SECTION IV.

Advice suggested by the state of the times to true Christians.

To those, who really deserve the appellation of true Christians, much has been said incidentally in the course of the present work. It has been maintained, and the proposition will not be disputed by any sound or experienced politician, that they are always most important members of the community. But we may boldly assert, that there never was a period wherein, more justly than in the present, this could be affirmed of them; whether the situation, in all its circumstances, of our own country be attentively considered, or the general state of society in Europe. Let them on their part seriously weigh the important station which they fill, and the various duties which it now peculiarly enforces on them. If we consult the most intelligent accounts of foreign countries, which have been recently published, and compare them with the reports of former travellers; we must be convinced, that Religion and the standard of morals are every where declining, abroad even more rapidly than in our own country. But still, the progress of irreligion, and the decay of morals at home, are such as to alarm every considerate mind, and to forebode the worst consequences, unless some remedy can be applied to the growing evil. We can depend only upon true Christians for effecting, in any degree, this important service. Their system, as was formerly stated, is that of our national church: and in proportion, therefore, as their system prevails, or as it increases in respect and estimation, from the manifest good conduct of its followers; in that very proportion the church is strengthened in the foundations, on which alone it can be much longer supported, the esteem and attachment of its members, and of the nation at large. Zeal is required in the cause of Religion; they only can feel it. The charge of singularity must be incurred; they only will dare to encounter it. Uniformity of conduct, and perseverance in exertion, will be requisite; among no others can we look for those qualities.

Let true Christians then, with becoming earnestness, strive in all things to recommend their profession, and to put to silence the vain scoffs of ignorant objectors. Let them boldly assert the cause of Christ in an age when so many, who bear the name of Christians, are ashamed of Him: and let them consider as devolved on Them the important duty of suspending for a while the fall of their country, and, perhaps, of performing a still more extensive service to society at large; not by busy interference in politics, in which it cannot but be confessed there is much uncertainty; but rather by that sure and radical benefit of restoring the influence of Religion, and of raising the standard of morality.

Let them be active, useful, generous towards others; manifestly moderate and self-denying in themselves. Let them be ashamed of idleness, as they would be of the most acknowledged sin. When Providence blesses them with affluence, let them withdraw from the competition of vanity; and, without sordidness or absurdity, shew by their modest demeanour, and by their retiring from display, that, without affecting singularity, they are not slaves to fashion; that they consider it as their duty to set an example of moderation and sobriety, and to reserve for nobler and more disinterested purposes, that money, which others selfishly waste in parade, and dress, and equipage. Let them evince, in short, a manifest moderation in all temporal things; as becomes those whose affections are set on higher objects than any which this world affords, and who possess, within their own bosoms, a fund of satisfaction and comfort, which the world seeks in vanity and dissipation. Let them cultivate a catholic spirit of universal good will, and of amicable fellowship towards all those, of whatever sect or denomination, who, differing from them in non-essentials, agree with them in the grand fundamentals of Religion. Let them countenance men of real piety wherever they are found; and encourage in others every attempt to repress the progress of vice, and to revive and diffuse the influence of Religion and virtue. Let their earnest prayers be constantly offered, that such endeavours may be successful, and that the abused long-suffering of God may still continue to us the invaluable privilege of vital Christianity.

Let them pray continually for their country in this season of national difficulty. We bear upon us but too plainly the marks of a declining empire. Who can say but that the Governor of the universe, who declares himself to be a God who hears the prayers of his servants, may, in answer to their intercessions, for a while avert our ruin, and continue to us the fulness of those temporal blessings, which in such abundant measure we have hitherto enjoyed. Men of the world, indeed, however they may admit the natural operation of natural causes, and may therefore confess the effects of Religion and morality in promoting the well being of the community; may yet, according to their humour, with a smile of complacent pity, or a sneer of supercilious contempt, read of the service which real Christians may render to their country, by conciliating the favour and calling down the blessing of Providence. It may appear in their eyes an instance of the same superstitious weakness, as that which prompts the terrified inhabitant of Sicily to bring for the image of his tutelar saint, in order to stop the destructive ravages of Ætna. We are, however, sure, if we believe the Scripture, that God will be disposed to favour the nation to which his servants belong; and that, in fact, such as They, have often been the unknown and unhonoured instruments of drawing down on their country the blessings of safety and prosperity.

