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In the next place, I would have it remarked, that the form of wholesome difcipline to which these children are thus early inured, must be of great and inexpreffible service to them, and confequently to the public, in the courfe of their future life. Brought up in a fatal indulgence, and uncontroled by the hand of reftraint, every paffion would be fed to its full maturity, and expect to enjoy an unrivaled fway in the scenes of future action. And what must be the confequence of unreftrained felf-gratification, but to see an untutored youth break every mound of civil duty, and turn out, as might have been reasonably expected, a stubborn fon, a fullen husband, a careless father, and a factious citizen. But thefe bad effects are all prevented by early and prudent difcipline. Obedience is the school of virtue, and the paffions, in their first shoots, are easily reduced to culture and civilization.

But the greatest advantage of this charity is, that it forms them christians, as well as men. Born under the difadvantages

vantages of poverty, and that ignorance which is too often connected with it, they would have probably paffed their lives in principles and practices as low and uncomfortable as their station. But by your munificence, generous fellow-christians, they are raised to the privileges of "faints in light;" they are taught, at leaft, to know the terms of the gospel, and acquainted with "the things that belong unto their peace." They are now no longer in a state of darkness and despair the page of fcripture is laid before them by their prudent inftructor, and the principles of it enforced upon them; the words of the book of life are opened to their attention, preffed upon their memories, and explained to their understandings. What a grace and privilege is this to us, as well as to them-to be permitted to contribute to "fave a foul from death;" to cooperate with the faviour of mankind, and promote the work of redemption.

I fhall, laftly, obferve to you, in behalf of this charity, that you are fure it is applied to real, undiffembled, mifery, and for which

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wealth, promoted the happiness of his fellow-creatures, and the glory of his God? It would ill become us to anticipate the fentence of heaven; but the facred pages have already acquainted us with its tenor; "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE II.

I PETER IV. 18.

IF THE RIGHTEOUS SCARCELY BE SAVED, WHERE SHALL THE UNGODLY, AND THE SINNER, APPEAR?

THERE is fomething in the plain and obvious sense of these words, that I must confefs I could never hear them without being fenfibly affected by them. I know that the commentators have generally understood by the deftruction from which "these righteous were scarcely to be faved," the overthrow of the city of Jerufalem, and the calamity in which the christian inhabitants, more efpecially, were likely to be involved, unless fnatched from it by the immediate interpofition of God: and, I believe, their judgment is, in fome meafure, warranted by the

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context. But this is still nothing to the difarming of those terrors, which this text may have so justly excited in the breast of every wicked man. For, if amidst the common calamity of their falling city, the miferable inhabitants found it fo difficult to escape, unless by the extraordinary interpofition of God; how much more have we reason to stand aghaft at our condition, unlefs reconciled through that faviour who is to be our judge, when" the earth itself fhall pass away," and every unjustified inhabitant thereof fhall be placed in that dreadful and intolerable ftate," where the worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched."

I have chofen, therefore, to discourse to you upon these words, that I may draw the matter to a point, and bring it home to every man's bufinefs and bofom, by fhewing you the abfolute danger of having formerly neglected them; and the utter impoffibility of any one wicked christian being faved, according to the gospel.

In order to this, we will, firft, inquire who are meant by "the righteous;" fecondly, the

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