A sermon preached at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, on Thursday, April 4, 1754. On occasion of the anniversary meeting of the trustees of the Public Infirmary in James-street, Westminster / By John Butler.

  • Butler, John, 1717-1802.
Date:
1754
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A sermon preached at St. Margaret's Church, Westminster, on Thursday, April 4, 1754. On occasion of the anniversary meeting of the trustees of the Public Infirmary in James-street, Westminster / By John Butler. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Experience of fuch a Cafe; and, upon infpett- • ing the printed Accounts we fhall find, that the annual Subfcriptions to this, the firfl: Inftitution of its kind in England, are confiderably lefs than the Dilburfements; that in the laffc year only Eleven hundred and fixiy-two have been cured, and, fince the firfl: foundation, near Thirty-eight thoufand have been admitted. What ftronger Argument can be urged for the Propriety and Ex¬ pediency of this Anniverfary Solemnity, to invite more Subfcribers, and to receive the occafional Effufions of a Chriftian Spirit, which will be fe- cure from any Mifapplication; for the Perfons, who are relieved by this Charity, mull be really difeafed, and if they are, it is not a Chriftian In¬ quiry, whether their Difeafe, or their Poverty, be wilfully incurred or not ? Among Competitors for Relief, the mofthoneft and induftrious are doubtlefs to be preferred. But where thei e is no immediate Competition, it may tend to the Reformation of a Sinner, to fhew him how beneficent Religion is 5 and if ever there is a time, w'hen we lhould abftain from too fe- vere a Judgment of other men, it is when they are afflicted under the mighty Hand of God. Then an Act of Kindnels, proceeding from a re- D ligious