a rational Nature and a Soul that is Immortal that yet does neither A Wicked Man he pities most and with great reason esteems him the most Unhappy of Mankind not an unfortunate Wretch broken upon the Wheel is so miserable since the most exquisite Temporal Torments bear no proportion to Everlasting Burnings Christianity is a Generous Institution and inspires us with a Charitable Concern for the Happiness of others as the great end of it is to qualifie us for the Society of Angels hereafter so where it is allow'd to exert its Power it gives us somewhat of their Divine Temper here makes us endeavour after the Conversion of Sinners and raises strong and lasting Joy in our Souls whenever it is effected And can that Man be esteem'd a sincere Christian who has no regard for his Brothers Eternal Happiness Who will not labour to stop the progress of a Contagious Vice and thereby prevent the Ruin of many Souls Let him pretend what he will to prove that he Loves GOD it is all Hypocrisie and Disguise for it is a Truth Written in Heaven as well as Recorded in Scripture That he who Loâ—es not his Brother whom he has seen can never Love GOD whom he has not seen And what a Melancholly Surprize will it be to many when at the Last Day the Great Judge of the World shall bid them depart from him notwithstanding all their Pompous Devotions and Gawdy appearances of Religion And that because they were not Zealously Affected against Vice and did not Industriously promote Reformation of Manners Because they labour'd not to retrieve the decay'd Spirit of Christianity and were Negligent and Indifferent when the Cause of Religion was at Stake And what various Passions of Indignation of Grief and Shame must distract such unhappy Souls when the Son of GOD shall thus Expostulate with them Can ye hope to dwell with me for whom you never had any true Honour whose Cause you did not Plead whose Interest you did not Espouse Can you say you sincerely Lov'd me when you declin'd my most Necessary Service the Punishment of Vice and Advancement of Piety What tho you did not Prophane my Name your selves yet others you cou'd hear do it with a Smile And did rather Encourage than Suppress that Sin And since through your want of Zeal many escape that Punishment which their Lewdness deserv'd is it not reasonable that you shou'd share in their Torments as you contributed towards their Guilt Therefore you must have no Honour from me whom you did never Honour And seeing you in effect Deny'd me upon Earth by neglecting my Service Justice requires that you shou'd be disown'd by me for ever And what Reply shall such unhappy Sinners be able to make to Infinite Justice when thus Arraign'd before Angels and Men Must they not be struck with silent Horrours at the Charge and Agonies of Soul too big to be utter'd But if they presume to speak at all their Language must be made up of Guilty Acknowledgements They must own the Justice even when they begin to feel the severity of their Sentence Secondly Another Motive to excite and confirm our Zeal in the good things about which it ought to be engag'd suppressing Publick Vice and promoting Reformation of Manners is the consideration of its being the most Honourable Service wherein we can be employ'd A Service of the greatest Dignity and Glory In other Cases the Worth and Greatness of the Person to whom the Service is pay'd renders it Honourable Thus to be intrusted with the most Weighty Affairs of our Prince and Country to Execute the Laws and Encounter the Enemies of both is what Ambitious Men are still aspiring after and wherein they place their Glory and their Happiness But now in this respect no Service so Honourable as Opposing and Suppressing Immorality and Prophaness It is the immediate Service of GOD himself of the Supreme King and Governour of the World before whom all Earthly Princes are as nothing Whose Transcendent Nature nothing can comprehend and who dazles all the Angels with the Brightness of his Glory Again does the Excellency of those who are employ'd in any Service render it Honourable Then none so Honourable as this It is at once the work and delight of Angels and the Heavenly Host esteem it their Priviledge and Glory For wherein consists the employment of the Ministring Spirits of Heaven But in their being the Instruments of GOD's Justice in Punishing his Enemies the Instruments of his Mercy in Rewarding his Servants In their restraining us from Sin by their powerful Influence and awakening us to Repentance by unseen ways Those happy Beings that are above whither Angels or the Spirits of Just Men made perfect are all Zealous of our Reformation They Pray for our Repentance they Rejoice at our Conversion and long for our Society And every Pious Soul that arrives safely among them encreases their Raptures and adds new strength and fervour to their Praises And is not that a Glorious Service whereby we Cooperate with the Holy Angels And must not our being thus employ'd in the Work of Angels be an excellent Preparative for their Conversation Lastly The more useful any Service is the more Honourable it shou'd be esteem'd Thus they who have been Authors of any great Good to the World have been highly Honour'd while Alive and when dead have been Ador'd But what Service so useful as this What way can we do so much good to Mankind as by bringing Obstinate Offenders to Punishment and removing Infectious Examples As by extirpating Vice and promoting Piety and Virtue As by averting the Wrath of GOD and smoothing the way to Heaven Let us not then be asham'd of our Great Masters Service but Praise him for the Honour it confers upon us and while others Glory in their Wisdom their Riches or their Might which are all Imperfect Transient and Vain if we Glory at all let it be in this that we are allow'd the priviledge and inspir'd with Grace to be employ'd in our Heavenly Fathers Business Thirdly Another Motive to excite and confirm our Zeal against Prophaness and Vice is the consideration of those many and Excellent Examples which recommend it And indeed we find none in the Holy Scriptures Eminent for their Piety and Virtue who were not equally remarkable for their Zealous Endeavours against Impiety and all sorts of Wickedness Noah was not only a Worker but Preacher of Righteousness 2 Pet. 2.5 verse 7.8 and of Lot it is said that his Righteous Soul was vexed with the Sodomites filthy Conversation How was Moses Transported at the Israelites Idolatry Exod. 32.19 His usual Meekness seem'd to have forsaken him his Anger waxed hot and he cast the Tables out of his Hands and brake them beneath the Mount Numb 25.11 12 13. Phineas's Zeal is Recorded to his Honour it stop'd the Raging Pestilence and Calm'd the Anger of an Incensed GOD. Psal. 106.30 Holy David expressed his Zeal
