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ID Title Author Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) STC Words Pages
A45490 A sermon preach'd at the Church of St. Mary le Bow, to the Societies for Reformation of Manners, December 26, 1698 by John Hancock ... Hancocke, John, d. 1728. 1699 (1699) Wing H642; ESTC R21383 12,830 50

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Reformation therefore lies in a manner at our own doors Two Things therefore are requisite in this Case 1. That those that have any Power or Authority should Conscientiously use it to the Countenancing of Religion and to the Punishment of Vice and Profaneness 2. That all of us in our several Stations and according to our Opportunities and Abilities should concur with them and put our Hands to this good Work Under the First Head I must reckon Parents in the Family and Inferiour Magistrates in the Commonwealth As to Parents I cannot forbear to say I am apt to believe that their Neglect in the Education of their Children is one at least of the most universal Causes of that Impiety that reigns among us This as some Physicians speak of the Natural Body is that Error in the first concoction that is not to be throughly amended in the second When Families that are the Elements of the Body Politick are so much neglected and so far corrupted the Constitution of it must needs be very crazy And on the contrary did Parents take that Care they ought to give their Children a timely sence of Religion of their Duty to God and Man and bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord the work of the Civil Magistrate would be in a great measure done to his Hand and we should need fewer Laws and less Courage and Resolution in the execution of them 2. I will make bold to speak a word to those that are subordinate Magistrates in the State That they would with Zeal and Vigour put those good Laws we have in execution against the scandalous Vices of the Age. That they would take all Occasions and lay hold on Opportunities to stop the Growth of Impiety and Irreligion At least that if they think it not incumbent on themselves to seek for Informations they would readily and chearfully receive them and not discourage those whose Pious Zeal prompts them to be Instrumental to bring Enormous Offenders to Punishment And that they would take care to live such innocent and inoffensive Lives themselves that they may set a good Face upon the Punishment of Offenders But I will not insist too long on this I shall only very briefly remind them how much the Honour of God and of the Government is concerned in this matter That they are under the Oath of God That the execution and by consequence the good effect of those wholsome Laws we have against Profaneness lyes in a manner wholly in their Hands and the miscarriage will in a great measure lye at their Doors That they have an Opportunity of doing an act of the greatest Charity to the Publick nay and as it may happen to the Offenders themselves And lastly the immortal Honour that will accrue to themselves If they signalize themselves by their Zeal in this good Work not only this but the next Generation may rise up and call them blessed 2. It is the Duty of every one of us in our several Stations to put our helping Hand to this good Work And that we may be the better induced to do this in good earnest let us be deeply sensible of the Sins of the Times Let us often think how sad the consequence will be of such a general defection from the Duties of Religion Let us be heartily sorry we can do no more toward the Work of Reformation 'T was not below David though a King even to weep for the Wickedness of other Men. If we have any sence of Piety to God we cannot but be heartily concern'd at his Dishonour If we have any Charity for Men it cannot but grieve us to see them running so fast in the ready way to Ruine and Destruction If we have any concern for the Publick we must needs be apprehensive of the Danger we are in to be overwhelm'd by these Floods of Ungodliness If we could do nothing else yet we should at least secretly bewail the Impieties of the Times we live in But this inward sence will naturally prompt us to do our best not only to stem the tide of Sin our selves but to turn it towards a Reformation 1. Then let us make a free open publick and avowed Profession of the Truths and Rules of our Religion We need not be ashamed of the Gospel of Christ while we are sure it is the Power of God unto Salvation While we have both the Law of God and Man to justifie us why should not we be as bold for Religion as the most profest and impudent Sinner can be against it How indecent is it while Sin puts on a Whores Forehead that Religion should creep into a Corner Mistake me not I am not now perswading you to pretend to more than you have to make an Hypocritical and Pharisaical Pretence to Piety but only that you would openly avow the Obligations that lye upon you to an Holy Life And therefore 2. Be sure your Practice keep pace with your Profession and that you really be what you pretend to be Good Christians and make this appear before the World in the whole tenour of your Conversation Our Blessed Saviour who blames the Pharisees that they did all their Works to be seen of Men and 't was no better than Hypocrisie while their whole Design was the Praise of Men yet in another place bids us Let our Light so shine before Men that they may see our good Works and glorifie our Father which is in Heaven That is be so strictly Holy that the World cannot chuse but take Notice of it tho' for any value we set upon the Praise of Men we may not care much whether they do or no. We see Examples have a mighty Power and Influence upon the Lives of Men. They are apt to follow a Multitude though it be to do Evil. O that we could once see it as Fashionable to be Vertuous and Religious as it has too long been to be Loose and Vicious or at least Negligent and Lukewarm Let us do God and Religion and our selves the Honour if I may so speak to begin the Mode and do our best to bring Religion into Fashion And who can tell how far some considerable number of Religious Examples shining as Lights in the midst of this crooked and perverse Generation might enlighten the World And though there might some Hypocrisie creep in yet methinks that is much to be preferred before open Profaneness and 't were better that God and Religion should be though it were but seemingly honour'd by some Pretenders to Religion than openly affronted by Profane and Loose Men. Let us then by an open and avowed Profession and Practice of a substantial and unaffected Piety declare against the Wickedness of the Age and by our Examples at least lead the way to a Reformation 3. Let us by our Advice Admonition and Reproof do what we can to reform others too 'T is pity this is so much disused that it is almost counted a piece of Rudeness to