fay, That I like this Conftitution under King, Lords and Commons better than any other, and I defie any man to mention that thing which can give juft occafion to think otherwife of me; I am fure there is no man fo hardy as to tell me fo to my face, yet I fay I withal, That if through the Administration of thofe who are trufted with the Executive Power, or by any other means, my liberty Mor fhall become precarious, I will then be for any other form of Government, under which my Liberty and Property may be more fecure, and till then I don't defire to change And in this I think I am not much in the wrong; but this only by the by.

Now to apply what I have, faid to our prefent cafe, I think King James was juftly depofed, for what part of the Conftitution had not he put out of order, and then how can fuch a man be meet to fway the Scepter and in the next place, as things food at that time, all circumftances confidered, who was fo likely to do us right, as he that had promised to repair our Breaches, and whofe interest it was to be as good as his word and tho we have not every thing as well as well as we could wish, yet that does not proceed from any error in placing the Crown where it is, but from fomething else that could not be forefeen, for whoever he is that judges of things only by the fuccefs, fhews not his wifdom fo much as his folly, becaufe he reckons without his Hoft.

True indeed it is, that our Affairs are not profperous, many difafters have befallen us; and we have let flip feveral advantages, fuch as we can hardly hope for the like again, together with abundance of other things, that are very melancholly reflections: whether thefe have happened through the defect of our Councils or Treachery, I will only fay, That it ought ought exemplarily to be punifht where ever the fault is: and be it where it will, there is one and the fame original caufe of both, and till that is removed we cannot expect it fhould be better with us. I wish it were not too plain that God has a Controverfie with this Land for which of us can fay, that he is not juftly provoked, fo that if we are infatuated in our Councils, it is the hand of God that is against us, and if we are betrayed, is there not a caufe,

with we were fit for a better condition, and furely it is our own fault that it is not otherwife for God has plainly fhewn us, that he is willing to be gracious to us: Not only by bringing about the late Revolution, but alfo by multiplied inftances fince that, of his care and protection: for how many Fleets of our Merchants have efcaped, by no lefs than Miracle? and by no lefs a Providence, did the French Fleet fall into our hands. How ftrangly have feveral great Plots been difcovered, juft when they were ready to be put in execution; but notwithstanding all this,

It

It is too obvious that our Affairs have every year gone backward, and in this much more than any of the rest it is to be feared that worse remains, if it be not prevented by a speedy and thorough Reforformation.

And therefore Gentlemen, of the many things that are at this time under your care, (for whatever is an offence against the Publick Peace falls within your inquiry) I will more especially recommend to your confideration these few things, without losing your time by innumerating of the rest.

The firft is, to do what in you lies, to fupprefs the profanation of the holy name of God by Oaths and horrible Execrations, which never fo much over fpread the Land as it does in this Age: It is a moft unaccountable thing; it can only be learnt by Converfation, and improved by Art and Industry, because it is not a fin of Nature, and confequently wants that impulfe either of pleasure or profit which leads to the commiffion of other fins : It is certainly a great provocation of the Almighty, and does in no fort recommend the converfation of any man; for who can take delight to hear God's name taken in vain? no man can ptetend, that for being a common Swearer, the more credit is to be given to what he fays: for how can he be thought to regard Truth, who makes fo light of him, that is the very truth? what advantage then does any man reap by it? and fince there is neither pleasure nor profit by it: it is very well faid by one, That for other fins men fell

their Souls, but for profane fwearing they give theirs. How then can we hope for fuccefs in our Armies, amongt whom there is more horrible Curfing and Swearing, than is to be heard any where elfe: Whileft they contemn God, and daily fpit in his face, how can we hope that he will go forth with our Armies, fo long as by their reitterated expreffions they feem to have renounced his protection, what do they look like but men that are appointed to deftruction; were there as much care to punish this as there is to inqure into falfe Mufters, and fome other things of lefs confideration, it would not fail to have a fuitable effect; but this is to be done by others, your care is to look into your neighbours, and if you know of any that are common fwearers, or of any Petty Conftables, who have neglected to inform the 7. of P. at all their monthly meetings, you ought to present them.

ལ་

'Tis true indeed, that the most that you can do, will go but a little way in this work for the prefent, yet it is as true that it must be begun at fole time, and fome where, and I wish you may have the honour to be the firft in it; for if your example be followed by others, it will redound to their everlafting praife, but if it fhould proceed no further, yet you have this fatisfaction, that you have wafht your hands, and done your duty.

The next thing is to inquire after those who made light of the Sabbath, either by neglecting to go to fome publick worship: or

elfe

elfe, that having been at Church both parts of the day, yet spend the remainder of it, in Sports or Gaming, or elfe what is more frequent (and too very common) in an Alehouse.

It is certainly a great contempt of God to neglect the means of Salvation; they that do fo muft either imagine that they have no fuch thing as a Soul, or elfe believe that it is of fo little value, that it ought to be the least part of their care: Can any man upon mature deliberation be of that opinion? If there is fuch a one, he is very much to be pittied; and how much better are they,that having been at Church, imploy the rest of the day in paftime, or drinking? What advantage do they feem to have, by having been. at Church? for tho they might fit before God in his place of worship as his people do, yet it is evident that their hearts were after fomething else.

God made the Sabbath for man to rest on, and not that he fhould do his own work therein; for thefe perfons can't produce any good authority, for making fuch a diffe rence in the feveral parts of that day. It is a ftrange expofition on the fourth Commandment, and it is no wonder that there is fo many Atheists among us, when places of Scripture are fo expounded, and tho they may fatisfie their own confciences in fo doing, yet the Law looks upon it as a great offence.

I remember the time when a fort of men, either out of ill will to their neighbours, or for their own profit, were very industrious

to