Reason why it shou'd be so for the more Men know of Vice when once throughly awaken'd from its Charms they more they will abhor and detest it Besides 't is what they are strictly oblig'd to in Conscience For having heretofore dishonour'd GOD obstructed Religion and made Men Enemies to Virtue They are bound if I may so speak to make what Restitution they can to all those for the Injuries they have done them Have they heretofore Prophan'd GOD's Name or his Word or his Day Then surely if their Repentance be sincere they will not only in the highest manner honour these themselves but be very assiduous to procure them all possible Reverence from others Have they entic'd others to Sin and been but too unhappily successful in it Shou'd not then their Zeal be constant and active as the Sun and Light and bring Men to a sense of their Duty that so they may be Instruments of saving more than they have been the Fatal Means of destroying Have they injur'd Religion by their Evil Examples Then surely their Lives for the future shou'd be bright and unspotted their Actions Eminently Holy and a most engaging Pattern of Piety they shou'd set to the World Had they almost miscarry'd and been ruin'd for ever by their Wickedness had not the Goodness of GOD miraculously interpos'd for their Deliverance Then 't is certainly their Duty to caution others of those Rocks whereon they had well nigh been Ship-rack'd Such was the Practice of those great Examples of sincere Repentance Holy David and St. Paul After the former had in very passionate terms bewail'd his Sins and implor'd the Pardon of GOD for them as the natural consequence of his Repentance he declares his Pious Resolution I will teach thy ways to the Wicked and Sinners shall be converted unto thee Psal. 51.13 And thus it was with St. Paul after his Conversion Did he once make Havock of the Church He afterwards labour'd more abundantly than all the Apostles to enlarge and strengthen it Was he once a bitter Enemy to Christianity a Blasphemer and Reviler of the Son of GOD He afterwards prov'd a most Zealous Advocate for the one a most Successful Preacher of the other Did he hale the Saints to Prison was he consenting to their Death To the same Religion they profess'd he adher'd faithfully unto Death and for it was Crown'd with Martyrdom himself And thus shou'd all true Penitents behave themselves whatever tends to the Advancement of Religon with all the powers of their Souls they shou'd pursue themselves and recommend to others with a most Industrious Zeal Then wou'd their Repentance be not only sincere but compleat available to their Pardon and cause Joy in the presence of the Angels Fourthly and Lastly They who have enter'd into Societies for Reformation of Manners and thereby avow'dly engag'd in the service of Piety and Religion are particularly oblig'd to be Zealously Affected against those foremention'd Dangerous Sins My Argument does not require that I shou'd undertake a just Vindication of such Societies and prove the usefulness of them this has been fully done by others and the great service they daily do Religion sufficiently proclaims it Yet we may in general observe that Vice is too potent an Enemy to be defeated by any single endeavours Vice which too often baffles the united Labours of the best Men in the World and is supported by a confederacy of all the Powers of Darkness Besides we cannot but be sensible that good Men have need of Companions to animate them to a work of Difficulty and Danger We are afraid to appear Champions for Religion are afflicted with an evil shame and easily discourag'd when alone But a competent number when join'd in a Society advise support and excite one another The Prudent Calmness of some restrains the Irregular Warmth of others whose Vigorous Zeal on the other hand like Fire communicates Heat and Life and Spirit to the Negligent and Indifferent gives flame to their Affections and enlivens their Souls Again 't is reasonable to believe that what the United Councils of many resolve upon and what is Prosecuted by their joint Endeavours will be more wisely undertaken and more successfully accomplish'd than if there were no such Union either in Council or in Action So that a great many good Men who wou'd otherwise be of little use to Religion do very much advance and promote it by thus joining together their Hearts and Hands for that purpose as those many little Stars which make up what we call the Milky way in the Heavens wou'd if separated wholly disappear but by their Conjunction afford a very useful Light to the World We are all sufficiently convinc'd of the necessity of Societies in many other cases for carrying on any design of Importance If a Prince is become too Potent for one Neighbour whom he is likely to Devour then many become Confederates to humble him Is any great Trade to be undertaken which is too difficult and expensive for any Private Fortune and Contrivance Then is it usually accomplish'd by a Society or Company Our Common Safety shews us the necessity of Parliaments which are but great Societies for Reforming the Common Wealth by redressing Grievances and making Useful Laws And is Religion the only that either does not need or does not deserve a Society to promote and secure it Is not suppressing Publick Impiety Lewdness and Prophaness bringing those who are openly Wicked and Proud of being so esteem'd to Punishment and removing from others the Pestilence of Evil Examples are not all these Matters of great Weight and Moment and which deserve the most serious Thoughts of the Prudent as well as the Religious And if these things can be better effected by Societies than any other way does not that fully evince the Usefulness or rather great Necessity of them If Reformation of Manners can be accomplish'd more successfully by other Methods than these of Societies it wou'd do great service to Religion to discover them to the World but since that has not yet been done 't is very reasonable that Persons of Piety and Zeal shou'd go on in the way they know till they be made acquainted with a better I own did every Man among us Conscientiously discharge his Duty in his Station and according to his Capacity were there no Negligent Ministers nor any Unfaithful Magistrates and did every other Person in his Private Capacity do what in strictness he ought to do then the whole Church wou'd be one great Religious Society and that wou'd supersede the necessity of any other But seeing that never was in any Age of the Church not in the most Primitive and Purest times Seeing that Ecclesiastical Discipline is fallen so very low that Church Censures are lost upon the greater part of Mankind And seeing we have no prospect of any publick alteration for the better but have cause to fear that every thing will become worse unless the impending Mischief be in time
Commanding them to put the Laws against Prophaness and Vice in Execution with all Fidelity and Impartiality And to this end that they shou'd be careful and diligent in Encouraging all Persons to do their Part in giving Informmations against Offenders as they were obliged by their Oath as Magistrates to do And when there was further occasion she shew'd she was in Earnest to promote this Design by taking other more Effectual Methods for that purpose And she took particular satisfaction Page 16. in those other Societies of Religious Persons who meet to Pray Sing Psalms and Read the Holy Scriptures together and to Reprove Exhort and Edifie one another by their Religious Conferences she enquired often and much about them and was glad they went on and prevailed Such was the Hearty and Affectionate Concern such were the Zealous Endeavours of that Excellent Woman to promote this great Work of Reforming a Wicked Age Of her who was the Glory and Ornament of her Sex and Crown who now enjoys the Reward of her Piety and Zeal a Crown incorruptible and that fadeth not away She esteem'd the Persons who were principally concern'd in it and approv'd of the Methods propos'd to accomplish it and is not her Approbation alone a sufficient Answer to all the Objections that have been rais'd against it Hers I say whose Judgment and Prudence were equal to Her Piety and High Condition And shou'd not so Great so Good an Example engage Persons of all Ranks and Qualities to joyn Vigorously in Prosecuting the same Design Shou'd it not especially Inflame the Zeal of Her own Sex and Influence them to do all that in them