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SERMON 
 
 DELIVERED BEFORE THE MEMBERS OF THE 
 
 FEMALE CHARITABLE SOCIETY 
 
 NEWBURYPORT, 
 
 May 22, I8O9: 
 
 IT BEING THEIR SIXTH ANNIVERSArxY. 
 
 7 
 
 By JOSEPH BUCKMINSTER, d. d. 
 
 PASTOR OF THE FIRST CHURCH IN PORTSMOUTH (n, H.) 
 
 PUBLISHED AT THE REQUEST OF THE MANAGERS. 
 
 NEWBURYPORT : 
 
 Printed by EDMUND M. BLUNT. 
 
 .•1809.-» 
 
A SERMON, ^'c. 
 
 COLOSSIANS— 3d. chapter, 12th. verse. 
 " PUT ON THEREFORE BOWELS OF MERCIES." 
 
 BENEVOLENCE and compassion are 
 affections and dispositions, to which all men 
 make pretensions, and which all agree to praise. 
 They can never want objects or occasions of ex- 
 ercise while the earth is subject to the curse of 
 God, or man is heir to the fruits of the apostacy. 
 And where a God is known, and his gospel 
 acknowledged, they can never want the most 
 powerful incentives. " God is Love" — this is 
 his nature this his essence. But this fullness of 
 the godhead softened into mercy towards our 
 race, when rendered guilty and miserable by 
 their sad apostacy, and the bowels of Divine 
 compassion yearned towards them. He said 
 unto them live ; aAd the time was a time of 
 love. These purposes of mercy could not be 
 effected in their full extent, but by infinite sa- 
 crifice in the court of Heaven. God so loved 
 the w^orld, as to set forth his only begotten Son 
 to be the propitiation for the sins of men, and 
 to lay on him the iniquities of his people ; he 
 
responded this love in these ready and cheerful 
 accents — " Lo, I come : in the volume of the 
 book it is written of me : I delight to do thy 
 will, my God : Yea, thy law is within my 
 heart/' For as much as the children v/ere par- 
 takers of flesh and blood, he also himself took 
 part of the same, in the form of a servant, a 
 grade below his angels. For as much as they 
 were sinners, he was made a sin offering, and 
 they being under a sentence of death, he tasted 
 death for them. In this mysterious personage, 
 produced by the efforts of infinite love and wis- 
 dom, we see combined the titles of a just God 
 and Saviour. We see mercy and truth meet- 
 ing together, righteousness and peace embra- 
 ing each other. We see every attribute of the 
 Deity gloriously displayed in combined array, 
 while mercy and compassion to sinners lead their 
 van. VvVIl might the Apostle say, " herein is 
 love, not tliat we loved God, but that he loved 
 us, and sent his So^i to be the propitiation for 
 our sins. AndifGpdso loved us, we ought 
 also to love one another, and study to be mer- 
 ciful, even as our Father, who is in Heaven, is 
 merciful.'' 
 
 Though the afilictions of this present life are 
 not worthy to be compared v/itli the miseries of 
 
5 
 
 futuritj, or with the glory, that is to be revealed 
 in the Saints, yet are they often many and very 
 great; and from them no age, station, or con^ 
 dition of life can claim exemption. It was fit 
 that man should taste the fruits of his folly ; that 
 he should know by sensible experience, that it 
 was an evil thing and bitter, that he had sinned 
 against the Lord ; and by present sufferings be 
 taught more highly to appreciate, and more 
 humbly receive the riches of Divine grace and 
 mercy. Therefore, when God promised, that 
 the seed of the woman should bruise the ser- 
 pent's head to rescue the hearts of our first Par- 
 ents from utter despondency, he also said to the 
 woman, " I will greatly multiply thy sorrow, 
 and thy conception ; in sorrow thou shalt brino- 
 forth children ; and to Adam, cursed be the 
 ground for thy sake ; in sorrow shalt thou eat 
 of it; thorns and thistles, shall it bear unto thee ; 
 in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, 
 till thou return to the ground ; for out of it wast 
 thou taken : dust thou art, and unto dust thou 
 shalt return." Since that period the world has 
 been an Aceldama ; the human heart, the seat 
 of direful and destructive passions. Diversified 
 distress has, at intervals, marked every rank and 
 path of life ; and sin and poverty, disease and 
 
