Chapter II: Part II (1)

I. 1. IT is not my present design to touch on any particular _opinions_, whether they are right or wrong; nor on any of those smaller points of practice, which are variously held by men of different persuasions: but first, to point out some things which on _common_ principles are condemned by men of every denomination, and yet found in all; and secondly, some wherein those of each denomination, are more particularly inconsistent with _their own_ principles.

And, first, it is my design, abstracting from _opinions_ of every kind, as well as from disputable points of practice, to mention such of those things as occur to my mind, which are on _common_ principles condemned, and notwithstanding found, more or less, among men of every denomination.

2. But before I enter on this unpleasing task, I beseech you, brethren, by the mercies of God, by whatever love you bear to God, to your country, to your own souls; do not consider _who_ speaks, but _what_ is spoken. If it be possible, for one hour lay prejudice aside; give what is advanced a fair hearing. Consider simply on each head, Is this true, or is it false? Is it reasonable, or is it not? If you ask, “But in whose judgment?” I answer, in your own; I appeal to the light of your own mind. Is there not a faithful witness in your own breast? By this you must stand or fall. You cannot be judged by another man’s conscience. Judge for yourself by the best light you have. And the merciful God teach me and thee whatsoever we know not!

Now, as I speak chiefly to those who believe the scriptures, the method I propose is this, first, To observe what account is given therein of the _Jews_, the ancient church of God, inasmuch as _all these things were written for our instruction_, who say, we are _now_ the visible church of the God of _Israel_. Secondly, To appeal to all who profess to be members thereof, to every one who is called a Christian, how far, in each instance, the parallel holds? And how much _we_ are better than _they_?

3. First, I am to observe what account the scriptures give of the _Jews_, the ancient church of God. I mean, with regard to their moral character; their tempers and outward behaviour.

No sooner were they brought out of _Egypt_, than we find them _murmuring against_ God, (Exodus xiv. 12.) Again, when he had just brought them through the _Red Sea with a mighty hand and stretched out arm_, (chapter xv. 24.) And yet again, quickly after, in the wilderness of _Zin, your murmurings_ (saith _Moses_) _are not against us, but against the_ Lord. (chapter xvi. 8.) Nay, even while he was _giving them bread from heaven_, they were still _murmuring and tempting_ God, (chapter xviii. 2, 3.) and their amazing language at that season was, _Is the_ Lord _among us or not_? (chapter xvii. 4.)

The same spirit they shewed, during the whole forty years, that he _bore their manners in the wilderness_: a solemn testimony whereof, _Moses spake in the ears of all the congregation of Israel_, when God was about to take him away from their head; _They have corrupted themselves_ (saith he) _their spot was not of his children; they are a perverse and crooked generation. The_ Lord _led Jacob about; he instructed him; he kept him as the apple of his eye_, (Deuteronomy xxxii. 5, 10.) _He made him ride on the high places of the earth, that he might eat the increase of the fields: then he forsook_ God _which made him, and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation_, (chapter v. 11, 13, 15.)

In like manner God complains long after this, _Hear O heavens, and give ear, O earth! I have nourished and brought up children, and they have rebelled against me. The ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib: but Israel doth not know, my people doth not consider. Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evil doers, children that are corrupters, have forsaken the_ Lord, _they have provoked the Holy One of Israel_, (Isaiah i. 2, 3, 4.) _Can a maid forget her ornaments, and a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me, days without number_, (Jeremiah ii. 32.)

4. And _as they did not like to retain_ God _in their knowledge_, so they had small regard to the ordinances of God. _Even from the days of your fathers_, (saith God by his prophets) _ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them_, (Malachi iii. 7.) _Ye have said, it is vain to serve God; and, what profit is it that we have kept his ordinances?_ (verse 14.) _Thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob, but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel: Thou hast not brought me my burnt-offerings, neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices_, (Isaiah xliv. 22, 23.) And so the prophet himself confesses, _Thou meetest those that remember thee in thy ways――But there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee_, (Isaiah lxiv. 5, 7.)

5. But they called upon his name by vain oaths, by perjury and blasphemy. So _Jeremiah_, _Because of swearing the land mourneth_, (chapter xxiii. 10.) _And though they say, the Lord liveth, surely they swear falsely_, (chapter v. ♦2.) So _Hosea_, _They have spoken words, swearing falsely in making a covenant_: So _Ezekiel_, _They say the Lord seeth us not, the Lord hath forsaken the earth_. So _Isaiah_, _Their tongue and their doings are against the Lord, to provoke the eyes of his glory_. (chapter iii. 8.) _They say, Let him make speed and hasten his work that we may see it, and let the counsel of the Holy One draw nigh and come that we may know it_, (chapter v. 19.) And so _Malachi_, _Ye have wearied the Lord with your words; ye say, every one that doeth evil, is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delighteth in them_; and _where is the_ God _of judgment_? (chapter ii. 17.)

♦ “ii.” replaced with “2.” for consistency

6. And as they _despised his holy things_, so they _prophaned his sabbaths_, (Ezekiel xxii. 8.) Yea, when God sent unto them, saying, _Take heed unto yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, neither do ye any work, but hallow ye the sabbath day, as I commanded your fathers:――Yet they obeyed not, neither inclined their ear, but made their neck stiff, that they might not hear nor receive instruction_. (Jeremiah xvii. 21, 22, 23.)