But it would be an instance in myself of that very false shame which I have condemned in others, if I were not boldly to avow my firm persuasion, that to the decline of Religion and morality our national difficulties must both directly and indirectly be chiefly ascribed; and that my only solid hopes for the well-being of my country depend not so much on her fleets and armies, not so much on the wisdom of her rulers, or the spirit of her people, as on the persuasion that she still contains many, who, in a degenerate age, love and obey the Gospel of Christ; on the humble trust that the intercession of these may still be prevalent, that for the sake of these, Heaven may still look upon us with an eye of favour.

Let the prayers of the Christian reader be also offered up for the success of this feeble endeavour in the service of true Religion. God can give effect to the weakest effort; and the writer will feel himself too much honoured, if by that which he has now been making, but a single fellow creature should be awakened from a false security, or a single Christian, who deserves the name, be animated to more extensive usefulness. He may seem to have assumed to himself a task which he was ill qualified to execute. He fears he may be reproached with arrogance and presumption for taking upon him the office of a teacher. Yet, as he formerly suggested, it cannot be denied, that it belongs to his public situation to investigate the state of the national Religion and morals; and that it is the part of a real patriot to endeavour to retard their decline, and promote their revival. But if the office, in which he has been engaged, were less intimately connected with the duties of his particular station, the candid and the liberal mind would not be indisposed to pardon him. Let him be allowed to offer in his excuse a desire not only to discharge a duty to his country, but to acquit himself of what he deems a solemn and indispensable obligation to his acquaintance and his friends. Let him allege the unaffected solicitude which he feels for the welfare of his fellow creatures. Let him urge the fond wish he gladly would encourage; that, while, in so large a part of Europe, a false philosophy having been preferred before the lessons of revelation, Infidelity has lifted up her head without shame, and walked abroad boldly and in the face of day; while the practical consequences are such as might be expected, and licentiousness and vice prevail without restraint: here at least there might be a sanctuary, a land of Religion and piety, where the blessings of Christianity might be still enjoyed, where the name of the Redeemer might still be honoured; where mankind might be able to see what is, in truth, the Religion of Jesus, and what are its blessed effects; and whence, if the mercy of God should so ordain it, the means of religious instruction and consolation might be again extended to surrounding countries and to the world at large.

INDEX.

A

Abuse of things, unfairness of arguing from it against their use, 53.

Acceptance with God, commonly prevailing notions respecting it, 85-88. —Scripture, and Church of England, doctrine respecting it, 88-92. —practical consequences, of common notions respecting it, 89. —true doctrine vindicated from objection, 93-94.

Addison, quoted, 162.

Affections, of their admission into Religion, 57, 58. —their admission into Religion reasonable, 59-62. —true test and measure of them in Religion, 62-65. —in Religion, not barely allowable, but highly necessary, 66-69. —our Saviour the just object of them, 69, 70. —objection, that they are impossible towards an invisible Being, discussed, 71-77. —little excited by public misfortunes, and why, 75, 76. —towards our Saviour, special grounds for them, 77, 78. —divine aid promised for exciting them, 79, 80. —our statements respecting them in Religion verified by facts, 80, 81. —religious, St. Paul a striking instance of them, 61.

Ambition, votaries of, 125, 126.

Amiable tempers, discussion respecting, 178-198. —substituted for Religion, 179, 180. —value of, estimated by the standard of mere reason, 180. —false pretenders to them, 181. —real nature, when not grounded on Religion, 181, 182. —precarious nature, 182-184. —value of, on Christian principles, 186. —life, Christian's most so, 190, 191. —Christians urged to this, 192-196. —its just praise, 197, 198. —apt to deceive us, 198.

Applause, desire of, universal, 146, 147.

B.

Babington, the reverend Matthew, 259.

Benevolence, true Christian, its exalted nature, 287, 288.

Bacon, Lord, quoted, 229.

C.

Calumny, considerations which reconcile the Christian to it, 169, 170.

Charity, true, what, and its marks, 311, 312.

