WE have this Day, My Brethren, sanctified a Fast, called a solemn Assembly, to humble ourselves before God, for the crying Sins of the Times; to deprecate impending Judg­ments, and implore Direction and Assistance from Heaven, against our Enemies, who, by their unrigh­teous Encroachments, on our Properties, and the Preparations they are making against us, seem to threaten the Ruin of our Country.

I PRESUME, it will not be thought unsuitable to the Occasion, to give you some historical and political Account, of the Power and Policy of our Enemies, and their wicked Designs against us; that we may have a proper Sense of our Danger, and be excited to our Duty, in the present critical Juncture. To this Purpose, it will be proper we should look back to the Source and Spring of our present Troubles; which are well known to be the boundless Ambition of the late Kings of France, and their insatiable Thirst after arbitrary Power, and universal Monarchy.

WHOEVER considers, that France, from a small and inconsiderable Kingdom, in a few Centuries, is become one of the most numerous and powerful in Europe, and by what arbitrary and unrighteous Methods, her Dominions have been extended; will be convinc'd, that all Encroach­ments [Page 6]from such a dangerous Enemy, should be guarded against, with the utmost Precaution.

IN King HENRY the VIth's Time, the English possessed a great Part of their present Dominions ^*, and even Paris, the Metropolis, where he was crowned ^§. Their Territories since that Time, have been vastly enlarged, and very much at the Expence of the just Rights of their Neighbours; especially by the present reigning Family, who are known by the Name of the House of Bourbon.—The first indeed of this Race, Henry IVth, who came to the Throne 1589, while a Protestant, discovered a very different Spirit, from his degenerate Offspring.—Tho', from Reasons of State, he was induced to declare himself a Roman Catholick, yet he had so great a Regard to Justice and Gratitude, as to establish the famous Edict of Nantz ^†, in Favour of the Protestants, who had advanced him to the Throne. This has done more Honour to his Memory, than all the warlike Exploits, whereby he acquir'd the Name of GREAT. But his Successors and Posterity, the Lewis's, have, for above one Hundred Years past, been the Plague and Scourge of Europe, and rendered their Reigns infamous, by persecuting the Protestants, in Violation of the most solemn Engagements; whom Lewis the XIVth, in a Letter to Cromwel, acknowledged, were some of the best and most peaceable Subjects he had.

THE Scheme for absolute Power, and universal Monarchy, was concerted, in the Minority of Lewis the XIIIth ^‡, by that haughty and aspiring Minister, Cardinal Richlieu. By Bribes and Force, depriving the Parliament of Paris of their Privileges, he endeavoured by every Stratagem, to render the King absolute, and to enslave the Subject; envying the Protestants the Privileges granted them by Henry IVth, he raised a severe Persecution against them; took away all the Places given as a Security, that the Edict of Nantz should be observed; the last and most [Page 7]important of which, viz. Rochelle, (being shamefully forsaken by King Charles the Ist. notwithstanding repeated Assurances of Assistance) after a terrible Siege of two Years, surrendered October 8th, 1628. Here we may date the Beginning of arbitrary Power, in France. In this Reign also, her Territories were considerably enlarged, and the Foundation of her future Greatness and tyrannizing over her Neighbours, was then laid.

LEWIS XIVth, being in the 5th Year of his Age, at the Death of his Father, 1643, Cardinal Mazarine (equally noted for his Pride and Covetousness) was admitted into the Administration, who effectually prosecuted the Plan laid by his Predecessor; rendered the Crown wholly absolute; bereft the Subjects of the little Remains of Liberty; and upon them, and their Posterity, rivetted the Chains of an abject Slavery.

IN the Beginning of his Administration, France made herself dreaded among her Neighbours, by a Series of Victories obtained in Flanders, against Spain, under the celebrated Prince of Conde, at a prodigious Expence of Blood. Tho', in the End, very little Advantage was derived from them, yet they served to show how little Regard was had to the Lives of their Fellow-Creatures. Soon after, indeed, his proud Designs, of extending the French Dominions, were, for a While obstructed, by the civil Broils and intestine Wars, which, at that Time, prevailed in the Nation: They also met with an effectual Check, for a Season, by the Valour of the English, under Cromwel, when Disputes with France were easily and speedily settled, without any Bloodshed. Witness, that haughty Minister's being obliged, by a single Message, contrary to his Intentions, to deliver up Dunkirk to the English Ambassador ^§; and to stop the Duke of Savoy from persecuting the Protestants, tho' he pretended it was not within his Jurisdiction. But, notwithstanding the Confusion of a Civil War, at the celebrated Treaty of [Page 8] Westphalia, he had the Art and Policy to secure the Sove­reignty of Alsace, and some Parts of Lorrain, to the Crown of France.

No sooner had Lewis XIVth taken the Reins of Go­vernment into his own Hands, than he acts the Tyrant over his own People, and discovers his ambitious Designs of enslaving the Rest of Europe. Finding no better Pretence for falling on his Neighbours, he lays claim to Flanders, and Franché-Comté, by his Wife (Maria Theresia of Spain) tho' she had expressly renounced all claim to it, on her Marriage; which, by a Series of bloody Battles and Sieges, at the Expence of Millions of Lives, he subdued: Tho' he was obliged to resign the latter; yet, at the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ^§, he got confirmed to the Crown of France, almost all the Places he had taken in Flanders.

IN 1672, without the least plausible Pretence for War, he makes the most formidable Preparations, to subdue the United Netherlands, and wholly to extirpate the Dutch Common-Wealth. The States General, in a very submissive Manner, requested that his Majesty would let them know, if those mighty Preparations were designed against them: To whom that haughty Monarch made no other Reply, but, ‘That he should employ his Troops in such a Manner, as his Dignity deserved, which did not require him to give an Account to any one.’

ALL the Places that lay in his Way, fell an easy Prey to his victorious Arms. The Provinces of Utrecht, Overissel, and Guelders, with all the adjacent Places, being subdued, Amsterdam, the Metropolis, was just on the Point of being surrendered. So near and evident did their Ruin appear, that the most noted Families, who were fond of their Liberties, had actually prepared for a Remove to the East-Indies; chusing rather to live in the Extremities of the Earth, than become the Slaves of a Tyrant. But divine Providence prevented their total Overthrow, which seemed inevitable, by sundry favourable Interpositions. Heaven [Page 9]rais'd up at that Time, the great Hero of his Day, King WILLIAM, then Prince of Orange, who, by his singular Wisdom and Valour, put a Stop to that [...], which seemed to threaten all Europe. In these wicked and ambi­tious Designs, of destroying the Dutch, and enslaving Mankind, to the Amazement of all Europe, he was assisted by King Charles the IId, who, as Voltaire justly observes, "was active in nothing, but his Pleasures;" unless, as he might have added, in persecuting his own Subjects, and promoting the Grandeur and Power of France, which it was so evidently the Interest of England to humble. To support the Expence of his extravagant Pleasures, and this unnatural War with the Dutch, which in scandalous Violation of publick Faith, he had undertaken, he sold those very important Places, Dunkirk and Mardyke, to the King of France ^*; ‘at a Price, says the above mentioned Author, glorious to the Purchaser, and shameful to the Seller:’ And to compleat the Scandal of that debauched and effeminate Reign, soon after added Nova-Scotia ^†.

THE King of France, altho' obliged to quit most of his Conquests in the Netherlands, yet at the Treaty of ^‡ Nemiguen, acted like the Arbiter of Europe, and had confirmed to his Dominions, several advantageous Places ^§. The barbarous Orders he gave, for reducing to Ashes, that sine large Country the Palatinate ^‖, showed his Cruelty to be equal to his Ambition. The wretched People drove off in the dead of Winter ^¶; their Houses, and their very Graves ransack'd by merciless Soldiers, afforded such a tragical Scene, that even a French Author, who labours to set all his Conduct in the most favourable Light, says, "all Europe look'd upon it with Horror;" and that those who hitherto only blamed, while they admired his Ambi­tion, now exclaimed aloud against his Barbarity.

