Latest / Sermons on Several Occasions, First Series / 054 - The Reformation of Manners

Transcript

054 - The Reformation of Manners · Sermons on Several Occasions, First Series

• 0:01
  Speaker 1: Section fifty three of Sermons on Several Occasions First Series.
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
• 0:10
  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: visit LibriVox dot org. Recording by Adrian Maskill. Sermons on
• 0:20
  Speaker 1: Several Occasions, First series by John Wesley Reformation of Manners,
• 0:27
  Speaker 1: preached before the Society for Reformation of Manners on Sunday,
• 0:30
  Speaker 1: January thirtieth, seventeen sixty three, at the Chapel in West Street.
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: Seven dials, Who will rise up with me against the
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: wicked Psalm ninety four sixteen. In all ages, men who
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: neither feared God nor regarded man have combined together and
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: formed confederacies to carry on the works of darkness. And
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: herein they have shown themselves wise in their generation, for
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: by this means they more effectually promoted the kingdom of
• 1:00
  Speaker 1: their father, the Devil, than otherwise they could I have done.
• 1:04
  Speaker 1: On the other hand, men who did fear God and
• 1:07
  Speaker 1: desire the happiness of their fellow creatures have in every
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: age found it needful to join together in order to
• 1:13
  Speaker 1: oppose the works of darkness, to spread the knowledge of
• 1:16
  Speaker 1: God their savior, and to promote His kingdom upon earth. Indeed,
• 1:21
  Speaker 1: he himself has instructed them so to do. From the
• 1:24
  Speaker 1: time that men were upon the earth. He hath taught
• 1:26
  Speaker 1: them to join together in his service, and has united
• 1:29
  Speaker 1: them in one body, by one spirit. And for this
• 1:32
  Speaker 1: very end. He has joined them together that he might
• 1:34
  Speaker 1: destroy the works of the devil, first in them that
• 1:37
  Speaker 1: are already united, and by them in all that care
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: round about them. This is the original design of the
• 1:44
  Speaker 1: Church of Christ. It is a body of men compacted
• 1:47
  Speaker 1: together in order first to save each his own soul,
• 1:51
  Speaker 1: then to assist each other in working out their salvation,
• 1:54
  Speaker 1: and afterwards, as far as in them lies, to save
• 1:57
  Speaker 1: all men from present and future misery, to overturn the
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: kingdom of Satan and set up the Kingdom of Christ.
• 2:03
  Speaker 1: And this ought to be the continued care and endeavor
• 2:05
  Speaker 1: of every member of his Church. Otherwise he is not
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: worthy to be called a member thereof, as he is
• 2:11
  Speaker 1: not a living member of Christ. Accordingly, this ought to
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: be the constant karen endeavor of all those who are
• 2:20
  Speaker 1: united together in these kingdoms, and are commonly called the
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: Church of England. They are united together for this very end,
• 2:26
  Speaker 1: to oppose the devil and all his works, and to
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: wage war against the world and the flesh his constant
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: and faithful allies. But do they in fact answer the
• 2:35
  Speaker 1: end of their union? Are all who style themselves members
• 2:39
  Speaker 1: of the Church of England heartily engaged in opposing the
• 2:42
  Speaker 1: works of the devil and fighting against the world and
• 2:44
  Speaker 1: the flesh? Alas we cannot say this, so far from
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: it that a great part I fear, the greater part
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: of them are themselves the world. The people that know
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: not God to any saving purpose, are indulging day by
• 2:57
  Speaker 1: day instead of mortifying the flesh with its affections and desires,
• 3:01
  Speaker 1: and doing themselves those works of the devil which they
• 3:04
  Speaker 1: are peculiarly engaged to destroy. There is therefore still need
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: even in this Christian country, as we courteously style Great Britain. Yea,
• 3:14
  Speaker 1: in this Christian Church, if we may give that title
• 3:16
  Speaker 1: to the bulk of our nation, of some to rise
• 3:19
  Speaker 1: up against the wicked and join together against the evildoers. Nay,
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: there was never more need than there is at this
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: day for them that fear the Lord to speak often
• 3:29
  Speaker 1: together on this very head, how they may lift up
• 3:32
  Speaker 1: a standard against the iniquity which overflows the land. There
• 3:36
  Speaker 1: is abundant cause for all the servants of God to
• 3:38
  Speaker 1: join together against the works of the devil, with united
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: hearts and counsels and endeavors, to make a stand for God,
• 3:45
  Speaker 1: and to repress as much as in them lies these
• 3:47
  Speaker 1: floods of ungodliness. For this end, a few persons in London,
• 3:52
  Speaker 1: towards the close of the last century united together, and
• 3:55
  Speaker 1: after a while were termed the Society for Reformation of Manners.
• 3:59
  Speaker 1: And incredible good was done by them for near forty years,
• 4:03
  Speaker 1: But then most of the original members, being gone to
• 4:05
  Speaker 1: their reward, those who succeeded them grew faint in their
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: mind and departed from the work, so that a few
• 4:11
  Speaker 1: years ago the society ceased, nor did any of the
• 4:14
  Speaker 1: kind remain in the Kingdom. It is a society of
• 4:18
  Speaker 1: the same nature which has been lately formed. I purposed
• 4:21
  Speaker 1: to show first the nature of their design and the
• 4:24
  Speaker 1: steps they have hitherto taken. Secondly the excellency of it,
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: with the various objections which have been raised against it. Thirdly,
• 4:32
  Speaker 1: what manner of men they ought to be who engage
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: in such a design. And fourthly, with what spirit and
• 4:39
  Speaker 1: in what manner they should proceed in the prosecution of it.
• 4:43
  Speaker 1: I shall conclude with an application both to them and
• 4:46
  Speaker 1: to all that fear God. I am first to show
• 4:50
  Speaker 1: the nature of their design and the steps they have
• 4:52
  Speaker 1: hitherto taken. It was on a Lord's Day in August
• 4:56
  Speaker 1: seventeen fifty seven, that, in a small company who were
• 4:59
  Speaker 1: met for prayer and religious conversation, mention was made of
• 5:02
  Speaker 1: the gross and open profanation of that sacred day by
• 5:05
  Speaker 1: persons buying and selling, keeping open shop, tippling in ale houses,
• 5:09
  Speaker 1: and standing or sitting in the streets, roads or fields,
• 5:12
  Speaker 1: vending their wares as on common days, especially in moor Fields,
• 5:17
  Speaker 1: which was then full of them every Sunday from one
• 5:19
  Speaker 1: end to the other. It was considered what method could
• 5:23
  Speaker 1: be taken to redress these grievances, and it was agreed
• 5:26
  Speaker 1: that six of them should, in the morning wait upon
• 5:29
  Speaker 1: Sir John Fielding for instruction. They did so. He approved
• 5:33
  Speaker 1: of the design and directed them how to carry it
• 5:35
  Speaker 1: into execution. They first delivered petitions to the Right Honorable
• 5:40
  Speaker 1: the Lord Mayor and the Court of Aldermen, to the
• 5:42
  Speaker 1: justices sitting at hicks Hall and those in Westminster. And
• 5:46
  Speaker 1: they received from all these honorable benches much encouragement to proceed.
