Commission obtain'd from Artaxerxes he encourag'd to Rebuild the Walls of Jerusalem Grotius supposes he was one of the chief Members of the great Councel of their Nation And you may by the way Observe how desirable a thing it is to behold Secular Honour and Power in so happy a Conjunction with exemplary Piety and Vertue Partly Because the Circumstances of this great attempt of his for Reformation bear no inconsiderable resemblance to your own And chiefly Because in his Management of this attempt and in the Success it was Crown'd with you may Observe much both to Guide and to Animate your Holy Zeal You may both discern the true Characters of the excellent Spirit and Temper of a Pious Reformer and the happy issues in reference to the Publick and to himself that were the Result of his Religious Undertaking So that my Text without offering the least violence to it will of it self suggest to you the most suitable and instructive thoughts for this present Occasion I shall not now stay to take notice of those many other generous and pious Designs which this Great and Good man not only undertook but happily executed in the face of the most formidable difficulties and violent Opposition I shall only Observe That having joyn'd with the rest of the Princes the Levites and Priests in solemnly Renewing and Sealing their Covenant with God he particularly applied himself to the concerns of his House restoring the Offices of the Priests and Levites in the Temple and appointing Treasurers to distribute what the Law of Moses requir'd the other Tribes to contribute towards their liberal Support * See 9 10 11 and 12. Ch. But because the bare setting up God's publick Worship will signify little to promote the great design of practical Religion if the stated Seasons he has appointed for it be alienated from that Sacred to a common Use Therefore this excellent Reformer seeing the Sabbath of God that Day of Sacred Rest set apart for the Contemplation of his Works and Word and for the solemn Exercises of his Publick Worship * 2 Gen. 2 3 4 Luke 16.13 Acts 5.14 thus openly profan'd by the generality of the People he begins and prosecutes this pious attempt of Rescuing it from so notorious Pollution and of Restoring the Religious Observance of it I shall not now stay to Paraphrase the Text both because it needs little Explication and because what may be any way requisite will occur in prosecuting those Observations I shall make on this remarkable Passage for your present Instruction and Vse And I shall among many that might be made select the following ones I. We may from the matters of Fact mentioned in this Historical Passage Observe That Profaneness and Licentiousness do usually soon come to a great height even among a People professing the True Religion when they are countenanc't and strengthen'd by the Example of those that are of the highest Rank and Figure You know nothing was more directly contrary to the Law of Moses than the doing any servile Work on their Sabbath The fourth Precept of the Decalogue was most express to this purpose Six Days shalt thou Labour and do all thy Work but the Seventh Day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God in it thou shalt not do any Work Thou nor thy Son nor thy Daughter thy Man-Servant nor thy Maid-Servant nor thy Cattle nor the Stranger that is within thy Gates c. Even the Strangers were forbid to do any servile Work on the Sabbath least their Example shou'd ensnare the Jews in the guilt of Profaning it And indeed in this point the Law of God enjoyn'd no more on the Jews than what the Light of Nature it self did dictate to the Heathens Viz. That that part of Time which was Devoted to the publick Worship of the Deity shou'd not be employed in any thing that is inconsistent with it or a real hindrance to it Insomuch as * Macrob. Saturn lib. 1. c. 16. Serv. Honor. in Virg. Georg. 1. Fest v. Religios Macrobius Servius Festus and others tell us The Heathens themselves thought any servile Works that were not of pure necessity a Pollution of those Days that were Consecrated to their Gods So that the Practices here mention'd in the Text of treading Wine Presses bringing in Sheaves c. selling Fish and all manner of Ware were most gross and palpable Violations of the Fourth Commandment and even against the Morality of it For sad experience sufficiently tells us how soon all the impressions of Religion upon the minds of a People are generally lost and defac't where either they seldom attend the Publick Worship of God at all or where they are at Liberty to rush immediately from their Publick Devotions to their Secular Affairs or sensual Pastimes 'T is indeed no Wonder the Men of Tyre who disown'd the God of Israel shou'd make no scruple of Profaning his Sabbath But that these restored Captives so newly come out of those Calamities that this among other sins had brought upon 'em 〈◊〉 18. shou'd be so generally involv'd in this hainous Guilt seems more strange and unaccountable But the wonder will cease when we consider That our depraved Nature has a strong