purple, and fared fumptuoufly, was regardless of God and a future ftate. Not that there is any necessary connection between an affluence and ingratitude. The opulent, as well as the indigent, may truft in the living God. But in this cafe they are frugal, though they abound. Profusion is the reverse of gratitude; because it confumes the divine bounty by fuch provision for the flesh as fulfils the luft thereof.

Secondly, Frugality is dictated by a regard to health and contentment. We "need but little here." The temperate enjoy life; the intemperate cannot. The gratifications which depend on other means than nature and providence have prefcribed, or exceed the degree prefcribed, are followed with an overbalance of pain. Different fupplies, in kind or degree, or both, may be requifite for different conftitutions, employments or fituations. All beyond this gradually impairs the bodily health and powers,

Thirdly, Frugality is enforced by the precepts, Owe no man any thing. Whatfoever things are just, think on thefe things. When Elisha the prophet multiplied the widow's oil, he enjoined upon her to pay her creditor, and live with her children on the rest. The declaration of Zaccheus, The half of my goods I give to the poor, fuppofeth that fo much at leaft was honeftly acquired. When he further declared, If I have taken any thing from any man by falfe accufation, I restore fourfold, it appears that he both did juftly, and loved mercy. Men may involve themselves deeply through negligence, floth or profufion. The confequences are injuftice to their creditors, fnares and embarraffments to themfelves, mifery to their dependents and families, perplexity and want to their heirs. Sometimes, by engaging in too many branches of business, extending their purfuits beyond their means and talents, they are plunged in inextricable difficulties. Loofe and unfettled accounts, a variety of circumftances known only to themselves, lay a foundation, after their deceafe, for large demands

upon their eftate, where little or nothing might be due. They die infolvent by making hafte to be rich.

Fourthly, Frugality favours industry. He that is a great wafter and he that is flothful in his work are brethren. Obferve the effects of profution and idleness on the perfon himself, on his connections, and on fociety. Those who are fuffered to grow up without fome useful employment, rarely know how to direct their inferiors and dependents. Those who have never learnt to obey, know not how to govern. High and low, rich and poor, if not employed, in different ways, and to different good purposes, fall into temptation and a fnare, and into divers lufts, which drown men in ruin. They are ever restless, prepared to refolve on mischievous devices, open to Satan's temptations. Honeft induftry and enterprize, on the contrary, fupply the means of innocent enjoyment, render persons content with their own circumftances, and exempt them from prefumptuous courses. They neither plot against the comfort of others, nor envy their enjoyments. Frugality affords every encouragement to industry, by preferving the fruits of it, and applying them to their proper ufe. Oppofed to penurioufnefs, it allows us to enjoy our portion. Oppofed to diffipation and wafte, it referves fomething for a time of need.

Industry and frugality are useful, in a natural, civil and moral view. In the firft, by forming to habits of body and mind, which fit men to fill up their proper place with their respective abilities and advantages. In the fecond, by difpofing and enabling them to be just and charitable. In the laft, by impreffing the obligations of morality, the principle which should regulate our intercourse with our fellow men, even the fear of God, who will call us to account for our conduct towards them, and requires that we make his honour and approbation our fupreme end.

We have noticed, that the steward who wasted his Lord's goods, proceeded, as the confequence of his

profufion, and the pride and infolence which it had cherished, to the further and deeper injuftice of conniving with his lord's debtors. A difpofition to expend more than their means afford is in all cafes a violation of juftice. It will extend from an abuse of small means to an equal abuse of larger, and the greatest; and be apparent in all circumstances and fituations.

