head; and all true friends of our religious eftablishment, to endeavour that it may gain as honourable a pre-eminence as poffible, over the reft of the reformed churches, in fo good a work. Perfons in plentiful circumftances, and perhaps at a lofs for ways in which they may give alms, will here find one undoubtedly proper way. And perfons in arrear to religion and charity, have an excellent opportunity offered them, of paying the debt. They who plead the multitude of other expences, might, a very great part of them, by withdrawing but a little of what they ought from their luxury and vanity,' qualify themselves for liberalities, which will turn hereafter to a much better account. And fuch as make the increase of taxes their excufe, ought to confider, that as Providence hath brought that increase upon us, by permitting us to fuffer fo much from our enemies, in that part of the world, where we have done fo little for God; efpoufing his cause is the likelieft method of deriving a bleffing on our own; and if we neglect it, whatever may befal us there, we must impute to ourfelves. We enjoy very great advantages from thence; the government, large revenues; the nation in general, a moft beneficial trade; every one of us, fomething or another, use ful or agreeable in life. It is therefore our common concern, both to do good where we have received it; and to do it in fuch manner, as may beft fecure our continuing to receive it. But they more especially, who are now raifing fortunes by commerce with our American settlements, or who poffefs acquired or hereditary eftates, of which that commerce laid the foundation, they fhould think often, how much hath accrued to them from the produce of these colonies, the country of thefe Indians, the labour of thefe negroes; and reflect very feriously, what returns poffibly justice, at least gratitude, and in many cafes prudence alfo, as well as piety, direct them to make. Some perhaps may approve one part of this undertaking beyond the reft; and whatever they give, will be applied, if they defire it, to that alone. Some may be unwilling to let their benefactions appear: and fuch may with ease transmit them privately the donation will be acknowledged, the donor unknown. But though charity given in fecret, from a principle of humility, be laudable in the highest degree; yet : when when the motive is fear of ridicule or cenfure from a profane age, this argues a weakness of mind, very dangerous to thofe who are influenced by it, and very prejudicial to religion; which cannot have a more seasonable service done it, than if perfons of rank and influence, all perfons indeed, who inwardly wish well to it, would openly patronize the feveral defigns formed to promote it. : The defign now before us, both deferves and requires a general co-operation, to produce its complete effect: that they who are able, should contribute to it, in proportion to their ability; and they who are not, fpeak well of it, and pray for it that we of the society should be vigilant and active, prudent and impartial in our administration: that persons in authority abroad should countenance and protect the work ; for in their power it is, to forward or obstruct it very greatly; that the people in general there, fhould not only be willing to let all under them and around them partake of the grace of life, but earnestly invite them to it, with meekness of wisdom, and by the most prevalent of arguments, a good conversation†. But beyond the reft it is neceffary for every one concerned in the immediate execution of the defign, always to remember, that bad as it is in other teachers of the gospel to behave in a manner unworthy of their profeffion, it will be yet worse in them, if they take an uncommon character upon themselves, only to dishonour it; and compass sea and land ‡, with no other effect, than to make God's name be blafphemed amongst the Gentiles that they ought, with peculiar diligence, to follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace ||; holding faft the faithful word, as they have been taught, that they may be able, by found doctrine, both to exhort and convince the gainfayers¶; that they ought to be inftant, in season, out of season; to watch, endure afflictions, and make full proof of their miniftry **, fbewing themfelves in all things patterns of good works tt. These then are our several duties; and great will be our reward for performing them. Let us therefore, each in his station, arife and be doing; and the Lord be with us ‡‡. SER. Matth. xxiii. 15. ¶ Tit. i. g. #1 Chron. xxii. 16. SERMON CXXXII. (Preached in the Parish Church of Chrift-Church, London, on Thursday, May 6. 