others, 
 and fhould fpare no time, nor thought, nor 
 pains, nor coil, confident with our circum- 
 ftances in life, to promote it. And our way 
 of managing this important defign (hould be 
 with fuch condefcenfion and humblenefs of 
 mind, and with fuch prudence and caution, 
 tendernefs and compaffion, together with a 
 becoming refolution and faithfulnefs, as may 
 convince every offender, that it is not out of 
 pride or paflion, humour or prejudice, felf-in- 
 terefl or felf-applaufe, nor from any contempt 
 of them, or ilkwill to them, that we trouble 
 ourfelves about them ; but that it is meerly 
 from a confcience toward God, and a concern 
 for his glory, and from a iincere aim at their 
 own good, and the good of the community. 
 
 To make this the more evident, the gent- 
 lefl methods of kindnefs and perfuafion fhould 
 be tried, as long as there is any room for them ^ 
 and our firfl: efforts fhould be among the chil- 
 dren and fervants of our own families, and 
 among thofe that we are mofl converfant with, 
 or have the greatefl interefl in, or influence 
 upon. And where-ever we have opportunity 
 for it, our attention fhould be turned efpecially 
 to the rifing generation, to form their temper 
 and condudl while their hearts are yet tender, 
 and before they have taken the infedtion of 
 bad company, or have contrafted llrong ha- 
 bits of wickednefs, and are hardned in it. 
 Principiis objia. Watch the firft fproutings 
 
 and 
 
[ 3' ] 
 
 and appearances of evil, and labour to root 
 them out, before they have got an eftablifh- 
 ment in the heart, and become familiar in pra- 
 ctice 3 for when once the tafte for loofe com- 
 pany and defiling pleafures becomes eager and 
 confirmed, it will hardly admit of reftraint; 
 and, according to the ordinary methods of di- 
 vine and human procedures, it is found to be 
 with terrible convulfions, if ever, chang'd. Can 
 the Ethiopian change his Jkin^ or the Leopard 
 his Jpots ? Then may ye aljb do good^ that are 
 accujiomed to do evil *. We have heard how 
 we are to deal wuth God in our prayers about 
 a reformation 3 and every one who fears his 
 name, of whatfoever profeffion or characfler he 
 be in life, fliould heartily join in doing what 
 he can with man towards it, in a dependance 
 upon divine grace to affift and accept the 
 honeft well-meaning fervice, and to crown it 
 with fuccefs. 
 
 In fubfervience to this great defign {abfit in- 
 vidia) the peculiar province of the ?nini/}ers 
 of Chrijl^ is to explain and inculcate every 
 part of the gofpel-fcheme; to dired: their hea- 
 rers to the grand fprings of reformation 3 to lay 
 out the rule of duty in all its branches ; to in- 
 force the necefTity of obferving it; and to re- 
 commend the encouragements there are to at- 
 tempt it, as they find them in the word of God. 
 They are to preach the terrors of the law, and 
 the endearments of the gofpel ; to fliew men 
 their tranfgreffions, and their only remedy ; to 
 let them know, that if they go on in their 
 
 trefpafTes^ 
 
 * Jer, xiii. 23, 
 
[ 32 ] 
 
 trefpafles, they muft unavoidably perifh ; but 
 that there is merit enough in the blood of 
 Chrift, for the pardon of the very worft of 
 returning finners, and power enough in his 
 Spirit to enable them to return; and fo they 
 are to call them to faith and repentance, whilfl 
 a door cf hope^ through Jefus Chrift, {lands 
 open in the gofpel before them, as he is 
 exalted to be a prince a7id a faviour^ to 
 give repentance and forgivenefs of Jins.^ They 
 are to paint out the awful folemnities that 
 relate to death and judgment, heaven and 
 hell, and the miferies or happinefs in this 
 -world, and efpecially for ever in the 7iext^ that 
 are entailed upon the iinner's perfifling in his 
 evil ways, on one hand, or upon his turn- 
 ing from them to God, thro' the only Me- 
 diator, on the other: And they are to fliew 
 them the necejjity of divine grace to make an 
 effedlual change upon them, and of the Re- 
 deemer's righteoufnefs to recommend them to 
 God's acceptance, that they may be hereby 
 put upon going into the gofpel-method for 
 a recovery, and may feek after fuch a refor- 
 mation, as begins in the heart, and fprgads 
 thro' the life. 
 
