It is a mistake which still prevails to a wonderful degree, but which experience cannot but remove in time from those who will listen to experience, and understand how to profit by it,* that ignorance and degradation tend to keep the labouring classes innocent, and to make them orderly and good subjects. There are exceptions, of course, to every general rule; but as a general rule, none can be better established than this; that the most idle and profligate of both sexes, the most rude and uncourteous in their manners, and the most turbulent and rebellious, are to be found amongst the most illiterate and uneducated.†

With respect to this particular Institution, it ought to be known, that the Commissioners appointed not long since for the inspection of this and other Charities, were particularly well satisfied with its constitution and management; and that Government accordingly consented to afford aid to its funds on a plan which has always appeared to me the most judicious; viz.

*See Political Economy. Lect. iii. p. 64-71.

See Sermon on the Duty of those who disapprove of the Education of the Poor.

by contributing a certain proportion. A fixed sum granted by Government to any Institution, has the effect, as experience has often shewn, of paralysing private charity; and still more, a Government-grant for the supply of the deficiencies of private charity: as, in that case, each person feels that he is contributing his donation to the public purse; since the more he gives, the less is the supply from Government. But, in the present instance, the plan is the reverse: Government engaging to supply a sum equal to what is raised by voluntary contributions, be that much or little. So that whatever you give, becomes by this means, in fact, doubled.

This circumstance renders it both the more gratifying to the supporters of this Institution to receive ample donations, and the more disheartening to find them fall short; especially as its funds have latterly been so scanty as barely to suffice, after every possible curtailment of expense, for the accomplishment of its objects.

For this then, as well as for the other reasons I have adverted to, I wish that your contributions

should be liberal. But I have abstained from dwelling as fully as might have been done. on such topics as may have appeared the most suitable for effecting that purpose, because I conceive that the main object of every Christian minister's discourses ought to be the spiritual improvement of his hearers. The chief benefit of a charity-sermon,-as indeed of the very practice of charity itself,-is, that the bestowers should be enriched,-spiritually enriched, by "pure religion, and undefiled," without any mixture of selfish, or vain, or otherwise worldly and carnal motives. For then (and then only) "it is," says our Lord, "more blessed to give than to receive."

I would not have you, therefore, give for fashion's sake, or with a view to the praise of men: I would not have you give with the thought of atoning for your sins by splendid. donations, or of claiming, in proud self-sufficiency, a reward for your good work, of establishing a claim on God's justice, by parting with a small portion of what He has bestowed on you I would not have you give "grudgingly or of necessity," because you are afraid

E E

to refuse; "for God loveth a cheerful giver :" and I would not have you give through the impulse of some transient feeling, awakened by impassioned eloquence, even if I possessed such a power. Had I been master of all oratorical skill, I would still have preferred the course I have taken; of endeavouring to explain and develop the sense of a passage of Scripture, and urging you to the performance of a Christian duty, on Christian principles, and on those only. And I would have you give with deep feeling of gratitude to the Bestower of all you have, not only for all the advantages of fortune and of education that you yourselves possess, but also for the honour He does you, in permitting you to have a share, whether great or small, in that glorious work for which your Master lived, and died;-in feeding his beloved flock; and for graciously promising to regard what is done for His sake to the least of these, as done unto Himself.

-

For, such, He has declared, will be his sentence on that great day when you, and these the objects of your charity, shall stand along

with countless millions besides, at his awful

judgment-seat.

May you, and these, so act, this

day, and

every future day of your lives, as you will wish to have done on that last great day! May you meet on that day with joy: and may you hear the voices you have this day heard, raised, then, in grateful exultation to welcome your entrance into those regions of endless joy to which you shall have guided their steps.