The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

SERM0N5; 15nrorant j how can it, the world thinkf;, be worth thewhile to go to a pkce of worlhip, where a low andignorant perfon leads in the fervice ! This, I believe,is the filent realbning of very great numbers. Henceit is in^part, as well as from the caufes mentioned a-bove, that thofe who are nearly upon a level with us,or not far above us, in their circumftances and wayof living, have commonly a decent profeiTion, and refortto our churches : thofe who are wealthy and a-bound in riches, have, in many places, almoil totallydeferfced us. They imagine that, as they liave mereriches,, they have iikewife got more knowledge thantheir teachers ; or they, are aihamed to join in wcrfhipwith, or fcem to have their duty told them .bythofe who are ib ver far below them. Some timeago an attempt was made for a remedy, very inadequateto the lafl mentioned caufe of irreligion : butthough little was fought, nothing was obtained ; andit is likely no remedy may be thought of till it fhallbe too late j and then, as in other cafes, the wondermay be, that a thing fo obvioufly neceffary was fo longnegle61:ed.Ah for the days of ancient fimplicity 1when virtue was pra6lifed, and religion was in fafhion\when men v/ere not yet civilifed into atheifm,covetoufnefs, and ferocity of temper ; when richeshad not juftled out the fentiments of humanity anddevotion ; and when men were more afraid of beingcruel and profane than of being poor, or appearing tobe fo.There is ftill another thing which may be it is expedledI fliould mention. Some weak arid well-meaningpeople, joined and perhaps fet on by others of adiiFerent call, would be very willing to afcribe all thegrowing'profanenefs and ineligion to the clergy them.-felves Jlamenting, that the miniflers of the lall agewere much purer and better than we are. That theclergy may be in part blameable, may be owned.We never pretended to be nerfsft j..and no man o£B 2