ceive the reward of their negligence? Or if they wilfully or indolently suffer you to ftray or be loft, muft they not give an account to the owner of the flock and will not he severely punish them? The minifters of the gospel are looked upon by all that believe the gofpel, as perfons delegated by the fame authority as that from which the prophets of old received their commiffions. And though they are not favoured with immediate inspiration, yet that defect is in fome meafure compensated by that divine revelation which they have received from Jefus Chrift, from whence they learn what is difpleafing and what is acceptable to God. They neither know, nor defire, nor pretend to know know the particular crimes that any man is guilty of. Such knowledge is dangerous for man to be entrusted with; for which reafon God hath wifely kept that prerogative to himself; though in the days of inspiration he imparted it, upon necessary occafions, to his prophets and apofiles yet when they are acquainted with the tranfgreffions of their peo : ple, it then becomes their duty to remonstrate with gentleness, to perfuade with meekness, or even to rebuke with severity. And when the wickedness of a nation becomes notorious and flagrant, they then look upon the words of the text as directed to themselves, "Cry aloud, fpare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and fhew my people their tranfgreffion, and the houfe of Ja cob their fins."—And fo far ought ye to be from despising their earnest endeavours for a national reforma There may, poffibly, be fome gloomy, morofe, peevish tempers, who, like certain animals that are conftantly rooting in the mire, take a delight in fcrutinizing into and reprehending the faults of their neighbours; and it is more than probable that their injudicious and too frequent reproofs, like guns overcharged, may miss their aim. Yet furely every attempt of this nature, is not to be condemned! no more than medicines are to be en tirely rejected; especially when they are sparingly and cautiously adminiftered, and at proper intervals, and when they apparently conduce to the health and prefervation of the patient. So much I have thought neceffary to be said by way of apology for the task I am going to undertake; a task, which is never agreeable; but a task which the number and nature of the fins which I fhall exhibit to your view, and the danger to which they expose both our nation and our souls, will fhew to be highly necessary. Without further preface therefore, I fhall lay before you thofe crying fins of this nation, which are the most heinous in their nature, and have the most evil tendency; whether they be fuch as are common to mankind, or fuch as are the peculiar growth of this age and climate. And that I may not seem partial in my charge, I fhall first produce a fin which those who profefs themselves of the established religion, are more particularly accused of; and that is 1. PROPHANENESS! It matters not whether this accufation may juftly be laid against us, exclufive of all other fects and religions. But it is too notorious a truth, that we are fcandaloufly guilty of" taking God's "facred name in vain," of fwearing and cursing, and too often of perjury: of prophaning his fabbaths, forfaking his fanctuary, and neglecting his ordinances. What would a fober heathen |