Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

This scornful exposing Religion to make Men ashamed of it, is most successful upon the Dispositions of young Persons, and those who are of higher Birth and Rank in the World. Youth is the blushing Age, and has a Tenderness of Face, that cannot bear the Prints of Disgrace. If one in his early Age begins to breath the Life of Holiness, if ⟨p. 219⟩he abstains from fleshly Lusts that war against the Soul, he is represented as fondly nice, and ridiculously scrupulous: no less than the special Grace of of God is necessary to fortify his holy Resolutions, and make him superior to the Scorns of the Wicked.

This scornful exposing Religion to make Men asham'd of it, is most successful upon the Dispositions of young Persons, and those who are of higher Birth and Rank in the World. Youth is the blushing Age, and has a Tenderness of Face, that cannot bear the Prints of Disgrace. If one in his early Age begins to breath the Life of Holiness, if ⟨p. 219⟩he abstains from fleshly Lusts that war against the Soul, he is represented as fondly nice, and ridiculously scrupulous: no less than the special Grace of of God is necessary to fortify his holy Resolutions, and make him superior to the Scorns of the Wicked.

The Honourable are fearful of Disgrace, and more tender of their Reputation, than others, being in a greater Light, and exposed to more Eyes and Observations. If one of noble Quality renounces the Vanities and Enticements of the World, makes the Fear of the Lord his Treasure; if he zealously endeavours to be more distinguished from others by his eminent Virtues, than by the Splendour of his Condition, he is scornfully traduced as a melancholy Fop, as a low Spirit: as if Constancy in Devotion, and the Practice of Mortification were a descent from his Dignity, and cast a ⟨p. 220⟩dark sad Shade upon his Honour. Thus the vain perverted World vilifies that Holiness in Men, which the blessed Angels adore in God.