which converteth a finner from the error of his way, and, in like manner, he also who preventeth a perfon's being corrupted, by taking care of his education, fhall fave a foul from death, and hide a multitude of finsk ?

These things lead us to the following observations on the feveral charities, which are the occafion of these annual folemnities.

I. What we have to bestow in charity being a trust, we cannot discharge it faithfully, without taking some care to fatisfy ourselves in fome degree, that we bestow it upon the proper objects of charity. One hears perfons complaining, that it is difficult to distinguish who are fuch; yet often feeming to forget, that this is a reason for using their best endeavours to do it. And others make a custom of giving to idle vagabonds: a kind of charity, very improperly fo called, which one really wonders people can allow themselves in; merely to be relieved from importunity, or at best to gratify a falfe good-nature. For they cannot but know, that it is, at least, very doubtful, whether what they thus give will not immediately be spent in riot and debauchery. Or suppose it be not, yet still they know, they do a great deal of certain mifchief, by encouraging this fhameful trade of

begging in the ftreets, and all the diforders which accompany it. But the charities towards which I now ask your affistance, as they are always open, fo every one may contribute to them with full affurance, that he beftows upon proper objects, and in general that he does vaftly more good, than by equal fums given feparately to particular perfons. For that these charities really have these advantages, has been fully made out, by fome who have gone before me in the duty I am difcharging, and by the reports annually published at this time.

Here the Report annexed was read.

Let us thank God for thefe charities, in behalf of the poor; and alfo on our own behalf, as they give us fuch clear opportunities of doing good. Indeed without them, vice and mifery, of which there is still so much, would abound fo much more in this populous city, as to render it scarce an habitable place.

2. Amongst the peculiar advantages of public charities above private ones, is also to be mentioned, that they are examples of great in fluence. They ferve for perpetual memorials of what I have been observing, of the relation which fubfifts between the rich and the poor, and the duties which arife out of it. They are ftanding admonitions to all within fight or

hearing of them, to go and do likewife'. Educating poor children in virtue and religion, relieving the fick, and correcting offenders in order to their amendment, are, in themselves, fome of the very best of good works. These charities would indeed be the glory of your city, though their influence were confined to it. But important as they are in themselves, their importance ftill increases, by their being examples to the reft of the nation; which, in procefs of time, of course copies after the metropolis. It has indeed already imitated every one of these charities; for of late, the most difficult and expenfive of them, hospitals for the fick and wounded, have been established; fome within your fight, others in remote parts of the kingdom. You will give me leave to mention particularly that in its second trad

1 Luke x. 37.

m As it is of very particular benefit to thofe, who ought always to be looked upon with particular favour by us, I mean our feamen; fo likewise it is of very extenfive benefit to the large tracts of country weft and north of it. Then the medicinal waters near the city render it a ftill more proper fituation for an Infirmary. And fo likewife does its neighbourhood to the Bath hofpital. For it may well be fuppofed, that fome poor objects will be fent thither in hopes of relief from the Bath waters, whose case may afterwards be found to require the affiftance of phyfic or furgery: and on the other hand, that fome may be fent to our Infirmary for help from those arts, whose case may be found to require the Bath waters. So that if I am not greatly partial, the Bristol Infirmary

as

ing city; which is conducted with fuch difinterested fidelity and prudence, as I dare venture to compare with yours. Again, there are particular persons very blameably unactive and careless, yet not without good difpofitions, who, by these charities, are reminded of their duty, and provoked to love and to good works". And let me add, though one is forry any fhould want fo flight a reafon for contributing to the most excellent defigns, yet if any are fuppofed to do fo merely of course, because they fee others do it, ftill they help to fupport these monuments of charity, which are a continued admonition to the rich, and relief to the poor and herein all good men rejoice, as St. Paul fpeaks of himself in a like case, yea, and will rejoice °.

3. As all human fchemes admit of improvement, all public charities, methinks, fhould be confidered as standing open to proposals for it; that the whole plan of them, in all its parts, may be brought to as great perfection as is poffible. Now it should seem, that employing fome thare of the children's time in easy labour, fuitable to their age, which is done in fome of our charity-schools, might be done in most others of them, with very good effect; as

as much deferves encouragement as any charitable foundation in

the kingdom.

a Heb. x. 24.

• Phil. i. 18.

it is in all those of a neighbouring kingdom. Then as the only purposes of punishments lefs than capital are to reform the offenders themfelves, and warn the innocent by their example, every thing which fhould contribute to make this kind of punishments answer these purposes better than it does, would be a great improvement. And whether it be not a thing practicable, and what would contribute fomewhat towards it, to exclude utterly all forts of revel-mirth from places where offenders are confined, to separate the young from the old, and force them both, in folitude, with labour and low diet, to make the experiment, how far their natural ftrength of mind can fupport them under guilt and shame and poverty; this may deserve confideration. Then again, some religious inftruction particularly adapted to their condition would as properly accompany those punishments which are intended to reform, as it does capital ones. God forbid that I should be understood to difcourage the provifion which is made for it in this latter case: I heartily with it were better than it is; efpecially fince it may well be fuppofed, as the ftate of religion is at prefent among us, that fome condemned malefactors may have never had the doctrine of the Gospel enforced upon their confciences. But finee it must be acknowledged of greater confequence, in a reli