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SO exceedingly rare in New England, through the great mercy of God, is such a scene as you behold, that you will not think it strange, if many, who wish well to mankind, are desirous of rendering it infinitely beneficial to multitudes. Suffer me, then, to ask your serious attention to a few thoughts, which I wish to be impressed on my own mind, and which I cannot but think may be usefully impressed on yours.

1. Consider the unhappy criminals.

On them the attention of this numerous assembly is fixed, their awful situation now; their past life, which has led to this result; the circumstances of their atrocious crimes; their behaviour since the period of their apprehension and during their trial, and whatever we may have been able to learn of their conduct since they were condemned, are the principal theme of reflection and conversation. They are men, as ourselves. They are hastening to an awful eternity-to the bar of that God, who is "angry with the wicked every

day," and whose dreadful denunciations against the impenitently guilty are spread on the pages of his holy and unerring Word.

My friend, pray for them: Lift up your heart to God, on whose mercy you too are dependent, that He, for Christ's sake-for the sake of Him, who groaned, and bled, and died, that sinners might be saved-would have mercy upon them; and that, though they have been condemned, and justly, at a human tribunal, they may, through hearty repentance and a lively faith, be acquitted of their crimes at the bar of Christ, on the ground of trust in his all-sufficient atonement.

Pray too for their relatives and friends. At the birth of each one of them, their affectionate parents were probably filled with joy and thankfulness. Ah, who could then have foretold this hour? Who could have lacerated their fond hearts by painting to them this scene of indescribable anguish!

They have had, probably they now have, friends. Wherever such may be at the pres ent time, yet all the circumstances of their acquaintance and connexion will be investigated at the bar of God. Investigated, do I say? Rather let me say, displayed to an assembled world by that Being, who knoweth at all times the state of every heart. Have these men been enticed to sin by their comrades? Awful now is the result of such pernicious friendships. Have they themselves. left the poisonous sting of seductive intercourse in the bosoms and hearts of their former intimates? What woes unnumbered may

ensue! "One sinner," says the sacred word of God, "destroyeth much good." Who can tell, beside Him, who seeth the end from the beginning, and discerneth effects in their causes through an endless eternity, the influence on mankind even of those sins, which, with respect to these unhappy men, are now producing the bitter fruits of death!

2. Consider the operation of the laws.

Without them no security could attend the enjoyment of any of the blessings of life. They are absolutely necessary to the very existence of society. Their sanction is derived from the Great Lawgiver of the Universe. In this case, it is his authoritative word which says, "Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed." Reverence then, in silence, the majesty of the laws and consider that the existence of your comforts, privileges and advantages depends on the execution of them even to the exaction of the dread forfeit you are now witnessing. Inculcate also a strict obedience to them onall, over whom you have influence.

3. Consider, then, more particularly, the interests of the community.

Every citizen, every man has his duties to perform, and an influence to exert.

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fluence ought to be salutary in its effects on others. Example does much, even more than precept. On the rising generation especially it operates with peculiar power. The young, indeed, are chiefly formed by the conduct and example of those, to whom they look up with reverence, as parents, guardians, masters,

teachers, and friends. From their conversation, their advice, their precepts, admonitions and instructions flows the character, in a great measure, of the generation which succeeds them. Oh, then, let the influence you exert be on the side of wholesome laws, pure morality, and Christian piety. Let the young behold in you the example of deep, serious, practical attention to whatever things are lovely, pure, just, virtuous, true, and of good report. Let it be the precious consolation of your dying hour, that your example and influence have tended, through the blessing of God, to strengthen the hands of the good, and to weaken the pernicious influence of sin; that your friendship has been a treasure of inestimable worth to those, who enjoyed it, and that none shall ever lament the period when first they knew you; but multitudes. have reason to bless your memory, when you have sunk to the grave-none to blush when addressed as your acquaintance, friend, or relative.

4. If you are a parent, consider, I beseech you, your children.

They are a precious part of your very self. For their welfare you have already thought and perhaps laboured much. Are you not anxious to save them from the stings of selfreproach, from the displeasure of the good, from the animadversion of the laws, from the punishments of the wicked in this world and the next? I cannot for a moment doubt it. It would be unnatural-it would be monstrous that you should not be anxious to

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save them from these evils. You cannot bear the idea, that they, whom you so much love, at whose birth you were so thankful, over whom you have so often breathed, as I would charitably hope, the fervent prayer to Godfor their lives, their health, their happiness and usefulness in the world that these should be justly sentenced to die by a hangman! God forbid! you exclaim. Go home, then, and bring them up for God.

It is possible this most important work has been awfully neglected. Oh let it be neglected no longer! Your children have a world of sin to pass through-and scenes of trial. If they be not well grounded in good principles, think of their awful hazard and danger. Temptations will assail them. How shall temptation be repelled, if the mind be not early established and well principled? Delay not, then, to enter heartily on the task. Seek wisdom and grace from the Giver of every good gift-and see that you employ his gift to advance his glory, and the holy purposes of his infinite wisdom. He has constituted you the guardian, as well as the parent of your children, and it is his will, that you should train them up in the way in which they should go.

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Let them have occupation. Idleness is the inlet of all vice. Industry, in any useful business whatever, assists the government of the thoughts and passions. Industry is the parent of virtue, usefulness and respectability. If you would have your children become blessings to themselves and others, and to your

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