Neither did they honour their parents, or those whom God from time to time appointed to be rulers over them. _In thee_ (in _Jerusalem_, saith the prophet) _they have set light by father and mother_, (Ezekiel xii. 7.) And from the very day when God brought them up out of the land of _Egypt_, their murmurings, chiding, rebellion and disobedience; against those whom he had chosen to go before them, make the most considerable part of their history. So that had not _Moses stood in the gap_, he had even then destroyed them from the face of the earth.

7. How much more did they ♦afterwards provoke God, by drunkenness, sloth and luxury? _They have erred through wine_, (saith the prophet _Isaiah_) _and through strong drink they are out of the way_; (chapter xxviii. 7.) which occasioned those vehement and repeated warnings, against that reigning sin; _Woe to the drunkards of Ephraim, them that are overcome with wine_, (verse 1.) _The drunkards of Ephraim shall be trodden under foot_; (verse 3.) _Woe unto them that rise up early that they may follow strong drink; that continue until night, till wine inflame them――But they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of his hands_, (chapter v. 11, 12.) _Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink_; (verse 22.) _Woe to them that are at ease in Zion,――that lie upon beds of ivory, and stretch themselves upon their couches, and eat the Lambs out of the flock, and their calves out of the midst of the stall, that chaunt to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instrument of musick,――that drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments; but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph_, (Amos vi. verses 1, 4, 5, 6.) _Behold this_ (saith _Ezekiel_ to ♠_Jerusalem_) _was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom; fulness of bread and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters_, (chapter xvi. 49.)

♦ “aftewards” replaced with “afterwards”

♠ “Jerusalemn” replaced with “Jerusalem”

8. From _sloth_ and _fulness of bread_, _lewdness_ naturally followed. It was even while _Moses_ was with them, that _the people began to commit whoredom with the ♦daughters of Moab_: yea, of the daughters of _Zion_ _Isaiah_ complains, _They walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes_, (chapter iii. 16.) And of his people in general God complains by _Jeremiah_, _When I had fed them to the full, they assembled themselves by troops in the harlot’s houses. They were as fed horses in the morning, every one neighed after his neighbour’s wife_, (chapter v. 7, 8.) _They be all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men_, (chapter ix. 2.) _The land is full of adulterers_, (chapter xxiii. 10.)

♦ “daughthers” replaced with “daughters”

Yea, and some of them were given up to _unnatural lusts_. Thus we read, _Judges_ xix. 22. _The men of Gibeah, beset the house_, wherein the stranger was, _and beat at the door, and spake to the master of the house, saying, Bring forth the man that came into thine house, that we may know him. And there were also_ long after _sodomites in the land_, in the days of _Rehoboam_ and of the following kings: _The very shew of whose countenance witnessed against them, and they declared their sin as Sodom, they hid it not_, (Isaiah iii. 9.)

9. This was accompanied with _injustice_ in all its forms. Thus all the prophets testify against them, _The Lord looked for_ judgment, _but behold_ oppression; _for righteousness, but behold a cry_, (Isaiah v. 7.) _Thou hast taken_ usury _and increase; thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbour by_ extortion――_Behold, I have smitten my hand, at thy_ dishonest gain _which thou hast made_, (Ezekiel xxii. 12, 13.) _The balances of deceit are in Jacob’s hand; he loveth to_ oppress, (Hosea xii. 7.) _Are there not yet the_ scant measure _that is abominable; the wicked_ balances, _and the bag of_ deceitful weights? (Micah vi. 10, 11.) _He that departeth from evil, maketh himself a prey_, (Isaiah lix. 15.) _And the Lord saw it, and it displeased him, that there was no judgment. The wicked devoureth the man, that is more righteous than he. They take up all of them with the angle, they catch them in their net, and gather them in their drag_, (Habakkuk i. 13, 14, 15.) _They covet fields and take them by_ violence, _and houses, and take them away_, (Micah ii. 2.) _They pull off the robe with the garment, from them that pass by securely_, (verse 8.) _They have dealt by oppression with the stranger; they have vexed the fatherless and the widow_, (Ezekiel xxii. 7.) _The people of the land have used_ oppression _and exercised_ robbery; _and have vexed the poor and needy, yea, they have oppressed the stranger wrongfully_, (verse 29.) _Their works are works of iniquity, and the act of_ violence _is in their hands_, (Isaiah lix. 6.) Judgment _is turned away backward, and_ justice _standeth afar off; for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter_, (verse 14.)

10. _Truth_ indeed was fallen, as well as justice. _Every mouth_, saith _Isaiah, speaketh folly_, (chapter ix. 17.) _This is a rebellious people_, lying _children_, (chapter xxx. 9.) _Their lips have spoken_ lies _and muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for_ truth; _they trust in vanity and speak lies_, (chapter lix. 3, 4.) This occasioned that caution of _Jeremiah_, _Take ye heed every one of his neighbour, and trust ye not in any brother; for every brother will utterly supplant, and every neighbour will walk with slanders. And they will deceive every one his neighbour, and will not speak the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies, and weary themselves to commit iniquity_, (chapter ix. 4, 5.)

11. And even those who abstained from these gross outward sins, were still inwardly corrupt and abominable. _The whole head was sick, and the whole heart was faint; yea, from the sole of the foot even unto the head there was no soundness, but wounds and bruises, and putrifying sores_, (Isaiah i. 5, 6.) _All these nations_ (saith God) _are uncircumcised; and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart_, (Jeremiah ix. 26.) _Their heart is divided_, (Hosea x. 2.) _They have set up their idols in their heart; they are all estranged from me thro’ their idols_, (Ezekiel xiv. 3, 4.)

