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1839.]

CHRISTIAN FORGIVENESS.

17

of humble, faithful prayer, will bring down many blessings on them in this world, and that unspeakable blessing, the gift of God's own Spirit, will fit them for the enjoyment of heaven hereafter.

CHRISTIAN FORGIVENESS.

ST. MATT. v. 21-27.

MY DEAR FAMILY,

W. L. S

OUR Lord here puts a meaning upon the moral law of the Jews, which, through their self-righteousness, they had never discovered. They knew that he who killed another, was liable to be judged, and put to death if convicted; but they knew not that he who was angry with his brother without a cause was subject to the severest displeasure of God; that he who said to his brother "Raca," er vain fellow, was also in danger of heavy punishment at the Lord's hands. Neither did they know that he who said "Thou fool," or in other words, "Thou child of Hell," was in danger of hell fire. How strange it is, my family, that they who talk most about their own obedience to the commandments of God, and the necessity of a strict observance of them on the part of others, how strange it is, I say, that these are the persons who have the most imperfect notions of the spirituality of God's moral law,—of the searching nature of his commandments. This you see was the case with the Jews; and so it is with numbers of those who are called Christians, though they have, in this very sermon, Christ's own interpretation of the moral law. Oh! make this sermon, yea, every verse and word of it, your diligent study; and pray over it, that you may, by the Holy Ghost's assistance, learn that the law of God is deeply spiritual, that it takes notice not only of actions that break in upon the peace of general society, but that it touches the words of every man who hath ever heard it. Yet, again, seek to be taught by it, that your approaches to the table of the Lord Jesusthat your gifts to your poorer neighbours there offeredthat your prayers are so many insults to God, as long as you have it in your minds to hurt your brother either by word or deed. Oh! you who would offer God acceptable

service-if you remember that your brother hath ought against you, or you against him, first be reconciled to your brother; or, if he be at a distance from you, banish from your hearts every bad feeling towards him, and pray for a blessing upon him; then will your service be pleasing to God;-not otherwise: for Christ, your master, through whom alone your best services can be accepted, has not only given you this precept of love, but did, in His own conduct, act up to it, when, upon the cross, He exclaimed, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." But I would have you pray over this passage for another reason, that you may learn a lesson of prudence, which every day's experience shows us that men cannot teach themselves. How often have you instances of persons ruined by law suits; of persons killed, or killing others in duels; murdered or murdering, under the excitement of a cursed spirit of revenge. Learn therefore of God" to agree with thine adversary quickly, while you are in the way with him," lest your quarrel bring you into prison; the law take its course upon you, and you be made to pay the full penalty of your sin against God and man. "Verily godliness is profitable to all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.'

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A LAYMAN.

ENDOWMENT SOCIETY FOR CHILDREN.

(Extracted from "Hints to the Charitable, &c., by the Hon. and Rev. S. G. OSBORNE.")

THE object of the "Endowment Society" is, to secure to the children of persons in the lower classes of life a certain sum of money at the expiration of two, four, or six years; the amount of the sum to be thus ensured to them of course depending on the payments made to the society by the individuals nominating children. Experience having shown me that parents, after they had for some time put into the savings' bank on account of their children, were very apt to withdraw the money for their own use, I drew up the rules for this Society, by the operation of which the money put by for a child is secured for its sole use and advantage. The table

1839.]

ENDOWMENT SOCIETY FOR CHILDREN.

19

of interest of the Windsor Savings' Bank (37. 8s. 5d. is the per-centage allowed) is the one on which my calculations were founded; in fact, the "Table of Payments" of the Endowment Society is taken literally from it. I have endeavoured to make my rules as simple as possible; two shillings a-week is made the highest weekly sum to be paid; for I consider that no person, in the class of life for whose benefit the institution is intended, can well afford to do more for a child. My chief object is, to enable parents, by the exercise of a little self-denial, to ensure a sum that may enable them, at the proper age, to fit out a daughter for service, to apprentice a boy, or, if already apprenticed, to find tools for him to set up with when his time is out, &c. &c. The reasons why I had trustees in the persons of gentlemen of property living in the parish is simply this, that, should any thing sever my own connexion with the institution, the parties nominating children might have proper security that the engagements entered into with them should be faithfully fulfilled. The trustees incur no risk, so long as they can rely upon the money received being paid into the savings' bank; their names give an importance to the institution, which is very useful, as the poor feel that their money is vested in perfect safety.