cleath have maintained their empire. So that 
 the whole human family are at different times, 
 in different respects, and to different degrees, 
 the objects of sympathy and compassion to all. 
 The circumstances and conditions of men are 
 greatly diversified, and frequently changing 
 in the present state — arranged and ordered, 
 not according to the merit or demerit of 
 man, but according to the infinite wisdom 
 and unerring counsel of God ; to perfect this 
 state as a state of discipline, to afford oppor- 
 tunity and occasion for the exercise of those 
 graces and corruptions, which test the human 
 character, and to prepare for a state of eternal 
 retribution. " God hath set prosperity and ad- 
 versity, the one over against the other, to the 
 end that man should find nothing after him ;'' 
 should find nothino; wanting; in the divine ar- 
 rangement or dispensation, that should operate 
 as a suitable mean to prepare rational, moral, 
 sinful creatures for a day of reckoning and a 
 state of retribution : For tho' salvation is of the 
 Lord, and it is altogether of grace that any are 
 saved ; yet let it be remembered, it is through 
 faith, which faith comes by hearing, and is 
 wrought in the heart, or bestowed upon the 
 subject agreeably to bis nature, as a rational, 
 
7 
 
 free, moral agent. And the wonderful scheme 
 of mercy, that provides free pardon and salva- 
 tion for sinners, effects, through the instrumen- 
 tality of providences and instituted means, the 
 redem ption of the happy subjects from iniquity, 
 and purifies them to the Lord, " a peculiar people, 
 zealous of good works." God hath chosen us in 
 Christ, that we should be holy and without blame 
 before him in love ; hath chosen us to salvation 
 through sanctification of the spirit and belief of 
 the truth. And thus, while judged according 
 to the Gospel, we are every one to give account 
 of himself to God, and to receive according to 
 that he hath done, whether it be good or wheth- 
 er it be evil. The whole compass of our duty, 
 religious, relative and social — of rank, station, 
 and condition in life, will come into this ac- 
 count. And the authority that enjoins us to 
 love God with all our heart, requires us to love 
 our neighbour as ourselves. The Gospel, which 
 confirms this authority, ministers grace to help 
 us to perform this duty. And while it requires 
 us to put on bowels of mercies^ it presents to us 
 the brightest example of them, in the character 
 and works of Christ ; and exhibits the most pow- 
 erful motives and incentives to their exercise. 
 
" Put on therefore, bowels of mercies/* In med- 
 itating on these words — We shall 
 
 I. Make a few remarks, explanatory of the 
 \rords. 
 
 II. Consider the more appropriate objects of 
 these bowels of mercies. 
 
 III. Offer some motives and arguments to 
 excite to the performance ot the duty enjoined 
 --and lastly, 
 
 Make some improvement with reference to 
 the object of our present meeting. May God 
 be glorified, and we accepted ! 
 
 I. We are to make a few remarks explana- 
 tory of the words. " Fnt on bowels of mercies/' 
 
 No sentence can be more figurative, and 
 none more expressive. The images are bor- 
 rowed from man and his attire ; from that part 
 of man which, though hidden from human 
 view, and guarded from external impression, 
 is very suddenly and sensibly affected, through 
 the organs of the body, or the reflections of the 
 mind, with objects and occurrences, thatinterest 
 the passions. Thus it is said of Joseph, when 
 his brother Benjamin was presented to him in 
 Egypt, " that he made haste to withdraw him- 
 self, for his bowels did yearn upon his brother.'' 
 Of the mother, whose cliild Solomon was about 
 
to divide, to detect an imposture to which his 
 wisdom only was equal, it is said, she cried, "O 
 my Lord, give her the living child and by no 
 wise slay it, for her bowels did yearn upon her 
 Son." From this effect which passionate ex- 
 citements have upon this part of our frame, 
 bowels are sometimes used for the heart, the seat 
 of the passions, or the whole assemblage of 
 ihem. Thus the Apostle to the Corinthians, 
 says, " Ye are not straitncd in us, ye are 
 straitned in your own bowels/' They are used 
 to signify pity andcompassion, and are adopted 
 to express the tenderest, compassionate sensibil- 
 ities of the Deity. " Is Ephraim my dear Son ? 
 Is he a pleasant child ? for since I spake against 
 him, I do earnestly remember him still, there- 
 fore my bowels are troubled for him ; I will 
 surely have mercy upon him, saith the Lord." — 
 The same expressive language, and bold figure 
 the Church uses in her expostulations with God, 
 " Where is thy zeal and the sounding of thy bow- 
 els, and of thy tender mercies towards me ? are 
 tliey restrained ?" The phrase indeed is He- 
 brew, denoting the tenderest compassion. These 
 bowels we are directed to put on; not hypocriti- 
 cally, to make a fan' show of the fruits without 
 
 the principle : nor to pretend to the principle ■ 
 E 
 
10 
 
 \tithout the fruits ; but to be wholly invested, and 
 covered with the principle ; to put it on, as we 
 put on our clothing ; to call into visible exer- 
 cise in all proper expressions our pity and com- 
 passion, and be clothed all around with them, 
 as with a cloak. The command of the text 
 then, stripped of its figure, is, that we should 
 possess a principle of the tenderest compassion, 
 that we should stir up and exercise not only 
 mercy, but mercies, tendernesses of compas- 
 sion, resenting the miseries of others, as sharing 
 with them ; ready to distribute, willing to com- 
 municate, according to our ability, and the 
 particular complexion of the case, to all pro- 
 per objects — which introduces our second par- 
 ticular. 
 
