i IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-S) iii«tt»« r JIO. 1' REFORM OR RUIN: TAKE YOUR CHOICE' IK WHICH €:|)e Conlma of i^t Mxi%, THE PARLIAMENT, THE ' MINISTRY, THE OPPOSITION, THE NOBILITY AND GENTRY, THE BISHOPS AND CLERGY, eSc. C3c. &c. IS considered; AND THAT REFORM POINTED OUT, WHICH Alone can/ave the Country, LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. HATCHART/, (From Mr. Payne's, the King'i Mcw'i Gate,) MO. 173, riCCADILLY, OPPOSITE BURLIN ftTOM-HOVSS« (LATE MR. WHITE'S.) 1797. _ /o -.f. i--^ r R tpiff^^l REFORM OR RUIN: Take Your Choice, m 'j/^w't I AM a freeborn Briton and an independent man; I have no place or penfion; never was at courtj nor ever intend to go there. I know neither the minifters, nor thofe who oppofe them. I have a right to think and fpeak for myfelf, and will do fo; and I call upon all true Britons to hear what I have to fay, and then judge for themfelvcs. This country has often been in great danger, but never in greater tVian now. Thoufands of our countrymen have perilhed by the fword, and ftill more by difeafe. B Millions /- !' . -^» w#W Ntf' '* l' -^J » " Wi p > ^ %, ' .^ ( 2 ) Millions and millions of money have been fpent. Even our public credit, of which wc boaftcd fo much, has been fliaken. Stocks never were lower. Our debt never was fo great. Our tars, of whom we were fo proud, have made our hearts akc. And fo have our fellow fubjcfts in Ireland. - I allow we have had great fuccefs. We have taken many fmc iflands and colonies from our enemies. We have beat their fleets whenever we could find them; and taken or deftroyed half their navy. And what is very remark- able, fcarce a fliip of war of our's has been taken; and not one foot of Britijh land has teen lo/l, in any fart of ihp viQrld. I admit alfo, that our enemies are more diftreffed than we are. That the French are the moft wretched people under the fun. Their king, their queen, and all the royal family, have either been put to d€ath, or driven into foreign countries; and fo have their nobility, and the greateft and belt part of their IWi; 1 have been f which we n. Stocks :vcr was fo e fo proud, b have our s. We have es from our ts whenever 3r deftroyed cry remark- ir's has been land has been ;s are more : French are er the fun. ill the royal o d^ath, or and fo have J beft part of their ( 3 ) their clergy. A valt number of pcrfons of all ranks, men, women, and children, have been beheaded, fhot, drowned, ftabbedand poifoned. Many have fled, and dare not return ; and of thofe who remain, a great part have loft their property, and all the comforts and conveni- ences of life. Religion, law, order, and good government, feem at an end amongft them. In Spain, the cafe is not much better. Being divided into two parties, one betrayed the other to the French, who compelled them to declare war againft usj and the confequcnce is, they have been beat moft dreadfully, and if they dare, would cut the throats of all the Frenchmen in their country. - The Dutch are ftill worfe off. Their trade is deftroyed; their colonies are in our hands; the French have drained them of their money, their goods, and almoft every thing they had. And by French troops placed in all their ftrong towns, they are forced to fit out fliips to B 2 figl^t :t :| ■>f a '» ■ ".»* ■ ( 4 ) fight afiaintt us, when they had rather by half fight for us. * u < . . But what arc we the better for all this ? In fpite of the dreadful things that have happened to our enemies; in fpiic of all the conquetts \vc have made, and the fliips we have taken; what is our itate at this hour ? We are threat- ened with Invafions and infurreaionsj we are loaded with debts and taxes; we are divided and weakened by parties; we are funk in gloom and dcfpair. And yet, that French fleet which was intended to invade us, was difperfed, and the objc6l of the expedition compleatly defeated ; a body of troops which aQually landed, were inftantly taken prifoners. The aBs paffed againft feditious meetings; feemed to fupprefs them. The merchants and traders fupported our tottering credit. A plentiful harveft put an end to a want of corn, which came very near to a famine. And let any man travel from one end of the ifland to the other, with his eyes open and his ears fliut, and he will fee every mark of plenty and pro- j^'iyiii'ii^^"^' ' '■^■-' '■^-■*" TfTS'll er by half 1 this ? In ; happened : conqueft$ ive taken; are threat- is; we are ire divided ■e funk in jat French de us, was expedition oops which n prifoners. s meetings; ;rchants and credit. A ant of corn, E. And let he ifland to and his ears f plenty and pro- ( 5 ) profperity; every village flourinung and im- proving, and every field in a better ftatc, and producing more than it ever did before. But let him take the fame journey with his eyes fhut and cars open, and he will hear many perfons talk of nothing but grievances, and op- preflions, war, mutiny, and ruin. . n r Now what is the meaning of all this? How comes it to pafs, after all our wonderful efcapes, after all our glorious viQories; in the midft of fo much plenty and fecming profpe- rity ; that we not only think ourfelves upon the brink of ruin, but perhaps really are fo ? ; The anfwer is plain and ihort.