felves with an Anxious Solicitude for Food and Rayment, Mat. 6. Where he puts 'em in Mind, How God provides even for the Birds, that neither Sow nor Reap, nor Lay up; And how he beautifies the Lilies, (or Tulips,) that neither Toyl nor Spin. And when 'tis their Father's good Pleasure to give 'em the Kingdom, How do they Hope it, that can fly to Knavifh fhifts, if not to Diabolical Arts, even for the pooreft Advantages of this World?

But there are yet greater Straits in this Hope, when it obliges us, (in Profpect of the Unfeen Eternal things,) fo to defpife the prefent Temporal Goods, as to scatter 'em abroad among the Poor, that we may find 'em again, Multiply'd in Heaven; after we have thus Sowed upon Earth. The Husbandman will indeed, easily give Credit to the Ground, that he fhall Reap with Joy, the Wheat which there he Sows, with much Expence and Pains: Because he has the Experience of fo many Years to Corroborate his Hopes. But we have no fuch Experience, to affure us, That what we fow among the Poor, we fhall gather it, with the moft happy Increase in Heaven. Therefore, is it fo hard for Men to let go the Present things, in Expectation of those to come, which are Unfeen.

Once

Once more, does it not argue this Gate of Hope and Truft in God, to be very ftrait, when we fee every where fo many of the Wretched, Crying, Weeping, Blafpheming,Defpairing Creatures,all over this World? For as to them who Hope in him, God either Removes their Miseries, or Supports their Spirits, and bears 'em up under thePref fure, with fo much Patience and Comfort, that they can fay, like the Apoftle, 2 Cor. 7.4. I am fill'd with Confolation: I am exceeding Foyful in all our Tribulation. But the frequent Out cries and even Ravings, that we ufe to hear, in fuch cafes, give too fad a Proof, How few (in Heart and Truth) do Hope in God: How many foever may have those words in their Mouth, Pfal. 46. 1. God is our Refuge and Strength, a very prefent Help in Trouble.

CHAP. VIII.

of Charity, the Third part of the

Gate.

HE Lintel of the Heavenly Gate is that Charity, which is the Queen of Virtues; And on the one Side, appears exceeding Wide,as extended to God and Angels, and all Men, even the Unknown,

and

and very Enemies: Yet on the other fide, 'Twill be found much Straiter, when we fee its Commands, 1 Job. 3. 18. To Love, not in Word and in Tongue; but in deed and in Truth. And Luk. 10. 27. To Love the Lord our God with all our Heart, with all our Soul, with all our Mind, and with all our Strength: To what Straits does it reduce us, When it muft not be only Sincere and undiffembled, but Fervent and Transcendent Love? Loving our Supream Good, Before and Above all; To the Exclufion and Contempt of every thing else,that would come inCompetition. To make us Ready, Prepar'd, and Refolv'd, to let go Friends, and Goods, and Eafe, and Life, whatsoever is deareft to us in the World, for his Sake: That we may Cleave to the Lord our God! O how Strait is that Gate, and to get through it, how hard will a man be put to it!

Then, for the Love of our Neighbour, It must be even as we Love our felves: And as we would be done by, just so to Use them: Now, who that is Indigent and in Streights, does not defire fome Help and Supply out of his Rich Neighbour's Superfluity? Tho' the Wealthy man may plead, That he has run himself in Debt, with Purchasing or Building, or fome extraordinary Expences; It may be, more than was need, and but to forry Purposes. And then Charity will never endure, That the Poor diftreffed

Neighbour should be ready to Starve, for I want of Neceffaries: When the Great man next him, has fo much to throw away upon his Pleafures, his Fancies, and Extravagancies. O what account will he be able to give of his Stewardship, that is for laying out, not according to his Lord's Will and Command; but according to his own humour and Luft? If for every Idle Word, much more for every Idle Expence fhall men give account in the day of Judgment.

And among all other Debts, O where are men fo flack and Tardy, as in paying that which God has made their Debt to the Poor and needy? Yet what becomes of all their Pretenfions to the Love of God, who 'have not Open hearts to their Poor brethren? 1 Job. 3. 17. Whofo bath this World's Good, and fees his Brother have need,and shuts

up bis Bowels of Compaffion from him, How 'dwelleth the Love of God in him? And 'Chap. 4. 20. He that Loveth not his Brother whom he bath feen, How can be Love God, whom he bath not feen'? And how would he lay down his Life,that will not lay down fo much as his Pence for the Brethren ? 1 Job. 3. 16. For what's the Pelf, compar'd with the Life? But hardly fhall the "Rich Enter; Because they will not Part 'with that which does binder: Nor do 'Good, in being ready to Diftribute, and rich in Good works; as not daring to G 'Truft

'Truft the Lord, in Lending to him, by Giving to his Poor. And thus they bar up the Door against themselves, because they will no more Open their hands to ' others.

"O this, this is the one thing Lacking, in 'fome that feem otherwise not only paffa'ble, but very commendable. The Rich 'man's great Poffeffions are the Camel's bunch, where it fticks with fo many, that they cannot Enter, to have Treasure in Heaven. Or their Tenacious Humour, and Trufting in their Riches it is, which twifts up the Cable, that will not go through 'the Needle's eye. Mat. 19. 21, 2, 3, 4. This makes 'em break with the only Saviour, though at the fame time, forrowful to 'Lofe his great Salvation.

'And therefore, that of the Apoftle,1 Tim. 6. 17. is a very friendly Admonition, ' (O that it found better Reception!) when 'he bids, Charge them which are Rich in this • World, that they Trust not in uncertain Riches. 'For 'tis not having the World's fulness,that undoes 'em; Seeing there are very Wealththy great men, who are alfo very Godly · and charitable men: and by doing abundance of Good in their generation, help to afcertain their own Salvation; and are not only wife to make themselves Friends of the unrighteous Mammon, but inftrumental alfo to help others into Heaven.

Yet