• 5:51
  Speaker 1: It was next Judge Proper to signify their design to
• 5:53
  Speaker 1: many persons of eminent rank, and to the body of
• 5:56
  Speaker 1: the clergy, as well as the ministers of other denominations
• 5:59
  Speaker 1: belonging to the several churches and meetings in and about
• 6:02
  Speaker 1: the cities of London and Westminster, and they had the
• 6:05
  Speaker 1: satisfaction to meet with a hearty consent and universal approbation
• 6:09
  Speaker 1: from them. They then printed and dispersed, at their own expense,
• 6:14
  Speaker 1: several thousand books of instruction to constables and other parish officers,
• 6:18
  Speaker 1: explaining and enforcing their several duties, and to prevent, as
• 6:22
  Speaker 1: far as possible, the necessity of proceeding to an actual
• 6:25
  Speaker 1: execution of the laws, they likewise printed and dispersed in
• 6:29
  Speaker 1: all parts of the town dissuasives from Sabbath breaking, extract
• 6:33
  Speaker 1: from acts of Parliament against it, and notices to the offenders.
• 6:38
  Speaker 1: The way being paved by these precautions, it was in
• 6:40
  Speaker 1: the beginning of the year seventeen fifty eight that, after
• 6:43
  Speaker 1: notices delivered again and again, which were as often said,
• 6:47
  Speaker 1: at naught, actual informations were made to magistrates against persons
• 6:51
  Speaker 1: profaning the Lord's day. By this means, they first cleared
• 6:55
  Speaker 1: the streets and fields of those notorious offenders, who, without
• 6:58
  Speaker 1: any regard either to God the King, were selling their
• 7:01
  Speaker 1: wares from morning to night. They proceeded to a more
• 7:05
  Speaker 1: difficult attempt, the preventing tippling on the Lord's Day, spending
• 7:09
  Speaker 1: the time in ale houses which ought to be spent
• 7:11
  Speaker 1: in the more immediate worship of God. Herein they were
• 7:14
  Speaker 1: exposed to abundance of reproach, to insult an abuse of
• 7:18
  Speaker 1: every kind, having not only the tiplers and those who
• 7:21
  Speaker 1: entertained them the alehouse keepers to contend with, but rich
• 7:24
  Speaker 1: and honorable men, partly the landlords of those alehouse keepers,
• 7:28
  Speaker 1: partly those who furnished them with drink, and in general
• 7:30
  Speaker 1: all who gained by their sins. Some of these were
• 7:34
  Speaker 1: not only men of substance, but men in authority. Nay,
• 7:37
  Speaker 1: in more instances than one, they were the very persons
• 7:40
  Speaker 1: before whom the delinquents were brought, and the treatment they
• 7:44
  Speaker 1: gave those who laid the informations naturally encouraged the beasts
• 7:48
  Speaker 1: of the people to follow their example and to use
• 7:50
  Speaker 1: them as fellows not fit to live upon the earth.
• 7:54
  Speaker 1: Hence they made no scruple not only to treat them
• 7:56
  Speaker 1: with the basest language, not only to throw at them
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: mud or stones or whatever came to hand, but many
• 8:02
  Speaker 1: times to beat them without mercy, and to drag them
• 8:05
  Speaker 1: over the stones or through the kennels. And that they
• 8:08
  Speaker 1: did not murder them was not for want of will,
• 8:10
  Speaker 1: but the bridle was in their teeth. Having therefore received
• 8:15
  Speaker 1: help from God, they went on to restrain bakers likewise
• 8:18
  Speaker 1: from spending so great a part of the Lord's day
• 8:20
  Speaker 1: and exercising the work of their calling. But many of
• 8:23
  Speaker 1: these were more noble than the victuallers. They were so
• 8:26
  Speaker 1: far from resenting this or looking upon it as an affront,
• 8:29
  Speaker 1: that several who had been hurried down the stream of
• 8:32
  Speaker 1: custom to act contrary to their own conscience, sincerely thanked
• 8:35
  Speaker 1: them for their labor and acknowledged it as a real kindness.
• 8:39
  Speaker 1: In clearing the streets, fields and ale houses of sabbath breakers,
• 8:43
  Speaker 1: they fell upon another sort of offenders, as mischievous to
• 8:46
  Speaker 1: society as any, namely, gamesters of various kinds. Some of
• 8:51
  Speaker 1: these were of the lowest and biolist class, commonly called gamblers,
• 8:54
  Speaker 1: who make a trade of seizing on young and unexperienced
• 8:57
  Speaker 1: men and tricking them out of all their money, And
• 9:00
  Speaker 1: after they have beggared them, they frequently teach them the
• 9:02
  Speaker 1: same mystery of iniquity. Several nests of these they have
• 9:06
  Speaker 1: rooted out and constrained, not a few of them honestly
• 9:09
  Speaker 1: to earn their bread by the sweat of their brow
• 9:11
  Speaker 1: and the labor of their hands. Increasing in number and strength,
• 9:16
  Speaker 1: they extended their views and began not only to repress
• 9:19
  Speaker 1: profane swearing, but to remove out of our streets another
• 9:22
  Speaker 1: public nuisance and scandal of the Christian name, common prostitutes.
• 9:27
  Speaker 1: Many of these were stopped in their mid career of
• 9:29
  Speaker 1: audacious wickedness, and in order to go to the root
• 9:32
  Speaker 1: of the disease, many of the houses that entertained them
• 9:35
  Speaker 1: have been detected, prosecuted according to law, and totally suppressed.
• 9:40
  Speaker 1: And some of the poor, desolate women themselves, though fallen
• 9:43
  Speaker 1: to the lowest line of human infamy, have acknowledged the
• 9:47
  Speaker 1: gracious providence of God and broke off their sins by
• 9:50
  Speaker 1: lasting repentance. Several of these have been placed out, and
• 9:53
  Speaker 1: several received into the Magdalene Hospital. If a little digression
• 9:58
  Speaker 1: may be allowed, who can sufficiently admire the wisdom of
• 10:02
  Speaker 1: Divine providence in the disposal of the times and seasons,
• 10:05
  Speaker 1: so as to suit one occurrence to another. For instance,
• 10:09
  Speaker 1: just at a time when many of these poor creatures,
• 10:11
  Speaker 1: being stopped in their course of sin, found a desire
• 10:14
  Speaker 1: of leading a better life, as it were, in answer
• 10:17
  Speaker 1: to that sad question, but if I quit the way
• 10:19
  Speaker 1: I now am in, what can I do to live?
