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Hart +and may be reprinted only when these Etexts are free of all fees.] +[Project Gutenberg is a TradeMark and may not be used in any sales +of Project Gutenberg Etexts or other materials be they hardware or +software or any other related product without express permission.] + +*END THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.10/04/01*END* + + +This etext was produced by Col Choat colchoat@yahoo.com.au + + + + + +AN ADDRESS +TO THE +INHABITANTS +OF THE COLONIES, +ESTABLISHED IN +NEW SOUTH WALES +AND +NORFOLK ISLAND. + +BY THE REV. RICHARD JOHNSON, A.B. +CHAPLAIN TO THE COLONIES + +WRITTEN IN THE YEAR 1792 + +PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR + + +* * * * * + + +TO ALL INHABITANTS, +AND ESPECIALLY TO THE +UNHAPPY PRISONERS AND CONVICTS +ESTABLISHED AT PORT JACKSON +AND +NORFOLK ISLAND, +THIS AFFECTIONATE ADDRESS +IS DEDICATED AND PRESENTED, +BY THEIR VERY SINCERE +AND SYMPATHIZING FRIEND, +AND FAITHFUL SERVANT, +IN THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, +RICHARD JOHNSON. + + +* * * * * + + +TO THE BRITISH AND OTHER EUROPEAN INHABITANTS +OF NEW SOUTH WALES AND NORFOLK ISLAND. + +My Beloved, + +I do not think it necessary to make an apology for putting this Address +into your hands; or to enter into a long detail of the reasons which +induced me to write it. + +One reason may suffice. I find I cannot express my regard for you, so +often, or so fully, as I wish, in any other way. + +On our first arrival in this distant part of the world, and for some time +afterwards, our numbers were comparatively small; and while they resided +nearly upon one spot, I could not only preach to them on the Lord's day, +but also converse with them, and admonish them, more privately. + +But since that period, we have gradually increased in number every year +(notwithstanding the great mortality we have sometimes known) by the +multitudes that have been sent hither after us. The colony already begins +to spread, and will probably spread more and more every year, both by new +settlements formed in different places under the crown, and by a number of +individuals continually becoming settlers. Thus the extent of what I call +my parish, and consequently of my parochial duty, is enlarging daily. On +the other hand, my health is not so good, nor my constitution so strong, +as formerly. And therefore I feel it impracticable, and impossible for me, +either to preach, or to converse with you so freely, as my inclination and +affection would prompt me to do. + +I have therefore thought it might be proper for me, and I hope it may +prove useful to you, to write such an Address as I now present you with. I +transmitted a copy of it to my friends in England with a request, that if +they approved of it, a sufficient number might be printed, and sent to me. +Thus I am now able to leave with you a testimony of my affection for you, +and of my sincere and heart-felt concern, for your BEST, because your +ETERNAL, welfare. My times are in the hand of God. He, and He only, knows +how long I may live, or how long my present connection with you, may +continue. I trust, however, that so long as the all-wise Disposer of all +events shall be pleased to spare my life, and strength; and government +shall deem my services in this remote land, necessary, it will still be, +as it has hitherto been, my most ardet desire, my uniform endeavour, and +my greatest pleasure, to promote your happiness. And when recalled to my +native country, or removed by my God to my eternal home, to receive that +crown of righteousness, which I humbly trust is laid upon me, by reading +and carefully perusing the following pages, I hope you will be convinced, +and reminded how sincerely you were pitied, and how dearly beloved by + +Richard Johnson. +Port Jackson, Oct. 30. 1792. + + +At this date, exclusive of those who died or were born on the voyage +from England: + + Baptisms.....226 + Marriages....220 + Burials......854 + + + * * * * * + + +ADVERTISEMENT. + + +The author hopes that all well-disposed persons will excuse the +imperfections they may meet in this Address. It is the first time of his +appearance in print, and may be the last. Nor would he have attemped it +now, were it not for the very peculiar situation he is in, and the hope he +entertains, that his feeble, but he trusts, sincere, attempt, may, by the +blessing of God, be made useful to those unhappy persons, with whom he is +so nearly connected, and for whose salvation and happiness he is so deeply +concerned. + +And he returns his most sincere and hearty thanks to true Christians of +every denomination, for their kind remembrance of him at the throne of +grace. He still hopes, because he still needs, a continuance of their +fervent prayers to God for him, that he may be indued with those gifts, +and with that wisdom, zeal, and faithfulness which are so needful to +direct, support, and strengthen him--and may be favoured with more +manifold and abundant success in that arduous, trying, yet honourable, and +at times he can say, pleasant and delightful work, in which he is engaged. + + +* * * * * + + + + + +ADDRESS, &c. + + + + +PART I. + + + +I Beseech you, brethren, suffer this word of exhortation. Your souls +are precious. They are precious in the sight of God. They are precious +to the Lord Jesus Christ. They are precious in my esteem. Oh that you +yourselves were equally sensible of their value. + +We have now been here almost five years. During this time, I trust, I +have been faithful in the discharge of my duty, faithful to my God, my +country, my conscience, and to your immortal souls. + +I would, nay I do, humbly hope, that my labours have not been +wholly in vain. Some of you, I trust, have been convinced of your +folly, sin and danger; you have earnestly sought, and happily found +mercy with God through a Mediator. You can now approach him as a God +reconciled, a merciful Father and Friend, and are evidencing the +reality of you conversion, by an upright life and conversation. + +But I must express my fear, that those of you, who are thus convinced +of sin, and converted to God, and reformed from your evil courses, are +comparatively very few. It is too evident, that the far greater part of +you discover no concern for religion. The Great God, the Lord Jesus +Christ, the Holy Spirit, death, judgment, eternity, heaven and +hell,--these are subjects which seldom, if at all, engage your attention; +and therefore you spend days, weeks, months and years, in a profane and +careless manner, though you are repeatedly informed and reminded +in the most plain, falthful, and alarming language I can use, +that the wages of sin, without repentance, is death,[Rom. vi. 23.] the +curse of God, and the eternal ruin and damnation of your souls! + +Oh, I intreat you, brethren, to consider what is contained in these two +words, SALVATION and DAMNATION! The one implies every thing that +an immortal soul can want or desire to make it happy. The other +includes an idea, the most gloomy and dreadful that can be conceived. +The former will be the admiration of angels, and the song and joy of +the redeemed; the latter will be the torment of devils, and of all +impenitent sinners, for ever and ever [I Pet. i. 12.; Rev. vii. 9-17.; +Rev. xiv. 11.]. + +Remember likewise, that ere long, either this endless inconceivable +happiness, or unutterable misery will be your portion, or your +doom, and mine. Our glass of life is running away apace. Our time is +fast hastening to a period. Death is making sure and speedy strides +towards us daily, judgment is at hand, and the judge himself is at the +door. And oh! consider, when the breath we now draw shall depart, the +tender thread of life be cut, our state will be unalterably and for +ever fixed; either to live with God, with angels, and glorified saints, +in heaven; or to dwell with devils, in the darkness and torments of +hell. + +On these accounts your souls are, as I have already observed, very +precious, not only in the sight of God, but also to me. My brethren, +God is my record, how greatly I long after you all, in the bowels of +Jesus Christ.[Phil. i. 8.] Next to the salvation of own foul, nothing in +this world lies so near my heart, as the conversion and salvation of my +fellow creatures; and especially of you, over whom I am appointed more +immediately to watch, as one who must give an account [Heb. xiii. 17.]. + +And oh, my friends, if this affectionate, though plain address, should +answer my ardent wishes and prayers, if it should prove the happy +means of converting even one soul to God, I should indeed rejoice, as +one that findeth great spoil [Ps. cxix. 162.]