the chriftian religion: fo the apoftle tells us, Heb. SER M. xiii. 16. "To do good, and to communicate, for- CLVIIL "get not; for with fuch facrifices GOD is well "pleased." It is like the firft-fruits under the law, which being dedicated and offered up to God, did derive a bleffing upon their whole harvest.

And it procures for us alfo the bleffing and prayers of those to whom we extend our charity; their bleffing I fay, upon us and ours, and all that we have: and "is it a fmall thing in our eye, to have" (as Job fpeaks) "the blefling of them, who are rea"dy to perish, to come upon us ?" "The fervent prayer" of the poor for us "availeth much;" for GOD hath a fpecial "regard to the prayers of the de"ftitute, and his ear is open to their cry."

Few men have faith to believe it, but certainlý charity is a great fecurity to us in the times of evil, and that not only from the fpecial promife and providence of God, which is engaged to preferve thofe from want, who are ready to relieve the neceffity of others, Prov. xi. 25. "The liberal foul fhall be "made fat; and he that watereth, fhall be watered "also himself," and Prov. xxviii. 27. "He that "giveth unto the poor fhall not lack. He fhall not

be afraid in the evil time, and in the days of dearth he fhall be fatisfied," fays the Pfalmift. But behides the promise and providence of GOD, our charity and alms are likewife a great fecurity to us, from the nature and reafon of the thing itself. Whofoever is charitable to others, does wifely befpeak the charity and kindness of others for himfelf, against the day of neceffity; for there is nothing that makes a man more and furer friends, than our bounty; this will plead for us, and stand our friend in our greateft troubles and dangers; "for a good man," faith

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SERM. the apostle, that is, for one that is ready to oblige CLVIII. others by great kindnesses and benefits, "one would even dare to die." It has fometimes happened, that the obligation which a man hath laid upon others by a chearful and feasonable charity, hath, in time of danger and extremity, done him more kindness than all his eftate could do for him. "Alms," faith the wife man, hath delivered from death."

And in times of publick distress, and when we are befet with cruel and powerful enemies, who, "if "GOD were not on our fide, would swallow us up "quick," the publick charity of a nation does many times prove it's beft fafeguard and fhield. There is a most remarkable paffage to this purpofe, Ecclus. Xxxix. 11, 12, 13. 66 Lay up thy treasure according to the commandments of the most High, and "it fhall bring thee more profit, than gold.

Shut

"up alms in thy ftore-houses, and it fhall deliver "thee from all affliction. It fhall fight for thee a

gainst thine enemies, better than a mighty shield "and a strong spear."

And of this I doubt not but we of this nation, by the great mercy and goodness of Almighty GoD, have had happy experience in our late wonderful de liverance, under the conduct and valour of one of the best and braveft of princes, and to whom, by too many among us, the most unworthy and unthankful returns have been made, for the unwearied pains he hath undergone, and for the defperate hazards he hath expofed himself to for our fakes, that ever were made to fo great and generous a benefactor; fo great a benefactor, I fay, nat only to thefe nations, but to all Europe, in afferting and vindicating their liberties against the infolent tyranny and pride of one of the greatest oppreffors of mankind; of whom I

may

may fay, as Job does of the Leviathan, Job xii. 33. SER M. 34. Upon earth there is not his like. He behold- CLVIII. "eth all high things; he is king over all the chil

"dren of pride."

And beyond all this, the bleffing of God does defcend upon the pofterity of those who are eminently charitable, and great benefactors to mankind. This David obferves in his time; "I have been "young" (fays he)" and now am old; yet have "I not feen the righteous forfaken, nor his feed begging bread;" and what he means by the righteous man, he explains in the next words, "he is "ever merciful, and lendeth."

I fhall only add upon this head, that the practice of this virtue will be one of our beft comforts at the hour of death, and that we shall then look back upon all the good we have done in our life with the greatest contentment and joy imaginable. Xenophon, in his Cyrus, which he defigned for the perfect idea of a good prince, represents him in the last minutes of his life, addreffing himself to God to this purpose, "Thou knoweft that I have been a lover of "mankind; and now that I am leaving this world, "I hope to find that mercy from thee, which I have "fhewed to others." Thefe words that excellent heathen historian thought fit to come from the mouth of fo excellent a prince, as he had defcribed him, just as he was leaving the world; by which we may fee, what the light of nature thought to be the best comfort of a dying man. This brings me to the

Third and laft particular which I mentioned, the vaft and unspeakable reward, wi.ich this grace and virtue of charity will meet with in the other world. It will plead for us at the day of judgment, and procure for us a moft glorious " recompence at the "refurrection

C 3

SERM." refurrection of the juft," and that proportionable CLVIII to the degrees of our charity; 2 Cor. ix. 6. "He "which foweth fparingly, fhall reap alfo fparingly:"

and he which foweth bountifully, fhall reap bountifully;" and from this confideration, the apostle encourageth our perfeverance in well-doing; "let us "not be weary in well-doing, for in due feafon we "fhall reap, if we faint not ;" that is, we shall certainly meet with the reward of it, if not in this world, yet in the other.

And now that I have declared this duty to you, together with the mighty pleasure, and advantages, and rewards of it, I crave leave to prefent you with fome of the beft occafions, and opportunities of the exerçife and practice of it. And for your encouragement hereto, I fhall read to you the prefent ftate of the chief hofpitals belonging to this great city, and of the difpofal of their charity for the last year.

And now I have laid before you thefe great objects of your charity, and the beft arguments I could think of to incline and ftir up your minds to the exercise of this excellent grace and virtue; as there is no time left for it, I having, I am afraid, already tired your patience, fo, I hope, there is no need to prefs this duty any farther upon you, fince you are willing and forward of yourfelves, and fo very ready to every good work. This great city hath a double honour due to it, of being both the greatest benefactors in this kind, and the most faithful managers, and difpofers of it; and I am now in a place most proper for the mention of CHRIST's Hospital, a protestant foundation of that most pious and excellent prince Edward VI. which I believe, is one of the best inftances of fo large and fo well-managed a charity, this day in the world.

And

And now to conclude all: if any of you know any better employment than " to do good;" any work that will give truer pleasure to our minds; that hath greater and better promises made to it, "the promises of the life that now is, and that " which is to come;" that we fhall reflect upon with more comfort, when we come to die; and that through the mercies and merits of our bleffed SAVIOUR, Will ftand us in more stead at the day of judgment; let us mind that work: but if we do not, let us apply ourfelves to this business of charity with all our might, and "let us not be weary in well"doing, because in due feason we fhall reap, if we "faint not."

"Now the GOD of peace, who brought again "from the dead our LORD JESUS CHRIST, the great fhepherd of the fheep, through the blood "of the everlafting covenant, make you perfect in

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every good work, to do his will, through Jesus "CHRIST, to whom with thee, O father, and the "Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, thanksgiving and praise, both now and for ever," Amén.

SERMON

CLIX.

The neceffity of repentance and faith.

ACTS xx. 21.

Teftifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward GOD, and faith toward our LORD JESUS CHRIST.

T

O have feen St. Paul in the pulpit, was one of SPM. those three things which St. Auguftine thought CLIX. worth the wishing for. And fure it were very defi