—We are not reformed.— A thorough reform would fet all right, and reftore us to peace and happinefs. But what is that reform which will do this great good? To anfwer this queftion is my objcd in writing.— Some think, a reform in parlia- ment will alone be fufficient; and that reform to confift only in the members being chofen in a different manner. Some are for leflening the power of the crown. Some for abolifhing tithes. !ji:it« ■ . ( 6 ) tithrs. Some for making an immediate peace with France. Some (though they have not courage to fpeak out) are for eftablifhing a re- public, on the French plan. AU thefe, except uie laft, are paltry, partial reforms, which can do little good, and may do much mifchief. If every man in the kingdom had a vote for a member of parliament, what would be the con- confequence ? Why each member would be chofen by a mob. And whom would a mob choofe? Why the man that made the loudeft fpeech, and the largeft promifes. And who would this be? Why he that having neither property nor charaBer to lofe, was ready to fay any thing; in order to get into the houfe, in hopes of being paid for breaking every promife he had made. As to leffening the power of the crown, we have tried that already, and therefore can judge what the effea would be. Every body knows, that no man can govern ten millions of people, without fome power. And if he has not lawful power enough to govern them by ; either ( 7 ) cither he wont be able to govern them at all, and then there can be nothing but confu- fion and mifchief; or elfe, he muft govern them by unlawful means. And I appeal to any man of common fcnfe, whether it is not . better, that a king fhould govern according to fixed and fettled laws, whi '.h are known to all the nation; than by undue influence, briliery, corruption, and the like? I ^ . But fay fome — reform the church, and abolilh tithes. I hope to fhew prcfently how the church ought to be reformed; in the mean time I will only fay, that unlefs it be reformed, and fpeedily too, it is all over with us. But as to abolifhing tithes, I fear that wont an- fwer J for I truft not in wrong and robbery. Befides, remember what the Devonfhire farmer faid at the meeting. He afked who were to have the tithes when they were taken from tiie parfons; and being told they would be the landlord's; then, faid he, I had rather they ihould bide as they be^ (or I can always deal .-■^ better ""-'■fel"4- C 8 ) V better with the parfon, than I can with my landlord. H»; m i-i % 1 r As for a republic on the French plan, we may excufe thofe who wifh for it, if they are rather fhy on the fubjeft; becaufe if they were not, they might be in danger of a rope. For my part, I really do not wilh for it; ift, becaufe (as I faid before) I have no faith in wrong and robbery, and a king has as good a right to his crown, as I have to my cottage. adly, the people here dont feem to like a republic. 3dly, I never yet read of a republic that I Ihould like to live under. And 4thly, one may buy gold too dear. It was faid the French revolution would make the French nation free and happy. But it has now gone on for feven or eight years, and produced confufion, oppreffion, cruelty, poverty, all forts of mifchief and wickednefs, and no good whatever. And if we are all to have our throats cut, that our grandchildren may - ai«&.Mitim*iitm mSth rtw llfliwnir ■ iw i^' ii i i '^ i V I >i i L iw i niy 'i ii Bi^ w . ii nu i n l ^ i Jnj » ]i i ,W i J ■vVi' i iffm i-'ki ( 9 ) may be free and happy; I think that is buying gold too dear. I truft I have now (hewn that none of the above plans will anfwer our purpofe. Let us then try to find one that will. But that I may not be taken for a quack doQor; before I pre- fcribe the cure, let me try to find out the caiifcy of our prelent unhappy ftate. And in order fo to do, let us take a fhort view of all ranks of people in this ifiand, and let us begin with thehigheft. Of the king, if I knew ever fo many bad things, I fliould be cautious how I mentioned them; becaufe I have no inclination to be hanged or tranfported. Bui, in truth, I know no harm of him. His private life every body fays is good. And, I think, his public conduft has been good alfo. He has been guilty of no cruelty or oppreflion that I know of. In the courfe of his long reign, our liberty has been iwcreafed and feculred. He has encouraged arts andmanufaaures; and promoted learned C and 1"' li If'! m I I. i! •*«jp n^^ pi HHI