 II. To designate the objects of these tender 
 mercies. 
 
 The Y are proper objects of compassion, who 
 are in any kind of danger, affliction, or distress. 
 But the fruits of our compassion must be di- 
 versified according to the different circumstan- 
 ces of the objects, and their different dangers 
 and sufferings. The rich and the prosperous, 
 the sons of pleasure and dissipation, being ig- 
 norant of God and of his grace, the slave of 
 carnal appetite and passion, are objects of com- 
 
11 
 
 passion with those, who have been taught of 
 God, who have been made sensible of the aw- 
 ful danger and guilt of a state of unrenewed 
 nature ; who know the responsibility of man, 
 and the indignation and wrath which will be 
 the portion of every one that doeth evil. The 
 fruits of com passion, however, that these want, 
 are counsel and advice, admonition and re- 
 proof, prayers and tears. The sick and the af- 
 flicted, the sorrowful and perplexed, are ob- 
 jects of pity and condolence. " To him that is 
 in affliction, pity should be shewn by his 
 friend." But such may be their worldly cir- 
 cumstanses, such will they often be, that our 
 soothing attention, our condolence and sym- 
 pathy, our coujisels and pra3xrs, will be the 
 onjy proper expressions of our mercy and com- 
 passion. The sons and daughters of poverty, 
 who are strai2;htened for the necessaries and 
 comforts of life, are objects of compassion ; the 
 most regular expression of which, however, 
 would be rather to find them means by indus- 
 try to supply their own wants, if their health 
 and age rendered it proper, than to supply them 
 without, and countenance and encourage their 
 indolence and inactivity. If age or sickness 
 were added to their poverty, our compassion 
 
12 
 
 should minister to tlieir relief, by giving them 
 those things, that are needful for the body ; re- 
 gulating our benefactions with wisdom and dis- 
 cretion, so as to render them most efficient and 
 acceptable. But of all objects that can be nam- 
 ed, none appear to me to have a higher claim 
 on our compassion, than the children of the 
 poor and destitute. And of these the Female 
 Orphan rises to view, the most prominent ob- 
 ject in the pitiable group, striking every fibre 
 of sensibility in the human heart, and awaken^ 
 ing the tecderest emotion of pity and compas- 
 sion. Children born in a state of sin and guilt, 
 heirs to the sad inheritance, which apostacy 
 has made universal, entering a world full of 
 sufferings and snares, in connection v/ith par- 
 ents, who are destitute of time or means to pay 
 any considerable attention to their wants ; their 
 dangers and sufferings must be many. Ye sons 
 and daughters of affluence and ease, imagine 
 your children in this situation. But if their 
 parents though poor are prudent, industrious, 
 and pious; if a godly mother is continually 
 dropping her instructions, and presenting her 
 aspirations, while she hastily attends to them, as 
 her engagements v.ill permit, with the provision 
 made in our country for common education. 
 
they maybe fitted to fill the station, which Pro- 
 ■^ idence assigns them, with reputation to them- 
 selves, and minister to the beaut}^, usefulness 
 and comfort of social life. But if the character 
 and disposition of their parents, with all their 
 poverty, be the reverse of this, impious, intern-^ 
 perate, profane, and passionate, how deplora- 
 ble the prospect for them and for society ! The 
 Spartans thought it improper, that any parents 
 should educate their own children ; but if any 
 measures could be devised, by which such par- 
 ents could be compelled to shut the doors of 
 these nurseries of vice and ruin, an essential 
 benefit would be conferred on the individuals, 
 and on society. Ye pious parents, how would 
 ye feel for your children, placed in such cir- 
 cumstances, and presented with such exam- 
 ples ? Breathing air polluted with oaths and 
 obscenity, hearing the conflict of angry and 
 revengeful passion, and often feeling the effect 
 of the tempest in unreasonable correction on 
 their innocent heads ? But while their parents 
 live, the children have a shelter ; and though 
 often hard treated and hungry, yet they are 
 saved from famishing. But when a father falls, 
 when a mother dies, when both father and 
 mother sleep in the dust, how pitiable the case ! 
 