It is a further reafon for frugality that it fupplies the means of alms-giving, and diftributing to pious and charitable uses. A few retrenchments from drefs, vanity or pleasure would enable people to perform many charities, Out of the ftock belonging to Jefus and the twelve, fmall as it was, it had been the practice to give something to the poor, (John, xii. 5. xiii. 29.) The primitive Chriftians laid by, on the first day of the week," a little pittance for this purpofe. Thefe "drops will not be miffed from the general refervoir; " and yet, collectively, will rain a fhower of bleffings " on many indigent and diftreffed. Cordials and "restoratives to the fick may be fupplied by Christian "economy. So extreme was the avarice of Judas, that he embezzled part of the little stock he had in truft. He covered his avarice under pretence of pityto the poor. For when Mary, with very coftly fpikenard, anointed the feet of Jefus, Judas complained of the wafte. Why was not this ointment fold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? Did he care for the poor, who fold his Lord for thirty pieces of filver?

The gofpel makes the most honourable mention of charitable deeds, when they proceed from worthy motives. The moft forcible motive to them is taken from the example of Christ, and the affurance he hath given that they will be recompensed at the refurrection of the juft. St. Paul excited the Corinthians to a liberal contribution for the neceffitous difciples at Jerufalem, first, by the example of the Macedonian Chrif tians, whofe " abundant joy and deep poverty, in a great trial of affliction, abounded unto the riches of

"their liberality"-In the next place, by commending the forwardness of the Corinthians themselves on a former occafion, and obferving to them, "He who "foweth bountifully fhall reap alfo bountifully"-And laftly, by the pattern of Christ. "For ye know the "grace of our Lord Jefus Chrift, that, though he was "rich, yet for your fakes he became poor." The apoftle recommended to this church, the fame as he had to the churches of Galatia, a weekly collection for the poor Chriftians. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in ftore, as "God hath profpered him, that there be no gathering when I come."

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It is obfervable, that the good man will guide his affairs with difcretion. Hence it is that he is able, according to the largenefs of his heart, to difperfe and give to the poor. "He who hath pity upon the poor, "lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath "given, will he pay him again. Caft thy bread upon "the waters, and it fhall return again after many days. "There is that fcattereth, and yet increafeth; and "there is that withholdeth more than is meet, and it "tendeth to poverty. Charge them that are rich in "this world, that they be not high-minded, nor truft "in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy: That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to "diftribute, willing to communicate; laying up in "ftore for themselves a good foundation againft the "time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal "life." The merciful shall find mercy at the great day. They fhall be received into everlasting habitations. Befide this good foundation for eternal life, which they lay up in ftore for themselves, they alfo lay a foundation for fympathy and relief in any calamity which may befal them in the world. Friends and benefactors will be found ready to fuccour them.. "Bleffed is he that

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"confidereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in "time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive. The Lord will ftrengthen him upon "the bed of languishing." The widow in Ifrael, who, in a time of famine, entertained a prophet of the Lord with the laft provifion fhe had, found that the barrel of meal did not waste, nor the cruife of oil fail. Deeds of charity are not eftimated by the abundance of the gift, but by the circumftances and promptness of the giver, as appears from the honourable memori al of the poor widow's two mites.

The firft objects of charity are the induftrious and virtuous poor. The idle, profligate and vicious have no reason to complain, if they experience fomewhat the neglect and extremity of that fon, who left his father's house, and wafted his patrimony in excefs and riot. Charity, which, beftowed on the former, brings on the benefactor the bleffing of him who was ready to perifh, may be worse than loft upon the latter. Common vagrants would be better provided for in work-house than otherwife. Those poor who confume their little earnings in intemperance, fhould not be furnished with the means. But too much attention cannot be paid to the neceffities of the virtuous, reduced to indigence by the act of providence. A compaffionate man feels more fatisfaction in miniftring to their wants, than in his own neceflary food. He will ftraiten himself, that he may be able to give to them. How different the character of fuch as, by various fpecies of luxury, put it out of their power to relieve the diftreffed, as they otherwife might? How much better to make our abundance a fupply to the needy, than to confume it upon our lufts, or in frivolous amufements? There is no good in it, but to rejoice and do good.

The lower ranks, thofe in narrow or but moderate circumftances, by a fondness to copy, as far as they