factors, ought as far, and as long as they are practicable, to be religiously observed; and where this is no longer poffible, fomething fimilar, fomething that may anfwer the fame good defigns and purposes fhould be fubftituted in its ftead. To the honour of our common nature, we must admit, there is a kind of contagion in good, as well as evil example.-May it not therefore be an inftitution of piety and prudence, as well as gratitude, to have from henceforth, after public prayers, which fhall be conftantly read in this church on the morning of the twenty-third day of May-that is, May 12, Old Stile, in every enfuing year, immediately before the distribution of the charity; may it not answer the greateft purposes, to have a public recital made of the benefactions belonging to this parish, and a short account of the benefactors, in fome form to be agreed upon by the inhabitants affembled in veftry?—And that these righteous may be had in everlasting remembrance, it should be our first care to provide a proper and durable book, in which their venerable names may be registered and enrolled, as well to the intent that virtue, even in this world, may not intirely lofe its reward, as that the glorious flame of benevo lence may be tranfmitted to others, and kindle in their bofoms an ardent defire, by imitating their philanthropy, to entitle themfelves to a place with fuch worthies as do not fet at nought the of the praise of good men, the the bleffings of faints, prayers poor, martyrs, and the spirit of God almighty, the author and fure rewarder of every focial virtue ;-but who mark this upon the tablet of their hearts,-that every benevolent action, every benevolent intention, will follow them to the bar of judgment, and plead in their behalf more eloquently than the united tongues of the angelic choir.

To come still nearer to the intention of this good and pious lady, may it not be further adviseable, that in every future year, on the Sunday following the twelfth of Auguft, the day our present

church

church was opened, a charity fermon be preached for the benefit of the poor children belonging to the fchool ?-That while we rejoice in the removal of the fpiritual famine, by having our fouls duly refreshed with the strong meat for men, which thefe benefactions have fupplied, they may not continue deftitute of the fincere milk of the word, fo abfolutely neceffary for babes in Jefus Christ? I speak as unto wife men, judge ye what I fay.-But as the advantages of fuch commemorations are evident, as they will, therefore, we truft, be confirmed by the continued approbation of this parish, and the practice of fucceeding vicars; I shall not at prefent indulge myself in particularifing the other benefactors to this place any otherwise than by a general affertion, that there has never been wanting, on proper occafions, perfonages who have fhewn their zeal to God, either by their contribution to the first erection of the chapel, or by other feasonable gifts, legacies, or occafional bounties, which have oftentimes made the heart of the widow and the orphan to fing for joy.

The improvements which this edifice hath now received, to. every unprejudiced eye, speak loudly for themselves:And though pride should be filent, or ingratitude infenfible, yet shall the ftone out of the wall proclaim them, and the beam out of the timber fhall answer it. We have brought forth the top-ftone with joy, and religious pofterity shall inscribe it with HIS NAME, who, like the Centurion in the Gofpel, is worthy that this fhould be done for him; for he hath loved our nation, and he hath built us a

CHURCH.

A CHURCH then this CHAPEL is now become.-This HAMLET, by an act of parliament that muft foon operate, A PARISH." For "when a few, perhaps a very few years are come, I shall go way, whence I fhall not return.".

the

This place is, moreover, honoured with ROYAL RESIDENCE; and, as fuch, it is likely will continue to encreafe in the number,

and

and confequence of its inhabitants-That our late CHAPEL was much too small for the convenience of those that reforted, or wished to refort to it, is most certain ;-that, in a fhort time, two families must again content themselves with one pew, is highly probable. Upon the whole, therefore, the improvement of the building is, to a demonstration, equal to the enlargement of it.-They are, in fact, but one and the fame thing.

Moreover, let it, with all due thankfulness, be remembered, that this BOUNTY has enabled the minifter, in behalf of himself and fucceffors, with the approbation of the patron, to relinquish his claim to fome blended and disputable rights.—A most pleasing circumftance this to a fincere lover of harmony and good neighbourhood. These blended rights having already been productive of ferious inconvenience to all parties. When brethren cannot dwell together in unity, the spiritual table is fupplied in vain.-The falt hath loft its favour, and better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith.

your

Another evident advantage then refulting from this enlargement. is the equivalent it has afforded to the prefent minifter, and future vicars, instead of those contested lands which are now ascertained to the parish; as are likewife, by exprefs ftipulation in the faculty, certain fees for monuments and tombs, which the general custom, if not the laws of the land, would confer on the labourer in the vineyard.

The act of parliament on the one hand, the royal munificence on the other, having thus taken away all queftions of ftrife between minifter and people, it is to be hoped, indeed it is not to be feared, but a good understanding, and a cordial friendship will. ever after subsist between them; for in however degrading a light fome proud or licentious fpirits may affect to regard the established. clergy of this land-take but away temporal disputes, and it will be acknowledged there are few of them fo unworthy or unquali

fied.

fied asnot to be of confiderable ufe in their refpective parishes. Their extensive learning, their seasonable advice, their inoffenfive converfation, the benevolence of their principles, their readinefs to attend whenever they can adminifter comfort in the dreary hours of sickness and of forrow, have always been found a general advantage to fociety. Oh! may the Almighty Ruler of hearts accompany their work and labour of love with his benediction and grace! and may thefe bleffed effects fhine forth eminently in this our day, and continue to future ages!

Finally, brethren, as partakers in fome of these bounties, and stewards of the reft, I am persuaded we fhall fo act as that we be found faithful at the great day of account. The future harmony and welfare of these parishes will depend in no fmall degree on our candour and diligence in difcouraging vice and immorality by our authority and example; in attending to the morals of the growing generation; in marking accurately and distinctly our respective rights, which will be best done, by reviving the much neglected duty of depofiting in the Bishop's court as complete a TERRIER as may be of our lands and properties; a matter this of the utmost consequence to the poor; the fureft human mean of preventing for the future the fatal, the irremediable confequence of that fpiritual famine which has been now described.-The firmeft bond of friendship and unanimity.-I have the inexpreffible fatisfaction to be able to fum up the whole matter, by declaring that the happy agreement which fubfifts among all parties concerned, gives us a lively affurance, an animating prefage, that the pleasure of the Lord will continue to profper in our hands.

In conclufion, let us, following herein the example of the great KING SOLOMON and the PEOPLE OF ISRAEL, on a like occafion, lift up our hearts, and fay,

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"O Lord our God, hearken unto the cry, and the prayer which thy fervants pray before thee, that thine eyes be open upon this

" house

"houfe day and night; hear thou from thy dwelling-place, even " from heaven; and when thou heareft, forgive, and render unto

·e.

-if

every man according unto all his ways, whofe heart thou know"eft; for thou only knoweft the hearts of the children of men, "that they may fear thee, to walk in thy ways fo long as they And if they fin against thee, yet-if they bethink them"felves, and come and pray in this houfe,-saying, we have "finned,-we have done amifs, and have dwelt wickedly ;they return to thee with all their heart and with all their foul"then hear thou from the heavens, even from thy dwelling-place, "and forgive thy people which have finned against thee.-Now, and let thine "our God, let, we beseech thee, thine “ears be attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. "Now, therefore, arife, O Lord God, unto thy refting-place, “thou and the ark of thy ftrength.-Let thy priests, O Lord God, be cloathed with falvation, and let thy faints rejoice in goodness," saying, AMEN. Bleffing and glory and wisdom, "and thanksgiving, and honour and power, and might be unto "our. God forever and ever.-AMEN.

66.

be eyes

open,