Liberty of thinking is naturally followed by licentiousness in practice; for restraint there can be none, but fuch as every one lays upon himself; and what fecurity is this to the state? The legiflature may make the best laws: but an infidel hath no other obligation to obey them, than what arises from his convenience or inclination: and can he but evade the penalty, his confcience excuses him, and he has nothing to fear from a future punishment.

All forms of government are alike intolerable to him, except they are exactly framed according to his notions; and when they differ from hiş model, it is virtue in him to rebel. He is for breaking down every test,

every fence, that he may range uncontrouled, and wanton in licentioufnefs.

Should any one think that this picture of infidelity is too much heightened; I anfwer, that the colours are taken from nature; and I appeal to antiquity, and to the history of modern nations, who ftill continue infidels, whether I have exceeded the juft proportion ?-It may be objected again, that Christians are equally chargeable with the fame crimes that Infidels are guilty of, and therefore that those crimes are not peculiar to Infidelity.----I answer again, that Chriftianity disclaims the relation that any one pretends to her who is guilty of unchristian practices, whatever his profeffion may be; "for

"he

" he is not a chriftian who is one in "word only: but he is a chriftian 66 who is fuch in deed and in truth." --And here lies the difference between Christianity and Infidelity.---The one is governed by the law of nature, which is no fixt and determinate law; but as changeable as the feveral climates and nations of the world; which even allows the gratification of our carnal appetites in some instances, and where it difallows it in others, it has no fufficient fanction to support it's authority: but may be obeyed for convenience, or disobeyed with fecurity.

It hath no hope of reward to invigorate the

practice of morality, no fear of punishment to deter them from fin.

The

The other hath for it's guide both the written and the revealed will of God; which hath determined the precife limits of virtue and vice, which spiritualizeth human nature, which requires that we should be

born again" before we can inherit the kingdom of heaven; which is guarded alfo by the ftrongest fanction, eternal punishment and everlafting rewards,

Hence it follows, that an infidel may, consistent with his principles, and without dread of confequences, be guilty of fin; whereas a christian cannot, without renouncing his faith and his hope, without unchristianizing himself, and finking into downright infidelity: and this, of itself,

is

is fufficient to fhew the dangerous nature of it.

I have now laid before you fome of those national fins which are moft heinous in their nature, and most pernicious in their confequences; and I might add to them many others, which are either not fo general, or for which the laws of our country have provided a remedy, and it is to be hoped, will fome time or other promote a cure; but which it would take up too much of your time particularly to chastise. Suffice it therefore to say, that there is in general too great an inattention to, and difregard of, religious and fpiritual concerns; and too much affection for the pomps and vanities of this wicked world---that intemperance

and