 The peculiar province of the Legijlature is, 
 to ena6l fuch laws for the honour of God, 
 and the good of the community, as may be 
 befc adapted to the reilraint of vice in thofe, 
 who, having no fear of God before their eyes, 
 can only be aw'd and influenc'd by the fear 
 of the civil magiftrate. BlefTed be God, 
 we have many excellent laws for thefe pur- 
 * Ads V. 31, pofes 
 
[ 33 ] 
 
 pofes already : Bat there is room to wifli that 
 he might put it into the hearts of the Legif- 
 lative Powers of this kingdom, ftill further 
 to improve them, by adding fuch others, with 
 refpect to mafquerades, plays, and diforderly 
 houfes, and other nuifances, as may put a ftop 
 to their defiling influence -, and by giving more 
 power for an eafy execution of fuch good 
 laws as are in force. By this means the wor- 
 thy focieties for reform.ation of manners, and 
 any others, who are capable and inclined to 
 fee that the laws be duly executed, would 
 not flruggle with fo many difficulties as now 
 encumber them. 
 
 The fpecial province of civil magijlrates is, 
 faithfully to execute our good laws againll im- 
 morality and profanenefs ; and not to brow- 
 beat or difcountenance fuch as would bring 
 criminals to juftice, nor make their work 
 more tedious, expenfive, or laborious than ne- 
 ceffity requires : On the other hand, it greatly 
 redounds to the honour of thofe w^ho are in 
 authority, to encourage them in it with com- 
 mendation and difpatch, and to aft up to the 
 dignity of their own office-charafters, as the 
 minifters of God, icbo are 7iot to bear the 
 Jword in vain \^ but are fent by him for the 
 punij]j?nent of evil-doers^ and a praije to them 
 that do "well.-f By this means, our excellent 
 laws v/ould be no longer lifelcfs, impotent 
 forms, as they have been in too many in- 
 ftanccs of late; but living oracles that fpeak 
 tvith vigour, and will be obey'd. May the 
 
 E late 
 
 • Rom. xiii. 4. f i Pet. ii. 14* 
 
[ 3+] 
 
 late glorious fland ^ of the Lord-Mayor and 
 Court of Aldermen^ againil the Corruptions of 
 Bartholo?neW'Fair^ be a precedent for all fuc- 
 ceeding ages, and ftir up a noble emulation in 
 each of our magiftrates to excel in their fide- 
 lity and zeal againft every form, and every 
 nurfery of immorality and profanenefs. 
 
 The common province of all thefe ranks and 
 orders of perfons, and of every one who wifhes 
 well to a reformation, '\s to do their utmoft, 
 according to their refpedlive ftations and capa- 
 cities, to fubferve the defign of the Chriftian 
 difpenfation, and of the laws of our land, for 
 the luppreffing of impiety and vice, and for 
 the encouragement of religion and virtue. 
 They {hould do this fingly, or in conjundlion 
 with others, as opportunities offer, labouring 
 to ftrengthen the hands of one another, and 
 particularly of the worthy gentlemen, who 
 have formed themfelves into focieties for the 
 reformation of manners, and have taken great 
 pains in the momentous fervice ; and thanks 
 be to God, it has not been without fome 
 good fuccefs. 
 
 Things 
 
 * Lail Tuefciay, being Midfummer-day, the Lord-Mayor [Sir 
 Educard Bellamy) and Court of Aldermen came to a final re- 
 folution touching Bartholome^-Ydiir, that the fame ihall not 
 exceed Bartholameiv-Y,YQ, Bartholome^-u:-'D2iY y and the day after; 
 that is, the 23d, 24th, and 25th of Juguji ; and that during 
 that time, nothing but Halls and booths ihall be ereded for 
 fale of wares and merchandizes ufually fold in fairs, and no adling 
 to be permitted. London Journal, June 20, I735. I have 
 fince found that, on the fame day, they made a like order, 
 with refpedl to the Fair, called' Z^^-Fair, in the Borough 
 Qi South^Mark^ Daily Journal^ July 7, 1735. 
 
