[ 6 7 ! ] 
dred times , and his ‘Days be prolonged ; yet purely 
I know it jhall not be well with the JVicked. Ecclcf. 
viii. 1 1, 12, 13. 
It may not be improper, on this Occafion, to men- 
tion another conftant and uninterrupted Plague, in 
which, of late Years, we have been, and are like to 
continue Sufferers, in common with many other 
Nations. A Plague, of all others the greaceft that 
ever befel unhappy Man ; it being by far the rnoft 
deftruttive, not only of the Lives, but alfo of the 
Morals, of Mankind 5 both a natural and a moral 
Evil : I mean fermented diftilled Spirituous Liquors 
of all Denominations. Did God Almighty deftroy 
as many by Earthquakes as are yearly deftroyed by 
diflilled Spirituous Liquors, which is probably about a 
Million of Perfons in a Year all over the World ; how 
great a Terror and Confternation would it caufe every 
where! But, alas! with what Unconcernednefs, with 
what Calmnefs, and even Complacency, is this enor- 
mous both natural and moral Evil received, and evert 
foflered, among us; infomuch that it is now become, 
by a juft Judgment, the Curfe and the Punifhment of 
the World, even thegreateft that ever befel unhappy 
Man ! Notwithftanding which, this inchanting Siren 
fo bewitches and infatuates the Nations, that it 
fpreads its baleful Influence far and wide, making 
yearly farther and farther Devaluations, both of the 
Lives and Morals of Mankind, and even debafing. 
the Breed of Man. 
As to the Affair of Earthquakes, particularly that 
which happened at h.ondon the 8th of March laft, 
about 20 Minutes before 6 in the Morning ; I be- 
ing then awake in Bed, on a Ground-floor, rear the 
Church 