Christianity, vital revival of, would invigorate church establishment, 294. —vital, alone suited to lower orders, 295, 296. —the common system, falsely so called, 305. —the truest patriotism, 287-292. —of the world, its base nature, 324. —not a gloomy service, 326-332. —relaxations compatible with, 327, 328. —its solid texture, 332. —general, what so called, 334, 335. —true, requires incessant watchfulness and care, 336. —state in which it finds us, 30-33. —its present critical circumstances, 265-272. —reduced to a system of ethics, proofs of this, 273, 277, 278. —causes, which have tended to produce neglect of her peculiar doctrines, 269, 270, 274-276. —peculiar doctrines of, taught by the oldest divines and highest dignitaries of the English church, 273, 274. —peculiar doctrines gradually fallen into neglect, 276-278. —sad symptoms of its low state among us, 278-280. —objection, that our system of it too strict, stated and answered, 280-283. —vital, its happy influence on temporal well-being of communities, 283-285. —not hostile to patriotism, 285-287. —from its essential nature, peculiarly adapted to well-being of communities, 290-292. —vital, can alone produce these effects, 293. —excellence of it, in some particulars not commonly noticed, 252-259. —general state of, in England, 262. —its tendency to promote the well-being of political communities, 262-288, 292, 293. —has raised the general standard of practice, 264, 265. —sickens in prosperity and flourishes under persecution, 266, 267. —peculiarities of, naturally slide into disuse, 269.

Christians, true, duties especially incumbent on them in these times, 350-353. —should pray for their country, 351. —their prayers intreated for the success of this work, 353. —ready made, who esteemed such, 318. —real, how different from nominal, 214, 215. —life, illustrated by figure of a traveller, 217-219.

Commons, House of, proves inordinate love of worldly glory, 159.

Consistency between Christianity's leading doctrines and practical precepts, 231-252, 253. —between Christianity's leading doctrines amongst each other, 253. —between Christianity's practical precepts amongst each other, 253-257.

Contact, necessary to produce any interest in our affections, 73-78, 81.

Corruption of human nature, common notions of it, 14-16. —of human nature, Scripture account of it, 16, 26, 27. —of human nature, arguments suggested in proof of it, 16-26. —of Heathen world, and striking instance of it, 18, 19. —of savage life, 19, 20. —proof of it, furnished by the state of the Christian world, 20-24. —by the experience of the true Christian, 24, 25. —human, its general effects, when suffered to operate without restraint, 25, 26. —human, firm grounds on which it rests, 35. —human, practical uses of the doctrine, 36.

Cowper's Task, recommended, 234-352. —quoted, 251.

D.

Defective, conceptions generally prevailing concerning importance of Christianity, 1-5. —conceptions concerning human corruption, 15, 16. —conceptions concerning the evil spirit, 28. —conceptions concerning the doctrines, which respect our Saviour and the Holy Spirit, 70, 71, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50. —conceptions concerning the means of acceptance with God, 84-91. —conceptions prevailing concerning practical Christianity, 102-104, 117-205. —conceptions of guilt and evil of sin, 206-210. —fear of God, 210. —sense of the difficulty of getting to heaven, 214, 215. —love of God in nominal Christians, 219-221. —love of God, proofs of it in nominal Christians, 221-224. —conceptions general, concerning peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 231. —conceptions of peculiarities of Christianity, practical mischiefs from them, 232.

Depths, of the things of God; and our proneness to plunge into them, 41-43.

Devotedness to God, duty of it, 107-110, 113, 116, 118.

Dissipated and indolent, class of, 121, 122.

Dissipation, seems to have prevailed in the antediluvian world, 213.

Doddridge's Sermons on Regeneration, referred to, note, 83.

Duelling, its guilt, &c. 159-161.

E.

Error, innocence of, considered, 10-12.

Establishment, religious, in England, how circumstanced, 267.

Estimation, desire of, universal, 146, 147. — common language concerning it, the effects of the love of it, and the nature of the passion, 148-150. — commendations of it questioned, 151. — essential defects of inordinate love of it, explained, 152, 153. — love of, Scripture lessons concerning, 152-156. — value of, analogous to riches, 156. — love of, common notions respecting it, 157, 158. — proofs of our statements respecting it from House of Commons, 159. — proofs of our statements respecting it from duelling, 159-161. — real nature of inordinate love of it, 162, 163. — true Christian's conduct respecting love of it, 164-173. — true modes of guarding against excessive love of it, 171, 172. — advice to the true Christian respecting love of it, 174-178. — love of, best moderated by humility and charity, 176. — true Christian's temper respecting it, 177.