• 10:22
  Speaker 1: For I am not mistress of any trade, and I
• 10:24
  Speaker 1: have no friends that will receive me. I say, just
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: at this time God has prepared the Magdalene Hospital. Here,
• 10:32
  Speaker 1: those who have no trade nor any friends to receive
• 10:35
  Speaker 1: them are received with all tenderness, yea that they may live,
• 10:38
  Speaker 1: and that with comfort, being provided with all things that
• 10:41
  Speaker 1: are needful for life and godliness. But to return. The
• 10:46
  Speaker 1: number of persons brought to justice from August seventeen fifty
• 10:49
  Speaker 1: seven to August seventeen sixty two is nine thousand, five
• 10:53
  Speaker 1: hundred ninety six from thence to the present time for
• 10:57
  Speaker 1: unlawful gaming and profane swearing, forty for sabbath breaking, four
• 11:02
  Speaker 1: hundred lude women and keepers of ill houses, five hundred
• 11:06
  Speaker 1: fifty for offering to sail obscene Prince two. In all
• 11:12
  Speaker 1: ten thousand, five hundred eighty eight. In the admission of
• 11:16
  Speaker 1: members into the society, no regard has had to any
• 11:19
  Speaker 1: particular sect or party. Whoever is found upon inquiry to
• 11:23
  Speaker 1: be a good man, is readily admitted, and none who
• 11:26
  Speaker 1: has selfish or pecuniary views will long continue therein, not
• 11:29
  Speaker 1: only because he can gain nothing thereby, but because he
• 11:32
  Speaker 1: would quickly be a loser, inasmuch as he must commence
• 11:35
  Speaker 1: subscriber as soon as he is a member. Indeed, the
• 11:39
  Speaker 1: vulgar cry is these are all Whitefield heights. But it
• 11:43
  Speaker 1: is a great mistake. About twenty of the constantly subscribing
• 11:47
  Speaker 1: members are all that are in connection with mister Whitefield,
• 11:49
  Speaker 1: About fifty are in connection with mister Wesley, About twenty
• 11:53
  Speaker 1: who are of the established Church have no connection with either,
• 11:56
  Speaker 1: and about seventy are dissenters, who make in all an
• 11:59
  Speaker 1: hundred six s. There are indeed many more who assist
• 12:03
  Speaker 1: in the work by occasional subscriptions. These are the steps
• 12:07
  Speaker 1: which have been hitherto taken in prosecution of this design.
• 12:10
  Speaker 1: I am, in the second place to show the excellent thereof,
• 12:13
  Speaker 1: notwithstanding the objections which have been raised against it. Now.
• 12:17
  Speaker 1: This may appear from several considerations, and first from hence,
• 12:21
  Speaker 1: that the making and open stand against all the ungodliness
• 12:24
  Speaker 1: and unrighteousness which overspread our land as a flood is
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: one of the noblest ways of confessing Christ in the
• 12:30
  Speaker 1: face of his enemies. It is giving glory to God
• 12:33
  Speaker 1: and showing mankind that even in these dregs of time,
• 12:36
  Speaker 1: there are who faith prefer, though few and piety to God.
• 12:41
  Speaker 1: And what more excellent than to render to God the
• 12:43
  Speaker 1: honour do unto His name, to declare, by a stronger
• 12:47
  Speaker 1: proof than words, even by suffering and running all hazards.
• 12:51
  Speaker 1: Verily there is a reward for the righteous. Doubtless there
• 12:54
  Speaker 1: is a God that judgeth the earth. How excellent is
• 12:58
  Speaker 1: the design to prevent it in any degree, the dishonor
• 13:01
  Speaker 1: done to his glorious name, the contempt which is poured
• 13:04
  Speaker 1: on His authority, and the scandal brought upon our holy
• 13:06
  Speaker 1: religion by the gross, flagrant wickedness of those who are
• 13:09
  Speaker 1: still called by the name of Christ. To stem in
• 13:12
  Speaker 1: any degree the torrent of vice, to repress the floods
• 13:16
  Speaker 1: of ungodliness, to remove in a leisure those occasions of blaspheming.
• 13:19
  Speaker 1: The worthy name hereby we are called, is one of
• 13:22
  Speaker 1: the noblest designs that can possibly enter into the heart
• 13:25
  Speaker 1: of man to conceive. And as this design thus evidently
• 13:29
  Speaker 1: tends to bring glory to God in the highest, so
• 13:32
  Speaker 1: it no less manifestly conduces to the establishing peace upon earth.
• 13:37
  Speaker 1: For as all sin directly tends both to destroy our
• 13:40
  Speaker 1: peace with God by setting him at open defiance, to
• 13:43
  Speaker 1: banish peace from our own breasts, and to set every
• 13:46
  Speaker 1: man's sword against his neighbor, So whatever prevents or removes
• 13:50
  Speaker 1: sin does in the same degree promote peace, both peace
• 13:53
  Speaker 1: and our own soul. Peace with God and peace with
• 13:56
  Speaker 1: one another. Such are the genuine fruits of this design,
• 14:00
  Speaker 1: even in the present world. But why should we confine
• 14:02
  Speaker 1: our views to the narrow bounds of time and space,
• 14:05
  Speaker 1: rather pass over these into eternity? And what fruit of
• 14:08
  Speaker 1: it shall we find there? Let the apostle speak, Brethren,
• 14:13
  Speaker 1: if one of you err from the truth, and one
• 14:15
  Speaker 1: convert him not to this or that opinion, but to God,
• 14:19
  Speaker 1: let him know that he who converteth a sin or
• 14:21
  Speaker 1: from the error of his way, shall save a soul
• 14:23
  Speaker 1: from death, and hide a multitude of sins James five,
• 14:27
  Speaker 1: nineteen twenty. Nor is it to individuals only, whether those
• 14:32
  Speaker 1: who betray other into sin, or those that are liable
• 14:35
  Speaker 1: to be betrayed and destroyed by them, that the benefit
• 14:38
  Speaker 1: of this design redounds, But to the whole community, whereof
• 14:40
  Speaker 1: we are members. For is it not a sure observation
• 14:44
  Speaker 1: righteousness exalteth a nation. And is it not as sure,
• 14:48
  Speaker 1: on the other hand, that sin is a reproach to
• 14:51
  Speaker 1: any people yea, and bringeth down the curse of God
• 14:54
  Speaker 1: upon them. So far therefore, as righteousness in any branch
• 14:58
  Speaker 1: is promoted, so far as the national interest advanced, so
• 15:03
  Speaker 1: far as sin, especially open sin, is restrained, the curse
• 15:06
  Speaker 1: and reproach are removed from us. Whoever therefore they are
• 15:11
  Speaker 1: that labour herein they are general benefactors. They are the
• 15:14
  Speaker 1: truest friends of their king and country. And in the
• 15:17
  Speaker 1: same proportion as their design takes place, there can be
• 15:20
  Speaker 1: no doubt but God will give national prosperity an accomplishment
• 15:24
  Speaker 1: of His faithful word. Them that honor me, I will honour.
• 15:29
  Speaker 1: But it is objected, however excellent a design this is.
• 15:33
  Speaker 1: It does not concern you, For are there not persons
• 15:35
  Speaker 1: to whom they are pressing these offenses and punishing the
• 15:38
  Speaker 1: offenders properly belong. Are there not constables and other parish
• 15:41
  Speaker 1: officers who are bound by oath to this very thing?
• 15:45
  Speaker 1: There are constables and churchwardens, in particular, are engaged by
• 15:49
  Speaker 1: solemn oaths to give due information against profaners of the
• 15:52
  Speaker 1: Lord's day and all other scandalous sinners. But if they
• 15:56
  Speaker 1: leave it undone, If notwithstanding their os they trouble not
• 16:00
  Speaker 1: themselves about the matter, it concerns all that fear God,
• 16:03
  Speaker 1: that love mankind, and that wish well to their king
• 16:06
  Speaker 1: and country to pursue this design with the very same
• 16:09
  Speaker 1: vigor as if there were no such officers existing, it
• 16:12
  Speaker 1: being just the same thing. If they are of no use,
• 16:15
  Speaker 1: as if they had no being. But this is only
• 16:19
  Speaker 1: a pretense. Their real design is to get money by
• 16:22
  Speaker 1: giving informations. So it has frequently and roundly been affirmed,
• 16:26
  Speaker 1: but without the least shadow of truth. The contrary may
• 16:29
  Speaker 1: be proved by a thousand instances. No member of the
• 16:32
  Speaker 1: society takes any part of the money which is by
• 16:35
  Speaker 1: the law allotted to the informer. They never did from
• 16:38
  Speaker 1: the beginning, nor does any of them ever receive anything
• 16:40
  Speaker 1: to suppress or withdraw their information. This is another mistake,
• 16:44
  Speaker 1: if not wilful slander, for which there is not the
• 16:47
  Speaker 1: least foundation. But the design is impracticable. Vice has risen
• 16:52
  Speaker 1: to such an head that it is impossible to suppress it,
• 16:55
  Speaker 1: especially by such means. For what can a handful of
• 16:58
  Speaker 1: poor people do in opposition to all the world? With men?