In a town, the whole business of an endowment society could be carried on in connexion with the savings' bank, the same trustees being responsible, and the same managers receiving the deposits; and I believe an infinite deal of good might thus be effected with very little additional trouble. The value of an apprenticeship for a boy is very great; and how many girls are there idling away their time at home, because their parents are not able to command means of fitting them out for any respectable service. My people have shown a great readiness to enter their children; and, to my surprise, many of them have done so for the longest period, that of six years. No parent possessed of common sense can fail to see the advantage of securing so certain a prospective advantage to a child, at so small a present sacrifice. Although, in reality, it is nothing more nor less than a regular habit of laying by a small sum weekly in the savings' bank for

a certain purpose, yet the signing of "the Declaration" so commits them to the endeavour to follow up their intentions for the child's benefit, that I shall be much disappointed if any thing short of actual necessity ever induces them to fail in their payments.

ENDOWMENT SOCIETY,

For the securing a sum of money to children at the expiration of two, four, or six years, on payment of small weekly sums by their parents or guardians.

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One shilling per week for two years, to receive at the

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expiration of that time £5 for four years, ditto

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for six years,

ditto

Eighteen-pence ditto,

for two years,

ditto

6 11 11 1 11 17 3 4 8 0 6

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for four years,

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for six years,

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Two shillings

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for four years,

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for six years,

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RULES.

1. Any person approved of by the secretary may name a child to be assured in any of the above sums, upon signing the appointed "Declaration."

2. Should the child so named die before the sum assured becomes due, the parents or guardian will receive back the money paid in, or they may name another child of the same family, and continue the payments as before. If the family leave the neighbourhood before the sum assured is due, they will receive all they have paid in; in both the above cases the usual savings' bank interest will be paid.

3. The secretary may at any time pay back to a person the sums received from him, on his shewing that he is, from circumstances, utterly unable to continue the weekly payments.

1 These are fictitious names, meant to represent iudividuals of respectability in the neighbourhood whom you engage to act as trustees.

1839.]

ENDOWMENT SOCIETY FOR CHILDREN.

21

4. No person will be allowed to name a child whose circumstances do not justify the expectations that he will be able to continue the payment of the weekly instalments for the time agreed on.

5. The payment of the weekly deposit being once commenced, should the arrears at any time amount to one month's contribution, unless the person in arrear can show good cause for such irregularity, two-thirds of the money paid in will be returned, the remainder will be equally divided for the advantage of all who may happen to be assured at the time.

All moneys received for the above purposes will be regularly paid into the savings' bank; but in order to give parties assuring every confidence, the above-named trustees declare themselves responsible to parents or guardians assuring children, for the fulfilment of the conditions entered into with them, until such time as they shall individually or collectively make known their desire to be freed from such responsibility.

Names entered at any time at the Vicarage.-The payments to be made at the school every Saturday, at eleven o'clock.

S. VICAR, Secretary. The above table, &c. is printed as a handbill for distribution.

LEAF FROM THE DECLARATION-BOOK.

Endowment Society, Date

DECLARATION.-I parent of

years,

aged
weekly to the

years, on con

hereby engage to pay the sum of Endowment Society, for the term of dition that, at the expiration of that time, the sum of be paid to myself, if living, or to such other person as at that time shall appear to be the proper guardian of the interests of the said such money to be wholly laid out for the benefit of the I also agree to be bound in this matter by the rules of the society as now read

to me.

Witness my hand,

Secretary's signature,

Two of these to be filled up; one to be torn out and given to the party assuring.

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