and our ceremonies, that discriminate the metropolis of Britain, from idolatrous Memphis or pagan Rome?

And if we turn from the general intercourse of man with man, to those times and places, which are set apart for the immediate intercourse of man with his Maker; how little do we there find of the spirit, or even the appearance of religion? It were not beyond the truth to affirm, that, whilst every other multiplying place of resort is crouded, the temples of God, alone, are deserted-every foolish amusement, every trifling avocation, serves as a plea for not attending them.

And, where our churches are attended, how little does a spirit of devotion, too often, appear ? Enter the doors of the sanctuary: see the congregation employed in whispers, smiles, and salutations, often lost in the insensibility of sleep, or, at the best, attending with a cold and listless indifference ;-is it possible to imagine, that they are addressing themselves to a God of infinite power, for a blessing on themselves and their families, for every thing that is desirable in heaven, or valuable on earth? Yet such is the behaviour, every where visible, in our churches: and even where attention shows

itself,

itself, is it not, too often, confined to a fanatic tone, or theatric gesture, to the crude effusions of enthusiasm, or the florid absurdity of declamation, in those novel assemblies, which every where abound; whilst the noblest composition in the world, next to the book of God, I mean the Liturgy, is neglected and despised, as a dead and unprofitable letter?

And if such be the case, with regard to our public devotions, how much is it to be feared, that our private ones are still less regarded! But the devotions of the closet are open to God alone, and, therefore, I will not presume to condemn what cannot be known by man's judgment in these, to his heavenly Master, every Christian standeth or falleth.

But if we pass from the adoration of the Almighty, to that reverence, which is due to him upon other occasions, what abundant matter shall we find, for melancholy reflection and humiliation!--Is it not shocking, to see that holy religion, which he sent down his only Son, from heaven, to teach, made the instrument of hellish contention by perverse or designing men, distorted into absurd meanings by illiterate sectaries, profaned by daring infidels, and neglected by wicked Christians?

And

And if, from this melancholy view of reli gious, we pass on to social duties, shall we not find equal cause for reproach and condemnation ?--As a nation, may we not justly, on many occasions, be branded with the most opprobrious cruelty and injustice? Can memory, can history, can satire produce a scene of more atrocious villainy, than has repeatedly been executed by the inhabitants of some of our foreign settlements? Let depopulated nations, stripped of their territories, their commerce, their treasures, their lives, without even a shadow of right or just pretence; let solemn treaties, violated without any provocation or ground, for the sake of ra pine;-let men like ourselves, bought and sold, fed and beaten, like brute beasts ;-let ministerial fortunes, raised on violence and bloodshed; -let Asiatic luxury, and a spirit of despotic tyranny, imported with Asiatic wealth, into this unhappy land,-let all these say, whether we have not 'deserved the severest reproaches that can be laid upon us;-whether we have not equalled the hellish machinations of Spanish barbarity, or inquisitorial vengeance,

*

And are we at all better, in our private capacities? Has not an immoderate thirst of pleasure and expence, directly contrary to the wise frugality of our ancestors, and essentially destruc

VOL. I.

F

tive

tive to a commercial nation, infected all ranks among us? Has not this introduced the most fatal and fraudulent methods of supporting that expence From this poisoned fountain, derive we not the itch of gaming, the phrenzy of lotteries, the chicanery of law, the invention of new frauds, pretended bankruptcies, fictitious credit, false insurances, wilful fires, and ten thousand other schemes of desperate villany, unheard of and unknown to former ages?

Nor let any one tell me, that this representation of our vices, is the gloomy picture of spleen, or the declamation of enthusiasm :-that it has been the fashion of all ages, to complain of the badness of the times; but that we are, in reality, no worse than our ancestors. I will readily allow him, that the times have been always bad; that human nature has been, and ever will be, corrupt and perverse; but the ruin of ancient nations, brought on by a gradual advance in wickedness, will leave no room to doubt, that the guilt of a nation is, commonly, of a progressive nature;--that states, like men, have their periods of rise and decline;—and I will farther add, that, however some individuals of former times may have been corrupt, to as great a degree as in the present, yet, that wickedness was never so glaring and universal, never

SO

so systematically digested, or so openly professed, never appeared in so various and prodigious instances, never triumphed over virtue with so much effrontery, and so much success.

And, if this representation of our vices be true, it is, in the second place, no less true, that these vices tend to the destruction of the state:"For a general corruption of manners is not

only the certain symptom and presage, that

a nation is ripe for ruin, but is the natural "cause and principle of the decay and destruc"tion of all governments *." For, where an inordinate love of pleasure prevails, it naturally extinguishes every manly and generous sentiment in the breasts of a people. Where selfishness and party spirit have taken root, it is impossible that public spirit should long subsist. Where crimes are supported by numbers, and countenanced by example, few will be ambitious of doing well, none will be ashamed of doing ill. And, when virtue has once lost her hold upon the consciences of men; when private interest is preferred to public advantage; when fame and honour are become empty names; when men contend not, who shall excel in supporting the falling interests of their country, but rather,

* Moyle.

1