us; "that are vifible) even the Eternal Godhead. By fuch Obfervations, Jays one of our Authors, "The Creation would no longer be a Riddle to the Heavens, Earth and Waters, with their refpective, various, and numerous Inhabitants; "their Productions, Nature, Seafons, Sympathies, " and Antypathies; their Use and Benefit, would "be better understood by us; and an eternal Wis"dom, Power, Majefty and Goodness, very con te fpicuous to us, thro' these fenfible and paffing "Forms; the World wearing the Mark of its Maker, whose Stamp is every where visible, " and the Characters legible to the Children of "Wisdom: This would direct People in the Use "of the World; for how could Man have the "Conscience to abuse it, while they fee the great "Creator ftaring them in the Face, in all and every Part of it." And adds; "As Man is con"fider'd as the Epitome of the World, we should "not be ignorant of our own Make and Frame; a Glafs, in which we fhould fee that true, inftructing and agreeable Variety, which is to be "observed in Nature, to the Admiration of that "Wisdom and Adoration of that Power, that "created and formed us." These and fuch like Relaxations, from higher Attentions, do not exclude God; whereas it would be impious fo much as to imagine, that the Smiles of God's Countenance, or his holy Presence, can in the least Degree be enjoy'd in the common Paftimes and Diverfions of the World; 'tis not expected nor pretended to by any of the Votaries to Pleasure. On the contrary, how is the facred Name of the Almighty daily and frequently prophaned, phaned, not only by profefs'd Gamefters, but by Perfons of both Sexes, who play, as they fay, for Diverfion, and who make no Scruple frequently to take God's holy Name in vain, and ufe it wickedly and abfurdly to blefs or curfe their, as they term it, good or bad Fortune! And indeed it has been often Subject of Amazement and Sorrow to me, when I fo frequently meet with, and obferve this Impiety, even amongst Profeffors of Christianity of moft Denominations, who irreverently, and, without Fear, take God's facred Name into their Mouths in their ordinary and trivial Difcourfe, and vain Conversation; not confidering that this Practice is an open and manifeft Violation of one of God's Laws or Commands, in which he declares, He will not hold them guiltless that take his Name in vain (which Precept they frequently repeat in their Worship.) And our Lord affures us, that for every idle Word that Men shall speak, they fhall give an Account in the Day of Judgment; how much more then for this daily Breach of One, not the leaft, of his Precepts? I would beg Leave to remind you, how careful and circumfpect David was in his Words; I, fays he, will take Heed to my Ways, that I fin not with my Tongue; I will keep my Mouth as with a Bridle, &c. And the Apostle James tells us pofitively, That Perfon's Religion isvain who bridleth not his Tongue: That we fuffer no corrupt Communication to proceed out of our Mouths; but on the contrary, fuch as is good, to the Use of edifying, that it may minifter Grace to the Hearers. One Mark of the Enemies of God is, that they prophane his Name. Thine Enemies, fays the Pfalmift, take thy Name in vain, O God! In In the Life and Character of Robert Boyle, as an Honour to his Memory we are told, That he never mentioned the Name of the Almighty, but with the greatest Reverence, and always made a Paufe at the fame Time: I with the Example of fo pious a Man may be more regarded, and the Evil Confequence of the above impious Practice more confider'd. But to return: The Manner in which we think it allowable to spend our leisure Hours, as has been obferv'd, does not exclude God; but ever admits and fuggefts fome fuitable edifying, moral and pious Reflections, never forgetting to have an Eye to God; and as we live in a Senfe of his Fear and Prefence, fhort Ejaculations, or Breathings, which come from, will often afcend to, God. On the contrary, where is the least Room for God, among thofe People who are ridiculously term'd People of Fashion, especially in Great Britain, where the Hours of People of this Name are spent in Folly,Impertinence and Wickednefs? As Home is burthenfome to Perfons of this Caft, 'tis now fashionable to go Abroad to Breakfaft, and, like those prophane Persons the Apostle Peter defcribes, they count it Pleasure to riot in the Day-time; fome of thefe dance great Part of the Morning away, while others are entertained. with Drollery, Mimick'ry and Buffoonery. When they are fufficiently tired with the Levity and Wantonnefs, the next Appearance of the Women at least, is at the Mercer's, Milliner's, or Toy-fhop, fpending in Folly, Superfluity and Extravagance, while the Hufbands of fome of them are perplexing their Brains how to support his Wife's Vanity, which is now become his own, as he proudly confiders 、 confiders it a Reproach to himself, that his Wife fhould be less fine and fashionable than his Neighbour's. The Toilet claims the Remainder of the Morning, 'till call'd upon at perhaps Three or Four o' Clock, for Dinner; and then fhe is fo hurried and uneafy, that she can't stay longer at her Glass to admire her Fopperies, that she has little to do but quarrel with her Dinner or Servants, 'till the Hour of Vifiting or Diverfions, which poffibly may continue till Three or Four next Morning. By the Account you have of one Day, you may easily conjecture how the whole Week is fpent. The Bufinefs of this Week being over, let us now see how the first Day of the next is-employ'd, or whether any thing of the Chriftian appears in their Behaviour on this Day. Having no Business to do on this idle Day, as many make it, some indulge and fleep longer than ufual on other Days, except those who use it as a Day of Exercife or Recreation, making Excurfions into the Country merely for Pleasure. But let us attend those who go to their respective Places of Worship regularly; thefe, by the prepofterous, fantastical and fplendid Dreffes, of both Male and Female, would induce a Stranger to think were Idolators repairing to fome Heathen Temple, rather than the Worship of the true God, who beholds their Splendor and Pride with Contempt, and every One, * "Are God's Eyes charm'd thy Veftments to behold, "Are Hearts which Love and Zeal inspires, One that is proud will he abafe; for it is faid, The Lord of Hofts hath purposed to stain the Pride of all earthly Glory. But next let us obferve them in their Worship; and here again, we might imagine they were addreffing fome fenfelefs dumb Idol, rather than the great Searcher of Hearts: For if we may be allow'd to judge by the Evidence of our Senfes, when we fee the Eyes of the greatest Part of the Congregation wandering abroad, on the Faces or Dreffes of each other, we may certainly conclude their Hearts are not at Home, or intent on their Worship: But how monftrous and impious is the Behaviour of thefe People, pretending to be employed in the Service of the Supreme Being, when we behold them bowing and paying Homage to each other, fometimes in the midft of their Worship. This irreligious Conduct I have not only been an Eye Witness of, but in the Practice of it, when I profeffed with you; on which Behaviour, as well as other Parts of Indevotion, I have fince reflected with Horror; and found our Lord's Words on feveral Occafions, verified in myfelf; I had been indeed worshipping I knew not what; therefore in vain was all the Formalities and Ceremonies I was performing outwardly, when I received no inward or fpiritual Benefit. A certain Clergyman, now living, as far as I know, (in his Remarks on the Levity and irreverent Conduct of People in this falfe Devotion) wishes Their Prayers may not be found in the Catalogue of their Sins. And another advises them, when at their Prayers, to pause and afk themselves, If they really do pray? I have been greatly concerned, when I have thought that fuch Pretences to |