[ 35 ] 
 
 Things are indeed deplorably bad ftill, but 
 muft have been much vvorfe, were it not for 
 their indefatigable labour, by night and by 
 day, to rout the nefts of debauchery, and thin 
 the fwarms of notorious criminals, that infefl 
 our ftreets. I find * the number of perfons, 
 which they have been concerned in prolecu- 
 ting in or near JLondon for debauchery and 
 profanenefs, within thecompafs of the hA forty 
 years^ is computed at ninety-nine thoicfand^ three 
 hundred and eighty \ and in the lajl year but 
 07ie^ for lewd and diforderly pradtices, and fab- 
 bath-breaking, four hundred and ten. The 
 fervices for the laft year are not come to my 
 hands. In this good work they have en- 
 countred many difficulties, not only from the 
 offenders themfelves, but even from fome that 
 fhould have encouraged the reformers : They 
 have expos'd their perfons to danger, have gone 
 thro' evil report^ as well as good report^ for 
 their fidelity ; and have been loaded with in- 
 jurious reproaches, as if they made a gain of 
 godlinefs. But on the other hand, I am well 
 aiTured that it is a matter of great expence, 
 and no manner of profit to themfelves ; that 
 they have only their trouble and lofs of time 
 for their charges and pains ; that they don't 
 fo much as take, or know of any, who a6t 
 for them, that do ever take to themfelves the 
 moiety of the mulds or fines, which the 
 law allows to fuch as convidt ofi^enders, but 
 give all away to the poor ; and that they never 
 
 E 2 fuffer 
 
 * Dreivs Sermon to the Societies at St. Maty Ls B(n\,\ 
 Jan. 27, 1734, 
 
[ 36 ] 
 
 fufFer a bribe to blind their eyes, or to buy 
 off a profecution, or procure an eicape. 
 
 How kind and felf-denying, how honour- 
 able and generous is all this ; and how de- 
 ferving to be applauded, encouraged and af- 
 iifled by all good men ! Perfons of a isigorous 
 aftive temper ihould make themfelves mem- 
 bers of thefe focieties, to join with them in 
 their noble publick-fpirited work : Perfons of 
 fnhftance in the world {hould bear a part in 
 the credit of thefe focieties, and affill them 
 with their purfes, that the neceffary charges of 
 profecutions, of diftributing good books, and 
 of providing other means for carrying on their 
 important defign, may not be too heavy a 
 burthen upon the focieties themfelves : Perfons 
 of obfervatio?2 fhould furnifh them with ac- 
 counts, elpecially of grofs delinquents, fhould 
 put them into proper methods of apprehend- 
 ing them, and bringing them to juftice, and 
 fhould be afhflant to them in it : And every 
 cne^ who would favour their righteous caufe, 
 fhould recommend them and their labours in 
 their prayers to God, 
 
 And you, gentlemen, of thefe focieties, who 
 are embarkM in this great, and good, and ho- 
 nourable work, acquit yourfelves like men and 
 Chriflians ; be courageous for the Lord your 
 God, and fet your faces as a flint againfl all 
 the hardfhips, oppofition, and reproaches, you 
 may meet with in it. And, as I perceive you 
 find yourfelves cramp'd with inextricable dif- 
 liculties in fome profecutions, according to the 
 laws as they now ftand 5 perhaps if you were 
 
 to 
 
[ 37 ] 
 
 to unite in an humble application to parliament, 
 their wifdom and goodnefs might find ways to 
 remove them : In the mean while, make the 
 befl of all the good laws, which favour the 
 delign of your valuable aflbciation, and fee that 
 they be well executed. You are engaged in 
 a glorious caufe , it is the caufe of God and re- 
 ligion, the caufe of Chriftianity and humanity, 
 ! the caufe of equity and mercy to your coun- 
 I try, and the caufe of the kindeft beneficence 
 I to every one that fhall be reclaimed, and of 
 I neceffary juftice to them that continue ob- 
 I ftinate in their wickednefs ; and while you 
 , are faithful in it, God and all good men will 
 i own and honour you, however others may 
 I fcandalize and oppofe you. 
 
