Sermon for the Reformation of Manners, Title page – To the reader
A SERMON FOR THE Reformation of Manners.
Being deſigned as A SUTABLE EXHORTATION To Enforce the Reading of the KING's Royal PROCLAMATON For the Encouragment of Piety and Vertue, and for the preventing and puniſhing of Vice, Prophaneſs and Immorality.
Rom. XIII. 4.
He is the Miniſter of GOD unto thee for Good.
BY BENJAMIN COLMAN, M. A. Paſtor of a Church in Boſton. N. E.
BOSTON: Printed by T. Fleet and T. Crump, for Samuel Gerriſh, on the North Side of the Town-Houſe. 1716.
To the READER.
THE following Diſcourſe pretends to no more than to give a few Hints on the ſerious Truths therein propounded to the Conſideration both of Magiſtrates and People on the preſent Occaſion. It is left to the Judicious Reader to clothe the Skeleton with fleſh and skin, and to give it a proper Complexion in his own more Enlarged Meditation. But if it may be of any Uſe to teach Tranſgreſſors GOD's ways and to miniſter unto their Converſion; or if it may ſo far be Accounted of as a Concio ad Magiſtratum, as to put MAGISTRATES in mind of their Duty, to propound more than ever with an Actual Intention the Glory of GOD and the Good of Souls in their Adminiſtring Juſtice; and indeed excite Them to get ſome happy Experience of their own Converſion to GOD; it will then anſwer a very noble End and have a moſt happy Effect.
Magiſtrates and Miniſters can do nothing more Laudable than to Unite their pious Endeavours, with Zeal and Prudence, to ſerve the Intereſts of Piety and Vertue among their People. And it is the leaſt Expreſſion of Loyalty to GOD and to the King, readily and heartily to Obey the Commands we have from the Throne to do ſo. Let us return our Dutiful Prayers for the Life of the KING and of his SON; that like the Reign of Solomon ſo His preſent MAJESTY's may bear ſome Image of the Holineſs and Happineſs of the Kingdom of CHRIST: that the Mountains may bring peace to the People, and the little Hills by Righteouſneſs: that in His days the righteous may flouriſh, and a Foundation be laid for abundance of peace ſo long as the Moon endureth.