. For once, at least, +endeavour to lift up your hearts with me in prayer to Almighty God, the +bountiful giver of all grace. He only can make this or any other means +effectual; and should it please Him of his abounding mercy to make a +saving impression upon your hearts, you will reap the happy fruits of it +in life, at death, and to eternity. Oh that the gracious spirit of the +Lord may open the eyes and the ears of all who may read or hear what I am +writing. May they who are asleep, awake! May they who are spiritually +dead, be made alive! + +May backsliders from God be reclaimed! May every one be stirred +up to consider, What will become of him in another world! For who +amongst us can dwell with everlasting burnings? [Isa. xxxiii. 14.] Yet +such MUST be our lot, unless we repent. May the Lord God give, to each of +you, repentance unto life, that you may be holy in this world, and happy +in that which is to come! + +My brethren, I trust I can say in truth, and with a sincere conscience, +That I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ.[Rom. i. 16.] It is a +knowledge, and I hope an inward experience of this precious gospel, that +bears up my spirits when I am ready to sink as in deep waters, and when I +am almost overwhelmed by the many heavy and daily trials, crosses, +difficulties and disappointments, that I meet with in this, alas! most +uncomfortable situation. An acquaintance with this gospel, an experience +of its truth and power, sweetens every bitter, makes my crosses comforts, +and my losses gains. It is by this knowledge that I am enabled to bear the +cross of Christ, not only with some degree of patience and resignation, +but at some seasons, with consolation and joy; while I at one time reflect +on what our dear Lord and Saviour endured for me, and at another +anticipate the unspeakable honour and pleasure, which, through grace, +I hope ere long to enjoy at his right hand for evermore. And to +endeavour to bring you, my dear friends, to a saving knowledge of what +is contained in this gospel, is not only my duty and inclination as a +minister, but also my earnest desire and pleasure, and that which I +long for more than for any other thing that can be named.[Rom. x. 1.] + +I have often explained to you, according to my sentiments, what is +contained in the gospel. But as I fear, and am indeed well aware, that +many of you, after all you have heard, still remain ignorant, I +will now tell you again briefly and plainly, what my views of the +gospel are; that by putting this book into your hands, you may, if you +please, more carefully and attentively examine and search for +yourselves, whether what I lay before you be agreeable to the holy +scriptures, or otherwise; and consequently, whether you ought to +believe, or to reject it. + +The gospel, I conceive, in its most extensive sense, comprehends the +whole revealed will of God, recorded in the holy scriptures of the Old +and New Testament [Tim. iii. 16.]. + +This sacred book, which we call the Bible, describes the original state +of man, as a state of perfect purity and innocence. He was made in the +image of God. He was made upright [Gen. i. 26, 27.; Eccles. vii. 29.]. +His understanding, will, his affections and conscience, his +body and soul, were free from defilement, guilt, or guile, and +while he continued so, he was not liable to pain, misery, or death. + +But man did not continue in this state. Our first parents disobeyed +their Maker. By sinning against God they lost their original +righteousness, and became earthly, sensual, devilish. Such are all his +posterity: for who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? Man is +now the very reverse of what he was when first created. His +understanding [2 Cor. iv. 5; Ephes. iv. 18.; Titus i. 15.; rom. viii.7.] +is darkened, yea darkness itself; his will, his carnal mind, +is enmity against God; his conscience is defiled; his affections, no +longer fixed upon God his Creator and Benefactor, are engrossed by the +vain and perishing things of this world; by sin his body is become +mortal. Subject to pain, disease, and death [Rom. v. 12.]; and his soul is +exposed to the displeasure of God, and to the curse annexed to the +transgressions of his holy law. All this misery is implied in that awful +threatening, In the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely +die[Gen. ii. 17.]. + +And is not this threatening, at least in part, already put into +execution? Whence is there so much ignorance and contempt of God? Why +do mankind so eagerly, so universally pursue the vain pleasures and +follies of the world, while they seldom think of God their Maker? From +whence proceed the infidelity, blasphemy, lying, theft, +sabbath-breaking, slandering and the many horrid evils, which every +where abound? Whence is it that so many in this colony, labour under +such sore and complicated disorders, pains, and miseries? Why are so +many, both young and old, taken away by death? And why is it that +others who see all those things, do not take warning by them, to +prepare for their own latter end? Brethren, all these are so many +undeniable proofs and evidences of what I have said; namely, that we +are fallen and guilty creatures. These are the effects of Adam's +sin and disobedience. The certain consequences of which would have +been unavoidable and endless misery, both of soul and body, to +himself and all his posterity, had not some means been provided, some +way laid open, for his and their recovery. + +But, blessed be God, a door of hope is opened by the gospel for +miserable sinners! A gracious promise was given early, even to our +first parents, immediately after their fall. The seed of the woman +shall break the serpent's head [Gen. iii. 15.]. This promised seed is the +Lord Jesus Christ, who, in due time, was to appear in the world, to be +born of a woman, that by his life, sufferings, and obedience unto death, +he might recover fallen man from the misery and ruin in which he was +involved. Brethren, this gospel which, as the ministers and ambassadors of +God, we are commissioned and commanded to preach to sinners, proposes a +free and gracious pardon to the guilty, cleansing to the polluted, healing +to the sick, happiness to the miserable, light for those who sit in +darkness, strength for the weak, food for the hungry, and even life for +the dead [Gal. iv. 4, 5.; Gal. iii. 13.; I John i. 7.; Matt. xi. 28.; +Matt. xi. 5.]. + +All these inestimable blessings are the fruits and effects of the death +and mediation of Jesus Christ. His great design in coming into the +world was to seek and to save those who are lost[Luke xviii. 10.; +I Tim. i. 15.]; he came from heaven, that he might raise us to those holy +and happy mansions; he endured the curse, that we might inherit the +blessing; he bore the cross, that we might wear the crown; he died, that +we might live; he died, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to +God [I Pet. iii. 18.]. + +These blessings become ours, only by believing, or faith. Thus it is +said, God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son +For what purpose? Why, That whosoever BELIEVETH in him should not +perish, but have everlasting life [John iii. 16,18.],--he that believeth +in him is not condemned; he that believeth in him who juftifieth the +ungodly, his faith is counted to him for righteousness [Rom. iv. 3, 6.]. +My friends, search the scriptures, and you will find that this is the +tenor of the whole Bible; I may add of our church also, in +the Articles and Homilies. This believing is sometimes called a coming +to Christ, a looking unto Christ, a trusting in him, a casting our +burden upon him [John vi. 37.; Isa. xlv. 22.; Eph. i. 12.; Ps. lv. 22.]. +And remember, that until we do thus come to Christ, trust in him, +cast our cares and burdens upon him, we have no part or interest in +what the gospel unfolds and offers; however others, who have +believed, and daily act faith upon him, are rejoicing in the participation +of those rich benefits and blessings which the gospel freely offers to +guilty and perishing sinners. + +The faith whereby a sinner receives Christ, and becomes a partaker of +all the blessings of the gospel, is the sole gift of God, wrought in +the heart by his Holy Spirit [Eph. ii. 8.]. This Holy Spirit produces an +inward change in the soul, called, in the scripture, the new birth, +regeneration [John iii. 3-7], or conversion, and thus enables a sinner, +convinced of his sin and misery, to look to Jesus, and to believe on him. + +But though repentance and faith are the gifts of God, which none can +obtain by any endeavours of their own, yet we are encouraged and +commanded to pray for them [Luke xi. 17.]. + +All who have thus, through grace, believed, and are daily living a +life of faith in the Son of God, shall be saved: but such as +carelessly neglect, or wilfully reject this gospel must be damned +[ Mark xvi. 15.]. Think, I beseech you, of this! Remember, that it is the +solemn declaration of the Lord Jesus Christ himself. + +Now is the time to obtain the blessings revealed in the gospel, and +which are set before you when it is preached. Many have had these +gracious declarations made to them, before we were born, and they +will be repeated to many after we are dead. But THIS is our day. NOW is +the accepted time, now is the day of salvation [I Cor vi. 2.]