u 
 
 how deplorable the prospects for the Orphan 
 children ! Are they not objects of compassion ? 
 Do thej not call for bowels of mercies ? Ye 
 fond parents, think of your children, left thus 
 helpless and forlorn, and what relief would it 
 afford you, to have the anguish accompanied 
 with the reflection, that there was an asylum 
 opened for theni under the management of 
 piety^ prudence, and tenderness ; where all 
 necessary wants Avould be supplied, and appro- 
 priate instruction given. The children of the 
 poor and wretched, the harmless child of want, 
 the fatherless and motherless call for the exer- 
 cise of compassion in charity, and alms. They 
 need a sanctuary, a shelter from the chilhng 
 storm and tempest ; they need food and rai- 
 ment ; they need means of instruction, and re- 
 gular government, that they may be disciplined 
 and prepared for the humble, yet important 
 station, that in human probability they will fill. 
 To the accomplishing these desirable objects, 
 liberal contributions must be made ; societies 
 formed ; funds established ; and the arduous, 
 and too often thankless task of arranging; and 
 managing such institutions assumed by some, 
 who are wiliino' to clothe themselves with the 
 responsibility, and mi^ke the sacrifices which 
 
i5 
 
 the duty demands. For what is every one's bu- 
 siness, is ordinarily by every one ncolected* 
 Such arrangements formed and oro-anized 
 should not paralyze our bowels of mercies to- 
 wards these pitiable objects of compassion ; but 
 rather should they animate, quicken, and 
 strengthen them, in proportion to the ground 
 of confidence, that their fruits will be well em- 
 ployed. But we are, 
 
 III. To offer some farther motives and aro-u- 
 ments to enforce the duty, and excite the dis- 
 position. 
 
 Here I am pressed with the crowd, that pre- 
 sent themselves, and must pause to make se- 
 lection ; for every thing in heaven and on earth 
 tenders motives and incitements to benevolence 
 and compassion. Man s hopes and fears, his 
 present, and his future interests combine to 
 urge him to put on bowels of mercies. God is 
 the source and assemblage of all excellence ; 
 man has none, but in his resemblance of God : 
 In what can this resemblance be carried hi o her, 
 than in sincere, unsophisticated beneficence 
 and tender compassion for their proper objects? 
 " God is love. He who dwelleth in love, 
 dwelleth in God, and God in him.'' 
 
 Encompassed with the fruits and effects ot 
 divine goodness, we hve, move and have our 
 
being, Mercy is our daily bread, and our night- 
 ly repose. It is God's sun that cheers, his air 
 that animates, and his bounty that feeds the 
 innumerable tribes of creatures his hands have 
 made. All eyes wait upon him ; that which he 
 giveth them, they gather. They live upon his 
 goodness. But infinite and eternal mercy and 
 compassion have triumphed towards man. 
 God hath so loved him, even when in rebel- 
 lious enmity, as to give his only begotten and 
 dearly beloved Son for his relief; and being- 
 given, he spared him not from the deepest hu- 
 miliation, and most extreme sufferings, that 
 were necessary to testify the infmite odiousness 
 of sin, and lay an honourable foundation for free 
 pardon, and full justification. Beloved, if God 
 so loved us ; we ought to love one another. 
 For we cannot be profitable to God : Our good- 
 ness extendeth not to him ; but it may to the 
 saints, and to fellow suifercrs ; and thus thanks- 
 givings may abound to him. 
 
 Every thing in the person, ofiices and work 
 of Christ ; in his birth, life, miracles, death 
 and resurrection, presents motives and incite- 
 ments to benevolence. The oiiices, gifts and 
 works of the Spirit in his illuminations, quick- 
 enino-s, slrivinois and consolation, soften to the 
 
17 
 
 cxfercise of compassion, and solicit to the dis- 
 play of its fruits. Our present enjoyments ; our 
 hopes for those, who are the objects of our com- 
 passion, if our energies be well directed ; our 
 fears for them and for society, if they be 
 withheld, and neglected ; the probable pros- 
 pect of benefit to society, and particularly to 
 domestic enjoyment in the species of com- 
 passion, which we are this day called to exer- 
 cise, forcibly constrain us to be liberal in the 
 fruits of mercy. All these topics, which the time 
 will permit us only to suggest, are fruitful of 
 motives to charitable compassion. But in ad- 
 dition to all these, it is the special command of 
 God. It is again and again enjoined upon us, 
 that we should be merciful and compassionate ; 
 that we should give alms of such things as we pos- 
 sess ; that we should be merciful, as our Father 
 who is in heaven is merciful. To beget and 
 cherish this disposition in us, to make us par- 
 takers of the spirit of Christ, is the object, ten- 
 dency and effect of the gospel of Christ : In the 
 want of this disposition then, and especially in 
 the prevalence of its opposite, we never can 
 have evidence, that we are the disciples of 
 Christ, the subjects of his grace. We never 
 can prove our relation to Christ, as his redeem- 
 
