No great sagacity was required to foresee what would be the consequence of the pains taken to unsettle all the principles of religion. Infidelity and immorality are too nearly allied to be long separated.

The case of the people in this respect dilated on, and a catalogue of their enormous vices given. And even if the case be not so bad as it is here represented, yet it is a very unhappy thing that cause should exist for suspicion that such vices are

common.

But to go one step farther men, not content with indulging their own brutish passions, have taken pains to corrupt others, and have acted with such diabolical malice, as seems to challenge the power and justice of God: instances given.

Is it to be wondered at, after so much labor and pains taken to corrupt the religion and morals of the people, that they should be indisposed to attend to any thing serious, or that they should grow sick of religion, which has no comforts for them, and fly from the church to the playhouse and all other places of diversion?

How far this spirit of indolence and idleness has gone, may be seen in all orders: this point enlarged on.

A great and grievous evil in the nation, which naturally springs from the disorders above mentioned, is the great increase of popery. When men have lost all principles of religion and all sense of morality, they are prepared to receive any sort of superstition, especially when the decay of health or the accidents of life revive the fears of futurity.

Exhortation to the people to lay these things together, with whatever else their own observation and reflexion may suggest; and then let them ask their hearts whether they have not reason to fear that God will visit them for these things. If so, let it be remembered that the long sufferance of God is a call to repentance.

It is purely for the sake of this reflexion that the writer addresses himself to them; for he has no pleasure in laying open the shame of his country, and exposing the vices of those in particular over whom he has a charge.

They are exhorted however not to despair: there is still one remedy left; and whatever reason they may have to condemn themselves, God has not forgotten to be gracious. To him then let them turn with hearty repentance for their sins, and with a resolution to do, each in his proper station, what lies in their power to stem that torrent of iniquity which threatens to ruin all.

Exhortation to the clergy, who share with the writer the care of souls in these populous cities, to speak to the people, and persuade them as knowing the terrors of the Lord.

Similar exhortation to those who are intrusted with the government of them: it is time for them to awake, and to let the people once more know, what seems to be almost forgotten, that laws are made for the punishment of wickedness and vice, and for the maintenance of true religion.

Government is a great trust; and its powers are not merely intended to honor those who possess them; but they must be used for the good of the community: this subject enlarged on.

Next to those in public offices of power and trust, the happiness of the country depends on such as have the government in private families. Here it is that the youth of the nation must be formed; and if they are suffered to be corrupted in religion or morals before they come into the world, there is little hope that the world will reform them. Bad education of the children of this realm: the effects of it in all orders pointed Exhortation to fathers and mothers to exert themselves: their endeavors may go a great way in saving the nation.

out.

Exhortation to every man, whatever his station may be, to do his part towards averting the judgments of God: let every

one reform himself, and others, as far as his influence goes: this is the only remedy.

To these personal endeavors let there be added continual and fervent prayers to the Almighty, that he would spare us, and not deal with us after the multitude of our sins. Conclusion.

A LETTER

FROM THE LORD BISHOP OF LONDON TO THE CLERGY AND PEOPLE OF LONDON AND WESTMINSTER, ON OCCASION OF THE EARTHQUAKES IN 1750,

MY BRETHREN AND FRIENDS,

THE relation I stand in to you is a daily call on me to consider the spiritual state of these great cities; and though I doubt not but God has many faithful and chosen servants among you, yet the general view of the wickedness and corruption that abound and are spreading far and wide, gives me, and must give to every serious Christian, very painful reflexions. It is hardly possible to think of the history of Providence recorded in Holy Writ, and the many examples of divine justice exercised, sometimes in punishing, sometimes in utterly destroying wicked nations or cities, without being sensibly affected with apprehensions for ourselves; but more especially have we reason to fear, when we see the beginning of sorrows,' and the displeasure of the Almighty manifested in the calamities we suffer under, and in the signs and tokens given us to expect a far more dreadful judgment.

It is every man's duty, and it is mine to call on you, to give attention to all the warnings which God in his mercy affords to a sinful people: such warning we have had by two great shocks of an earthquake; a warning which seems to have been immediately and especially directed to these great cities and the neighborhood of them; where the violence of the earthquake was so sensible, though in distant parts hardly felt, that it will be blindness wilful and inexcusable not to apply to ourselves this strong suminons from God to repentance.

Thoughtless or hardened sinners may be deaf to these calls;

and little philosophers who see a little and but very little into natural causes, may think they see enough to account for what happens, without calling in the aid and assistance of a special providence; not considering that God, who made all things, never put any thing out of his own power, but has all nature under command to serve his purposes in the government of the world. But be their imaginations to themselves; the subject is too serious for trifling, and calls us off to other views.

If we consider the general government of the world by God, and on what reasons and motives he acts when he brings calamities and plagues on any people; or if we recollect from history sacred and profane, what state and condition with respect to religion and morality the people were in who have been examples of justice, and then compare our own case with the general reason by which Providence acts, and with the circumstances of those by whose example we ought to take warning, we shall soon discover whether there be just reason for our apprehensions. If those who have been destroyed by fire from heaven, or swallowed up by the earth, were sinners, and we are righteous, let us fear nothing, nor be dismayed though the foundations of the earth be removed; but if our consciences tell us that we have sinned after their example, what consolation is there to be had against the just expectation of suffering after their example also?

The same conclusion will arise from a contemplation of God's general providence; which, though it is not daily exerted in punishing all men or all vices that deserve it, yet is always armed with power to stop outrageous wickedness; and he has told us in his holy word what we may expect from his justice, when we are grown hardened and obdurate against his mercy. On these principles let your own case be examined: but who shall be your accuser? Shall I? God forbid! My heart's desire and prayer to God for you is, that you may be saved. Hear me then with patience, not as your accuser, but as your faithful servant and minister in Christ Jesus, warning you to flee from the wrath that is to come.

Had this part of the world had less knowlege and less light, they might have some excuse, and some hope that God would wink at the times of their ignorance; but they have had the