2. Think, what is likely to follow, if an army of French also, should blow the trumpet in our land! What desolation may we not then expect? What a wide-spread field of blood? And what can the end of these things be? If they prevail, what but Popery and Slavery? Do you know what the spirit of Popery is? Did you never hear of that in queen Mary’s reign? And of the holy men who were then burnt alive by the Papists, because they did not dare to do as they did? To worship angels and saints; to pray to the virgin Mary; to bow down to images, and the like. If we had a king of this spirit, whose life would be safe? At least, what honest man’s? A knave indeed might turn with the times. But what a dreadful thing would this be to a man of conscience? “Either turn, or burn. Either go into that fire: or into the fire that never shall be quenched.”
3. And can you dream that your property would be any safer than your conscience? Nay, how should that be? Nothing is plainer than that the Pretender cannot be king of England, unless it be by conquest. But every conqueror may do what he will. The laws of the land are no laws to him. And who can doubt, but one who should conquer England by the assistance of France, would copy after the French rules of government?
4. How dreadful then is the condition wherein we stand? On the very brink of utter destruction! But why are we thus? I am afraid the answer is too plain, to every considerate man. Because of our sins: because we have well-nigh filled up the measure of our iniquities. For, what wickedness is there under heaven, which is not found among us at this day? Not to insist on the sabbath-breaking in every corner of our land, the thefts, cheating, fraud, extortion; the injustice, violence, oppression; the lying and dissimulating; the robberies, sodomies and murders (which, with a thousand unnamed [♦]villainies are common to us and our neighbour Christians of Holland, France, and Germany:) consider over and above, what a plentiful harvest we have of wickedness almost peculiar to ourselves? For who can vie with us, in the direction of courts of justice? In the management of public charities? Or, in the accomplished, barefaced wickedness, which so abounds in our prisons, and fleets, and armies? Who in Europe can compare with the sloth, laziness, luxury and effeminacy of the English gentry? Or with the drunkenness, and stupid, senseless cursing and swearing, which are daily seen and heard in our streets? One great inlet, no doubt, to that flood of perjury, which so increases among us day by day: the like whereunto is not to be found, in any other part of the habitable earth.
[♦] “villanies” replaced with “villainies”
5. Add to all these (what is indeed the source as well as completion of all) that open and profess’d Deism and rejection of the Gospel, that public, avowed apostacy from the Christian faith, which reigns among the rich and great, and hath spread from them to all ranks and orders of men (the vulgar themselves not excepted) and made us a people fitted for the destroyer of the Gentiles.
6. Because of these sins is this evil come upon us. For (whether you are aware of it, or no) there is a God: a God, who tho’ he sits upon the circle of the heavens, sees and knows all that is done upon earth. And this God is holy; he does not love sin: he is just, rendering to all their due. And he is strong; there is none able to withstand him: he hath all power in heaven and in earth. He is patient indeed, and suffers long; but he will at last repay the wicked to his face. He often does so in this world; especially when a whole nation is openly and insolently wicked. Then doth God arise and maintain his own cause; then doth he terribly shew both his justice and power: that if these will not repent, yet others may fear, and flee from the wrath to come.
7. There hath been among them that feared God, a general expectation for many years, that the time was coming, when God would thus arise, to be avenged on this sinful nation. At length the time is come. The patience of God, long provoked, gives place to justice. The windows of heaven begin to be opened, to rain down judgments on the earth. And yet, with what tenderness does he proceed? In the midst of wrath remembring mercy. By how slow degrees does his vengeance move! Nor does his whole displeasure yet arise.
8. Brethren, countrymen, Englishmen, What shall we do? To-day! While it is called to-day! Before the season of mercy is quite expired, and our destruction cometh as a whirlwind? Which way can we remove the evils we feel? Which way prevent those we fear? Is there any better way, than the making God our friend? The securing his help against our enemies? Other helps are little worth. We see armies may be destroyed, or even flee away from old men and children. Fleets may be dashed to pieces in an hour, and sunk in the depth of the sea. Allies may be treacherous, or slow, or foolish, or weak, or cowardly. But God is a friend who cannot betray, and whom none can either bribe or terrify. And who is wise, or swift, or strong like him? Therefore, whatever we do, let us make God our friend. Let us with all speed remove the cause of his anger. Let us cast away our sins. Then shall his love have free course, and he will send us help, sufficient help, against all our enemies.
9. Come; will you begin? Will you, by the grace of God, amend one, and that without delay? First then, own those sins which have long cried for vengeance in the ears of God. Confess, that we and all (and you in particular) deserve for our inward and outward abominations, not only to be swept from the face of the earth, but to suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. Never aim at excusing either yourself or others: Let your mouth be stopt. Plead guilty before God. Above all, own that impudence of wickedness, that utter [♦]carelessness, that pert stupidity, which is hardly to be found in any part of the earth, (at least, not in such a degree) except in England. Do you not know what I mean? You was not long since praying to God for “damnation upon your own soul.” One who has heard you, said, is that right? Does not God hear? “What if he takes you at your word?” You replied, with equal impudence and ignorance, “What, Are you a Methodist?”——What, if he is a Turk? Must thou therefore be a Heathen?——God humble thy brutish, devilish spirit.
[♦] “carlessness” replaced with “carelessness”