the children of one Father, who has form'd them to live in focial intercourfe, and civil fubordination, who allots their different stations, appoints their employments, diftributes enjoyment, trains them up here for greater happiness hereafter, and conducts them to it, each person will receive his proper fhare of regard, according as he is placed nearer or more remotely in this great family of love, and from his fituation demands more or lefs our conftant and fedulous attention: in proportion as we are intrufted with his welfare and happiness.

UPON this view of things, what are commonly confidered as distinct duties, appear to have an intimate connection with the common calls of Benevolence, and regard to our own families; and the advantage of confidering things in this way will be, that our attention to both will be duly proportion'd; and we shall not think as fome feem

to

to do, that unwearied endeavors to raise the latter as much as ever we can, is an excufe for the neglect of every other call for our beneficence. The truth is, the perfons who act in this manner, are regarding themfelves alone, even in what they appear to do for them; it is their pride or some selfish paffion, not real affection for their families, which they are endeavoring to gratify; of which we frequently fee a convincing proof, when their particular views in life are in any way contradicted. The mind which is capable of feeling real love for others upon any occafion, will feel it upon all occafions which call for the exercise of it; and the fame difpofition which leads a man to confult the happiness of his nearer connections, for their fakes, will extend itself from the dif charge of every endearing duty of domestic life, to the calls of friendship, acquaintance, neighbourhood, country, and human nature.

BENEVOLENCE

BENEVOLENCE fupported by fuch enlarged views of our fituation, will shew itself uniformly, and lead men to engage with alacrity, in every undertaking which feems calculated to advance the welfare of any of their Brethren; they will do their alms in fecret, when the purpose they have at heart can best be served, by not letting their left hand know what their right hand doth; and they will let their light shine before men, when by seeing their good works, they may be induced to glorify their Father which is in heaven.

Ir is upon this principle, that we appear here this day, in this public manner; upon the fame principle which has frequently from the comforts of your own

drawn you abodes, to steal unobferved to the house of mourning, to offer confolation to the afflicted, and convey food and raiment to the hungry and the naked.

THE miferable objects which you have at fuch times beheld with unavailing pity, lead you thus warmly to patronise this public work of mercy. For often have you feen the ravages of difeafe, or the ruinous effects of accident, and no skilful hand near to affuage its anguifh, and fave the industrious father, or the tender mother of furrounding infants, from a premature grave. Ah, little think those, on whom pleasure, power, and affiuence attend, what fights such scenes afford. And till men have beheld them, they know not the inestimable advantage of this heavenly inftitution. In a room unprotected, perhaps, from the fury of winds or rain, with fcarce a pillow to support his head, or clothes to cover his limbs, without an attendant that knows how to foothe the mind, no food to fuit a fick palate, or drink to quench his parching thirst, disease increafing, unrefifted, or by the very means intended to alleviate it,

every terrible foreboding thought, haunting the imagination; in fuch a condition, prefent to yourselves one of your fellow creatures, experiencing that languor and pain, which you have found it difficult to fupport, with every affiftance and comfort, which wealth, fkill and affection could afford; from this wretched dwelling, fee him convey'd to a place where he partakes of every accommodation his condition can require, every affiftance the greatest learning and skill can administer, every tender attention which can contribute to his eafe; comfortable in the reflection that all human means are tried, and thus yielding himself up in peace to the difpofal of his heavenly Father.

I DARE to speak thus ftrongly of our House of Mercy, because it is fo remarkably bleffed, not only with the best profeffional affiftance in the honorable fcience and art of medicine and furgery; but what can