Their soul still _clave unto the dust_. They _laid up treasures upon earth. From the least of them_, saith _Jeremiah_, _even unto the greatest, every one is given to_ ♦covetousness, (chapter vi. 13.) _They panted after the dust of the earth_, (Amos ii. 7.) _They laded themselves with thick clay_, (Habakkuk iii. 6.) _They joined house to house_, and _laid field to field, until there was no place_, (Isaiah v. 8.) Yea, they _enlarged their desires as hell_: They were _as death and could not be satisfied_, (Habakkuk ii. 5.)

♦ “coveteousness” replaced with “covetousness”

12. And not only for their covetousness, but for their _pride_ of heart were they an abomination to the Lord. _The_ pride _of Israel_, saith _Hosea_, _doth testify to his face_, (chapter vii. 10.) _Hear ye, give ear_, saith _Jeremiah_, _be not proud――――Give glory to the Lord your God_, (chapter xiii. 15.) But they would not be reproved; they were still _wise in their own eyes_, and _prudent in their own sight_, (Isaiah v. 21.) and continually saying to their neighbour, _Stand by thyself, come not near to me; for I am holier than thou_! (Isaiah lxv. 5.)

They added _hypocrisy_ to their pride. _This people_, saith God himself, _draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their hearts far from me_, (Isaiah xxix. 13.) _They have not cried unto me with their heart, when they howled upon their beds_, (Hosea vii. 14.) _They return, but not to the Most High; they are like a deceitful bow_, (verse 16.) _They did but flatter him with their mouth, and dissemble with him in their tongue_, (Psalms lxxviii. 36.) So that herein they only _prophaned the holiness of the Lord. And this have ye done again_, saith _Malachi_, _covering the altar of the Lord with tears, with weeping and with crying out, insomuch that he regardeth not the offering any more_, (chapter ii. 11, 13.)

13. This God continually declared to those formal worshippers. That their outward religion was but vain. _To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices_, saith the Lord? _I am full of the burnt-offerings of rams, and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs or of he-goats. Bring no more vain oblations: Incense is an abomination unto me; the new moons and sabbaths, the calling of assemblies, I cannot away with; it is iniquity, even the solemn meeting――――When you spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you; yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear_, (Isaiah i. 11, 13, 15.) _He that killeth an ox is as if he slew a man; he that sacrificeth a lamb, as if he cut off a dog’s neck_, (chapter lxvi. 3.) _When they fast, I will not hear their cry; and when they offer an oblation, I will not accept_, (Jeremiah xiv. 12.) _Go ye, serve your idols, if ye will not hearken unto me; but pollute ye my holy Name no more with your gifts_, (Ezekiel xx. 39.)

14. Yet all this time were they utterly _careless_ and _secure_; nay _confident_ of being in the favour of God. They were _at ease_; they _put far away the evil day_, (Amos vi. 1, 3.) _Even when God had poured his anger upon_ Israel, _it set him on fire round about, yet he knew it not; It burned him, yet he laid it not to heart_, (Isaiah xliii. 25.) _A deceived heart had turned him aside, that he could not say, Is there not a lie in my right hand?_ (chapter xliv. 20.) So far from it, that at this very time they said, _We are innocent, we have not sinned_, (Jeremiah ii. 35, 37.) _We are wise, and the law of the Lord is with us_, (chapter viii. 8.) _The temple of the Lord! the temple of the Lord are we._ (chapter vii. 4.)

15. Thus it was that they hardened themselves in their wickedness. _They are impudent children_, saith God, _and stiff-hearted_, (Ezekiel ii. 4.) _Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? Nay they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush_, (Jeremiah iv. 15.) _I have spread out my hand all the day to a rebellious people, that provoketh me to anger continually to my face_, (Isaiah lxv. 2, 3.) _They will not hearken unto me, saith the Lord, for all the house of_ Israel _are impudent and hard-hearted_, (Ezekiel iii. 7.) _Since the day that their fathers came forth out of the land of_ Egypt _unto this day, I have sent unto them all my servants the prophets, rising up early and sending them; yet they hearkened not unto me, nor inclined their ear, but hardened their neck; they did worse than their fathers_, (Jeremiah vi. 25, 26.)

They were equally hardened against mercies and judgments. When he _gave them rain, both the former and the latter in his season_; when _he reserved unto them the appointed weeks of the harvest_, filling their hearts with food and gladness, still none of this _revolting and rebellious people said, Let us now fear the Lord our God_, (Jeremiah v. 23, 24.) Nor yet did _they turn unto him_ when _he smote them_, (chapter ix. 9, 13.) _In that day did the Lord call to weeping and to mourning: and behold joy and gladness, eating flesh and drinking wine; let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we shall die_, (chapter xxii. 11, 12.) Although _he consumed them, yet they refused to receive instruction; they made their faces harder than a rock――None repented him, but every one turned to his course, as a horse rusheth into the battle_, (Jeremiah v. 3. chapter viii. 6.) _I have given you want of bread in all your places, yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord. I have also with-holden the rain from you when there were yet three months unto the harvest――I have smitten you with blasting and mildew: your gardens and your vineyards, the palmer worm devoured.――I have sent among you the pestilence after the manner of_ Egypt; _your young men have I slain with the sword――I have overthrown some of you, as God overthrew_ Sodom _and_ Gomorrah, _and ye were as a firebrand plucked out of the burning; yet have ye not returned unto me, saith the Lord_, (Amos iv. 6‒11.)

