cency paffes off for wit, and infidelity for reafon.

Answerable to and worthy of these most excellent private ftudies, is the polite Converfation of the present age, where Noise is Mirth, Obfcenity Good-humour, and Profaneness Wit. Decency and Good fenfe, which were formerly deemed neceffary to give a grace to and season Conversation, to join Pleafure and Improvement together, are become mere antiquated notions, words without meaning; and all that the pert and polite finner need to do now to establish his reputation of wit, and be deemed the hero of all polite Affemblies, is to get rid of Religion as foon as poffible, to fet Confcience at defiance, to deny the Being or Providence of God, to laugh at the Scriptures, deride God's Ordinances, profane his name, and rally his Miniftry. Thus

qualified,

qualified, the world is his own, he carries all before him, and if he fhould meet with oppofition from fome fincere Christian who is truly Religious, and cannot brook to hear the name of his Maker treated with contempt, why he despises and derides the poor fuperftitious Fool, and fuperlatively happy in himself laughs at the Argument which he cannot answer.

Much were it to be wished that the Character here drawn was imaginary, or at least uncommon, but I am afraid the experience of all prefent will affure them it is too real, too frequent.

I fhall difmifs my Confideration of this petition by seriously exhorting every Good Christian to extend his regards to his fellow-creatures, to endeavour to propagate a due veneration of God's holy Name, not only

H 3

only by the goodness of his life, and the fincerity of his Prayers, but also by giving his advice, and exerting his authority. It is naturally implied in the words of this petition, that we hallow God's name ourfelves, and promote it in others, as much as lies in our power; and if we are deficient as to ourselves, or negligent as to others, every time we repeat this petition, we incur the cenfure and punishment due to hypocrify.

There are it is to be feared, many wellmeaning and fincere Chriftians, who thro' fear of laughter, imputation of fingularity, and cenfure of hypoerify, forbear to rebuke and express their dislike to thofe many ways, by which God's name is difhonoured in most converfations. But furely if it is becoming, if it is the duty of a man to vindicate the character of his friend, ftill more becoming,

ftill more the duty muft it be of every Christian to defend the honour of his God; especially as those who profane it will be apt to construe filence into approbation, and think those secretly for them, who are not openly against them. Now that religion is at so low an ebb, every disciple of Christ, who hath at heart the honour of his Mafter, ought to display the banners of Christianity abroad, to declare open war against wickednefs and vice, to confider himself as accountable to God for his backwardnefs in rebuking his profeft enemies, and to look upon himself as a light which is to give light to all that are in the house, and in confequence of fuch confiderations, to let his light fo fhine before men, that they may fee his good works, and glorify his Father which is in Heaven.

Now to God the Father, &c.

SERMON

SERMON V.

MATTHEW vi. 10th.

Thy Kingdom come.

ERE we but once thoroughly con

WE

vinced of the existence of a God, and of the great benefits which we have received at his hands, did we but confider, know, and acknowledge him to be our Father which is in Heaven, and suffer fuch confiderations to have their due weight and proper effect upon us, to incline us to reverence his name, and render it holy and refpectable among men, the next step would be our repeating as we ought, this petition.

Thy