lies to Check and Restrain Vice to Encourage and Promote Piety and Virtue They Boasted of Her and very justly while She Liv'd they profess a Veneration for Her very Name now that She is gone let them shew it by Contributing what they can to that Noble Undertaking wherein She express'd so much Satisfaction And if they have but Zeal they cannot want ways of expressing it to their own great Honour and the benefit of the World They may serve it by their Prayers in the constancy and fervency whereof we must own they usually exceed us and draw down upon it the Blessings of Heaven They can often with great Advantage Recommend it to others and Engage Persons of Power and Authority to Encourage it And Lastly they may do much towards Reforming the World by a Prudent Management of their Families by instilling good Principles into their Children betimes and making them in Love with GOD and Religion as also by a strict and constant Inspection into the Lives and Manners of their Servants And if there needed any other Motive to excite their Zeal after mentioning the Example of our Excellent QUEEN I wou'd desire them to consider that one main Branch of that Publick Reformation of our Manners which is attempted at this time does directly tend to Vindicate the Credit of their Sex They must be sensible that it suffers by those Wretched Creatures who are lost to Shame as well as Virtue They know too well that there have been some such Instances even among those of more considerable Rank and that Honour and Wealth have been the Rewards of a Scandalous Prostitution and they cannot be Ignorant what uncharitable Censures from the Observation of the Bad have been pass'd upon the Good and Virtuous And must not such Rejoice when they see those Wretches Punish'd who Dishonour their Sex as well as their Religion They must they will express their Abhorrence of a Strumpet let her Quality be never so High and will leave nothing unattempted to Banish such from the Society of those who have any regard for Modesty and Virtue So will they be Glorious Instruments in Promoting Reformation of Manners and share with us in the Honour and Advantage of so useful a Design in this World and share with Her in Glory whose Example I have been Recommending to them Fourthly Another Motive to excite and confirm our Zeal against Prophaness and Vice is this That the Endeavours of Good Men in this Kingdom to Promote Reformation oâ— Manners have been highly applauded in England Greâ—â—◠〈…〉 â—aid of them there and greater expected from them This we Learn from several Hands particularly the Book I already Quoted in these words Page 23.24 The Endeavours of these Gentlemen have not been confin'd to this City and Kingdom but have extended as far as Ireland where they have had an Influence very litle I think to the Honour of that Kingdom from whence it had its First Rise of which since a more particular account may be expected I may satisfie my self at present with saying in general of my own Knowledge that the Transactions of Reformation here having been near Two Years since laid before some few Persons in Ireland and most of those I must again observe Private Persons and of the Lower Rank of Men with proper considerations to move e'm to unite in the same Design and Methods to pursue it with Advantage it determined them to engage heartily in it and they have Prosecuted it with so much Vigour that there are now several Societies for Reformation in the City of Dublin which I am assured by divers Accounts that I have in my Hands from thence are spreading into several Parts of the Kingdom and are Encourag'd by His Excellency the Earl of Galway one of the Lords Justices of Ireland The Right Reverend the Arch-Bishop of Dublin many of the Clergy and the Best of the Magistrates and Gentlemen of that City In one of which Societies most of the Parish-Ministers of Dublin several of the Pious Bishops particularly the Celebrated Arch-Bishop and divers other Persons of Quality are Members some of which have shewn a Zeal which if it prevail'd the Three Kingdoms over might soon produce a Glorious Reverse of the State they are now in and which in less than Two Years space hath succeeded tho not without such various Oppositions as might be expected from Combinations of Bad Men to that degree in Dublin that the Prophanation of the Lords-Day by Tipling in Publick Houses by Exercising of Trade and Exposing of Goods to Sale is almost suppress'd that Lewd Women are so strictly enquired after and severely Punished that they have Transported themselves as in England to our Plantations and that Swearing is so run down that an Oath is rarely heard in their Streets so that Publick Disorders are remarkably Cured and in short Vice is afraid and asham'd to shew its Head where within a few Years past it was Daring and Triumphant This Account Blessed be GOD is in the main true and my Design in mentioning it to you is not to Please or Flatter you by telling what you have done but to excite and spur you on to double your diligence and make it more apparent to the World how answerable your Zeal is to the Character that has been publickly given of it Commendations
and then no wonder if Blasphemies be their Language and Fleshly Lusts prevail against them And very often Religion is neglected on the Lords-Day for the sake of Drinking or Gaming and wasted away in those mean unprofitable Entertainments But since our Laws more directly take Cognizance of those other Sins I wou'd to GOD that our Zeal were successful in entirely suppressing them For they are the most pernicious Scandals to Religion and shou'd therefore be the more immediate Objects of our Zeal And were no Swearing heard among us were the Lords-Day employ'd in Exercises of Religion and Devotion and were all known Traders in in Lewdness driven away what a Holy what a Happy People wou'd we soon become How Glorious wou'd Piety appear with all its Beauteous Charms How wou'd Religion Prosper and Flourish How wou'd Wickedness Blush and Tremble and Fly away And this might soon be effected did all heartily join in it who are under particular Obligations so to do which brings me in the Second place to consider who are principally oblig'd and concern'd to be Zealously Affected against those dangerous Sins 'T is certainly reason sufficient why we shou'd be zealously affected against publick Vices that we are Christians Professors of that Religion which exacts the highest degrees of Holiness from our selves and requires us to be Zealous and Industrious in reclaiming others from their evil ways and in promoting Religion and Reformation of Manners in the World But sometimes particular Obligations arising from our Stations and Circumstances here are superadded to those which Christianity lays upon us which must be various as our Capacities and Conditions are I shall therefore mention several ranks of Men who are principally concern'd in this Great Work and are bound with more than ordinary Diligence and Zeal to apply themselves to it The First I shall name are the Ministers of Religion those who are Dedicated to the immediate Service of GOD to Preach his Word Administer his Sacraments and attend at his Altar And certainly we who are Embassadors from Christ for this very end and purpose to beseech Sinners to be reconcil'd to GOD to whose Service we are solemnly set apart by the imposition of Hands and Prayer we who are Messengers Watch-Men and Stewards of the LORD Titles of great Dignity and Honour and expressive of constant Diligence and Labour we I say shou'd oppose Vice with a very active Zeal and with unweari'd application shou'd