16. In consequence of their resolution not to return, they would not endure sound doctrine, or those that spake it. They _said to the seers, see not, and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us right things――Speak unto us smooth things――Cause the Holy One of_ Israel _to cease from before us_, (Isaiah xxx. 10, 11.) But _they hated him that rebuked in the gate, and they abhorred him that spake uprightly_, (Amos v. 10.) Accordingly, _thy people_, (saith God to _Ezekiel_) _still are talking against thee, by the walls, and in the doors of the houses_, (chapter xxxiii. 30.) _And_ Amaziah _the priest sent to_ ♦Jeroboam, _king of_ Israel, _saying_, Amos _hath conspired against thee in the midst of the house of_ Israel; _the land is not able to bear all his words. Also_ Amaziah _said unto_ Amos, _Go flee thee away into the land of_ Judah, _and prophesy there. But prophesy not again any more at_ Bethel, _for it is the king’s chappel, and it is the king’s court_, (chapter vii. 10, 12, 13.) From the same spirit it was that they said of _Jeremiah_, _Come and let us devise devices against him――Come and let us smite him with the tongue, and let us not give heed to any of his words_, (chapter xviii. 18.) Hence it was that he was constrained to cry out, _O Lord, I am in derision daily; every one mocketh me. Since I spake, the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me, and a derision daily: For I heard the defaming of many, Fear on every side: Report, say they, and we will report it: All my familiars watched for my halting; saying, Peradventure he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and we shall take our revenge on him_, (chapter xx. 7, 8, 10.) And elsewhere, _Woe is me, my mother, that thou hast borne me a man of strife, and a man of contention to the whole earth! I have neither lent on usury, nor men have lent to me on usury; yet every one of them doth curse me_, (chapter xv. 19.)

♦ “Jereboam” replaced with “Jeroboam”

17. But _if a man walking in the spirit of falshood, do lie_ (saith the prophet _Micah_) _saying, I will prophesy unto thee of wine and strong drink, he shall even be the prophet of this people_, (chapter ii. 11.) And God gave them pastors after their own hearts: such were those sons of _Eli, sons of Belial, who knew not the Lord_, (1 Samuel ii. 12.) rapacious, covetous, violent men, (verses 14, 15, 16.) by reason of whom _men abhorred the offering of the Lord_, (verse 17.) who not only _made themselves vile_, (chapter iii. 13.) but also _made the Lord’s people to transgress_, (chapter ii. 24.) while they _made themselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of_ Israel, (verse 29.) Such were those of whom _Isaiah_ says, _The priest and the prophet have erred through strong drink; they are swallowed up of wine_, (chapter xxviii. 7.) _Come ye, say they, I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink; and to-morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant_, (chapter lvi. 12.) Therefore (saith he) _the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and hath closed your eyes: the prophets and the seers hath he covered; and the vision of all is become unto you, as the words of a book that is sealed_, (chapter xxix. 10, 11.) Such also were those of whom he saith, _His watchmen are blind, they are all ignorant; they are all dumb dogs; they cannot bark, sleeping, laying down, loving to slumber_.

_Greedy dogs, which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand. They all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter_, (chapter lvi. 10, 11.)

Little better were those of whom the prophets that followed have left us so dreadful an account; _Both prophet and priest are prophane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord. And from the prophets of_ Jerusalem, _is prophaneness gone forth into all the land_, (Jeremiah xxiii. 11, 15.) _Her priests have violated my law, and have prophaned my holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and the prophane, and I am prophaned among them_, (Ezekiel xxii. 26.) _If I be a Father, where is mine honour; and if I be a master, where is my fear? Saith the Lord of hosts unto you, O priests, that despise my name_, (Malachi i. 6.)

Yea some of them were fallen into the grossest sins. _The company of priests, saith_ Hosea, _commit lewdness: There is whoredom in_ Ephraim, Israel _is despised_, (chapter vi. 9, 10.) _I have seen also in the prophets of_ Jerusalem (saith God by _Jeremiah_) _an horrible thing; they commit adultery and walk in lies_, (chapter xxiii. 14.)

18. And those who were clear of this, were deeply covetous. _Who is there among you, that would shut the doors for nought? Neither do ye kindle fire on my altar for nought. I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts_, (Malachi vi. 10.) _The priests of_ Zion _preach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money. Yet will they lean upon the Lord, and say, is not the Lord among us?_ (Micah iii. 11.) _Thus, saith the Lord, the prophets bite with their teeth, and cry peace: and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him_, (chapter iii. 5.) Therefore _the word of the Lord came unto_ Ezekiel, _saying, Prophesy against the shepherds of_ Israel, _and say, Woe be to the shepherds of_ Israel _that do feed themselves: Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat and ye cloath you with the wool; but ye feed not the flock. The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which was driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost, but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them. And they were scattered, because there is no shepherd, and they became meat to all the beasts of the field. Yea, my flock was scattered upon all the face of the earth, and none did search or seek after them_, (chapter xxxiv. 1‒6.)

