uncultivated minds to be moft obvious and eafy; but it does not follow from thence, that on the fame fubject they would have produced those sentiments, or follow'd that order. Let it be remembered then, to whom we are indebted for those pure notions of Benevolence which are fo familiar to our minds, which feem now to arise so naturally on the leaft contemplation of our own. nature and our circumftances. Since the Sun of Righteousness hath arifen and shined upon human nature, the understandings of men have been enlightened to perceive the common relation of mankind, "that we are every one members one of another." And their hearts have been warmed to allow the demands of their relationship, " to be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love."

THE influences of chriftianity are now felt by all in every civilized country with

the dawning of reason, and first emotion of paffion or affection. Its benign spirit diffused through the whole mafs of opinion, and fentiment infinuates itself imperceptibly into the very texture of their minds and fenfibilities of their hearts. Those who unfortunately acknowledge not, or ungratefully disregard its divine Author, yet experience in many refpects, whilst they bow down to the idol, their reason, the meliorating effects of his unfpeakable gift. And those who receive with meeknefs the engrafted word, and look there, for the foundation of their opinions, and regulation of their paffions and affections, find in every page of the record of their faith, the most forcible exhortations to the virtue of Benevolence,

WITHOUT Benevolence, all pretences to natural religion, or revealed, are declared to be vain. If we love not our Brother whom

whom we have feen, we are told, we cannot love God whom we have not feen; and by this, faid Chrift, shall all men know that ye are my difciples, if ye have love one to another. Precept however is cold and unanimating, addrefs'd to the understanding alone, which is too apt in the midst of a world full of temptation, to be overpowered by the will and affections.

HERE then behold the virtue of Benevolence receiving firm unmoveable fupport, and raising itself into the grace of heavenly Charity. Those who have a true fenfe of the miferable condition of human nature, from which we have been relieved by the mediation of the Redeemer, who are wash'd from their fins in his blood, and fanctified by the inspiration of his Holy Spirit; whofe fouls are fufficiently refined to relish the joys which await juft men made perfect; who hope to join the multitude of all nations and kindreds,

kindreds, and people and tongues, in saying Salvation to our God which fitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb; who, in all the various scenes of life, look unto Jefus the author and finisher of their faith, behold his patient forbearance, hear his meek answers, and affectionate intreaties; witness his unwearied endeavors to redrefs human calamity, and render men happy; feel the immensity of that love which brought him down from heaven, to die the death of a vile flave upon a cross, and have the divine found of "Father forgive them for they know not what they do," ever vibrating in their ears-Thofe men will have every feeling attuned to the love of their fellow creatures, and by the uniform practice of beneficence in their several stations, according to the power they poffefs, draw in these days the willing teftimony from all that know them, which was once forced from the lips of a Heathen perfecutor; behold how these

Christians

Chriftians love one another. The nobleft object which our eyes can behold in the prefent world, is one of our fellow creatures poffeffing the power and difpofition to do good, and uniformly exerting it in the whole conduct of life. Let us then proceed to the effects of the difpofition we have been defcribing.

YOUR hearts have often been delighted with the fight of a well regulated family, between the different branches of which, there have fubfifted real regard and concern for their mutual intereft: each individual comforting, and endeavouring to ferve and please the others, and all looking up with confidence and love to their common Head, in whofe affectionate attention to the welfare of the whole, they find a bond of union and an incitement to the chearful discharge of their perfonal duties. When in like manner, all mankind are confider'd by us as one family,

the