encourage all proposals for Reformation of Manners and lead the way to others in putting them in Execution Shou'd like GOD's Ministers in Heaven be a Flame of Fire burning with Zeal so refin'd and pure that like theirs it may never fail so strong and vigorous as may spare indeed the Sinners but entirely destroy their Vices The Reformation of Mens Manners in order to the Salvation of their Souls is the end of our Preaching and all our Labours and shou'd we not animate those good Men who have avow'dly enter'd the Lists against Wickedness since we have reason to hope that thereby our Work will become more easie and delightful and that more encouraging successes will attend our Ministry the most difficult obstructions such publick Vices are being happily remov'd Nay shou'd we not bless GOD for exciting a Spirit of Piety and Religious Zeal amongst us that there are any in this degenerate World who have a true concern for Religion and Virtue And don 't all such deserve our Countenance and Encouragement our greatest esteem and tenderest affection And shou'd we not chearfully pertake in all their Difficulties and Dangers as we hope to share in their Rewards and Glory 'T is usual to complain of the Corruptions of the Age but complaints hardly ever work a Cure Our discourses may be passionate against prevailing Sins and yet those Sins continue to prevail the most Guilty being seldom our Hearers and when they are not regarding what we say It is fit then it is necessary that we use Arguments of another Nature and punish those who are proof against all Perswasions that with Stripes and Blows we make those Deaf Adders move who stop their Ears against the Voice of the wisest Charmer make those feel the coercive power of Humane Laws who impiously violate the Laws of GOD. We call our selves Successors of the Apostles and Prophets and such undoubtedly all Lawful Ministers are And shou'd not that one consideration inspire us with their Diligence their Courage and their Zeal That so we may oppose Prophaneness as Elijah did Idolatry and with the resolution of St. Paul Reason of Righteousness Temperance and Judgment to come But shou'd there be any so Complaisant for Wickedness so Cowardly and Mean as to be afraid or asham'd to disturb it in its antient Possessions must they not Blush when Surrounded with a Cloud of Witnesses of their own Order of Apostles and Bishops and Pastors who were not only Preachers of Righteousness but Reformers of Manners Who did not think they had discharg'd their Duty by saying some handsome things against Vice buâ— being acted by a Holy Zeal were particular and warm in Advices vehement in their Expostulations and bold in their Reproofs While Men were wicked they pity'd them they pray'd for them but never made them their Intimates and Companions They treated them as their Patients whose recovery they heartily endeavoured but never by Flattery and Compliance encreas'd their Distemper I hope in GOD there are few or none among us guilty of these Faults so disagreeable to their Character and prejudicial to Religion the contrary I think is apparent that those who are most remarkable for their Piety and eminent for their Stations in the Church do further and encourage all prudent designs for suppressing Vice and restoring Piety to its just Glory But if there shou'd be any who have so far degenerated from the Zeal of their Primitive Predecessors as to be negligent and remiss in this important Concern and if some shou'd be so among so many 't is not at all to be wondred at nor any reasonable Objection against our Church for such this Address is intended and that sufficiently justifies the plainess of it since sure I am they need it Secondly Next to the Ministers of Religion the greatest Obligations of being Zealously Affected against publick reigning Vices lye upon Magistrates upon those who are invested with Authority and Power And that it is the Duty of Magistrates with great Courage and Impartiality to suppress and punish all Wicked Practices is plain from several Intimations of it in Holy Scripture As that Rulers are not a Terror to Good Works but to the Evil. And if we do that which is Good we need not be afraid of the Power but shall have praise of the same That he is the Minister of GOD for good and beareth not the Sword in vain and is a Revenger to execute Wrath upon him that doth Evil. Rom. 13.3 4. Again we are commanded to be subject to Governours who are
appointed for the punishment of Evil Doers and the praise of them that do well 1 Pet. 2.14 From all which it appears what sort of Persons Magistrates shou'd be to evil works they shou'd be still a Terror and the Sword of Justice they shou'd never bear in vain Upon them that do Evil 't is their Duty to execute Wrath but good Works they are to Encourage good Men they are to Support and Praise 'T is for this end that they have Power given them over others by him from whom they originally derive their Commissions all Power being Ordained by him for by him Kings Reign and Princes decree Justice and therefore his Service they shou'd constantly perform and study the Vindication and Promotion of his Honour Besides the Suppression of Wickedness and Vice is one great End of all Magistracy and Government because thereby that which is its sole end the publick Peace and Safety is effectually attain'd and secur'd For it is inconsistent with the Publick Safety to suffer Wickedness to go on unrestrained Wickedness I say which has a natural tendency to Confusion and Disorder endangers the Peace and destroys the happiness of Society For the Natural Consequence of this must be the entire Ruine of Religion and when that is gone and Men are under no Tyes of Conscience have no regard for GOD believe not his Providence and are under no apprehensions of his just Indignation what Villanies then must be every where committed What Feuds must continually arise betwixt Governours and Subjects the one being Tyrannical and the other Rebellious What security can Men have for their Lives or Fortunes when Perjury shall be no longer dreaded as a Crime What an Emblem of Hell must this World become Criminals being too numerous too big to be Corrected when those who by their office are supposs'd to be Guardians of Virtue by their Practice will appear Patrons of Impiety Nay the resemblance will hold not only in the Worlds Wickedness and Confusion but Misery too since Vice Countenanc'd by the neglect of Magistrates must needs exasperate the Wrath of Heaven and bring down heavy Judgments on those Nations where it is allow'd to thrive where warm'd and nourish'd by Connivence But surely Magistrates cannot neglect the Execution of the Laws against Immorality and Prophaness upon such easie Terms as some of them if we may judge by their Practice imagine since when they enter upon their Office they are Sworn to Execute and Maintain those Laws after their Wit and Power with equal respect to Poor and Rich and therefore every wilful Omission of their Duty is a Violation of a Solemn Oath and adds a new Perjury to all their other Crimes And what a sad account shall such Men have to make at the Day of Judgment Must they not be rank'd with Judas and such other Wretches having betray'd that Religion they were oblig'd to defend and protected those Vices they were commanded they were sworn to Suppress And how happy wou'd it be both for them and us did all our Magistrates consider and act agreeably to the great Trust repos'd in them Did they with united Counsels and Endeavours put a stop to Vice and not commit those Crimes themselves they were commanded to punish in others How