I f "I mm i 'iv ; ir i^ ( lo ) and ingenious men. So that I believe we may fairly call him one of our vcMy bell kings. Having no niore defire to fee the infide of Newgate, than to try the air of Botany Bay; I fhall be cautious in what I have to fay about the parliament. It has paflcd many good laws. And though there have been fomc tlrong ones of late, I am afraid the times re- quired them, and that our conftitution could not have been preferved without fuch. I will however beg leave to afk two or three ihort qucftions, and let thofe whom the cap fits, wear it. ' When the law forbids bribery, can it be right to bribe ? . When a man undertakes to afcl for others, can it be right to negleft his truft ? When afting for others, ought we to confidcr their intereft or our own ? „ . As iTiih'iWiir'tii'Ti'KW*""'' '' ' ' ' '^' ""' -^.^11 i-» f^j », v ^ifie ^ i mAmwmmm "^..it ve we may »f^ l m '& ii m imil^^ ( 13 ) do, than is commonly fuppol'ed. Yet if St. Paul were among them, I think he would work harder than any of them, and adopt fome ftronger mcafurcs to bring back to their duty, fuch clergymen as have defcrted it. For, (forry I am to fay it) though you will find many among the lower clergy who do their duty, and take care of their flocks; yet you wiirfind too many alfo, who negleft both, and fper.d their time in public places; in dancing or card playing; or dangling at court or clfewhere, in hopes of preferment. If fuch believe in a day of reckoning; I can only fay, they have a fort of courage which I have not. Among the lawyers, merchants, traders, farmers, and others engaged in bufinefs; we find many honeft, generous, and charitable men; and many dilhoneft, profligate, or co- vetous chara6ters. But do we not find almoft all of them, as much engrofl'ed by worldly bufinefs, or cares, or amufements, as if they were to live here for ever ? *o .^ K- ■ Laftly, If IS f iif mi' m m fi ii'mwi^w.wwr''"' I ( H ) ' 1,3(11)% look at the lower clyfTes, And though (after due allowance for their little m- flruaiou and few advnnt.ic;cs) they arc perhaps Icfs guilty than thofe of hij<><-'- rank ; yet are they as honeft, fober, and induftrious, as they ought to be? Are they ready to obey thofe who have a right to command them? Do they fpend all they earn, in feeding and eloath- ing diemfelvcs and their wives and families? and do they earn all they can? Are the Sundays fpent at church, or at the alehoule ? abroad, in bad company, or at home, with their faraUies ? Do they inilrua their children themfelves, or accept with hearty thanks, thofe inRruaiom which are provided for them by the bounty of tbcir neighbours? mtiMu. Having now turned our eyes on the various claffcs of which this nation is compofed; can we be at a lofs to know what that reform is, which our cafe requires ? furely no. It is as plain, as plain can be, that the reform we want, and the only reform which can fave us, and which certainly will favc us if adopted in time; A THO- is. 'ryT4 i 'iT i M'> ! ji ili| l i» ■»^Bi!p^a l i imm wsmt . ( ^5 ) A THOROUGH REFORM OF PRI N C 11' I. Ci AND PRACTICES, AMONG ALL RANKS OK PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE KINGDOM. Let the king and queen continue to fct an example of piety, regularity, fobriety, and conjugal fidelity to their children, their fcr- vants, and all their fubjeas. Let them drive from their councils, and their court, all adulterers and adultrcffes; all gamblers; all, in fhort, whofe charaBers are notorioufly badj of either fex, and of every rank. Let them avoid even innocent amufements, if liable to produce immorality among others ; which, alas! is too often the cafe. " Oh hard condition, twin-born with grcatncfs ! " What infinite lieart's cafe muft kings ncglecl, " That private men enjoy '. " I, can take my Sunday evening's walk; chat with my neighbours, and view the beauties of nature, and no harm done. Eur if my gra- cious fovereign could fee but a fmall part of the i ( 16 ) the confufion, iJlcncfs, diunkcnncfs, dif- regard of the fabbath, and other incalculable ill cfFcBs, which arc produced, not only in \\-indror atul Eton and the whole neighbour- hood; but even in his capital itfelf, by his merely appearing on Windfor terrace; how gladly would he give up for the good of his people, that heartfelt fatisfaClion which he has fo often felt, « from reading his hillory in a nation s eyes." Let every member of parliament, whether peer or commoner, refica on the awful truR committed to his care, and attend diligently to the execution of it. Not merely when a political difpute arifes, but conftantly and uni- formly. Let no aa receive its fiat, without a ftria fcrutiny into its merits. Let them revife, curtail, and methodife the whole code of ftatute law; whofc bulk and confufion is fuch^ that I fear we may almoft lay, « Mole ruit fua." If but a fmall