[Page 10] THE King of Spain's ^¶ dying childless, and leaving his Dominions, by Will, to the Duke of Anjou, Grandson to Lewis XIVth, gave a new Specimen of his Treachery, and boundless Ambition. Some of the Powers of Europe, being sensible of the Danger that would arise from the Union of two such powerful Monarchies, entered into what is known by the Name of the Partition Treaty ^|. To this the King of France acceded, with pompous Expressions of his Desire to preserve the Peace of Europe, declaring that a Will, from the King of Spain, in Favour of his Family, should not alter him. But his own, and his Father's solemn Renunciations, (on their Marriages) his public Faith twice given, appeared to him as solemn Trifles, when a new Opportunity presented, of aggrandizing his Family. Immediately on the Death of Charles, he accepts the Will, seizes the Kingdom of Spain, in Right of his Grandson, tho' advised against it, by one of his principal Ministers, as what might involve him in a bloody and expensive War; but the Prospect of so greatly increasing his Grandeur and Power, had too many Charms to be resisted. The Execu­tion of his ambitious Designs, was for some Time prevented, by the Grand Alliance ^† formed by King William. Surpri­zingly successful were the Consequences of that Confederacy, in the succeeding Reign of Queen Anne. That renowned General, the Duke of MARLBOROUGH, by his Valour, and good Conduct, almost reduced France to the last Extremity; and had he been continued, might, the next Campaign, have carried his Arms to the Gates of Paris; dictated Terms of Submission to that baughty Monarch, and so prevented the sad Calamities of the last War, and the Grounds of our pre­sent melancholly Apprehensions. But the Queen, under the Influence of wicked Counsellors, taking an unhappy Turn, at the Close of her Reign, discarded one of the bravest Generals the English ever had; turned out a wise, faithful, and truly patriot Ministry, and put in a Set of mercenary [Page 11]and treackercus Men, who miserably betrayed her, and sacrificed to Gain, the Honour and Interest of their Country; shamefully abandoned their Allies, and patched up a separate Peace with France ^¶, on Terms the most scanda­lous, and disadvantageous. To behold the Manner in which England, after all her glorious Conquests, accepted Conditions of Peace, from a vanquished Tyrant, 'tis hard to say, whether among our Neighbours, it created more Mirth or Contempt. To hear the King of France, talk of acknowledging the Queen's Title;—insisting on an equiva­lent for Dunkirk;—demanding and receiving Cape-Breton as an Equivalent for Newfoundland, with many Hardships on our Trade;—and to see the Pretender banish'd no far­ther than Lorrain, was Matter of Astonishment to all who knew that he had been a little before humbly suing for Peace, and that it was in our Power to have prescribed to him what Terms we pleased.

THE sad Effects of the treacherous Conduct of that Ministry, we groan under to this Day; and had not the sudden Death of the Queen, and Accession of King GEORGE the Ist, to the Throne, prevented, should have felt it in a very different Manner. For, as Voltaire says, (who cannot be suspected of Prejudice against them, since he endeavours to justify that scandalous Peace they made) ‘It is certain, that the new Ministry of Queen ANNE, had secretly formed a Scheme for establishing the Son of James IId, on the Throne. Queen Anne herself, influenced by her Ministers, began to listen to the Voice of Nature, and entered into the Design, of settling the Succession on her Brother, whom she had proscribed against her Inclination.’ And indeed this has appeared beyond all Contradiction, by a Letter of Lord Bolinbroke's, lately published.

[Page 12] THE Duke of Burgundy, Great Grandson to Lewis XIVth, succeeding to the Throne on his Death ^*, when a Minor of about five Years old, the Duke of Orleans was appointed Regent of the Kingdom, under whose Administration Europe enjoyed a little Respite from the Treachery and Ambition of France. But, as soon as the present King Lewis XVth, was capable of taking the Government into his own Hands, he discovered the same aspiring Spirit and Thirst after universal Power, for which his Predecessor was so remarkable.

'TIS still fresh in our Memory, what Wars and Tumults he raised in Europe 1733, under a Pretence of revenging the Affront he received, by the Rejection of his Father-in-Law Stanislaus, from being King of Poland, and Choice of the Elector of Saxony in his Room. Tho' the Russian Army was the principal Cause of this, he takes no Notice of them, but instigates the King of Spain and Sardinia, to join him, in falling on the Emperor CHARLES VIth;—takes away his Dominions in Italy;—procures the two Sicilies for the King of Spain's second Son, Don Charlos, a Branch of the House of Bourbon;—and gets the Dutchies of Barrois and Lorrain, annexed to the Crown of France. To this, more by his Policy, than his Power, he persuaded the Emperor and Duke of Lorrain, to consent, upon a solemn Engagement, that he would join the King of Prussia, and other Powers of Europe, in guaranteeing what is called the pragmatic Sanction; by which all the hereditary Dominions of the late Emperor, were secured to his eldest Daughter ^‡. But in open Violation of his publick Faith, as soon as she had succeeded to the hereditary Dominions of the House of Austria, on the Death of her Father ^§, he joins the King of Prussia, in taking away Silesia and Bohemia; got the Duke of Eavaria chosen Emperor; carried his Arms even to the Gates of Vienna, and would have stripped that Lady [Page 13]of the greater Part, if not all, her Dominions, had not Providence interposed, and given a new Turn to the Affairs of Europe, by the Death of the Duke of Bavaria, and King GEORGE the IId coming seasonably to her Relief: whose Example Holland, Sardinia, and even Russia, soon after followed. This put a Stop to the aspiring Views of France, raised the Queen of Hungary from the Brink of Ruin to which she was reduced, and by the Election of her Husband, to the Head of the Empire ^*, restored to her Family, the Imperial Dignity. The Assistance his Majesty afforded the House of Austria, in Faithfulness to his Engagement, of guaranteeing the Pragmatic Sanction, which the King of France had so perfi­diously violated, provoked him to declare War against us ^§, when we had been already for some Years engaged in one with Spain. The repeated Insults and Injuries we received from that Nation, in which they have been always aided and countenanced by France; their searching and plun­dering our Ships in the West-Indies; seizing the Effects of our South-Sea-Company, &c. after much Patience, and many fruitless Complaints, obliged us to declare War against them ^|, and we should easily have brought them to Terms, and got Restitution for the many Abuses we received, had not France come to their Assistance, which put us under a Necessity of maintaining the War against both Nations, for many Years. I need not acquaint you, with the various Success, and Event of that dangerous and expensive War; 'tis fresh in every one's Mind; and how little to the Credit and Interest of our Nation, it ended, is no Secret. It is true, we gained some Advantages by Sea, and were signally smiled upon, in taking Cape-Breton, an Acquisition which will be celebrated by Posterity, to the lasting Honour of New-England! Had it continued in our Possession, such is its Situation, and Strength, that it would have been an unspeakable Loss to the French, and a vast Security to us, against any future Insults from them. [Page 14]Was that Key of their Part of America, yet in our Hands, it would not be in their Power, to give us new Troubles at this Day. But the King of France carried all before him in Flanders; was every where victorious over the Allied Army, far inferior to his own in Number. This Superiority was much increased, by the Duke's being oblig'd to withdraw his Forces, for the Nation's Defence, against a dangerous Rebellion, formed in Favour of the Pretender ^|, so that at the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle ^*, we were forced to deliver up that important Fortress and Harbour, for the Return of those Places he had taken in Flanders, to the Queen of Hungary. The giving up his Conquests at this Place, Voltaire mentions, as a most unexpected and unparal­lelled Instance of Moderation, in the King of France. I confess, if there had been any Moderation in it, it would have been unexpected, and unparallelled, in a French King; but had he considered the vast Importance of Cape-Breton, to France, he would have seen, it was Necessity, not Mo­deration, that induced him to quit his Acquisitions. Thus after a great Expence, increasing the national Debt to above 70,000,000, with the Loss of a Multitude of Lives; France and Spain, were left in the Possession of all their former Territories. ‘FRANCE, says the above mentioned Writer, at the Peace, was re-established on the same Footing, as at that of Utrecht, and became more flourishing;’ consequently more dangerous.

