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fuch---what fhall I call it, fuch a Temper, SERM IX. as I hope you know and feel better than I am able to exprefs, it has the Promife of many and great Bleffings. The Pfalmift, defcribing a good Man, makes it the top of his Character, that he hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the Poor; and then he adds the Bleffing that attends him, his Righteousness endureth for ever, his · Horn fhall be exalted with Honour. He that giveth to the Poor, fays the Wife Man, shall not lack; but our Saviour carries the Bleffing to the highest Pitch, even to a Reward in Heaven, Go fell that thou haft, and give to the Poor, and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven. After all this Encouragement, it is very furprizing to find that People will truft their Substance with Man, upon the Strength of an Earthly Hope and Affurance, which they would not truft with God, tho' they have his Holy Word for their Security, and Heaven itself for their Intereft and Reward.

Fourthly, The laft Argument that I shall make Ufe of to perfwade you to dif charge this great Duty of Charity, shall Cc 2

be

SERM. be drawn from the Love of God, who IX.

gave his only begotten Son to die for our Sins, and not only fo, but whatsoever we ask of him as we ought, he giveth us. If God then fo loveth us, we ought alfo to love one another; and as we expect the Aid and Affiftance of God, fo let us aid and affift each other; but let us not expect to have our Petitions-granted of God, and yet at the fame time to deny the Petitions of our Brethren in Distress.

To conclude. Let it be our Duty at this time more especially, to discharge this Debt of Charity with a becoming Chearfulness, not grudgingly or of neceffity, for God loveth a chearful Giver. The Children, who are your Petitioners, will abundantly recompenfe you by their daily Prayers for their Benefactors; nay, you will abundantly recompenfe yourselves, by procuring a Right to thofe Bleffings which God has promised to the good and merciful Man. Look down then with Pity on your Petitioners, make the Fatherless Children rejoyce, and the Widow's Heart will fing for Joy. If Chrift died for them,

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as well as for us, let us not look upon SERM. them as Strangers and Aliens, but as Fel- IX. low-Heirs of the fame Promife. They have the fame bountiful Father, and the fame merciful Redeemer with ourselves. Are we Chriftians? So are they. Have we, who were Aliens, receiv'd the Adoption of Sons? So have they. Are we in expectation of everlasting Happiness in a future State? So are they. What should hinder then, but that they should partake with us in the Happiness and Comfort of this Life too? We all breathe the fame Air, and enjoy the Light of the Sun alike, which God fendeth to shine on the Poor, as well as on the Rich. Let us not then withhold any Good which we have in our Power to do, but let our Charity be bright as the Day, and diffufive as the Light that shineth from one end of the Earth unto the other. Perhaps you may never have another Opportunity; be fure to do Good then while it is called to Day, and you have it in the Power of your Hand to do it; that our Sons may grow up as the young Plants, and our Daughters as

the

SERM. the polished Corners of the Temple. Re IX. member that God, who is present every

where, knows what you are able to do, and will not forget your Works and Labour that proceedeth of Love. Therefore turn not away your Face from the Poor, and then the Face of the Lord fhall not be turned away from you.

SER

SERMON X

ECCLES. vii. 10.

Say not thou, What is the Caufe that the former Days were better than these? For thou doft not enquire wifely concerning this.

T

X.

HERE is nothing in which SERM Mankind is fo univerfally agreed as in this, that every one defires to be happy; and did they pursue their Defires the right way, they would certainly be fo: But there is nothing in which they are more mistaken than in the nature of true Happiness, and the right way to obtain it.

And

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