Encouragements promised to reformation: in a sermon preached before the Governors of the Magdalen Hospital, London ... the 2d of May, 1776 / [Robert Markham].

  • Markham, Robert, 1726 or 1727-1786
Date:
1776
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Encouragements promised to reformation: in a sermon preached before the Governors of the Magdalen Hospital, London ... the 2d of May, 1776 / [Robert Markham]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    I C *4 ] quence, to the Cenfure of the World (generally too inexorable to give any Chance of being again trufted) She finds her Credit funk, her Confidence in the Friends of her Innocence removed at a Diftance by her Guilt. At laft, cut off from all Hope of being received again among the virtuous, She takes a mod miferable Refuge among the vicious, and abandoned, among thofe Wretches, whom She ought mofl induftrioufly to have avoided, namely, fuch Sifters in Iniqchy, as endeavor to keep her in Countenance by fharing in her Shame ; by banifhing her Fears, and ftudying by every mofl: infernal Art to ex- tinguifh utterly the few faint Sparks of Virtue remaining in her Breaft. Thus deprefled below all Hope of Reftitution to that Virtue whofe Ways are Ways of Pleafantnefs, and all whofe Paths are Peace 5 fhut out of every good Connexion; an Outcaft: from the reputable World, without a Friend, without an Home to flee to, She thinks herfelf reduced to the dreadful Neceflity of dragging on a wretched Life, under the Wages of Iniquity, under the Bondage of Corruption. Added to this Gall of Bitternefs, of which her*Cup of Life is full, whenever She refledts (and fometimes furely She cannot but refledl) upon her violated Duty — that She hath fet at nought the Counfel of her beft: Friends, and, as the Ffalmift: fpeaks, would none of their Reproofs; but wilfully exchanged the perfedt Freedom of Goodnefs for the Tyranny of Vice : wounded therefore by the Stings of Confcience, added to the* Lofs of her Health both of Body and of Mind, She finks at laft under the Agonies of Death, and with all her Sins upon her Head, 1