THE House of Bourbon, the present reigning Family, is now arrived to a very high Pitch of Grandeur and Power, being in Possession of France, Spain, Italy, Sicily, and Naples, together with large Dominions in America; and they are so connected together, that it is highly probable, they would join against any other Power in Europe. I know that Alliances by Blood and Marriage, signify little with the Princes of this World, unless, as is the Case with France and Spain, they are united in Interest too: I may add also, in the same ambitious Design of aggrandizing [Page 15]their Family. And what makes them the more to be dreaded, is the Prospect, that the King of Prussia may join them on a new Rupture, who, seems at present, to hold the Ballance of Europe, in his Hands; and is supposed to have no less than 150,000 well disciplined Troops at Com­mand.

SINCE the Revolution, Great-Britain has been the principal Means of restraining the lawless Ambition of France, and preventing her farther unrighteous Encroach­ments, on her Neighbours: It may therefore be expected, that every Scheme which their Policy can invent, or Perfidy execute, will be attempted to weaken and destroy us.

WE are well assured, that Lewis XIVth, made repeated Efforts, to restore King James; and at his Death, declared his pretended Son, King of England, contrary to his solemn Engagement, at the Treaty of Ryswic ^*: And indeed France has, at the Expence of her public Faith, from Time to Time, secretly countenanced, and encouraged the Pre­tender; even in Times of Peace, keeping up the Spirit of the jacobitish Party, who are madly bent upon enslaving themselves and their Country; and stands always ready at any favourable Juncture, openly to assist him.

JUST before the breaking out of the last War, the King of France fitted out a Fleet at Dunkirk, with 16,000 Troops to invade England, in Favour of the Pretender; and had not Providence rais'd a Storm, which prevented their Land­ing, just as they were on our Coasts, it is not improbable they might have accomplished their wicked Design, as the Nation was at that Time, unconcerned about, and unpre­pared for, such an Event. 'Tis hard to say, whether such a perfidious Enemy is most to be dreaded, in War or Peace. Certain, however, it is, that Experience teaches us the Necessity of keeping a watchful Eye upon him, at all Times; and of what Importance it is, that we should en­deavour to crush his pernicious Schemes in the Bud.

THE French, not only exceed us in Times of Peace, in extending their Trade, and augmenting their Forces, but [Page 16]use every Art and Stratagem to acquire some new Advan­tage, against a Time of War; while we lie asleep, and are utterly unconcerned about it.—That pernicious Fort at Crown-Point, built in a Time of Peace, and evidently in our King's Dominions, still remains, as well a Monument of our Weakness and Stupidity, as of their Treachery and Policy. What Mischief it has done, and is still like to do, to our Frontiers, our Trade and Interest with the Indians, none can tell. Our fatal Error in not seasonably preventing that, might, methinks, learn us Wisdom in the present Day.

EVER since the Peace, our Public Prints have been filled with Accounts of the various Methods France has taken, in Conjuction with Spain, to increase their naval Force, and put themselves in a Posture of disputing with us, the Domi­nion of the Seas. By the best Advices the Ships of War they have built since the Peace, amount to above 100 Sail.— In Lewis XIVth's Time, 1664, a French Author says, ‘They were in want of Officers, Sailors, Manufactures, and in short, every Thing necessary for the Construction and Equipment of Shipping, not having above 15 or 16 Ships of the lowest Rate.’ But they have made so great Improvements since, that they bid fair to rival, if not exceed the English, in that which has hitherto been their great Security and Glory.—By these brief Hints, it appears exceeding evident, that France is grasping at a universal Mo­narchy, and bent, per Fas, et Nefas, on accomplishing the wicked Design. And as her Schemes for effecting this in Europe, have hitherto, by the Interposition of divine Pro­vidence, and the Strength of the Alliance formed against them, been defeated; she is now undoubtedly making the same Attempt in America.

WE have heard of the Policy and Perfidy of France, of her arbitrary Power, Popish Tyranny and Bigotry; we are now like to feel the bitter Fruits that flow from them. The Cloud gathers thick and dark upon us. 'Tis manifest beyond Dispute, that the King of France has for these many Years, been laying Schemes to enlarge his Dominions in America, and distress us. Tho', by the Treaty of Aix-la­all [Page 17]Things were to remain on the same Footing, as before the War; yet, no sooner was it ratified, than he be­gins to send Colonies to neutral Islands;—projects a Settle­ment in Nova-Scotia;—raises a Dispute about the Limits; embroils the Affairs of our Indians;—labours to draw them off from our Alliance;—and enters unreasonable Claims, ut­terly inconsistent with the Safety and Prosperity of our infant Colonies. To lull us asleep, he made sham Pretences of settling a Line between the French and English Territo­ries in America: Commissioners were appointed; much Time and Money spent, in fruitless Negotiations at the Court of France; which answered no End, unless to convince every Body, that he never had a Design of settling it any other­wise than by the SWORD: And for a Decision this Way, he has made the most artful and diligent Preparation. It is now sufficiently known, that the French have been forti­fying themselves on our back Parts; laying in great Quantities of Provision, and Magazines of warlike Stores, as if they had actually concluded on War. While we have been wholly secure. The Master-Piece of their Policy has been lately discovered, tho' long since concerted, viz. their compleating and securing a Communication between St. Lawrence's River and the Missisippi. They are in Pos­session of two Forts on the Lake Ontario, and have lately built two or three below the Lake Errie, on a Branch of the River Ohio, that empties into the great River Missisippi; the Mouth of which they have long possessed. By the best Advices they have very much fortified, and well-manned these Forts; so that now they have actually surrounded the British Colonies, and are in Possession of a vastly extended Country, from Cape-Breton to the Bay of Mexico. Enough has been said of late in the public Prints, to render it indis­putable, that their Settlements on the Ohio are within our King's Dominions. 'Tis sufficient to observe that they were made without their Consent, and against their Inclination, on Lands belonging to the Indians in our Alliance, which have been confirmed to them, under the Protection of Great-Britain; and so, are inconsistent with both the [Page 18] Letter and Spirit, of their Treaties: And if we suffer them quietly to possess what they have so unrighteously seized upon, and to go on fortifying themselves, there requires no Spirit of Prophesy to foretel, that it must sooner or later prove fatal to these Colonies. All Communication with the powerful and numerous Tribes of our Indians, will unavoidably be cut off; our profitable Trade with them wholly lost, and our Frontiers constantly exposed, to all the barbarous Cruelties which woful Experience hath taught us, those savage People, under the Influence of French Policy, are capable of committing. The Line of Forts they have already between Canada and the Missisippi, gives them an un­known Advantage, to draw off the Natives from our Alliance. To effect which, no Pains or Cost, are spared, no Stratagem is left untried. We are well assured, they keep Missionaries con­stantly among them, to inculcate the distinguishing Principles of their Religion; and what appears still more important in their Eyes, to infuse into their Minds, Prejudices against the English, and attach them to the French Interest. They have been unwearied in their Pains, since the last Peace, in alienating their Affections from us. For this Purpose, they have desired Liberty to send Missionaries among the Six Nations, and have lately sent them an Invitation to come and settle at Canada. Should they succeed in these Attempts, the Consequence would be very pernicious. Our Frontier Settlements would be broke up, and all Hopes of driving the French from their Encroachments, be very much at an End.

THEY are a warlike People: Governor SHIRLEY in one of his Speeches, if I don't mistake, supposes they have 16,00 or 17,00 fighting Men; and having the most of the other Tribes under their Influence, are powerful Friends, and would be very dangerous Enemies.

THE Twightwees, a numerous Tribe, in whose Country the French have lately built Forts, some Years ago entered into an Alliance with the Governor of Pennsylvania, which they have hitherto faithfully preserved. In 1751, they espoused our Cause, and revenged the Affront, which the [Page 19] French put upon us, in siezing and imprisoning our Traders, by bringing two of theirs to Philadelphia, and delivering them up to the Government. But unless some speedy and vigorous Step be taken to secure them and ourselves, their Friendship will be inevitably lost, as they will be obliged to join the French in their own Defence.—Our weak and ill-concerted Measures to dispossess the latter, have very much sunk our Interest with the Indians. Since Colonel Washington's Defeat, they appear wavering and show an unusual Degree of Coldness. Our formal Way of Treaties, and giving Presents, signifies very little; half the Money well laid out in erecting Fortresses in their Country, and supporting proper Missionaries to reside among them, would be much more to the Purpose. However, at pre­sent, it is Madness for us, by our dilatory Methods of proceeding, to increase the Advantage the French already have in their Hands, for depriving us of those necessary Allies, who will have it very much in their Power, to turn the Scale in the present Dispute. Our Eyes must surely, by this Time, be open, to see that the Schemes they have hitherto, so secretly laid, and artfully conducted, tend to, and if not seasonably prevented, will issue in, the utter Destruction of all our Provinces. And if we view our Enemies, in a religious, as well as political Light, we shall see the Necessity of guarding against them with all possible Care.

