ed too far: that every Diminution of Authority is so much Gain, every Increase of it fo much Lofs, to the Community. Now if this be true, Laws and Government are a publick Nuisance. And if not, Men ought to confider, what Restraints are requifite, as weil

what may be abused; and remember, that at to do Things, necessary to be done, mt be vested somewhere, and must be exert... Authority indeed is of a growing Nature : but so is Aversion to Authority: and Freedom unrestrained is Power unrestrained. No Tyrannies have been more insupportable, than those of the Multitude: nor can any Persons be more justly dreaded, than they who declaim for Liberty, in the Spirit of Persecution; and demand it with Insolence, in the Midst of the Enjoyment of it. Such Behaviour plainly shews, that not content with being free, they want to rule: and since they cannot plead, that any harsh Treatment hath provoked them to these Outrages; they are so far less excusable, than some of their Predecessors in the Times of our Troubles.

• But however strongly we are cautioned against Licentioufness, by the Sufferings of former Days; there hath arisen notwithstanding in our own, one very shocking Kind of it, almoft peculiar to this Nation: that of publickly treating Religion with Contempt; and after magnifying Morals, merely in Oppofition to it, explaining them away to just nothing. Setting Setting the World at large in these Respects, appears to be a principal Point, which some have at Heart: whose Character in Scripture might surely have given a more general Sufpicion of them, than it hath: that while they promise others Liberty, they are themselves the Servants of Corruption*. And too many, who have no Design of contributing to the Progress of Irreligion, see it however with great Tranquillity. Let Men think, let Men act, just as they will, provided they are not Bigots, but Persons of free Principles; the Publick is fafe, and all is well. But is it safe, that they should be Bigots to Atheism, Bigots to Profligateness? Or can it be a Matter of Indifference, whether they have a good and right Rule of Conduct, though it were with fome Mistakes; or whether they have none at all, or a quite wrong one? We own, that false Notions about Religion were one great Cause of the Sufferings of this Nation. But so were false Notions about Freedom, another. And why are Mistakes, or even wilful Abuses, a Reason for trampling upon the former, when they are not thought a Reason against exalting the latter without Bounds? We own, that Superftition and Enthusiasm ought to be guarded against: and that this is a most important Lesson of Providence to us, on this Day. But it cannot be right to guard against them, by rooting out of Mens Minds the Re

verence due to the Author of Nature: or by taking Methods, which, in the natural Course of Things, will bring one or both of them back upon us, as perhaps we have begun to experience; or at least will bring Evils, not less formidable. Publick Happiness cannot fubfift, without social Virtue and moral Self-government: nor can either of these fubfift, without Regard to God. Nothing, but the Thought of His seeing and rewarding, can possibly have Force sufficient, in all Cafes, to restrain Mens Paffions, to counterbalance their present Interests; to excite the Indolent, keep the Enterprizing within due Bounds, and unite all in making the common Good their common End.

:

We shall therefore neglect the most important of the Counsels of Providence on this Day, if we learn not, from so instructive a Dispensation of it, that just Sense of our Duty to the Governor and Lawgiver of the World, which if our Forefathers had preserved, these Miseries had never happened; and if We preserve, they will never happen more. For as, on the one Hand, Religion enforces powerfully that neceffary Caution, expressed by the Prophet Ezra; Seeing thou our God hast punished us less than our Iniquities deferve, and haft given us fuch Deliverance as this; should we again break thy Commandments, wouldst thou not be angry with

US,

us, till thou hadst confumed us*: So on the other, it supports us with that noble Confidence, expressed by the Prophet Samuel: Fear not; but ferve the Lord with all your Heart: for the Lord will not forfake his People, for bis great Names fake. Only fear the Lord, and Serve him in Truth: for confider, how great Things he hath done for you.

* Ezra ix. 13, 14. † I Sam. xii. 20, 22, 24.

1

SER

SERMON

VI.

Preached before the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts, in the Parifh-Church of St. Mary-le-Bow, on Friday, February 20, 1740-1.

MARK VI. 34.

And fefus, when he came out, faw much People; and was moved with Compassion towards them, because they were as Sheep not having a Shepherd: and he began to teach them many Things.

T

HIS Passage of the Evangelist expresses, in so strong and engaging a Manner, the benevolent Temper of our blessed Lord, and his tender Regard to the spiritual Wants of Men, that, if we fuffer our Minds to dwell upon it a while, it cannot fail of exciting the same Disposition in Us: especially if we confider, that the View, which he is here described to have had, of their deftitute Condition, not only induced him to teach them Himself many Things concerning the Kingdom of God*; but caused that most serious Re