k near Home: See the Temptations of this Sort which surround these
Cities, and are indeed so many Snares to catch your Sons and Daughters
and Apprentices. Can you look on, and be unconcerned? For God's Sake,
and for the Sake of your Children and your Country take the Courage to
act like Parents and Masters of Families: Reformation must begin in
private Families; the Law and the Magistrate can punish your Children
when they become wicked; but it is you, who must make them good, by
proper Instruction and proper Government. If you suffer them to meet
Temptation, where Temptation is sure to meet them, never complain of
him who corrupts your Child, you are the Corrupter yourself; to you he
owes it, that he is undone. And perhaps there is not a more provoking
Circumstance, nor a greater Call for Divine Vengeance on a wicked
Nation, than this; that the Youth are prepared and brought up to
inherit all the Vices of their Fathers, which cuts off all Prospect of
Reformation; and stands as a Bar between us and Mercy.

On you therefore, Fathers and Mothers, your Country, and the Church of
God call for Assistance; your Endeavours may go a great Way towards
saving us, and this wicked Generation may be spared, for the Hope of
seeing the next better.

In a word, let every Man, whatever his Station is, do his Part towards
averting the Judgments of God: Let every Man reform himself, and others
as far as his Influence goes: This is _our_ only proper Remedy; for the
dissolute Wickedness of the Age, is a more dreadful Sign and
Prognostication of Divine Anger, than even the Trembling of the Earth
under us.

To our own Endeavours, let us add continual and fervent Supplications
to the Almighty, that he would _spare us, and not deal with us
according to the Multitude of our Sins_; that he would give us the
Grace of Repentance, and open our Eyes to see, before it is too late,
_the Things which belong to our Salvation_.

May the God of all Mercy hear you, in this Day of your Distress! To his
Protection, and the Grace of our Lord _Jesus_ I earnestly recommend
you. I am,

_Your Affectionate Brother, and
Servant in Christ Jesus_,

THO. LONDON.

_Printed_ for JOHN WHISTON _in_ Fleetstreet.

_The Fifth Edition, on a fine Paper_, Price 5_s._ bound:

I. The Use and Intent of Prophecy, in the several Ages of the World: In
Six Discourses, delivered at the _Temple Church_; To which are added,
Four Dissertations, and an _Appendix_, being a