THEIR established Religion is Popery; which, beside all it's other Corruptions, disposes them from Principle, to be cruel to Protestants. They are early taught as undoubted Truths, That there is no Salvation out of the Church of Rome;—That all who separate from it are damnable Heretics;— That no Faith is to be kept with them;—That it is highly meritorious to use the most cruel Methods of reclaiming such, and bringing them back into the Bosom of that Mother of Harlots;—and that all such as are obstinate, ought to be extirpated from the Face of the Earth. And what we are to expect, if God should deliver us into their Hands, we [Page 20]may learn from what our Brethren have suffered, whose Lot has been cast among them.

THE beginning of the Reformation in France, was A. D. 1124; which spread very much, 1160, by Means of one Peter Waldo, of Lyons, from whom they were called, Waldenses. And tho' there was a Persecution rais'd against it, from its first Commencement, it was, by divine Pro­vidence, wonderfully preserved, and carried on. To pass by numberless cruel and inhuman Methods, to destroy the Protestants, and suppress the Reformation, in the four following Centuries, I have only Time now to remark, That in 1572, there was the most barbarous Massacre, committed on the Protestants, at Paris, where some of their chief Men, being invited, under an Oath of Safety, to solemnize the Marriage of the King of Navarre, were, at a Signal, by the Toll of the Bell, fallen upon, and inhumanly butchered by the Papists, their being at the same Time an Insurrection against them in the other Parts of the Kingdom. By all Accounts, a great Number, and by some, not less than 100,000, were slain in this perfi­dious Manner. But detestable as their Conduct was, the News of it was receiv'd with Joy, at Rome. They found a great Deliverer in King HENRY IVth; who, as hath been observed, was indebted to the Protestants, for his Crown, when the Papists, with the King of Spain, under the Influence of the Pope, were in League against him. To reward their Fidelity, or rather, being sensible how just and equitable it was, he established the Edict of Nantz, by which free Liberty of Conscience, in religious Matters, and Access to all Places of Honour and Trust, were secured to them; declared it to be perpetual and irrevocable; put 100 fortified Places into their Hands, as a Security, that it should ever be observed. This was confirmed, by LEWIS XIIIth, tho' it was repeatedly violated in the Course of his Reign. The same Edict was confirmed also by LEWIS XIVth, and by him too declared perpetual and irrevocable; yet by the continual Remonstrance of the Clergy, and Insinuations of the Jesuits, a cruel Persecution [Page 21]was carried on against them, through a great Part of his Reign, which was very much increased, towards the Close of it, when he acted, as if he was determined to extirpate them from his Kingdom.

IN 1681, he published a Declaration, by which their Children were permitted, at the Age of 7 Years, to renounce their Religion. ‘In Consequence of this, (says a French Writer ^§) great Numbers of Children were seized in the Provinces, with a View to make them abjure, and Troops quartered on their Parents.’ At the Close of the Year 1684, he set on foot the Hellish Method of converting them, by Dragoons. The principal Men were assembled together, and ordered to abjure their Religion; and upon such as re­fused, the Soldiers were let loose to treat them in the most inhuman and barbarous Manner. According to some Accounts near 500,000 Families were plundered. And to cut them off from that last and only Refuge, flying their Country, a Proclamation was issued, confiscating all Estates that were sold, if the Seller departed the Kingdom within a Year after: And as if this was not enough, Soldiers were quartered on the Frontiers, to seize any that attempted to make their Escape; and such as they could apprehend, were confined to the Gallies. Multitudes however found Me­thods of escaping, and took Refuge in England, Holland, and other Protestant Countries, where they were kindly re­ceived, especially by King William, their great Patron; ‘50,000 Families (says Voltaire) in the Space of three Years, left the Kingdom.’

To convince you that I don't aggravate the Matter, hear the Words of a Letter from his Prime Minister ^*, dated 1685, ‘It is his Majesty's Pleasure, that such as refuse to conform to his Religion, be proceeded against with the utmost Rigour, and that not the least Indulgence be shewn to those who affect the foolish Glory of being the last to comply.’ And to use the Words of the above men­tioned Author, ‘While all the Churches of the Refor­med, [Page 22]were thus every where demolished, and Abjurations demanded in the Provinces, with an armed Force, the Edict of Nantz was at last revoked, in the Month of October, 1685; which compleated the Ruin of the Protestant Cause, already weakened and undermined on all Sides.’ This may satisfy us, that no Security from a Popish Prince, for our religious Liberties, can ever be obtained. Promises and Oaths, even Edicts, declared per­petual, stand for nothing, when made with Hereticks. With such Bigotry and blind Zeal, does their Religion inspire them, that they will persecute their Subjects, against all the known and consest Rules of good Policy.

THEY had indeed some Respite from the Fury of their popish Adversaries, while the Duke of Orleans was Regent of the Kingdom: But it has since been renewed again with the same Cruelty, under his present Majesty, Lewis XVth; who, in the Year 1745, published an Edict, making it im­mediate Death, for any Ministers that officiated; perpetual Imprisonment for the Women, and Gallies for the Men, who attended; and few of the succeding Years, to the present Time, have been without Instances of the barba­rous Treatment they have met with from popish Bigots.

IN the Year 1752, a Gentleman from Languedoc, writes thus, ‘The Persecution is fiercer than ever, the Papists demand Abjuration of all that have been married, or had their Children baptized in Protestant Assemblies, and on the Refusal, the Mothers are proclaimed Whores, and the Children Bastards. They seize on Father, Mother, and Children, and force them into Romish Churches, &c.’ And by the latest Advices, Persecutions still con­tinue in France, as furious as ever. A Letter from Paris, dated September 25, 1754, gives the following melancholly Account. ‘The Persecution of the unhpapy Protestants, has been long carried on with great Rigour, and no Measures are neglected, either to disturb their As­semblies, or seize their Ministers. This appeared very particularly the 19th of June last, near St. Foy, in the Perigord, where an Assembly of Protestants being held [Page 23]the Night before, a Detachment of Troops lay in Ambus­cade near the Place, to wait for their breaking up, and then fell upon these unhappy People, who could make no Resistance, and dangerously wounded a great many of them: But, this is nothing to the Distress occasioned in Languedoc, and the Cevennes, by a general Search which was ordered to be made there the 3d of August last, for which all the Troops that were in those Provinces, were employed, except those which serve to garrison the Forts and Citadels: They were ordered to march in the Dead of the Night, and with all imaginable Silence, to invest certain Towns, Villages, and Country Houses; a List of which was given to every commanding Officer. At Break of Day, the Search was begun with all Rigour imaginable. The Soldiers burst the Doors open with their Muskets, and entering with their Bayonets at the End of them, ransack'd every Corner of the Houses, destroying every Thing that came in their Way, and sparing neither Furniture nor Persons. In short, the Places they went to, could be compared to nothing but a Town taken by Storm.’

THUS you see, My Brethren, the Power and Policy, the Treachery and Cruelty, of our Foes, have a dark and threat­ning Aspect upon us. But I have a more distressing and affecting Scene to open to your View: I mean, our Ex­posure to the angry Resentments of Heaven, from those crying Abominations, which, at this Time, so greatly abound. To declaim against the prevailing Iniquities of the Day, is far from being a delightful Theme; but should we, who are set as Watchmen on the Walls of God's Jerusa­lem, neglect to declare to his People, their Transgressions, and their Sins, we should betray our Trust, act beneath our sacred Character, and involve our selves deeply in the public Guilt.

