A SERMON Preached at SALTERS-HALL TO THE SOCIETIES FOR Reformation of Manners May 16. 1698. And now Printed at their Request By DANIEL WILLIAMS LONDON Printed for John Lawrence at the Angel in the Poultry over-against the Compter M DC X◠VIII TO THE SOCIETIES FOR THE Reformation of Manners In the CITIES of London and Westminster WHEN First desired by You to Preach the Ensuing Sermon my Compliance would have been more difficultly obtained had I taken time to consider That it came within the Number of the Discourses that were to be Printed at your Request yea to be the last of them A Subject exhausted by Eleven Divines of so great Name and Worth can receive little Advantage by the succeeding Attempts of a Head so barren and a Heart so cold as mine HOWEVER My Promise being given I intreated His Assistance whose Cause I plead and the Event I commit to Him IF I have 〈◊〉 on any thing said by Others 〈◊〉 it s scarce possible to avoid it s not borrowed from them for I consulted none of the former Sermons in preparing this THE Medium which runs through this Discourse is very fit I 'm sure to inforce what is said before and notwithstanding the Defects of my Management I can say I believe what I deliver and approve heartily of your Good Design and what 's better urged by others to promote it IT S Matter of deepest Sorrow When Villanies of all Sorts abound When Men declare their Sins with Sodoms Insolency When our Settlement is thereby so exposed and a probable Safety from the awfullest Woes is held by a Thred so tender as the Life of His Majesty King WILLIAM That yet some Persons of Note require other Motives to espouse this Work of Reformation And many Magistrates shift off the execution of the Laws tho the Oath of God be upon them HOW rare is a Zealous Nehemiah Nay Symptoms of our Condition were less dangerous if all who served at God's Altar admitted Phineas for a Pattern of Concernedness in resisting Sin as 〈◊〉 are capable tho he is not to be imitated in the manner of his Execution BUT amidst great Causes of Fears and Lamentation let 's not ungratefully neglect to adore God's undeserved Goodness that our Constitution retains so many good Laws against gross Enormities The Parliament hath made an Address and the King pursuant thereto published a Proclamation so excellently acknowledging the dueness necessity and value of Reformation with Resolves of promoting it to the utmost It were very afflictive as well as uncharitable to think a stop could be made here and the execution of the Laws suspended as formerly for this would turn to the Nations Reproach and be an Aggravation of its Guilt by rendring the forecited Instances a meer Testimony against future Neglects and a cause of severer Judgments NOR is it an inconsiderable Presage of Good as well as a probable Means of England's Amendment that you have formed your selves into Societies for the Reformation of Manners a Title becoming a Christian Name an Enterprize alike owing to flagrant Zeal and amazing Courage an ordinary Spirit under common Assistances had been overwhelmed with the very view of the strength of that Tide of uncontrouled Wickedness which was at first to be stem'd by so very few HOW soon did Divinely inspir'd Minds coalesce in this Undertaking And easily made it evident That there is no such difference between Members of the Established Church and the Dissenters that will not be overlook'd by all Serious Persons when the undoubted Concernments of Christ and Practical Godliness are in danger BY an Union founded on a Bottom and designed to Ends so truly Christian your Numbers were soon increased Very many Magistrates and Persons of Eminent Figure gave up themselves to this Undertaking fit Rules were adjusted and the strange Successes which encourag'd your early Attempts do still grow more and more amazing being as much beyond the hopes of your timerous friends as the expectations of surprized Offendors who as Such only can be ill-willers to this Design nay Men strong in Faith are as in a Dream to see the Work of Reformation advanced thus far in so short a time and induced to hope this to be the dawning of that Season wherein Reforming Attempts shall succeed to those higher degrees of Purity which are prophesied of altho awful Dispensations may shake the frame of things to introduce it BESIDES it is no mean effect of your successful Example That Men of the same Temper in other Places in this Nation are awakened to exert their United Strength in pleading the Cause of Christ against Profaness YEA Ireland as if blushing at engaging so late when their Distress and Deliverance had been so astonishing Do even exceed your Fervour and Protestants of every Communion in Dublin account Reformation their greatest Business