part 'of that time, and thofc talents, which are watted in long-winded ha- . , rangues. ■\ nwi'o*'*' ( »7 ) rangues, and bitter difputations, were thui applied; our laws would acquire clearnefs, precifion, and vigour. The number, the length, and the cxpeijce of our fuits, would no more be the reproach of our nation. Imagin- ation itfclf can hardly embrace the variety and the magnitude of the national benefits, which would be thereby produced. ;-;',i-u r- Lctthofe, to whom the adminiftration of the executive government is committed, learn by dear bought and fatal experience, that their own arm cannot fave them ; and that human laws and human power can avail nothing, without, found principles and pure morals; and let them therefore without delay, bend the whole force of their talents to the reformation (jfthefe. . . ,i; . ' As for thofe who from motives of perfonal j ambition, advancement, or gain; from private ' pique, or party prejudice, or any other finifter motive whatever; are roady to facrifice the public good, to their private views; it is \ D vain ^6)!Mltttgii£&iSSMA»fJs, . tl ( 18 ) vain to ^valle words on them, tbclr confci- enccs inull be feared Nvith a hot iron. To tbofe on whom Trovidcncc has bcftowed rank, or honour, or wealth, or any other ufe- ful talent; and who have not quite forgot, who is the giver of all good gifts. I next ad- drcfs myfelf: earncftly entreating them, to .vithdraw their minds for one moment from all ocherparfuits; and to confider, their own ntu- ation and that of their country, and of the rurrounding nations. Where are now the rank the honours, and the wealth of France; ,fFianders.of Holland, and of Italy? And ^ ^here muft thofe of Britain ftiortly be ; .f V\heir polVeflors will neither take warnmg fron. the fate of others, nor from the judgments of heaven, juft ready to fall on their own heads? It is yet in their power to fave their country and theirown fouls; butnot a moment muft ^c loft Let them inftantly quit the dice-box, tb" turf and the tavern ; every vieked and every trifling employment; and repair each to bis proper ftation. Let them reform hrft .4t«« «< nn » « V n W ''i'-aa^ '* * « iii> fa> ^ yr be ; if ling from Tments of vn heads? r country nent mull dice-box, ickcd and lir each to form, firll them' ( i9 ) ihcmfclves, their cxj)Pnccs, their wives and children, their fcrvants and dependents ; and then exert all their influence, as landlords, as magiftratcs, as friends, and as neighbours ; en- couraging and protetling the fober and iiic'.viC- trious; difcouraging and punifhing, with can- d«ur but with vigour, the lawlefs and profligate. Few of thofc to whom I am now fpeakmg, are aware how much mifchief they occaUon, mere- ly by being in a wrong place ; or how much good they mujl do, if they would only (lay where their lot has fallen. It was the obft-rva- ^ion of a man of much good fcnfe and experi- ence ** That if every gentleman would rcfidc on his eftate, and every clergyman on his living, we (hould need no other reformation." Let thofe then who fly to towns and cities, to public places, or foreign countries, in fearch of paltry amufements; or under a falfe pretext, or at beft a miftaken notion, of repairing their fliattered fortunes; no longer think themfelve* guiltlefs. Numberlefs are the ways in which their country is injured by their abfence. If refident at their family feats, their example, D 2 their I-; 1^ ( 20 ) their influence, their fortune, every talent they poficis, difpenfes bleffings on all around them. In any other place, they almoft una- voidably do milchief, by adding to the number of thofe, whom the vicrs of cities inevitably corrupt. ' ; < •; - * ..-ril-ii!- ■-'! «;*<- But if purer motives cannot prevail, let pride plead the caufe of patriotifm. It has been often faid, that an Englifli country gentleman is the firtt charaaer in the world ; and truly when we view him feated in the manf^on of his ancellors; furrounded by his family, his rela- tions, his fervants, his workmen, his tenants, and his neighbours; all in their due proportion partaking of his hofpitality and benevolence ; 'where fliall we find a more enviable objea ? But merely fliift the fcene, and place him in a ' dirty lodging, in one of the long and gloomy ftreets of the metropolis— where now are his honours, his iniluence, his refpeaability? All vanifhed and gone. He becomes at once a mere cypher, without ufe or value. His next neighbour knows him not. And that income, ; i which v^ N>> ' ri|>i t * i »ip p « Wi.i >i> in ii ' i» V i» i S ' i» w> »p » rtii ' i» ' -htf " »ii| - i . f 'v " '^ '' ff >J" 'f y' ' It income, which ( 21 ) which before procured him and others fa much foiid and fubftantial comfort, will barely fupply what are deemed the neccfi'ary orna- ments and amufcments of life. Meantime, his fervants are tainted with the vices of