vouchsafe to raise up fuch a Spirit as this Serm 9. in our Prince, and in all that are put in Authority under him. Certainly all that have any ferious thoughts about Religion and the Influence of it, muft earnestly defire to fee that Day, and make it the daily fubject of their importunate Prayers. Which minds me of my Third and Laft Head.

III. The Duty of all good People, to ferve and affift the Magiftrate in his Endeavours for Reformation. Which is here call'd,The ftanding up with him against the Workers of Iniquity. I need not furely prove this to be our Duty. We cannot fave our own Souls without doing what God has put in our power towards the faving those of others: without this we must not pretend to Religion. For what a ftrange fort of Religion is that which has neither Zeal for God, nor Charity for Man? And he can be fuppos'd to have but very little of either, who will not contribute what he can to the maintenance and propagation of Righteoufness, and the fuppreffing Wickedness. It of ten happens, and it is a deplorable face of things when it does fo, that the Great, and the Rich, Men of Place and Power, are the Fautors and Abettors of Sin; not only doing ill themfelves, but delighting

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Vol. I. in those that do fo. It often happens that Vice has gain'd that Afcendant,and Authority in a Nation (unhappy the Nation where it has;) that it defies, not only all the Exhortations and Denunciations of the Pulpit, but the Force and Majesty of Laws too. In this cafe, not fubordi. nate Magiftrates only, but even Princes themselves will need the Counfel, the Induftry, the Help and Service of others; and fhall we be accounted the Servants of God, and Lovers of Vertue, if we express no concern or zeal for either upon fuch an occafion?

If it be faid, we do not difpute our Obligation to do what we can in fuch a Cafe as this is; but what is it that we can do? I anfwer, I do not doubt but that frequent Opportunities will offer themfelves, when you may feasonably teftifie your good will to it. But befides thefe, there are fome general ways of doing it, to which we are all equally ty'd. Such are, for inftance, a cheerful Obedience to the Magiftrate, a fair and candid conftruction of his Conduct, a juft honour and efteem for him on the account of what he does well, fervent and constant Prayers to God for a Bleffing upon him, that he may be endow'd with a Spirit of Wisdom and Counsel, of Courage and Con stancy,

stancy, and may be ever under the pro-Serm. 9. tection and guidance of God. Nay, there is fomething more than all this that we can do: We may reform our felves, we may employ much care about our Families, we may countenance and encourage the Publick Worship, by our con ftant Attendance upon it, and an awful and reverent Deportment at it, and we may, in all Converfations, fignifie our diflike of every thing that has any tincture of Impiety. By this means we shall make the work of the Magistrate very eafie, we shall strengthen his Hands,and confirm him in his juft Refolutions; and we shall give check to the confidence of Sinners, and Sin will again fneak and hide it felf in Dens and Darkness, when it meets with that open and honeft oppofition which it ought, from all that make profeffion of Chriftianity. Do you yet defire more particular Directions? Confider by what Arts ill Men endeavour to propagate Wickedness, and from hence you will foon fee how you are to obviate and countermine 'em. Are they industrious to advance ill Principles, and to fubvert Primitive Christianity? We must contend earnestly for the Faith once delivered to the Saints, and be induftrious to keep it firm upon its first grounds. Are they for cashier

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Vol. I. ing Churches, Liturgies, Priests, and Sacraments? It is even from hence plain, that 'tis the Interest of Religion that we fhou'd pay a juft regard to 'em. Do they combine to blast and opprefs by Calumnies and ill Arts all good Men, and especially those who are more peculiarly engag'd in the Defence of Religion? We muft encourage, vindicate, fupport, and honour fuch. Do they labour to divide and embroil us? We must fincerely follow after those things that make for peace. Finally, are they zealous to promote ill Men? We must be so to set up good ones. I will now fum up all and conclude.

Our City and Nation are miferably corrupted and debauch'd; and while they are fo, we can never promise our felves Profperity or Safety. God has, 'tis true, at this time given us a Peace; 'tis another Trial, 'tis another Call; we indeed may make it a great and lafting Bleffing. But alas! Unleis a Reformation follow, Peace does but skin our Wounds: We bleed inwardly, and our very Vitals wafte. What will it avail us to repair our Loffes, if at the fame time we purfue and multiply our Sins? What will it fignifie that we are deliver'd from the Fear of a Mortal Enemy, when, on this fuppofal, God muft ftill have a Controverfie with our Land?

Land? A Reformation then you will all Serm. 9. acknowledge neceffary: and certainly, if you confider what Influence the Conduct and Morals of this City have upon the whole Nation; and what an account both Magistracy and People have one day to give of their Ability to do good, you cannot but conclude that it ought to begin from hence,and to be strenuously profecuted by the joynt Endeavours of the Magiftrates and others of this great, and if you will do your Duty, I doubt not but I fhall foon be able to add, flourishing, and happy City. Whether now you will hear, or whether you will forbear, I muft leave that to you; but Heaven and Earth will one time witness that I this Day have fincerely put you in mind of your Duty. If you neglect it, certainly your Profperity and Honour will be a very little, or a very fhort Blaze. For are they not the words of God in a much like cafe? Them that honour me, I will honour: And they that defpife me, fhall be lightly esteem'd? i Sam, 2. 30. But alas! fuppofe our Tem poral Profperity fhould be prolong'd? What then? Is there not a day, a terrible day coming, when Parties and Paffions fhall be no more; when the Strength of Sides and Factions fhall be scatter'd and difpers'd for ever,when all the little Poli