yet bound to remember and to help their brethren in need, much more should the affluent cast in of their abundance. Your individual aid will receive a tenfold strength when associated with the aggregate exertions of all who now are prepared to join heart and hand with yourselves. It will be a link in that vast chain of Christian kindness which is without value when separate, but, united with the rest, becomes a mighty instrument to "support the weak." It will be an evidence that you have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain: an evidence that not in vain hath been heard by your ears this day1 the summons to rejoice and exult in the hope of your Christian calling, nor that in vain are you preparing to commemorate once more the glad tidings of Christ's nativity, tidings which proclaim to yourselves as truly and as joyfully as they did to the shepherds of Bethlehem, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men 2 " O! my brethren, if your belief be not a mockery, and your hope a dream, the bare thought of such transcendent mercies must kindle into action every sympathy of your hearts, and put to shame the base and sordid appetite that lurks there. For what would the petition of this day's collect avail us, were it not for the existence of the truth which these 1 The Epistle for the fourth Sunday in Advent. "Rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice." Phil. iv. 4. 2 Luke ii. 14. C By the same Author. I. DISCOURSES on ELIJAH and JOHN the BAPTIST. 8vo. 10s. 6d. Second Edition. II. The CHRISTIAN PATRIOT. A Sermon, preached before the Corporation of the Trinity House, at St. Nicholas, Deptford, June 3, 1833. 4to. 2s. III. CHRISTIAN PHILANTHROPY. A Spital Sermon, preached before the Lord Mayor and Corporation of the 8vo. Is. 6d. CHRISTIAN PHILANTHROPY. SPITAL SERMON, PREACHED BEFORE THE LORD MAYOR AND CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF LONDON, AT CHRIST CHURCH, NEWGATE STREET, ON EASTER TUESDAY, APRIL 21, 1835. BY THE REV. JAMES S. M. ANDERSON, M.A. CHAPLAIN IN ORDINARY TO THE QUEEN, PERPETUAL CURATE OF ST. GEORGE'S CHAPEL, BRIGHTON, AND CHAPLAIN TO THE SUSSEX COUNTY HOSPITAL. LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. G. & F. RIVINGTON, ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL; & ALL THE BOOKSELLERS IN BRIGHTON. MDCCCXXXV. tidings reveal? What would it profit us to pray, as we have done, unto the Lord, to "raise up His power and come among us, and with great might succour us," had not His word announced the coming of His blessed Son? The confession which we have made is true, that "through our sins and wickedness we are sore let and hindered in running the race that is set before us," and therefore needful is the petition that God's "bountiful grace and mercy may speedily help and deliver us, through the satisfaction of His blessed Son." But do we not know that the sufferings of this mortal state are the results of that sin and wickedness which so encumber us?—that sickness, and pain, and trouble, are the companions of sin ?-and that death, which shall cause this frail tabernacle to crumble into dust, is but the penalty of the same transgression, and from the eternity of which Christ hath died to save us? Ye, then, who feel your need of help, give help to others. Ye who trust to the mercy of God through Christ, make known the riches of that mercy to those who are bowed down to the very dust in anguish; shelter, protect, and cherish them. Teach them to feel and to confess that "like as a father pitieth his own children," so doth the Lord" chasten every son whom he receiveth 1." "Make them to hear of joy and gladness, that the bones which have been broken may rejoice 2.” Strengthen the hands of those whose office it is to exercise the appliances and means of earthly comfort. They need your succour: they ask it: let them not ask in vain. The support of the weak, the blessedness of the giver, were the last subjects of which the Apostle spake when he turned away from those who were to see his face no more. Let these give energy to my words, as I commend you and them for whom I plead, to the word and spirit of God's grace. May you, in the name of Christ, obey the command! May you, for the sake of Christ, receive the promise! THE END. GILBERT & RIVINGTON, Printers, St. John's Square, London. |