. TO-DAY--for +you and I may not live to see to-morrow. TO-DAY; if you will hear his +voice, harden not your hearts [Heb. iii. 7, 8.]. My brethren, it is your +duty, your wisdom, and will finally prove to be your greatest happiness, +to seek an interest in this salvation for yourselves. It is your personal, +and must be your heart concern, to make your calling and election +sure [2 Pet. i. 10.]. + +For death will soon put a period to all the overtures of grace +and mercy, with which many, and particularly YOU, are now favoured. +It is as I have said, both my duty and my pleasure, to preach and +proclaim these glad tidings. But to whom? Not to the dead, but to the +living; even to you [Acts xv. 22.]. To you is the word of the salvation +sent. But, alas! should you still put it from you, and should death at +last find you in an unprepared state, it will then be too late for you to +begin to cry for mercy [Eccl. ix. 10.]. + +A day is likewise coming, when our mortal bodies, which must shortly +moulder into dust, will be raised again from the dead. Whether +believers or unbelievers, whether saints or sinners, we must all appear +before the judgment-seat of Christ [2 Cor. v. 10.; Dan. 12.2.; +Matt. xxv.21.]. For the Lord Jesus will shortly appear in the clouds of +heaven, the last trumpet shall sound, the graves shall open, the sea +give up her dead, and all who have lived upon earth, from the creation +to the final consummation of time, will then be judged, and rewarded or +punished according to their works. Mark well St. John's representation +of this solemn transaction, "I saw the dead, small and great, +stand before God, and the books were opened, and another book +was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged out of +those things which were written in the books, according to their +works"[Rev. xx. 12, 13.]. Such are the declarations of scripture +respecting this awful season! Sinners, whatever you may now think of these +things, or think or say of me, for declaring them to you, in this, plain +and solemn manner, I must and will tell you, that there is not a profane +oath which you have uttered, nor a lie which you have told, nor a sabbath +which you have broken, nor a single act of adultery, fornication, +theft, or any wickedness of which you have been guilty; in a +word, there is not an evil you have committed, nor a duty you have +omitted to perform, but what is noted down in the book of God's +remembrance, and will be produced against you in the day of judgment, +unless you repent, and believe the gospel. You must then give an +account how you improved the advantages now afforded you, for attending +to the things pertaining to your peace. If you do not improve them, the +Bible will condemn you, every faithful sermon you have heard will +condemn you, nay, every sermon which you might have heard, but would +not, because you despised and neglected the ordinances of public +worship, will condemn you: And alas! this address, by which I try to +warn you, because I love you, and wish well to your souls; which you +are now reading, or perhaps, about to throw aside with scorn, will then +condemn you. The admonitions, intreaties, prayers, and tears of godly +parents, the advice and reproofs of pious friends, the warning and +expostulations of faithful ministers, will all witness against +you. My brethren, what shall I say? The law of God, the gospel, +saints, sinners, angels, your own consciences, the Holy Spirit, the +Lord Jesus, the great Judge himself, will all witness against you, for +your contempt and neglect of that mercy and salvation, which are set +before you in the gospel. + +Then all ungodly and impenitent sinners, being tried, cast, and +condemned, must hear that final terrible sentence pronounced upon them, +Depart, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and +his angels![Matt. xxv. 41.] And remember that those who have been your +associates in wickedness here, will then be your companions in misery. +This will, if possible, aggravate your torment. You and they will rue the +day when you first met; and mutually charge the ruin of your souls upon +each other. Oh, think of this, and pray for grace to repent, before it be +too late! + +At that solemn season, the righteous shall be publicly and fully +acquitted before the assembled world. The judge will say to them, +Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, +from the foundation of the world [Matt. xxv.34.]. The holy angels will +then conduct them to the mansions of eternal bliss. Happy souls! They will +then have no more cause to weep and mourn, to fight and wrestle. They will +no more be exercised with darkness or temptation; for sin, which is the +cause of all their conflicts and sorrows, shall be done away; and God +their gracious Father, and everlasting Friend, shall wipe all tears from +their eyes [Rev. vii. 17.]. + +The righteous, however obscured and reproached upon earth, shall then +shine forth like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. They +are represented to us, as standing before the throne, clothed in white +robes, with palm-branches (the emblems of victory) in their hands, and +singing to their harps their Redeemer's praise [Matt. xiii.43.; +Rev vii. 9,10.]. There they will join in company with Abraham, Isaac, and +Jacob, with the apostles, prophets, and martyrs, with their dear friends +and relatives, who died in the faith before them, and with the glorious +angels; and above all, (without which heaven itself would be no heaven +to them) they will enjoy the unclouded presence of their Lord and +Saviour, who once suffered pain, and shame, and death for them. They +will see him seated upon a throne of glory, and unite with all the +heavenly host, in ascribing salvation, glory, and honour, and praise +to him who loved them, and washed them from their sins in his own +blood; and has made them kings and priests to God, and to the Lamb, for +ever and ever [Rev. v. 9.]. + +For the joys of heaven, and the pains of hell will be eternal. +Otherwise, indeed, neither the happiness nor the misery of a future +state could be complete. It would damp the joys of the blessed, to +apprehend that they must at length terminate. And the horrors of the +damned would be in a degree alleviated, if there was the most distant +prospect that they would have a period. But the word of God assures us, +that believers, after death, enter into life eternal, and that the +punishment of the wicked will be everlasting [Matt. xxv. 46.; +Dan. xii. 2.; 2 Thes. i. 7-10.]. + +I have now given you a summary of the great truths, which, as a +minister of the gospel, I am commissioned and commanded to preach. +And I can call God and your consciences to witness, that I have not +shunned thus to declare to you the whole counsel of God [Acts xx. 27.]. +I have explained to you the meaning, and I have urged the importance +of these things over and over. I have pointed out to you, the +wretched and dangerous condition of sinners, the necessity of +conversion or the new birth, the nature of this change, and by what +power it is wrought, and the fruits and effects which such a change +will produce in a man's tempers, words and actions. I have also shewn +you the way, in which you MAY and must be saved, if you are saved at +all. I have told you again and again, that Christ is the Way, the +truth, and the life, and that there is no coming to God with comfort, +either in this world, or in that which is to come, but by him. He has +told you so himself [John xiv. 6.; Acts iv. 12.]. And the apostle assures +you, that there is no other name under heaven, given unto men, whereby +they can be saved. Look unto him, and you shall be saved; if not, you must +be damned. This is the plain truth, the express declaration of the Bible. +Life and death are set before you [Deut. xxx. 15.]. + +Permit me then, as your minister, your friend, and a well-wisher +to your souls, to press these serious and weighty considerations home +upon your consciences once more. I hope and believe that I have +affected nothing, but what can be proved by the highest authority, +the word of the living God. They certainly deserve your closest and +most careful attention, since it is plain beyond a doubt, that upon +your knowledge or ignorance, your acceptance or rejection of this +gospel, your everlasting happiness or misery must depend. + +Brethren, I do not ask you, what religious persuasion or denomination +you have espoused. I fear, that, if I may judge of your hearts by +your actions, too many are destitute of any sense of religion at all. +But I do not address you as Churchmen or Dissenters, Roman Catholics or +Protestants, as Jews or Gentiles; I suppose, yea, I know, that there +are persons of every denomination amongst you. But I speak to you as +men and women, as intelligent creatures, possessed of understanding +and reason. I speak to you as mortals, and yet immortals; as +sinners, who have broken the laws of God, and are therefore obnoxious +to his displeasure. And my sole aim and desire is, to be instrumental +in turning you from darkness to light, from sin to holiness, from the +power of Satan to the service and favour of God [Acts xxvi. 18.]