never be fufficiently valued or commended, the conftant vigilant attention of many perfons with heads and hearts qualified to guide this work of Charity with prudence: nor is it a small part of our glory or advantage, that these persons are of various profeffions in life, and different persuasions in religion; as it is the exaltation of this our feftival of love, that they come thus folemnly before God, avowing their readiness to unite heart and hand in the fervice of their poor diftreffed brethren.

You, upon whom providence hath bestowed an abundance of the good things of this world, and the yet greater gift of benevolent affections, who upon the present occafion ftand forth the avowed Patrons of this excellent Charity; on you, I need not attempt to inforce the bleffedness of imitating your Saviour in going about to do good. You well know that benevolence, uniformly directing

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directing the use of riches, exhibits what Job defcribes of his profperity; "When the ear heard me, then it blessed me, and when the eye faw me it gave witness to me: because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless and him that had none to help him: the bleffing of him that was ready to perish came upon me, and I caufed the widow's heart to fing for joy. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame."

How are thofe men to be pitied, who imagine the advantages of a large fortune, to confift principally in the pomp and splendour of equipage, and the uncontrouled gratification of their selfish paffions; strangers to that felf-esteem and felf-congratulation, which they experience, who confider their condition in the light in which christianity represents it, as being stewards to their heavenly Father, and whofe confciences

bear

bear them witnefs, that they are faithful to their truft.

BUT Charity is equally shewn by little as by much, when that little is given according to what a man hath: and an opportunity is this day afforded to all here prefent, of contributing Jomewhat to this Inftitution, If there are any here who have received benefit from it, and from a change of circumstances are able to afford fome teftimony of their gratitude; I do not ask such to contribute, for I am fure, they can need no exhortation to do according to their power.

You, who in better circumstances, have known what fickness is, (and most have known, and all may expect to know,) reflect on your own wants, your own wishes, your own feelings: as you have known, or hope to know what it is to be pitied, fo may you now know what it is to pity!

can I help reminding all here

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as well those who can, as those who cannot contribute to this Inftitution, that it is not only by their alms that they can promote the welfare and happiness of their brethren: by discharging, as christians, the duties of their stations in life; by being good natured and obliging in their families-kind and affifting, and courteous to their neighbours-induftrious and confcientious in their refpective callings-by fubmitting themselves in quietnefs and peace to the lawful regulations of fociety, and thus discountenancing, in the most efficacious manner, all turbulence and difaffection to government, the fure forerunner of general calamity: by these means, may they all fhew the benevolence of their hearts; and the poorer fort, by their, fobriety and prudence, preventing many of the calamities relieved by this Charity, contribute in effect towards

it,

it, by leaving more for the unavoidable vifitations of providence.

My endeavour has been to represent the duty of doing good to others, as refting upon the broad bafis of the whole conftitution of things, and the make and condition of man; as enforced, and irresistibly recommended to our feelings, by the precepts and nature of the chriftian religion, and the example of our Lord and Master Jefus Chrift; as fhewing itfelf in every act of kindness, affiftance, and courtefey to all we have concern with, in various degrees; and as ftrongly prompting us in particular, to give our hearty support to fuch Institutions, as this day's folemnity was intended to recommend.

IN a mind accuftomed to confider the whole fyftem of human duties in this comprehenfive view, no perplexity will be occafioned

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