Have those who are exposed to still more danger, the _English sea-forces_, more religion than those at land? It is said they were once remarkable for this: and it is certain Sir _Francis Drake_ feared God, as did most of his commanders; and we have reason to believe, his marines and sailors too. But what shall we say of the _navy_ that now is, more particularly of the ships of war? Is religion there? Either the power or the form? Is not almost every single _man of war_ a mere floating hell? Where is there to be found more consummate wickedness, a more full, daring contempt of God, and all his laws, except in the bottomless pit? But here description fails: and the goodness of God endureth yet daily! But _shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord? Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?_ O that the _prospect_ of national judgments may suffice! That we may remember ourselves, and turn unto the Lord our God, before his long-suffering mercy is at an end, and he pours out the vials of his wrath upon us!
But how small ground have we as yet to hope for this? For who will now _suffer the word of exhortation_? How few will _endure sound doctrine_, and the honest, close application of it? Do they not _say unto the seers, see not; and unto the prophets, prophesy smooth things_? And if a man will do thus, if he will _sew pillows to all arm-holes_, and _cause the Holy One of_ Israel _to cease from before them; if he will prophesy of wine and strong drink, he shall even be the prophet of this people_.
31. I am sensible, how nice a subject this is, and how extremely difficult it is so to speak, as neither to say too little nor too much, neither more nor less than the cause of God requires. I know also, that it is absolutely impossible, so to speak as not to give offence. But whosoever is offended, I dare not to be silent; neither may I refrain from plainness of speech: only I will endeavour to use all the tenderness I can consistently with that plainness.
In tender love then I ask, are there none among us (I speak to you, my brethren, who are priests and prophets of the Lord, set apart to _minister in holy things_, and to _declare the word of the Lord_) Are there none among us who commit _lewdness_, as did those by whom _Israel was defiled_? Hath not the Lord seen an horrible thing, in some of the prophets of this land also, even, that _they commit adultery, and_ (to conceal it) _walk in lies_? God forbid that I should affirm this. I only propose (not maintain) the question. If there be such a wretch, I pray God to strike him to the heart, and to say, _Thou art the man_!
Are there none of you, like them, _mighty to drink wine, men of strength to mingle strong drink_? Yea, are there none, that _err through strong drink, that are swallowed up of wine_? Are there not found those who say, _I will fetch wine, and we will fill ourselves with strong drink: and to-morrow shall be as this day, and much more abundant_?
* Alas, my brother! Is this the voice of a _minister of_ Christ? _A steward of the mysteries of_ God? Suppose you find at any time trouble and heaviness, _is there no help for you in your_ God? Is not the God whom you serve able to deliver you from any plague or trouble? Is the being _drunk with wine_ a better relief, than the being _filled with his Spirit_? Do you not understand this? Do you _not know the_ Lord? Take heed you do not destroy both your own soul and them that hear you! O beware! If you know not his love, fear his power! Make haste to flee from the wrath to come, lest he smite you with a curse great as your sin, and sweep you away from the face of the earth.
32. Can such as you be said, to _honour_ or _fear_ God, any more than those spoken of by _Malachi_? May not God complain, _These priests have violated my law and prophaned my holy things_? Yea, whensoever you presume with those unhallowed hands, to touch the mysteries of God: whensoever you utter his name or his word with those unhallowed lips! But is it on this account only that God may say, _Both prophet and priest are prophane_? May he not add, _they have put no difference between the holy and prophane; therefore I am prophaned among them_. For is it not so? Do _you_ put a difference between the holy and prophane, him that feareth God, and him that feareth him not? Do you put an effectual difference between them, even in the most solemn office of our religion? At the table of the Lord, do you take care to _separate the precious from the vile_? To receive all those who (as you may reasonably believe) _draw near with penitent hearts and lively faith_, and utterly to reject those who testify against themselves, that they are without hope and without God in the world?