Lotfon, is to be lookt on as the Foundation (an Exemplary Life being supposed) on which all the other parts of the Minifterial Office may be well managed; and which he says will seem no hard matter to fuch as have a right fense of their Ordination Vows, of the Dignity of their Function, or the Value of Souls.

To the MAGISTRATES of all kinds, That they would make just Reflections upon that terrible and lasting Imputation that they do now lie under by His Majefty's Proclamation, (which is to be read Four times a Year in all Churches through the Nation) and the Addrefs of the late Honourable House of Commons to the King, of their being so great a Caufe of the Debauchery and Prophaneness of the Kingdom, by their ill Example and Negligence in their Office: That they would confider, as hath been obferved, how many Nations have been ruined, and Cities brought to a heap of Rubbish for their Immoralities, which the Magiftrates Vigilance might have prevented: That their Power comes from God, the Fountain of all Power; and that they are fuppofed to be entrusted with it for his Honour, and the Good of his People: That by their faithfully Executing the Laws against Offenders, particularly thofe that are made for the Honour of God, the Suppreffing of Prophaneness and Immorality; they are to be a Terrour to Evil doers; and in order to this, that they would

there

therefore remember,That as the poorest Wretch hath a Talent that he must render an Account of, they must expect one day, to appear at a Tribunal themselves, and give an Account of the discharge of their Oaths and Trusts, of the Employment of their Authority, and their other Advantages, and for the Deluge of Evils that either hath or may fall upon the Nation through their wilfull Neglect of their Duty; Luk.12.48. for our Bleffed Saviour hath told us, That unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required. And the Authour of the Book of Wisdom thus expreffes himself to this purpose; Wild. 6.1. Hear therefore, O ye Kings, and understand; learn ye that be Judges of the Ends of the Earth. Give ear, you that rule the People, and glory in the Multitude of Nations; for Power is given 3. you of the Lord,and Sovereignty from the Highest, who fhall try your Works, and fearch out your 4. Counfels, because, being Minifters of his Kingdom, you have not judged aright, nor kept the Law, nor walked after the Counjel of God. Hor5. ribly and speedily fhall he come upon you: for a fharp Judgment fhall be to them that be in high 6. Places. For Mercy will foon pardon the Meaneft, but mighty Men fhall be mightily tormented.

To the GENTRY and COMMONALTY of the Nation, that they confider, That tho' they have not the particular Oaths and Vows, the Truls and Authority of any of the Orders I have

I have mentioned, they have notwithstanding their Baptismal Engagements upon 'em, which they own when they come to the Holy Communion; and that if they would acquit themfelves as Chriftians, they must endeavour to be fuch in all their Relations; to behave themselves as good Magiftrates and Subjects, as good Citizens, and Members of their Community, as well as good Masters and Servants, good Parents and Children; but that they cannot be reasonably thought to be fo without having a Love to God, a Zeal for his Honour, or a Concern for the Welfare of their Neighbours, and of the Community of which they are a part; and that it may be doubted whether they can have either if they can contentedly hear, without any Concern, Men openly affront their God, bid Defiance to his Laws, go on with a full Career to Destruction, and bring Decay and Ruine upon their Country, which, 'tis evident, they may use proper and effectual means to prevent, as particularly by their giving of Informations of enormous Offences to the Magiftrate, (which I have in another place more largely infifted on) and which they have at this time fo fair an Opportunity to employ as is offer'd them by the Declarations of the Government, and the Affi ftance of fuch Bodies of Chriftians that are not only in and about this City, but that are spreading through the Cities and Corporations of the Kingdom. And do you think it difho

nourable

nourable for you to conceal any Offences that endanger the Government, or any Injuries that are done your Neighbour, when you can' do him right by the bare discovering of it to the Magiftrate? Is it reckoned an Act of Bravery to adventure your Lives in the taking of a Thief, or a Murtherer? An Act of Charity to prevent any Injury to your Neighbour in his civil Concerns, to hinder a Fool or a Lunatick from wounding of his Body, or deftroying his Life? And is not a fincere endeavour to prevent the publick Dishonour of the Name, the Day, and the Laws of God, by acquainting the Magiftrate with these high Offences, in order to the Suppreffing of them, as is done with general Approbation and Applause in other ordinary Cafes, when Men's private Rights, the Security of the Government, or the Welfare of the Nation is concerned, an honourable Work, and becoming Christians? Does it become a Soldier of Christ Jesus to fee' Him publickly affronted; to hear his Name and Wounds mentioned oftner in horrid Oaths and Execrations than in ferious Discourses; his Laws trampled on; and their Fellow-Chriftians to live in the open Commiffion of fuch Sins as manifeftly tend to bring great Calamities upon them in this World, to destroy their Souls, and draw down National Judgments, with out taking any kind of Notice of these things, and only for fear of meeting with reproachfull Words, or rude Treatment (which yet the

Ma

Magiftrate, if he hath a juft fenfe of his Duty, will not fuffer) from a hardned Offender, or the Advocates of Vice; from fuch whose Commendations a virtuous Man would be inclined to look on as a real Disparagement, and their Company a Scandal, and when, in the Discharge of what they justly apprehend to be their Duty, they may have, for their Comfort and Support, fome of the great Rewards of Religion in this World, the Approbation of their own Consciences, and of good Men, with the hopes of an Everlasting Reward on the other fide of the Grave? Can this be imagined to be a fignification of a Zeal for God, of cur lov ing Him with all our Hearts, &c. or our Neigh- Matt. 22. bour as our felves? Does this Behaviour a- 37,3839dorn the Gospel? Would the Christians of old have thought well of it? Or is it fufficient for us to call our felves the Difciples of the Bleffed Jefus, who went about doing good, without en- A&.10.38. deavouring, in any degree, to follow his glorious Example?

Herein then our Gentry and Commonalty feem to have a great Opportunity of furthering the Work of Reformation: But this is not all the Advantage they have, if the Laws that relate to Religion are upon fo many and fuch momentous Confiderations thus Zealously to be put in Execution, it is, I think, evident, that not only thofe Perfons that violate and contemn those Laws, but those that are unconcerned for, and difcourage the Execution

of