Evil spirit, the existence and agency not contrary to reason, 28, 29.

External actions substituted for habits of mind, 134, 135.

F.

Faith, Christian's life, a life of, 137, 138.

Families, two, the righteous and the wicked, 212.

Ferguson, the historian, 290.

Fuller's Calvinism and Socinianism compared, 344.

Fundamental practical distinction between systems of nominal and real Christians, 237, 250, 251.

G.

General tone of morals, Christianity has raised it, 104. —established by consent in every country, 263, 264.

Geneva, the effect of theatres, 223.

Gloomy service, false charge that we make Christianity such, 327.

Glory, true and false, what properly so called, 153. —Mistakes concerning it, 153.

Good hearted young men, term misapplied, 310.

Good hearted young men, the title disproved, 315.

Gratitude, true signs of, 49.

H.

Habits, of mind forgotten in Religion, 134-146.

Heavenly mindedness, best promoted by being much conversant with peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 250.

Holy Spirit, Scripture doctrine concerning, 44, 82, 83. —popular notions concerning, 50-53.

Honour, false notions respecting it, 162, 163.

Horne, Dr. quoted, 61.

Humility, best enforced by peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 244, 245. —the ground of Christian graces, 146. —excellent practical effects of, 176.

I.

Ignorance of Christianity, common, 5, 6. —criminal, 6, 7.

Importance of Christianity, inadequate conceptions generally entertained of it, 1-13. —of Christianity, proofs of the inadequate ideas generally entertained of it, 2-5. —of Christianity, ideas of it given by the Holy Scriptures, 8-10. —of Christianity, best enforced by peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 240.

Inconsistency of the world's practical system, 255, 256.

Indifference about Christianity generally prevalent, 9. —general towards our Saviour, proofs of, 46-48.

Infidelity, common progress of it, 338-342. —a disease of the heart more than of the understanding, 342.

Innocent young women, term how misapplied, 310. —young women, the title disproved, 315.

Intellectual attainments, rated below moral by Christianity, 257-260. —low degree of excellence within our reach, 258.

J.

Jones, Sir William, a champion for Christianity, 348.

K.

Kenyon, Lord Chief Justice, commendations of, 302.

L.

Language, common, concerning the importance of Christianity, 5. —concerning human corruption, 15. —concerning affections towards our Saviour, and Holy Spirit's operations, 51, 52. —concerning terms of acceptance with God, 85-87. —concerning mode of relaxing the strictness of Christian precept, 132, 133. —concerning human judicatures, 133. —concerning amiable tempers and useful lives, 179. —common to people desirous of repenting, 235.

Learning, votaries of, 127.

Life, Christian, illustrated under figure of a traveller, 217-219. —Christian's, a life of faith, 137-140.

Liturgy, bad effects to be feared from its disuse, 297.

Lives, several mentioned, 336.

Love, true signs of it, 46, 47. —of God, its essential characters, 110. —of Christ, justly to be expected of us, 69, 70, 77, 78, 107, 108. —means of exciting it, 99, 100. —of God, defective in nominal Christians, 219, 220. —of God, proofs of its being defective, 220-224. —of fellow-creatures, nominal Christians defective in, 225. —of fellow-creatures, true marks of, 226-229. —of God, best enforced by Christianity's peculiarities, 242. —Christians to cultivate this grace above all others, 324. —its excellent effects in the true Christian, 325. —of fellow-creatures best enforced by peculiar doctrines, 243, 244.

Low standard of practice generally prevailing, 102, 103, 117-135.

Lower classes, not unfit that true doctrine of acceptance should be stated to them, 93, 94.

M.

McLaurin, his essays and sermons referred to, 83, 97.

Maurice, Mr. a defender of Christianity, 348.

Maxims, which prove human corruption, 21.

Medium, religious, almost lost, 130.

Milton, quoted, 43.

Moral, attainments rated above intellectual, by Christianity, 257. —attainments, how much more we can excel in them than in intellectual ones, 259.

Moravians, commendation of, 56.

