a just consideration of both these furnishes every one with very cogent inducements to make what opposition they can to Immorality, both by amending their own faults, and by indeavouring to prevail upon others to correct whatever has contributed to the making us a vicious People.  For, not to say that it is a rational as well as Pious Fear that God by some signal Judgment upon such as have abus’d many Mercies, should make an example of them for the deterring of others, it is more certain (tho’ usually less reflected upon) that it is no way necessary to the punishment of any Wicked Ungrateful Nation, that God should interpose, by some extraordinary act of his Providence, to inflict upon them the due Reward of their Disobedience, and Ingratitude:  Since so fitly are all things dispos’d in their Original Constitution, and the order of Nature to the All-wise ends of their Maker, that (without his especial Interposition in the case) the establish’d course of things does bring to pass the effects that he sees fit in respect of the Moral, as well as of the Natural World; nor scarcely can any People from the avenging Hand of the Almighty, in the most astonishing Judgments which can render them an eminent example of his Displeasure, receive any severer Chastisement, than what they will find in the Natural result and consequences of their Moral Corruption when grown to an Extremity.

It would be to enter into a large Field of Discourse to shew how experience has always attested this.  And we perceive, but too sensibly, that Vice proportionably to its measure, carries along with it, its own Punishment, to need that we should search for Foreign, or Remote examples in proof hereof.

A general Contempt of Religion towards God:  Want of Truth and Fidelity amongst Men:  Luxury and Intemperance, follow’d with the neglect of industry, and application to useful Arts and Sciences, are necessarily attended with misery, and have been usually also, the Fore-runners of approaching Ruine to the best and most flourishing Governments which have been in the World.  And as in the same proportion that these things do any where prevail, so must naturally the unhappiness of such a People; it is evident, that for any Prophane, Debauch’d, or Vicious Nation to expect a durable Prosperity, is no other than to hope that God will in their Favour (who have justly incur’d his Indignation) withhold the natural Effects of that Constitution and Order of things, which he has with infinite Wisdom Establish’d:  A Conceit too contradictious to Reason, as well as too Presumptuous for any one, I suppose, to entertain.

FINIS.