• 17:02
  Speaker 1: This is impossible, But not with God. And they trust
• 17:06
  Speaker 1: not in themselves but Him Be. Then the patrons of vice,
• 17:10
  Speaker 1: ever so strong, to him, they are no more than grasshoppers,
• 17:13
  Speaker 1: And all means are alike to him. It is the
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: same thing with God, to deliver by many or by few.
• 17:19
  Speaker 1: The small number, therefore, of those who are on the
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: Lord's side is nothing, neither the great number of those
• 17:24
  Speaker 1: that are against him. Still he doth whatever pleaseth him.
• 17:28
  Speaker 1: And there is no counsel or strength against the Lord.
• 17:32
  Speaker 1: But if the end you aim at be really to
• 17:34
  Speaker 1: reform sinners, you choose the wrong means. It is the
• 17:37
  Speaker 1: word of God must affect this, and not human laws.
• 17:39
  Speaker 1: And it is the work of ministers, not of magistrates.
• 17:42
  Speaker 1: Therefore the applying of these can only produce an outward reformation.
• 17:45
  Speaker 1: It makes no change in the heart. It is true
• 17:49
  Speaker 1: the word of God is the chief ordinary means, whereby
• 17:52
  Speaker 1: he changes both the hearts and lives of sinners, and
• 17:55
  Speaker 1: he does this chiefly by the ministers of the gospel.
• 17:59
  Speaker 1: But it is like twise true that the Magistrate is
• 18:02
  Speaker 1: the minister of God, and that he is designed of
• 18:04
  Speaker 1: God to be a terror to evil doers by executing
• 18:07
  Speaker 1: human laws upon them. If this does not change the heart,
• 18:11
  Speaker 1: yet to prevent outward sin, As one valuable point gained,
• 18:15
  Speaker 1: there is so much the less dishonor done to God,
• 18:17
  Speaker 1: less scandal brought on our holy religion, less curse and
• 18:21
  Speaker 1: reproach upon our nation, less temptation laid in the way
• 18:24
  Speaker 1: of others, yeah, and less wrath heaped up by the
• 18:27
  Speaker 1: sinners themselves against the day of wrath. Nay, rather more,
• 18:32
  Speaker 1: for it makes many of them hypocrites, pretending to be
• 18:35
  Speaker 1: what they are not Others, by exposing them to shame
• 18:38
  Speaker 1: and putting them to expense, are made impudent and desperate
• 18:40
  Speaker 1: in wickedness, so that in reality none of them are
• 18:43
  Speaker 1: any better, if they are not worse than they were before.
• 18:47
  Speaker 1: This is a mistake all over. For one, where are
• 18:50
  Speaker 1: these hypocrites? We know none who have pretended to be
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: what they were not. Two. The exposing obstinate offenders to
• 18:57
  Speaker 1: shame and putting them to expense does not make them
• 19:00
  Speaker 1: desperate in offending, but afraid to offend. Three. Some of them,
• 19:06
  Speaker 1: far from being worse, are substantially better, the whole tenor
• 19:10
  Speaker 1: of their lives being changed. YEA. Four. Some are inwardly changed,
• 19:14
  Speaker 1: even from darkness to light, and from the power of
• 19:17
  Speaker 1: Satan under God. But many are not convinced that buying
• 19:21
  Speaker 1: or selling of the Lord's day is a sin. If
• 19:24
  Speaker 1: they are not convinced they ought to be, it is
• 19:27
  Speaker 1: high time they should. The case is as plain as
• 19:30
  Speaker 1: plain can be. For if an open, wilful breach both
• 19:33
  Speaker 1: of the law of God and the law of the
• 19:35
  Speaker 1: land is not sin, pray what is. And of such
• 19:38
  Speaker 1: a breach, both of divine and human laws, is not
• 19:41
  Speaker 1: to be punished because a man is not convinced it
• 19:43
  Speaker 1: is a sin. There is an end of all execution
• 19:46
  Speaker 1: of justice, and all men may live as a list.
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: But mild methods ought to be tried. First they ought,
• 19:53
  Speaker 1: and so they are a mild Admonition is given to
• 19:56
  Speaker 1: every offender before the law is put in execution against him.
• 20:00
  Speaker 1: Nor is any man prosecuted till he has expressed notice
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: that this will be the case unless he will prevent
• 20:05
  Speaker 1: that prosecution by removing the cause of it. In every
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: case the mildest method is used, which the nature of
• 20:12
  Speaker 1: the case will bear. Nor are severer means ever applied,
• 20:16
  Speaker 1: but when they are absolutely necessary to the end. Well.
• 20:20
  Speaker 1: But after all this stir about reformation, what real good
• 20:23
  Speaker 1: has been done? Unspeakable good, and abundantly more than anyone
• 20:28
  Speaker 1: could have expected in so short a time, considering the
• 20:30
  Speaker 1: small number of the instruments and the difficulties they had
• 20:33
  Speaker 1: to encounter. Much evil has been already prevented, and much
• 20:36
  Speaker 1: has been removed. Many sinners have been outwardly reformed, some
• 20:40
  Speaker 1: have been inwardly changed. The honour of Him whose name
• 20:44
  Speaker 1: we bear so openly affronted has been openly defended. And
• 20:47
  Speaker 1: it is not easy to determine how many and how
• 20:49
  Speaker 1: great blessings even this little stand made for God and
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: his cause against his daring enemies may already have derived
• 20:56
  Speaker 1: upon our whole nation. On the whole, then, after all
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: the objections that can be made, reasonable men may still
• 21:03
  Speaker 1: conclude a more excellent design could scarce ever enter into
• 21:06
  Speaker 1: the heart of man. But what manner of men ought
• 21:10
  Speaker 1: they to be who engage in such a design. Some
• 21:14
  Speaker 1: may imagine any that are willing to assist therein ought
• 21:16
  Speaker 1: readily to be admitted, and that the greater the number
• 21:19
  Speaker 1: of members, the greater will be their influence. But this
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: is by no means true. Matter of fact undeniably proves
• 21:26
  Speaker 1: the contrary. While the former Society for Reformation of Manners
• 21:30
  Speaker 1: consisted of chosen members only, though neither many, rich nor powerful,
• 21:36
  Speaker 1: they broke through all opposition and were eminently successful in
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: every branch of their undertaking. But when a number of men,
• 21:43
  Speaker 1: less carefully chosen were received into that society, they grew
• 21:46
  Speaker 1: less and less useful, till by insensible degrees they dwindled
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: into nothing. The number, therefore of the members is no
• 21:54
  Speaker 1: more to be attended to than the riches or eminence.
• 21:57
  Speaker 1: This is a work of God. It is undertaken in
• 22:00
  Speaker 1: the name of God, and for his sake. It follows
• 22:03
  Speaker 1: that men who neither love nor fear God have no
• 22:05
  Speaker 1: part or lot in this matter. Why takest thou my
• 22:09
  Speaker 1: covenant in thy mouth? May God say to any of these?
