why should their souls be left out of the account? How great are the benefits you have conferred on these also! The husband has now again an opportunity of assisting his wife, in things of the greatest moment. He may now again strengthen her hands in God, and help her to run with patience the race that is set before her. He may again join with her in instructing their children, and training them up in the way wherein they should go: who may live to be a comfort to their aged parents, and useful members of the community.

6. Nay, it may be, you have snatched the poor man himself, not only from the jaws of death, but from sinking lower than the waters, from the jaws of everlasting destruction. It cannot be doubted, but some of those whose lives you have restored, although they had been before without God in the world, will remember themselves, and not only with their lips, but in their lives, shew forth his praise. It is highly probable, some of these (as one out of the ten lepers,)" will return and give thanks to God," real, lasting thanks, by devoting themselves to his honourable

service.

7. It is remarkable, that several of those, whom you have brought back from the margin of the grave, were intoxicated at the very time, when they dropped into the water. And at that very instant, (which is frequently the case, they totally lost their senses. Here therefore was no place for, no possibility of repentance. They had not time, they had not sense, so much as to cry out, "Lord, have mercy!" So they were sinking through the mighty waters, into the pit of destruction! And these instruments of divine mercy plucked them at once out of the water, and out of the fire! By the same act, delivered them from temporal and from eternal death!

8. Nay, one poor sinner (let it never be forgotten!) was just coming down from the ship, when (overtaken by the justice and mercy of God) her foot slipped and she fell into the river. Instantly her senses were lost, so that

she could not call upon God. Yet he had not forgotten her. He sent those, who delivered her from death; at least, from the death of the body. And who knows, but she may lay it to heart, and turn from the error of her ways? Who knows, but she may be saved from the second death, and, with her deliverers, inherit the kingdom!

9. One point more deserves to be particularly remarked. Many of those, who have been restored to life, (no less than eleven out of the fourteen, that were saved in a few months,) were in the number of those, that are a reproach to our nation, wilful self-murderers. As many of the desperate men, who attempt this horrid crime, are men who have had a liberal education, it is a pity but they would consider those fine words, not of a poor narrow-souled Christian, but of a generous Heathen, nay, a Roman! Let them calmly consider that beautiful passage:

"Proxima deinde tenent mosti loca, qui sibi letum
Insontes peperere manu, lucemque perosi
Projecere animas. Quam vellent æthere in alto
Nunc et pauperiem, et duros perferre labores!
Fata obstant, tristique palus innabilis unda
Alligat, et novies Styx interfusa coercet.*"

"Fata obstant!" But in favour of many, we see God has over-ruled fate. They are brought back over the unnavigable river. They do behold the upper skies. They see the light of the sun. O let them see the light of thy countenance! And let them so live their few remaining days on earth, that they may live with thee for ever!

* "Then crowds succeed, who, prodigal of breath,
Themselves anticipate the doom of death;

Though free from guilt, they cast their lives away,
And sad and sullen hate the golden day.

O with what joy the wretches now would bear
Pain, toil, and woe, to breathe the vital air!
In vain! By fate for ever are they bound
With dire Avernus, and the Lake profound,

And Styx, with nine wide channels, roars around!".

Mr. PITT's Virgil.

IV. 1. Permit me now to make a short. Application. But to whom shall I direct this? Are there any here who are unhappily prejudiced against that Revelation, which breathes nothing but benevolence? Which contains the richest display of God's love to man that ever was made from the foundation of the world? Yet even to you I would address a few words; for if you are not Christians, you are men. You too are susceptible of kind impressions: you have the feelings of humanity. Has not your heart too glowed at that noble sentiment, (worthy the heart and lips of the highest Christian,)

"Homo sum: humani nihil a me alienum puto!" Have not you also sympathized with the afflicted? How many times have you been pained at human misery? When you have beheld a scene of deep distress, has not your soul melted within you?

"And now and then a sigh you stole,

And tears began to flow."

But is it easy for any one to conceive a scene of deeper distress than this? Suppose you are standing by, just when the messenger comes in, and the message is delivered. "I am sorry to tell you, but you must know it, Your husband is no more. He was making haste out of the vessel, and his foot slipped. It is true, after a time, his body was found. But there it lies, without any signs of life." In what a condition are now both the mother and the children! Perhaps, for awhile, stupid, overwhelmed, silent; staring at each other; then bursting out into a loud and bitter lamentation! Now is the time to help them; by assisting those who make it their business so to do. Now let nothing hinder you from improving the glorious opportunity. Restore the husband to his disconsolate wife, the father to his weeping children! It is true, you cannot do this in person: you cannot be upon the spot. But you may do it in an effectual manner, by assisting those that are. You may now, by your generous contribution, send them the help which you cannot personally give. O shut not up

your bowels of compassion towards them. Now open your hearts and your hands. If you have much, give plenteously. If not, give a little, with a willing mind.

2. To you, who believe the Christian Revelation, I may speak in a still stronger manner. You believe, your blessed Master "left you an example that you might tread in his steps." Now you know, his whole life was one labour of love. You know "how he went about doing good,” and that without intermission, declaring to all, "My Father worketh hitherto, and I work." Is not that, then, the language of your heart,

"Thy mind throughout my life be shewn,

While list'ning to the wretches' cry,
The widows' and the orphans' groan,

On mercy's wings I swiftly fly,
The poor and helpless to relieve:

My life, my all, for them to give.”

Occasions of doing this can never be wanting; for "the poor ye have always with you." But what a peculiar opportunity does the solemnity of this day furnish you with, of "treading in his steps," after a manner which you did not before conceive? Did he say to the poor afflicted parent, (doubtless to the surprise of many,) Weep not? And did he surprise them still more, when he stopped her flowing tears, by restoring life to her dead son, and delivering him to his mother? Did he (notwithstanding all that laughed him to scorn) restore to life the daughter of Jairus ? How many things of a nearly resembling sort, "if human we may liken to divine," have been done, and continue to be done daily, by these lovers of mankind? Let every one then be ambitious of having a share in this glorious work! Let every man, (in a stronger sense than Mr. Herbert meant,)

"Join hands with God, to make a poor man live." By your generous assistance, be ye partakers of their work, and partakers of their joy.

3. To you

I need add but one word more. Remember

(what was spoken at first) the solemn declaration of him, whose ye are, and whom ye serve, coming in the clouds of heaven! While you are promoting this comprehensive charity, which contains feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, lodging the stranger, indeed all good works in one, let those animating words be written on your hearts, and sounding in your ears, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, ye have done it to ME."