SERMON LXXIX. A CHARITY SERMON, PREACHED AT ST. PETER's, THE ADVANTAGES ARISING FROM THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OF POOR CHILDREN, AND ESPECIALLY OF POOR GIRLS. 2 TIM. i. 4, 5. -THAT I MAY BE FILLED WITH JOY, WHEN I CALL TO REMEMBRANCE THE UNFEIGNED FAITH THAT IS IN THEE, WHICH DWElled first IN THY GRANDMOTHER LOIS, AND THY MOTHER EUNICE; AND I AM PERSUADED THAT IN THEE ALSO. I HAVE made choice of these words of St. Paul, as the moft proper I can think of, to recommend a Charity which feems to be chofen with so much judgment and forefight, that it only wants to be fet in a true light, to have it approved and encouraged by all pious and well-difpofed perfons. The Charity is that of educating a confiderable number of poor children, deftitute of means to fupport, and of friends to take care of them. The argument I would make use of to recommend this charity, is that which very much much affected the Apoftle, and filled his heart with joy,-to fee true religion and piety continued in a family for fo many generations. And that which is very obfervable, and which should encourage us to take the fame care in the education of girls as of boys, or perhaps a greater, is this:-That the faith and piety here commended and gloried in, were continued and propagated in the family by the women chiefly:-That unfeigned faith, and that zeal for the glory of God, which was found in Timothy, and which qualified him for a Bifhop, or Overfeer, in the Church of God, was derived to him from his Mother and Grandmother, whofe inftruction and examples he followed; and fo became an inftrument of great good to the world. This, without more words, will justify those who have taken upon themselves the trouble and management; and in fome meafure the charge, of this charity. But that they may not be difappointed in the affiftances and encouragements which they may justly expect from others; it will be proper to lay before you, in one Jhort view, what effects they and you may very reasonably hope for, from this work fo well begun and intended. And this I fhall endeavour to do, by laying before you, and explaining, thefe following particulars: ft. That all thoughtful people will have reafon to rejoice when TRUE RELIGION, the unfeigned unfeigned faith here spoken of, is propagated in the world. 2dly. That the beft foundation of true religion is that which is laid in the fober education of youth. And, 3dly. Becaufe this foundation is defigned for the good of both fexes, and that you may see the advantage of giving girls a christian education, that Mothers are, generally fpeaking, the best inftruments of fuch education, and are more capable than men of advancing this end. That, therefore, the taking a particular care of Girls, and educating them in true religion, will be attended with the greatest advantages; and confequently, the zeal and charity of fuch as promote this good work is very commendable in the fight of God and man. I. To begin with the first of these confiderations:- That all thoughtful people will have reafon to rejoice, when true religion, or an unfeigned faith, is propagated in the world. They that have the publick good most at heart find by experience, that people of falfe or of no principles do make but very indifrent members of the commonwealth. If they come to have authority, as that fometimes happens, they have nothing to restrain them from making their own will their law, and their private intereft their aim, in all they do. If they are in a lower condition, there is no wickedness wickedness they are not ready to run into, having no knowledge or fear of God to keep them within bounds. What must be the condition of a nation, where fuch as these make the greatest number? It is not the wisdom of the magiftrate, nor the multitude of penal laws, nor a feverity in putting them in execution, can fecure the peace and happiness of such a state. It is much otherwife where people have been inftructed in the true faith and fear of God, let their lot in the world be what it will. Such as know that they are accountable to God, for the abuse of the authority which he has given them, will be afraid to opprefs, though it be in the power of their hand to do fo. Such as have been bred up in principles of Christian obedience will be afraid to refift, left they should receive to themfelves damnation, let men put never fo favourable a sense upon these words. And lastly, let people be never fo poor, if they have had a Chriftian education, you fhall fee them orderly in their families, content with their condition, not defiring to better it by unjuft ways, but living in hopes of better days here, or in full affurance that an amends 'will certainly be made them in the next world for what they want in this; that in the mean time it is not worth their while to be factious and and discontented, and uneafy to those whom God has fet over them. These are some of the many benefits the publick will have by people's being bred up in the principles of true religion. But they that have the honour of God most at heart will have more reason still to rejoice, when they fhall fee a fincere faith and piety propagated in the world. It is part of our daily prayers, that the kingdoms of the world may become the kingdom of our Lord Jefus Chrift. And fhall we not endeavour, and fhall we not be pleased, in turning men from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God? Otherwife it is to no purpose, nor any juft expreffion of our piety, to Îament the wickednefs of the world, and the daily dishonour done to God and religion. It was an unwary reproach of the fcribes and pharifees, Thefe people that know not the law, are curfed. Pray, whofe fault was it that they knew not the law? Was the law fo very hard to be understood; or was it not the fault of thofe, who would not condefcend to speak to the capacities of the meaner people, who would not confider their circumftances, and provide fuitably for their instruction? If we fee God difhonoured by the wretched and wicked lives of too many; if we fee people careless of their fouls, and unconcerned for what may come hereafter; we have too good reafon to conclude, that these people never |