I might here, if the time would permit, offer many arguments to persuade to works of charity; but you hear them so often from the pulpit, that I am willing to hope you may not now want them. Besides, my present design was only to shew where your alms would be best bestowed, to the honour of God, your own ease and advantage, the service of your country, and the benefit of the poor. I desire you will all weigh and consider what I have spoken, and, according to your several stations and abilities, endeavour to put it in practice; and God give you good success. To Whom, with the Son and Holy Ghost, be all honour, &c. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, &c. A SERMON UPON SLEEPING IN CHURCH. ACTS, CHAP. XX. VER. 9. "And there sat in a window a certain young man, named _Eutychus_, being fallen into a deep sleep; and as _Paul_ was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead." I have chosen these words with design, if possible, to disturb some part in this audience of half an hour's sleep, for the convenience and exercise whereof this place, at this season of the day, is very much celebrated. There is indeed one mortal disadvantage to which all preaching is subject; that those who, by the wickedness of their lives, stand in greatest need, have usually the smallest share; for either they are absent upon the account of idleness, or spleen, or hatred to religion, or in order to doze away the intemperance of the week; or, if they do come, they are sure to employ their minds rather any other way, than regarding or attending to the business of the place. The accident which happened to this young man in the text, hath not been sufficient to discourage his successors: But because the preachers now in the world, however they may exceed St Paul in the art of setting men to sleep, do extremely fall short of him in the working of miracles; therefore men are become so cautious as to choose more safe and convenient stations and postures for taking their repose, without hazard of their persons; and, upon the whole matter, choose rather to trust their destruction to a miracle, than their safety. However, this being not the only way by which the lukewarm Christians and scorners of the age discover their neglect and contempt of preaching, I shall enter expressly into consideration of this matter, and order my discourse in the following method: _First:_ I shall produce several instances to shew the great neglect of preaching now amongst us. _Secondly:_ I shall reckon up some of the usual quarrels men have against preaching. _Thirdly:_ I shall set forth the great evil of this neglect and contempt of preaching, and discover the real causes from whence it proceedeth. _Lastly:_ I shall offer some remedies against this great and spreading evil. _First:_ I shall produce certain instances to shew the great neglect of preaching now among us.