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days he would have, unavoidably, been a prey? And let the person who makes such objection, further, reflect, that had he himself been that unfortunate wretch-and he knows not how soon his situation may change then let him say how he would have applauded his foresight, in having led him, as a member of a Society, to provide against a day of distress, which has preserved him from becoming the inmate of a house, which he could never contemplate without feelings of uneasiness, if not of disgust, and, perhaps, of horror?

I cannot conclude this part of my discourse, without impressing upon you, that "we, being many, are "one body in Christ."

Your solicitude for yourselves, and for your families, in this life, you have demonstrated by your relation to the Societies, in consequence of which you are, this day, here assembled. Permit me to enquire of you,

you, whether you have the same solicitude for that state to which we are all hastening? Do you shew so much reverence for the Almighty as to attend His house, and celebrate His worship, when you have no other motives to lead you here, than a love of His name, and a sense of your duty? when you can either frequent His courts, or absent yourselves from them? And is your whole conduct such as becomes one who is a member of Christ? An admirable law established in each of your Societies is, that, whenever any one belonging to them shall die, your minister shall be requested to deliver an appropriate discourse, not so much in compliance with the vanity of the dead, as to promote the reformation of the living. Permit me now to beseech you to enquire, individually,

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dually, of yourselves, what can, with justice, be said of your conduct, and character, when you shall be brought, into this consecrated temple, a lifeless corpse ? And let me beseech you to consider also, not merely what men, in general, may say; but, whether your families, and your friends, judging from the whole tenor of your behavior, may, reasonably, conclude, that you shall have died the object, not of God's wrath, but of His mercy; and whether, before your soul takes its departure from the body, your conscience will assure you that you shall be placed at the right, not at the left, hand of your Judge whether you shall be received into heaven, or sent down to hell? By questions like these, faithfully put to your hearts, you will know of a truth, whether you are, indeed, members of that body, of which Christ is the head.

I might, from the many advantages resulting to the community from the establishment of Friendly Societies, recommend it to all, who, by the property which they posses, or the farms they occupy, are interested in their success, to become honorary members, in order that these excellent Institutions might receive general support. I might shew the good effect which these Societies produce in the public morals, the great bulwark of national safety and prosperity, and thence infer the interest, as well as duty, of every one, in a certain sphere of life, to give encouragement to them by his influence, and stability by his contributions; but I have trespassed so long on your patience already, that I will only detain you whilst I, briefly, exhort my more opulent hearers to contribute, liberally, to the support of the widows and orphans, who, by the loss of their husbands and

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fathers, are, necessarily, reduced to distress, and whose hopes of relief are centered in the compassion the wealthier part of this congregation shall, this day, extend to them.

It is the character of the Maker of us all, that "He "is the father of the fatherless, and the husband of "the widow" it is His command that we, His creatures, resemble Him in His amiable acts of kindness and compassion, in supporting the fatherless, and protecting the widow. The opportunity is this day put into our hands; let us demonstrate by our liberality, that we are at once the children of our common parent, and the brethren of those-partakers of the same nature, and pardoned by the same Atonement as ourselves-who, by the irreparable loss they have sustained, are, indeed, "wretched, and miserable, and 66 poor, and naked." The return of this day awakens in their minds the remembrance of what they were, and presents to their imaginations a melancholy scene of poverty to the widows, and of ignorance to the children. Let, then, your liberality dispel the collected storm, and speak to their agitated minds the words of comfort-" peace, be still; and it shall be "according to your word." Did the widow and the fatherless stand before you in my place, the grief of the one and the lamentations of the other would, with irresistible eloquence, melt your souls into compassion. They are now waiting with anxiety I should in vain attempt to describe, the effects this address shall have upon your hearts. Disappoint not, then, their expectations but as you hope for mercy for yourselves, when you shall stand trembling before the throne of your Almighty Judge, entitle yourselves to it, by this

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day contributing, according to your several abilities, to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to instruct the ignorant; remembering that he that shall not have shewed mercy here, shall, in that great day of the Lord, himself receive no mercy,

SERMON

SERMON XXXIV.

FRIENDLY SOCIETIES SUBSTITUTES FOR
PAROCHIAL ASSESSMENTS.

GALATIANS Vi. 2.

Bear ye one another's burdens; and so fulfil the law of Christ.

UCH is the union of men in a state of society, that

SUCH

the wants, and the necessaries, of life on the one hand, and the grandeur, and elegances, of it on the other, are, mutually, supplied. When assistance becomes necessary, we hope to derive it from each other. All, unhappily, are not willing to contribute their several proportions: some, therefore, are eased, whilst others are burdened: whereas, we ought all, according to the Apostle's directions, " to bear one another's "burdens." There should be a general disposition to promote general good. Every individual should contribute his part to the welfare of the whole.

I will apply this principle to the occasion of our present meeting; and, in the prosecution of my sub

* Preached at Christ Church, Whit. Monday, 1810.

ject,

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