the town ; and it is well if the morals even of his wife and daughters are preferved uninjured. Their health certainly is not. Then the fea is or- dered. A paltry lodging at Brighton fuccceds a paltry lodging in London. His manfion- houfe is deferted in fummer as well as winter. Habits of indolence are acquired; perhaps habits of a worfe kind, if worfe can be. : and he who was the fupport and ornaincnt of a confiderable diftrift ; the fond parent, the in- dulgent landlord, the hofpitable neighbour, the liberal benefaftor, the refpedcd magiftrate, finks into ufelefs infignificance and contempt. Abandoned by their owners, our villages might ftill have fome hope left ; if they were not alfo abandoned by their pallors. By thofe whofe bounden duty it is to take rare of them, and whofe breach of duty has this aggravation, - ^r\ ' , :-- \.'"- that A ( ij ) tot not by dcfcen.. (as in the fom.r ca.c), but by their own fokmu acceptance, th. duty attached. Farbeitfrommetofpeakd.fre- fpcafully of dK clergy. I reverence their Ledonice. nookuptoth=ma.to.hemoa pious, the moll learned, and the moft ufefu clafs of all. As individuals, they muft o course vary; and .bile fome are ably and ddigentlyverformingtheir duty, others alas. notovioully neglca thcir's. ,t has too long been the falfc and Ihallow ■ policy of irreligious and worldly minded m.n,- Irs; to deprive the clergy of the exerce of thofe rights, .hich they received not from .„,„; and which n.an therefore cannot take from then,. It feems almoft forgotten tn thefe days of novelty, when every thing ancent and venerable is defpifed; that Chriftians are a ,,,„,.r/oa.,. formed "yCht-ah.™ elf, undr ,u,ers and officers appointed by h.m w«h au,hori.y to appoint others to fueceed them And thus our prelentbimops and clergy der,ve thcir authority by regular fucceffion from A» ^■>m » m ' m\: r calc), lis duty k difre- :e their the moll [I ufeful muft of ibly and ers alasl d {hallow ied mini- xercife of not from nnot take :n in thefe ncient and ians are a ielf, under him, with ceed them, crgy derive n from him to ( 23 ) to whom all power was given : and who, if he had feen fit, could have inverted them with temporal authority alfo : but this he did not. On the contrary, he and his apoftles every where, in the moll explicit terms, enjoin all Chriftians to fubmit like others to their lawful governors. In temporal matters, therefore, our bifliops and clergy poflefs only fuch powers as are given them by the laws of this land. But in all fpiritual concerns they derive their authority from him, by whom kings reign; and are bound to exert it for the benefit of that body over which they are appointed. With all pofliblc deference, I fubmit it to the confideration of our governors, both in church and ftatej whether any fociety can long flourifli, or even exift, without regulation and reform ? and whether the church of Eng- land can form an exception to this rule ? I earneftly entreat them to confider the prefent ftate of religion and morals in this kingdom. To confider how impoflible it is for human laws to coerce a people who have loll all fenfe ■^s«ij^i!ftfei.-; _^,y , iiH.,i<-s of confciencc ; and "t'O, con '^ f Tto from no cnme.s b"t f-h .^ '"^""Lb*>*e,awofO:c.a„d;and ot corrupt p ^^^^^ ^^^ „,. Whatever maybe the leiu • , it furely mull be admitted, that tn qu.ry ; it lure.y parochial • ^ ihp rLfidcnce ot oui v enforcing t»e reuu ^ inaifpcnfaWy requifite ; that clergy, i- "^'"'l' ^ j,, all; nU for uncommon excruu. umcs caii loi e,ccU,-yi..bore,.o.avc*eae f^^^^ • ■ i,.c nnd our morals, ^cvti """"Tdlef—'^-f^'---'^'"^ ^"T" L c efs. DO other po«rs «crt -wilh more iucceib. Twelves as n,uch to counteraa then,? Trea tn.fedif,on. and n>uth,y have appeare.-^ - „e: .a« have- been n,ade to prevent >. „,h ■ and «c all feci, and nioft of us ae- „t adulterv, gaming, fabbath breaktng. negl=a „er!a„d tnd,llerence about rebg.on.tfelf.Pje_^ t d s tl tl V V b l-_~- - . u .. .^glMiSbg» "a-asta ti wtt; '" i ii in< M i ' i(i> L 1 an in- tbat the parochial that the I in all; re of our ■ did the ; more, or vers exert ;m? Trea- eared, and :vent their ; of us ac- it. But do ing, neglea luke warm- Vilfe^f> P'"^- vail, ( 25 } Vail, to a degree unknown in any former age? to a degree which feems to portend the era- dicating Chriftianity in this quarter of the world ? And where are the laws againft thefe ? Shall I be told, that there are fuch already^ in our ftatutc books ? The fame was faid as to the laws againft treafon and fedition; but by whom was it faid ? Was it by thofc who wilhed to prevent fuch crimes ? or thofe who, by their writings and fpceches, had encourager^ them ? In the name therefore of that God who made us, of that Saviour who died to redeem us, and of that bleffed Spirit, who is ever ready to aflift our weak but fincere endeavours- I call on every bifliop, prieft, and deacon, who has devoted himfelf to the fervice of God in the church of England; to lay afide every avocation, and inftantly to exert his utmoft powers, in the prefervation of our holy re- ligion. So fhall he fave many fouls from death, an-* .ude a multitude of fins. £ If ■; * t_l:~s:l>^Ah.lift4^ > ( «6 ) ,r.