19. To the same effect do the other prophets declare, _Ye are departed out of the way, ye have caused many to stumble.――――Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people_, (Malachi ii. 8, 9.) _From the prophet even unto the priest, every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying Peace, Peace, when there is no Peace_, (Jeremiah vi. 13, 14.) _They prophesy lies in my name_, (chapter xiv. 14.) _They say still unto them that despise me, the Lord had said, ye shall have peace; and they say unto every man that walketh after the imagination of his own heart, no evil shall come upon you_, (chapter xxiii. 17.) _The prophets of_ Jerusalem _strengthen the hands of the evil-doers, that none doth return from his wickedness_, (verse 14.) _They have seduced my people, and one built up a wall, and lo others daubed it with untempered mortar_, (Ezekiel xiii. 10.) _With lies they have made the hearts of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he shall not return from his wicked way, by promising him life_, (verse 22.) _Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot; they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness_, (Jeremiah xii. 10.) _There is a conspiracy of her prophets in the midst of her, like a roaring lion, ravening the prey. They have devoured souls_, (Ezekiel xxii. 25.) _Thus saith the Lord, Feed the flock of the slaughter whose possessors slay them, and hold themselves not guilty, and they that sell them say, Blessed be the Lord, for I am rich; and their own shepherds pity them not_, (Zechariah xi. 4, 5.)

II. 1. Such is the general account which the scriptures give of the _Jews_, the antient church of God. And since all these things ♦were _written for our instruction_, who are now the visible church of the God of _Israel_, I shall in the next place appeal to all who profess this, to every one who calls himself a _Christian_, how far in each instance the parallel holds? And how much _we_ are better then _they_?

♦ “was” replaced with “were” per Errata

And first, were they _discontented_? Did they _repine_ at the providence of God? Did they say, _Is the Lord among us or not_? When they were in imminent _danger_, or pressing _want_, and saw no way to escape? And which of us can say, _I am clear from_ this sin: I have washed my hands and my heart in innocency? Have not we who _judge others, done the same things_? _Murmured_ and _repined_ times without number? Yea, and that when we were not in pressing _want_ nor distressed with imminent _danger_? Are we not in general, (our own writers being the judges) have we not ever been from the earliest ages, a _repining, murmuring, discontented people_, never long satisfied either with God or man? Surely in this we have great need to humble ourselves before God; for we are in no wise better than they.

But _Jeshuron forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the rock of his salvation_. And did not _England_ too? Ask ye of the generations of old, enquire from the rising of the sun to the going down thereof, whether there was ever a people called by his name, which had less of _God in all their thoughts_? Who in the whole tenor of their behaviour shewed so _light_ an _esteem for the rock of their salvation_?

Could there ever be stronger cause for God to cry out, _Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth_! For hath he not _nourished and brought_ us _up_ as his _children? And_ yet, how _have_ we _rebelled against_ him! If _Israel_ of old _did not know God_; if his antient people _did not consider_; was this peculiar to them? Are not we also under the very same condemnation? Do we, as a people, _know_ God? Do we _consider_ him as God? Do we tremble at the presence of his power? Do we revere his excellent Majesty? Do we remember at all times, God is here! He is now reading my heart: he spieth out all my ways: there is not a word in my tongue but he knoweth it altogether: is this the character of us _English Christians_? The mark whereby we are known from the _Heathen_? Do we thus _know_ God? Thus _consider_ his power, his love, his all-seeing eye? Rather, are we not likewise a _sinful nation_, who _have forgotten him days without number_! A people _laden with iniquity_, continually _forsaking the Lord, and provoking the Holy One of Israel_.

2. There is indeed a wide difference, in this respect, between the _Jews_ and us; they _happened_ (if I may so speak) to forget God, because other things came in their way: but we _design_ to forget him; we do it of set purpose, because we do not like to remember him. From the accounts given by _Jeremiah_, we have reason to believe, that when that people were most deeply corrupted, yet the greatest men in the nation, the ministers of state; the nobles and princes of _Judah_, talked of God sometimes, perhaps, as frequently as upon any other subject. But is it so among us? Rather, is it not a point of good-breeding to put God far away, out of our sight? Is he talked of at all among the great? The nobles or ministers of state in _England_? Among any persons of rank or figure in the world? Do they allow God any place in their conversation? From day to day, from year to year, do _you_ discourse one hour of the wonders he doth for the children of men? If one at a gentleman or a nobleman’s table was to begin a discourse, of the wisdom, greatness, or power of God, would it not occasion (at least) as much astonishment, as if he had begun to talk blasphemy? And if the _unbred_ man persisted therein, would it not put all the company in confusion? And what do you sincerely believe the more favourable part would say of him when he was gone? But that――“He is a little touched in his head!” or, “Poor man! he has not seen the world.”

You know, this is the naked truth. But how terrible is the thought to every serious mind! Into what a state is this _Christian_ nation fallen! Nay the men of eminence, of fortune, of education! Would not a thinking foreigner, who should be present at such an interview, be apt to conclude, that the men of quality in _England_ were atheists? That they did not believe there was any God at all; or, at best but an _Epicurean_ God, who sat at ease upon the circle of the heavens, and did not concern himself about us worms of the earth? Nay, but he understands every thought now rising in your heart. And how long can you put him out of your sight? Only till this veil of flesh is rent in sunder. For your _pomp_ will not then _follow you_. Will not your body be mingled with common dust? And your soul stand naked before God? O that you would now _acquaint yourself with_ God, that you may then be cloathed with glory and immortality!