18 
 
 ed servants, or our title to tlie blessings of eter- 
 nal life. The command in our text is associated 
 with this discription of character — " Put on 
 therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, 
 bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of 
 mind, meekness, long-suffering, gentleness, &c. 
 Faith without works is dead — and professions 
 without practical attestation to their sincerity 
 are nothing worth. " If a brother or sister be 
 naked, or destitute of daily food, and one of 
 you say to him, depart in peace ; be warmed, 
 be filled ; notwithstanding, you give them not 
 those things that are needful to the body — what 
 does it profit ?" Shall I proceed ? Need yoix 
 other motives and arguments to mercy and com- 
 passion ? Come with me then from earth to 
 heaven : Contemplate with me then, that most 
 august scene, which shall shut up time, and 
 introduce eternity : Look with self-application 
 upon the issue of the final judgment. The Sav- 
 iour has given us an anticipated description — 
 and said, " Yv hen the son of man shall come in 
 his glory, and all his holy angels with him, 
 then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory ; 
 and before him shall be gathered all nations ; 
 and they shall be separated to his right hand, 
 and to his left. Then shall the king say to them 
 
19 
 
 pn his right hand : Come ye blessed of my fa- 
 ther, inherit the kingdom prepared for you, 
 from the foundation of the world : For I was 
 an hungred, and ye gave me meat ; thirsty, and 
 ye gave me drink ; a stranger, and ye took me 
 in ; naked, and ye clothed me ; sick, and in 
 prison, and ye visited me — inasmuch as 3'^e have 
 done it unto one of the least ot these my breth- 
 ren, ye have done it unto me. Then shall he 
 say to them on his left hand — " depart accurs- 
 ed into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil 
 and his angels : Fori was an hungred, and you 
 gave me no meat ; thirsty, and you gave me no 
 drink : I w^as a stranger, sick, and in prison, 
 and you visited me not." Lord this can't be, re- 
 ply the covetous unbelievers, for we never saw 
 thee. " Inasjiiuch as ye did it not unto one of the 
 least of these, ye did it not to me. These shall 
 go away into everlasting punishment ; but the 
 righteous into life eternal.'' In the view of such 
 a scene and its issue ; in the hearing of such ac- 
 cents from the lips of him whose words are yea, 
 and amen, can we shut up the bowels of our 
 compassion ? Shall we not rather put on the 
 tenderest mercies, clothe ourselves with them 
 as with a garment, and rejoice in opportunities 
 to exercise and display them towards such ob- 
 
20 
 
 jects, as the Saviour has said we shall always 
 have with us to be the receivers of his bounty, 
 from our hands ? 
 
 We shall now attempt some improvement, 
 adapted to the object of our present meeting. 
 
 We are this day invited to the house of God, 
 by an amiable and respectable circle of ladies, 
 who " are associated for the charitable purpose 
 of rescuing from poverty and vice ; instructing 
 and employing, and training up to virtue, 
 usefulness, female orphan children/' What agen- 
 erous and compassionate design ! " Blessed is 
 he that considereth the poor, the Lord will de^ 
 liver him in time of trouble." The multiphed 
 institutions, that our age has produced, wear- 
 ing this family complexion, do honor to the hu^ 
 man heart ; test the humanity and compassion 
 of our common country — and I hope, owe some- 
 thinoj to the influence of that reli2;ion, whose 
 commanding features are love and mercy. We 
 are invited by the managers of this institution, 
 who present themselves and their orphan charge 
 at the feet of mercy, to celebrate with them 
 their sixth anniversary. To unite in rendering 
 praise to God, that he hath mercifully disposed 
 them to open an asylum for the most helpless 
 and hopeless of our race — the female, orphan 
 