wou'd all the Blessings of Heaven and Earth flow down upon us And what a happy change wou'd their Zeal and Courage soon produce Vice wou'd sneak and not dare to shew its Deform'd Face Men wou'd be asham'd of their Wickedness and tremble for fear of a Discovery but never dare to Glory in it and all their deeds of Darkness wou'd retire and shun the Light And certainly a Faithful Magistrate is a Publick Blessing He 's the most useful Member of the Common-Wealth the best Patriot of his Country and to his Prince a most Valuable Subject He deserves all the Honour the present Age can give and while the Name of some shall Rot Generations to come shall call him Blessed And Praised be GOD's Holy Name such Magistrates are not wholly wanting among us there are some even in this City who upon all proper Occasions express a generous Zeal against Lewdness Immorality and Prophaness and have been glorious Instruments in restraining those Crimes which were usually committed with a daring Impudence Magistrates who are Zealous for their Masters Honour and protect and encourage those who are active and forward in his Service whose actions are agreeable to the end for which they were appointed the Punishment of Evil-doers and Praise of them that do well The Merit of such Excellent Men challenges the most publick and grateful acknowledgments which the Friends of Piety can pay and next to the great GOD of Heaven we shou'd be loudest in the Praises of these Ornaments of Magistracy Supports of Virtue and Zealous Promoters of Reformation And I 'm very confident they shall never want a more valuable benefit than Commendations the sincere and constant Prayers of all good Men for their temporal and eteranal Happiness And I trust that the same GOD who has begun a good work in them will continue will improve and bring it to perfection That he will so animate and assist them that they shall never grow weary in well-doing nor think any thing a trouble wherein GOD and Religion are concern'd And others will I hope be influenc'd by these Examples to walk in their Steps and immitate their Zeal That so all our Magistrates may enjoy the invaluable satisfaction which doing good to the World does here afford all may be intitl'd to a Glorious Reward in Heaven Whatever particular Obligations lye upon Magistrates to be Zealously Affected against Prophaness and Vice do likewise respect the Nobility and Gentry 'T is true they are not all Sworn to Execute the Laws yet Honours and Estates are conferr'd upon them by the Sovereign Proprietor of all things that they may be qualifi'd thereby to be the more serviceable to the interests of Piety and Religion These Gifts of Heaven are Talents for which they must render an account to the Great Donor of them And if they improve them to his Glory and the good of Mankind If they will not decline expence nor trouble to destroy Vice and make Religion prosper then they answer the intention of Providence and shall be able to give an account of their Stewardship with Joy They shall entail lasting Blessings upon their Families and secure endless Glory to themselves Nay they will silence the Clamours of Malice and Envy since few won't rejoice at the greatness of those who make all their privileges subservient to Piety and Virtue A Third sort of Persons who are concern'd to be Zealously Affected against those dangerous Sins are Penitents Those who having heretofore been engag'd in sinful Courses are by the Grace of GOD delivered from their Bondage and restor'd to a better Mind 'T is a common observation that Penitents are more Zealous than any others against Sin And indeed ther 's a Natural
cause of their Anger is the Penalty they suffer the manner of the Information only a pretence Let them Swear on and take no notice of their Oaths and they will be very modest in their Censures of Private Informations I suppose then it will be granted that Private Informations are just if they are true That which makes an Information unjust is the falshood of it And whither Informations shou'd be Publick or Private is rather a Consideration of Expediency than Justice There are some Cases in which Private Informations ought not to be allow'd there are others in which they are highly necessary The reason why in most Cases Informations ought to be Publick is to prevent and discourage Perjury and Revenge For if all Informations were to be Private and the Informers never known nor punish'd when they deserv'd it then no Man cou'd be secure either of his Fortune or his Life But if none of these ill Consequences can attend Private Informations against Swearing if they are no Encouragement to Wilful Perjury and at the same time are highly necessary to suppress that Sin which is the Original Cause of most Perjuries taking off all Reverence for GOD and an Oath if the Case be so then I think such Private Informations are very free from Injustice Now to be Convinc'd of this I wou'd have you consider that whoever knowingly Perjures himself to Injure another must be suppos'd to do it either to procure some Temporal Advantage or to prevent some great Evil or to gratifie his Passion of Revenge It argues the most Uncharitable Savage Temper to believe that any Man will go deliberately about the Sin of Perjury without any Motive Inducement or Temptation That he will at the same time dishonour GOD wrong his Neighbour and contract the Guilt of a very Heinous Sin himself and yet gratifie no Passion by it neither excite any hope of Reward nor remove any fear of Punishment nor calm any Violent Resentment And yet this is really the case with respect to Private Informations against Swearing The Informers are to have no share in what the Swearers are forc'd to pay Nor are the Magistrates further concern'd than to Execute the Law The Money is wholly for the use of the Poor Nor can the Poor be wrong'd of what they are thus Intitl'd to unless there be a Confederacy of the Informers and Magistrates of the Ministers Church-Wardens and Over-seers of the Poor to do it And as none are tempted by Rewards to Perjure themselves neither are they mov'd by Fear They suffer no Penalty if they do not Inform none will be angry if they forbear but they will be sure of Hatred if they do 'T is true there is one sort of Fear has some influence upon them And that is the Fear of the Great GOD of Heaven They are under too great an Awe of that Infinite Beeing not to bring those to Punishment who dare Prophane his Name Then as to Revenge that can never be a motive with our Informers to be Guilty of Perjury having no Personal acquaintance with most of those against whom they do Inform and having never receiv'd the least Injury from them Some I know will be apt to say that many even True Informations proceed from Malice and Resentment from Quarrels and a Revengeful Spirit And certainly of all Men Common Swearers have most reason to believe that they will meet with the Effects of other Mens Displeasure since they must be Conscious to themselves that by their Rage and Passion they have often not only affronted GOD but provok'd their Neighbour And no Man will pity them if this be sometimes their own case nor can that be Condemn'd as Revenge which goes no farther than the Execution of a just and reasonable Law But there is no great ground among us for this Uncharitable Observation the most Diligent Informers being freest from Revenge and who wish the Guilty Persons no greater harm than Repentance and Reformation Yet suppose it shou'd be so that Malice or Revenge were at the Bottom of some Informations of such every good Man will say with St. Paul in another case so Swearing