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to save him? By shutting up his bowels of compassion from the poor, he shews himself to be unworthy even of the name of a man; and therefore let him not debase the honour of that religion, whose characteristic distinction is tenderness, be nignity, and universal love, by presuming to call himself a Christian: for assuredly he will not be acknowledged as such at the great day of account, when the language of the great Author of that religion to the cruel and unmerciful will certainly be, Depart from me; I know you not."

J. Since then our love of God cannot be -evidenced but by opening our bowels of compassion towards our distressed brother, a true Christian can have no doubt as to the necessity of his discharging this duty; his only difficulty will be how to apportion his abundance in the fittest manner to the various objects of compassion, which will solicit his attention in a world of change, and chance, and sorrow. -And surely it will be no presumption in sthe Preacher, on the present occasion to tell him, that the godlike institution, which

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is the object of the present assembly, will ever have a strong and indisputable claim to no inconsiderable share of his benevolence.

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The widow and the orphan have always been looked upon, both by God and man, as standing foremost among the miserable, and having the first title to our relief; both as the loss which they have sustained is in itself most afflicting, and also, as they are the least able to struggle with it; the one, through the natural tenderness and weakness of her sex; and the other, through the helpless imbecility of immature age. But the widows and orphans of poor Clergymen are distinguished from all others by the peculiar circumstances of distress with which their case is attended, and by the particular recommendations which they bring with them to our favour and regard: so that if we shut up our bowels of compassion from them, we may assure ourselves, in the fullest manner, that the love of God dwelleth not in us.

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And here need I use any art in painting to you a scene, which many of you must have beheld with your own eyes, and more of you must have heard frequently represented to you, on these occasions, in the most lively colours; even that scene of distress and desolation, of distraction and despair, which immediately takes place in the family on the death of a poor Clergyman? The many necessary charges and incumbrances to which he is subject, which make a difference, too -little considered, between his nominal and real income; the decency of figure which The is obliged to support in the world, if he would avoid contempt; the charity and hospitality which he must maintain, if he would be esteemed by his flock, or be capable of having due weight with them in his ministry, have so entirely exhausted the whole of his scanty income, perhaps enjoyed but for a short time, after many tedious years of anxious expectation, that it has been impossible for him to make any provision against the fatal day of separation: so that when it comes, it finds his wretched family utterly destitute, not

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only of any present support, but also of the very means and hopes of future subsistence. 66 Poverty cometh upon them "like a traveller with a quick and con"tinued motion, and want as an armed man, that is neither to be avoided nor έσ résisted."

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The loss of a kind husband and tender parent must always, to a mind of any sensibility, be abundantly afflictive and very grievous to be borne. But, when this is attended with the loss of all the other comforts of life, the weight of each of these afflictions more than doubles that of the other, and the combined burden of both of them together becomes, I had almost said-insupportable. Surely then such an accumulated load of misery and distress must justly entitle the poor sufferers to the most generous fruits of our compassion; and they will as certainly receive them from us, if the love of God does indeed dwell in us: for then we shall be desirous of imitating, pleasing, and obeying him then we shall gladly lay hold of the opportunity which is now

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offered to us of shewing our gratitude to him, in the way and manner which he himself has appointed, and therefore most acceptable to him.

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The argument then will rise high in the breast of every Christian, in favour of the children of affliction, who are the objects of this charity, if we consider them in no other light than as partakers of the same nature with ourselves, having the same wants and feelings, being servants of the same God, and redeemed by the same most precious blood of Christ.

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But, if we farther take into the account, that the husbands and fathers of these persons were men who lived and died in the immediate service of God, and that the distress in which they have left their families, arises from their having dedicated themselves to this service in preference to any of the more lucrative employments in life: who, that has any love of God, or the least spark of zeal for the honour of his worship, can hold back his hand, or turn away his face from this double

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