MAY not we hope that your influencing President may in time extend to all other Protestant Countries that none called Reformed as to their Faith may wear the Reproach of neglecting a Reformation in their Manners They owe the same Love to their Neighbour as you do their Municipal Laws against Vice are a Talent for which they are as accountable as you be for yours Gross Sins will be as dangerous to every Nation which has equal Light as they be to England and the Heart wherein a Divine Principle reigneth will naturally prompt to the same Zeal against Sin as they shall hear to be now at Work in your Societies BUT let the happy issue of your Undertaking be more or less extensive Bless you the Merciful God for inclining your Hearts to this Work and giving you the present Oportunity to express your good Intentions and not denying you such encouraging Success BE Conscientious in observing the Directions given you in the Sermons of all those Ministers invited to your assistance and neglect not to apply their Encouragements that you may be strong and faithful in what respecteth your own Duty in this glorious Attempt so you will die in Peace in a Review of upright Vigorous Endeavours to serve your Generation THAT this Discourse may among the rest contribute somewhat to your good Designs is the Prayer of Your Servant in the Gospel Daniel Williams ERRATA PAge 10. l. read is not p. 24 l. ult read 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 30. in sheet C. Lult read disingenuous p. 18. l. 19. in the 3d sheet read their for the. The 3d Sheet is Folo'd as the 2d MATTH xii 30. He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad TO understand this Text in its aptness to excite your promoting a Reformation of Manners we must consider the occasion of these Words which you 'll find in the foregoing Verses v. 22. Christ healed a Man possessed with a Devil who had deprived him of both Sight and Speech The Hand of that Enemy is sometimes great in Bodily Diseases and when they come by his immediate Agency
Passages the Words would run thus He that is not with God's Kingdom is against God's Kingdom But instead thereof they are He that is not with me the Christ is against me to denote that the Administration of God's Kingdom is committed to Christ God-Man the Mediator q. d. Legislation Dominion Judgment the Care and Disposal of all Persons and Things which appertain to the Divine Kingdom in this World I am entrusted with to me they belong The Government is upon my Shoulders Isa. 9. 6. I am the King Zech. 9. 9. and the Interest of the Deity among Mankind is lodged in my Hands and therefore Mens adherence to God's Kingdom is determined by their adherence to me to whom the Authority therein is delegated CHRIST considered abstractedly as God is of the same Essence with the Father and so originally possessed the Kingdom of God as Creator in the same very respects as the Father did he had the same absolute Royal Dominion and Rectoral Authority was essential to him without a Delegation BUT to Christ as Mediator this Kingdom which refers especially to the Recovery of Fallen Men and the Government of them as redeemed is given as a Reward Joh. 13. 3. Jesus knowing that the Father had put all things into his Hands Joh. 5. 22. 27. For the Father judgeth no Man but hath committed all Judgment to the Son And hath given him Authority also to execute Judgment because he is the Son of Man Matth. 28. 18. All power is given me in Heaven and Earth THIS is that Kingdom which was erected to reduce Apostates to a subjection to God against whom they had rebelled this as Wisely Justly Faithfully and Perfectly administred by Christ shall be delivered up after all Men have been Tryed at this Redeemer's Bar and the Equity of his Procedure is solemnly vindicated 1 Cor. 15. 24. 2 Thess. 1. 7 8 9 10. A due Consideration of this Kingdom as in Christ's Hands and as it is his Kingdom would evince his Divinity as well as his Mediatorial Administration For were not he truly God he could not know and influence so many Minds Direct Inspire Uphold Defend Restrain Succeed and Accommodate such a Multitude of Persons in such variety of Exigencies at the same time in different Places and judge the Secrets of all Men at last IT would also force Mens acknowledgment of a Gospel Law without which the Notion of a Gospel Kingdom would be in many respects incongruous and a judicial proceeding upon Sinners as Believers or Unbelievers Penitent or Impenitent were impossible For by the Law of Innocency the Penitent believing Sinner would be as infallibly condemned as he who is a believing Penitent NEITHER would it be such a difficulty to comprehend how an Obedience short of legal Perfection is acceptable at a Redeemer's Bar as