21 
 
 child of want ; and that he hath enabled them 
 to rise superior to the disconragements and dif- 
 ficulties that they anticipated ; that he hath so 
 far seconded their sincere, though feeble efforts, 
 and raised up friends and benefactors to them ; 
 that they have been able to sprinkle the dew of 
 kindness upon the heads of so many helpless or- 
 phans, and bring them forward to hope and use- 
 fulness. They present this spectacle as a proof 
 of the benevolence and usefulness of their insti- 
 tution ; and as a pledge of their wdse improve- 
 ment of whatever you may entrust to their man- 
 agement, for the maintaining and promoting 
 their pious and charitable design. They indeed 
 appear to ask our alms ; but for whom do they 
 ask them '^ For themselves ? For their friends ? 
 No ! The helpless orphan, the child of woe. 
 They are Almoners — but whose ? even his who 
 is king in Zion : They ask of you the box of 
 ointment- -but it is to anoint the feet of your 
 blessed Saviour ; by pouring it on the heads of 
 his little ones. If we felt the power of correct 
 principle, and viewed moral and spiritual sub- 
 jects, as I am persuaded they are viewed by 
 superior spirits ; instead of feehng as if we con- 
 ferred an obligation in meeting the wishes of 
 those who seek support for wise and pious char^ 
 
itable institutions, we should feel, that the 
 patrons and managers of such institutions con- 
 ferred an obligation upon us, by affording an 
 opportunity for the exercise of legitimate com- 
 passion, and stirring us up to traffic for eternity; 
 to honor the stewardship with which we are en- 
 trusted ; and send treasures before, to meet us 
 in a better world. The most correct arbiter has 
 decided, that " it is more blessed to give than to 
 receive f and he hath asserted, that "he, who 
 Jaath pity on the poor, lendeth to the Lord ; and 
 that, which he hath given, will he pay him again/' 
 We ought to rejoice, when opportunities for 
 charity present, that admit of no hesitancy or 
 doubt with respect to duty ; and be thankful, 
 when our alms are so bestowed, as to give reason 
 to think, that through them thanksgivings shall 
 abound to God. We are but stewards of what 
 we possess — God is the proprietor. Our trea- 
 sures, our talents are committed to us in trust. 
 For their use and improvement we must give 
 account. The rich and the poor, in their dif- 
 ferent degrees ever have and ever will diversi- 
 fy the face of society. But these distinctions 
 dont mark degrees of merit, nor designate ob- 
 jects of divine favour. They minister to the 
 beauty and comfort of social life ; they afford 
 
as 
 
 opportunity for the performance of different 
 duties, and the exercise of different graces ; 
 they test the human character, and perfect this 
 world as a state of probation and trial. Per- 
 haps it may be right, that men should use and 
 expend upon themselves and their connexions 
 what is necessary, to support the credit and use- 
 fulness of their rank in society ; but there is a 
 portion they possess, that is given to bestow 
 upon those, who need their help and assistance; 
 and if they expend this on their pleasures or their 
 pride, they are unjust and faithless stewards. 
 What idea should we form of that servant, who 
 should convert to his own use and gratification, 
 what his master had just committed to him to 
 carry to some poor suffering object ? With 
 what hesitancy would he report to his master ? 
 and what confusion would cover him, if he found 
 himself detected ? Some portion of our sub- 
 stance, whether this be greater or less, is en- 
 trusted to us, to distribute to those that are 
 •more necessitous than we. If we convert all to 
 our own use, we imitate this faithless servant, 
 without the cover of secrecy, under which he 
 shrouds himself; for the eyes of our master are 
 in every place, and he will judge the secrets of 
 all hearts according to the gospel. 
 
^4 
 
 In our ignorance of the objects, that sohcit 
 our charity, and of the use to which they will 
 devote it ; we often find an apology or excuse 
 for withholding our alms : but can this chilling 
 blast blow on the present occasion ? Our char- 
 ity is solicited for the poor, forsaken, orphan fe- 
 male, cast upon the world in native guilt and 
 corruption ; destitute of means of support and 
 instruction. A respectable number of pious, 
 discreet, foster mothers, associated as their guar- 
 dians and patronesses, are guarantees, that your 
 bounty shall not be abused or misapplied. Can 
 any doubt remain, whether these are proper ob- 
 jects of charity ? Can any one reasonably wish 
 to have his charity better secured ? Does not the 
 test ofexperiment honor the conclusions of reason 
 and prove the utihty of this institution ? Look 
 at these little children, snatched from poverty 
 and vice, from rags and wretchedness : Neat 
 they now appear — healthy, orderly, happy, 
 perhaps I may not say gracious ; but placed 
 under the droppings of daily instructions, which 
 arc the channels, through which God ordinarily 
 communicates grace. How different probably 
 would have been their situation this day, had 
 this institution been unkown amonojvou ? But 
 is the benefit confmed to them ? Do vou not 
 