3. Did God complain of the _Jews, Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine ordinances, and have not kept them_? And how justly may he make the same complaint of us? For how exceeding small a proportion do we find of those in any place who call themselves Christians, that make a conscience of attending them? Does one third of the inhabitants in any one parish throughout this great city, constantly attend _public prayer_ and the _ministry of his word_, as of conscience towards God? Does one tenth of those who acknowledge it is an institution of Christ, duly attend the _Lord’s supper_? Does a fiftieth part of the _nominal_ members of the church of _England_ observe _the fasts_ of the church, or so much as the forty days in _Lent_, and all _Fridays_ in the year? Who of these then can cast the first stone at the _Jews_, for neglecting the ordinances of God?

Nay, how many thousands are found among us, who have never partook of the supper of the Lord? How many thousands are there, that live and die in this unrepented disobedience? What multitudes, even in this _Christian_ city, do not attend any _public_ worship at all? No, nor spend a single hour from one year to another in _privately_ pouring out their hearts before God? Whether God _meeteth him that remembereth_ him _in his ways_ or not, is no concern of theirs: so the man eats and drinks, and _dies as a beast dieth_,

“Drops into the dark and disappears.”

It was not therefore of the children of _Israel_ alone, that the messenger of God might say, _There is none_ (comparatively) _that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth himself up to take hold of thee_.

4. Ye have heard, that it was said to them of old time, _Because of_ swearing _the land mourneth_. But if this might be said of the land of _Canaan_, how much more of _this_ land? In what city or town, in what market or exchange, in what street or place of public resort, is not the holy _name whereby we are called_ taken in vain, day by day? From the noble to the peasant, who fails to call upon God, in this if in no other way? Whether can you turn, where can you go, without hearing some praying to God for damnation, either on his neighbour or himself? Cursing those, without either fear or remorse, whom Christ hath bought to inherit a blessing!

Are _you_ one of these stupid, senseless, shameless wretches, that call so earnestly for damnation on your own soul? What if God should take you at your word? Are you _able to dwell with everlasting burnings_? If you are, yet why should you be in haste, to be in the _lake of fire burning with brimstone_? God help you, or you will be there soon enough, and long enough; for that _fire is not quenched_! But the _smoke thereof ascendeth up, day and night, for ever and ever_.

And what is that important affair, concerning which you was but now appealing to God? Was you _calling God to record upon your soul_, touching your everlasting salvation? No; but touching the beauty of your horse, the swiftness of your dog, or the goodness of your drink! How is this? What notion have you of God? What do you take him to be?

_Idcirco stolidam præbet tibi vellere barbam Jupiter――――?_

What stupidity, what infatuation is this! Thus without either pleasure, or profit, or praise, to set at nought him that hath _all power both in heaven and earth_! Wantonly to _provoke the eyes of his glory_!

Are you a man of letters, who are sunk so low? I will not then send you to the inspired writers (so called: perhaps you disdain to receive instruction by them,) but the old, blind Heathen. Could you only fix in your mind the idea he had of God, (though it is not strictly just, unless we refer it to God made man) you would never thus affront him more,

Ἦ καὶ κυανέῃσιν ἐπ᾽ ὀφρύσι ♦νεῦσε Κρονίων·
Ἀμβρόσιαι δ᾽ ἄρα χαῖται ἐπεῤῥώσαντο Ἄνακτος
Κρατὸς ἀπ᾽ ἀθανάτοιο· μέγαν δ᾽ ἐλέλιξεν Ὄλυμπον.

♦ “νεῦσε” inserted per Errata

Shall not the very Heathen then, _rise up in judgment against this generation, and condemn it_? Yea, and not only the learned Heathens of _Greece_ and _Rome_, but the savages of _America_. For I never remember to have heard a wild _Indian_ name the name of _Sootaleicatee_, (him that sitteth in heaven) without either laying his hand upon his breast, or casting his eyes down to the ground. And you are a _Christian_! O how do you cause the very name of _Christianity_ to be blasphemed among the Heathen!

5. But is it _light_ swearing only, (inexcusable as that is) because of which our _land mourneth_? May it not also be said of us, _Though they say the Lord liveth, surely they swear_ falsely? Yea to such a degree, that there is hardly the like, in any nation under heaven; that almost every corner of the land is filled with wilful deliberate _perjury_.

I speak not now of the perjuries which every common swearer cannot but run into day by day. (And indeed common “swearing notoriously contributes to the growth of perjury. For oaths are little minded when common use has sullied them, and every minutes repetition has made them cheap and vulgar.”) Nor of those which are continually committed and often detected in our open courts of justice. Only with regard to the latter I must remark, that they are a natural consequence, of that monstrous, shocking manner, wherein oaths are usually administered therein: without any decency or seriousness at all; much less with that awful solemnity, which a rational Heathen would expect, in an immediate appeal to the great God of heaven.

I had once designed to consider all the oaths which are customarily taken by any set of men among us. But I soon found this was a work too weighty for me: so almost _in infinitum_ are oaths multiplied in _England_: I suppose to a degree which is not known in any other nation in _Europe_.

What I now propose is, to instance only in a few, (but those not of small importance) and to shew, how amazingly little regard is had, to what is solemnly promised or affirmed before God.

6. This is done, in part, to my hands by a late author. So far as he goes, I shall little more than transcribe his words. (Mr. _Disney_’s First Essay, page 30.)