a Condition of a Sinner's possessing the Effects of that Redeemer's Righteousness for his Righteousness being the sole meriting cause of those beneficial Effects the Impetration of them is confined to his Obedience which was more than adaequate to the Law of Innocency and so there is no room left for our meriting by our Obedience to the Gospel which is the Rule by which Christ only applieth the Blessings purchased by himself But yet if that Gospel do not entitle us to those Blessings upon our compliance with the Conditions whereupon it offered them to all Sinners and exclude not them who refuse to comply then Christ's Gospel Kingdom is a meer Physical Kingdom wherein Benefits are no Motives to Duty nor Danger a Disuasive from Sin Gospel Pleadings Perswasions and Authority have no more place with and are as improper to them as to the raging Sea or hardest Stones the influence of Consideration is totally excluded and some are haled to Heaven by meer external Power without any regard to their voluntary subjection to the Gospel and others thrust into Hell without any respect to their wilful refusing of the Remedy and self-hardening against repeated Calls and the Grace offered by the Redeemer Such thoughts could scarce be conceived possible to one who ever read the Holy Scriptures unless an occasional obscure Passage must govern against the whole and plain scope of the Bible where a Rectoral Administration towards fallen Man in order to his Recovery is so constantly expressed and our Saviour is found designedly to call this so very often by the Name Kingdom SHOULD any Sinner object If I should be cast into Hell from under the Gospel I shall be so dealt with because the Curse of the Law of Innocency lies against me only as a Fallen Sinner I answer That Sentence took hold of you as Fallen Sinners but with that there shall be a sorer Destruction for refusing Christ and rejecting the Mercy of God which offered you a Freedom from that first Condemnation And that very offer of Deliverance upon Gospel Terms the earnest Pleadings of Christ with you to accept it his Complaints of your refusal his Threatnings of sorer Punishments to excite your Minds his laying your continued and aggravated Ruine upon your wilful Disobedience and for that as Judge Condemning you at last as unrelieved do fully demonstrate that Christ's Gospel Kingdom is a Rectoral Constitution adapted to Subjects capable of Moral Government notwithstanding your Apostacy and that by these Methods joyned with his assisting Grace he was treating with you as such in order to your Salvation 3. A third thing designed by the Text is a distribution of all Persons into Abettors of and Contenders for Christ's Kingdom on the one side or the Devil's Kingdom on the other q. d. All are with me or against me as the Head of the Gospel Kingdom and he that is not for me is against me and for my Competitors They who gather not with me i. e. they who do not under my Conduct assist and propagate the Divine Interest which I am managing such scatter abroad i. e. they oppose the Interest of God and in conjunction with Satan they exalt his Dominion and Purpose None are Neutrals each is engaged and suitably employed FROM the Text in connexion with the foregoing Verses we have ground for these following Observations 1 Observ. THERE are two Kingdoms with their several Interests in opposition and contest against each other in this lower World THE one is a Kingdom of Light the other of Darkness the one of Truth the other of Error the one administred by Holy Laws the other by Diabolical and Carnal Maxims The one a Kingdom of Love and Peace the other of Enmity Cruelty and Discord The Encouragements in the one are Rational Spiritual and Heavenly in the other they are Vain Sensual and Earthly As the one prevaileth Men become Just Kind Temperate Humble Pious Heavenly-minded and adorned with every Grace as the other obtaineth Men become Unjust Malignant Intemperate Proud Impious Earthly-minded void of every Grace and Universally vitious The voluntary Subjects of the one Kingdom are Men Sober Regular Useful Good and truly
