e every Hour wantonly and wickedly calling for Damnation on
themselves and others, which may be ('tis much to be feared) too near
them already. Add to this the Lewdness and Debauchery that prevail
amongst the lowest People, which keeps them idle, poor, and miserable,
and renders them incapable of getting an honest Livelihood for
themselves and Families; the Number of lewd Houses, which trade in
their Vices, and which must at any rate be paid for making Sin
convenient to them; and it will account for Villainies of another Kind,
which are growing so fast as to be insupportable, and almost incurable:
For, Where is the Wonder that Persons so abandoned should be ready to
commit all Sorts of Outrage and Violence?--A City without Religion can
never be a safe Place to dwell in.

The unnatural Lewdness, of which we have heard so much of late, is
something more than brutish, and can hardly be mentioned without
offending chaste Ears, and yet cannot be passed over entirely in
Silence, because of the particular Mark of Divine Vengeance set upon it
in the Destruction of _Sodom_ by Fire from Heaven. Dreadful Example!

But these Vices are so enormous, that 'tis to be hoped the Generality
of our People are not guilty; I hope in God they are not, I trust they
are not. But how unhappy is it for this Country, that there should be
any Ground even for Suspicion that these Vices are growing to be
common!

But to go one Step further--

When Men, not content with indulging their own brutish Passions, take
Pains to corrupt others, they act with such cool and diabolical Malice,
as outdoes former Examples, and seems to be a Challenge to the Power
and Justice of God--Have not all the Abominations of the publick Stews
been opened to View by lewd Pictures exposed to Sale at Noon-day? Have
not Histories or Romances of the vilest Prostitutes been published,
intended merely to display the most execrable Scenes of Lewdness;
Lewdness represented without Disguise, and nothing omitted that might
inflame the corrupt Passions of the Youth of the Nation! What was the
Encouragement for Men to dare giving such an Affront not only to the
common Sense, but to the common Law of the Country? Was it not the
quick Sale these Pictures and these Books had? And is not this a
deplorable Circumstance, and sad Instance of the corrupt Disposition of
many among us?

Is it to be wondered at, after so much Pains taken to corrupt the
Religion and Morals of the People, that