“When a _justice of peace_ is sworn into the commission, he makes oath――‘That he shall do equal right to the poor and to the rich, after his cunning, wit and power, and after the laws and customs of the realm and statutes thereof made, in all articles in the king’s commission to him directed.’――What those articles are, you will find in the first assignavimus of the commission: ‘We have assigned you and every one of you, jointly and severally――_to keep and cause to be kept, all ordinances and statutes_, made for――the quiet, rule and government of our people, in all and every the articles thereof, according to the force, form and effect of the same, and to _chastise and punish all persons, offending_ against any of them, according to the form of those statutes and ordinances.’ So that he is solemnly sworn to the execution of all such statutes, as the legislative power of the nation has thought fit to throw upon his care. Such are all those (among others) made against _drunkenness_, _tipling_, prophane _swearing_, _blasphemy_; _lewd_ and _disorderly_ practices, and _prophanation of the_ Lord’s _day_. And it is hard to imagine how a justice of peace can think himself more concerned, to _suppress riots_ or _private quarrels_, then he is to levy twelve pence on a _prophane swearer_, five shillings on a _drunkard_, ten shillings on the public house _that suffers tipling_, or any other penalty which the law exacts ♦on vice and immorality. The same oath binds him both to one and the other, laying an equal obligation on his conscience. How a magistrate, who neglects to punish excess, prophaneness and impiety, can excuse himself from the guilt of _perjury_, I do not pretend to know. If he reasons fairly, he will find himself as much _forsworn_, as an evidence who being upon his oath, to declare _the whole truth_; nevertheless conceals _the most considerable part_ of it. And his perjury is so much the more infamous, as the ill example and effects of it will be mischievous.”

♦ “of” replaced with “on” per Errata

7. The same author (in the preface to his second essay) goes on:

“You, gentlemen of the _grand juries_, take a solemn oath, that you will _diligently enquire_, and true _presentment_ make, of _all_ such articles, matters and things _as shall be given you in charge_: as also, that you will (not only present no person for envy, hatred, or malice, but) not leave any _unpresented_, for fear, favour or affection. Now, are not the laws against immorality and prophaneness _given you in charge_, as well as those against riots, felony and treason? Are not presentment and indictment _one_ method expresly appointed by the statutes, for the punishment of _drunkenness_ and _tipling_? Are not houses of _bawdry_ and _gaming_, punishable in the same courts, and consequently _presentable_ by you? Is not the proclamation for the punishing of vice, prophaneness and immorality, always read before you as soon as you are sworn? And does not the judge of assize, or chairman of the bench, in the charge given immediately after the reading it, either recite to you the particular laws against such offences, or refer you for them to that proclamation? ’Tis plain from all this, that you are bound upon your _oaths_, to _present all vice_ and _immorality_, as well as other crimes, that fall within your knowledge, because they are expresly _given you in charge_. And this you are to do, not only when _evidence_ is offered before you by the _information of others_, but with regard to all such offences as you or any of you are able of _your own personal knowledge_ to present: all which you have sworn to do impartially, without _fear_, _favour_, or affection.”

I leave it now with all reasonable men to consider, how few _grand jurors_ perform this? And consequently, what multitudes of them, throughout the nation, fall under the guilt of _wilful perjury_!

8. The author proceeds, (page 8.) “I shall next address myself to you that are _constables_. And to you I must needs say, that if you know your duty, ’tis no thanks to us that are _justices_. For the oath we usually give you is so _short_, and in such _general_ terms, that it leaves with you no manner of instruction in the particulars of the office to which you are sworn. But that which ought to be given you, recites part of your duty in the following words:

“You shall do your best endeavour, that rogues, vagabonds and night-walkers, be apprehended; and that the statutes made for their punishment, be duly put in execution: you shall have _a watchful eye_ to such as shall keep any house or place where any _unlawful game_ is used: as also to _such_ as shall _frequent_ such places, or shall _use_ any _unlawful game_ there or elsewhere. You shall _present all_ and _every_ the offences contrary to the statutes made to restrain the _tipling in inns, alehouses_, and _other victualling_ houses, and for repressing of _drunkenness_. You shall once in the year, during your office, present all _Popish recusants_. You shall well and duly execute all precepts and warrants to you directed. And you shall well and duly, according to your knowledge, power and ability, do and execute _all other_ things belonging to the office of a _constable_, so long as you shall continue therein.”

Upon this, “I would observe first, that _actors of plays_ are exprest by name within the statute, to be taken up for vagabonds, and punished accordingly: and that though a statute of queen _Elizabeth’s excepts_ such companies as have a licence under the hand and seal of a nobleman, yet a ♦later statute in the reign of king _James_ I. has taken away that protection from them; by declaring, that _from thenceforth no authority to be given by any peer of the realms, shall be available to free or discharge them from the pains and punishments of that former statute_. Every _constable_ therefore in those parishes, where any of these _strolling players_ come, is bound by his _oath_, to seize upon, correct, and send them packing without delay.”

♦ “latter” replaced with “later” per Errata

“The next part of your oath obliges you to keep _a watchful eye_, on such houses as keep and such _persons_ as use _unlawful gaming_. The statute directs you _weekly_ or at least _monthly_, to search within your liberties, all houses or places suspected of this offence, and upon discovering, to bring them to punishment. Upon this article I would observe, 1. That the law makes some allowance, for artificers, husbandmen, apprentices, labourers and servants, _to play in Christmas_, but at no other time of the year; and 2. That _all sports and pastimes_ whatsoever are made _unlawful_ upon the Lord’s day, by a statute of king _Charles_ II. You are therefore bound upon _oath_, to bring to punishment such as are guilty of _prophaning_ that day by any sports or pastimes whatsoever.”