„y lawyer., mcchants, or oAcrs engaged ,„.J,ybun„cf. can fpare time and *oush. Lone Lous rcMion, let .hat rcUca,on be :;„« .beir account «,n ftand a. the day . ,„cl.™ent' Ho« they will then anrwer, for Cng joined "night to day, and S..-^.. to r • «f Tod that portion ot their to the fcrvice ot C^oa, uiat j , , >, Land thoughts ..hiehhedain,. and J. c.aim(if.heyhaveaJullfenfe,e,therofthe,r .elpola, or eternal .nterea) they wdl never more refift. inow^imtoaddrefsmyfelftoalltbein. --"'-^'-trit-rcr^x::: :l their da,ly bread by their datly labour You, n,y fellow countrymen, whether you In": it or not, have fouls to heaved, and luft live for ever, in another world, and be le rewarded or puninted as you ha« be. P i flr i ffJirai a f i iitfiW ' nHi^ ii. x-wWisplCT ill the in- ^ to thofc To thofe but mull ily labour, heiher you faved; and r\d; and be u have be- haved ( 27 ) haved well or ill in this life. Even here, if you behave ill, you will fufFer for it; and if you behave well, God and good men will affifl: you. If you are idle, do you not want bread? If you arc drunken, do not your wives and children fuffer ? If you are diflioneft, do you not lofe your charafters? If you are honeft, and contented, and diligent, do you not find you are happy? By being happy, I dont mean that you have every thing you want; or that you have no ficknefs or forrow. That is fuch happinefs, as does not fall to the lot of any body in this world. Whatever you may think, the king upon his throne has more cares and vexations, than you have. Many and many a night, when you are found afleep, he and his minifters are hard at work, for you, and me, and all of us. And the cafe is the fame with the great and learned. Some of them indeed, like fome o^ you, negleft their bufinefs, and wade their time in idlenefs and vice. But others work as hard or harder than you; and their work is of a worfe fort. Your's preferves your health, while their's dejlroyi their E 2 health iMi I ( a8 ) health and fhortens their lives. God has To ordered it, that in this life, no man ihall be compleatly happy ; but that moll men (let their fuuation be what it will) may be tolerably happy, if it be not their own fault: and every man may be complcatly happy for ever in another world J and the fame means which will make him happy in another world, will commonly make him comfortable in this. , «a n- Let us then inquire what thofc means arc.— They may be cxpreffed in two fliovt words BE GOOD. .,; _ . - God who made all things, has fo made them, that it is impoffible for a bad man to be happy. He has given us laws, and has promifed to re- ward us if we obey them^ and to punifli us if we do not. He commands us to love and fear him; to pray to him; to believe in Jefu* Chrift his fon; to honour and obey the king and all who are in authority under him; to fubmit to our mafters, and all lawful governors, Tp refpea God's minifters, his f^bbath, an4 .^SSS'- ■ > t iii«i' I ifters and ry, feldom f in doing )out, or in f ordered, , nor our id that we -ing to all the clergy taxes; and y can meet vitb ( 3i ) with them? By thefe, and many fuch things, they fin at once againfl the laws of God, and the laws of this land. Who is there that always docs as he would be done by? that never fpeaks ill of his neighbour? that never tries to deceive, or defraud, or over-reach another? How common arc drinking, lewdnefs, gamb- ling, and above all, profane curfing and fwcar- ing, which gives no pleafure to any man, and is fo offenfivc to God ? How many who are able to earn a comfortable living, will not work, but live in dirt and rags, wandering about the country begging and ftealing? How many never thank God for any thing, are never contented, but grumble and complain, even when nothing ails them, and they are not in want? And what makes all this the more unpardonable, is, that we are not funk in igno- rance, as manv nations have been. We have the Bible in our hands, or at leaft in our houfes; and might read it if we would; and if we would read it, we could not fail to know our duty. But the truth is, mod of us kn(ym our duty, but wont do it. Is it any wonder then. ( 30 then, that Cod who is juft, fliouUl punifh us for this ? He has given us luch good things a.