their Honour Rev. 22. 9. And can you disdain it Millions of Martyrs have esteemed his Service safe even when they Suffered and how can you be afraid YOU are for him who is the God of the Spirits of all Flesh able to alter Tempers and change Mens Minds Yea can command unexpected Success to the poorest Instruments II. CONSIDER what you are striving for and against what 'T IS for what God and Angels and all Good Men approve yea it 's for the Interest of CHRIST on Earth Things that when they prevail will make Mankind happy And they are what shall most certainly prevail against the utmost opposition of Earth and Hell what you attempt to advance will justifie the greatest Expence Labour and Hazards BUT against what do you contend It 's against Profaness and Debauchery not things good nay not disputable or indifferent but so plainly evil that the most brutish would blush to plead for it 's against the Reproach and Leprosie of Humane Nature the Causes of our past Calamities and what can alone endanger the Nation for the future These Sins themselves are the sorest Plagues It 's Vice you would extirpate which makes its Abettors Cowardly It 's what Reason as well as Revelation testifies against it's what few Sinners like in their own Children Who would not be encouraged to reduce and remove such 2. WHOM you have to oppose and fight against you in this Enterprize of Reformation IT S the Devil and such as he doth actuate who will resist you he is the grand Leader and they his Instruments And even himself is cast into Chains by the Great God 2 Pet. 2. 4. your Leader hath trampled on him in the Upper Regions Col. 2. 15. he hath in a great measure prevailed against him in the Earth already and will shortly chain him up from his wonted Influences here below Rev. 20. 3. yea at last he will entirely baffle break him and put him beyond any further Attempts Rev. 20. 10. TAKE Courage it 's against one who is an Usurper and whom his most Obsequious Followers are ashamed to own and afraid to see IN a word greater stronger wiser and better is he that leads you in this Work than he whom the World follows in opposing Reformation AND as for the Men who engage against the attempt of suppressing Vice they can be none but the Inconsiderate part even of Brutal Persons and as they are at this Day restrained by Laws from doing you much open Injury so their own Consciences will soon approve your Attempts to better them they 'll judge them very kind if they shall reform and as highly just when they have sinned away the Season of Amendment IV. YOU have very encouraging Advantages at this juncture THE Parliaments Address and the King's Proclamation thereupon with a prospect of more Laws pursuant thereto are great things and good signs the most hopeful Indications England for many Years affordeth You engage against Evils which the Supream Authority in all its Constituent parts have testified against Magistracy is engaged and injoyned to assist you nay it 's no other than the Execution of many Excellent Laws which you subserve THE Number of your Societies are multiplying in the Country yea your Example is imitated in Ireland with greater success than here the main oâ— your Difficulty is over and signal Successes have attended you many Prayerâ— are on your side and Invisible Power concerned with you By many such things Heaven smileth on this Work and can you faint without the greatest Reproach Exhort LET me therefore Excite and Injoyn you to proceed vigorously in this Glorious Attempt I have proved it your Duty past all Dispute that ought to remove your Backwardness and Sloath. I have shewn you somewhat of your Encouragements let that allay all fear Need I tell you You are hereby endeavouring but due Returns from England for its Eminent Deliverance from extreamest Miseries and those unavoidable to Humane View YOU are preventing those Calamities which will return with Aggravations if these Evils be not Reformed Ezra 9. 13 14. YOU are providing the surest way to revive our Trade prolong our Peace and recover England's Glory If you succeed Bodies and Minds will be freed from the sad Effects of the Debaucheries which are as fatal as apparent YOU lay the best Foundation for Peace among the Divided Parties in this Nation who will when Vertuous easily coalesce and be free to take away all unnecessary Causes of Division YOUR very Meeting together and joynt Concurrence in this laudable Employment will Conciliate yourMinds and melt them down into Moderation which is a Temper so necessary and upon which our Happiness so much depends that I dare deliver this Prognostick England can never be fixedly happy in its Religious or Civil Concernments but by an UNION between the Moderate Churchmen and the Moderate Dissenters YOU befriend your own Children and Posterity by preventing the Infection that may ruine them MANY other Arguments might be urged Oh that these and all others made use of by the several Reverend Ministers in both Places of your Meetings may by the Blessing of God envigorate your Minds in this Attempt and dispose Transgressors to submit thereto AND surely whatever is a Motive to the Physitian to endeavour the Cure is much more forcible with the Diseased to admit it Is endeavouring the Reforming of you Oh Sinners So plainly the Duty of this Society and worth their utmost Pains and Charge And can it be a light thing whether you