And I muft the rather make this humble and folemn Addrefs to them for a fpeedy Cenfure of these Papers, if there is any juft Occasion for it; and that at the fame time they would be pleased to put this Glorious Cause, that I have here represented with no more skill, in a better light, which, I conceive, would well become the most celebrated Writers of the Age to do, not only because Errors in general, as well as Difeafes, are better pre vented than cured after they are spread; but because upon a long Confideration and a full Knowledge I have had of the Undertaking I have treated of, and of the Steps by which it hath been carried on from the very Begin ning, I cannot but believe that the Virtuous part of the Nation, when it is laid before them, will conclude that there is abundant Reason for their Concurrence and Affistance in it, and will think that either the Happi ness or Mifery of this Kingdom may with great ground be expected from either the Success or the Difcouragement that these and others pious and juft Endeavours for a Nation nal Reformation meet with. My Business in the next place is to confider the Magiftrates Obligation to be diligent in the Execution of the Laws against Prophanenefs and Debau chery.

It will, I think, be allowed, That Government is of Divine Appointment, and that the Power of Magiftrates, whether it be that D

of

of the Supream, or that of thofe that are In ferior and Subordinate, is derived originally Rom.13.4. from God. St. Paul fpeaking of the Magi

Deut. 1.

16, 17.

19.6.

ftrate, fays, He is the Minifter of God to thee Rom.13.1. for Good. There is no Power but of God: The Powers that be are ordained of God. And Mofes fpeaking to the Judges of the People of Ifrael, fays, Hear the Causes between your Brethren, and Judge righteously between every Man and his Brother. Te shall not respect Persons in Judgment, but you shall hear the Small as well as the Great; you shall not be afraid of the Face 1 Chron. of Man, for the Judgment is God's. Take heed (faid Jehoshaphat to his Judges) what ye do; for ye judge not for Man, but for the Lord, who is with you in the Judgment. Wherefore now let the Fear of the Lord be upon you, take heed and do it: for there is no Iniquity with the Lord our God, nor refpect of Perfons, nor taking of Gifts. Thus fhall ye do in the Fear of the Lord faithfully, and with a perfect Heart. From whence we may, I think, conclude, without adding any further proof of what is fo generally confeít, that Magiftrates do act by God's Authority, are his Ministers or Inftruments, which he maketh what use of he pleases in the Governing the Natural and Rational World; that they are to Act for his Honour, and the Good of his People; and that He will call them to account for their Behaviour in this refpe&. Accordingly, for Kings, and for all that are in Authority, the Apoftle does particularly di

Ver. 9.

1 Tim. 2. 7, 2.

rict,

rea, That Supplications, Prayers, Interceffions, and giving of Thanks be made, that under them we may lead a quiet and peaceable Life in all Godliness and Honefty. For our King therefore, and all forts of Magiftrates, does it not behove us to pray, That God would be pleased to infpire them with Zeal for his Glory, and the Good of his People, and particularly to direct and affift them in this neceffary and moft weighty Affair of Reformation?

And as the Magiftrate's Power is primarily and originally from GOD; fo is the Office and Power of Subordinate Magiftrates immediately and vifibly conferred upon them as a weighty Trust, by their Prince, and their Country, which they have an Obligation to the faithful Discharge of, in their natural Allegiance and Fidelity; but this Obligation rifes yet higher; they are bound yet clofer to the faithful Discharge of their Office by a Solemn Oath, relating to their particular Truft; as well as by the Oath of Allegiance. Now the Obligation being thus great and various, muft, I think, neceffarily draw the dreadful Guilt of Perjury, as well as Breach of Trust, upon those, who being thus intrusted and ob liged to Execute the Laws, do wilfully neg lect to do their Duty: For a Justice of the Peace takes this Solemn Oath at his Entrance into that Office:

That in the County of in all Articles in the King's Commiffion to him directed, he fball do legal Right to the Poor, and to the Rich, after his Cunning, Wit, and Power, and after the Laws and Customs of the Realm, and the Statutes thereof made; and wherein he is first obliged to do Right, which regards very much the Punishment of Offenders, as appears more fully in his Commiffion; and this Equally reaches Rich and Poor. The whole County is affign'd in the Oath, as the Extent of his Jurifdiction, and therefore his Autho rity is not confin'd to a part; he is not tied up to act only in any leffer District of it; but is to iffue out his Warrants against Offenders upon Informations offered him by Perfons that live never fo remote from him in the County, or for Offences committed in any part of it; which, though 'tis fo obvious from the very Words both of the Oath and Commiffion, I thought fit to take notice of, left if we fhould have any Magi Arates that should think it too much to give themselves the Trouble to look into the Dif orders of any kind that are committed, even in their own Parishes, to fuppress them when they hear or obferve them any-where else, as Swearing and Curfing, for Instance, in BowlingGreens, Coffee Houses, and other publick Places; Drunkenness, Lewdness, and Prophanation of the Lord's-Day in the Taverns and Streets or that fhould unwillingly receive Informations from

from others of them, they fhould, in either of these Cafes, be tempted to think thofe worthy Magiftrates too officious, and take the Liberty to speak of them as fuch, who by inspecting into these Disorders, where-ever they hear of them, in any part of the County, and by giving Encouragement to those that bring them Informations of fuch Of fences (which will in confequence draw a more than ordinary Attendance upon them of fuch Perfons on this Occafion as live at a distance from them) will thereby make their Unfaithfulness in their Office the more remarkable. He is obliged to do Justice, according to the Laws, Statutes, and Customs of the Realm. He is not then to break the Laws himself, or to fuffer others with Impunity to break them. He is to discharge his Office according to his Understanding and Ability: But can any be fuppofed to be of fuch weak Abilities, as not to know that Offenders ought to be punished, when legal Informations are offered them, or when Offences are committed before them? If then any Magiftrates can difcourage thofe who are fo much Friends to their Country, as to bring them Informations against Offenders, can refuse to convict upon them, or can fee and hear one another break God's Laws, and the Laws of their Country, at their Diverfion, and their own Tables; What is more directly contrary to their Office and Trust? What

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