firm root, and eventually produce an abundant harvest, then much care and much labour are necessary in the previous work of instruction and tuition. For this cause I am to plead this evening; and though it be unfortunately a time of great pecuniary pressure, yet I venture to look, without hesitation, to such assistance as it may be in your power to contribute, with ease to yourselves, and with justice to your families. Beyond this, we would neither ask nor desire. We are too well aware of the existing difficulties in the commercial world to expect that many of you will give as much as you could wish to bestow on a cause so excellent, as the education of these poor girls in those principles which may fit them for serving God on earth, and for dwelling with him for ever.

To such of you, however, as may feel disposed to devise liberal things, notwithstanding surrounding difficulties and numerous demands; to such I would say, that the offering will be the more acceptable to Heaven, for being presented at a time when your pecuniary resources may

not be so great as formerly. Nor will yours be the first instance of such conduct; for in the eighth chapter of St. Paul's Second Epistle to the Corinthians, we find him mentioning with marked commendation the conduct of the poor Christians in Macedonia toward their suffering brethren in Judea: How that in a great trial of affliction, their abundant joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, proceeds the Apostle, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves; praying us, with much entreaty, that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.

Many of you, I doubt not, have read during the past week, in the public prints, the affecting case of a child burnt to death; which, in its moral, may be brought to bear strongly on this subject. Nor do I hesitate to say, that, next to Scriptural examples, and especially that of our great Lord and Master, before whom all other excellence must stand veiled and obscured, yet, next to these, I have seldom read of

a more striking instance of disinterested regard to the welfare of others, even in the hour of severe suffering, than that which is furnished in the history of the little child to whom I venture to allude. During the absence of his parent, his clothes took fire, and were burnt to a cinder before he procured any assistance. Running down stairs the child was met by some person, who seeing his distressed state, and pitying his extreme sufferings, (which but too soon proved mortal,) was anxious to afford him all possible help. But what must have been the feelings of this person, when the child, already burnt in a manner too shocking to describe, was heard to say, "Oh! Sir, my sister, my little sister up stairs-pray go to her-she may be on fire!"

The disinterested sufferer is now no more; but herein, he being dead yet speaketh, and speaketh to us. And shall a child of poverty and sorrow, writhing under his own agonies, discover such an intense love to his little sister, whom he concluded was a fellow-sufferer? And

in

shall we, because of a few present losses, or even some severe trials,severe trials, shall we, therefore, forget or neglect the best interests of these poor children, whose eternal salvation, as well as their benefit in this world, is the object of the present charity? No! my brethren, I feel persuaded you will rather determine, that, wheresoever retrenchment may begin, it shall not begin your contributions to the service of your God, or to the welfare, the moral, spiritual, and eternal welfare, of the children of the poor. Nor ever forget, for your encouragement to a determination so noble and divine, those words of our most blessed Redeemer, as they will one day be heard proceeding from his sacred lips; In as much as ye did it unto one of the least of these, ye did it unto me.