can do it very imperfectly. Civil government can by no means take cognizance of every work, which is good or evil: many things are done in secret; the authors unknown to it, and often the things themselves: then it cannot so much consider actions, under the view of their being morally good or evil, as under the view of their being mischievous, or beneficial to society; nor can it in any wise execute judgment in rewarding what is good, as it can, and ought, and does, in punishing what is evil. But "God shall bring every word into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil," Eccles. xii. 14.
SERMON IV.
PREACHED IN THE PARISH CHURCH OF CHRIST-CHURCH, LONDON,
On Thursday, May 9, 1745;
Being the time of the Yearly Meeting of the Children educated in the Charity Schools, in and about the Cities of London and Westminster.
Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old he will not depart from it.—Prov. xxii. 6.
Human creatures, from the constitution of their nature, and the circumstances in which they are placed, cannot but acquire habits during their childhood, by the impressions which are given them, and their own customary actions. And long before they arrive at mature age, these habits form a general settled character. And the observation of the text, that the most early habits are usually the most lasting, is likewise every one's observation. Now, whenever children are left to themselves, and to the guides and com-