N.

Natural condition of man without Christianity, 31-33.

Nature, essential, of true practical Christianity, 129.

Necessity, excuse on the plea of, stated, and answered, 36-42. —opponent on the ground of, how best opposed, 37, 38.

Nominal and real Christian, distinction between them most important, 306.

Novels, prove how peculiarities of Christianity have fallen into neglect, 277, 278.

O.

Objections against the religious affections towards Christ, and against the operations of the Holy Spirit, 50-53. —against human accountableness, discussed, 36-42. —against the religious affections towards Christ, and against the operations of the Holy Spirit, discussed, 53-83.

Outgrowing vices mistaken for forsaking them, 308, 318.

Owen, Dr. referred to, 275.

P.

Paley, Mr. his defence of Christianity noticed, 260, 281.

Partiality in the religious views of nominal Christians, 119-121.

Particular, Christians must not fear to be so when required by duty, 167.

Pascal's thoughts referred to, 245. —thoughts recommended, 348.

Peculiar, doctrines, use, in promoting humility, 244, 245. —in promoting moderation in earthly pursuits, 246. —in promoting cheerfulness in suffering, 247. —in promoting confidence in danger, and patience in suffering, 248, 249. —in promoting heavenly mindedness, 250. —doctrines, demand our utmost attention, 94-97. —doctrines, use of, 239. —doctrines, use of, in enforcing importance of Christianity, 240. —doctrines, use of, in enforcing entire surrender to God, 240. —doctrines, use of, in enforcing guilt of sin, and dread of punishment, 241. —in promoting love of God, 241, 242. —in promoting love of fellow-creatures, 243, 244.

Philosophy, epicurism and stoicism, 59.

Pitt, Mr. slander respecting him refuted—Note 272.

Pleasure, the true Christian finds in Religion, 139, 140.

Pleasures of true Religion, 325-332.

Policy, mistaken, of compromise with immorality, 301.

Polished state of society no security against progress of immorality, 298, 299.

Political, good effects from the prevalence of Christianity, as above described, 283-295. —good effects from revival of vital Christianity, 296. —bad effects from its farther decline, 297, 298. —happiness of a Christian nation, 283-287.

Pomp and parade, votaries of, 124.

Poor the, more favourably circumstanced as to Religion, 93, 292.

Pope, the Poet, referred to, 246.

Popular notions concerning our Saviour and the Holy Spirit, 46-48.

Practical hints, on importance of Christianity, 13. —on human corruption, 35. —on mode of dealing with a certain description of infidels, 37, 38. —on the means of exciting our affections towards our Saviour, 99, 100. —respecting love of estimation, 174-178. —respecting amiable tempers and useful lives, 192. —to naturally sweet tempered, 193. —to naturally rough and austere, 194-199. —to true Christian, when engaged in hurry of worldly affairs, 199-204. —to persons desirous of repenting, 235. —respecting uses of peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 240-251. —for revival of Religion, 300-304. —to various descriptions, 305-318. —to such as, having been hitherto careless, wish to become true Christians, 318-332. —to some who profess their full assent to fundamental doctrines of Christianity, 333-336. —to Sceptics and Unitarians, 337-345. —to half-unbelievers, 346-348. —to true Christians, from state of times, 349-354. —Christianity, chapter on, 100-251. —prevailing low views of it, 102-104. —Christianity, its real strictness, 105, 106. —its true nature, 107-110. —charged on all without exception in its full strictness, 111-115. —mischiefs of neglect of peculiarities of Christianity, 232. —distinction, fundamental, between systems of nominal and real Christians, 231-234. —precepts of Christianity, most excellent, 260. —use of peculiar doctrines of Christianity, 238.

Prevailing, low views of practical Christianity, proofs of them, 104. —inadequate sense of peculiar doctrines of Christians, 231, &c.

Probation, notion of, disproves prevailing system of Religion, 317.

Proof of Christianity's divine origin, 260-262.

Puritans, many of their writings commended, 275.

R.

Religion, practical hints for its revival, 300-305. — the only true support in trouble and peril, 332.

Repentance, advice for such as are disposed to, 318-324.

Reputation, true Christian's conduct respecting it, 164-178. — true Christian preserves, without over-valuing it, 167-170.