'TIS no less lamentable to be thought of, than true in Fact, that our Nation is greatly degenerated, and become extremely corrupt. We are a sinful People, laden with Iniquity. From what kind of Heaven-daring Wickedness [Page 24]are we free? If we begin at the Height of Atheism, and descend to the lowest Pitch of Sensuality, and beastly Uncleaness, what Exception can be made? Are we not in all these Respects defiled? To such a Degree of Wicked­ness have some profane Sinners arrived, as not only, like the Foot, to say in their Heart, but openly proclaim, ‘That there is no God;’ and employ the very intellectual Powers he has given them, in disputing against the Author of their Being. And what Multitudes live and act, as if they believed not his Existence; or, as if they thought he was altogether such an one as themselves? How many make a Scoff and Banter of revealed Religion, pouring Contempt on the Gospel, and all its Glories; denying the Lord that bought them, and bringing swift Destruction on themselves.

INFIDELITY, has of late Years, been spreading fast in the Kingdom, and is evidently growing on the present Generation. Books, that turn the divine Oracles into Ridicule, and tend to unhinge Men's Minds, from all Principles of Religion, have been industriously propagated.

THE lamentable Increase of Profaness, in our Day, must be manifest to the most careless Observer. What Numbers of thoughtless, stupid Sinners, show an utter Disregard to all that is sacred and solemn; fill the Ears of all that hear them, with their vain Oaths, and horrid Imprecations; interline their filthy Discourses, with the venerable Name of the ever blessed Deity; and in meer Sport, or, on every slight Provocation, wish Damnation to themselves, and all around them. 'Tis easy to see, how this infamous Practice destroys all Reverence for an Oath; opens a Door to Perjury, and the whole Train of direful Consequences that flow from it. And what shall we say, as to the various Kinds of Luxury, Lewdness, and vile Debauchery, which so much prevail? It is a Shame to speak of the sordid Methods invented by corrupt Minds, for the Gratification of their brutish Lusts; tho' many of these unclean Wretches, glory in their Shame, declaring their Sin, like Sodom, and hide it not.—Nay, too often many turn Factors for the Devil, and labour to promote his Kingdom, [Page 25]by spreading their fatal Infection among all with whom they converse: Affecting, to this Purpose, are the Words of the present Bishop of London: ‘Have not, says he, all the Abominations of the publick Stews, been opened to View, by lewd Pictures, exposed to Sale at Noon Day? Have not Histories or Romances of the vilest Prostitutes, been published? intended meerly to display the most execrable Scenes of Lewdness; Lewdness re­presented without Disguise, to inflame the corrupt Passions of the Youth of the Nation; and the quick Sale those Pictures and Books had, is a deplorable Circumstance, and sad Instance of the corrupt Disposition of many among us.’ And that this excellent and pious Letter, should be lampooned in the public News-Papers, is a flagrant Evidence to what a Height Impiety is arrived. And if the Sinners of our Land have not gone the same Length in all those beastly Pleasures, and detestable Abo­minations, 'tis evident they make swift Advances, and great Improvements in those Mysteries of Iniquity.

TIME would fail me, to speak of the open Contempt, every where cast on God's holy Day; all the Ordinances of his House, and all the Riches of his Grace, offered in the Gospel; nor can I easily describe the Gluttony and Drunkenness, Robbery and Deceit, Oppression and Vio­lence, Pride and Covetousness, for which our Land mourns. We look far Judgment, but behold Oppression; for Righteous­ness, but behold a Cry.—Will any enquire, where are those Enormities to be found? Have we not Reason rather to say, where are they not to be seen? What sad Defects and Corruptions, are to be found among all Ranks and De­grees, Sexes and Denominations; among Rulers and ruled; high and low, rich and poor.—'Tis not my Business to accuse and condemn; nor would I here affirm any Thing. Would to God, that Pride and Ambition, Bribery and Extortion, Debauchery and Uncleanness, were banished from the British Court. O! that just and righteous Men always stood around our King, who feared God, and bated Covetousness.—How lamentable is it, when Vice [Page 26]comes recommended to the lower Sort of People, by the Practice of the Great, and is connived at, and even coun­tenanced by those, whose Business it is to suppress it! Would to God there was nothing of this found among the Rulers of our Nation and Land;—that they were all Terrors to evil Doers, as their Office obliges them to be!

ARE those of the sacred Profession free from a Share in the public Guilt; who should be the Salt of the Earth, the Light of the World, to keep it from Darkness and Corrup­tion? Are all God's Ministers cloathed with Salvation, then may his Saints shout for Joy. But if it be too evident to be denied, that the Pride and Covetousness, the Ignorance and Sloth, the carnal and sensual Lives of too many among those of that Order, have made the Offerings of the Lord to be abborred, and deeply wounded Religion in the House of its Friends. What shall we say? Must we not confess? Must we not lament, with the Prophet ^‖, That the whole Head is sick; the whole Heart is faint; from the Sole of the Foot, even to the Crown of the Head, there is no Soundness, but Wounds, Bruises and putrifying Sores. These Things bring the Wrath of God on a guilty World. Sin is the fatal Source of all the Calamities and Woes that have ever over-spread the human Race. When ever it prevails, it threatens the Destruction of a People, both from its na­tural Tendency; and as it lays them open to the desolating Judgments of Heaven. This may be affirmed of all Kinds of Iniquity, especially of that abominable Luxury, and ex­travagant Taste for lawless Pleasures, which are so much the Source of all the Corruptions of our Day. We may well say with the Poet, Soevior Armis incubuit Luxuria ^*.

IN sacred and profane History, we meet with mournful Accounts, of ruined States and Kingdoms, whose Destruction sprung from this Cause. In the Days of Noah, they were [Page 27] eating and drinking; marrying, and giving in Marriage: wholly regardless of the divine Threatnings; so immersed in sensual Pleasures, that the Imaginations of their Hearts, were wholly evil, till God was provoked to destroy them from off the Face of the Earth, by a Deluge. Sodom and Gomorrah set forth as an Example, suffering the Vengeance of eternal Fire; are a standing Monument to a guilty World, of the awful Danger arising from sensual and luxurious Indulgences.—Fullness of Bread, Idleness, and the too common Consequences, abominable Uncleanness, brought that tremendous Judgment of Heaven, on their guilty Cities. This drew down sudden and surprising Destruction on Babylon ^*, of old, the most powerful and magnificent City, in the then known World. 'Tis affectingly described by the Prophet Isaiah, xlvii. 8, 9. Therefore hear now this thou that are given to Pleasures; that dwellest carelessly, that sayest in thy Heart, I am, and none else besides me. I shall not sit as a Widow, neither shall I know the Loss of Children. But these two Things shall come to thee in a Moment; in one Day, the Loss of Children, and Widowhood; they shall come upon thee in their Perfection, for the Multitude of thy Sorceries, and for the great Abundance of thine Enchantments. This was exactly accomplished, in the Night when the King saw the Hand Writing on the Wall. God's ancient People the Jews, are a moving Instance of this Kind, on whom Wrath came to the utmost, when they had filled up the Mea­sure of their Iniquity; as also the Romans, who were the Instruments of executing upon them, the Judgments of Heaven. That powerful State which was so long the Wonder, Terror, and Envy of the World, which the most powerful Enemies could not subdue, fell a Sacrifice to their own Lusts and Corruptions, as all acquainted with their History, well know. And does not Destruction threaten the British Nation, and her American Colonies, from [Page 28]the same Quarter? Such Vices as now prevail, sap the very Foundation of a Society, exhaust its Riches, weaken its Power; destroy a Spirit of Industry, Frugality, and good Oeconomy; introduce Idleness and Effeminacy; Discontent with, and Contempt of Authority; which are the Bane of a People, and render them an easy Prey to their ambitious Neighbours. And do not these Things cry to Heaven, for Vengeance, and lay us open to the Displeasure of an angry God? Shall I not visit for these Things, saith the Lord? And shall not my Soul be avenged on such a Nation as this? Jer. v. 9. The Psalmist speaks of it, as the usual Method of divine Providence, to turn a fruitful Land into Barrenness. for the Wickedness of them that dwell therein, Psal. cvii, 34. 'Tis true, public Judgments are executed in a Way of Sovereignty, on some Nations sooner, and in a lesser Degree, as a Warning to Repentance; on others, who are more ripe for Vengeance, later, but in a more terrible Manner: However, national Sins persisted in, unreformed, and unrepented of, will sooner or later bring down the Judg­ments of Heaven.—The Reason is plain. As to particular Persons, altho' Rewards and Punishments should be ever so promiscuous here, yet all will be rectified at the great Day; but Societies will be disbanded; and if ever they are punished as such, it must be in this World. And, indeed, the Experience of all Ages, has verified the Observation of the wise Man, Righteousness exalteth a Nation, but Sin is a Reproach to any People.