will be Reformed or no Oh the Testimony against you that shall arise from hence if you be still uncleansed Some CAUTIONS I shall give a few Cautions 1. WITH respect to the Preliminaries to and the first Words of my Text. STATE not Christ's Designs which you propose to serve by your hasty Fancy but his own plain adjustment of them you are not for Christ by espousing an Error you act not with or for him in opposing what he forbids not or violently contending for what is indifferent trivial or doubtful his Kingdoms Concernment lies in what is commanded plain and momentous AND therefore let your Endeavours be laid out in proportion to the evidence his Word gives concerning things and tho it be too unusual yet be you as earnest for what is important and plainly commanded and against what is flagitious and plainly Prohibited as others are apt to be for trifles of their own inventing or against Sins of their own making AND withal be afraid without highest Scripture Evidence well applied to judge any Men or Party of Protestants to be for or against Christ in contradistinction from others It would make a Tender Heart to bleed to hear two Extremes apply that one Text against Men of a duer Temper How long halt ye between two Opinions If God be God follow him but if Baal follow him 1 King 18. 22. when more Charity would better evidence either side to be the Followers of Christ. 2. TO
you the Members of the Societies with respect to your Undertaking THINK not lightly as to your selves of such Sins as fall not under the edge of the Magistrate's Sword For tho they are not so hurtful to Humane Societies and therefore not so provided against by the Law of Man yet they are as contrary to Christianity and inconsistent with it as others be Brutal Sins are chiefly those you have the Law on your side to punish But be you alike watchful against Devilish Sins such as Malice Envy Pride Rancour Lying c. Guard also against Infidelity Hypocrisie Carnal-Selfishness and all Impurity of Heart which with the like Sins God reserves for Punishment in endless Flames WATCH strictly that no Scandalous Practices of your own blemish or obstruct your Undertaking for you will be more observed than others and your Faults will induce a Charge of Hypocrisie upon all active Instruments tho never so sincere LET not your Endeavours be blasted by any appearance of Pragmaticalness Ostentation Folly Rage Vanity making a Sport of Sin Revenge or Partiality But contrive things so that the Punished may be forced to confess It 's Zeal for God and Love to them which entirely govern you in this Attempt TAKE care that your Ends and the Principle you act from be approved by the Heart-searching God that so you may not loose your Reward nor forfeit his Defence And know it 's possible for Carnal-Selfishness to be the Spring of Actions advanced to the height of these tho so very excellent Go not out of your own Station neither use any unjustifiable means least you prove Snares to others or your selves instead of Reformers BE tender of your Neighbour's Reputation and therefore publish no Man's Faults unless it be before the Magistrate in order to Civil Punishments or before Persons authorized to inflict Church Censures Reproachful Railing was never ordained by God or Man to be a Reforming Means And he who chargeth you to speak not evil of one another Jam. 4. 11. Yea of no Man Tit. 3. 2. will require at your Hands all that obstructed Service and all afflictive Dammage occasioned by your Reproachful Language ATTEMPT to Convict no Man of Punishable Crimes where your Proof is not full and evident for thereby you 'll discover your own Folly and Uncharitableness baffle your great Design expose your Neighbour to Suspicion and your selves to Danger BEGIN not with Severest Methods where you hope milder will prevail for it 's not Cruelty but Reformation is your Honest Aim and the last is best attained when the least of the first is needful ADMIT nothing to excuse your Vigorous Care to restrain Sin which will not bear your Dying Thought in a view of God's Tribunal LET nothing below or besides Reformation be your Design and yet be not satisfied with the meer Honesty of your Intention but use the best and justest ways which a well informed Mind directs as likeliest to reach that End TRUST not in your own Heart nor reckon Success to be at your own Beck but depend on and Pray much to God for his Conduct Defence and Blessing LIMIT not your Resolution to persist in this Blessed Attempt by the continued Assistance of others for many now Vigorous may cool in time but your Obligation will not cease by their Backslidings REPENT not of beginning this Attempt if you should meet with less Success and more Trouble than you at first expected For it