. + +Seek then, I beseech you, above all things, an interest in the +blessings of the gospel. Be assured it is a matter of much less moment, +whether you are rich or poor, respected or despised in this world. The +rich have their cares, fears, crosses, and vexations, no less than the +poor; but admitting that they could pass through life with greater ease +than others, we all know that they cannot escape death. The great point +is, how we shall die? whether as believers or unbelievers, as saints +or sinners. One soul, according to our Lord's declaration, is of +more value than the whole world [Mark viii. 36.]. If you lose your soul, +you lose all at once. You lose heaven and happiness for ever. +Whatever, therefore, you do, or leave undone, for God's sake, +and for your own sakes, neglect not for one day or hour longer, +the vast concerns of another life. Delays are dangerous. The +more we have to risk or lose, the greater folly it would be accounted, +to defer securing our property and goods, which we know to be in +danger. What folly, therefore, what madness must it be, to put off with +careless indifference, the concernments of eternity; and to prefer +the trifles of this transitory life to heaven, and the favour of God! +Let the parable of the rich man, who pleased himself with the thought +of having much good laid up for many years, be a warning to +you![Luke xii. 16-28.] That very night his soul was required of him. +Such persons may now deem themselves wise; but ere long they will be +sensible they were fools. + +It you consider what a valuable price was paid for our redemptions you +must be convinced that the soul of man is very precious in the sight +of God, and that sin is not so light and small an evil, as many of you +have supposed. To disobey the commandments of the just and holy God, +is, as far as in us lies, to renounce our allegiance to him, and our +dependence upon him, and to set up for ourselves, and even to join +with the devil in open rebellion against our Maker. It is, in plain +terms, to fly in his face, and to bid defiance to his almighty arm. Sin +is such a horrid evil, that unless it is forgiven, and blotted out, by +the blood of Jesus, it will sink your souls lower than the center of +the earth, even into the very depths of hell, never, never, never more +to rise [Mark ix. 44-48]. + +So heinous was sin, in the sight of God, that rather than permit +it to pass unpunished, he would punish it in the person of his own, his +only, his well-beloved Son, who was made sin, that is, treated as a +sinner deserved to be treated, for us. He was delivered up into the +hands of wicked men, and crucified, that by his suffering and death, he +might make atonement for our sins, and procure an honourable and happy +reconciliation, between a righteous God, and offending +sinners [2 Cor. v. 18-20]. I beseech you, therefore, to prize and to study +this gospel, that you may obtain a growing experience of its benefits. +Praise God for such a Saviour, and such a salvation as he has provided. +Adore him, for that infinite wisdom, and boundless mercy which he has +displayed in the redemption of fallen man and never rest, nor be +satisfied, till you have good and scriptural reason to hope, that this +Saviour is yours, with all the blessings he is exalted to bestow +without money and without price. + +Our food, my brethren, then only can nourish us, when it is +eaten and digested. Medicines can only profit us, by being applied and +taken. It is exactly thus with the gospel. We may hear, and talk of +these things, but so long as they remain matters of speculation, and do +not enter into our hearts, into the very vitals of our souls, (if I may +so speak) we cannot be the better for them. Christ is the bread of +life. His flesh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed! But +unless we ourselves do SPIRITUALLY eat the flesh and drink the blood of +the Son of man (for our Lord speaks of food for the soul, not for the +body) we have no life in us [John vi. 52-58.]. + +Moses, by the express command of God, erected a brazen serpent upon a +pole, in the view of the camp of Israel [Numb. xxi. 9.]. Such of the +people as were stung by the fiery serpents, were directed and commanded to +look up to the brazen serpent. They who did so were healed. But if any +resisted, they were sure to die. For no other means or physicians could +relieve them. In like manner Christ Jesus our Saviour, once lifted up on +the cross, is exhibited in the preaching of the gospel. Sinners, who are +wounded and diseased by sin, are directed, exhorted, encouraged, and +commanded to look up to him [John iii. 14, 15.]. And they who are +persuaded so to do, are infallibly cured of all those spiritual maladies, +under which they have long and sorely laboured. But all, who despise and +reject this sovereign remedy of God's gracious appointment, either by a +total indifference to religion, or by expecting salvation in any other +way, will be left, and that most deservedly, to perish in their wilful +obstinacy and unbelief [John iii, 36.]. + + + + +PART II + + + +In the former part of this address, I have already laid before you, in +the plainest manner I was able, my views of the gospel of Christ. And +as an experimental knowledge of this gospel is so very important, I +have endeavoured to press that importance upon your consciences. +Whether you have paid that attention to the subject, which it deserves +and requires, yourselves best know. I can only say, that if I did not +know it to be of great weight, I should not either speak or write of it +with so much earnestness. But being persuaded and assured, by the +express testimony of the holy scriptures, that these things are true; +and truths, the knowledge of which is essential to your present +and future happiness, I must be plain and faithful in declaring them. +I ought to be very indifferent what men of depraved morals, and corrupt +principles may say, or think of me, if I have the witness of a good +conscience, and the approbation of the God whom I serve. My concern +is for YOUR welfare and salvation; for I am certain, as I have told you +before, and now tell you again, that unless the gospel is made the +power of God to your souls, you must be miserable in time, and to +eternity. + +I propose now to give you some advices, to assist you in understanding +the gospel for yourselves, which if you observe, I trust, you will +attain to the possession of those principles, and walk by those rules, +which will both afford you present peace, and secure your future +happiness. For godliness has promises pertaining to the life that now +is, and to that which is to come. + +Let me then exhort you to attend seriously to what you are to +believe; and to what you are to do. These two points include the sum +and substance of the gospel, the whole of the christian life, and may +be comprised in two words, FAITH and PRACTICE. + + +I. You must learn from the word of God, what you are to believe. True +faith is the root and foundation of all real religion. Without this +inward principle, nothing that we have done, or can do, will be +acceptable to God [Heb. xi. 6.]. I have briefly informed you what you are +to believe--That you are sinners, that Jesus Christ is an all-sufficient +and willing Saviour--and that the word of God both warrants and commands +you to look to him for salvation. This looking unto Jesus, is what we +particularly mean by faith or believing. When we cordially and entirely +rely upon him, upon the invitation of the promises of God, for +pardon, peace, and eternal life, then we believe. + +All who thus believe, through grace, are required and commanded to be +careful of maintaining good works [Titus. iii. 8.]. As our moral, and what +are often called, our virtuous actions, are to be tried by our religious +principles; it is equally true, that our religious principles or at +least the proof that they are indeed OUR principles, must be evidenced +by our moral conduct. These two are so inseparably connected, that you +may depend upon it, where one of them is wanting, what bears the name +of the other, is no better than pretended. If what we profess to +believe does not make us humble, honest, chaste, patient, and thankrul, +and regulate our tempers and behaviour, whatever good opinion we +may form of our notions or state, we are but deceiving ourselves. The +tree is known by its fruits [James. ii. 17,18.; Matt. vii. 20.]