to harden some in actual rebellion, and to dispose others to follow their example? Is not a true sense of piety and religion very much lost among the rich; and industry, probity, and sobriety, as much decayed among the poor? Hath not extravagance and dissipation taken possession of the great, and by the influence of their example descended far into the lower order of men? whence distress of families, bankruptcies, frauds, forgeries, robberies, perjuries, self-murders, without number and without example? Is not the age peculiarly disgraced with frequent adulteries; and those among the higher ranks, of most extensive scandal, and most pernicious influence; in which one sex seems to have cast off all restraint of natural modesty, and both to have lost all sense of decency, faith, dignity, and honour? With all this load of guilt upon our heads, and the hand of God stretched out in vengeance over us; while the Lord God of Hosts calls us to weeping, and to mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth; what is the demeanour of too many among us? Behold joy and gladness, mirth and festivity, eating and drinking ;—“ let us eat and drink, for to-morrow

;

civil communities, have a natural and unalienable title." Observ. p. 1. "And they that have lost their liberty, have a right to emancipate themselves as soon as they can." Observ. p. 26. Add. Obs. p. 29. "And should be willing to run many hazards, and even not to repine at the greatest expense of blood and treasure, to recover it." Add. Obs. p. 29. As to the American rebellion, the principal part of his book is an avowed defence of it.

The first part of this sentence, preceding the words, "by assuming," &c. was not meant to have any relation to Dr. Price. I thought it proper to add thus much to the former note, in justice both to Dr. Price and myself.]

we die." "Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord; shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?" Surely he will visit such a sinful people; unless they repent, and turn from their evil ways. For these are the gracious terms, in which every denunciation of God's wrath is made his promises and his threatenings are always conditional; and his conditions are these, as he hath plainly declared them by his prophet, universally, in respect to all the nations upon earth: "At what time I shall speak concerning a nation to build and to plant it; if it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then will I repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them. And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it; if that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, then will I repent of the evil, which I thought to have done unto them '."

Let us then seriously consider the moral and religious state of this nation; and as it is much to be feared, that the most favourable view of it will afford abundant matter for dreadful apprehensions, let us humble ourselves before God, and implore with prayer and confession, and above all with earnest repentance, his compassion and forbearance towards us: "for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and," if we turn unto him, "will repent him of the evil," which perhaps he hath already purposed to bring

1 Jer. xviii. 7-10.

upon us. On this condition, let us approach the throne of grace with humble confidence; and let us intercede with intense supplication in behalf of our country. As individuals, of which this nation is composed, let us impartially consider, what share we ourselves have in the common guilt. Reformation must begin with particulars, and the several members must become sound, before the body can be restored to health. It is in the power of every one of us in some degree to contribute to the recovery of the whole, by amending a part, by giving one good citizen to the community. This if we heartily endeavour, we shall certainly save our own souls in the day of final retribution; we may perhaps save both ourselves and our country from impending wrath and present punishment. It may be that God will be gracious unto us; that he, who would have saved Sodom for the sake of ten righteous persons; and "Jerusalem, for the sake of but one in it, that had executed justice, and sought the truth';" may yet avert the judgments that threaten this sinful nation. And may it please God by the influence of his Holy Spirit so to move all our hearts, and to open our eyes, "that we may know the things that belong to our peace;" that we may give glory to the Lord our God," by confession, repentance, and amendment, "before he cause darkness, and, while we look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death."

1 Jer. v. 1.

Α

SERMON

PREACHED IN LAMBETH CHAPEL, ON SUNDAY, JUNE 15, 1766.

AT THE

CONSECRATION

OF THE

RIGHT REVEREND FATHER IN GOD

ROBERT LOWTH, LORD BISHOP OF ST. DAVID'S.

BY

PHILIP BARTON, B.D.

CANON RESIDENTIARY OF ST. PETER'S, EXON, AND
RECTOR OF BURITON, HANTS.

Published by command of his Grace the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. London, 1776.

4to.