Pleas'd with his guests, the good man learn'd to glow,
And quite forgot their vices in their wo:

Careless their merits, or their faults to scan,

His pity gave ere charity began.

Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride,
And e'en his failings lean'd to virtue's side,
But in his duty prompt at ev'ry call,

He watch'd and wept, he pray'd and felt for all.
And as the bird each fond endearment tries,
To tempt its new-fledged offspring to the skies,
He tried each art, reprov'd each dull delay,
Allur'd to brighter worlds, and led the way.
Beside the bed where parting life was laid,
And sorrow, guilt, and pain by turns dismay'd,
The reverend champion stood. At his control
Despair and anguish fled the struggling soul :
Comfort came down, the trembling wreck to raise,
And his last falt'ring accents whisper'd praise."

All are bound to fulfil the duties of philanthropy; both young and old, rich and poor, bond and free, learned and illiterate, those who can spare thousands, and those who can spare only two mites, or even a sympathetic tear. As Christ has positively declared, that he will deliver the subsequent address to his servants, word for word, it is impossible that he can apply it to any but those to whom it is applicable; for surely we cannot suppose the source of truth can tell a palpable lie, in the presence of assembled worlds, by saying, "Come, ye blessed, for I was sick, and ye visited me;" when in fact they lived in the total neglect of this benevolent duty, during their probationary state in this world. Though millions of men believe that women have no souls, and consequently that they will not be received after death into immortal glory, yet I have reason to believe that the number of women who will be so happy as to attain this blessedness, will exceed the number of our sex, because they are more susceptible of social and sympathetic emotions, and consequently are more easily stimulated to fulfil the duties of philanthropy. How super-eminently amiable is that woman, whose sympathies melt at human wo, and whose eyes shed pearls of transcendent lustre over the child of affliction! This brings to mind the munificent and refined sensibility of Mrs. A****, (I mention the initials of her name with gratitude and veneration,) who visited my poor infant a few weeks ago in his last sickness; when she entered the room, and looked

upon his languid face and glassy eyes, struck dumb with tender emotion

Compassion touch'd her pure pathetic soul,
And down her cheek a tear spontaneous stole :
Swift and more swift, unbidden sorrows rise,
And pearly drops roll'd from her radiant eyes!

She continued in this situation at least ten minutes, before she uttered even a monosyllable. Though she could not relieve the child, yet her benevolent solicitude proved a solace to my agonizing heart, and a cordial to my desponding mind. I felt as much gratitude for her unsolicited commiseration, as if she had presented me with five hundred dollars; more particularly, as she was previously unacquainted with us. The child died a few days after. The above circumstance, with my own feelings, proves to me that we may visit the sick with benefit, and alleviate the sufferings of the children of affliction, even without administering pecuniary relief. Hence the poor Christian philanthropist can impart that which is better than silver or gold,-DIVINE CONSOLATION.

Next to the Hospitable or Benevolent Society, I think one might be established in each of our large cities and towns where they have not been already organized, of a different description, yet of almost equal utility: I mean a Magdalen Society, to imitate the infinite beneficence and compassion of our dear and blessed Redeemer, manifested to Mary Magdalen. Though I in general despise and deprecate riches, as being fatal to thousands of the human race, yet at this moment I wish from my heart that I was a rich man, that I might by my purse, as well as my pen, lay the foundation of such an excellent and benevolent establishment, where it is not already laid. I wish, but, alas! I wish in vain, that it was in my power to promote such a heavenly undertaking, and to enjoy the divine pleasure resulting to the charitable hearts engaged therein. However, though I have neither silver nor gold, yet such as I have I freely give, in the name of my precious' and dearest Redeemer; and he, I am well assured, will accept the will for the deed.

The rich libertine who refuses to contribute his proportion for this laudable purpose, is a mean, pitiful, unprincipled

villain, and "of all bad men the worst." I can with propriety claim, in the name of the wretched beings I wish to snatch from destruction eternal, the contributions of those miscreants who were the cause of their fall from virtuewho deceived them by the promises of marriage, and a thousand nameless and satanic arts. But the principled part of our sex I can only beg, entreat, and beseech, in the name of their own manhood, humanity, and sympathetic commisera tion, to provide a reception for the penitent prostitutes who may return to virtue. At present, in most towns, no place is left for refuge, even to those who do repent. They are despised, avoided, and execrated by all, particularly their secret imitators. They look up to heaven, but it is shut against them, and no door on earth is open to receive them, except that of a brothel, as their nearest relatives turn their backs upon them. Many a female delinquent, after being deluded, would turn with abhorrence from the pollution before her, if any door were open to receive her; but this is not the case, and consequently her situation is truly deplorable. She is first betrayed and ruined by our perfidious sex, and then driven to irretrievable misery and perdition by her own sex, many of whom would be as bad as herself if the same temptations were presented to them. Much might be said on this subject if delicacy would allow. However, the benevolent will anticipate more cogent arguments, suggested by their sympathetic hearts and refined sensibility. They are also referred to the "Excellency of the Female Character," in a subsequent part of this work.