. In this +way true believers are equally distinguished from profane sinners, and +from specious hypocrites. The change in their hearts always produces a +change in their whole deportment. Sin, which was once their delight, is +now the object of their hatred. It was once necessary as their food, but +now they avoid it as poison. They war, watch, and pray against it. And +their delight is to study the revealed will of God. + +By these tests you may judge of your true state before God. Surely you +cannot suppose that your inward state is GOOD, while your outward +conduct is BAD. Hence you may be assured that no unclean person, or +profane swearer, no one who lives in direct opposition to the commands +of God, can be, while he continues in this course, a true christian. +Such a supposition would be no less absurd, than it would be to +suppose, that a man is a good and peaceable subject, though he lives in +open rebellion against the king. You may as well conceive of a +holy devil, as of an unholy christian. + +I hope you will not mistake me. I do not mean that true christians are +without sin. But I affirm, that no true christian can live in an +habitual course of sin. No, sin is their grief, their burden +[1 John. iii. 8,9.; Rom. vii. 23,24.]; and when through temptation, or +unwatchfulness, they are drawn aside, like the dove sent out of the ark, +they can find no rest, till by hearty repentance, and true faith, they +obtain a new sense of forgiveness. + +I now proceed to offer you some directions, with which if you comply, I +trust, that by the blessing of God, you will enjoy peace in your souls, +and be enabled to regulate your conduct and conversation, as becometh +the gospel of Christ. + +Read and study the scriptures. This was our Lord's direction to the +Jews. Search the scriptures, for in them ye think ye have +eternal life, and they testify of me [John v. 37; Acts xvii. 11.]. The +Bereans were commended for their attention and diligence in this respect. +They received the word with all readiness of mind, not with a blind and +implicit faith in what they heard, even from an apostle, but they searched +the scriptures daily, to know whether what he taught them was agreeable to +the word of God. + +The Bible is our only sure and infallible guide. It was given by +inspiration of God. All other books, however good and useful, are but +of human composition, and are therefore not perfect. +[2 Tim. 8-16.; Isa. viii. 20.] + +This sacred book, as I have already observed to you, contains all that +is needful to make us wise unto salvation. It informs us of our +original, how pure and innocent; and our present condition, how +guilty, polluted and miserable! and the happiness or misery which +awaits us in a future state. From this book we may learn, the malignity +of sin, the holiness, spirituality, extent, and sanction of the law of +God; and consequently, the just and certain condemnation due to our +disobedience. It shews us, likewise, the way of our recovery. How +perfectly the mediation of Christ is suited to vindicate the honour of +the law, and to display the justice of God, in harmony with his mercy, +and thereby to give peace to the consciences of convinced sinners. + +I intreat you, therefore, to read the word of God carefully. Many of +you have had Bibles or New Testaments given to you, and others might +have them, if they had but an inclination to read. + +Some of you will perhaps object, and say, as you have already said to +me, We cannot read. Others, We have no time given us. If you +cannot read yourselves, you might prevail on some of your comrades to +read to you*. As to your having no time, I much question it. Rather you +have no inclination. Too many of you can find time to jest, to talk +obscenely or profanely, to read and sing idle songs; why might not +some, or rather the whole of this time be employed in reading, or +hearing the Bible? You might find time, if you could find a will. But +remember, that such excuses as you now make, will stand you in no stead +when you appear before God in judgment. There are few, if any of you, +but might have opportunity of attending to these things, if you +were but willing. + +[*Footnote: Two or three hours thus spent on the Lord's day, in +instructing each other to read, would he a very commendable employment. +I have often expressed my longing desire that such a plan was set on +foot among you. And if there could be a convenient building created for +this purpose, I should think myself happy, not only to furnish you with +books, as far as I am able, but also personally to attend and assist +you, as much as my immediate calls of duty would permit.] + + +II. Observe and reverence the sabbath, or Lord's day. Remember the +sabbath-day, to keep it holy [Exod. xx. 8.], is a solemn and positive +command of God. To live in the neglect of this commandment, is absolutely +to despise God, and to defy him, as it were to his face. Consider, my +friends, you have orders frequently given you here, by your superiors, +which you know you must obey, or you know the consequences of +disobedience--judge then for yourselves, what have those persons to +expect, who, in defiance of the authority of the great God, presume to +neglect and profane the day which he has so expressly enjoined to be kept +holy? + +It gives me a deep and continual concern to observe how the Lord's-day +is spent by many of you. What would a stranger think, who +regards the sabbath, if he visited every part of this colony on the +Lord's day? Ah! my brethren, I have seen and heard enough (alas! much +more than enough) to form my own judgment on this subject. If my duty +did not require my attendance on the public worship, and were I to +visit your different places and huts, I fear I should find some of you +spending the hours appointed for divine service in cultivating your +gardens and grounds, others indulging themselves in mere sloth and +idleness, others engaged in the most profane and unclean conversation, +and others committing abominations, which it would defile my pen to +describe. Now what must be the end of these courses? God says, +Remember the sabbath day to keep it holy. But the language, both of your +hearts and actions, is, "We will not keep it holy. It is a day given us +for ourselves; and we wish, and we are resolved to spend it as we +please. We do not chuse to be confined, or compelled to hear so much +preaching and praying." Is not this the language of your hearts? +Your conduct too plainly proves it: but, my brethren, let me reason +and expostulate a little with you upon this head. + +Consider, what have been the consequences to many who have thus broken +God's commands. I have known, and you likewise have known, those who +have been brought to an untimely and disgraceful end, and who have +dated their ruin from this one evil, the profanation of the Lord's day. +Instead of spending it in the manner which he has enjoined, they kept +bad and profligate company. By this practice, all serious impressions +(if they formerly had any) have been driven from their minds. Their +hearts have become more and more hardened and insensible; till at +length, lost to all prudent reflection, they have regarded neither the +tender solicitations and tears of parents, relations, and friends, +the faithful warnings of ministers, nor the checks and rebukes of their +own consciences. And what has been the event? I need not tell +you, that having given way to their own wicked wills, the advice and +example of their ungodly companions, and the temptations of the devil +(for, be assured, that he is always at the bottom of these mischiefs) +they have, at length, committed some act of depredation and villainy, +which has brought them to an untimely grave. + +Such, brethren, have been the free and ingenuous confessions of many of +those unhappy people who have suffered death. And if you were to +speak the sentiments of your hearts, I doubt not, but many of you, who +by the mercy of God are yet living, would make the like acknowledgment; +that breaking the sabbath was the first step towards bringing you +into that pitiable situation, in which you either have been, or still +are suffering. And will you still persevere in the road of misery? +Will you still prefer the chains of your own depraved inclinations, to +the service of God, which is perfect freedom? According to the +Jewish law, a man was stoned to death, for gathering sticks on the +sabbath day [Numb. xv. 32-36.], whereas you are doing a number of things +on the Lord's day, which might as well be done before, or left undone till +afterwards. But such is the long-suffering of the Lord, that though +others have been cut off, you are spared to this hour. May his goodness +lead you to repentance! Or otherwise, light as these things may appear +to you now, and though you may plead a necessity for what you do, I +tell you again, as I have often told you before, that a day is coming +when God will call you to a strict account. + +Besides, If you would reasonably hope for the blessing of God to +succeed your labours, it is certainly your interest, as well as your +duty to obey his commands. And this in particular, Keep the sabbath day +holy. If, in direct opposition to this plain, precept, you will +work and labour, as on other days, what ground can you