Aversion to the serious Exercises of true Piety and for want of a spiritualized Appetite to relish a true delight in 'em is prone to resent any long continuance of 'em as an unsufferable Weariness * 1 Mal. 13. That these irreligious Inclinations in this People were the more deeply rivetted from the Conjunction of their worldly Interest and Gain * 8 Amos 5. v. They were too zealous Votaries of Mammon to spare so much time for God and were far more intent upon their Traffick than their Devotions But that which seems chiefly to have harden'd 'em in this instance of Profaneness was the Example of their Nobles themselves * v. 17. And no wonder the Body of this People shou'd by their Avarice as well as Irreligion be drawn so deep into this Guilt when those that shou'd have restrain'd this Impiety in others by their Authority did rather Encourage and as it were warrant it by their own Practice Now all the Reflection I shall make on this Observation is only to suggest to you That we need the less wonder to meet with so great Difficulties in our attempts to Reform the Vices of the Age when we not only consider the agreeableness of 'em to the propensities of our vitiated Nature but the general countenance they have had even from too many of highest Rank and Authority Alas 't is too evident a Truth to be now contested That during the two late Reigns a Torrent of Profaneness and Irreligion Immorality and Lewdness came in upon these Lands with an irresistible Violence These Vices having once gain'd the Ascendant in a dissolute Court soon came into Fashion and Repute Swearing and Lewdness past for modish Accomplishments and to spend at least one part of the
A SERMON Preach't before the SOCIETIES For Reformation in DUBLIN Jan. 6. 1697 8. By J. Boyse DVBLIN Printed by J. B. and S. P. at the back of Dick's Coffee-House in Skinner-Row for Matthew Gunne at the Bible and Crown near Essex-Gate 1698. To the Societies for Reformation in Dublin AS this Sermon was Preach't at your Request so since you have thought the Publication of it might be useful to promote the success of that Excellent Work you are Engaged in I have herein also comply'd with your desire For tho' I am very sensible how far so mean a discourse falls beneath the Dignity and Importance of so great a Subject and how little Credit or Advantage your Pious Undertaking can derive from the recommendation of so inconsiderable a Name yet I have too hearty an Affection to this blessed Cause to be backward in contributing my utmost tho' but a small Mite towards the Advancement of it But I greatly rejoyce that there are some do espouse it the Eminency of whose Character and Station renders 'em capable of giving greater Reputation and Encouragement to it As to this Discourse I have upon the Review of it observ'd That something might have been added to Vindicate the present Method of Connecting one sort of Offenders from the Censures 't is too commonly loaded with But having more fully offer'd something to that purpose in another Discourse viz Concerning Profane Swearing and Cursing then the limits of my time wou'd allow in this Sermon I must referr the Reader thither For your selves 't is matter of great satisfaction and Joy to all that wish well to your worthy Design to find the Regularity of your Methods in Executing it so answerable to the real Excellency of it For I have as yet heard of no well-grounded Complaints of any illegal stops you have taken or of any that can justly pretend to have suffer'd by any false Informations I doubt not you will continue the same exactness and Care in all your future proceedings and give none the least ground to charge you with going beyond the bounds of the Laws of Man in your zeal to suppress the Violation of the Laws of God And since your Enterprize is so truly Religious and your Management of it so unexceptionably fair I am not without hope that this Discourse may convince some that have hitherto contented themselves with only wishing well to it of their indispensable Obligation to join with you and become more active in it according to their capacity and opportunities of being serviceable to it And there is the greater need of a considerable Addition to your Numbers because your Zeal must not be confin'd to this City while this necessary Work is so wofully and generally neglected in other parts of the Kingdom For it will require your utmost united interest and application to engage so many in this Design as may be capable of setting it on foot in most of our populous Towns And yet till that be done you cannot expect the Reformation will be General and truly National So that without this there will be great danger lest those Vices that seem now like a routed and flying Enemy should again rally their forces and at last defeat all your hopeful attempts for the crushing of ' em Let then the present satisfaction of your being so highly serviceable to the undoubted interest of your Blessed Lord Let the view of his own bright Example of whom it was so justly said That the Zeal of God's House had eaten him up Let