Publick Worship; whether they run into it, out of a Pretence, that they do not Want Inftruction, nor Expect Improvement, by the Publick Miniftry of the Word, as if it were no Offence, to Neglect and Defpife thofe Miniftrations which God hath appointed, or, as if Their Skill in the Rules of Duty could excufe Them from the Performance of it, or, their mighty Knowledge of the Word could Cancel Thofe Obligations to the Publick Worship of God, which are Equally Incumbent upon the Learned, and Unlearned, High and Low, Rich and Poor, equally Incumbent upon all the Servants of God, who are Particularly caution'd against the Sin of forfaking the Affembling themfelves together, as the manner of fome is; or, whether they run into it, out of Sloth and Idlenefs, or, on account of engaging themselves in Temporal Affairs and Employments, or, for the Sake of Indulging Themselves in Luxury: For All fuch Perfons, whatsoever Fanciful Opinions they may mufter up in their own Favour, are Highly Criminal, and do Increase the Guilt, and the Dangers of the Nation. And,

And, not to urge any more Particulars, All Things whatsoever, which are Dedicated to God's Honour and Service, have a Divine Character ftamp'd upon Them, and whofoever Defaceth that Character, making no Diftinction betwixt Them and Common Things, and, much more, whofoeyer does Brand Them with Peculiar Ignominy, and makes the Dif dain and Contempt of Them, the Only Mark of Diftinction betwixt Them and Common Things, falls under this heavy Charge of Profanation; * Thou haft defpifed mine Holy Things They have put no Difference between the Holy and Profane, and I am profaned among them. And this Abomination is One Great Reafon of what follows, in the Close of the Chapter, Therefore have I poured out mine Indignation upon them, I have confumed them with the fire of my wrath. How great reason then hath a Nation, to be Earneft in the Deprecation of Impending Judgments, when 'tis Miferably Infefted with Profane, Open Affaults upon Sacred

* Ezek. xxii.

Things,

Things, with Writers, who Boldly Difclaim and Condemn, Despise and Ridicule the Pofitive Ordinances and Inftitutions of God. A Kingdom must be Infatuated, if such Appearances in it as Thefe, Wandring Stars fcattering their Baneful Influence upon it, fhould raise in it no Fears, Jealoufies, or Sufpicions, that the Defolation thereof is nigh.

What hath been hitherto obferved, relates to the Divine Law, and Divine Authority; But indeed the Neglect of putting Humane Laws in Execution, or, of exercifing Humane Authority, for Suppreffing of Vice and the Encouragement of Virtue, wherefoever fuch Neglect be Plainly Obfervable in any, even the Loweft Magiftrates, or in Perfons dignified with any, even the Loweft degrees of fuch Authority, is exceedingly Sinful, and the

4th, and Laft Thing which I fhall mention as worthy of our Sorrow and Abhorrence, and our Deprecations of the Publick Sufferings, which may be its Juft Recompence and Reward. And fuch a Concern for their Iniquity is fo far from

being an Infringement upon the Duties of Refpect and Honour to their Perfons, that, on several accounts, it ought to be Increased and Improved by the Sense of Them. Far be it from any Christian to derogate from the Authority or Dignity of Magiftracy, by Expofing, or Defcribing, or Pointing out, any of those Offenders who are vested with it; But far be it alfo from Him, to Neglect a Secret Difapprobation, in his own Mind, of fuch Iniquities and Corruptions, as fhall, at any time, Plainly appear in any of Them, or, to Neglect the offering up his Supplications, Prayers and Interceffions, on Their

Account.

Wholesome Laws, which amount to a fufficient encouragement of Virtue, and Restraint or Punishment of Vice, are the Blessing of a Nation; But the Neglect of putting them in Execution is the Curse of it. Let this fink deep into the minds of all Thofe, who are Qualified and Adorned with fufficient Power, and yet Unfaithfully neglect the Application and Exercise of that Power, to Guard God's Honour against all Open Attacks upon it, and to Supprefs

U

!

Suppress that Drunkenness, thofe Execrations, thofe Violations of the Sabbath, those various other Inftances of Profanenefs, those Blafphemies, and all thofe other Enormities, which Pollute the Land, and Therefore lay it open to the Fierce Anger of God; Let Them, in Due time, confider, how they would Hereafter bear the Punishment, or the Thoughts of having contributed to the Speedy Deftruction that may come upon us, Through thofe Vices, which it was as much within the Compass of their Power, as of their Duty, to have Difcouraged and Suppreffed.

'Tis Incumbent upon us, to Bewail Their Unhappiness and our Own, if they fhould Violate their Obligations; as well as to pray, that they may Fulfil these Obligations to execute Juftice, and to main

tain Truth.

What hath been faid, to Enforce That part of our Duty, which Relates to the Sins of our Brethren, amounts to This: Since the Corruptions of our Brethren are a Manifeft Dishonour to God and Religion, and a Just Occafion of God's redu