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So far as it is thus Proper and Natural for us, to Detest and Bewail the Sins of our Brethren, because, we, as well as Themselves, are Thereby in Danger of being vifited by Publick Calamity, in Danger of being Involved with them and by them, in a General Defolation; fo far, the Propriety and Obligations of this Duty do chiefly depend upon the Innate Principle of Self-prefervation.

But we are under Further Engagements to it, as it is the neceffary Confequence of that Love of our Neighbours Themselves, which is Indispensably required at our hands. Our Affectionate Concern for them, will conftrain us to Abhor and Bemoan those their Follies and Impieties, which muft carry them, through the National Punishment, if they should bring it upon us, into Endless Misery; whilft Others, who may undergo the fame Fate with them Here, fhall pass, through the Doleful Vale of Death, into a Glorious Life.

And there are, ftill Other, and Superiour Reasons, of this Duty, grounded upon the zealous Concern we are Bound

to

to have for God's Glory, which is the Ultimate end of the whole Creation. The Royal Prophet gives a Rule of Duty to Us, under this Pathetic account of his Fulfilling it Himself, in Both the parts of it, Deep Sorrow for the violations of God's Honour, and an Utter Abhorrence of them: Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy Law. + Do not I hate them that hate thee; and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? yea I hate them right fore; even as though they were mine Enemies. "Tis impoffible to be Warm in the Love of God, and to be Cool and Unconcern'd, under a Senfe of the Dishonour offer'd to Him, by our Brethren.

There is yet One Reason more of this Duty to be taken notice of, the Hope of its Acceptance with God, when 'tis added to a true Repentance for our own Sins. For when we are fo far from Efpoufing, or Approving the Prevailing Corruptions and Iniquities, that we cannot bear the very Thoughts of them; when our An

*Pfal. cxix. 36. t Pfal. cxxxix. 21, 22.

guish occafion'd by them is Pungent and Lafting; when our real Abhorrence of them introduceth, as it will certainly introduce, the utmost Opposition to them, according to our Circumftances and Capacities; when we Humbly acknowledge, that the fevereft Publick Judgments would be their Juft Confequence and Reward, and, when our Deprecations of fuch Judgments are Sincere and Fervent; we do, at once Demonftrate our Ardent Love of God and Charity to our Brethren, our Faith, our Sincerity, our Humility, our Affiance, our Zeal, Dispositions and Qualifications, which God, Principally, Requires, and must therefore be Highly Acceptable to him. And hence it follows, that if we should Happily Abound with Perfons, who do truly Deteft, and Bewail, and oppose themselves to, the Sins of the Times, and are therefore Adorned with All these Heavenly Difpofitions, we may reasonably Hope, that they, through the Interceffion of Chrift, may prevail for Mercy with God, that we Perifh not.

It is not for Man to Determine, or Imagine, what Number of fuch Holy Supplicants may fuffice to Avert the Wrath of God, that he may spare the place, for their fakes. But we are certain, from the Scriptures, that he Particularly Regards the Duties of fuch Faithful and Devout, and Zealous Servants, as Oppose themselves to the Iniquities of their Countrey; And Therefore it is, that, after he had charged the Jews with all their Abominations, before he Proceeds to execute his Vindictive Justice upon Them, he gives in this Observation, * I fought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and ftand in the Gap before me, for the land, that I fhould not deftroy it; but I found none.

In one In

ftance, He condefcended to Declare, what Determinate Number of Righteous perfons in a Government should fuffice, to Prevent the Deftruction of the Whole. And who would not Wish and Labour to be ranked in fuch a Bleffed Number? Who would not Crown his Repentance

* Ezek. xxii. 30.

for

for his Own Sins, with all the Effects of a True Sorrow for the Sing of his Brethren, thereby Contributing to Their Present Safety and Happiness, as well as his Own?

But if any man should fail, This Day, of Teftifying in his Heart, under the Prefence of God, the Searcher of Hearts, and Hereafter, in his Words and Actions, as Occafions fhall Require, his Abhorrence of any of the Sins, which Appear in the Nation, and Threaten to bring Mischief upon it; let him be well Apprized, how far he would be Anfwerable to his Countrey, if it should be Depopulated by a Monster, which he will not lend a hand to Destroy; how Properly he may be accounted a Partaker of the Sins, which he does not, Proportionably to his Power and Opportunities, Oppose and Discountenance, and not only fo, but which he does not fo much as Difapprove and Deteft; and, by Confequence, how far he may be Accountable for those Calamities, which National Guilt may bring upon us.

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