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Upon what principles it happens thus, I have endeavored to lay open in the first part of this discourse; which I conclude with a serious exhortation to struggle against them; which we can only hope to do, by conversing more and oftner with ourselves, than the business and diversions of the world generally give us leave.

We have a chain of thoughts, desires, engagements and idlenesses, which perpetually turn upon us in their proper time and order. -let us, I beseech you, assign and set apart some small portion of the day for this purpose, of retiring into ourselves, and searching into the dark corners and recesses of the heart, and taking notice of what is passing there. If a man can bring himself to do this task with a curious and impartial eye, he will quickly find, the fruits of it will more than recompense his time and labor. He will see several irregularities and unsuspected passions within him, which he never was aware of ;-he will discover in his progress, many secret turnings and windings in his heart to which he was a stranger, which now gradually open and disclose themselves to him upon a nearer view; in these labyrinths, he will trace out such hidden springs and motives for many of his most applauded actions, as will make him rather sorry, and asham, ed of himself than proud,

In a word, he will understand his errors, and then see the necessity, with David, of imploring GOD to cleanse him from his secret faults-and with some hope and confidence to say, with this great man after his conviction" Try me, () "GOD! and seek the ground of my heart,-prove 66 me, and examine my thoughts, look well if "there be any way of wickedness in me, and "lead me in the way everlasting."

Now, to God the Father, &c, &c,

VOL. III,

E

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dication to the Lord Bishop of Carlisle,

then Dean of York, was printed some years ago, but was read by very few; it is therefore reprinted in this collection,

TO THE

VERY REVEREND

RICHARD OSBALDESTON, D. D.

DEAN OF YORK.

SIR,

I HAVE taken the liberty to inscribe

this discourse to you, in testimony of the great respect which I owe your character in general, and from a sense of what is due to it in particular from every member of the Church of YORK.

I wish I had as good a reason for doing that, which has given me the opportunity of making so public and just an acknowledgment: Being afraid there can be little left to be said upon the subject of Charity, which has not been often thought, and much better expressed, by many who have gone before: And indeed it seems so beaten and common a path, that it is not an easy matter for a new-comer to distinguish himself in it, by any thing, except the novelty of his Vehicle.

I beg, however, sir, your kind acceptance of it, and of the motives which have induced me to address it to you; one of which, I cannot conceal, in justice to my self, because it has proceeded from the sense of many favors and civilities which I have received from you.

I am,

REVEREND SIR,

Your most obliged,
and faithful,

humble servant,

LAURENCE STERNE.

The case of Elijah and the Widow of Zarephath, confidered. A charity sermon.

I. KINGS, XVII. 16.

And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by the prophet Elijah.

HE words of our text are the record of a

Zarephath, who had charitably taken Elijah under her roof, and administered unto him in a time of great scarcity and distress. There is something very interesting and affectionate in the manner this story is related in holy writ; and as it concludes with a second still more remarkable proof of God's favor to the same person, in the restoration of her dead son to life, one cannot but consider both miracles as rewards of that act of piety, wrought by infinite power, and left upon record in scripture, not merely as testimonies of the prophet's divine mission, but likewise as two encouraging instances of GOD Almighty's blessing upon works of charity and benevolence.

In this view, I have made choice of this piece of sacred story, which I shall beg leave to make use of as the ground-work for an exhortation to charity in general: And, that it may better answer the particular purpose of this solemnity, I will endeavor to enlarge upon it with such reflections, as, I trust in GoD, will excite some sentiments of compassion which may be profitable to so pious a design.

Elijah had fled from two dreadful evils, the approach of a famine, and the persecution of Ahab, an enraged enemy; and, in obedience to the com

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