The Nature and Design of the HOSPITABLE SOCIETY, or SICK MAN'S FRIEND; instituted for the relief and instruction of the sick poor in particular, and the distressed in general; established in Philadelphia, Anno Domini 1803.

Though many public institutions and private associations for charitable and benevolent purposes have already been established in this city, almost every corner presents nume. rous instances of human wretchedness and misery, spiritual as well as temporal. Under the impression of this melancholy truth, a few of the friends of suffering humanity, actuated by the principles of Christian philanthropy, have united themselves into a society, each contributing according to his

ability, to relieve the stranger in particular, and in general all such as otherwise have no helper; and not only to relieve the poor, but also to instruct the ignorant, by disseminating religious information, especially among the many profligate persons who reside in the suburbs and environs of the city, who seldom, if ever, hear the gospel where it is statedly preached.

Friends of humanity! here is a noble undertaking, by embarking in which you may have an opportunity of doing good to the utmost extent of your power and will; fulfilling one of the most essential duties of practical religion; visiting, through your delegates, the widow, the fatherless, the stranger, and the friendless, in their various afflictions, without undergoing the inconvenience or danger of such an employment in your own persons.

To encourage this good work, the Saviour himself enjoins, humanity entreats, the divine law requires, and the wretchedness of your poor brethren, children of one common parent, loudly calls you. Acting agreeably to those maxims of universal benevolence which you all profess to hold sacred, you will do honour to human nature in your own persons.

Similar societies have been established in many principal cities of Europe, particularly London and Dublin, the utility and success of which almost exceed belief. In the year

1796 no less than fourteen hundred and seventy-one persons were relieved, many of them, it is hoped, to their everlasting comfort, by the Strangers' Friend Society, established by the people called Methodists, in Dublin. By the Benevolent Society in London, first patronised by the Rev. John Wesley, nineteen hundred and thirty afflicted persons were visited and relieved, in the different parishes in and near London. Out of the above number three hundred and nineteen died, of whom one hundred and ten, we trust, died happy in the Lord. Eighty-nine seemed very penitent. Many who formerly walked not in the ways of religion, now happily walk in them, and are ornaments to their Christian profession. In relieving the above persons the society expended almost seven hundred pounds sterling.

Can the numerous professors of religion and humanity in this city be unwilling to imitate the example of their Euro

pean brethren in such laudable attempts to relieve the necessities of their suffering brethren of mankind? Shall they not imitate them in the practice as well as the profession of religion? Does Heaven bestow upon them so many good things, temporal and spiritual, and can they indulge themselves in a criminal inattention to one of the most important duties which the religion they profess enjoins? Shall persons actuated merely by motives of humanity visit the fatherless, and the widow, and the friendless, and shall the friends of religion remain unfeeling and inactive? God forbid ! All, therefore, who are friends of religion and humanity indeed, must patronise this work. Under their auspices may

it increase and flourish !

"But whoso hath this world's goods, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?" 1 John, chap. iii. 17.

Our society is not intended to interfere with other institutions or duties, stated or occasional. But supposing a case or cases occur in which we have no alternative, but either to forego the benefit we might derive from a social meeting, or neglect an opportunity of doing good to a fellow-creature in extreme wretchedness, temporal or spiritual; we leave it to every well-informed Christian, nay, to every man of public spirit and common candour, to say which of the two duty and interest call upon us to do. We all know that the aw. ful day is speedily to come, in which the Saviour and the Judge of the world will accost us thus :-" Depart from me, ye cursed; for I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me not in; naked, and ye clothed me not; I was sick, and ye visited me not; I was in prison, and ye came not unto me;" or thus :-"Come, ye blessed of my Father; for I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me." How solemn the day! how certain and how speedy its ap proach! how alarming, and at the same time how animating the above passage! how tremendous the sentence, De part! how endearing the invitation, Come!