the certain prospect of a future and glorious Recompense Nay let the consideration of that gracious providence of God that has hitherto smil'd upon your Endeavours and given you the comfort of beholding already so happy Effects of 'em reconcile you to all the continued hardship and self-denial the difficulties and toil of so great an Vndertaking Be not weary of well-doing but prosecute this glorious Work with an unshaken Resolution and persevering Constancy till your great End be attain'd till the Interest of Religion and Vertue triumph over that of Irreligion and Vice and these publick Sins become as unfashionable and rare as they are detestable and pernicious And that the Great God whose Cause you so strenuously continue to maintain may unite your Hearts in the firmest bonds of mutual Love That he may prosper your pious Endeavours with more remarkable success here and crown 'em hereafter with his Heavenly Reward is the hearty prayer of Your unfeigned Well wisher J. B. A SERMON PREACH'T Before the Societies for Reformation Jan 6. 1697 8. Nehemiah 13. Ver. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22. VERS 15. In those Days saw I in Judah some treading Wine Presses on the Sabbath and bringing in Sheaves and lading Asses as also Wines Grapes and Figs and all manner of Burdens which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath Day and I testify'd against them in the Day wherein they sold Victuals 16. There dwelt Men of Tyre also therein which brought Fish and all manner of Ware and sold on the Sabbath to the Children of Judah and in Jerusalem 17. Then I contended with the Nobles of Judah and said unto 'em What Evil Thing is this that ye do and Profane the Sabbath Day 18. Did not your Fathers thus and did not our God bring this Evil upon us and upon this City Yet ye bring more Wrath upon Israel by Profaning the Sabbath 19. And it came to pass when the Gates of Jerusalem began to be Dark before the Sabbath I commanded that the Gates shou'd be shut and charged that they shou'd not be opened till after the Sabbath And some of my Servants set I at the Gates that there shou'd be no Burden brought in on the Sabbath Day 20. So the Merchants and Sellers of all kind of Ware lodged without Jerusalem once or twice 21. Then I testify'd against 'em and said unto 'em Why lodge ye about the Walls If ye do so again I will lay Hands on you From that time forth came they no more on the Sabbath 22. And I commanded the Levites that they shou'd cleanse themselves and that they shou'd come and keep the Gates to Sanctify the Sabbath Day Remember me O my God concerning this also and spare me according to the Greatness of thy Mercy SInce 't is the design of this Discourse to recommend to you that Noble Work of Reforming a Licentious Age and to Encourage and Direct your resolute endeavours in it I have fixt my Thoughts on this remarkable Passage which sets before you so illustrious a Pattern as that of Pious Nehemiah A Pattern on several Accounts most worthy of your Notice and Imitation Partly in respect of his eminent Quality and Station For not only the Title of Tirshatha or Governor so often given him * 2 Ezra 63 v. 7 Neh. 65. x. 1. but the whole History of his Transactions plainly shews he had a considerable Authority among these restored Captives whom by a
Heaven He is thereby constituted the Guardian of both Tables of the Law and is therefore oblig'd to promote the Observance and to restrain the open violation of its excellent Precepts He is the Minister of God appointed by him as a Revenger to execute Wrath upon Evil-doers 13 Rom. 3 4. And indeed if he do not so manage his Power as to render it a Terror to all such by restraining their publick and enormous Vices he so far bears the Sword in vain by not answering the great End for which he is entrusted with it And 't is the Magistrate's Authority must give Vigour and Force to all regular Attempts this way and 't is their Zeal and Resolution must put Life into ' em And accordingly You see in my Text it was Nehemiah the Governour that here set this excellent Work of Reformation on foot 'T was he rebuk't the Nobles of Judah for encouraging this Profanation of the Sabbath 'T was he commanded the Gates to be shut and by his threatning of just Severity put a stop to that shameful Traffick by which that Sacred day was Polluted But since the effectual suppression of Profaneness and Wickedness tho' warranted by the Magistrate's Authority does necessarily require many Hands to concur in it I therefore add That all shou'd be ready to joyn in so excellent a Design so far as their regular Endeavours in their Station can be Serviceable to promote it Thus this pious Reformer orders the Gates of Jerusalem to be shut he sets his Servants there to stop any burthen from entring into ' em And because the People would probably pay a greater reverence to the Levites he orders them to keep the Gates that they might reprove the People for their profanation of the Sabbath and urge 'em to the Sanctification of it Thus were all proper hands set at Work to