2S 
 
 feel the beneficial influence ? Does it not prom- 
 ise to increase the comforts of domestic life ? Is 
 not charitj in this instance casting salt into a 
 fountain, whose streams may, in due time, wa- 
 ter and refresh all your families ? Let then the 
 stranger whom you have honored with your at- 
 tention, who has seen the benefits of a similar 
 institution in the circle of his more intimate 
 friends, be heard as an advocate for this insti- 
 tution. Let him entreat each one according 
 to the ability which God hath given, not only 
 to be ready, but to be forward in this cause. 
 Give this day liberally ; give cheerfully ; for 
 God loveth a cheerful giver. Let not the mer- 
 chant excuse himself, because the streams have 
 been embarrassed, through which plenty flow- 
 ed. Let him take from the stores that the for- 
 mer tides of prosperity wafted to his coffers, 
 and seek a blessing upon future exertions. Let 
 him that is honoured among men, honor himself, 
 by shewing that he hath mercy on the poor. Let 
 the man of science and profession, of husband- 
 ry and mechanic arts offer a portion of what 
 God hath given him to this offering of the Lord. 
 Let the man of pleasure, and the lady of fash- 
 ion devote to this sacrifice, what they had de- 
 signed for purposes, that would subserve neither 
 D 
 
their reputation nor happiness. Fathers and 
 mothers, in your bosoms I have an advocate ; 
 indulge your children to help these helpless or- 
 phans, and let their intant hands be formed to 
 deeds of charity. O, that we could all make an 
 oiferino: on the altar of charity this day, of 
 whatever might be abused to be the food of our 
 pride, or the food of our folly ; and in every 
 thins use this world as not abusing it ! No of- 
 fering can be so great as to claim any reward at 
 the hand of God — for it is of his own that we 
 oive him. None can be so small as to be un- 
 noticed by him who is verily in this place— 
 whose eye is upon us, and who is not unrighte- 
 ous to forget any work or labour of love, 
 which you may shew to his name. When the 
 ao-ents of these amiable ladies shall approach to 
 ask your alms, debate not with yourselves wheth- 
 er you shall meet their wishes, but let the ful- 
 ness of your hearts, and the correctness of the 
 occasion silence all demur, and let not your 
 left hand know what your right hand doeth. 
 
 But should you give all your goods to feed 
 the poor, you would not reach all the demands 
 of a merciful God, nor satisfy all the wishes of 
 the preacher, unless with this inferior gift you 
 give yourselves away* to be the Lord's, and 
 
27 
 
 consecrate yourselves in soul and body, in tal- 
 ents and interests to him that died for you and 
 rose again ; dien would all things be emphati- 
 cally yours ; all things would work together for 
 your good, and you would have a sure title to 
 an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled ; and that 
 fadeth not away. In the language of the apos- 
 tle let me then close my discourse, and " be- 
 seech you brethren, by the mercies of God, that 
 you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy 
 and acceptable to God, which is your reasona- 
 ble service." And that '* to do good and com- 
 municate, you forget not — for v/ilh such sa- 
 crifice, God is well pleased/' 
 
5a» 
 
 A Statement of the Funds of the FEMALE CHARITABLE 
 SOCIETY from June 1S08, to June ISOy. 
 
 TxpenHhures. 
 
 
 Subscriptions, Interest and Contributions 
 
 Dob. 
 
 Cts, 
 
 Dots. Cts. 
 
 437 
 
 80 
 
 • Subscription, ?6"1 
 
 Balance^ 6o 
 
 93 
 
 Interest, 100" 33 
 Contribution. 131 40 
 
 4^8 73 
 
 498 73 
 
 DoJs. 
 Funds of the Society on Interest, 1 109 
 
 U'wo Shares in Essex JNJerriniack Bridge, 340 
 
 Cts. 
 50 
 
 1449 50 
 
 Since the eommencement of the Societi/ in June 1803, there iavt 
 been admitted l6" Children, 8 arc put out in approved families, and 8 
 remain unJtr the care of the Coxerness. Jt is to be observed, the 
 Children's clothing has been chiefly supplied by the Managers. 
 
2<? 
 
 BOARD OF MANAGEllS. 
 
 FOR THE P^ESE^T YE ill. 
 
 Mrs. Hawk AH Balcii, First Dircctrpw. 
 
 Sarah Thompson, SecomI DJrrctrcss. 
 
 ]\fAROAni:T Atvtood, Treasurcj. 
 
 Kmzatjrth Noyes, Serrct.'iry. 
 
 Ak^ e Noiiton, 
 
 VJAZ^ E. Cautfu, 
 
 bvHAVtiA CorriJi, 
 
 Anna WirrrLiiiGHT, ^ IManagen. 
 
