"understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the Lord, which exerciseth loveth kind"ness, judgment and righteousness in the "earth." As to other knowledge, it may qualify us to thrive or to shine in this life; but this is life eternal, to know Thee the "only true God, and Jesus Chrift whom "Thou hast fent."

Where there is the knowledge of God, which cannot subsist without his image, as the Apostle speaks of " being renewed in "knowledge after the image of him that "created us, there must be the imitation, of God alfo. "Re ye followers, Μιμηται

imitators, of God as dear children, and

" walk in love, as Christ alfo hath loved us, "and given himself for us an offering and a "sacrifice to God, for a sweet smelling fa"vour." It is impossible to be followers of God, and not to be found in the way of

٢١٢٢٠

love; for love is of God; and every one, "that loveth is born of God, and knoweth

2.

"God. He that loveth not, knoweth not "God; for God is love." Here is, our “perfuafive to charity.".

*

If we trace to their proper scource all the " malice and envy, in which we are living, "hateful and hating one another," we must go back to our original departure from God, and obedience to fin, as Cain who was of "that wicked one, and flew his brother." From that time to this the history of the world has been no better than the "roll of

1.

* John West, Esq; left twenty shillings a year to the three minifters of Reading, for the time being, for preaching a fermon alternately in their respective parish churches, on the morning of every St. Thomas's-Day for ever; the subject thereof to be, A PERSUASIVE TO CHARITY. In the year 1779 it was proposed to unite practice with perfuafion, by making a collection at the church doors, with a view to establish a Charity School for the education of Poor Girls, belonging to the three parishes of Reading. The attempt was truly laudable, and has been wonderfully fuccefsful. But the progress of this good word must still depend, under God, upon the continuance and increase of the public bounty.

1

► Tit. iii, 3.

"Ezekiel, "Ezekiel, written within, and without, " lamentations, and mourning, and woe."

a

Our return unto God is the only remedy for that mischief, which was caused by our departure from Him : and our way is plain before us, even JESUS CHRIST," who once fuffered for fins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God." From his mouth we receive a new commandment, " that we love one another. Give to him "that asketh thee, and from him that would " borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ye "have heard that it hath been faid, Thou "shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine

enemy; but I fay unto you love your ene" mies, bless them that curse you, and pray " for them that despitefully use you and per"fecute you; that ye may be children of

2

your Father which is in heaven: for He " maketh his fun to rife on the evil and on. "the good, and sendeth rain on the juft and " on the unjust. Be ye therefore perfect,

:

Pet. iii, 18.

► John xiii, 34.

"even

"even as your Father which is in heaven is

" be ye merciful as your Fa

" perfect;" or, "ther also is merciful."

How

But befides a perfuafive to charity in general, we wish to recommend a particular object of your attention and bounty: which, as it is calculated to promote a reformation of manners amongst us, may undoubtedly be confidered as a national concern. frequent are robberies and murders amongst us? how common and just the complaints, not only that we cannot travel our roads or sleep in our houses with safety, but that we cannot get fervants, upon whose fidelity we can depend? to what is all this to be afcribed? certainly to the corruption of our nature, in the first place, but in the next, to the want of all attempts to counteract that corruption, by a religious Christian education. I say, a religious Christian education:" for f to what are we to ascribe the profligacy and profaness, which prevail in the higher ranks

* Matt. v, 42, &c. and Luke vi, 36.

of

of life, and are diffused from them throughout the whole circle of their inferiors and dependents, but to the sad neglect of inculcating the principles of the doctrine of Chrift in the course of their education? It is a fact too notorious to be denied, and of too ferious consequences not to be lamented, that whilst all possible pains are taken to " teach all " that wisdom by which the "world knew not God," none are taken to inculcate " the wisdom which is from " above," by which alone we can know Him. A perfon may pass through most of our public feminaries, and our two famous universities also, and never once have put into his hands, as the book for study and meditation, THE SCRIPTURE GIVEN BY INSPIRATION OF GOD.

But as for the rich, they must do as they please; they are giving daily proofs of the truth of what is written, " that it is easier " for a camel to go through the eye of a " needle, than for a rich man to enter into "the kingdom of God. To the poor the " Gospel