IN this View, our Case looks dark; but blessed be God, not desperate. Sentence against our evil Deeds is not yet execu­ted. Tho' God might in righteous Severity long before this, have cast us off and left us to all the Misery of a Peo­ple, wholly abandoned by him, which we heard described in the former Part of the Day, yet he affords a Season of Repentance, and waits to be gracious. He seems, with an amazing Condescention, and Kindness, to say to us as to Ephraim of old, ‘How shall I give thee up Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee Israel? How shall I make thee as Admah? How shall I set thee as Zeboim? Mine [Page 29]Heart is turned within me, my Repentings are kindled together.’ Our Danger from our Enemies, and especially from our Sins, is great; so is our Encouragement from the sovereign boundless Mercy of our God, and the many Tokens of his favourable Presence which yet remain with us. We may apply to ourselves the Words of the Prophet Jerem. li. 5. ‘For Israel has not been forsaken, nor Judah of his God, of the Lord of Hosts, tho' the Land was filled with Sin against the holy one of Israel.’

I TRUST there is yet Mercy in Store for us. God has in his sovereign Goodness, chosen the British Nation to be the Bulwark of the Reformation; to hold up a Standard against those Delusions, Superstitions, and Impostures, which the Church of Rome has been for above a thousand Years, spreading in the Christian Church, and distinguished it above all the Nations of the Earth, by the peculiar and constant Care of his Providence; by numberless signal Deliverances, and Salvations, which Time does not allow me to recount

AND I can't but esteem it a Token for Good, and Ground of great Encouragement, that, notwithstanding all our mourn­ful Declensions, there are still among us, a Generation that fear God, whose righteous Souls are vexed from Day to Day, with the filthy Conversation of the Wicked; who are jealous for the Lord of Hosts, and plead his Cause against the Workers of Iniquity, who are labouring by their Prayers, by their Example and Influence, to reform a degenerate Age. How melancholly soever our Case is, it is not so bad as theirs, of whom God complains ^‖: And I sought for a Man among them, that should make up the Hedge, and stand in the Gap before me, for the Land, that I should not destroy it; but I found none: Therefore have I poured out my Indignation upon them: I have consumed them with the Fire of my Wrath; their own Way have I recompensed upon their Heads, saith the Lord God. We may indeed say with ano­ther Prophet ^§, Except the Lord of Hosts had left unto us a [Page 30] very small Remnant, we should have been as Sodom, and we should have been like unto Gomorrah. But blessed be God, such a Remnant is left, who have an Interest at the Throne of Grace, and improve it in daily Supplications, not only for themselves, their Families, and the Church of God, but for the Land of their Nativity, that God would save it from deserved Ruin, and not come out against it, and destroy it with a Curse.

HAVING thus, my Brethren, laid before you something of our Danger, from the Power, the Pride, and the Policy of our Enemies, the Greatness of our Sins, and at the same Time, what Grounds we have to hope, that we are not forsaken by God; but that there is yet Mercy in Store for us. It only remains, that I briefly point out our Duty in this important Season, which it becomes us to hear, with Hearts fully disposed to a ready and unfeigned Compliance: And I think it lies plain before us, and may be concisely summed up under the following Particulars.

I. WE ought to humble ourselves; repent as in Dust and Ashes, before God, and return to him with all our Hearts, from whom we have so grievously revolted. The Voice of divine Providence to us, at this Time, may well be expressed in the Words of the Prophet ^*, Therefore also now saith the Lord, Turn ye even to me, with all your Heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning, and rent your Heart, and not your Garments, and turn unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to Anger, and of great Kindness, and repenteth him of the Evil. Who knoweth, if he will return, and repent, and leave a Blessing behind him, even a Meat-Offering, and a Drink-Offering, unto the Lord your God. 'Tis not enough that we speak of public Sins, as being Matter of Lamentation, and confess them in a formal Way, in our Prayers, on such an Occasion as this; but we should in our private, as well as public Addresses to the Throne of Grace, bring our Case before God, with broken Hearts, and contrite Spirits, saying with the great Reformer of Israel ^§, O! our God, [Page 31] we are ashamed, and blush to lift up our Faces to thee; for our Iniquities are increased over our Heads, and our Trespasses are grown up into the Heavens. The following Words we may adopt, with a little Variation: Since the Days of our Fathers have we been in a great Trespass, unto this Day, and for our Iniquities, we, our Kings, and our Priests, our Nobles and our Commons, may justly be delivered into the Hands of the King, who seeks our Ruin, to the Sword, to Captivity, to a Spoil, and to Confusion of Face.—And now, O our God! what shall we say after this; for we have forsaken thy Com­mandments.—O Lord God of Israel, thou art righteous; for we remain yet escaped, as it is this Day, behold we are before thee in our Trespasses, and we cannot stand before thee, because of this.

IN such a Day, ‘Let the Priests, the Ministers of the Lord, and all his People weep, between the Porch and the Altar; and let them say, Spare thy People, O Lord, and give not thy Heritage to Reproach, that the Hea­then should rule over them. Wherefore should they say among the People, where is their God? Then will the Lord be jealous for this Land, and pity this People.’

II. We should labour after a thorough Reformation. Our Fastings, Humiliation, and Shews of Repentance, will signify Nothing without this. O! how much is a general thorough Reformation, to be desired! how vigorously should it be attempted, by all that have the Honour of God, and Interest of their Country at Heart! When our Land is sinking under the Load of public Guilt, and Iniqui­ty is coming in upon us, like a Flood, shall we not lift up a Standard against it, and labour to prevent the Ruin we fear and deserve, by removing the Cause? Did but an holy Ardor, and Zeal for this noble Work, begin to kindle among every Order and Rank of Men, it would be a Token for Good; it would enliven our Hopes, and invigorate all our Attempts for the Protection and Defence of our Country. For how little soever we may think of it, our worst Enemies are those of our own House; our multiplied Transgressions, which expose us to the Angry Resentments of Heaven: [Page 32]And were these subdued, these that now rise up against us, and seek our Ruin, I doubt not would soon be made to flee before us.

How desirable a Prospect would it therefore afford, should all according to their various Stations and Capaci­ties, cordially unite in this necessary Work.

1st. THE civil Magistrates in the Land, are loudly called upon in such a Day, to exert the Authority God has put into their Hands, for the Suppression of Vice and Immo­rality. They are appointed to execute Wrath on evil Doers ^*, and did they conscientiously put in Execution the many excellent Laws we have against Vice, and strike a Dread into presumptuous Sinners, by restraining their enor­mous and scandalous Crimes, it would be of unspeak­able Service to the public Interest; give Life and Vigour to all Attempts for a Reformation. When Men of superior Characters and Influence, appear against Sin, it puts it out of Countenance, and the Vicious are ashamed to show their Heads. They might do much towards putting a Stop to that Torrent of Iniquity, that threatens the Ruin of our Land. And surely they are not only by the sacred Solemni­ty of their Oath, but by a Regard to the dying Cause of their Country, and as they would not have the Public Guilt crying against them at the last Day, bound to exert them­selves at such a Season, and not bear the Sword of Justice in vain. And should they add to their Authority, the engaging Force of their superior Example, for the Encou­ragement of Piety towards God; Justice and Charity, to­wards Men; Sobriety, Frugality and Chastity,—who can say how far the kind Influence might extend?

