For if debauchery be both asserted and allowed tobethe true badge of gentility, then your own reason will infer, that all the ancient epi- thets of gentility ought thereupon to be altered. And would those gentlemen, think you, take it well, to have the titles, and epithets of ingenious, worthy, honourable, and noble, changed into cursing, swearing, damning, blaspheming gentlemen ? You cannot but see the inconsistency of both. If, therefore, you will adopt and wear the latter, you must either cashier and renounce the former, or try to make the former consistent with the latter, which I am sure the most ingenious among you will find an hard task to do.
5. I humbly beg leave to propound one plain blunt question to you, gentlemen. The matter of it is too rational to be rejected, and let that make atonement for the blunt manner of its proposal. And the question is this :
Quest. Whether your reason and conscience he fully satisfied^ that 7chen you die (as you Icnoio you shortly must,) you shall then appear before the judgment-seat of' God, in the quality and character of' gentlemen ? Do you verily think you shall find the more favour there, for the sake of your nohlc descent, and honourable extraction, or that your gentility shall make an atonement for all your impiety?
I am persuaded, gentlemen, you do not ; you cannot think so. You know you must appear before that God, with whom there is no respect of persons ; a God that will certainly damn the impenitent blasphemer. The man must assuredly go to hell, 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. And if the man be damned, certainly the gentleman is in a bad case.
6. In a word, 1 am past all doubt, and so may you too, that this genteel mode of swearing, drinking, and whoring, which hath spread so far in this present infamous age, into protestant states and kingdoms, is the very spirit and strength of a Popish plot, subtlely projected, and industriously managed, for their effectual reduction to Popery.
For nothing in the world can reconcile men to Popery ; yea, and even endear them to it, like debauchery. Under Popery, gentlemen may come up to the rates of costly pardons and indulgencies, for their greatest sins. They may give themselves liberty to wallow in profane-
498 THE REASON ABLE>JESS OF A PERSONAL REFORMATION.
nessall the days of their hfe. They may give their lusts the utmost scope and liberty, and yet have a plenary pardon when they die. So that they need not abridge themselves of any sinful liberty, or bog- gle at the loudest blasphemy, whilst they have that in their pocket to still and quiet something that grumbles in their bosom. Do you not see, gentlemen, the natural tendencies of these things ? Does not debauchery look like a slioeing-horn to Popery.
Besides, gentlemen, the devil and the Pope are confederates in a farther design upon you ; and if their design hit, they hope to win by power, what they may miss by policy ; and that by the very same method of corrupting and debauching persons of eminent rank and quality, in Protestant kingdoms and commonwealths. For (as a * learned man in queen Elizabeth's days rightly observed) these are the men especially interested in the public affau's of kingdoms. These represent the people in parliament. These make their laws, adminis- ter the government in peace and war. To their hands are commit- ted the great concerns of nations. These are they that fill the seats of public judicature.
If gentlemen, therefore, by this means be generally corrupted and infected by debauchery, their influence and example is likely to infect the greatest part of the body politic, and either make the people easily pliable to the charms and courtships of Popery, for the reason be- fore-mentioned ; or so besot their excellent parts, and enervate their masculine courage, that they shall fall an easy prey to their (other- wise) weak and despicable enemies.
And certainly, gentlemen, we have all cause to reckon this plot very far advanced, when we shall see debauchery every where made the badge of gentility ; and chastity, temperance, and sobriet}^, be- come the marks and notes of infamy. When civihty itself shall be hissed with derision out of some gentlemen's company ; and the more temperate and sober any man is, by so much the less fit to be a gentleman's companion.
By this time I hope you are convinced, that true gentility is no enemy to sobriety, nor debauchery the character of gentility ; and will at last pardon, if not thank me, for endeavouring this way to secure the true honour of some, whilst I rationally argue down the vices and follies of others. This plea for debauchery, you see, hath the same fate the former had, and deserves never to be mentioned more.
• '\Mio manages the reins of government, who is present at, and presides over, both private and public matters, but persons of eminent rank and quality ? Who moderates in the Senate, presides in courts, commands at home and abroad ? Chief men and no- bles surely. Who commands and countermands, acts and overacts, manages and can- vas'^es all affairs, who makes laws, and rescinds them, who governs the state in time of peace, and commands the forces in tim«» of war; but great men and nobles ? No won- der that the mauagement of public affairs be committed to him, who by personal merit and renown of his"^ ancestors hath recommended himself to the good report and esteem, ©f mankind. Humjihrcd on nobility.
THE REASONABLEXliISS OF PEUSONAL REFORMATION*, 499
§ 9. There is but one plea more; and that as silly and iiTational as any of the former : and that is,
The custom and liahit of sweaHng^ which you say is hard to he brokcm. This sin i^ become so customary toyou^ that noio yoxc scarce note or observe it in yourselves.
That there may be truth in the matter of this plea, I neither deny nor doubt; but that it is a rational and allowable plea, will never be granted by your own reason. The thing you say may be true; for we sometimes find, that when you are taxed for swearing, you will presently swear that you did not swear ; and curse him to his face, that accuses you for cursing.
But pray, gentlemen, make your own reason judge, whether custom^ be a vahd and allowed plea for profane swearing and cursing. Say, reason, wilt thou allow that one of the highest aggravations of siny is pleadable in thy court for the excuse and extenuation of it ? Wilt thou give it under thy hand, that the man is the less guilty, because the morc wicked ? Barest thou to warrant it that God will take the less notice of the wrongs men do him, because they are used and> accustomed so to wrong and abuse him every hour in the day ? If your reason can allow and warrant this, I must say it is different, yea, and opposite to the common reason of mankind.