• 22:12
  Speaker 1: Or as thou thyself hatest to be reformed, and have
• 22:15
  Speaker 1: cast my words behind thee. Whoever therefore lives in any
• 22:19
  Speaker 1: known sin is not fit to engage in reforming sinners,
• 22:22
  Speaker 1: more especially if he is guilty in any instance, or
• 22:25
  Speaker 1: in the least degree of profaning the name of God,
• 22:28
  Speaker 1: of buying, selling, or doing any unnecessary work on the
• 22:31
  Speaker 1: Lord's day, or offending in any other of those instances
• 22:34
  Speaker 1: which this society is peculiarly designed to reform. No, let
• 22:39
  Speaker 1: none who stands himself in need of this reformation presume
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: to meddle with such an undertaking. First, let him pull
• 22:46
  Speaker 1: the beam out of his own eye. Let him be
• 22:48
  Speaker 1: himself unblameable in all things. Not that this will suffice.
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: Every one engaging herein should be more than a harmless man.
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: He should be a man of faith, having at least
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: least such a degree of that evidence of things not seen,
• 23:02
  Speaker 1: as to aim not at the things that are seen,
• 23:05
  Speaker 1: which are temporal, but at those that are not seen,
• 23:08
  Speaker 1: which are eternal. Such a faith as produces a steady
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: fear of God will a lasting resolution by his grace
• 23:16
  Speaker 1: to abstain from all that He has forbidden, and to
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: do all that He has commanded. He will more especially
• 23:22
  Speaker 1: need that particular branch of faith confidence in God. It
• 23:26
  Speaker 1: is this faith which removes mountains, which quenches the violence
• 23:30
  Speaker 1: of fire, which breaks through all opposition, and enables one
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: to stand against and chase a thousand, knowing in whom
• 23:37
  Speaker 1: his strength lies. And even when he has the sentence
• 23:41
  Speaker 1: of death, and himself trusting in Him who raiseth the dead,
• 23:46
  Speaker 1: he that has faith and confidence in God will of
• 23:49
  Speaker 1: consequence be a man of courage. And such it is
• 23:52
  Speaker 1: highly needful every man should be who engages in this undertaking,
• 23:57
  Speaker 1: for many things will occur in the prosecution thereof which
• 23:59
  Speaker 1: are ten rible to nature, indeed so terrible that all
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: who confer with flesh and blood will be afraid to
• 24:05
  Speaker 1: encounter them. Here. Therefore, true courage has its proper place,
• 24:10
  Speaker 1: and is necessary in the highest degree. And this faith
• 24:14
  Speaker 1: only can supply. A believer can say, I fear no denial,
• 24:19
  Speaker 1: no danger, I fear no start from the trial, For
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: Jesus is near to courage. Patience is nearly allied the
• 24:28
  Speaker 1: one regarding future the other present evils. And whoever joins
• 24:32
  Speaker 1: in carrying on a design of this nature will have
• 24:34
  Speaker 1: great occasion for this, for notwithstanding all his unblameableness. He
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: will find himself just in Ishmael's situation, his hand against
• 24:42
  Speaker 1: every man, and every man's hand against him. And no
• 24:46
  Speaker 1: wonder if it be true that all who will live
• 24:48
  Speaker 1: godly shall suffer persecution, how eminently must this be fulfilled
• 24:52
  Speaker 1: in them who not content to live godly themselves, compel
• 24:56
  Speaker 1: the ungodly to do so too, or at least to
• 24:58
  Speaker 1: refrain from notorial his sun. Godliness is not this declaring
• 25:02
  Speaker 1: war against all the world, setting all the children of
• 25:06
  Speaker 1: the devil at defiance, and will not satan himself The
• 25:09
  Speaker 1: prince of this world, the ruler of the darkness, thereof,
• 25:13
  Speaker 1: exert all his subtlety and all his force in support
• 25:17
  Speaker 1: of his tottering kingdom. Who can expect the roaring lion
• 25:21
  Speaker 1: will tamely submit to have the prey plucked out of
• 25:23
  Speaker 1: his teeth. Ye have therefore need of patience, that, after
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: ye have done the will of God, ye may receive
• 25:31
  Speaker 1: the promise. And ye have need of steadiness that ye
• 25:35
  Speaker 1: may hold fast this profession of your faith without wavering.
• 25:39
  Speaker 1: This also should be found in all that unite in
• 25:42
  Speaker 1: this society, which is not a task for a double
• 25:44
  Speaker 1: minded man. For one that is unstable in his ways.
• 25:49
  Speaker 1: He that is, as a reed shaken with the wind,
• 25:51
  Speaker 1: is not fit for this warfare, which demands a firm
• 25:55
  Speaker 1: purpose of soul, a constant, determined resolution. One that is
• 25:59
  Speaker 1: wanting in this may set his hand to the plow,
• 26:01
  Speaker 1: but how soon will he look back? He may indeed
• 26:05
  Speaker 1: endure for a time, but when persecution or tribulation, public
• 26:09
  Speaker 1: or private troubles arise because of the work, immediately he
• 26:12
  Speaker 1: is offended. Indeed, it is hard for any to persevere
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: in so unpleasing a work unless love overpowers both pain
• 26:20
  Speaker 1: and fear. And therefore it is highly expedient that all
• 26:24
  Speaker 1: engage therein have the love of God shed abroad in
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: their hearts, that they should be able to declare, we
• 26:30
  Speaker 1: love him because He first loved us. The presence of
• 26:34
  Speaker 1: Him whom their soul loveth will then make their labor light.
• 26:38
  Speaker 1: They can then say, not from the wildness of a
• 26:40
  Speaker 1: heated imagination, but with the utmost truth and soberness, with
• 26:44
  Speaker 1: thee conversing, I forget all time and toil and care.
• 26:49
  Speaker 1: Labor is rest, and pain is sweet. While Thou, my God,
• 26:53
  Speaker 1: art here what adds a still greater sweetness even to
• 26:57
  Speaker 1: labor and pain is the Christian love of our neighbor.
• 27:01
  Speaker 1: When they love their neighbor, that is, every soul of man,
• 27:04
  Speaker 1: as themselves as their own souls. When the love of
• 27:07
  Speaker 1: Christ constrains them to love one another even as He
• 27:10
  Speaker 1: loved us, when as He tasted death for every man,
• 27:14
  Speaker 1: so they are ready to lay down their life for
• 27:16
  Speaker 1: their brethren, including in that number every man, every soul
• 27:19
  Speaker 1: for which Christ died. What prospect of danger will then
• 27:23
  Speaker 1: be able to frighten them from their labor of love?
• 27:26
  Speaker 1: What suffering will they not be ready to undergo to
• 27:28
  Speaker 1: save one soul from everlasting burnings? What continuance of labor, disappointment,
• 27:34
  Speaker 1: pain will vanquish their fixed resolution? Will they not be
• 27:39
  Speaker 1: against all repulses, stealed, nor ever tired with toilsome day
• 27:43
  Speaker 1: or ill succeeding night. So love both hopeth and endureth
• 27:47
  Speaker 1: all things. So charity never faileth. Love is necessary for
• 27:53
  Speaker 1: all the members of such a society. On another account, likewise,
• 27:56
  Speaker 1: even because it is not puffed up, it produces not
• 28:00
  Speaker 1: only courage and patience, but humility. And oh how needful
• 28:04
  Speaker 1: is this for all who are so employed? What can
• 28:07
  Speaker 1: be of more importance? Than that they should be little
• 28:10
  Speaker 1: and mean, and base and vile in their own eyes.