2dly, AND surely it concerns those of the sacred Order, of every Denomination, most heartily to engage in such a Design. 'Tis justly expected, that we should appear on the Lord's Side, against the Workers of Iniquity. Our Profession obliges us to give the Alarm of impending Judg­ments; to shew to God's People, their Transgression and [Page 33]Sin, as the procuring Cause of all the Calamities we feel, or fear.—Methinks at such a Day, we should lay aside all Bigotry, and Party Disputes, about lesser Matters, and unite our Endeavours, to reform a degenerate Age. We may soon be Companions in suffering, and see all our Differences buried in one common Ruin. There has perhaps scarce ever been a Time, when Ministers were more loudly called upon, to unite their Activity and Diligence, in awakening a secure Generation from the Lethargy into which they are sunk, and exciting them to a speedy Re­pentance and Reformation, as the necessary Means of saving a guilty Land. When we look around, and see how Iniquity abounds; how God is dishonoured; the Cause of our glorious Redeemer despised and ridiculed by some; slighted and disregarded by most; can we be unaffected with the mournful Scene? Shall we stand as unconcerned Spectators, of all the Profaneness and Security which is so visible and lamentable, in thoughtless Sinners? Of all the Hypocrisy, Formality and Apostacies among Pro­fessors? Where is our Zeal for the LORD OF HOSTS? our Bowels of Compassion for perishing Sinners? our Concern for the sinking Interest of the Common-wealth? When the Ark of God is just ready to depart from us, and with it, all our Privileges, to be careless and unconcerned about re­moving the Cause of the divine Displeasure, must be unpar­donable Stupidity. We have every Thing to awaken our Zeal, and animate to Diligence in our great Work. Our Mouths may soon be stopped, and we called to seal our Testimony with our own Blood. What therefore we have to do for God, the Souls of our Hearers, and for our Country, we should do quickly, and with all our Might.

3dly, PARENTS and Governors of Families, should use their Authority and Influence, for the reforming a corrupt and wicked Generation. Upon a careful Enquiry, we shall find, that almost all the prevailing Corruptions of the Times, spring from the Want of proper Government, Discipline, and Instruction in Families, which are Nurseries where Youth are sormed for the Public, when they are [Page 34]most susceptible of any Impressions, and most like to retain them. Then the Foundation is most commonly laid for their being Blessings or Plagues, to the World.—It can't easily be expressed, how much the Welfare of Church and State depends on the proper Management of the rising Generation. The first Part of Education enters much farther into Life, has a greater Influence on the Whole of Persons future Conduct, than most imagine; and an Error here is often attended with a long Train of pernicious Consequences. Ungoverned Families, where Children and Servants are not instructed in the great Things of Religion, but trained up in Ignorance, and suffered to walk in the Ways of their own Heart, and in the Sight of their own Eyes, are the Bane of Societies, and do unknown Mischief in the World; and such should tremble to think, how much of the common Guilt will be found at their Door, and how deep a Share they will have in the Ruin of their Country, if, when their Sons and Daughters make themselvs vile, they don't restrain them. Would Parents and Masters conscientiously discharge their important Trust to their Children and Servants, open to them the great Truths of Christianity, and solemly impress them on their Con­sciences, paint out the fatal Consequences of Sin; the Beauty of Holiness, the Excellency of a Life spent in serving God and their Generation; with affectionate Exhortations, Warnings and Entreaties, and prohibit them from such foolish Diversions, and extravagant Pleasures, as debauch their Minds, and spoil their Morals; innure them to Temperance, Sobriety, Industry and Frugality, enforcing all by an Example of Piety and Virtue; what happy Influence would it have, to produce the Reformation, that is so much wanted! What delightful Prospect would it afford, to behold a Generation rising up to serve God, to support his Cause, and hand down Religion to those that are yet unborn! Surely such as have any Regard for the Glory of God, the Welfare of their Posterity, or the Felicity of their Country, dare not live in the Neglect of so reasonable and necessary a Duty. In a Word, Persons [Page 35]of every Station, Character and Relation in Life, should think themselves concerned, to contribute all that lies in their Power, towards reforming this corrupt and licentious Age. And surely, if we feel any warm Zeal for the Honour of Religion, any due Affection for our dear Country, or any Compassion to those abandon'd Sinners, who are pulling down the Wrath of God on themselves and us, we shall be vigorous and active, in this laudable Design. I can't leave this Head, without adding my earnest Wish, that Men of Influence and public Spirit, would, according to the Example set them in their Mother Country, endea­vour to set up in the several Parts of the Land, Societies for Reformation of Manners, founded on such a Plan, as that Persons of different Denominations might unite in them.

III. WE ought to acknowledge our Dependance on God, and look to Heaven for Direction and Assistance, against our Enemies; with a deep Sense of the Insufficiency of human Wisdom and Strength, without divine Help. Nothing is more provoking to God, than for a People to cast off their Dependance upon him; overlook his Hand in all the signal Dispensations of his Providence, and act as tho' the Source of their Safety was wholly in themselves. Too much of this Spirit of Infidelity has evidently appeared in the British Nation, which I look upon as one of the darkest Symptoms upon us. It was Matter of Grief and Astonishment, to all that had any Sense of Religion left, to observe how very little Regard we showed to an over­ruling Providence, by our public Conduct in the late War ^†, how we seemed to ground all our Expectations on our own Wisdom and Power, and as it were, bid Defiance to God and Man. This mournful Observation is abundantly confirmed, by the ingenious and serious Author of a Pamphlet, entitled, Britain's Remembrancer: Having men­tioned some such Passages in the public Prints, as these, viz. "Our Fleets are in high Spirits, &c." ‘We only [Page 36]desire the Arm of Flesh may decide the Quarrel.’ ‘Let England but take Care of her Fleets, and what has she to fear?’ In all which, says he, there is so far from any Appearance of a Sense of Dependance upon Heaven, that we seem rather desirous to stand by our own Strength, than be beholding to the God of Battles. And speaking of declaring War with Spain, he adds, ‘I appeal to Thousands, who saw it declared, whether there appeared in the Behaviour and Conversation of the People of London, on that Occasion, the least Sense of Humanity for their Fellow-Creatures, that were like to perish in it, or the least Dependance on Heaven, for the Success of it; or whether the Spirit which reigned at that Time in England, was not a Spirit of Insolence, and Defiance both of God and Man.’ That an Account of one of the most remarkable Transactions in the whole War, in which there was such a Series of eminent Dangers, and signal Deliverances, should be wrote by a Clergyman ^*, with scarce the least Acknowledgement of the Hand of God, in any of them, shows what a Spirit of Impiety and Infi­delity reigned in the Nation; and 'tis hard to say, whether the Stupidity, or Wickedness of such a Conduct, be the greater.—Who that has the least Acquaintance with ancient or modern History, but must observe, that the Rise and Fall of States and Empires, spring from unforeseen Causes, and turn on such Incidents, as the Sagacity of the wisest Politicians could not discover, nor the greatest human Power prevent! How constantly is the Observation of the wise Man verified ^§, The Race is not to the Swift, nor the Battle to the Strong. Vain Man thinks himself so very wise, his Schemes so well-concerted, so secretly laid, that nothing can defeat them; but, God says, He will destroy the Wisdom of the Wise, and bring to nothing the Un­derstanding of the Prudent. Where is the Wise, the great Statesman and Politician? Where are all his fine Schemes? [Page 37]Has not God made foolish, the Wisdom of this World? Does he not often suffer them to take such foolish and destruc­tive Counsels, as tend to their own Ruin? He makes Diviners mad, turns the wise Men backward, and makes their Knowledge foolish ^* Ahitophel, was a great Politi­cian; the Oracle of his Day; how confident were many, that his superior Sagacity, would have secured Success to Absolom's Conspiracy; but how easily was it, by a Method altogether unexpected, turned into Foolishness.

