PENANCE is a ghostly Punishment`imposed by a Prieft, or voluntarily fuffered by a Penitent, for fome Offence real or imagined. Sometimes it confifts in Abftinence from certain Meats, which, it feems, are not fo much in Favour with Almighty God, as are others: A Piece of God, for Example, with rich Sauce, is less favoury in God's Sight, than a plain Piece of Beef and Cabbage, and a greater Atone-ment for Sin. Sometimes it is performed by Change of Apparel; and a dirty Hair-cloth is: more pious and meritorious, than a clean Holland Shirt. Sometimes it is performed by rambling to fome Church, to ftare at a wooden Saint, and kiss an old Coffin. Sometimes this holy Severity refts altogether upon your Pocket, and God's Wrath is fervently and fuccefsfully bribed away by the prevailing Interceffion of fome potent Pieces to his Prieft, who will in-fallibly perfuade him to overlook your Guilt, and be good Friends with you. Sometimes. you are to fcarify your Backfide for the healing of your Soul, and reconcile yourself to Heaven by the Dint of Lashing; which will sometimes ferve for another Purpose: And so a Scourge made of Broom, is made the Scourge: of God. But, if drawing Blood on this Occafion be fo pious, because fo painful, I do not C 5 fee see why the Drawing of a Tooth would not do as well; or why the Omnipotent would not be as propitious to defolate Gums, as to blistered. Loins. So much for praifing God by being forrowful; in which Cafe, Sickness and Pain are great Bleffings. Now for the Method of pleafing him, by being joyful; in which Cafe, Festivity. and Merriment are great Bleffings too! So. that, we fee, the Almighty is highly pleafed both with our Mifery and our Happiness.. WORLDIY Bleffings are, no doubt, the Gifts of God, and we ought to receive them with joyful Hands, and grateful Hearts; and Religion, and Philofophy too, teaches us to fubmit to Afflictions and Calamities with Patience and Humility, and to confider them ei ther as Effects of our own Intemperance and Folly, as the neceffary and inevitable Concomitants of human Nature, or the Strokes of Providence intended for our Correction and Amendment; nor do I deny, that it may be fometimes lawful, and expedient too, mechanically to prepare our Minds with Difpofitions fuitable to the Actions which they are to produce. EVERY one's Experience fhews him, that bis Mind and Body operate upon one another: Both Both are improved by Exercise and moderate Food, raised and exhilarated by Mufic or Diverfion, enervated by Sicknefs, oppreffed with Drunkenness and Gluttony, fatigued with Labour; and often all the noble Faculties of the former are quite destroyed and extinguished by Diftemper and Accidents. IT may be therefore not only lawful, but our Duty, by proper Food, agreeable Converfation, and due Exercife, to prepare and keep ourselves in fuch a Temperament, as may best qualify us for cool Reflection, and enable us in the best manner to exert our Faculties: But from what Principle of Reafon or Religion do we find, that we must work up our Paffions beyond their natural Pitch, and endeavour to deftroy the Serenity and Calm of our Minds, to do Homage to the Deity? who will accept no Service but what flows from a fincere and upright Heart, elevated and raised by a due Contemplation of the divine Perfections, and the Benefits received from our great Creator, or humbled by the Confideration of human Infirmities; and not intoxicated with various Mufic, pompous Shews, delicious Banquets, or Bottles of Brandy; nor depreffed or funk with Mortification, Penances, Fafting, or unwholfome Diet; all which have nothing to do with C 6 true true Religion, though they have been always effential Parts of every false one. LET us now see what Sort of Devotion thefe Holy Days produce. IDLENESS is the Nurfe of Vice, and fills the Taverns and the Stews with many debauched Customers, who, had they any thing else to do, or would do any thing elfe, might live as chafte and fober as any of their Neighbours, that are fo, because they are well employed. The common People think of a Holy Day withno other View, than that they fhall then have their Belly-full of Ale, and Rambling, and Idlenefs. Perhaps, in the Morning, they hear a Sermon, which is often calculated to drive Peace and Religion out of their Souls, and to fill them with Bitterness and Rage against thofe who provoke them, by being fober Subjects, and confcientious Chriftians. Next comes a gluttonous Meal, and a Load of Liquor, which adds fresh Fuel to the Orthodox Zeal which they imbibed in the Morning, and inspires them to deface or demolish Places facred to God's Worship, and to affront and infult every fober Man, who has not been at the Brandy-fhop, and will not pronounce Hell and Damnation according to the Word of Command. After all this Mifchief and Bravery, they have re courfe |