it were no longer of any avail. It is the neceffary character of every true improvement and real discovery in the fcience of human

nature.

If, on this admiffion, the argument stands thus ftrong, how muft it be where we are perfuaded, and it is not enough to say that this is now the general perfuafion, that no boon to fociety can once be compared with that of educating the people in the principles of morality and religion? That no other check fufficiently powerful can be found to the vices of increasing luxury and other effects of manufactures, trade, and commerce, and of the focieties, communities, and governments, which are verging to maturity, and much more if they have reached, or paffed their meridian? An engine of the most general and extenfive utility, it furnishes means of giving new strength and force to our army and navy. Schools for either or both of these, incorporated with parochial fchools for the poor, will grow out of this fyftem. Already a commanding and illuftrious example is set, and the work begun, in the parochial school of Lambeth. And if the person most intimately acquainted with this system in its

origin, progress, and all its bearings, had poffeffed, in its commencement in this country, the fame means of applying its powers to the existing state of things here as at Madras, he is perfuaded that many of the objections, made by those ignorant of its letter as well as its fpirit, or viewing it through a false medium, would never have seen the light; and that the discovery would have met with the fame favourable reception in Europe as in India.

But it is not fo much of its political as of its moral and religious character and tendency that I am now to treat. Man was not made for this world alone, This, the first stage of his existence, is brief and fleeting. His noblest intereft, the intereft of his precious and immortal foul, is placed beyond the grave. This world is but a fchool for futurity and eternity. And the eternal fountain of truth, and knowledge, and happiness, is to be found in the Bible, the book of God. To read this book for himself highly contributes to improve and perfect the nature of man, and to furnish him with that knowledge which is to lead him to life everlasting. To facilitate and generalize, in the manner here proposed, the acquifition

H

of this knowledge, which is the parent of truth and wisdom, of every virtue, and of every grace, is the most momentous concern of human life.

CHAPTER II.

Extract of a Sermon on the Education of the Poor under an appropriate Syftem, preached at St. Mary's, Lambeth, at the Defire of, and dedicated

To the Moft Reverend CHARLES,

LORD ARCHBISHOP OF CANTERBURY,

The Rev. W. VYSE, LL.D. Rector of Lambeth,

SAMUEL HORTON, Efq. Treasurer,

The Truftees and Subscribers to that School.

"Whom fhall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breafts."-ISA. xxviii. 9.

ADVERTISEMENT.

In yielding to the request of the Subscribers to the Lambeth Charity School, the Author might avail himself of the usual apology for a

crude and indigested production, written on the fpur of the occafion, and without the moft diftant view of its being published. And, indeed, that this difcourfe was compofed amidst various duties and avocations, on a few days notice, is, at once, its greatest blemish, and its only praife. But it is on the object, which the Subfcribers had in view in making this requifition, that he refts his apology. Solicitous that nothing on his part be wante ing, which they deem conducive to an object, fo near his heart, he is left without an option.

That this motive weighs folely with him, they have the proof in their hands. They will perceive, that he has industriously omitted, in this publication, almost all the introductory and concluding matter of the Sermon, as not immediately bearing on the subject, fuppofed to have excited that novel interest in their breast, which they defire to communicate to thofe around them.

In this ftudied brevity, as well as in the fubject matter-the education of the poor--to which this country seems now awakened, he places his fole hope that their views and his wishes may not be entirely fruftrated. A short

and familiar addrefs, however loofe and unequal, if reftricted to a fingle object, equally interesting and new, may perhaps be taken up, and fometimes read, when a long and elaborate fermon would not be looked at, or, if once opened, would foon be thrown afide, and never refumed.

Union-Place, Lambeth,
July 6th, 1807.

EXTRACT, &c.

Thus, whether we regard

the eternal and immutable bafis, on which the Gospel refts; or the fupreme excellence and infinite fublimity of the fuperftructure, which is built on that bafis; we must infer, in the words of the Apostle in the text, "other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jefus Chrift." a

Nor is it enough, as we have feen, that we affent to the truth of the doctrines of the Gofpel, admire their excellence, acknowledge

a1 Cor. iii. II.