• 28:13
  Speaker 1: For otherwise, should they think themselves anything, should they impute
• 28:16
  Speaker 1: anything to themselves, should they admit anything of a faarisaic spirit,
• 28:21
  Speaker 1: trusting in themselves that they were righteous and despising others.
• 28:25
  Speaker 1: Nothing could more directly tend to overthrow the whole design,
• 28:29
  Speaker 1: For then they would not only have all the world,
• 28:31
  Speaker 1: but also God himself to contend with, seeing he resisteth
• 28:35
  Speaker 1: the proud and giveth grace only to the humble. Deeply conscious, Therefore,
• 28:41
  Speaker 1: should every member of this society be of his own foolishness, weakness, helplessness,
• 28:46
  Speaker 1: continually hanging with his whole soul upon him who alone
• 28:50
  Speaker 1: hath wisdom and strength, with an unspeakable conviction that the
• 28:53
  Speaker 1: help which is done upon earth, God doth it himself,
• 28:57
  Speaker 1: and that it is He alone who worketh in us,
• 29:00
  Speaker 1: both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
• 29:04
  Speaker 1: One point more, whoever engages in this design should have
• 29:07
  Speaker 1: deeply impressed on his heart, namely that the wrath of
• 29:10
  Speaker 1: man worketh not the righteousness of God. Let him therefore,
• 29:14
  Speaker 1: learn of him who is meek as well as lowly,
• 29:17
  Speaker 1: and let him abide in meekness as well as humility,
• 29:20
  Speaker 1: with all lowliness and meekness, Let him walk worthy of
• 29:23
  Speaker 1: the vocation wherewith he is called. Let them be gentle
• 29:27
  Speaker 1: toward all men, good or bad, for his own sake,
• 29:29
  Speaker 1: for their sake, for Christ's sake, are any ignorant and
• 29:34
  Speaker 1: out of the way, let him have compassion upon them.
• 29:38
  Speaker 1: Do they even oppose the word in the work of God,
• 29:41
  Speaker 1: yea set themselves in battle array against it. So much
• 29:44
  Speaker 1: the more hath He need in meekness to instruct those
• 29:47
  Speaker 1: who thus oppose themselves, If haply they may escape out
• 29:51
  Speaker 1: of the snare of the devil, and no more be
• 29:52
  Speaker 1: taken captive at his will from the qualifications of those
• 29:57
  Speaker 1: who are proper to engage in such an undertaking as this,
• 30:00
  Speaker 1: I proceed to show, fourthly, with what spirit and in
• 30:03
  Speaker 1: what manner it ought to be pursued. First with what spirit?
• 30:08
  Speaker 1: Now this first regards the motives which is to be
• 30:10
  Speaker 1: preserved in every step that is taken. For if at
• 30:13
  Speaker 1: any time the light which is in thee be darkness,
• 30:15
  Speaker 1: how great is that darkness. But if thine eye be single,
• 30:19
  Speaker 1: thy whole body shall be full of light. This is
• 30:23
  Speaker 1: therefore continually to be remembered and carried into every word
• 30:26
  Speaker 1: in action. Nothing is to be spoke or done, either
• 30:30
  Speaker 1: great or small, with a view to any temporal advantage,
• 30:33
  Speaker 1: nothing with a view to the favor or esteem, the
• 30:36
  Speaker 1: love or the praise of men. But the intention the
• 30:40
  Speaker 1: eye of the mind is always to be fixed on
• 30:42
  Speaker 1: the glory of God and good of man. But the
• 30:46
  Speaker 1: spirit with which everything is to be done regards the
• 30:48
  Speaker 1: temper as well as the motive. And this is no
• 30:51
  Speaker 1: other than that which has been described above. For the
• 30:54
  Speaker 1: same courage, patience, steadiness, which qualify a man for the work,
• 30:58
  Speaker 1: are to be exercised there in. Above all, let him
• 31:02
  Speaker 1: take the shield of faith. This will quench a thousand
• 31:05
  Speaker 1: fiery darts. Let him exert all the faith which God
• 31:08
  Speaker 1: has given him in every trying hour. And let all
• 31:11
  Speaker 1: his doings be done in love. Never let this be
• 31:14
  Speaker 1: rested from him. Neither must many waters quench this love,
• 31:18
  Speaker 1: nor the floods of ingratitude drown it. Let likewise that
• 31:22
  Speaker 1: lowly mind be in him, which was also in Christ
• 31:24
  Speaker 1: Jesus YEA. And let him be closed with humility, filling
• 31:28
  Speaker 1: his heart and adorning his whole behavior. At the same time,
• 31:33
  Speaker 1: let him put on bowels of mercies, gentleness, long suffering,
• 31:37
  Speaker 1: avoiding the least appearance of malice, bitterness, anger, or resentment,
• 31:41
  Speaker 1: knowing it is our calling not to be overcome of evil,
• 31:44
  Speaker 1: but to overcome evil with good. In order to preserve
• 31:48
  Speaker 1: this humble, gentle love, it is needful to do all
• 31:51
  Speaker 1: things with recollection of spirit, watching against all hurry or
• 31:55
  Speaker 1: dissipation of thought, as well as against pride, wrath, or surliness.
• 32:00
  Speaker 1: But this can be no otherwise preserved than by continuing
• 32:03
  Speaker 1: instant and prayer, both before and after he comes into
• 32:06
  Speaker 1: the field and during the whole action, and by doing
• 32:09
  Speaker 1: all in the spirit of sacrifice, offering all to God
• 32:12
  Speaker 1: through the Son of His Love. As to the outward
• 32:16
  Speaker 1: manner of acting, a general rule is, let it be
• 32:19
  Speaker 1: expressive of these inward tempers. But to be more particular,
• 32:23
  Speaker 1: let every man beware not to do evil, that good
• 32:26
  Speaker 1: may come, therefore putting away all lying. Let every man
• 32:30
  Speaker 1: speak the truth to his neighbour. Use no fraud or guile,
• 32:34
  Speaker 1: either in order to detect or to punish any man,
• 32:37
  Speaker 1: But by simplicity and godly sincerity, commend yourself to man's
• 32:41
  Speaker 1: consciences in the sight of God. It is probable that
• 32:45
  Speaker 1: by your adhering to these rules, fewer offenders will be convicted.
• 32:48
  Speaker 1: But so much the more will the blessing of God
• 32:51
  Speaker 1: accompany the whole undertaking. But let innocence be joined with
• 32:55
  Speaker 1: prudence properly so called, not that offspring of hell, which
• 32:59
  Speaker 1: the world calls prudence, which is mere craft, cunning, and dissimulation,
• 33:03
  Speaker 1: but with that wisdom from above, which our Lord peculiarly
• 33:06
  Speaker 1: recommends to all who would promote his kingdom upon earth.