be suppress'd whither it be done out of Strife or good Will I do rejoice yea and will rejoice Phi. 1.15 'T is true when a Mans Life or Estate is at Stake it is reasonable he shou'd be Publickly Try'd and Confronted with his Accusers and it is a great Excellency in our Law that it râ—quires such Publick Tryals so that no Man shall be Condemn'd without being allow'd to make his Defence But when a Pecuniary Mulct is all the Punishment to be inflicted on a Swearer for a Sin hateful to GOD and Man he is intitled to no such Favour The Laws against Swearing are just which in other Cases wou'd seem severe That Sin has no Temptation to Extenuate its Guilt and therefore the utmost Rigour of the Law is but too gentle a Punishment for it And indeed it is very plain that our Law-Makers design was that Swearers shou'd be treated after another manner than most other Criminals because by the Statute against Swearing the Oath of one Person is sufficient to make them lyable to the Penalty of it And that it was their intention that the Informers shou'd in many cases be kept secret at least that a discretionary power shou'd be lodg'd in the Magistrate to conceal them when he saw a reasonable cause of so doing we have reason to believe from hence because they cou'd not but foresee that the constant discovery of the Informers must needs discourage many from Informing and prove a great Obstruction to the due Execution of the Law if not render it entirely useless Besides Private Informations are much more allowable against Swearing than in any other Case that can happen For he who Informs against a Swearer proceeds upon very different motives from those who Inform against Felons or Traytors or are Witnesses in Disputes betwixt particular Men. In cases of Felony those who are injur'd Prosecute the Felon and spare neither Expence nor Trouble to find out the Truth They will invite Men to a Discovery by Proposals of Reward and can compel those who may be otherwise unwilling to declare upon Oath what they know And the same Methods are taken in all Disputes at Law In Cases of Treason Honours Preferments and Estates are promis'd and liberally bestow'd to Encourage Informations And 't is necessary it shou'd be so the publick safety being so nearly concern'd But they who Inform against Swearers have no Rewards to Tempt them nor are they compell'd by any Fears From Men they suffer nothing if they do not Inform they gain nothing if they do And are acted only by a Generous Zeal for the Honour and Serviâ—e of GOD. 'T is hard I confess if not impossible for Laws to be so contriv'd but some way or other they may be perverted and abus'd but in the Case now before us I think the Question is not whither
in great Variety of Passions it appear'd in his Hatred his Joy and in his Grief In his Hatred Psal. 26.5 I have Hated the Congregation of the Wicked and will not sit among the Ungodly In his Joy Psal. 122.1 I was glad says he when they said unto me we will go into the House of the LORD He was glad to see Piety prevailing among others and that the Motion of going to the House of the LORD shou'd come from any besides himself But the greatness of his Zeal chiefly shew'd it self in his Grief a truly Zealous Man meeting with many more occasions of Sorrow than Joy from others And therefore the Psalmists Language is sometimes very Mournful Psal. 119.136 Rivers of Waters run down mine Eyes because they keep not thy Law And again vers 158. I beheld the Transgressors and was grieved because they kept not thy Word 1 King 18. How Zealous was Elijah against Idolatry He boldly Reprov'd the King of Israel and destroy'd the Priests of Baal tho he was no Stranger to Jezabels Revengeful Spirit Nay he appeal'd to GOD himself that he had been very Zealous for the LORD GOD of Hosts Neh. 13.15.21 Nehemiah is a Noble Example of Zeal and Courage fit for all Christians but chiefly Magistrates to follow He Contended with the Great Men of Judah for Prophaning the Sabbath He did not modestly pass by their Faults out of respect to their Quality nor gently touch as if afraid to hurt them but oppos'd all abuses of the Sabbath with great Zeal and Resolution and at last effectually suppress'd them tho very general and prevailing The Time wou'd fail me to mention all the Prophets Apostles the Primitive Saints Confessors and Martyrs who have been Eminent Examples of a fervent Zeal who valu'd not Ease nor Fame nor Life so they might propagate the True Religion and effectually discourage Impiety and Vice A Zeal which Conquer'd the World and all the Powers of Darkness to which nothing was too difficult to be done nor too grievous to be suffer'd in so Glorious a Cause If we observe but the single instance of St. Paul we cannot without amazement Reflect upon the many Persecutions Calamities and Afflictions the many Perils by Land and Sea from his own Country-Men and Strangers from open Enemies pretended Friends and false Brethren which his Zeal embold'd him to meet and enabl'd him to bear But behold we have a greater Example of Holy Zeal than he and that is the Son of GOD and Saviour of the World It was Zeal for the Reformation and Happiness of the World brought him down from Heaven and expos'd him to Poverty and Misery and Disgrace here below The same Holy Zeal made him boldly Reprove the Greatest among Men whilst he famiâ—iarly Convers'd with the Meanest made him Toil and Labour and go about doing Good even to those who made him the returns of Hatred for his Good-Will Out of Zeal for the True Religion he Unmask'd the Pharisees and laid open their Hypocrisie and brought upon himself the Hatred and Revenge of that Malicious Dissembling Sect. Nay his Zeal made him once lay aside the Lamb and with the Resentment as well as Authority of an Offended Judge Vindicate the Honour of GOD by Scourging the Buyers and Sellers out of the Temple So that with great Justice does the Evangelist apply that Expression of the Psalmist to our LORD the Zeal of thy House Jo. 2.15.17 hath Eaten me up But the most Stupendous Instance of Divine Zeal is the Blessed Jesus Dying to promote the Glory of GOD and happiness of Mankind We Honour the Zeal of those who are willing to undergo Trouble and run a few Hazards for Religion What then shall we say of the Zeal of our Blessed Saviour Zeal which Nail'd him to the Cross and Shed his Blood and made him yield up the Ghost Zeal which made his Soul all Gloominess and Horror depriv'd him of the usual Manifestations of his Fathers Love forc'd him to cry out that his GOD had forsaken him and in the bitterest Agonies of Soul and Body to expire This was wonderful Zeal indeed nay Zeal that wants a Name being beyond our Expressions and even too narrow Thoughts Yet such as shou'd strongly engage us to the exactest Imitation we are capable of and turn our whole Soul into Flames of Zeal and Love for him to whom we owe whatever we enjoy or hope for who even lay'd down his Life for us to Rescue us from Misery and Intitle us to Eternal Glory Such Examples of Zeal does the Word of GOD set before us the best greatest we can have even Patriarchs Kings Prophets and Apostles and above all the Great Captain of our Salvation the Holy Jesus And while we have these in view can any of us be cold and indifferent in that Service which is most acceptable to GOD the Promotion of Religion and Reformation of Manners In otheâ— Cases Examples raise a Generous Emulation they give us Courage to attempt the most difficult Undertakings and Constancy to endure the greatest Tryals And shall this be the single Instance in which we are not asham'd to be out-done by all Let us then