I. How earnestly God Almighty in holy scripture requireth the performance of this duty, and how very acceptable it is to him.

II. How profitable the exercise of it is to us, and what advantages we may hope to receive from it.

III. And lastly, I fhall endeavour to make good, that whofoever is thus liberal, and contributeth heartily towards this charitable good work, fhall notwithstanding have fufficient for himself, and need not be afraid of want or scarcity. And,

I. I am to fhew you, how earnestly God Almighty in holy fcripture doth require the performance of this duty, and how very acceptable it is to him.

The truth of which cannot be doubted of, if we confider how great a ftrefs the fcripture conftantly lays upon this duty, this work of charity, which comprehends not only the outward acts of it, the relieving the wants of the poor and needy, but the more exalted parts and branches of it in my text, the fhewing mercy and pity to the fouls of others, which is our fpiritual alms, and most excellent benefaction; the truth of which I fay, cannot be doubted of, when we reflect upon the exprefs words of holy fcripture requiring this duty, and the more than ordinary promises that are made to encourage it: For after feveral admonitions to piety and virtue, the author to the Hebrews recommends this more especially, and beyond the facrifices of praise and thanksgiving; But to do good, and to communicate, forget not: for with fuch facrifices God is well pleafed. St Peter alfo exhorts us very earnestly, That above all things we ought

ought to have fervent charity among ourselves; for that charity shall cover the multitude of fins. It is recorded in Daniel, that this is one fure way of breaking off our fins, purging our iniquity, and a lengthening of our peace and tranquillity here on earth. That without this the love of GoD cannot dwell in us; we cannot be his children, and true difciples of our bleffed Saviour. That this is a facrifice with which God is well pleased; an odour of a fweet fmell, a facrifice acceptable, well pleafing to GOD; and that without this nothing will profit us; but that this will be a fure foundation for ever, a memorial never to be forgotten beFore GOD.

And what can we defire more to inflame our zeal, and excite our devotion; what greater encouragement to fo truly pious and charitable an undertaking, than to have the good pleasure of GOD obtained, and the love of Chrift fecured to us; the favour of that GOD that inhabiteth eternity; to purchase which nothing fhould be thought too much? For as GoD in holy fcripture efteems that which is laid out in charitable ufes as given to himself; fo doth Chrift in his holy gospel affure us, that as we have employed our talents here, fo will it be reckoned to us hereafter.

The various conditions of men in the world serve to carry on God's great defign, and the infinite variety of objects we fee, are but fo many inftruments in his hand of bringing us to himfelf; to the effecting of which, every one has the neceffary means in his own power, every one hath his part of making himself happy. By various methods in like manner we fee GOD works upon the different tempers of men, who by moving fuitably in their respective stations, do

at

at once both benefit themselves and others? This admirable mixture of human affairs, and proportioning the feveral eftates of men to their feveral capacities, tempers and inclinations, this caufing every man's happiness to depend upon, and to be in fome measure directed by each other, fhews that we lie under an indifpenfible obligation to confider not only ourselves, but our neighbour's good; not only the benefit of a few particular perfons, but the benefit of all that are round about us; that we are bound to employ our utmöft talents chiefly to promote the public good, and to lay out our parts and faculties as may moft conduce to the welfare of the whole.

Thus in the beginning and first settlement of the gospel, the multitude of them that believed, were all of one heart we read, and of one foul; neither faid any of them that ought of the things which he poffeffed was his own, but they had all things common; neither was there any that lacked: for as many as were poffeffors of lands or houses, fold them, and brought the prices of the things that were fold, and laid them down at the Apostles feet; and diftribution was made unto every man according as he had need, Acts iv. 33, &c. They were fo far from feeking their own advantage, or appropriating what they had to themselves, that they not only fupported others with what they had, but gave it out of their own power for the good of the community; leaving us an inftance of primitive charity, and a pious emulation.

Now though the having all things in common is not fo expedient and neceffary now a days, as it was at the first preaching of the gofpel; yet ftill we are obliged to chriftian love and charity: for that never faileth, but will always remain as the diftinguishing mark and characteristic of a

christian :

christian: For by this fhall all men know, fays our Saviour Chrift, that ye are my difciples, if you have love one to another. And this mutual love and friendship amongst christians was not to confift in a bare outward fhew of behaviour, or in a few fmooth complimental words, as depart in peace, be ye warmed or filled; but in more fubftantial favours, in real acts of charity and mercy; For whofoever bath this world's good, and feeth his bro ther bave need, and shutteth up his bowels of mercy and compaffion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? Let us not therefore love in word or in form, but in deed and in truth; always remembering the words of the Lord Jefus, bow be faid, It was more bleffed to give than to receive, Acts xx. 35.

II. I am to fhew you how profitable the exercife of it is to us, and what advantages we may hope to receive from it.

Now amongst the feveral graces and virtues recommended to us in holy fcripture, there is none among them all comes better attended with greater promises or more exalted encouragements of rewards and happiness than this of charity; it is the peculiar and diftinguishing grace of a chriftian, as hath been faid, and is preferable either to Faith or Hope. It is called the great commandment of all, the end of the commandments, and the fulfilling of the whole law; charity is the Queen of virtues, the most excellent of all excellencies, and therefore ought the oftenest to be infifted upon, as having the most excellent rewards attending it.

Our Saviour in the Gospel teacheth us, that it will be to no purpose to poffefs all the riches of the world, and lofe our own fouls; hereby inK structing

ftructing us how much the foul's welfare is to be preferred before any worldly advantages: and fince charity hath fuch a peculiar influence and power over the foul, as is available to the procuring forgiveness of fins, and a remiffion of the punishment due unto them; for that is meant in holy fcripture by hiding or covering of fins; what great reason have we then to esteem that as a most valuable treasure and fovereign remedy, that thus carries its own reward along with it? for to be merciful and charitable is the means, we are taught, to keep the foul pure and clean in the fight of GOD; fuch confidence may they have, that fhew mercy and compaffion before GoD in judgment; that alms, we are told, deliver from death, and fhall purge away all fin; that they fuffer not to come into darkness; and that as water will quench a flaming fire, fo charity will make an atonement for fin.

Now though acts of charity, even in the most exalted fenfe, cannot give us a rightful claim to the promises of GOD, and to the pardon of our fins, exclufive of other duties, as the Papifts fay; yet certain it is, that fuch liberal promises. are no where in the gospel made to any other fingle duty, as are to charity; and that though our fins fhall not be remitted to us for our charity, without repentance, yet acts of charity, when joined to repentance, are of great ufe to render it effectual for the procuring forgiveness. And though Chrift our Saviour is our only proper and propitiatory facrifice, for whofe fake alone our fins will be pardoned, yet acts of charity laid out for Chrift's fake, and employed to. good and proper objects, have, through the merits and fatisfaction of our Saviour, a fubordinate

efficacy