^ no other nation ever hadj ior I defy any nan, to name any people, in any part of the world, in any period of time; that ever enjoyed fuch great llcfinsi and advantage^ as we now do, or very lately did. We have the free excrcifc of our religion, our pcrfoni and property are alfo free. We can go ^vherc we will and do >.hat ve mW. And fo long as we do not injure others, nobody can injure us without being puniQiable for u. •We live in a land of plenty ; and the poorcU perfon in it that is fober and frugal, eats better bread, and lives in a better habitation, than thole of higher rank in tnoft other countries. Shew ntc the land befides this, where the labourers . ever eat white bread, or live in fuch comfor- table cottages. Shew me any perfon in this ■ ifland, who does not live better than his father did- unlefs he is idle and prolligate. We complain that bread, meat, and other things are dear, and fo they are ; but what is the caufe of it? inifh us lings at tny man^ mid., in ich great , or verv religion, ec. We ve will. 5, nobody ale for it. \t poorcO ;ats better than thole :s. Shew labourers h comfor- bn in this V his father rate. We r things aie he caufe of it? ( 33 ) it ? Whv that pvcry body eaU more of them than they uled to do. If the poor lived on potatoes, on oats, on rye, on barley, or on rice; and eat no meat, (which is the cafe in the reft of the world), both bread and meat would foon be cheap. Not that I want them to live fo; by no means: I wifh they lived Uill better than they do; but what I want is this; that they fhould not grumble and complain, when they are better off than any nation under heaven. They would deferve all the wages they have, and more too, if they worked as hard by the day, as they do by the great; and if they carried all their money to their wives; but while they carry it to the ale- houfe, more wages would be a cvirfe and no bleffing. The conclufion of the whole is this. God has bleffed this country beyond all others. We have the beft religion, the bed form of government, and the mod plentiful land, of any people upon earth. But we have made f fuch ( 34 ) fuch a bad ufe of thcfe bleffings, that we are in gre?t danger of lofing them. We negka God, his fervice, and his day. We call our- felves Chriftians, but we hardly know what the word means. Few confider, that every man, who fays he is a Chriaian, fays as fol- lows:— I am the foldier and fervant of Jefus Chrift. I have renounced all fin and wicked- nefs, and all the vanities of this world. I have owned that I am a finner, and that I can only be favefl by the merits and fufferings of Jefus Chrift; and in order to receive the benefits of thefe, I muft repent of my fins ; I muft believe in Jefus Chrift i and I muft do what he has commanded. His commands are contained in the gofpelj I triuft therefore read that, in order to learn mvduty; and when I have learned it, I mfflfJrfflaithfuUy and diligent- ly—Oh my Countrymen! if we would do this, we fhould be fafc and happy and profperous. God would make a hedge aboutk us, and about ^11 we have ; and would defend us from all our enemies. We (hould no longer be divid- ed f.iu :A Mmit m im ta m e-' i^ we are negleft all our- w what L every ; as fol- )f jefus wicked- I have can only of Jefus nefits of I believe t he has :ontained Ithat^ in n I have . diligent- Id do this, rofperous. and about , from all : be divid- ed ( 35 ) ed and weakened by parties and oppofitions j for we fhould be all of one mind ; we fhould all fear God, and honour the King, and love one another ; and who would dare to invade us? Why are we then fo blind to our intereft, as to rejeft peace and profperity, when we might fo eafily obtain them ? If you love your country, if you love your wives or your chil- dren, if you love your/elves; reform your condua, before it be too late. The Judgments of God are in the world. They have fallen upon France, upon Flanders, upon Holland. They are ready to fall upon us. If we will not take warning, from all that has paft, and is now paffing, almoft at our doors j we have no excufe, and therefore no room to hope that we fhall efcape. But even if we could, what would it avail ? The Day of Judgment muft come, when every one who has not repented and reformed, will be condemned to fufFer the torments of Hell for ever. What thofe tor- ments are, we know not; and God grant we never may! but if there beany truth in the . Fa word ,. ( ( 3^ ) word of God itfelf, they are far greater, and more dreadful, than any thing man ever felt or can conceive. Kf Look down, O God of all mercy, on this Land. Open our eyes that we may fee thy Judgments hanging over our heads and ready to fall on us. Give us a juft fenfe of our guilt, and grace to amend our 'ives; and let our timely repentance make us fit objcBs of thy mercy, and prevent the deftruaion of our Nation. ^ Blefs thy fervant our King, with long life and peace. Give true wifdom to all thofe who have any fliare in the government of our country ; that they may fee and know, that neither our own arm, nor our own devices can fave us ; and may learn to look up to thee O God of hofts, for thine almighty