• 33:10
  Speaker 1: Be Ye therefore wise as serpents, while ye are harmless
• 33:14
  Speaker 1: as doves. This wisdom will instruct you how to suit
• 33:18
  Speaker 1: your words and whole behavior to the persons with whom
• 33:21
  Speaker 1: you have to do, to the time, place, and all
• 33:24
  Speaker 1: other circumstances. It will teach you to cut off occasion
• 33:28
  Speaker 1: of offense, even from those who seek occasion, and to
• 33:31
  Speaker 1: do things of the most offensive nature in the least
• 33:33
  Speaker 1: offensive manner that is possible. Your manner of speaking, particularly
• 33:38
  Speaker 1: to offenders, should be at all times deeply serious, lest
• 33:42
  Speaker 1: it appear like consulting a triumphing over them, rather inclining
• 33:46
  Speaker 1: to sad, showing that you pity them for what they do,
• 33:48
  Speaker 1: and sympathize with Him in what they suffer. Let your
• 33:52
  Speaker 1: air and tone of voice, as well as words, be dispassionate, calm, mild,
• 33:58
  Speaker 1: yea were it would not appear like disammes emulation, even
• 34:01
  Speaker 1: kind and friendly. In some cases where it will probably
• 34:05
  Speaker 1: be received as it is meant, you may profess the
• 34:07
  Speaker 1: good will you bear them, But at the same time
• 34:10
  Speaker 1: that it may not be thought to proceed from fear
• 34:13
  Speaker 1: or any wrong inclination, professing your intrepidity and an inflexible
• 34:17
  Speaker 1: resolution to oppose and punish vice to the uttermost. It
• 34:22
  Speaker 1: remains only to make some application of what has been said,
• 34:25
  Speaker 1: partly to you who are already engaged in this work,
• 34:28
  Speaker 1: partly to all that fear God, and more especially to
• 34:30
  Speaker 1: them that love as well as fear Him. With regard
• 34:34
  Speaker 1: to you who are already engaged in this work, the
• 34:36
  Speaker 1: first advice I would give you is calmly and deeply
• 34:39
  Speaker 1: to consider the nature of your undertaking. Know what you
• 34:42
  Speaker 1: are about, be thoroughly acquainted with what you have in hand,
• 34:46
  Speaker 1: Consider the objections which are made to the whole of
• 34:49
  Speaker 1: your undertaking, and before you proceed, be satisfied that those
• 34:53
  Speaker 1: objections have no real weight. Then may every man act
• 34:56
  Speaker 1: as he is fully persuaded in his own mind. I
• 35:00
  Speaker 1: advise you secondly, be not in haste to increase your number,
• 35:04
  Speaker 1: and in adding there too, regard not wealth, rank, or
• 35:07
  Speaker 1: any outward circumstance. Only regard the qualifications above described. Inquire
• 35:13
  Speaker 1: diligently whether the person proposed to be of an unblameable carriage,
• 35:17
  Speaker 1: and whether he be a man of faith, courage, patience, steadiness,
• 35:22
  Speaker 1: whether he be a lover of God and man. If so,
• 35:25
  Speaker 1: he will add to your strength as well as number.
• 35:28
  Speaker 1: If not, you will lose by him more than you gain,
• 35:31
  Speaker 1: for you will displease God, and be not afraid to
• 35:34
  Speaker 1: purge out from among you any who do not answer
• 35:36
  Speaker 1: the preceding character. By thus lessening your number, you will
• 35:40
  Speaker 1: increase your strength. You will be vessels meet for your
• 35:44
  Speaker 1: master's use. I would thirdly advise you narrowly to observe
• 35:49
  Speaker 1: from what motive you at any time actor speak. Beware
• 35:52
  Speaker 1: that your intention be not stained with any regard either
• 35:55
  Speaker 1: to profit or praise. Whatever you do, do it to
• 35:58
  Speaker 1: the Lord as the servants of Christ. Do not aim
• 36:02
  Speaker 1: at pleasing yourself in any point, but pleasing Him whose
• 36:05
  Speaker 1: you are and whom you serve. Let your eye be
• 36:08
  Speaker 1: single from first to last I God alone in every
• 36:12
  Speaker 1: word and work. I advise you in the fourth place,
• 36:16
  Speaker 1: see that you do everything in a right temper, with
• 36:18
  Speaker 1: lowliness and meekness, with patience and gentleness worthy the Gospel
• 36:23
  Speaker 1: of Christ. Take every step trusting in God and in
• 36:27
  Speaker 1: the most tender, loving spirit you are able. Meantime, watch
• 36:31
  Speaker 1: always against all hurry and dissipation of spirit, and pray
• 36:35
  Speaker 1: always with all earnestness and perseverance that your faith fail not,
• 36:40
  Speaker 1: and let nothing interrupt that spirit of sacrifice which you
• 36:43
  Speaker 1: make of all you have and are of all you suffer.
• 36:46
  Speaker 1: And do that it may be an offering of a
• 36:48
  Speaker 1: sweet smelling savor to God through Jesus Christ. As to
• 36:53
  Speaker 1: the manner of acting and speaking, I advise you to
• 36:55
  Speaker 1: do it with all innocence and simplicity, prudence and seriousness.
• 37:00
  Speaker 1: Add to these all possible calmness and mildness, nay, all
• 37:04
  Speaker 1: the tenderness which the case will bear. You are not
• 37:08
  Speaker 1: to behave as butchers or hang men, but as surgeons, rather,
• 37:12
  Speaker 1: who put the patient to no more pain than is
• 37:14
  Speaker 1: necessary in order to the cure. For this purpose, each
• 37:17
  Speaker 1: of you likewise has need of a lady's hand with
• 37:20
  Speaker 1: a lion's heart, So shall many, even of them you
• 37:24
  Speaker 1: are constrained to punish glorify God in the day of Visitation.
• 37:28
  Speaker 1: I exhort all of you who fear God, as ever
• 37:31
  Speaker 1: you hope to find mercy at His hands, as you
• 37:34
  Speaker 1: dread being found though you knew it, not even to
• 37:36
  Speaker 1: fight against God. Do not, on any account reason or
• 37:40
  Speaker 1: pretense whatsoever, either directly or indirectly, a pose or hinder
• 37:44
  Speaker 1: so merciful a design, and one so conducive to His glory.
• 37:49
  Speaker 1: But this is not all. If you are lovers of mankind,
• 37:54
  Speaker 1: if you long to lessen the sins and miseries of
• 37:56
  Speaker 1: your fellow creatures, can you satisfy yourselves? Can you be
• 38:00
  Speaker 1: clear before God by barely not opposing it? Are not
• 38:04
  Speaker 1: you also bound by the most sacred ties? As you
• 38:07
  Speaker 1: have opportunity to do good to all men, and is
• 38:10
  Speaker 1: not here an opportunity of doing good to many, even
• 38:13
  Speaker 1: good of the highest kind? In the name of God.
• 38:16
  Speaker 1: Then embrace the opportunity. Assist in doing this good, if
• 38:20
  Speaker 1: no otherwise, Yet by your earnest prayers for them who
• 38:23
  Speaker 1: are immediately employed therein, assist them according to your ability
• 38:27
  Speaker 1: to defray the expense which necessarily attends it, and which
• 38:31
  Speaker 1: without the assistance of charitable persons, would be a burden
• 38:34
  Speaker 1: they could not bear. Assist them. If you can, without
• 38:38
  Speaker 1: inconvenience by quarterly or yearly subscriptions, at least assist them.
