nitely more, than we can deserve even by the best behaviour, do we here receive from the never enough to be applauded beneficence of the generous promoters of this greatest of charities. Pray, Sir, print this, if it be but to undeceive fome poor wretched girls, who imagine the Magdalen-House, á place of confinement and mifery; and therefore rather continue in their vile and deftructive courses, than fly to this house of comfort. Sir, believe me, parental attention cannot exceed that of our worthy managers. In my fad illnesses, which the distress of my mind have brought upon me, I have had full proof— and it is but my duty to speak: especially as I owe my present being in this life, and all my future hopes of falvation to the Magdalen. May God of his rich mercy fhower down every bleffing upon all those, and all that belong to them, who affift in this good undertaking: may it profper in the preservation of many miserable young creatures, from perdition: and may I never forget to adore the good Lord of heaven, who put it into the hearts of his fervants to provide fuch a house, and who brought my wandering feet into its ever bleffed doors! I am, Sir, Your humble fervant, W. Another Grateful Magdalen. NUM NUMBER LIV. -You are a God above us: Be as a God then full of saving mercy. Who, when your flout heart weeps, shall give you pity. Beaumont and Fletcher. REAT conquefts, and univerfal victory, GR may gain to a man the appellation of hero, and the eclat of an undistinguishing multitude: but acts of humanity, demonftrations of clemency and mildnefs, will ever recommend to the esteem of the virtuous and difcerning, far beyond the moft fplendid fucceffes of undaunted courage. Nor doth any thing ferve fo much to enhance our veneration for the heroes of war, as the occafions they have taken to shew themfelves men, and to manifeft that mercy and compaffion, which is so honourable to our nature. Indeed, imagination can fcarcely form to itself, a more despicable character, than that of the man, (if such a man can be fupposed to exist) who takes pleasure in the dire trade of war, and rejoices to spread amidst his fellow-creatures, confufion, defolation, and woe. It is melancholy to reflect, that amidst the ample provifion, which Providence hath made for for all the human race, there should burn in the breafts of any fo devouring a flame as that of ambition, which ftill calls for a fupply to its infatiable fury; and thirfting for more, permits not to others the quiet enjoyment of their own. Hence is the fword of war drawn; the inftruments of deftruction fent forth; and the peace of multitudes difturbed, to gratify the folly of ruinous pride. If confcience ever is awakened in fuch breafts, how great must be its terrors; and how fearful the representation of the wide and horrible wafte, which the guilty mind must have before it, and which it muft, with trembling, confefs to be the confequence of its own infernal and unlimited paffions? However, if in the prefent difordered state of things wars are neceffary, and men will not be contented to live in mutual harmony and peace; doubtless, it greatly behoves those, who are concerned in the conduct of them, to act with all poffible humanity, and to alleviate, as much as they may, the many neceffary and unavoidable evils of war. Clemency and compaffion in all cafes becomes, and in all cases will redound as much to their honour, as the brightest feats of heroism: No ceremony, that to great ones 'longs Not the King's crown, nor the deputed fword, Become would burn ng a bant ls for a fupply ifting for mort, quiet enjoyment of word of war drawn; tion fent forth; and difturbed, to gratify the If confcience ever is ts, how great must be its l the reprefentation of the te, which the guilty mind , and which it muft, with o be the confequence of its imited paffions? Become them with one half fo good a grace, As mercy does. Indeed the best idea we have of the deity, or at least the most pleasing, and the most endearing, is taken from that mercy and compaffion, which affects us all fo delightfully, when displayed amongst our fellow-creatures. We conceive this bleffed affection to be in its pureft, its confummate excellence in God, who the fcriptures tell us is love or benevolence-an unwearied will to do good, and to blefs. And there is nothing more obfervable in the New Teftament, than the tender compaffion, which on all occafions fhewed itfelf in the Son of God. Now, doubtlefs, the nearer we approach in fimilitude to the deity, the nearer we approach to perfection. more we excel in mercy, the more godlike we are. An heathen* could fay, homines ad Deos nullâ re propius accedunt, quam falutem hominibus dando. Almoft the immediate translation of which is given us, by Shakespear, whose words I quoted before : e prefent difordered ftate of ceffary, and men will not be a mutual harmony and peace; y behoves thofe, who are con nduct of them, to act with nity, and to alleviate, as much many neceffary and unavoid Clemency and compaffion in , and in all cafes will redound honour, as the brightest feat Wilt thou draw near the nature of the gods? Draw near them then in being merciful. Sweet mercy is nobility's true badge. The And * Cicero. See the beauties of Shakespear, vol. ii. pag. 235. And now that I have mentioned this writer, I cannot omit another paffage from him on the fubiect, which is fo fine, that it deferves a place in every memory. The quality of mercy is not strain’d; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Wherein doth fit the dread and fear of kings; And earthly power, doth then shew likeft gods, And as mercy is thus divine and excellent; fo it is pleafing to remark, the universal complacency and delight, which all men fhew, either in the fight or in the relation of acts of mercy. Nothing gives fuch general fatisfaction in the characters of great men ; and nothing is fo frequently fpoken of, as thofe acts of clemency, by which they have diftinguished themfelves. We admire the victorious conqueror, and behold him with a kind of terrific appro bation; |