Saviour, the glad tidings of whofe mercy is like refreshing balm to their fouls? Now, as the Christian Religion, in fuch circumftances, is a perfectly new thing, great and admirable are the effects which may reasonably be expected from it and as the most diligent care is taken to inftruct them in the found principles of the faith, no friend to that faith muft doubt the good effects of fuch instruction.

Befides, after the time of their probation, which will be more or lefs, as proper behaviour may dictate, and opportunity offer; it is not to be doubted, but many friends will be reconciled to and receive them; (fome have already been reconciled :)—that upon the exacteft knowledge of their characters, (which may be had here without the leaft deception) many worthy persons will employ them as fervants, which will be but an act of ordinary juftice: Some may become ufeful and faithful wives; and as being habituated to industry, and taught many useful branches of employment in the house, they will moreover be enabled to procure their own bread; and that more especially, as it will be the care of the Directors of this Charity, fo to fix those in future life who fhall gain their esteem by proper conduct, and fo to occupy the little fums they may gain during their stay in the house,

*

Every woman is entitled to a part of what she gains by her labour in the houfe. See the rules of Employment, Numb. 1. &c.

as

as to enable them the better to procure an ho nourable subfiftence. For it is well known, that many of these unhappy women, who have once loft their character, have no poffible opportunity to get their own bread, however able and de-. firous they may be, thro' the natural reluctancy there is in the generality of people to employ them; nay, indeed, we might fay, thro' the almost unavoidable impoffibility of employing them. So that when they leave the house, stored with good principles, and with an habit of induftry, and are put into a way to procure a livelihood, there can be no doubt but they will do fo. And should some mifcarry out of the number, yet if fome, if half only, are reftored and faved; certainly it will well repay all the trouble. And I cannot but remark, in juftice to the women now in the house, that they are truly fenfible of the neceffity of industry. account of what they have already gained, which hath been published *, is a fufficient proof, that they have not been, that they are not, idle. And this account may ferve alfo to corroborate another remark, which was made when the Fian was firft laid before the world; that greater good may be done, at a lefs expence, in this undertak

The

It appears from this account, that from the commencement of the charity, August 10, 1758, to April 12, 1759, the work done by the Women, as fpinning, making caps, shirts, winding filk, embroidering of gloves, &c. amounts to 168. .-19 s. 11 d.

ing, than in almost any other charitable scheme; fince it is to be fuppofed, that when the whole is duly regulated, the women will nearly maintain themselves.

This may serve as an answer to the objection under view but I must add besides, that a due attention will be had to the demands of our colonies abroad; where fuch as are willing, upon the best advantages and propofals, will be tranfferred, at the difcretion and direction of the Go

vernors.

The great decrease of our people is a fubject of common obfervation, and doubtlefs one fource of it is that abominable luft, and prevalent promiscuous commerce of the fexes, which, to the prejudice of honourable matrimony, fo notorioufly abounds. As very many of the objects in the Magdalen House are extremely young, the preferving them from that immediate deftruction into which they muft otherwise have fallen, it is hoped, is an object not unworthy men who love their country, and wish to promote its happiness. And as many of them have been deluded, in the moft fcandalous manner, fome, I may fay, without a figure, almost in their hanging feeves, and have been kept purposely in black and total ignorance of the crime, to which they were unwittingly introduced; furely, it is but a debt we owe to fuch, to give them the means of instruction, and one chance at leaft for *This is now more immediately under confideration.

eternal

t

eternal life, which they could otherwife never have found.

If, as fome have fondly advanced, an attempt of this kind be methodifical; let those persons be told, it would well become us all to be fuch Methodists. Indeed this little wild bolt of weaknefs fcarce deferves to be mentioned; except to remark the abfurdity of fome fort of people who think it fufficient to decry a good man, or a good work, if they brand it with the name of Methodist. This surely is most injudicious; fince it is giving the highest honour to the people whom they mean to condemn, by fuppofing that real virtue, and fubftantial piety, is only to be met with amongst them. However, be it known, that nothing of Methodism or Enchufiafm hath, or ever will have place, we truft, in this Defign. The Gentlemen concerned in it, have knowledge too real, and piety too folid, to countenance or encourage any thing weak, wild, and blafphemous and tho' they are not ashamed to think the doctrines of the Chriftian Religion effentially neceffary to be taught in all their plainnefs to the Penitents, with whom deepness of learning, or vaft reach of thought, is by no means neceffary; yet they will always take care fo to provide, that imputations of this fort may be only the blafts of calumny, or the inane effufions of ignorance and inattention.

Noble minds are always the most free from envy: this is a baneful plant, which grows most luxuri

luxuriantly in the worft foils. But it is well that the prefent undertaking can never be affected by the malevolence of the lower fort, who may regret fuch a provision for their miserable, and by them judged, utterly unworthy, fellow-creatures, but will never be able to prevent it. Sometimes too, there is a stern severity even in virtue, which knows not to forgive failings, whereto itself is a ftranger: and full often we find, that men can be extremely rigid to faults of which they themselves are guiltlefs; while they harbour fins equally odious and destructive in their bofoms, and can very readily pardon and pass over them, quick-fighted to the mote in their brother's, very dim to the beam in their own eye. To the latter of thefe, we would wish to recommend our Saviour's conduct in the case of the woman caught in adultery, and advise fuch as are without fin themselves to caft the first stone. To the former, with all the winning mildness of the father to the eldest fan in the parable, we would reply, It is meet that we should make merry and be glad for this thy brother, thy fellow creature, and fellow Chriftian, was dead, and is alive again; was loft, and is found!

Thus much feemed requifite to urge, over and above what follows in the Sermon, and which it was not fo convenient to add there. And I have only to request my reader's favourable regard, which I fhall not doubt to obtain, when the no

velty