which is merely rescuing the body from premature death, and so prolonging the mortal existence of its special objects? And is it not a far higher and nobler aim, to use all proper means of "saving the "soul from death," and everlasting misery, and bringing it by Jesus Christ to eternal glory?

The

But 2nd. Every impenitent sinner is, in one way or other, constantly employed in those things which are eventually injurious to mankind, in respect of their eternal interests. I am aware that this general proposition would be denied, or questioned in respect of numbers: and my present argument does not require that I should discuss the subject; because few will be found to deny the fact, in respect of those persons for whose recovery this Penitentiary is especially instituted. wide-spreading desolations made by abandoned women on the human species, both in a physical and moral view, will always be deplored by a philanthropist, in proportion to his information on the subject. Even superficial observers know enough to excite alarms in their minds, about those for whose welfare they feel most deeply interested. What mother who has sons arriving at maturity, can help trembling for them in such a city as this, when she thinks of their coming within the sphere of this powerful and pestilential attraction? Nay, are there not many matrons, who feel even about their husbands an anxiety on this subject, which they conceal indeed but cannot subdue? and do not facts too powerfully evince that their apprehensions are not always groundless? It will also appear in proportion as the subject is investigated, that, in numerous instances, parents and relations

have equal need to fear mischief from this quarter to their daughters and female connexions. For the seductions practised by impenitent prostitutes, especially by such as for a time prosper in their evil ways, while they represent to young women, in the inferior orders of society, the hardship of servitude and confinement, compared with the easy, pleasurable, and jovial life, which they lead; and set before them the attractions of gay clothing, dissipating amusements, and various indulgences, apart from controul and rebuke; will, on careful examination, be found one grand means by which such numbers are drawn from honest employments into this most wretched and mischievous course of life. This I know, from indisputable facts. In short, this is an infection which spreads on every side, and in every way that can be imagined. Sinners in general are, indeed, possessed by " the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience;" but there are some, "whose name is Legion :" and among these the hardened prostitute must be numbered; being the nuisance and terror of the neighbourhood which she frequents. My brethren, to calculate the effects of prostitution in London alone, if it could be done, would harrow up your very souls: and I shrink from stating all, which my situation for many years compelled me to know, on the melancholy subject. Suffice it to say, that several thousands of females every year fall victims to it, dying unknown and unpitied, in the most deplorable manner, just about the time of life when otherwise they might have begun to fill up the respectable station of wives and mothers: that the havoc made, by dire disease, among their male associates, though far

less, is very great: that this vice is the inlet to almost all others, and is generally connected with drunkenness and lying, and leads to theft, and every species of fraud and depredation: and that the promiscuous intercourse of the sexes, which prostitution introduces, is the murder of the human race; both by destroying by complicated disease immense multitudes, and by preventing the increase of the species: so that, if universal, it would depopulate the best inhabited country in no long course of years.-Surely then every method should be used, as far as we have any thing in our power, to stem this destructive torrent; to arrest the progress of this baneful pestilence; and, if we can do no more, at least to rescue a few from its fatal efficacy, and prevent them from adding further to it! Who will say then, that these unhappy objects, as to time and to eternity, ought to be left to sink into perdition, and to drag others along with them down the tremendous precipice, without one effort on our part, and without remedy or hope on theirs?

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But the penitent is represented by the man out of whom the Legion was cast. Behold him now sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his "right mind!" Like Mary, he sits at the Saviour's feet, and, in humble teachableness and obedient faith, listens to his gracious words. When possessed by the Legion, he cried out," What have I "to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high "God?" but afterwards, while the Gadarenes "intreated Jesus to depart out of their coasts," he

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prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit "Jesus suffered him not, but said unto him, Go

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"home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath "had compassion on thee. And he departed and began to publish in Decapolis," (a region containing ten cities,) "how great things Jesus had "done for him: and all men did marvel," Thus he prepared the inhabitants to expect good from Jesus, when he came again into that neighbourhood: 2 and he, who had been the most wretched, the most dangerous, and most mischievous person, in the whole region; the terror of the inhabitants, and the most grievous affliction to his relations; now becomes the most wise, happy, and useful person in the whole country; and God says to him, as he did to Abraham, "I will bless thee, and thou "shalt be a blessing."

And thus every penitent, in proportion to the depth of guilt and misery, into which he had previously sunk, when his repentance is clearly evidenced by "works meet for repentance," becomes a more unexceptionable and important witness to the power and love of the Redeemer; and calls, as it were, on all around, saying to them, "Come, "taste and see how gracious the Lord is, and how "blessed they are who trust in him."

It may seem, at first view, a small matter, as to the counteracting of the wide spreading mischiefs which have been mentioned, to rescue a few individuals, "as brands from the burning: :" and indeed more effectual methods, from the measures of wise and benevolent statesmen, and legislators, are loudly called for. But in our private capacity

' Mark v. 5, 20.

Mark vii. 31, 37.

we must "do what we can," though not all that we would. Every true penitent, however, is, even in this respect, of more importance than may at first be supposed. Her example, her prayers, her conversation on some occasions, and other means which she may and will employ as she has opportunity, are of a most salutary tendency. Her case itself, as far as it is known, is suited to strike the minds of others: a conviction is often produced by such instances, in the hearts and consciences of the most careless and abandoned; a testimony is borne against the deplorable course of life from which she is recovered; and an example held up to notice of one, restored from it to comfort, credit, and respectability: a thought about "sin against "God," and future punishment, about a Saviour and salvation, and about repentance, conversion, and forgiveness, is excited in the minds of others, which, however borne down in the season of health and prosperity, will probably recur in the season of sickness and distress, or in the prospect of death. So that, in every instance, I am persuaded, the true penitent becomes useful to other sinners, aids in stopping the progress of wickedness, and promoting the cause of the gospel, and "brings forth "fruit, which shall remain," for good, perhaps with accumulated effects, even to the consummation of all things.

Thus every one of those unhappy women, who has been, or shall be, brought to repentance by means of this Penitentiary, will form an instrument of good to mankind of no small importance; instead of continuing, and becoming more and more, the active servant of Satan in destroying the