the world cannot attend fo clofely as to obferve every thing that paffes; this care therefore must reft upon those, who have more immediately the inspection of these schools. And let them remember, that they receive the pay of charity; and that they cannot neglect their duty, without adding this aggravation to their crime, the abuse of one of the nobleft charities of this age.

And now, may that God, whofe honour you are labouring to promote, whofe children these are, who are fupported and inftructed by your charity, profper this work in your hands; and raise up fresh supplies for the administration of this service: may he minifter bread for your food, and multiply your feed fown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness. To him, &c.

DISCOURSE XIV.

JUDGES ii. 7.

And the people ferved the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had feen all the great works of the Lord that he did for Ifrael.

THUS far all is well: God had been extremely gracious and merciful to Ifrael; and thofe who had seen his wonders, and had felt the miferies from which he had delivered them, retained a grateful remembrance of his goodness. But the cafe quickly altered no fooner were the men, who had seen the works of the Lord, gathered unto their fathers, but there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Ifrael: and the children of Ifrael did evil in the fight of the Lord. The effects of their departing from God their deliverer are described at the 14th verfe. And the anger of the Lord was hot against Ifrael, and he delivered them into the hands of the fpoilers that poiled them, and he fold them into the hands of their enemies round about, fo that they could not any longer ftand before their enemies.

You have now the cafe of the Ifraelites fully be

fore you. I wish it was a fingular case, and that the reft of the people of God stood clear from the like imputation. If they do, happy are they; if they do not, they have great reason to fear, that the fame cause will produce the fame effect; and that they likewife fhall be fold into the hands of their enemies.

It is but a melancholy reflection to think, that the misbehaviour here charged upon the people of Ifrael, is almoft a natural effect of the prefent degenerate and corrupted state of nature: we receive benefits with great warmth and zeal of gratitude, and we poffefs and enjoy them with great coldness and indifference; and too often with a total forgetfulnefs of the hand that bestowed them. This temper discovers itself in the common affairs of life, and the mutual intercourse that men have with men. Thofe, who are able to help us, are courted and careffed as long as we want their affiftance; are honoured and reverenced whilft they afford it; and as foon as they have made us happy, we begin to think they did us but justice, they gave us only what we had a right to; and the acknowledgments due to the benefactor are paid to our own merit and defert. By these steps our fuccefs in the world, owing perhaps entirely to the partiality our friends had for us, and which ought to make us humble and thankful, leads us to two odious vices, very incident to human na ture, though very unbecoming the condition of it, pride and ingratitude.

Public bleffings make still lefs impreffion on the minds of men than private benefactions. Very few think of any obligation lying upon themselves for

the good they enjoy in common with their neighbours. The peace and quiet fecurity procured by the care and protection of government, is rarely reflected on as creating any debt of gratitude to those who watch for us. When tribute is demanded by those to whom tribute is due, men are apt to confider what they pay as fo much loft out of their property: whereas in truth no part of our fortune makes a better return to us, than that which is beftowed to secure the whole, and to maintain peace and tranquillity in our days.

What mischief this temper of ingratitude produces in private and in public life, is but too manifeft. Every man almoft has his complaint against somebody, who has repaid his good offices with neglect and contempt, perhaps too with injuries; and in public life one would imagine that liberty was mistaken for a right to abuse the government; and that the dignity of a free ftate confifted in acting without regard or reverence to those who are at the head of it.

But the effects of this perverse difpofition acting in the affairs of this life, and among ourselves, are matters of light complaint, compared with its influence in matters of religion. We have all one great Friend, if we would acknowledge him; one great Governor, if we would regard him. But we are too apt to deal with God as we do with the reft of our friends; we intreat, we beg for his affiftance, when we are in diftrefs; and when we are relieved, we think but little of him.

The common bleffings of Providence are received and enjoyed by multitudes, who feldom or