Richardson, mentioned, 278.

Robertson, Dr. censured, 279.

Rousseau, school of, 204, 205.

S.

Scepticism, natural history of it, 338-340.

Sceptics and Unitarians, advantage they have in attacking Christianity, 344, 345.

Scripture doctrine, importance of, to Christianity, 8-10. — doctrine, concerning human corruption, 14-27. — doctrine, concerning Christ and the Holy Spirit, 43, 44.

Self-deception, frequent sources of, 306-318. — another common kind, 333-335.

Self-examination, helps in, 306.

Selfishness of common practical Religion, 121-127. — the disease of political societies, 288. — peculiarly counteracted by Christianity, 291, 292.

Sensibility, exquisite, how little truly valuable, and how different from true practical benevolence, 204, 205.

Sensualists class of, 123.

Sin, how spoken of in Scripture, 211. — defective conceptions of, 207.

Sincerity, false notion of it, 10-12. — true what, 13.

Sins, no little ones, 210, 211. — little, what accounted such, 208.

Smith, Dr. Adam, 76. 188, 189. 279.

Soame Jenyns, his View of the Internal Evidence of Christianity referred to, 6. 281.

Sophistry, with which Religion is explained away, 133.

Stage the, proof from its being frequented by nominal Christians of their defective love of God, 221-224. 230, 231. — proof from, illustrated by political analogy, 223.

Statutes, Religion made a set of, 131, 132.

Sterne strongly censured, 206.

Strictness of true practical Christianity, 105, 106. — of our system, objected to, as not suited to the state of the world, 280, 281. — the charge refuted, 281, 282.

Sunday, hints for its employment, 141, 142. — common modes of unhallowing it, 143-145.

Supreme regard to be set on God, 60. 112-129.

Swift's Tale of a Tub, quoted, 132, 133.

T.

Taste, votaries of, 127.

Tempers, Christian, not cultivated, 136-146. — respecting human estimation, 165-168. — respecting calumny and disgrace, 170. — when too much immersed in worldly business, 201-204.

Theatres, Parisian, 223.

Theatrical entertainments prove defective love of God, 222.

Theatrical entertainments prove defective love of our neighbour, 230, 231. — entertainments, illustrated by political analogy, 223.

U.

Unbelievers, half; a class of them, 346.

Uncharitableness, what falsely so called, 312.

Unitarianism often results from same causes as absolute scepticism, 343.

Useful lives, discussion concerning, 178. — substituted for Religion, 179. — value of, estimated by standard of mere reason, 185. — real worth of, on Christian principles, 186-188. — life, the Christian's life the most so, 191. — Christians urged to, 192. — its just praise given to, 197. — apt to mislead us, 198.

V.

Vice, some one always excused, 308-310.

Vices, outgrowing or changing them, mistaken for forsaking all sin, 308-310.

Vulgarity in Religion, as to language, to be expected from vulgar men, 56.

W.

Wealth, votaries of, 125, 126.

Women, more disposed than men to Religion, and uses to be made of this, 313. — exalted office assigned to them, 314.

Witherspoon, 275.

Y.

Youth, simplicity of, mistaken for Religion, 313.

FOOTNOTES

Page numbers refer to the original text. Footnote numbers refer to this transcribed version.

p54: Repeated "a" has been removed.

p83: Comma has been changed to full stop after "Almighty power".

p95: Nested double quotes have been changed to single quotes.

p106: Omitted word "in" has been added to "as it is Heaven".

p350: "the only can feel it" has been changed to "they only can feel it".

Fn 65: The footnote at the end of this footnote has been placed inline.

Fn 131: "Some" has been changed to "some".

Index-Affections, religious: - Repeated word "of" has been removed.

Index section "V" preceded "U" in the original. This has been corrected.

All footnotes have been moved to the end of the text and numbered sequentially.

Some words were spelt, hyphenated, or had apostrophes placed, inconsistently within the text. These have been silently corrected to match the form most frequently used in the text.

Where scanned text was unclear, the 1834 edition has been consulted.

Unless due to a clear typographic error, consistent differences from modern usage have been retained, such as spellings (e.g. prophane), hyphenation (e.g. to-day), and punctuation (e.g. omission of commas following full stops in lists and the Index).