Concio ad populum. A distressed people entertained with proposals for the relief of their…

MY Friends, I am an importunate Suitor unto you, That you will allow this MAXIM to obtain among you. 'Tis ordinarily so, that People cannot lawfully Grasp at what they cannot Honestly Pay for. Yea, It were well, That People in their Expenses to Subsist themselves, would use to Pay as they Fetch, and not run into Long ⟨p. 13⟩Scores, that anon won't be easy to be answered. By this Caution, they will be the better Able to know what they are Able to do, and seasonably keep their Stops, and not indiscreetly go beyond themselves. 'Tis most certain, If People will not be satisfied except they Eat, or Drink, or Dress, beyond their Abilities, they do but serve diverse Lusts in doing so; GOD will not Accept their works; A Righteous GOD will be offended at what they do. For People to Run into Debt, without a Prospect of certainly & speedily getting out of it, is no small Iniquity. But when People shall do so, to gratify their Luxury or their Ambition, 'tis an Aggravation of the Iniquity. Those Virtues of Sobriety and Humility, Oh! could I see them, I would Speak unto them; and I would say, By you, O Noble Virtues, we should Enjoy great Quietness, and very worthy Deeds would be done unto this Nation, by your Providence. But I turn to my Hearers; And let me not complain with the Prophet, I said, I will get me unto the Great Men, and will speak unto them; But they have altogether broken the Yoke, and burst the Bonds. No, I will hopefully press for this; The Richer Sort of People, will do well to set a Convenient Example unto the Poorer Sort. We must contrive to make all Goodness a Fashionable Thing. Example, I say, Example, will go a great way to bring a Laudable Frugality, as well as all other Good Things into Fashion. But then, that the Rich in this World, may not ⟨p. 14⟩be taxed for a Sordid Avarice, the Charge of GOD is to be laid upon them, that they be Rich in Good works. If they Frugally Save any thing, let them Liberally Spend the more on Pious and Public Uses: and this will bravely Vindicate them from dishonourable Imputations. At the same time, It is to be demanded of the Poor, That they do not indulge an Affectation of making themselves in all things appear equal with the Rich: But Patiently Submit unto the Difference, which GOD the Maker of you Both, has put between you. My Brethren, Be content with such Things as you have:

MY Friends, I am an importunate Suitor unto you, That you will allow this MAXIM to obtain among you. 'Tis ordinarily so, that People cannot lawfully Grasp at what they cannot Honestly Pay for. Yea, It were well, That People in their Expences to Subsist themselves, would use to Pay as they Fetch, and not run into Long