LETTER LETTER VIII. A general reprefentation of the state of things among us. There is a great and growing corruption in thefe lands, notwithstanding the fignal advantages we enjoy. This corruption not justly chargeable upon our religion as Chriftians and Proteftants, but on the negLect or contempt of it. The unaccountable eagerness that has been fhewn in fpreading the principles of Infidelity, of very ill confequence to the public. The tendency of irreligion and vice to bring mifery and run upon a people, both in the natural course of things, and by the just judgments of God. Many things in the late and prefent courfe of God's dif penfations have an alarming appearance. Repentance and reformation, and a strict adherence to the knowlege and practice of Christianity, the propereft way of averting the tokens of the divine difpleafure, and promoting the national profperity. The happy fate of things which this would introduce. SIR, HAVING finifhed the additions and illuftrations I propofed, with regard to the first and fecond volume of the View of the Deifti cal VIII. cal Writers, I fhall now fubjoin fome reflecti- LETTER ons, which, though not directly and immediately relating to the fubject of thofe volumes, will, I hope, not be thought altogether unfuitable to the general nature and defign of the preceding work. It was with great fatisfaction that I read the order for a General and Public Faft, to be religiously obferved by all his majefty's subjects in thefe kingdoms, and which is drawn up with great ferioufnefs and folemnity. It is there acknowleged, that the manifold fins and wickednefs of thefe kingdoms have most justly deferved heavy and fevere punishments from the hand of heaven. We are called upon to humble ourselves before almighty God, and in a moft devout and folemn manner, to fend up our prayers and fupplications to the divine Majesty, to avert all thofe judgments, which we moft justly have deferved, to continue his mercies, and perpetuate the enjoyment of the Proteftant religion among us, and fafety and profperity to his majefty's kingdoms and Dominions. Having fo great an authority to bear me out, I fhall add fome reflections, which have made a deep impreffion upon my mind, with reference to the prefent ftare of things among us. We have been eminently diftinguished above most other nations by happy privileges and advantages. Providence hath bleffed us with an frabundance of those things, which are usually thought to contribute to the public profperity 24 and VIII. LETTER and happiness. Never had any people a fuller enjoyment of liberty: a profufion of wealth has flowed in upon us by our wide extended commerce. We have had great advantages for improvement in the arts and sciences, and every branch of useful knowlege: efpecially that which is the most valuable and important of all others, the knowlege of religion in its truth and purity. The light of the glorious Gospel of Chrift, freed from the abfurdities, the fuperftitions, and idolatries, with which it hath been incumbered in many other countries profeffing the Chriftian Faith, hath long thone among us. The holy Scriptures are not locked up in an unknown tongue, nor confined to the ftudies of the learned, but are put into the hands of the people: fo that all men may have access to that facred rule of faith and practice, the original standard of the Chriftian religion. The treasures of knowlege are opened, and the public inftructions fo frequently and freely dispensed, that it may be faid, that wisdom crieth without, she uttereth her voice in the streets. It might be expected that a people so distinguifhed by advantages for religious and moral improvement, should also be remarkably distinguifhed by the knowlege and practice of piety, ́wisdom, and virtue, and by a zeal for our holy. religion.-But though it is to be hoped there are many among us, who are unfeignedly thankful for our incftimable privileges, and careful to make: a right improvement of them; yet it cannot be denied, VIII. denied, that a great corruption hath fpread it LETTER self, and seems to be growing among all orders and degrees of men. This is a very difagree-, able fubject: but the first step to a proper remedy is to be duly fenfible of the true ftate of our own cafe. Our wealth and plenty hath been abused to an amazing luxury, and our liberty to a boundless licentiousness, Many act as if they had no other way of fhewing that they are free, but by cafting off all restraints, and fetting themfelyes loofe from all the ties of religion and virtue. Atheism hath appeared almost without difguife, or, which in effect comes to the fame thing, the disbelief of a Providence, of God's moral attributes and government, and of a future ftate. The most virulent reproach and contempt hath been caft upon the adorable JESUS, and the methods of our redemption and falvation by him. All that part of our duty, which more immediately relateth to the fupreme Being, feemeth to be regarded by many as a matter of indifferency. And the flightest observation may convince us, that there is a growing neglect of public worhip, as if the propereft way of fhewing our gratitude to God for the glorious privilege we have of worshipping him according to the dictates of our own confciences, were not to render him any public homage, or religious worfhip at all. That holy day, which is by divine appointment, and by that of our own laws, fet apart from worldly bufineffes and cares, for VIII. LETTER the purposes of religion, for receiving public inftructions, and for attending on divine worfhip, hath been treated with great contempt.And in this too many of those who, by their authority and influence, fhould fet a good example to others, have unhappily led the way. Can there be a greater contempt caft upon it, than to hold GAMING ASSEMBLIES On that day? And when this is done by perfons of rank, can it be wondered at, that by the lower kind of people it is often the worst employed of any day in the week, and devoted to idleness and vice? And it cannot but give concern to every good mind, that an Inftitution, so admirably calculated for the advancement of religious knowlege, piety, and virtue, and for promoting good order in the community, fhould be fo Strangely perverted and abufed. Having mentioned the practice of GAMING, I cannot help obferving, that among other unfavourable fymptoms of the growing corruption among us, this is not the least, that that practice is of late years become more general, and carried to a greater excefs, than has been known before in these kingdoms. The wifeft men of all nations have been fo fenfible both of the pernicious effects of this vice to particular perfons and families, and its ill influence on the community, that it would fill a large volume barely to recite the laws which have been made against it, both in former and later ages. Our own laws have fixed a brand upon it, and in effect |