was not well considered if you did not count your Costs and your Undertaking may be well managed on your part tho great Success be wanting But however unexpected Trouble will not lessen Duty nor Disappointment as to expected Success hinder your Reward nor will other Men's Faultiness be charged on you ALLOW not your Spirits to grow Luke-warm and remiss in this Work when you have for some time applied your selves to it and attained some degree of Reformation thereby There is need of this Caution on these several Accounts Your Endeavours will be faint proportionably to the Remissness of your Spirit Time is apt to allay that Fervour which in the beginning of an Enterprize is more common and Natural the need of Reforming Methods will continue tho you should find some Reformation as to open Impieties for many Defilements will abide uncleansed Corrupt Nature will soon discover it self when Restraint diminishes and the more violently because a while kept in SET no bounds to the Reformation you propose short of what the Laws of the Land do countenance WHATEVER Evils they remark do not you connive at tho they appear not so gross as those you at first encounter It 's Wisdom in a very Degenerate Nation to begin with the greatest Crimes But it will be Unfaithfulness when these are somewhat amended to overlook the Lesser for they are Evils and will if indulged dispose Men to return to such as are more Atrccious WISELY prevent all Divisions Quarrels and Sinister Dealings in your own Societies Should you be uneasie to each other your Strength is broken and the least injustice will sully your Reputation which is so absolutely necessary to your Usefulness The Reason why I caution you against Divisions is this It too often happens that forwardness in such Attempts proceeds from a Natural Fervour as well as a pure Heavenly Zeal and as far as this Natural Fire is active Provoking Insolence and Indiscretion are hardly with the greatest Care prevented and what tendency the discovery of these have to Quarrels and Disgusts is too obvious to insist on HAPPILY would this Work be carried on if a Divine Zeal in Sedate Tempers directs it and every one shall bear as much with each other's Weakness as he would in a Profitable Concern of his own As to that part of the Caution which relates to Sinister Dealings I have no ground to suggest it but that the Holiest Society here may have a Judas and whilst our Nature is not wholly healed we should be warned against Satan's Devices Lastly TAKE heed that your Societies Degenerate not nor be made to serve lower or other Purposes than this of the Reformation of Manners Earthly Minds may debase their use and Designing Men endeavour to pervert them They now are duly managed to Ends for which they deserve this Glorious Name Oh let that Name ever govern all your Discourses Designs and Methods He too little knows Mankind and the History of former Times that thinks this very Caution needless THE Lord impress these Warnings which Faithfulness to Christ and a great Esteem of your Undertaking compelled me to deliver I shall conclude the whole by calling you to Lament with me that the City and Nation so hate to be Reformed that they who seriously attempt it must bear the Scoffs of most and to be an Informer against the obstinately Vicious is with them a reproachful Title tho God records it for a Commendation to Men of highest rank v. 9 12. LET 's Bewail That after all God's long use of all Reforming Methods we should still have so much need to be Reformed That Text Ezek. 22. 24. is applicable to us Say unto her Thou art the Land that is not cleansed And when we consider that the Pestilence the Burning this City the Sword loss of Trade growing Poverty and above all the Gospel Means of Grace have been all so notoriously uneffectual to Reclaim us have we not great cause to pray that God pass not that Sentence against us which you find uttered by this same Prophet Cap. 24. 13. In thy Filthiness is Lewdness because I have purged thee and thou wast not purged thou shalt not be purged from thy Filthiness any more till I have caused my Fury to rest upon thee FINIS Books Printed for John Laurence at the Angel in the Poultry A Sermon Preach'd to the Societies for the Reformation of Manners in the Cities of London and Westminster Novemb. 15. 1697. By John Shower Octavo The Saints Convoy to Heaven an Occasional Discourse By Thomas Doolittle M. A. Octavo The Saints Mansions in Heaven A Discourse occasioned by and Preached upon the Death and Funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Brooks late VVife to Mr. Samuel Brooks Minister in Darking in Surrey who Deceased March 13th 1697. By Mr. Tho. Doolittle Octavo Mr. Woodhouse's Reformation Sermon May 31th 1697 Octavo