their Ability; and they who are not, fpeak well of it, and pray for it: that we of the Society fhould be vigilant and active, prudent and impartial in our Administration: that Perfons in Authority abroad fhould countenance and protect the Work; for in their Power it is, to forward or obftruct it very greatly: that the People in general there, fhould not only be willing to let all under them and around them partake of the Grace of Life*, but earnestly invite them to it, with Meeknefs of Wisdom, and by the most prevalent of Arguments, a good Converfation †. But beyond the rest it is neceffary for every one concerned in the immediate Execution of the Defign, always to remember, that bad as it is in other Teachers of the Gofpel to behave in a manner unworthy of their Profeffion, it will be yet worse in Them, if they take an uncommon Character upon themselves, only to dishonour it; and compass Sea and Land‡, with no other Effect, than to make God's Name be blafphemed amongst the Gentiles || : that They ought with peculiar Diligence to follow Righteoufnefs, Faith, Charity, Peace §; bolding faft the faithful Word, as they have been taught, that they may be able, by found Doctrine, both to exhort and convince the Gainfayers **; that they ought to be inftant, in Seafon, out of Seafon; to

watch, endure

Matth. xxiii. 15. **Tit. i. 9.

Afflic

Afflictions, and make full Proof of their Miniftry*, fhewing themfelves in all Things Patterns of good Works †.

These then are our feveral Duties; and great will be our Reward for performing them. Let us therefore, each in his Station, arife and be doing: and the Lord be with us t

SERMON VII.

Preached in the Parish-Church of Chrift-Church, London, on Thurfday, May 5, 1743, being the Time of the Yearly Meeting of the Children educated in the Charity-Schools, in and about the Cities of London and Westminster.

ROMANS XIV. 16.

Let not then your Good be evil spoken of.

A

MONGST many Excellencies, which unite to recommend our holy Religion, there are few that fhew its benevolent Spirit in a stronger Light, than its requiring us, not only to abstain from every Thing finful ourselves, but carefully to avoid giving any Occafion of Sin to others *. If the most innocent Action, that we do, will be thought a wrong one by any of our Brethren; we are ftrictly bound, either to cmit it †, if we can without confiderable Inconvenience; or at least. to guard and explain it, as well as the Nature. of the Cafe will permit: that fo we may

*Rom. xiv.

t Cor. viii..

neither

neither tempt him to cenfure us uncharitably, nor to imitate us against his Confcience. The former of thefe is the Danger, which the Words the Text moft naturally express and to keep clear of it, is a Matter of great Importance.

Attention to obviate Cenfures may often. prevent Us from acting, as well as Others from judging, amifs. And where we act ever fo rightly, yet if we are suspected of erring, though in Circumstances only, and feem negligent of that Sufpicion; it may grieve good Perfons, and perhaps weaken their Union with us; it may entirely feparate from us the inconfiderate and wavering; it may give a handle to the Bad for great Triumph and Mifrepresentation; and both incline them to grow ftill worse, and enable them to do ftill more Harm. Whereas prudent Care, first not to deferve Reproach, and then not to lie under it, may procure us Regard from Mankind, by fhewing Regard to them; may secure the welldifpofed on our Side, and furnish them with the Means of defending us; may convince even the Prejudiced of fome of their Mistakes, and moderate their Vehemence in the reft. At leaft, we shall thus exercise a true Chriftian Temper, improve ourselves, and be exemplary to others.

But though we are concerned to vindicate all our Action's from injurious Charges, yet our

L 3

virtuous

virtuous Actions especially. When Things merely lawful are condemned, the Damage may be fmall: but if worthy Deeds are vilified, Religion fuffers deeply. And therefore, as we are now affembled to patronize a Design, which we apprehend to be a very valuable one, but which fome have opposed and decried, the Erecting of Schools for the Children of the Poor, I fhall endeavour to fhew,

I. That this is a good Work.

II. What are the right Methods, to prevent its being evil spoken of.

III. What Course we are to take, if that cannot be prevented entirely,

Little remains to be faid indeed upon any of these Points, which hath not been faid often already. But if Perfons will repeat Objections, the Anfwers must be repeated too, And the plainest Truths, as they cannot influence at all, if they are forgotten, ought to influence us the more, not the less, for being frequently inculcated,

I. First then it must be fhewn, that this Method of giving the Children of the Poor a Chriftian Education, is a good Work.

Now if we believe Christianity true, we muft believe it is the Way to eternal Happi

nefs,