• 38:43
  Speaker 1: Now use the present hour doing what God puts into
• 38:46
  Speaker 1: your heart. Let it not be said that you saw
• 38:49
  Speaker 1: your brethren laboring for God and would not help them
• 38:51
  Speaker 1: with one of your fingers. In this way, however, come
• 38:55
  Speaker 1: to the help of the Lord. To the help of
• 38:57
  Speaker 1: the Lord against the Mighty. I have a higher demand
• 39:01
  Speaker 1: upon you, who love as well as fear God. He
• 39:04
  Speaker 1: whom you fear, whom you love, has qualified you for
• 39:08
  Speaker 1: promoting His work in a more excellent way. Because you
• 39:12
  Speaker 1: love God, you love your brother. Also, you love not
• 39:15
  Speaker 1: only your friends, but your enemies. Not only the friends,
• 39:18
  Speaker 1: but even the enemies of God. You have put on
• 39:22
  Speaker 1: as the elect of God. Lowliness, gentleness, long suffering. You
• 39:28
  Speaker 1: have faith in God and in Jesus Christ, whom he
• 39:31
  Speaker 1: hath sent, faith which overcometh the world. And hereby you
• 39:35
  Speaker 1: conquer both evil, shame and that fear of man which
• 39:38
  Speaker 1: bringeth a snare. So that you can stand with boldness
• 39:40
  Speaker 1: before them that despise you, and make no account of
• 39:43
  Speaker 1: your labors. Qualified. Then, as you are and armed for
• 39:47
  Speaker 1: the fight, will you be like the children of Iphra
• 39:50
  Speaker 1: I am, who, being harnessed and carrying bows, turned back
• 39:52
  Speaker 1: in the day of battle. Will you leave a few
• 39:55
  Speaker 1: of your brethren to stand alone against all the hosts
• 39:57
  Speaker 1: of the aliens? Oh Sa, this is too heavy a cross.
• 40:02
  Speaker 1: I have not strength or courage to bear it. True,
• 40:05
  Speaker 1: not of yourself, but you that believe can do all things,
• 40:08
  Speaker 1: Who Christ strengthening you. If thou canst believe, all things
• 40:12
  Speaker 1: are possible. To him that believeth no cross is too
• 40:15
  Speaker 1: heavy for him to bear, knowing that they that suffer
• 40:18
  Speaker 1: with him shall reign with him. Say not, nay, but
• 40:23
  Speaker 1: I cannot bear to be singular. Then you cannot enter
• 40:26
  Speaker 1: into the Kingdom of Heaven. No one enters there but
• 40:29
  Speaker 1: through the narrow way, and all that walk in this
• 40:31
  Speaker 1: are singular. Say not, but I cannot endure the reproach
• 40:36
  Speaker 1: the odious name of an informer, And did any man
• 40:40
  Speaker 1: ever save his soul that was not a byword and
• 40:42
  Speaker 1: a proverb of reproach. Neither canst thou ever save thine,
• 40:46
  Speaker 1: unless thou art willing that men should say all manner
• 40:48
  Speaker 1: of evil of thee say not, but if I am
• 40:52
  Speaker 1: active in this work, I shall lose not only my reputation,
• 40:55
  Speaker 1: but my friends, my customers, my business, my livelihood, so
• 40:58
  Speaker 1: that I shall be brought to poverty. Thou shalt not.
• 41:02
  Speaker 1: Thou canst not. It is absolutely impossible unless God himself
• 41:06
  Speaker 1: chooseth it for his kingdom ruleth over all. And the
• 41:10
  Speaker 1: very hairs of thy head are all numbered. But if
• 41:13
  Speaker 1: the wise, the gracious God choose it for thee, wilt
• 41:16
  Speaker 1: thou murmur or complain? Wilt thou not rather say? The
• 41:20
  Speaker 1: cup which my father hath given me? Shall I not
• 41:22
  Speaker 1: drink it? If you suffer for Christ? Happy are you?
• 41:26
  Speaker 1: This spirit of glory and of God shall rest upon you?
• 41:30
  Speaker 1: Say not, I would suffer all things, but my wife
• 41:33
  Speaker 1: will not consent to it. And certainly a man ought
• 41:36
  Speaker 1: to leave father and mother and all and cleave to
• 41:37
  Speaker 1: his wife, true all but God, all but Christ. But
• 41:44
  Speaker 1: he ought not to leave him for his wife. He
• 41:46
  Speaker 1: is not to leave any duty undone for the dearest relative.
• 41:50
  Speaker 1: Our Lord himself has said in this very sense, if
• 41:53
  Speaker 1: any man loveth father or mother, or wife, or children
• 41:56
  Speaker 1: more than me. He is not worthy of me. Say not, well,
• 42:02
  Speaker 1: I would forsake all for Christ. But one duty must
• 42:05
  Speaker 1: not hinder another, and this would frequently hinder my attending
• 42:08
  Speaker 1: public worship. Sometimes it probably would go then and learn
• 42:13
  Speaker 1: what that meaneth I will have mercy and not sacrifice.
• 42:17
  Speaker 1: And whatever is lost by showing this mercy, God will
• 42:20
  Speaker 1: repay sevenfold into thy bosom. Say not, but I shall
• 42:25
  Speaker 1: hurt my own soul. I am a young man, and
• 42:27
  Speaker 1: by taking up loose wimen, I should expose myself to temptation. Yes,
• 42:32
  Speaker 1: if you did this in your own strength or for
• 42:34
  Speaker 1: your own pleasure, But that is not the case. You
• 42:38
  Speaker 1: trust in God, and you aim at pleasing Him only.
• 42:41
  Speaker 1: And if He should call you even into the midst
• 42:43
  Speaker 1: of it burning fiery furnace, though thou walkest through the fire,
• 42:46
  Speaker 1: thou shalt not be burned, and neither shall the flames
• 42:48
  Speaker 1: kindle upon thee. True, if he called me into the furnace,
• 42:52
  Speaker 1: but I do not see that I am called to this.
• 42:55
  Speaker 1: Perhaps thou art not willing to see it. However, if
• 42:59
  Speaker 1: thou was not called before, I call thee now in
• 43:01
  Speaker 1: the name of Christ, take up thy cross and follow him.
• 43:05
  Speaker 1: Reason no more with flesh and blood, but now resolve
• 43:07
  Speaker 1: to cast in thy lot with the most despised the
• 43:10
  Speaker 1: most infamous of his followers, the filth and off scouring
• 43:13
  Speaker 1: of the world. I call THEE in particular, who didst
• 43:17
  Speaker 1: One's strengthen their hands, But since are drawn back, take courage,
• 43:21
  Speaker 1: be strong fulfill their joy by returning with heart and hand.
• 43:26
  Speaker 1: Let it appear thou departest for a season, that they
• 43:29
  Speaker 1: might receive THEE again forever. Oh, be not disobedient to
• 43:33
  Speaker 1: the heavenly calling. And as for all of you who
• 43:36
  Speaker 1: know whereunto ye are called, count ye all things loss,
• 43:39
  Speaker 1: so you may save one's soul for which Christ died,
• 43:43
  Speaker 1: and therein take no thought for the morrow, but cast
• 43:45
  Speaker 1: all your care on him that careth, for you commit
• 43:48
  Speaker 1: your souls, bodies, substance all to him, as unto a
• 43:52
  Speaker 1: merciful and faithful creator. After this society had subsisted several
• 43:58
  Speaker 1: years and done unspeakable, it was wholly destroyed by a
• 44:02
  Speaker 1: verdict given against it in the King's bench with three
• 44:04
  Speaker 1: hundred pounds damages. I doubt a severe account remains for
• 44:08
  Speaker 1: the witnesses, the jury, and all who are concerned in
• 44:11
  Speaker 1: that dreadful affair end of Section fifty three. Recording by
• 44:16
  Speaker 1: Adrian maskw