have to expect +that God will bless and prosper your undertakings? You have much +greater cause to fear that his curse will follow you in your affairs, +and blast and disappoint all your wishes and prospects. + +Let then the misconduct and fatal ends of others, and the calamities +and troubles that you have brought upon yourselves--Let the gracious +promises of God, on the one hand, and his awful threatenings on the +other, induce you, in future, to remember the sabbath day, to keep it +holy! + +And let me offer you a few plain directions, as to the observance and +improvement of the sabbath: + +Begin the day with prayer; and for this purpose seek some place of +retirement, if you find it impracticable to meditate or pray, from the +interruptions you are exposed to in your dwellings*, from those +who ridicule and scoff at every appearance of religion. Retire from +them, and pray to him who seeth in secret; and praise him for the many +mercies you have received. Consider with yourself, how little you have +improved them. Humble yourselves before God, under a sense of your sins +and imperfections, and pray for pardon and repentance. Intreat him, to +enable you to watch over your hearts, words, and actions, throughout +the day, and that you may not be hindered or hurt by the snares and +temptations around you. Intreat God to assist your minister, and to +accompany what you may hear from him, with a blessing to your soul, and +to all who shall be present with you. + +[*Footnote: Many complaints have been made to me on this head.] + +If you have families, you should call them together, and pray with +them, and for them. There are many promises made to worshiping +families, and to those who, like Abraham, endeavour to teach +their children and household to know and serve the Lord. +[Gen. xviii. 19.; Prov. iii. 33.] And the neglect of this is one reason, +why many families live uncomfortably. They live without prayer, and +therefore without peace. + +Having thus endeavoured to impress your minds with serious thoughts, in +secret or at home; attend constantly upon the public worship, and there +pay a close attention to every part of the service. Remember that the +eye of God is particularly upon you there. He has promised to be with +two or three that meet together to call upon his name [Matt. xviii. 20.; +John iv. 24]. He is to be worshipped in spirit and in truth; and whether +they assemble in a church, or in the open air, he can give them cause to +say with Jacob, This place is surely the house of God, and the gate of +Heaven [Gen. xxviii. 17.]. Attend the public worship again in the +afternoon, with your hearts lifted up to God, that you may not hear in +vain; and accustom yourself in the evening to recollect what you have +heard, concerning the miseries which sin has brought into the world, the +love of God in sending his own Son to redeem sinners from those miseries; +the sufferings, life, death, and resurrection of the Saviour; and that +eternal rest, which remaineth for the people of God--FOR YOU, and FOR ME, +if we are believers in Christ. + +If, by the blessing of God, I can happily persuade you thus to observe +and improve the Lord's day, I am sure it will promote both your +pleasure and your profit. Can it be a question with you, whether the +God who made heaven and earth, or Satan, the god of this world, is the +best master? Indeed I too well know the indisposition and averseness of +the carnal mind to God and his ways. Hence the thought of many is, What +a weariness is it? And, When will the sabbath be ended? Hence that open +contempt and scorn, which is cast upon the sabbath, and upon +public worship by many, both high and low, rich and poor, bond and +free, old and young, men and women. To them the worship of God is +tedious and disagreeable. They neither find pleasure in it, nor +expect benefit from it. And therefore their attendance is not from +choice, but from constraint. + +But the thoughts and the conduct of true Christians are very different. +No day is so welcome to them as the Lord's day; not merely considered +as a day of rest from labour; but because, having their heads and +hearts freed from the cares and incumbrances of the world, it affords +them opportunities of waiting upon God. And, brethren, you must allow +that these persons are best qualified to judge of the question I have +proposed, Whether is best, to walk in the ways of God, or in the ways +of sin? For they have experienced both sides of the question. They have +tried the pleasures of the world, and they have also tried the +pleasures of religion. And they will readily assure you, that in their +deliberate judgment, one day thus spent in devotion, and the exercises +of religion, is preferable to a thousand days wasted in the vain and +unsatisfying pleasures, which they sought in their former wicked +practices [Ps. lxxxiv. 10.]. + +I have written thus largely upon the due observance of the Lord's day, +because of that shameful, open, and general neglect, that daring +profanation of the Sabbath, which abounds amongst us. It is well known, +and it is matter of great grief and concern to me, that numbers of you +pay not the least regard to this day. Numbers of you will not come to +public worship at all, others but seldom, and then with much +reluctance. And when spoken to, different persons frame different +excuses, all which, when examined, amount to little more than a want of +inclination. + +I have here a more special reference to those of you, who are +called Settlers and Free People. You think, perhaps, and some of you +say, That having served out your appointed term, you are now your own +masters, and have therefore a right to employ your time as you +please. But, indeed, it is not so. I must tell you, brethren, that my +commission from God, and my appointment from government, extend +equally and alike to all the inhabitants, without distinction. It is my +duty to preach to all, to pray for all, and to admonish every one. And +it is no less the duty of all, to come to public worship, to hear the +gospel, and to pray for me. These mutual ties and obligations between +you and me, are not lessened by any change in your circumstances. And +remember, that the slight you put upon the public worship, is not +properly a slight of me (if that was all, it would be a matter of utter +indifference) but upon the Lord himself; for I trust it is his message, +and not my own, that I deliver to you [Luke x. 16.]. I wish, therefore, +what I have said upon this subject, to be understood as addressed TO ALL, +whether of higher or lower rank, who are guilty of breaking the +sabbath. Whatever our station or calling may be, our obligations to keep +holy the sabbath-day, are precisely the same. If any are more +inexcusable than the rest, it must be those, who, from their station +and office, are peculiarly bound to set a good example to others. I +hope this friendly hint will be received in good part. I mean not to +offend. But I must admonish you, that whatever be your situation in +life, you will gain nothing in the end, by doing what God forbids, nor +will you be a loser by yielding strict obedience to his commands. + + +III. Be constant and diligent in prayer to God. Intreat him to give his +blessing to what you read and hear, and to all your concerns. As we are +weak and needy creatures, always dependent upon God, and +always receiving mercies and favours from him, we ought to be frequent +and earnest in prayer. Daniel was accustomed to pray three times in the +day [Dan. vi. 10.; Ephes. ii. 12.]. I hope you will be punctual in prayer, +morning and evening, at least. So long as any of you live without prayer, +you live without Christ, without hope, and without God in the world. +They, who do not pray to God while upon earth, will not be admitted to +praise him in heaven. When the rich careless man who had fared sumptuously +every day, for a time, lifted up his eyes in torments, he only desired +and prayed for a drop of water to cool his tongue, but it was not +granted to him. Oh! if you value your souls, pray earnestly to God. +Consider your obligations to do so. He is your Creator, Preserver, +Benefactor. In him you live and move, and have your being. And +therefore not to acknowledge, by prayer, your dependence upon him, +would manifest the greatest ingratitude and insensibility. +Consider, likewise, the encouragement you have to pray. Though you +are by nature sinners, and by practice enemies and rebels, he gives you +free and sure promises, that whoever is disposed to return to him, and +seek him by earnest prayer, shall not seek him in vain. Oh! my +brethren, that there was less cursing and swearing, and more prayer +among you! + +After these positive directions what you ought TO DO, I proceed to some +necessary cautions, against what you ought to avoid. + + +I. Profane swearing is one thing against which I am especially bound to +warn you, because it is an evil which so much abounds amongst you. + +God has said, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, +for the Lord will not hold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain. +Our Saviour likewise has said, Swear not at all [Exod. xx. 7.; +Matt. v. 34.]