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you, hath already been the happy means to dry fome aged eyes, and to revive fome languishing parents' lives.

As you are members of the civil community, and as you wish to wipe off any difgrace from the state and policy, unite in this laudable undertaking; which we hope may tend, thro' the zeal of good men, and the vigilance of magiftrates, in due season, to wash away that nuifance of our times, the pollution of our streets: in which furely, and in every undertaking that may tend to remove it, we fhould join hand and heart, if we wish to preferve in innocence and virtue, our children, our fervants, our dependants of whatfoever fort; if we wish to prevent unspeakable distress, and the most cruel injury, which too often the virtuous and guiltlefs have found, from the dire contagion of this promifcuous defilement.

And fince, bleffed be God, amidst the many evils too justly complained of, and the many depravities too notorioufly reigning, benevolence and charity feem yet not to be wanting amongst us; let us endeavour to promote these excellent virtues, as much as we may, upon the founda. tion of Christ's bleffed gospel, and in imitation of his compassionate and heavenly temper. And while, with fincere hearts, each in our generation ftudies to advance the good of mankind; let us always keep in view that great, that important F 4

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hour, when every thing here below fhall diffolve and vanish from our fight; and we ourselves shall stand at that aweful judgment-feat, where. every external accomodation will be removed where no regard will be had to place, or to rank; but they only fhine with most distinguished favour and happiness, who have most distinguished themselves in this fhort ftate of trial, by works of benevolence, humanity, and compassion, springing from an unfeigned affiance on the all-complete and meritorious facrifice of an incarnate GOD.

To whofe praise may we all live here below; for whose fake may we be zealous in this and in every other good work; and for whofe merits may we all finally hear the applauding sentence,

IN AS MUCH AS YE DID IT UNTO THE LEAST OF THESE MY BRETHREN, YE DID IT UNTO ME. COME, YE BLESSED OF MY FATHER! RECEIVE THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR YOU FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE WORLD.

A

SERMO N,

Preached at the

MAGDALEN-HOUSE,

BEFORE

His Royal Highness Prince EDWARD.

By WILLIAM DODD, M. A,

Published at the Command of His ROYAL HIGHNESS.

The FIFTH EDITION.

1

ΤΟ

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS

Prince EDWARD AUGUSTUS,

DUKE of YORK, &c.

May it pleafe your Royal Highness

GR

RACIOUSLY to accept the following discourse; which owes its pubFication folely to your Highness's command. To disobey this would ill become me; otherwife, my former endeavours on this fubject, might well have pleaded my exemption from another attempt: in which, fimilarity of fentiment, in various particulars, must be supposed to prevail; and will need much candid acceptation as well from your Royal Highness, as from the public.

We congratulate ourselves on the favourable opinion your Royal Highness was pleased to exprefs of our charity: where so many young, helpless, and truly piti

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