grave, and bringeth up. The LORD maketh poor and maketh rich he bringeth low, and lifteth up." Thus also in the Text which I

a

have read to you from the Book of Proverbs, Solomon says, The rich and poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all. He "hath made of one blood all nations of men, for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation." "We are all his offspring," for he is the father of all, who provides for all, whether rich or poor, and determines our condition in this world by his all-wise providence. The Lord is therefore the maker of all, not only with respect to their original formation, but he determines the bounds of our habitations, and our circumstances in life. He works, indeed, by secondary causes, so that the hand of the diligent generally maketh rich, and poverty and shame are the fruits of indolence and wicked conduct yet there are many exceptions to these general rules, and the industrious and pious are frequently bowed down by poverty and sickness, while the licentious and profane indulge themselves in pleasure, and come into little trouble. These outward circumstances therefore are not a certain proof, either of the

a1 Sam. ii. 6—8.

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favour or displeasure of God towards any man on earth. "The race is not" always "to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all ;° that is, all these things are under the direction of the Providence of God; according to the Text: The rich and poor meet together; the Lord is the maker of them all.

Let us consider in what respects the rich and poor meet together.

I. The rich and poor meet together in the present world. They meet on the earth, as on one great scene of action, and all have their different duties assigned them to perform. The distinctions arising from property have been found to exist in all nations of the world, and nearly from the period of its first creation. Money and the changeable goods of time are constantly transferred from one to another : they are subject to various casualities, and are so fluctuating that they "make to themselves wings and fly away;" they fly from one and settle on another. They often change masters, and are not under the direction of any precise rule. The rich are not unfrequently deprived

e Eccles. ix. 11.

d Prov. xxiii. 5.

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of their wealth by unforeseen calamities, while the poor man is sometimes elevated to rank and power in a surprising manner. Yet all these events are directed by the providence of God, who ordereth all things both in heaven and in earth.

The rich and poor should learn from hence, to acknowledge the hand of God in all things; to submit to his will; and to be "content with such things as they have;"" endeavouring “to do their duty in that state of life into which it hath pleased God to call them."

f

Are any rich? Let them consider, who has given them riches, and for what end they are given. They must learn to ascribe their peculiar advantages, not to their own wisdom or their own labours, but to Him who has "given them power to become rich;" who has prospered them with health to enjoy and to improve a patrimony descended from their fathers; or has secured them from those afflictions which frequently benumb the arm of the mighty, which confound the plans of the wise and prudent, and which bring down to the dust the most flourishing condition. Though they are rich, let them consider that they are mortal, and are e * Heb. xiii. 5. f Deut. viii. 18.

liable to changes, and may quickly be stripped of that wealth which they now regard as "a strong city." "

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Following the advice of the Apostle, "let them not be high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who giveth us all things richly to enjoy."

Let them also bear in mind the use which they ought to make of their riches and influence. They often meet with the poor; they must frequently meet together: let them not turn away their eyes from beholding them; but let them, to the utmost of their power, administer to their comfort, to their instruction, and to their eternal welfare. They ought to consider themselves as the Lord's stewards, to whom they must shortly render a strict account,— whether they have given meat to the hungry, and drink to the thirsty, and clothing to the naked; whether they have visited the sick, and relieved the prisoner, and done good unto all men, both as to their bodies and their souls, according to their ability. Let the rich treat the poor with gentleness, with kindness, and with justice, as remembering that all have one

Prov. x. 15.

common Father, one Lord and Master, who will judge all men " without respect of persons.

On the other hand, do the poor meet the rich in this world? Let them not repine at their own lot. They have indeed many hardships to encounter, and are exposed to many trials; but let them reflect, that they are exempted from many temptations which beset the path of the rich, and are relieved from that anxiety which often oppresses the hearts of the wealthy. Let them put their trust in that God who provideth for all, whose eye of providence is in every place, and who openeth his hand, and poureth out his stores on the cottages of the poor as well as on the mansions of the rich and mighty. It ought to be their first care to "seek the kingdom of God and his righteousness;"-to repent of all sin, and to seek the favour and blessing of God through faith in Christ, his well-beloved Son; and then all other things shall be added unto them, in due season. Though their heavenly Father may not see it good to give them riches, yet he will give them what is infinitely more valuable, a contented heart, which is a continual feast; he will give them a cheerful hope, and a lively interest in those exceeding great and precious promises which