: What follows from this? That he is the bet friend to American liberty, who is the moft fin cere and active in promoting true and undefiled religion, and who fets himfelf with the greatest firmness to bear down profanity and immorality of every kind. Whoever is an avowed enemy to God, I fcruple not to call him an enemy to his country. Do not fuppofe, my brethren, that I mean to recommend a furious a and angry zeal for the circumftantials of religion, or the contentions of one fect with another about their peculiar diftinctions. I do not wish you to op pofe any body's religion, but every body's wickedness. Perhaps there are few furer marks of the reality of religion, than when a man feels himfelf more joined in fpirit to a truly holy perfon of a dif ferent denomination, than to an irregular liver of his own. It is therefore your duty, in this important and critical feason, to exert yourselves, every one in his proper fphere, to stem the tide of prevailing vice, to promote the knowledge of God, the reverence of his name and worship, and · obedience to his laws. Perhaps you will afk, what it is that you are called to do for this purpose farther than your own perfonal duty? I answer, this itfelf, when taken in its proper extent, is not a little. The nature and obligation of vifible religion is, I am afraid little understood, and lefs attended to. Many from a real or pretended fear of the imputation of hypocrify, banish from their conver fation and carriage, every appearance of respect and fubmiflion to the living God. What a weaknefs and meannefs of spirit does it discover for a man to be ashamed, in the prefence of his fellow finners, to profefs that reverence to almighty God which he inwardly feels! The truth is, he makes himself truly liable to the accufation which he means to avoid. It is as genuine and perhaps a more culpable hypocrify to appear to have lefs religion than you really have, than to appear to have more. This falfe fhame is a more extensive evil than is commonly apprehended. We contribute conftantly, though infenfibly, to form each others characters and manners; and therefore, the usefulness of a ftriftly holy and confcientious deportment is not confined to the poffeffor, but fpreads its happy influence to all that are within its reach. I need fcarcely add, that in proportion as men are diftinguished by understanding, literature, age, rank, office, wealth, or any other circumfeance, their example will be useful on the one hand, or pernicious on the other. But I cannot content myself with barely recommending a filent example. There is a dignity in virtue which is entitled to authority, and ought to claim it. In many cafes it is the duty of a good man, by open reproof and opposition, to wage war with profanenefs. There is a fcripture precept delivered in very fingular terms, to which I Thou shalt not hate thy beg your attention; brother in thy heart, but fhalt in any ways re buke 'buke him, and not suffer fin upon him.' How prone are many to reprefent reproof as flowing from ill nature and furlinefs of temper? The Spirit of God, on the contrary, confiders it as the effect of inward hatred, or want of genuine love, to forbear reproof when it is neceffary, or may be ufeful. I am fenfible there may, in fome cafes, be a restraint from prudence, agreeably to that caution of Solomon, Caft not your pearls before fwine, leaft they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you.' Of this every man must judge as well as he can for himself; but certainly, either by open reproof, or expreffive filence, or speedy departure from fuch fociety, we ought to guard against being partakers. of other mens fins. To this let me add, that if all men are bound. in fome degree, certain claffes of men are under peculiar obligations to the discharge of this duty. Magiftrates, minifters, parents, heads of families, and those whom age has rendered venerable, are. called to use their authority and influence for the glory of God and the good of others. Bad men themfelves difcover an inward conviction of this, for they are often liberal in their reproaches of persons of grave characters or religious profeffion, if they bear with patience the profanity of others. Inftead of enlarging on the duty of men in authority in general, I muft particularly recommend this matter to thofe who have the command of foldiers inlifted for the defence of their country. The ་་་ The caufe is facred, and the champions for it ought to be holy. Nothing is more grieving to the heart of a good man, than to hear from those who are going to the field, the horrid sound of curfing and blafphemy; it cools the ardour of his prayers, as well as abates his confidence and hope in God. Many more circumstances affect me in fuch a cafe, than I can enlarge upon, or indeed easily enumerate at prefent; the glory of God, the interest of the deluded finner, going like a devoted victim, and imprecating vengeance on his own head, as well as the cause itself committed to his care. We have sometimes taken the liberty to forebode the downfal of the British empire, from the corruption and degeneracy of the people. Unhappily the, British foldiers have been distinguished among all the nations of Europe, for the most shocking profanity. Shall we then pretend to emulate them in this infernal diftinction, or rob them of the horrid privilege? God forbid. Let the officers of the army in every degree remember, that as military fubjection, while it lafts, is the most complete of any, it is in their power greatly to reftrain, if not wholly to banish, this flagrant enormity ofher 2. I exhort all who are not called to go into the field, to apply themfelves with the utmost diligence to works of industry. It is in your power, by this means, not only to fupply the neceflities, but to add to the ftrength of your country. Habits of industry prevailing in a fociety, not only increase increase its wealth, as their immediate effect, but they prevent the introduction of many vices, and are intimately connected with fobriety and good morals. Idlenefs is the mother or nurse of almoft every vice; and want, which is its infeparable companion, urges men on to the most abandoned and destructive courses. Induftry, therefore, is a moral duty of the greatest moment, abfolutely neceffary to national profperity, and the fure way of obtaining the bleffing of God. I would alfo obferve, that in this, as in every other part of God's government, obedience to his will is as much a natural mean, as a meritorious cause of the advantage we wish to reap from it. Induftry brings up a firm and hardy race. He who is inured to the labour of the field, is prepared for the fatigues of a campaign. The active farmer, who rifes with the dawn, and follows his team or plow, muft in the end be an overmatch for thofe effeminate and delicate foldiers, who are nurfed in the lap of felf-indulgence, and whofe greatest exertion is in the important preparation for, and tedious attendence on, a masquerade, or midnight ball. 3. In the last place, fuffer me to recommend to you frugality in your families, and every other article of expence. This the ftate of things a mong us renders abfolutely neceffary, and it ftands in the most immediate connection both with virtuous induftry, and active public fpirit. Temperance in meals, moderation and decency |