blush and hang down our Heads when we compare our own Slothfulness with the unweary'd Labours of others and find our selves backward to meet with Difficulties and Dangers in a Service wherein so many have chearfully Sacrific'd their Lives But to these Primitive Examples give me leave to add one of this present Age of a Person Eminent for the Greatness of her Station much more for Piety and Goodness whose Memory we all Honour and whose Untimely Death we yet bewail I mean our late Excellent QUEEN whose Zeal for Piety and Religion seem'd to our-shine Her other Excellent Qualities She was not Diverted by the Solicitudes of a Crown from neglecting any Religious Duty Her self Her Example Recommended Piety to the World with all its Native Charms And in Her appear'd all the Majesty of a Queen with the Unaffected Humility of the Devoutest Christian. Nothing went nearer Her Heart than that Immorality and Prophaness She perceiv'd every where prevailing and nothing with so much Joy did She Encourage as what had a tendency towards Reformation of Manners Of which I need give but one Instance the Countenance She gave the Societies for Reformation in England For as we learn from a very Pious and Useful Book Intitled Pag. 8.9 An Account of the Societies for Reformation of Manners c. having this Affair laid before her in the absence of the King by a Prelate of Great Learning and Fame the late Lord Bishop of Worcester she had just Sentiments of it and therefore thought it became her to give it Countenance She Graciously condescended to Thank those who were concern'd in it and readily promised them her Assistance and afterwards upon Application made to her Majesty she was pleased to send her Letter to the Justices of Middlesex
for them is with Humility to own that even good Men are Frail and not above the Passions and Weaknesses incident to our Nature But now they who are truly Zealous against Prophaness and Vice must needs be sensible how Fatal our particular Controversies are to Christianity in general to Piety Virtue And therefore they cannot but pray for Unity with all the Fervour of their Souls and will spare no Pains to procure so inestimable a Blessing All prudent Attempts for Peace they will Encourage and Promote and submit to many Inconveniences rather than want it And if all Parties among us were thus Zealously Affected if every one laid to Heart our Crying Sins and consider'd our Divisions as and such sure I am they have been and are one Principle Cause of them How soon might we hope to see a happy Change How fast wou'd all our Disputes and Controversies Fall and Dye Then we shou'd soon behold what David pronounces so Good and Pleasant Brethren Dwelling and Worshiping GOD together in Unity and Peace And our Church below wou'd in all respects be a lively Emblem of the Church Triumphant in Heaven But farther Thirdly Our being Zealously Affected against Prophaness and Vice will if we continue and persevere in our Zeal lay a firm Foundation for a lasting Union among us because it will turn our Zeal into its true Channel and fix it upon its right Object and that is the Suppressing of known Sins and the Promoting of Piety and Virtue and Reformation of Manners It is very certain and much to be lamented that many both Members of the Establish'd Church and Dissenters also are more Zealous for their particular Opinions wherein they differ than the great things of Religion wherein they agree This is manifest from the Practice of both Thus we find that those who seem warm for the Establish'd Constitutions shall be esteem'd and valu'd by others of the same Principles tho Guilty of many Irregularities in their Lives And the Case is the very same among the Dissenters Those who are hearty for their Interests and firm to their Party shall be Caress'd and Celebrated for their Zeal tho in many things their Practices are Immoral Now of this I can assign no other Reason but that the Zeal of both Parties has been unhappily Diverted from things of the greatest to those of little importance in comparison of the other And not only so but mightily inflam'd by the Artifices of our Common Enemies It has been the constant Endeavour of those who study'd our Ruin strongly to engage us in Contentions about the Out-side of Religion and our minds were kept in such a constant ferment and hurry by these Differences that we cou'd not observe at least did not sufficiently consider it how Atheism and Infidelity Irreligion and Vice were entering in at our Breaches We were like the Unfortunate Inhabitants of Jerusalem during the last Dreadful Siege who were more Violent against one another than the Romans the avow'd Enemies of them all But now were our Zeal once Vigorously Employ'd in beating down Vice and Prophaness were our Warmth and Industry in that great Affair answerable to the moment of it then our Passions against our Brethren wou'd cool of themselves and our Resentments gradually abate and at last be quite extinguish'd Our Wounds wou'd no more Fester but Close and Heal. And we wou'd Love and Value Men not according to their Engagements to a Party but their Zeal and Concern for Virtue and Holiness and all our Endeavours we wou'd Unite against the Enemies of Religion in general the Vicious and Prophane And that our Zeal against Vice were it strong and Active as it ought to be wou'd be attended with these happy Consequences is what we will easily be convinc'd of if we consider that our Faculties are so imperfect that they cannot with any degree of Intenseness be exercis'd at once upon different Objects and that as any one of our Passions whither Love Hatred or Anger encreases towards one Object it must abate with respect to all others If our Passion is divided upon several Objects it must act weakly upon them all if confin'd to one it is Strong and Violent As Rivers whatever they gain upon the Land of one side lose proportionably of the other and if their Waters run in one Channel they are impetuous and with a mighty Torrent force their way but when separated into many Streams they glide insensibly along Now 't is easie to apply all this to the Case before us So long as we were warmly engag'd in Disputes about Modes and Ceremonies Postures and Garments us'd in Religious Worship it was not in our Power to be so Zealous against Prophaness and Vice as we ought to have been our Zeal was so exhausted by the one that we had too little to spare for the other But now that our Zeal begins to be better employ'd to turn into another and better Channel our heat about other things will by degrees wear off and a Holy Zeal against Impiety and Publick Wickedness succeed in its room And when ever by the Blessing of GOD this is happily Effected will we not be apt to look back with Wonder upon our former Disputes and Quarrels and be surpriz'd that we shou'd be Angry with one another when so many Publick Sins needed all our Zeal and Indignation and Endeavours to Suppress them Nay I am inclinable to hope that we shall resemble the Happy Lovers in Heaven that all our Peevish Mistakes shall be chang'd into Inviolable Love and Friendship into the highest degrees of Endearment and Affection And this we have no reason to despair of if we consider in the Fourth and Last place that our being Zealously Affected against Prophaness and Vice will Intitle us to the Blessing of GOD without which no Concord no Unity can be attain'd Many have wondred considering the favourable Opportunities we have often had which Invited the Establish'd Church and Dissenters to an Union considering especially how much our Interest and Common Safety call'd for it that it has not yet been Effected I will not pretend to judge where the fault lay or whence it came to pass that all endeavours hitherto us'd to Unite us have miscarry'd Only it may be in general observ'd that our want of true Zeal for GOD and Religion our great Ingratitude for the many Mercies of Heaven and that Corruption of Manners which almost universally prevail'd every where all these I say depriv'd us of the concurring Influence of Divine Providence without which all Humane means are contriv'd and apply'd in vain we wanted that because we did not deserve it Unity and Concord were too great Blessings for a People who had made such ill returns to GOD for all his other Favours But let us at last become truly Zealous for Virtue and Religion and decline no Pains to Curb those Vices which have so long Triumph'd over both let it be our constant Study so to Execute the