 .Iant Green leaf, 
 
 F,M7AnF.Tn Coombs, 
 Miss Mary Wo art, 
 Mrs. Sarah Goodhue, Governess. 
 
 MEi\ir>p:RS NAMES- 
 
 Mrs. Margaret Andrews, 
 Margaret Atwood, 
 Sarali A<Jain!«, 
 ISar;ili lia^lcy, 
 Hannah Batch, 
 J.unice Bu!ch, 
 Betsey Barllelt, 
 Sarah Boardinan, 
 Mary Bia<lhlreet, 
 l^lizabeth Le BrcUm, 
 INIary Ikirnhan], 
 Su'^an Boardnian, 
 
 Mi'-s Hannah BarlleJt, 
 Susanna B()ardinan, 
 Mary Boardnian, 
 Bet^ey Bradstreet, 
 Hanniih Bra(ll»ury, 
 
 Mr?. Lhza t. Carter, 
 Elizabeth Carter, 
 Mary Chase, 
 Betsey Chandler, 
 ISIary Clark, 
 Susanna Coffin, 
 lictscy (Coffin, 
 Miehnl Coomlis, 
 Maiy C. Cofliii, 
 Elizabeth Coombsi 
 
 Mrs. Lylia Cigss, 
 Aldiy Cutler, 
 
 Miss Horuthea F. Coffin, 
 Eliza Coffin, 
 Susanna Coffin, 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Dana, 
 Elizabeth Defter, 
 Sarah Dole, 
 Mary Dnie, 
 Nancy Hean, 
 Sarah Emerson, 
 Mary Foster, 
 Elizabeth Fleteher, 
 Hannah Foliansbce, 
 
 MibsEois I'rolhin^huin, 
 
 Mrs. Mary Ciage, 
 
 Sarah Clocjdrich, 
 Eli/a bet h Greenlcaf, 
 Mary Greenlcaf, 
 Elizabeth Gunnison^ 
 Jane Greenleaf, 
 Martha Haskell, 
 Sarah Holland, 
 Nabby Howard, 
 Betty Hunt, 
 Elizabeth Ham, 
 
 Miss Elizabeth Ham, 
 
so 
 
 Mrs. Hannah Jackson, 
 
 Betsey Jenkins, 
 
 Sarah Johnson, 
 
 Joanna Jones, 
 
 Henrietta Johnson;^ 
 Wiss INIary Johnson, 
 Mrs. Lucy Kimball, 
 
 Mary Kimball, 
 
 Sarah C. Livermore, 
 
 Sally Locke, 
 
 Hannah F. Lee, 
 
 Sarah ISlarch, 
 
 Rebecca Marquand, 
 
 Lucy Slills, 
 
 Frances IVIoody, 
 
 ]Martha Morss, 
 
 Dolly Merrill, 
 
 Anne Norton, 
 
 Sarah Noyes, 
 
 Dorcas Noyes, 
 
 Dorcas Noyes, jun. 
 
 Elizabeth Noyes, 
 Miss Nancy Norton, 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Otis, 
 Hannah Palmer, 
 Anna Peabody, 
 Elizabeth Perkins, 
 Sarah Petti ngell, 
 INIartha Pike, 
 Sarah Prout, 
 Martha Rand, 
 Sally Rand, 
 Mercy Richards, 
 Martha S. Rollins, 
 Susanna C. Richards, 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth Rappall, 
 Sarah Rogers^ 
 
 Miss Mary Richards, 
 Anna Sewall, 
 Sarah Smith, 
 Judith Sawyer, 
 
 Mrs. Mary Stocker, 
 Sally Sweetser, 
 Rebecca Sweet, 
 Mary Smith, 
 Mary Smith, jun. 
 Sarah Sprague, 
 Judith Sawyer, 
 Eliza Stickney, 
 Nancy Toppan, 
 Hannah Toppan, 
 Hannah Toppan, jun. 
 Sarah Thompson, 
 Sarah Titcomb, 
 Katy Titcomb, 
 LydiaTiacy, 
 Deborah Tenney, 
 Sarah Titcomb, jun. 
 Miss Isabel Thompson, 
 Mrs. Anna Wheelwright, 
 Dolly Wood, 
 Elizabeth Wood, 
 Elizabeth Wyatt, 
 Elizabeth Wyer, 
 Mary Woart, 
 Rebecca Whcelwright,^ 
 Mary A. White, 
 Mary Whipple, 
 Miss Mary Woart, 
 
 Rebecca ^YhecKv right. 
 
m 
 
 
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