aid. Give a double portion of thy fpirit, to the Biftiopsand Paftors of thy church; that they may JifW. ( 37 ) may devote tbeirjlelves entirely to thy Tervicc; boldly rebuke vice; and by their diligence and zeal, by the foundnefs of their doftrine andholinefs of their lives; may turn the hearts of this Nation, from the lulls of the flefh, the vanities of life, and the defire of earthly gain, to the knowledge and love of thee, and of the golpcl of thy fon. t Grant that thofe, to whom thou haft com- mitted wealth, or power, or learning, or any other talent ; may ever remember from whom they received them, and employ them for the good of all ; that fo they may give in their account with joy at the lad day. And finally wc befeech thee, to make us humble and peaceable, fober and diligent, juft and merciful ; pious towards thee our God ; loyal to our King, obedient to our govt mors, refpeftful to our fuperiors, and kind and affec- tionate to all men. That being protected by thy almighty power, we may pafs our time here in r i»M ] iiiBi«^ag * ■ "« ' " ■- ( 38 ) in peace and comfort j and be made partakers hereafter, of eternal happinefs ; through the merits and interceflion of our bleffcd Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift.— And let every true Briton fay, - , ^ AMEN. .■> .t^ .-., i lavi^r ' '..» . .... .... f. "-\J ;"yt; „- .■ -^VU ., , .•- ■-, fii-^i-JKi .■^^;i aislf?^i ■ ! . -.^o! i'Jid^ • i > POST ' .. r l^ma-^v ,i^ V akers li the d and true ^^^m ( 39 ) ^ > POSTSCRIPT. Should any one who has a fhare in the legiflature or government of this land, perufe thefe pages, let him reflea ferioufly how he can anfwer to God and his Country; for fitting tamely by, without attempting to reprcfs thofe grofs crimes, which, if fuffered to continue, muft bring us to deftruftion. If he wants re- folution, he is unfit for his'flation. Let him no longer fear the fcofFs of a few impious wretches; but uniting with other ferious and aftive men; and avoiding all heat and cnthu- fiafm on the one hand, and all luke warmnefs and timidity on the other : let them confider what are the reigning vices, and what the pro- per remedies; and at lead attempt to check them. 'OST- Adultery rages— and whilft our law gives large damages to the injured man, no atone- ment whatever is made to an injured God; nay both he and his law are infulted; for the adulterer and adulterels are let go free, and are cren ..TjBi«wa mm. I ( 40 ) even allowed to enter into unholy wedlock. By the Jewifli law (which was the law of God) they were both to die. Under the pure Chrif- tian difpenfation, ihall they not only elcape, but be put on a level with the virtuous? Surely the woman at lea ft, ought to be maiked with fome perfonal infamy ; and in no cafe be permitted to marry again. Gaming, though not perhaps fo direa an infult to God, is no Icfs pernicious in its cffcas. It feems to defy the exifting laws, and therefore calls for new ones. Becaufe of fwearing the land moumeth. Swear not at all. Above all things, my brethren, fwear not.— Such are the ftrong exprcffions of our facred code. How then can we hope to be excufed or pardoned, when we multiply oaths by every new law, till they are become almoft words of courfe; and have loft all that reverence, which was formerly annexed to them; and without which, they can only in- creafe our condemnation. A Cuftora- ' ■ 'i« H) l|p I ' 1 { 41 ) ■ A cuftom-hoiirc oath is already proverbial, and a tax oath is in great danger of becoming To. Were no oath adminiftered but in a public court, by the judge himfelf, and with the utmoft pofliblc folemnity; it would imprefs both the witnefs and the audience with a juft fence of its awful nature. In all other calcs, the figning a declaration of the truth of the evidence given, and the juftnefs of the punifh- ment to be incurred if it prove falfc; would be far more decent, and at leaft as efFcClual as the oath row adminiftered. Remember the fabbath day to keep it holy. In it thou fhalt not do any work, thou, nor thy fon, nor thy daughter, thy man fervant, nor thy maid fervant, nor thy cattle. Whofoever doth any work on the fabbath day, he fliall furely be EUi_to_death. Such is God's law. But what is our practice ? Look at our ftreets and roads; and fee them crowded, not merely with the carriages of the great ; but with ftages full of travellers, and waggons loaded with goods. Surely when we are diftrelfed for G new i C 42 ) new taxes, a heavy Sunday joll might belaid throughout ihe iiland , to check at Icaft if we will not prohibit, the grofs profanation of the Lord's day, that fertile fource of immorality. And if no public houies, excep.jn ns^on great roads, were TrfFercd to be open on Sundays, it would prevent fome murders, many rob- beries, and infinite mifchief. FINIS. --?■ laid we the lity. reat ays, rob- Ij ,jKJ/ w t f