Laws against Impiety that whoever dares be Wicked may yet be afraid of a Discovery Then may we look up to GOD and expect his Blessing upon our Endeavours Prayers for Union as well as Reformation Let us but qualifie our selves for it and with great boldness we may say LORD speak the Word and thy Servants shall be Healed And shou'd the goodness of GOD so far bless our Zeal as at once to make it the means of Suppressing our Vices and Curing our Divisions what reason wou'd we have with all the Ardours of the Heavenly Host to Praise and Adore the Divine Clemency and Mercy Love and Peace as among them prevailing every where Piety and Religion gaining Proselites every Day and none daring to be openly Vicious or Prophane These are I own too great Blessings to be fully expected in this World yet we shou'd not distrust GOD's Power nor question his Goodness Great things have succeeded very slender and discouraging Beginnings And it is agreeable to the Wisdom of Providence that it shou'd be so least we shou'd vainly ascribe that to our selves which is wholly due to GOD. But it is not we alone who shall receive all the Benefit of this Holy Zeal for it not only Promotes Unity and Peace among our selves but will be a means of Propagating our Reform'd Religion among those who are Ignorant of it and prejudic'd against it For how comes it to pass that the Reformation for above an Age has been almost wholly at a stand or rather declining And if it has any where gain'd Ground it has in other places lost more whereas at the Beginning it carry'd all before it and nothing cou'd oppose its Conquests The best reason of this that I can give is that the Piety and Zeal the Purity and Stedfastness of our first Reformers Charm'd and Subdu'd their very Enemies They were all Eminent for Holiness and Goodness for Charity and Zeal for Constancy and Patience But now there 's a fatal reverse of things we are fallen into many of those Sinful Courses which heretofore were peculiar to the Church we left Our Zeal has sensibly decay'd Piety Flourishes not among us as it did among them nor is the Reformation of our Lives answerable to that of our Faith But yet if the Spirit which acted our Reformers did again revive in us it wou'd still produce as considerable Effects 'T is very true that the Prejudices which those of the Church of Rome have Suck'd in their Education against us are great and strong yet Exemplary Holiness and Prudent Zeal wou'd in due time perfectly overcome them These wou'd Command Respect even from our Bitterest Enemies and effectually convince them of the Excellency of our Religion did they see so good Fruits of it in our Lives This is the shortest and surest Method of dealing with them for after all that can be said by way of Argument yet that will always be thought the best Church which makes the Best and Holiest Christians And unless our Practices be much better than theirs they will never believe that our Religion can be so We may boast of the Purity of our Faith and Worship and upbraid them with the Superstition and Absurdity of theirs but after all the prevailing Arguments must be the Innocence of our Lives a hearty Zeal for the Honour of GOD express'd in a Vigorous Prosecution of all that 's Vicious and Prosphane These are sensible Arguments and carry along with them powerful and lasting Convictions these the most Ignorant can Comprehned yet the most Learn'd cannot resist Sixthly and Lastly The most prevailing Motive of all and which if duly weigh'd wou'd not only excite and inflame our Zeal but preserve it always Vigorous and Strong is the Consideration of its exceeding great Reward And that with respect to both Worlds in this it affords us the truest Satisfactions and Intitles us to extraordinary degrees of Glory in the other As to this World if there be any such thing as Satisfaction in it any thing exempted from that Vanity and Vexation of Spirit wherewith the Wise-Man has charg'd the whole Creation It does it must consist in the pleasing Reflections of our own Minds upon the good we have done to Mankind by Suppressing Prophaness and Vice and Encouraging Piety and Virtue This is a Pleasure Rational and Noble proper for him who is made after the Image of GOD A Pleasure which stands the Test of Fruition and can never Cloy but daily gives the Soul a grateful Relish of some new Delight A Pleasure which abates our Troubles and qualifies our Pains which blunts the Edge of Sorrow and calms the Disorders of the Soul which inspires us with Courage at the Hour of Death takes away its Sting and deprives it of its Terrors And with what a generous bravery may we expect our end if we have been Instrumental in Advancing Religion among Men If we have liv'd to so good purpose that any one Vice has been lessen'd by our Endeavours and Zeal That one Thought will refresh us more when in a Languishing Condition or on a Dying Bed than the Grandure of Princes or Riches of the World What a Satisfaction must it be to a good Magistrate when about to render an Account of his Oâ—â—ice to the Great King of Heaven to consider that he has been Faithful to him that appointed him has Justly and Impartially Executed the Laws against all sorts of Wickedness To a good Minister When ready to appear before the Great Bishop of Souls that he can Reflect upon his Sincerity and Zeal and Courage in the discharge of his Duty That Vice he still oppos'd And consider'd neither Interest nor Reputation nor Safety when his Masters Service call'd for him To a Sincere Penitent when he looks back upon his Life since his happy Conversion That he made all possible Attonement for his former Injuries to Religion by bringing more to Repentance than he had formerly led astray To all those who make Religion their Business and Reformation of Manners their constant Study To remember how Active how Constant was their Zeal what Labours and Troubles they underwent what Slanders and Calumnies they bore to Punish and Restrain Wickedness and Vice to Maintain and promote Piety and Virtue Such Thoughts as these will wonderfully Support Good Men when they have a near view of Eternity will Relieve their Languishing Spirits and Raise their Dejected Heads and Comfort their Departing Souls But neither the Joys nor Sufferings of this present World are worthy to be compar'd with the Glory that shall hereafter be Reveal'd There are Glories reserv'd for good Men beyond any thing we can conceive or know And of these extraordinary degrees belong to those who are Zealously Affected always in good things To those who with great Industry and Application Promote Reformation of Manners For since that is a Service particularly pleasing to GOD the Reward that attends it shall be proportionably great And GOD will Honour above others