WE may boast of our Strength, by Sea and Land; of our Valour and Wisdom; imagine our Schemes are so well contrived, that nothing will prevent their Success: Yet if God be not for us, our Strength will be but Weakness; our Wisdom, but Folly; and we shall fall an easy Prey to our ambitious Foes. 'Tis infinitely easy with God, to defeat the Devices of the deepest Policy. What Madness therefore and Folly, as well as great Wickedness, is it, to put our Confidence in an Arm of Flesh? And we should tremble at the Thoughts of it, when God has said, Cursed be he that putteth his Trust in Man, and maketh Flesh his Arm. And surely we shall be more inexcusable, than any Nation under Heaven, if we cast off our Dependance upon God, when he has repeatedly, in a most remarkable Manner, appeared for our Deliverance and Salvation. Let us labour therefore to feel in our selves, and to raise in others, a Disposition, humbly to acknowledge God, in all our public Concerns, at this critical Juncture, saying with the Prophet ^¶, ASHUR shall not save us; we will not ride upon Horses, neither will we say any more to the Work of our Hands, Ye are our Gods, for in thee the Fatherless findeth Mercy.

IV. WHILE our Eyes are to Heaven, for Direction and Assistance, we should vigorously exert ourselves in our own Defence, by all those Means that the Providence of God has put into our Power. To pretend to rely on the Al­mighty for Protection, in Time of Danger, while we [Page 38]carelessly neglect those Methods of securing ourselves, which are pointed out in his Providence, is not to trust, but to mock and tempt him. When Jacob was in eminent Danger, from the Fury of his enraged Brother, he goes to God as his only Refuge; but at the same Time, con­trives the most politic Method to divert, or to stand the Shock of his Wrath ^§. DAVID went forth in the Name of the God of Israel, to meet the insulting Philistine, but did not go without the Instruments of Death, which he could best use; a Sling and a Stone ^†. And why need I speak of Joshua, Gideon, Jephtha, and the Worthies of old, who did such Wonders by Faith; was it not in the Use of proper Means? They waxed valiant in Battle, and put to flight the Armies of the Aliens.

WHEN God has appointed Means for our Safety, care­lessly to neglect them, vainly imagining Deliverance will come in some miraculous Way, is not Faith, but Folly; not Confidence, but Madness. And who does not see, that the present Defenceless State of our Southern Provinces, is not the Effect of Trust and Dependance on God, but either of meer Sloth, or sordid Covetousness.

WE shall not, I presume, pretend that our present Secu­rity arises from our having so much a greater Sense of Religion; Disposition to acknowledge God, and depend upon him, than our Neighbours. Must we not rather con­fess, it flows from the Want of a becoming Sensibility of the invaluable Privileges we enjoy, and of the Greatness of our Danger, tho' it be so near and apparent.—But I trust, after all that has been said, to open our Eyes and alarm our Fears, we shall not any longer fold our Hands together, and cry, A little more Sleep, and a little more Slum­ber. 'Tis high Time to look about us, and vigorously fall upon every proper Method of Defence.

[Page 39] WHAT a Pity, that at such a Time, there should be any Contention between our Governors, and respective Assemblies, but who should be most forward and zealous in the Service of their King and Country. All private and selfish Designs; all petty Disputes and Contentions, should be swallowed up in a disinterested View to, and Concern for, the public Good. Of what Importance is it, that our Representatives should have enlarged Views, of the public Interest, and a deep Sense, how much the Welfare of their Country, depends upon their Conduct, in this difficult Day.—Nothing can be plainer, than that a parsimonious Spirit, at such a Time, opens a Door to the most extravagant Expence. To do Things by Halves, is worse, than doing nothing at all. This we have learnt by fatal Experience. What £. 10,000 would have done, when we first had the Alarm, £. 100,000, 'tis probable, will not now effect; and 'tis constantly increasing on our Hands, thro' the Vigilance, Activity, and continual Pre­parations of our Enemies. And should they by our Delays, and stingy Provisions for Defence, thro' Fear of putting the Country to Charges, make it the Seat of a long distressing War, there is no computing the Expence, and Number of Lives it may cost. War is, indeed, to be deprecated; both Conquerors, and Conquered, are sure to feel the sad Effects of it, more or less; and Peace is so great a Blessing, that it is to be pursued by all just and rational Methods. But the Way to have Peace in the present Case, is to make a speedy and vigorous Pre­paration for War: Had this been done more seasonably, it might have prevented all we now fear. There seems but two possible Ways left, to avoid the War we are threatned with from France. The one, tamely to submit to their unrighteous Encroachments; quietly resign up our Possessions, and all our Privileges, into the Hands of a lawless Tyrant; and expose ourselves and Posterity, to the mad Zeal and Fury, of cruel persecuting Bigots.— The other is, to let them speedily know, that we have it in our Power to force them, to reasonable Terms, and [Page 40] oblige them to keep within their own Limits; and I need not say which, both Duty and Interest, lead us to take.

WERE the several Provinces thoroughly engaged, to take some speedy, vigorous Steps, for the Protection and Defence of the Land, it might strike such Dread into our Enemies, whose Insolence and Courage, arise chiefly from our Sloth and Stupidity, as might divert the Storm that is now gathering fast upon us. And methinks we have every Thing to awaken our Fears, and animate our Hopes. On the one Hand, there is Poverty, Slavery, Persecution and Death; on the other, a fruitful Country, pleasant Habitations, British Liberty, and what is dearer than all, undefiled Christianity. And do not let us put far away the evil Day. Delays may prove of the most fatal Con­sequence; our Danger may be much nearer, and much greater than we imagine.

SHOULD the French, agreeable to their known Perfidy, before they declare War, send a Fleet, with a large Army of well-disciplined Troops, to lay waste, and destroy our Coasts; while the savage Natives, whose tender Mercies, are Cruelty, join them in falling on our Frontiers, what a a distressing Scene opens to our View? Our Sea-port Towns sack'd, and laid in Ashes!—Our Country ravaged! our Houses plundered!—The Voice of Lamentation and Woe heard in our Streets!—Our Men slaughtered!—Our Wives and Daughters delivered to the Lusts and Fury of a lawless Soldiery!—Our helpless Babes dashed against the Stones!—Men looking on the right Hand for Help, and on the Left there is none to deliver! Their Hearts failing them for Fear, while they hear the confused Noise of War; see Garments rolled in Blood, and the insulting Foe spreading Desolation and Ruin all around!—But I must stop:—The tragical Scene is too distressing, even in distant Prospect! And is there a emote Probability, is there appa­rent Danger, of our being thrown into such universal Tumult and Confusion and shall we not exert ourselves, in making the most speedy and effectual Preparation against it? What Folly, what Madness; nay I may [Page 41]say, what Cruelty to ourselves and Posterity, is it, to run the Risk of having Desolation, Anguish and Despair, spread thro' the Land, by a sudden Invasion, while we are so shamefully unprepared, to make any proper Defence.

WE have every Thing to alarm, to rouse and animate us, in such a Day as this, when all that is valuable, all that is dear, lies at Stake. Shall we tamely suffer our delightful Possessions, to be taken from us?—become the Dupes and Slaves of a French Tyrant? What!—sacrifice our precious Liberty, our Property, and what is more, our Religion, to our Sloth? entail Misery, Slavery, and Ruin, on our Posterity, by our Indolence and Cowardice! God forbid! 'Tis high Time, to awake, to call up all the Briton in us, every Spark of English Valour; chearfully to offer our Purses, our Arms, and our Lives, to the Defence of our Country, our holy Religion, our excellent Constitution, and invaluable Liberties. For what is Life, without Liberty? without the Enjoyment of the glorious Gospel of Christ, depending on the Will of a Tyrant and exposed to all the Insults of persecuting Bigots? 'Tis not worth hav­ing. A free-born Briton, should disdain the Life of a Slave;—better,—far better, bravely to sacrifice it to the Defence of our Religion and Country, than to survive the dismal Day, when these Regions of Light and Liberty, shall be overspread with Ignorance, Superstition, and Ty­ranny. And had we but the Spirit of our brave Ancestors, who chearfully ventured their Lives, and resigned all the Comforts thereof, in an howling Wilderness, that they might hand down to us the inestimable Privileges we now enjoy: Were we, I say, animated with the same heroic Spirit, in the Defence of them; with the same ardent De­sire of leaving them inviolate to our Posterity;—did but the noble Ardor kindle from Breast to Breast, I doubt not, by the Smiles of Heaven, we should soon make our Ene­mies flee before us, and again sit quietly under our Vines and Fig-trees, and eat the Good of the Land. Which God of his infinite Mercy grant, &c. AMEN.