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

PART I.SERMONS.SERMON I.AN INQUIRY INTO THE CAUSESOF THEDECLINE OF RELIGION."Preached at the Opening of the Synod of Glafgow and Air, 1 761.Demas hath forfahn tne,having loved this prefeniJVorU. 2 Tim. iv. 10.^HAT religion is decayed, hath, for a long time, beenthe general complaint. "We cannot fee into thehearts of men, fo as to make a juft eflimate of the regardthey have to God : we can only judge from theiroutward behaviour 1, and in this refpe£l the complaintfeems to be but too well founded. Men grow kfsand lefs ftricl in the profeffion of religion, and thenumber of thofe who profefs it feems to be graduallydiminiihing. It is riot maintained, thiit a man canhave no devotion and rectitude of Iieart, if he neglectsthe forms of religion that are fettled or generally e- -iieemed in the country where he lives j hut if one liasreal religion, he will very readily have fome profeffion: and it is alfo commonly believed, that he v/hodecently profefles religion v/iil have more virtue, andbe a better member of fociety, than one who has nofuch profeffion. Since, then, an outward profeffion-.is prefumed to flow from an inward fenfe of reHgion:A