“The following parts of your oath are, 1. That you shall _present all_ and _every_ the offences of _tipling_ and _drunkenness_ that come to your knowledge; 2. That you shall once in the year _present_ all _Popish recusants_. Nay, and by the statute on which your oath is grounded, you are obliged once a year to _present in session_, all those within your parishes, who (not being dissenters) come not once in a month, at least, to church.” And 3. That you shall _well_ and _duly_ execute _all precepts_ and _warrants_ to you directed. I believe no _constable_ will pretend to be ignorant of this. How is it then, that when we send out warrants, to levy on offenders for _swearing_, _drunkenness_, and the like, those _warrants_ are so ill obeyed? Are you not _sworn_ to execute _these_ as well as any other, and that _duly_ too, according to the tenor of your _precept_? Your _precept_ tells you, you shall _demand_ such a sum, and if the offender will not ♦pay, you shall _levy it by distress of his goods_: and _if no distress can be taken_, you are _then_ only to set him _in the stocks_; otherwise you have no authority so to do: nor is the setting him in the stocks, when you might have distrained, any execution of your _precept_.”

♦ “pray” replaced with “pay”

“The last part of your oath is in _general_ terms. That you shall _well_ and _duly_ according to your knowledge, power, and ability, do and execute _all other things_ belonging to the office of a _constable_. I shall instance in some things which certainly _belong to your office_, because you, and none else, can do them. 1. A constable may, _without a warrant_, apprehend any persons, and carry them before a justice, who are driving carts, horses or cattle on the Lord’s day: 2. Such as he shall find at _sports and pastimes_ on that day. 3. Such as he shall find _tipling_ in public-houses; 4. Shopkeepers _selling_ or _exposing_ goods on the Lord’s day; and lastly, Such as he shall find drunk or blaspheming, or prophanely swearing or cursing.”

“Thus I have shewn you, in part, _what belongs to your office_: it is well, if according to the tenor of your oath, you _duly, according to your knowledge and ability, do and execute all these things_. But remember, that if you do not, if you neglect any of them, you are _forsworn_.”

Now let all men judge, how many _constables_ in _England_ are clear of wilful _perjury_!

9. “I will now (he goes on) address myself to _church-wardens_. Your oath is, ‘That you shall well and truly execute the office of a _church-warden_, for the ensuing year; and to the best of your skill and knowledge, _present_ such persons and things, as are _presentable_, by the ecclesiastical laws of this realm.’ I shall set down only a few of these.”

“The statute of king _James_ I. obliges you to present once a year, all monthly _absenters_ from church.”

“The 90th canon enjoins you, first to _admonish_ and then, if they reform not, to _present_, all your parishioners who do not _duly_ resort to _church_ on Sundays, and there continue the whole time of divine service. On this article observe. 1. That a person’s being absent from church, is ground sufficient for you to proceed. 2. That you are not only to present those who do not come to church, but also those that behave _irreverently_ or _indecently_ there, either walking about, or talking; all who do not abide there orderly and soberly, the whole time of service and sermon, and all that _loiter_ away any part of that time in the church-yard or in the fields.”

“The 112th canon enjoins you, within 40 days after Easter, to exhibit to the bishop or his chancellor, _the names of all_ above the age of sixteen, within your parish that did not receive the communion.”

“Other statutes oblige you to present _drunkenness_, _tippling_, and public houses _suffering persons to tipple_ in them.”

“And the 109th canon binds you to present _all manner_ of vice, prophaneness and debauchery, requiring you faithfully to _present all_ and every the offenders in _adultery_, _whoredom_, _drunkenness_, _prophane swearing_, or any other _uncleanness_ and _wickedness_ of life.” It is therefore a part of that office to which you are solemnly sworn to present not only all _drunkenness_ and _tippling_, but _prophane swearing_, _lewdness_, and whatsoever else is contrary to Christian piety. So that if you know any of your parishioners, be his quality or circumstances what they will, that is guilty of any of these, you are obliged to _present him to the next visitation_, or you are yourselves guilty of perjury. And the 26th canon expresses such an abhorrence of a _church-warden_’s neglect in this matter, that it forbids the minister, _in any wise_, to admit you to the holy communion, _who_ (as the words of the canon are) _having taken your oaths to present all such offences in your several parishes, shall notwithstanding your said oaths, either in neglecting or refusing to present, wittingly and willingly, desperately and irreligiously incur, the horrid guilt of perjury_.”

And who is clear? I appeal to every minister of a parish, from one end of _England_ to the other, how many _church-wardens_ have you known, in twenty, thirty, forty years, who did not thus _desperately_ and _irreligiously incur, the horrid guilt of perjury_?

10. I proceed to perjuries of another kind. The oath taken by all _captains of ships_, every time they return from a trading voyage, runs in these terms:

“I do swear, that the entry above written, now tendered and subscribed by me, is a just report of the name of my ship, its burthen, bulk, property, number and country mariners, ♦the present master and voyage: and that it doth farther contain a true account of my lading, with the particular marks, numbers, quantity, quality and consignment, of all the goods and merchandizes in my said ship, to the best of my knowledge; and that I have not broke bulk, or delivered any goods out of my said ship, since her loading in.

So help me God.”

♦ “he” replaced with “the” per Errata

These words are so clear, express, and unambiguous, that they require no explanation. But who takes this plain oath, without being _knowingly and deliberately forsworn_? Does one captain in fifty? Does one in five hundred? May we not go farther yet? Are there five captains of vessels now in _London_, who have not at one time or another, by this very oath, which they knew to be false when they took it, incurred the guilt of _wilful perjury_?