30. Are our countrymen more effectually reclaimed, when danger and distress are joined? If so, the _army_, especially in time of war, must be the most religious part of the nation. But is it so indeed? Do the _soldiery_ walk as those who see themselves on the brink of eternity? _Redeeming_ every _opportunity_ of glorifying God, and doing good to men, because they know not the hour in which their Lord will require their souls of them? So far from it, that a _soldier’s religion_ is a by-word, even with those who have no religion at all; that vice and prophaneness in every shape reign among them without controul; and that the whole tenor of their behaviour speaks, _Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die_. Have those who are exposed to still more danger, the _English sea-forces_, more religion than those at land? It is said they were once remarkable for this: and it is certain Sir _Francis Drake_ feared God, as did most of his commanders; and we have reason to believe, his marines and sailors too. But what shall we say of the _navy_ that now is, more particularly of the ships of war? Is religion there? Either the power or the form? Is not almost every single _man of war_ a mere floating hell? Where is there to be found more consummate wickedness, a more full, daring contempt of God, and all his laws, except in the bottomless pit? But here description fails: and the goodness of God endureth yet daily! But _shall I not visit for these things, saith the Lord? Shall not my soul be avenged on such a nation as this?_ O that the _prospect_ of national judgments may suffice! That we may remember ourselves, and turn unto the Lord our God, before his long-suffering mercy is at an end, and he pours out the vials of his wrath upon us! But how small ground have we as yet to hope for this? For who will now _suffer the word of exhortation_? How few will _endure sound doctrine_, and the honest, close application of it? Do they not _say unto the seers, see not; and unto the prophets, prophesy smooth things_? And if a man will do thus, if he will _sew pillows to all arm-holes_, and _cause the Holy One of_ Israel _to cease from before them; if he will prophesy of wine and strong drink, he shall even be the prophet of this people_. 31. I am sensible, how nice a subject this is, and how extremely difficult it is so to speak, as neither to say too little nor too much, neither more nor less than the cause of God requires. I know also, that it is absolutely impossible, so to speak as not to give offence. But whosoever is offended, I dare not to be silent; neither may I refrain from plainness of speech: only I will endeavour to use all the tenderness I can consistently with that plainness.