. But how can you reconcile these prohibitions to +your conduct; or your consciences? When instead of not swearing +at all, many of you seldom open your lips, but the first and last +words which you utter, are blasphemous oaths, and horrid imprecations? +Is this acting like rational or accountable creatures? Who gave you the +powers of reason and speech? Was it not God? And can you think that +he gave them to you, that you may blaspheme his holy name, and to use +the most profane, obscene, and desperately wicked language your hearts +can invent; a language only fit for incarnate devils, and shocking +to the ears of the ignorant heathens? This is a dreadful evil which +you may be assured, will not pass unpunished. This sin has often +brought heavy judgments upon individuals, families, and kingdoms. +Because of swearing the land mourneth [Jer. xxiii. 10]. Shall not I visit +for these things, saith the Lord? + +As a proof of the enormity of this sin, you read, that Moses, by +the command of God, ordered a man to be stoned to death, for cursing +and blaspheming [Lev. xxiv. 10-16.]; and it would be well, both on their +own account, and for the good of others, if magistrates would strictly +discharge their duty, by enforcing the laws of our land, which are +engaged against this horrid practice. And in few places, perhaps in no +place, such strictness would be more needful, or more salutary, +than in this colony. + +Our Lord assures us, that for every idle word that men shall speak they +shall give an account in the day of judgment! [Matt. xii. 36] How dreadful +then will be the case of those persons, who during their whole life +have employed their tongues in cursing, swearing, lying, and all +manner of vile and unclean conversation. Oh! think of this in time, +and tremble and repent, and learn to use your tongues to better purpose in +future! Read carefully the third chapter of James, and pray to God for +his grace, and use your best endeavours to bridle your tongues which, +if you do not subdue and conquer, will surely destroy and ruin you. + + +II. Consider, also, what must be the consequence of that unclean and +adulterous course of life, which many of you follow. Common as this +wickedness is in our colony (I believe no where more so) do not +suppose, that the frequency will take away, or in the least abate the +criminality of it. Neither suppose that this sin is less odious in the +sight of God if committed in Port Jackson, than in England. You may +frame excuses or plead necessity, for what you do, or permit to be +done; but the word of God by which you must be at last judged, admits, +of no plea, or excuse. The command is positive and absolute. The +declaration of God, Thou shalt not commit adultery [Exod. xx. 14], is +equally binding upon persons of all ranks to whom it is known, at all +times, and in all places. Think not, that the holy and just God will +dispense with his law, or relax the sentence he has denounced against the +breach of it, that you may with impunity indulge your corrupt desires. No; +it is written, whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. The apostle +declares that no fornicator, adulterer, or unclean person, can enter +into the kingdom of God; he repeats this warning nearly in the same +words, a second and a third time. The heavens and the earth shall pass +away; but not one jot or tittle of his word can fail. All shall be +fulfilled [Heb. xiii. 4.; Gal. v. 17-21.; Eph. v. 3-5.]. And therefore, +however this sin may be connived at by some, and committed by others, God +will severely punish offenders, unless they repent of their wickedness +and forsake it. + +But I need not enlarge upon this subject, I have told you my +thoughts of it again and again with faithfulness. It seems the +plainness of my language has hurt the delicate feelings of some, and the +faithfulness I have used has excited the censure and ill-will of +others. But why am I blamed, if I have only affirmed and proved from +the scriptures, that no fornicator, adulterer, or unclean person can +go to heaven WHEN HE DIES, unless he repents of his evil practices, and +turns from them, WHILE HE LIVES? + +But whether you will hear, or whether you will forbear, I must repeat +the unwelcome truth. My conscience, my duty, and my compassion, all +urge me to deal faithfully with you. I mean and desire to be understood, +and therefore I must speak plainly. It is my intention and +desire to awaken and alarm your consciences: but alas! after all I can +say or do, I am too little understood or regarded. But I must deliver +my own soul, whether you will regard me or not. The day is +coming when the Lord himself will judge between you and me. Oh, repent, +repent, before it be too late. + + +III. The conduct of too many of you induces me to exhort and caution +you farther against theft, and all kinds of dishonesty and villainy. + +I have often told you, both publicly and privately, that honesty is the +best policy. None have more reason to be convinced of this, than you +who come hither as convicts. You have known by bitter experience, the +unhappy consequences of dishonesty. Have not many of you, for the sake, +perhaps, of a few shillings, unjustly obtained, plunged yourselves +into misery for the remainder of your lives? Several have made this +acknowledgment to me, in their dying moments. Learn therefore, +strive, and pray to be honest. Honesty has its present advantages. An +honest man, however poor, can face this world with confidence. +But a dishonest behaviour, with its constant attendant a guilty +conscience, will always fill the mind with fear and dismay. +[Job. xxiv. 16,17.] + +I do not mean, my friends, to reflect harshly upon you for what is +past, and cannot be recalled. I pity your past misconduct; I +sympathize with you under your present sufferings. And therefore I +admonish and caution you to abstain from this course for the time to +come. Let then the troubles and afflictions you have brought upon +yourselves be a warning, to regulate your future behaviour. Learn to be +thankful for what God in his providence gives you, whether it be more +or less. Attend to what our Lord says, Whatsoever ye would that men +should do unto you, do ye even so unto them. And to his apostle's +direction, Let him that hath stolen, steal no more, but rather let him +labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he +may have to give to him that needeth [Matt. vii. 12.; Eph. iv. 24.]. +Follow this advice, and you will soon experience the benefit. + + +IV. Beware of idleness. This is the forerunner of many evils. +Poverty, disease, disgrace, misery, and too often an untimely death, +are the consequences of sloth and indolence. Yield not to idleness; if +you indulge it, you will find it grow upon you. Therefore, be diligent +and industrious in your lawful callings. It is written in the Bible, +and confirmed by experience and observation, The idle soul shall +suffer hunger, but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. +[Prov. xix. 15. & xiii. 14.] + + +V. Be careful also to pay due respect, submission, and obedience to +your superiors. It is the good pleasure of God that some should be +placed in more exalted, and others in a more humble station. And +it is a proof of his wisdom and goodness. The present state of the +world, and the general good of mankind, render such distinctions +necessary. But whether we are high or low, whether called to command, +or required to obey, our duties and obligations are mutual. It is in +society as in the human body. There are many members, and every member +has its proper place, and its proper office. Let every soul be subject +to the higher powers [Rom. xiii. 1.]. + +I have thus given you my best advice respecting what you ought to do, +or to avoid. Permit me to invite your serious attention to what I have +written. Consider it carefully FOR YOUR OWN SAKES. It concerns your +PRESENT comfort. For though no works of ours, or what are called, moral +virtues, can possibly procure us the favour of God, (for our best +services are imperfect and defiled, and need forgiveness) yet that +knowledge and experience of the gospel, which I have explained +to you in the first part of this Address, (and of which I earnestly +pray you may be made partakers) must be accompanied by a correspondent +conduct, such as I have set before you in the second part. And +this knowledge and this conduct will always be attended, though not +always in the same degree, with an inward settled peace, whereby the +mind is reconciled to support crosses and afflictions, however great, +or of long continuance, with a degree of fortitude and resignation. +Persons under this influence will say, when they meet with troubles, +I will bear the indignation of the Lord, because I have sinned +against him [Micah. vii. 9.]