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nes, and Wickedneß. But what is this to us? I undertake not the Patronage of fuch as thefe, and much lefs of their i ces: Let the Apostles Rule be observ'd, He that will not work, let him not eat, 2 Theff. 3. 10. And again, Tit. 3. 14. Let ours learn to maintain good works for neceffary uses. The Excufe of Nabal here, does not at all affect the Caufe I have undertook. The Hofpitals, whofe Intereft, whofe Neceffities, I recommend to you, have an Eye to Piety, as well as Charity; to the Regulation of Manners, as well as the Relief of Diftreffes. Here no good Man can be mistaken in the Object, or abus'd in the Conveyance or Adminiftration of his Alms. Here the End is great and good; the Management faithfull, diligent, and prudent; and the Succefs anfwering all Juft and reasonable Expectations. They are truly poor, truly miferable and helpless, in behalf of whom I address my Petition to all Rich and Wealthy Men this day. If we have any Bowels of Compaffion, if we have any religious Mercy or Tenderness in us, certainly, the Sick, the Wounded, the Maim'd, the Impotent, the Distracted, and needy Orphans are a proper Object of it. 'Tis true, Vagrants and Criminals

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do here fall under our Care and Charity; but 'tis in order to their Reformation and Recovery. In short, there is nothing in these Hospitals to be complain'd of, or regretted; but only this, that the Foundation is too narrow for the Superftructure; that the fettled Income is not fufficient to defray the Expences neceffa ry to carry on their Excellent Designs: That yet even this has been much diminifht by the late dreadful Fire, and other ways: and, finally, that thofe extraordinary Supplies of Charity, by which thefe Foundations fhou'd be fed and nourisht, are too few, too scanty. This is the Reason (which I cannot mention without fome trouble) that Christ'sChurch Hofpital has taken in no Children thefe two laft Eafters; which was wont, if remember my Information rightly, to take in each Eafter a hundred, and upwards. The many and great Advantages which diftrefs'd and helpless Children reap from that Hofpital, do, methinks, belpeak a peculiar regard for it. But I cannot run out into Particulars, 'tis time I fhou'd come to an end.

To fumm up all therefore in a word, Charity, as it is the most delightful in it felf, the most honourable in our

Religion, and the most indifpenfible and neceffary of all the Graces of the Gospel; fo are we preft to it by the most numerous and powerful Motives: Our Security and Prosperity on Earth; our Happiness and Reward in Heaven depends upon it. Our Obligation to it, all confeß; and none can do otherwife, unlefs they will difclaim, not their Chriftianity only, but Humanity too. But yet ftill, tis too too much neglected; and this neglect never wants its Apologies. I have therefore endeavoured to prevent, or cut off all frivolous Pretences; and to lay Men open to the Power and Influence of those Gospel Motives, by which the Spirit of God does so earnestly labour to plant, and cherish this Vertue throughout the World. Men may pretend what they will: but whoever is really Uncharitable, 'tis Infidelity or Folly, or some other Vice, that makes him fo. We plead the floth and looseness of others ; when in the Bottom, 'tis our own Vice, not theirs, which shrinks up and hardens our Hearts, and contracts our Hands. We plead our Inabilities: but the Truth is, we do not want Wealth, but Faith. We would have every one take care for themselves, as we have done for our felves:

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felves but we confider not that this is the Language of Self love, and Arrogance; that 'tis utterly irreconcilable with the Charity, or Humility of a Chriftian. Let us then lay afide all Excufes; and let us fhew the World, that we in good earnest believe the Gospel. Let us demonftrate by our Good Works, that the Spirit of Jefus rules in us; that the Love of God and Jefus, and confequently of our Brother, is fhed abroad in our Hearts. Let us act as becomes Men who believe a Providence, and a Judg ment to come; who believe that we shall receive according to what we do in the Body: So let us refolve to live and dye in the practice of that Charity which is profitable to all things; having the promife of the Life which now is, and of that which is to come.

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The Ninth Sermon.

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PSALM CXIV. 16.

Who will rife up for me against the Evil. doers or who will stand up for me against the Workers of Iniquity?

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HIS Pfalm is variously expound. ed. Some suppose that the Church does here complain of the Perfecution of Idolatrous Nations, and implore the Aid of God and Man against them, but whoever reflects on the 7th and 8th Verfes, will eafily fee, that by Evil-doers and Workers of Iniqui ty in my Text,the Pfalmift does not mean the Heathen and Infidel, but Atheistical and Impious Ifraelites. Others confider David in this Pfalm as a private Perfon, and in diftrefs; and think that in the words of my Text he begs the Defence and Protection of Man, as in the beginning of the Pfalm he had done that of God, against his implacable and too powerful Enemies: but whoever will look more clofely into the defign

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