 Go on then, in the nam^e, and in the ftrength 
 of the Lord God, to put a flop to the horrible 
 profanations of the Lord's-day. Here is the 
 flood-gate, which lets in all the impieties that 
 mill upon us, and fwell to an overflowing out- 
 . rage : To fhut up this, is doing bufinefs by 
 wholefale ^ and therefore I befecch you, Sirs, 
 I to try the utmofl that can be done to clear 
 the flreets of fhoe-blackers, and the publick- 
 houfes of crowding guefts, v>^ho are profaning 
 God's time, if not abufing themfelves there ; 
 and to overturn the flails and baskets of the 
 coflermongers in the places of publick refort, 
 which, to the fhame of our Chriflian profefl 
 lion, are much more throng'd on the Lord's 
 days than on other days : And don't forget 
 the Hiops of butchers, barbers, and other tra- 
 ders. 
 
[ 38 ] 
 
 ders, who run away with the profits of con- 
 fcientious obfervers of the fabbath, and put 
 fome of them under a temptation to violate 
 their own confciences, that they may not lofe 
 their fhare of bufinefs. It is pity that vice 
 Ihould be thus rewarded, and virtue put under 
 fuch difcouragementss many honeft and indu- 
 ftrious tradefmen would be very thankful to God 
 and you, if by a due execution of the laws 
 you could but put them on a level in this 
 point with thofe, that make no confcience of 
 keeping the labbath. 
 
 Go on likewife, and the Lord be with you, 
 to exert yourfelves every day againfl gamin g- 
 houfes, and all the fcandalous numbers and 
 irregularities of cellars, and of publick and 
 private gin-fliops 5 againfl night-walkers and 
 flurdy beggrrs3 againfl all profane curfing and 
 fwearing, drunkennefs and debaucheries ; and 
 in a particular manner againfl the monflrous 
 unnatural fin, and all the filthy pradices that 
 tend towards it, which was one of the blackefl 
 brands of infamy on the worfl of heathens, 
 and brought the heaviefl vengeance on Sodom^ 
 and which is fhocking to common modefly 
 to think or fpeak of ; but which neverthelefs 
 (if general rumour may be credited) is a grow- 
 ing abomination amongfl us. And let me 
 intreat you, gentlemen, to keep a watchful 
 eye upon PopiJJj emiffai^ies^ priefls and Jefuits, 
 that they may not break our laws, by propa- 
 gating their antichriflian, treafonable, cruel, 
 and immoral fchemes, and by making their 
 
 profelytes 
 
[ 39 ] 
 
 profelytes rebels to Chrift, and to our gracious 
 and only rightful fovereign King George. 
 
 To conclude, let me earneftly befeech you. 
 Sirs, in the name of the Lord, to look care- 
 fully to your own hearts and ways in this, and 
 all your other management; and to take to 
 yourfelves what has been faid about perfoiial 
 reformation. See that you yourfelves be Chri- 
 flians indeed, that you are in a ftate of fa- 
 vour with God thro' faith in his beloved Son, 
 and that your principles, motives and views 
 are fet right by regenerating grace \ that whilfl 
 you attempt the reformation of others, none 
 of you yourfelves may be found caft-aways 
 at laft. Don't go forth in your own fpirit, 
 but look upwards for help from heaven ^ don't 
 think to make a merit with God by the ut- 
 moft that you can do in reforming- work; 
 but count yourfelves after all iinprojitahle fer- 
 'vants y and place your truft in Chrifl and his 
 righteoufnefs alone, for the acceptance of your 
 perfons and of all your labours of love for his 
 name's fake : You can lofe nothing by this ; 
 for 1 am very fure, that fuch an humble felf- 
 difclaiming temper of mind can be no bar a- 
 gainft the acceptablenefs of the befl of your 
 works, in the final judgment; but 1 think 
 no perfon can be fure, that they will not be 
 very unacceptable without it ; and I would fain 
 have none of you, gentlemen, difappointed 
 then. But if, in the manner which has been re- 
 commended, you vigoroufly apply yourfelves 
 to your duty ; remember for your encourage- 
 ment, 
 
[ 40 ] 
 
 ment, that whatfoever may be the event to 
 others, great is your reward in heaven ; even 
 that reward of grace, which God has promis'd 
 in his fure and everlafting covenant, and which 
 Chrift will adjudge you to at the laft day, 
 when he fhall fay, Well done thou good a?2d 
 faithjul fervant^ thou haft been faithful over a 
 few things^ I will make thee ruler over many 
 things J enter thou into the joy of thy Lord^. 
 
 * Matt. XXV. 21. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
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