merited, they tell us, Deliverance from temporary Punishments, as Purgatory is, but from eternal ones only. Why alfo do their Indulgences declare themselves to bestow the moft full Remiffion and Forgiveness of all Sins, if they mean only the fmalleft Part of Forgiveness? These Things are too plainly calculated to deceive poor Wretches into a fatal Belief, that, by fuch Methods, Wickedness here may become confiftent with Happiness hereafter. Repentance indeed is, in Words, made one Condition of obtaining these Indulgences: but this is eafily explained away, or overlooked amongst the others joined with it, of faying fo many Prayers, going to fo many Proceffions, and paying fo much Money. Nay, if their own Hiftorians are to be credited, the Inhabitants of whole Cities at once, upon visiting certain Churches, and paying a certain Sum, have before now been abfolved of all their Sins by the Pope, with thefe very Words added; Even though they had not been contrite for them, nor confeffed them. But, as the Reformation was first brought on by the Enormities of Indulgences, fo, fince the Reformation, they have in many Places, both in this and other Refpects, greatly moderated their Practices, though

W

though they have never effectually disclaimed their Principles. And indeed, as angry as they are with that happy Event, they have great Reason to be thankful for it, on Account of feveral Changes for the better, which it has produced amongst them, especially where Part of any Country have been Proteftants. For elfewhere all their Abuses are kept up. And for one Proof of it, I have now in my Cuftody a plenary Indulgence granted for a small Piece of Gold at Rome this very Year " to an abfolute Stranger, for himself, for his Kindred to the third Degree,, and to thirty Perfons more, for whofe Names a proper Blank is left in the Inftrument. So that had not the Reformation given them fome Check, God knows whethe: by this Time Chriftianity had been discoverable under the Changes and Disguises which the prevailing Part of them would have deformed it with. Confider but to what Lengths Matters had already gone, in this one Article of the Remiffion of Sins. The Neceffity of Confeffion put the Secrets of every Man's Heart and Life into the Breast of the Prieft, and the Power of admitting into Heaven, or excluding from it, forced the bigotted Sinner to do whatever should

VOL. VI.

* 1745. B b

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be enjoined him. In how monftrous a Manner this Power was ufed, the Hiftories of all Nations dreadfully fhow. And then to preserve it from growing quite intolerable, an Artifice was added that made it ftill more fatal. It is too well known that Mankind will do any Thing rather than their Duty, and part with any Thing fooner than their Vices. On the Terms therefore of fubmitting in other Points, they were made easy in this favourite one. The ftrictest Rules of Life indeed were laid down for fuch as thought themselves bound to be ftrict but for thofe, who defired to be otherwife, fuperftitious Obfervances were allowed to take Place of real Duties; idle Penances to stand instead of true Repentance and Reformation: without a Zeal for fuch Follies as thefe, the best Man was reckoned to have but fmall Hope of future Happiness; and with a Zeal for the Notions and Interefts of holy Church, the worst Man was easily. fecured from future Mifery. Abfolution, if he were but ever fo little forry for having been a Sinner, would fet him clear at once from Hell; and, if he had but either Time to perform a few filly Devotions and Mortifications while he lived, or Money to purchase a good many Prayers for him when he

died, his Confinement in Purgatory must foon be over and thus was the Neceffity of a holy Life quite taken away, and the Gospel of Christ altogether made void. Far be it from us of this Church to affright you with fuch vain Terrors, or deceive you with fuch vain Hopes. On the contrary, be affured that were all the Priests on Earth to refuse absolving a true Penitent, it would never hurt him; and were they all to join in abfolving a Man that hath not repented as the Gospel requires, it would do him no Good. Be affured that no Equivalent in the World will be accepted instead of true inward Piety, nor all the good Works of all the Saints in Heaven compensate in the least Degree for the Want of good Works in any one Man on Earth. Never be moved then by the most confident Pretences of this Kind, but know, for a Certainty, that whoever flies for Refuge from his Sins to thofe who will flatter him with fuch wretched Expedients as these; instead of mending his Condition by trufting to them, only makes it worse and more desperate than it was before. The Words of God in the Cafe of the Ifraelites, are just as applicable in this: Because ye have faid; we have made a Covenant with Death, and with Hell we are at Agreement; B b 2

when

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when the overflowing Scourge fhall pass through, it fhall not come unto us, for we have made Lies our Refuge, and under Falfhood have we hid ourselves: Therefore thus faith the Lord GodYour Covenant with Death fhall be difannulled, and your Agreement with Hell fhall not ftand: when the overflowing Scourge fhall pass through, then Shall ye be trodden down by it. Judgement will I lay to the Line, and Righteousness to the Plummet; and the Hail fhall fweep away the Refuge of Lies, and the Waters shall overflow the hiding Place *.

Ye therefore, Beloved, to conclude with the Words of St. Peter, Jeeing ye know these Things, beware left, being led away with the Error of the Wicked, ye fall from your own Stedfafinefs: But grow in Grace, and in the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift. To him be Glory both now and for ever.

Amen.

* If. xxviii. 15, 17, 18.

y 2 Pet. iii. 17, 18.

SER