ght of Futurity, and laughing at Hell Torments, as the
Invention of Priests and Statesmen. Whoredom, Adulteries, Fornications,
and all manner of beastly Uncleanness, are openly avowed; and he who does
not plunge himself into all the Debaucheries of the Stews, with a high and
open Hand, is looked upon as a poor narrow-spirited Creature unworthy of
the Company of Men of a noble and exalted Genius. Luxury, Drunkenness, and
Gluttony, have overspread the Tables and Dwellings of all Degrees of
People. We seek the Bowels of the Earth for Jewels to adorn us, and travel
to the most distant Quarters of the World in Quest of whatever may gratify
our vicious Appetites, and yet never think of the God, that furnishes our
unnatural Wants. Our Women are ashamed of Modesty. They deck themselves in
gorgeous Apparel, and expose half their Persons naked to allure the Eyes
of the Wicked. Murder, Robberies, and the most barefaced Perjuries, are
every Day to be met with in our Streets; even Crimes that would shock
Modesty but to mention are as common as Petty Larceny. Yet we are spared,
and the sinful Land stands a Monument of the long-suffering Patience of
the Almighty.

This, Friend, is a Supplement to the List of thy deadly Sins; and dost not
thee think, that it makes a most dreadful Appearance, and that some of
them merited to be mentioned in a more serious Manner than thou hast done?
And yet there is one Evil under the Sun, which I have not hitherto
descanted on; and that Evil is as great, perhaps, as all the rest put
together: And the Spirit moveth me to think, and deliver unto thee, that
this Evil, I am now going to expose, is the Spring, Source, and Fountain
Head, of all the black Crimes I have rehearsed, and of many more, that
could not come within the Compass of my Knowledge.

I would willingly, if I durst, prevaricate, and conceal this fatal Evil;
but as the Eyes of the People are upon us, as their Fears are awakened,
and they seem in some Measure willing to find out a Way to rid them of
this Load of Sin, that stands as a Wall of Brass between them and the
Mercy of their God, it is necessary, since we have pointed out the Malady,
that we should display the Source, in order to direct them to a Cure.

Thou wouldst have a Reformation begin in Private Families: but alas! thou
art fatally mistaken. The Thing is impossible. It is building downwards. A
great many People in this Island are so unhappily situated, that they must
continue to