. Should it please God, to answer the earnest +desire of my soul, by giving you an experience of the gospel peace, you +will thank and praise him, even for bringing you hither; and you will see +and confess, that your heaviest afflictions have, in the event, proved to +be your greatest mercies. + +Your FUTURE comfort and welfare in this world, depends upon this +knowledge. For though no one knows what may befal him in this life, yet +the real christian has the comfort of knowing, that however it may go +with the wicked, or whatever may happen to himself of a temporal +nature, or whatever may become of his body, he is sure (because God +has promised) that it shall be well with his soul at death. Ah! my +brethren, then, more especially then, believers will find the advantage +of having made the word of God the foundation of their hope, and the +rule of their life! + +Several of you, some to my knowledge, have left affectionate, tender, +and serious friends, husbands, wives, parents, brothers, sisters, or +children, in your native country, to lament your misconduct, the +sufferings you have brought upon yourselves, and the disgrace in +which you have involved your families. Let me intreat you, FOR THE +SAKE OF THESE, to consider your ways. Great comfort it will +afford to those who are now almost overwhelmed with grief on your +account, to hear of your reformation and conversion. These would be +glad tidings, indeed, from a far country. The hopes they might then +form of seeing you again, would be truly pleasing; it would be little +less than receiving you again from the dead. Or if they never see you +in this world, the prospect of meeting with you in heaven, would add +comfort to their dying hours. Oh! let not their prayers and their tears +be lost upon you! + +Attend to these things, FOR THE SAKE OF OTHERS, who may follow you +hither, in the like unhappy circumstances. When they see your +reformation, and that in consequence of it, you are more comfortable +here than you were at home, they may be induced and encouraged to +follow your examples. Thus you will be instrumental in saving souls +from death. + +I would farther plead with you, for the sake of the poor +unenlightened savages, who daily visit us, or who reside amongst us. If +these ignorant natives, as they become more and more acquainted with +our language and manners, hear you, many of you, curse, swear, lie, +abound in every kind of obscene and profane conversation; and if they +observe, that it is common with you to steal, to break the sabbath, to +be guilty of uncleanness, drunkenness, and other abominations; how must +their minds become prejudiced and their hearts hardened against that +pure and holy religion which we profess? Oh beware of laying +stumbling-blocks in the way of these blind people [Lev. xix. 14.], lest +the blood of their souls be one day required at your hands. + +And yet I fear, yea, I well know, that they have already heard and seen +too much of such language, and such practices amongst us. Already some +of them have been taught to speak such language as they +continually hear, and though they do not yet understand the meaning of +the words they use, they can utter oaths and blasphemies almost as +readily as their CHRISTIAN instructors. By-standers divert themselves +with their attempts in this way, and think it is fine sport. But, my +friends, the scripture declares they are fools who make a mock at +sin.[Prov. xiv. 9.] But these things cause much sorrow to those who have +any reverence for God, or pity for their fellow creatures. I readily +profess my own deep concern for these proceedings, and my utter abhorrence +of them. And I most earnestly intreat you, if you cannot instruct them in +what is better, to have no communication at all with them. For if you make +them partakers of your sins, you must answer for it at the great day of +judgment; if they then rise up against you, for misleading them, it +will be much more tolerable for them than for you. + +But consider, on the other hand, what may be the happy effects, +were the natives to see, hear, and observe in you, and in all the +Europeans here; in ministers and people, high and low, a conduct +answerable to the doctrine and precepts of the gospel. This might, by +the blessing of God, be one of the most effectual means, to bring them +to reflection, and to engage them to seek an interest in the +blessings of the gospel for themselves. + +Shall I beg and intreat you, FOR MY SAKE, to attend to the things +pertaining to your true peace. My dear people, I will again declare (I +can appeal to the great God, who searcheth the hearts, that I speak the +truth) to see you converted from your evil ways, and seeking the +salvation of God, Yes, to see you pay a due regard to these most +important concerns, and to have reason to hope and believe, that you +were brought to a saving acquaintance with the truths which you hear +of, or might hear, as often as the Lord's day returns, would +indeed greatly rejoice my soul. But to see so many of you turn a +careless and deaf ear, this, my dear friends, is a cause of great, +constant and increasing grief to my soul. It wounds me to think, that +any (alas! what numbers) should thus refuse and reject their own +mercies; and risk the ruin of their immortal souls, for the prospect of +a small gain, or a short sinful gratification. + +My brethren, what shall I, what can I say more. I neither know what to +add, nor how to leave off: once more, I beseech you, for God's sake, +for the sake of Jesus the Saviour, who shed his precious blood to +redeem sinners, and for the sake of your own souls: by the holy +incarnation of the Redeemer, by his agonies, temptations, death and +resurrection, by all the terrors of his frown, and by all the +blessings of his love, by the joys of heaven, by the torments of hell, +and by the solemnities of the approaching day of judgment; by +all these considerations, I most earnestly, affectionately, and +faithfully admonish and intreat you, carefully to weigh what I have now +set before you. And oh! that the holy angels may carry to heaven the +joyful news [Luke xv. 10.] of some sinners being awakened and born to God, +by reading or hearing this little book. O gracious God, do thou, by the +power of thy Holy Spirit, make it thus effectual to the salvation and +happiness of this people! + +And now to this gracious Lord, and to his care and blessing, I commend +you. May he enable you to examine your hearts, principles, and +practice, by the standard of his holy word. If you are still ignorant +and careless, it is a proof that you are, as yet, in the state of +nature, which is a state of darkness, guilt, condemnation, and death. +Will you not pray to be delivered from it? You must, at least, allow, +that perhaps what you have read, MAY BE the truth. And even, of +a possibility of these things being true, they deserve your earnest +attention. For should they be found so at last, what will become of +you, if you live and die impenitent? Therefore, read this plain, +affectionate Address seriously. Read it a second, a third, and a +fourth time, till your hearts are affected by it. Remember, this is the +advice of a friend, of one who sincerely seeks, wishes, and longs for +your happiness. It is the advice of your minister, expressly appointed +to watch over your souls, and who must shortly give an account of his +mission to the Great judge of all. Whether I shall die amongst you, or +he separated from you while living, we shall, at last, meet before him. +Then I must answer for my preaching, and you for your hearing. Oh that +this awful day of judgment may be often, yea, always, present to your +thoughts, and to mine! that we may live in constant expectation of its +approach! So that when the last loud trumpet shall sound, we may +stand with acceptance and boldness in his presence, and be admitted as +believers in the great Saviour, into his heavenly kingdom, with a +'Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy +Lord.'[Matt. xxv. 23.] + +This will be my daily prayer to God for you. I shall pray for your +eternal salvation, for your present welfare, for the preservation, +peace, and prosperity of this colony: and especially for the more +abundant and manifest success of the Redeemer's cause and kingdom, +and for the effusion and out-pouring of his Holy Spirit, not only +here, but in every part of the habitable globe. Longing, hoping, and +waiting for the dawn of that happy day, when the heathen shall be given +to the Lord Jesus for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the +earth for his possession: and when all the ends of the earth +shall see, believe, and rejoice in the salvation of God. +[Ps. ii. 8. & xcviii. 3.] + +I am your affectionate Friend and +Servant in the Gospel of Christ, + +RICHARD JOHNSON. + +FINIS. + + + +End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of An Address to the Inhabitants +Of The Colonies, established in New South Wales And Norfolk Island. + |