An essay to suppress prophaness [sic] and immortality pay the nations debts, support the government, and maintain the poor. Humbly submitted to the Lords spiritual, temporal, and Commons assembled in Parliament. With a short postscript relating to His Majesty's speech. By a Society for reformation of manners.

My Lords and Gentlemen,

THE Author of this Fssay, having (some time since) sent it to our Society, it was considered amongst us, and (for its rare and compleat Defign, exquisite penetration of Thought and Intention) conceived worthy to be published upon the Credit of its own Basis; but the Members of the Society (who desire to be unknown as yet) being Absent, and the Printer mistaking the Design, by thinking it done only to gain a Penny, did put an unintended Title to it, by which it pas∣sed for no better than Grubstreet, nay not half so well; for the Hawk∣ers could not sell it for any thing; it was too weighty and consum∣mate for the paultrey Admirers of their Merchandizes. Yet the Title forbad any Man of Sense to Look upon it. But the Society being en∣courag'd by His Majesty's repeated 〈…〉〈…〉 and most Christian Desires for Suppressing Vice and Prophaneness; and by the Exam∣ple of so many Persons of the Greatest Rank (in this most Honoura∣ble House) that have subscribed their approbation of a Book, En∣tituled, An Account of the Societies, for Reformation of Manners; Wherein all Persons are earnestly exhorted to be Assistant to so good a Work in their respective Capacities, they (by God's Assi∣stance) resolved to pursue the Author's Design, so far as to lay it before this Honourable House, the proper Fountain from whence such streams of Goodness must derive, which is the utmost they can in their present Circumstances do; and tho' they pretend not to set the Project in the clearest Light by this small hint, yet they are prompt to hope and believe, that by the Sage Cultivation of this Honourable House, this Embrio may easily be formed into an Ad∣mirable Perfection; and they having received from the unknown Author of this Essay such Recommendatory Arguments in ••elation to both Church and State, which in due time, (if those Considerations shall meet with Encouragement by Your Honours Approbation) may be made Publick, such as they think sufficient to Evidence not only the Truth, but the indispensable Necessity of the Undertaking; some few of which they do in all Humility propose to Your Honours Consideration.

First, whether it be not the only way to establish our Nations Peace and Happiness, to follow our Saviour's Advice; and first seek the Kingdom of Heaven, that all things else may be Added; and since this must first be done; Whether we can reasonably ex∣pect the good things that are necessary to establish our Nations happy Tranquility, whilst this Kingdom is sought for?

2dly, Whether this seeking don't consist in Repentance and Amend∣ment of the Nation in General, as well as your particular selves?

3dly, Whether any more effectual Methods can be taken to answer His Majesty's most Gracious Desires to have all manner of Vice suppresed, than by preventing the Retailing Strong-Drinks of all sorts in our Nation; and whether this Project be not as pra∣cticable as indispensably necessary, upon those Considerations?

1. Whether it be a right Notion in Politicks to set such extra∣ordinary Taxes upon Luxury, because such vast Summs are daily consumed in Wine, Ale, Tobacco, and Coffee in the Re∣spective Houses that Retail the same?

2ly, How detrimental it must needs be for any Nation to de∣stroy so much of its Stock to so little purpose; and whether our Men, Money, and Manufactures that are exchang'd for those Tri∣fles, be not so much Treasure given for that which makes us as in∣sensably Poor, as excessive Wicked?

3ly, Whether if all this Wealth were husbanded and employ∣ed in some other Traffick of Real use, a much greater Revenue might not be raised to the Crown without oppressing any Person, because what doth arise from those Commodities is very small, in consi∣deration of the Value we give them, tho' we destroy them wast∣fully so soon as they are at the greatest Price?

4ly, Whether if the Retailing of Strong-Drinks were prevent∣ed, Persons of Quality, Gentlemen, and all Persons that can now afford to buy them of the Retailers, may not Drink them much Cheaper in their own Houses, where 'tis impossible so much Debauchery and Lewdness should be acted and encouraged, as in Retailing Houses it is, and ever will be?

5ly, Whether if these Nurseries of Vice, Faction, Dissention and Idleness were suppressed, all Persons would not spare time to frequent the daily Of∣fices of the Church, by which our Spiritual guides would be more edifying to themselves and others?

6ly, Whether these Retailing Houses has not deprived more Worthy Pa∣rents of their just hopes in being happy in their Children than Death it self?

7ly, Whether Masters of all Ranks might not have their Buisiness better

done, and with more security from being defrauded by their Servants, if they depended upon their Masters good Pleasure, for all the Strong-Drink they drank?

8ly, Whether Tradesmen in general do beleive that the Ale. House Custom was ever profitable to them, and whether from 10 to 100 l. that's spent, once, twice, and in some great Towns thrice a Week, on Market-days in a Ta∣vern, Ale, or Coffee-house, in consuming those Trifles extravagantly, would not be better laid out in our Manufactures in their Shops?

9ly, Whether it be not the Interest of England, to have Rents low, because all things will fall in proportion, and then we shall Work our Manufactures Cheap and be able to undersell our Neighbours in all Places, which is the only way to preserve our Commerce abroad, which at this time all Nations are Ravishing from us; nor can the Nobility and Gentry suffer by it either in Honour or Estate, by reason of the proportionate fall of all other Commodi••i••s

10ly, Whether if no Strong-Drink were to be sold by Retail, an Army of 30 or 40 thousand Men might not be kept on Foot, Paid, be pro•••••••••••• not grieviance but a security to our Nation: If occasion be?

* 1.111ly, Let it be supposed that every Man spends but 2^d per die•• 〈…〉〈…〉∣gantly? If this were prevented, Whether each Person would not be able to pay 2^d per Week to the King, which would double the quarterly Pole, and no Person oppressed by it?

And lastly, since Reformation is so highly necessary, so much talkt of, yet so little advanc'd, with all the industry of the several Societies for putting the Laws in Execution against offenders, it seems altogether necessary to find some other effectual way to put a stop to the Licensiousness of the Age, whereby the inpending Wrath of Heaven may be averted, by reclaiming the People of this Nation from their continual provoaking the Almighty to send his Judgments amongst us; and if by putting this Project in execution (with∣out which nothing but a miracle can do it) some inconvenience should hap∣pen at first to particular Persons, it may be considered that only such will suffer whose Temporal welfare consists in the eternal Ruin of our Nation; as 'tis made Apparent in a Treatise that's ready for the Press, if these conside∣rations meet with the desired effect; and if any Person or Society has any thing to object against what has been said, the Members of this Society will return them humble Thanks for giving them Advertisement in some of the publick Prints, provided always they don't advance a Temporal concern before an Eternal: for as those things are incompatible, they will make no reply, but to such as prefer things Eternal before things Transitory, for they have higher Aims than Revenge or Applause, and Act by a more Elevated Policy, than that of being known; they require from Mankind a greater success than either Reward or Commendation, 'tis Reformation and A∣mendment they expect.

☞ If these Considerations meet with the desired Effect, the SOCIETY will make it manifest that two Millions may be raised Anually, and four saved ••o the Nation, without oppressing any People.

Notes

• * 1.1

  And he Poor∣est People that s••ead nothing will find their Po••e returned doube in their accounts at t••e years end by the Cheapness of Corn.