what renders the divine tenderness and compaffion the more confpicuous and wonderful, is, that this almighty and infinitely glorious God, did actually defcend into this world-took upon himself our nature-became a man of forrows and acquainted with grief-paffed through temptations and conflicts no pen can describe-died upon the cross-defcended into the grave-rose again from the dead -and glorified his humanity. And all for this moft merciful end, that mankind, fallen rebellious mankind, might be restored from their wretchednefs and misery, and be perfectly happy with him for ever.

Thus, firs, you obferve how fully, how powerfully, God himself hath manifefted this divine virtue. What an example of tenderness and pity he hath fet us! In what numberlefs inftances he hath fhewn his compaffion, and thereby taught us to imitate him. "Be ye merciful, even as your "heavenly Father is merciful." I might also lay before you many inftances, from the word, of mercy and tenderness exhibited by our fellow men. But one fhall fuffice. "When Jefus entered into Ca

pernaum, there came unto him a Centurion, befeeching him, and faying, Lord, my SERVANT «lieth at home fick of the palfy; grievously tor"mented. I am not worthy that thou fhouldft "come under my roof-speak the word only, and

my fervant fhall be healed." This man, it appears, was a Roman-an officer in the army-ä captain.

captain. He had foldiers at command; he said to
one, Go, and he went-and to another, Come, and
he came.
And I wonder not at it, for what fervant
would not cheerfully obey fo kind a master. Well,
this Roman officer, this man of honor and autho-
rity, condescends to come himself to Jefus Chrift;
he pleads and prays for help. But for who? For
his friend, his brother, his child, or his wife? No,
he pleads and prays for his fervant. Perhaps it
might be his meaneft fervant; yea, I know not
but it were a NEGRO SLAVE. Lord, my fervant
is fick he has the palfy-he is grievously tor-
<mented. I have spared no expence-the phyficians
⚫ cannot heal him. I cannot do it myself, but I am
'grieved for him.

He is my fervant, it is true;
He is as fenfible

but he is my fellow creature. <of pain as I am. I feel pity and compaffion for <him. Lord, fay the word-unworthy as I am, • let me not be denied! my fervant is tormented, ⚫ and my heart bleeds for him. Though an officer < in the Roman army, and not afraid to meet death ⚫ in ten thousand awful forms, to protect my prince and my country, yet, Lord, I have the feelings ' of a man-my heart melts at buman woe-I can'not bear that my fervant fhould fuffer, if help 'can be found. Lord Jefus, thou God of tender'nefs and mercy, deign to hear me and heal my fuffering fervant!' "Go thy way, faith the "Lord, thy fervant is healed. Jefus marvelled,

" and faid, I have not found fo great faith, no not "in Ifrael." Matt. viii. ver. 5 to 13.

My fellow chriftians, what an example is here of compaffion and tenderness! I am sure you must feel pleasure in the recital of fo much kindness and pity. Do we not, therefore, plainly fee how effential this heavenly virtue is, to christianity? Can we lay claim to the name of christian, if we have it not? Can we love our neighbour as we love ourfelves, if we are not men and women of compaffion, mercy, and kindnefs? No, we well know we cannot. But, firs, do we not most evidently see a great want of this foft and amiable, this heavenly godlike virtue? Had we true charity-did we love others as we love ourfelves-we should labor to alleviate the forrows and woes of men-to sweeten the bitter draught that thousands are compelled to drink-to ease the pains, and heal the calamities of all, as far as we have power. How many poor, wretched, miferable objects of want, and pain, and woe, may we find, on whom to exercise our benevolence and pity! It is with pleasure that we behold, in a general way, how much mankind in our age are humanized; a more liberal generous fpirit appears to pervade the nations-intolerance and perfecution are skulking into their infernal dens, and hiding their hated heads in oblivion fhades. Mercy and compaffion, thofe godlike graces, which too feldom have been feen, are now appearing on

the

the earth-not as vifitants for a day, but as constant guests.

And, I am perfuaded, a glorious and numerous people are arising under the aufpices of the Lord Jefus our God-in whom every chriftian virtue, every heavenly grace, fhall beam confpicuous and refplendant, as the bright luminary of the skies, in all his meridian glory. Let us, with pleafing joy, anticipate the day when christians fhall be chriftians -when the difciples of Jefus fhall follow their Lord-when his children fhall imitate their heavenly father in love, charity, mercy, and compaffion.

My chriftian friends, let me recommend to you the cultivation and exercife of that grace of which we have been speaking; I mean, pity, tenderness, or compaffion. Let the virtues which blefs the human race and enlighten the world, be most eminently seen in those men and women who acknowledge the Lord Jefus Chrift as God alone-believe in his fecond appearing-and that he is now establishing a glorious pure church, which shall be the crown of all churches, and stand for ever. We already see many convincing proofs of that divine influence which hath spread itself through the world, fince the commencement of this dispensation; and especially in Europe, the fpirit of freedom, liberty, benevolence, and mercy, has manifeftly increased. How many thousands are there, even in Great Britain, whose hearts bleed for the miferies, forrows, and pains of Afric's fable fons, bound faft in

iron chains-groaning beneath the weight of oppreffion-and finking down to fhades of death, under the favage hand of cruelty! What numbers of feeling hearts are concerting, and anxiously longing for the emancipation of thofe helpless captives! Compaffion's tears are daily fhed by thousands in our land, for those poor, tortured, beaten, punished men and women, whofe fate it is to labor and toil in the galling chains of flavery. The voice of pity, mercy, and tenderness, ascends to heaven from ten thousand tongues, in the language of the Roman centurion- Lord God of heaven! our fervants lie fick on yonder friendless shore, and ← GRIEVOUSLY TORMENTED. Not one nor two < only, but thousands and thousands there, are ⚫ suffering excruciating woe, and nameless forrows, We deplore their fate-the tears of pity flowwe exert ourselves for their deliverance. Speak the word, and our fervants are healed our flaves are delivered. We will rejoice in their emancipation-and Afric's bleeding fons fhall unite with ‹ us, in humble, grateful, thankful fongs to their deliverer-their God and ours.'

But, firs, our God doth hear-and he will fave those hapless victims of cruelty, pain, and bondage, The time, I doubt not, will foon arrive, when mercy's hand fhall have fet thefe captives freewhen the galling iron chain fhall no longer bind the flave-and when the fable negro fhall triumph in the liberty of the fairer Briton! May that time

quickly