to inform against fuch as went to Conventicles, I wish they would now be as zealous for Religion and God's honour, in difcovering thofe that go to no publick worship, or spend the remainder of that day improperly; as they then pretended to be zealous for the Church, when they ferrited the Diffcenters out of their Meetings.

The next thing you are to inquire of, is the fin of Drunkennefs: Thofe that are common Drunkards, and frequenters of Traverns and Ale-houses.

I wish they were not fo many as offend herein, and that the abufes were fewer, that people receive from thofe that are Drunk. This alfo is a fin of Cuftom, and not of Nature, for Nature requires fo little, that a man cannot disorder himself by taking what is needful to fatisfie it: So that every Drunkard offers violence to the bent of Nature, to bring himself into that condition: and what is the advantage of it, but to make himself nauseous to others over night, that he may loath himfelf next morning, when he is difgorging the laft nights entertainment.

Nothing brings a man fo near to a beast as it does, for it deprives him of the ufe of his reafon, and expofes him to more extravagandies than any other fin. What difference is there betwixt a drunken Man and a Swine, only, that the Brute has the better of him: for a Swine follows that appetite which Nature has indued him with, and when he is dead, his carcass is worth the meat it has eaten:

But

But a drunkard forces himself beyond his appetite, and when he is dead, is good for nothing.

I have heard of many that boast how they can make others drunk, and how much they can drink: A notable thing indeed, to value themselves upon, confidering that a Woe is denounced against thofe that fet the Bottle to their neighbours Nofe; and he that drinks most cannot vaunt of fo much as an Hogfhead can do.

?

Do these men think that they were made to only devour the fat of the Land, that they may vomit it up: but their answer is, that their Time, Money, and Body are their own, and therefore they may do with them what they will, fo long as they hurt no body elfe: 'Tis true indeed they are their own, yet only to fome intents and purposes: For as they may not injure others by the ufe of then, fo neither can they juftifie the harming of themselves; for both Body, Time and Money, are to be imployed for the advantage of others, as well as of themselves, because every man's Life and Estate is more the publick's, than his own.

In order to the fuppreffing of this fwinifh practice, you ought to prefent all fuch Alehoufes, as of your own knowledge, or by information, fuffer people to tipple and drink in their houses at unfeasonable hours; or that harbour men fufpected, and of evil fame, or that fuffer any other diforder.

Likewise,if there are any Ale-houses in by ways, or other improper plates, which through inadvertency or mif-informatian are Licenced, you ought to present them, that they may be fuppreffed; for as they do not answer the legal end of an Ale-house, fo they are the receptacles and harbours of Thieves and Rogues, and confequently the occafion of all the Thefts and Robberies that are committed in the Country.

There are a fort of people, who will go Ten or Twelve Miles to a three Penny Doal, that will refuse fix pence, if offered them to go four or five Miles, altho they have scarcely rags to cover their nakedness: if you know of any fuch you ought to prefent them, that they may be fent to a place, where they'll be forc'd to work.

There are also a fort of People that fpend high and live very plentifully, yet have no vifible means of fupporting that expence: if you know of any fuch you ought to prefent them, that an account may be taken of them and their way of living, which is very necessary at this time, when Clipping and Horse-stealing are two fuch great Trades.

The last thing I will recommend to your Care, is to prefent all fuch Officers as have neglected their duties in feeking and Apprehending Vagrants and wandering Perfons : I believe Gentlemen, you are very fenfible that the numbers of thefe idle people are great, and that the mischiefs they bring upon us are many for they do fo fwarm in these parts,

that

that it's a wonder if fome other of them are not apprehended every day, in moft Townfports and yet by what the Officers do, one would think there was fcarce any of them for in all the time that I have been a Juftice of the Peace, I don't remember that fo much as one Vagrant has been feized by the Conftables, unlefs when they have been found pilfering: fo backward are they to do their duty herein, that one would think the Vagrants were in fee with the Cónftables, or else they could not pafs along, as they do without difturbance; confidering that the Low has given good incouragement for the apprehending of Vagrants, not only by holding out a reward to fuch as fhall apprehend them, but alfo by inflicting a penalty for fuffering them to pass along.

'Tis ftrange, that the Petty Constables, if not out of regard to their Oaths, yet for the fake of their Reputations, are not more diligent herein; for he cannot boast of much honesty, who is remifs in his duty; and it is most apparent, that there is a wilfull neglect

herein.

I have now finifht what I thought fit to difcourfe on at this time, and fhall therefore conclude with this fhort word.

That till Vice and Profaneness be fuppreft; till there is more a face of Religion, if not a fincere profeffion of the Gospel; till the glory of God is more regarded till men be convinced, that they cannot be

true

true Sons of the Church, unless they be good Chriftians; till the Government fhall prefer men as well out of regard to their honesty and upright converfations, as for any other reasons we must still expect to meet with difficulties and disappointments in our Affairs, if not to be over-run by an Invafion, or to be ruined by our felves.

A