carry on so necessary and Religious a Design On this Observation I shall only make the two following Reflections 1. We may hence see matter of great thankfulness to God and of Encouragement in this excellent Work That our Magistrates to whom it principally belongs are so far engaged in it What reason have we to bless and adore the divine Majesty that he has incited and directed those that are entrusted with the legistative Authority to enact so excellent Laws against the profanation of his holy Name and Day That he has fill'd so many inferior Magistrates with Zeal for the Execution of ' em But above all how shou'd our hearts be chear'd and our hands strengthened by that publick Declaration which our gracious Sovereign has so lately made That he esteems it as one of the greatest Advantages of the Peace that he shall now have leisure as for other important Affairs so particularly for this of effectually discouraging Profaneness and Immorality O may the King of Kings confirm these Pious purposes in his Royal Heart and inspire him with suitable Resolution and Courage in the happy Execution of ' em May the Restoration of the Honour and the vital Power as well as the Preservation of the External Profession of the True Religion among us be the principal Glory of his Reign May his eminent Conquest over the Vices of the Age the most Dangerous and deadly of all our Enemies add a New and Brighter Lustre to his Crown While others stain their Government by such unwarrantable acts of blind Zeal as the extinguishing the Light of Divine Truth may his become truly Illustrious by such commendable instances of regular Zeal as the suppressing the unquestionably Evil and pernicious Works of Darkness May our Publick Reformation most eminently begin where our Corruption did before at our Court and amongst our Nobility and Gentry that there may be a happy Conjunction of Great Examples with Just Authority to put Irreligion and Wickedness if possible out of countenance and to retrieve the declining Reputation and Interest of true Piety and Holiness Nay We shou'd not in our Thankfulness to God overlook the wonderful efficacy of his Grace in exciting the Zeal of so many private Christians to concur in this excellent Work tho' under the greatest Discouragements And especially when we consider how deeply the contagion of Impiety and Lewdness had infected our Youth What a surprising Mercy is it to behold so many of them so resolutely engaging in this Religious Design To Observe such a Spirit of warm Devotion spreading it self among those of the Rising Age to see them prefer the strict Exercises of serious Piety before the folly of Plays and the Riot of Taverns to see them not only to renounce those Lusts themselves which their Age has usually the strongest propensity to but to contribute their utmost Endeavours to suppress 'em in others to behold them so declared Enemies of Irreligion and Vice and so vigorous Abettors and commendable Patterns of Godliness and Sobriety this is so marvellous an instance of Divine Grace 'T is so astonishing and reviving a Sight that we cannot but look upon it as a happy Prognostick of future good and from thence conceive Great and Glorious hopes concerning the ensuing Age. 2. We shou'd hence be all of us excited to do our utmost towards the advancing this excellent Design according to our capacity and opportunities of promoting it Those concern'd in the framing of our Laws have already done their part Nay they have laid a considerable Obligation on Inferior Magistrates to do their part also by subjecting those to Penalties that neglect their Duty But yet it were much to be wisht that all our Justices of the Peace wou'd imitate the Activity and Zeal which some of 'em in this City have to their perpetual and deserved Honour set 'em so Noble a Pattern of I mean That they wou'd animate and encourage the Zeal of honest Informers and do their utmost by their prudent management of this Affair to Cover and Protect 'em from the Notice and Malice of those enraged Offenders whose Reformation they truly seek Constables shou'd also perform their part with Integrity and Diligence with Courage and Resolution They shou'd not be accessary to these Vices by their connivance at or partial Lenity to Offenders Nay all that can contribute to the success of this great Undertaking by giving Informations against Vice shou'd also faithfully do their part And indeed 't is chiefly on private Persons now that the main stress of this important Work is devolv'd For 't is on your Resolution and Industry to convict Offenders that the Execution of these good Laws and the happy effects we hope thereby almost entirely depend For without continued Convictions these Vices will still go Unpunisht And consequently the profane and proffligate Sinners of the Age will still persist in their Wickedness with as secure contempt of the Sword of Justice in the Hand of the Magistrate as hitherto of that in the hand of God Whereas the more active your Societies combin'd for this excellent purpose are and the more the Numbers of