be broken into questions and answers, to which others may be added out of the many good expositions that have been made public." The Archbishop then proceeds to the excuses frequently made for not attending diligently to this work, that "in some places it is pleaded the children cannot read, and their parents cannot or will not have them taught." But here I shall close his valuable directions for the present, by observing, that the last inconvenience is in a great degree happily removed in this place, through God's great goodness, in providing a most benevolent friend to the female children of the parish, who acts upon such pious principles in this good work, as to assure it a continuance and fair hope of blessing upon it, to those disposed to profit by it; and, from the further appointment I have in view, by the Christian assistance of several worthy characters, I have pleasing hope that the boys of our poorer brethren will also shortly experience a fuller opportunity of improving in useful knowledge, than has been hitherto afforded them. In respect to the before-mentioned lady, her unwearied zeal for the temporal and spiritual interest of these needy and neglected children, in clothing them, and providing them with schooling, exhibits the soundness of her faith by active virtue, and binds many who now hear me,

to continual returns of the humblest service towards such a friend. Would to God that they were properly sensible of the Lord's kindness to them in this particular; then would some of them be more grateful to their generous benefactress. I am sorry, to their shame, to observe that it is far otherwise. As to those who have grace to be sensible of the value of such an instrument for their comfort, I hope and doubt not but their humble and earnest prayers are constantly employed for her preservation.

There is but one way to reduce the desperately wicked to order; and ingratitude is the basest of all wickedness. When every humane and religious method fails, the infliction of the penalties of those wholesome laws which, God be praised, we have yet in store, must be enforced. Remember, therefore, that the" magistrate doth not bear the sword in vain ;" and be assured, I will not fail to apply to that power on every occasion that deserves it, when milder methods will not do, and daring wickedness calls for public punishment; at the same time, you may also depend upon the kindest and most conscientious regard to every thing in my power for the ease and comfort of those whose conduct merits indulgent notice.

I will now deliver to you the sentiments of the other Prelate I likewise mentioned, who

was brought up at the feet of this Christian Gamaliel; and, in imitation of so excellent a master, has lately published the following admonition to us* under his ecclesiastical jurisdiction.

"As to the lowest and most laborious classes of people, they have seldom either leisure or ability to educate their children well; and, unless the public and the clergy take the care upon themselves, the probability is, that they will have no education at all. The usual mode of instructing them in religion, when they are. brought in the way of it, is by means of the Church Catechism: this, at first, can be nothing more than teaching the children to repeat it by heart; but, as they grow up, and their understandings open, it should be explained to them in the easiest and most familiar termsshould be placed before them in various points of view, and brought down to the level of their humble capacities, so as to make them comprehend, clearly and distinctly, the grounds and rudiments, the essential doctrines and fundamental duties of that religion which is to be the guide of their conduct here, and the means of their salvation hereafter. This, it must be con

The author at that time served a eure in His Lord. ship's diocese.

2

fessed, is a laborious part of duty, but it is a part so useful, so important, and so indispensably necessary, that I cannot forbear pressing it home on your most serious attention."

I quote this passage to convince you, both how closely our method agrees with the rules here laid down, and also that, notwithstanding the dissipation of the times, and the reproachful scoffings and unjust censures of many, the pure and positive means of upholding Christianity, and destroying the kingdom of Satan, still exercise the vigilance and zeal of those whom God hath set over us, to admonish and exhort unto good works.

As this directly recommends the task I have lately adopted for your religious improvement, and leads immediately to the second part of the subject, I will now dismiss you, praying God's blessing on what has been said at this time, that you may profitably digest it, and be seriously prepared for the remainder when we meet again. -Now, &c.

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SERMON II.

ACTS, VIII. PART OF VERSES 30, 31.

And Philip said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me?

I WOULD not pass so unfavourable a judgment upon your religious disposition, my friends, as to suppose it necessary to repeat the heads of my former Discourse, so lately delivered to you upon these words, in order to renew any impression of the great consequence of the subject. I have already shown you, from the nature of things, from fact, from Scripture, and the testimony of the best and wisest men, both of former and more modern times, the value of early instruction in religious knowledge: I shall therefore proceed immediately to the second division of my subject, and endeavour to make it equally clear, that it is, in a great degree, through neglect of this essential article of education, that, when youth grow up, they are, so easily led astray, and estranged from the service of that church in which they were born and bred.