1743. being the time of the yearly meeting of the children educated in the charity-schools, in and about the cities of London and Westminster.) THE GREAT USEFULNESS OF SCHOOLS FOR THE POOR, WHEN REGULATED BY WISDOM And Prudence. ROMANS xiv. 16. Let not then your good be evil spoken of. AMONGST many excellencies, which unite to recommend our holy religion, there are few that fhew its benevolent spirit in a stronger light, than its requiring us, not only to abstain from every thing finful ourselves, but carefully to avoid giving any occafion of fin to others. If the most innocent action that we do, will be thought a wrong one by any of our brethren, we are strictly bound, either to omit itt, if we can without confiderable inconvenience, or at least to guard and explain it, as well as the nature of the case will permit that fo we may neither tempt him to cenfure us uncharitably, nor to imitate us against his confcience. The former of these is the danger, which the words of the text most naturally exprefs; and to keep clear of it, is a matter of great importance. Attention to obviate cenfures may often prevent us from acting, as well as others from judging, amifs. And where we act ever so rightly, yet if we are suspected of erring, though though in circumftances only, and seem negligent of that fulpicion, it may grieve good perfons, and perhaps weaken their union with us; it may entirely feparate from us the inconfiderate and wavering; it may give a handle to the bad for great triumph and mifreprefentation; and both incline them `to grow ftill worse, and enable them to do ftill more harm. Whereas prudent care, firft not to deferve reproach, and then not to lie under it, may procure us regard from mankind, by fhewing regard to them; may fecure the well difpofed on our fide, and furnish them with the means of defending us; may convince even the prejudiced of some of their mistakes, and moderate their vehemence in the reft. At least, we shall thus exercise a true Christian temper, improve ourselves, and be exemplary to others. But though we are concerned to vindicate all our actions from injurious charges, yet our virtuous actions especially. When things merely lawful are condemned, the damage may be small; but if worthy deeds are vilified, religion fuffers deeply. And therefore, as we are now affembled to patronize a defign, which we apprehend to be a very valuable one, but which fome have oppofed and decried, the erecting of schools for the children of the poor, I fhall endeavour to fhew, I. That it is a good work. II. What are the right methods to prevent its being evil Spoken of. III. What course we are to take, if that cannot be prevented entirely. Little remains to be faid indeed upon any of these points, which hath not been faid often already. But if perfons will repeat objections, the answers must be repeated too. And the plainest truths, as they cannot influence at all, if they are forgotten, ought to influence us the more, not the lefs, for being frequently inculcated. I. First then it must be fhewn, that this method of giving the children of the poor a Chriftian education is a good work. Now if we believe Chriftianity true, we must believe it is the way to eternal happiness. And were we to doubt of its truth, we must notwithstanding fee it is the way to prefent happiness. For it confeffedly teaches, in the clearest manner, " and inforces by the strongest motives, every thing conducive to private and public welfare, and nothing elfe doth fo. Natural religion, as diftinct from Chriftianity, whatever zeal may be pretended for it, neither hath been, nor is likely to be, feriously propagated: nor is it capable of carrying in it the direction, the encouragement, or the terror, that revelation doth. Virtue, without religion, will perpetually be modelled by peoples fancies, and overturned by their paffions and interests, for want of the hopes and fears of futurity to counterbalance them. And human laws, the only restraint befides, extend but to a small part of our behaviour; and without principle, they will be faultily contrived, and remissly or partially executed; men will elude them in fome cafes, break through them at all adventures in others; and, having once learnt to despise death, as they well may if nothing follows it, will have little fear of what the magiftrate can inflict. ages and nations have found these things true; they are vifibly fo in our own, to an uncommon degree; and experience joins with reafon to acknowledge, that fcripture points out the only remedy: All thy children shall be taught of God, and great shall be the peace of thy children *. If then the belief of Chriftianity be thus neceffary, inftruction in it ought to be early. The abfolute ignorance, in which we are born, and the propenfity we manifest immediately, to receive impreffions from what we fee and hear, are an evident proof of our Maker's defign, that we fhould be formed by education into what we are to be. And had this never been neglected, error and wickednefs had never prevailed. Now indeed, fince they have, inftruction will, in most places, more or lefs, lead children into what is wrong. But still it is the fureft method we can take, to preferve them from it. Were their friends to teach them nothing, would their own paffions, and the companions they would choofe, be better tutors? Their reafon indeed poffibly might, and very poffibly might not. At least it would come too late, and be mindedtoo little, to be trufted alone. Where young perfons are taught from the first ever fo well, and governed ever fo prudently, it doth not always fucceed. But fuch care must afVOL. III. 3 R ford * Ifa. liv. 13% |