The Time already spent admonishes me to be short. In a Word then: If you compare the Conditions into which Men are divided, and the feveral Duties; if you confider the Obligation the Rich are under to affift the Needy, and compare it with the much harder Obligation the Poor are under to toil for a mean Livelihood; you will have Reason to blefs God, who has placed you on the happier Side, and to comply with the Duty of your Station with all Thankfulness to the Almighty, and to acknowledge, that he has chofen for you the better Part; and if you discharge the Duties proper to your Condition, you may have this Comfort added to it, it shall not be taken from you.

2dly, In regard to the prefent Pleasure and Satisfaction attending upon Works of Charity, the Giver has in all Refpects a better Share than the Receiver. The poor Man has a prefent Comfort in the Relief of Charity; it is Eafe to his Suffering, and it is an Encouragement to fee that his Poverty is not defpifed by his richer Neighbours, who are so compaffionate, as to come to the Support and Affiftance of it. But what is this to the Joy of giving Eafe and Comfort

to

to the Oppreffed; it is a Godlike Virtue to do Good, and the Pleafure of it has fomething in it fo divine, that Words cannot exprefs. To be Eyes to the Blind, and Feet to the Lame, to be a Father to the Poor, and a Defender of all under Oppreffion, are Characters which bear fome Refemblance to the Prerogatives of the Almighty, and are the nobleft Efforts of a rational Mind, afpiring to be like its great Creator.

3dly, If we look beyond this present Scene, the Difference is wider. There is no Virtue in being relieved; a poor Man is not a better Man for the Charity he receives; it brings with it an Increase of Duty, and calls upon him for a more fure Trust on God, for greater Thankfulness to him; and fome Obligations it lays him under, with Refpect to his Benefactors here. And it may happen, that the Charity, which is his prefent Relief, may be a Burthen upon his future Account; and will be so, if he misapplies the Gift. But the Giver has a better Profpect before him; Charity is the Dif charge of a Duty, and has the general Promifes of Obedience; it is a Virtue likewise diftinguished from the Reft, and has its own Reward; the Bleffings of the Life which

is, and of that which is to come: it is a Debt which God will own at the last Day; it is a Treasure transferred to Heaven, and will be repaid in never failing Riches. To conclude, Charity is a double Maintenance; it gives temporal Life to the Poor, and fpiritual Life to the Rich: it beftows the Comforts of this World on the Receiver, and the Glories of Immortality on the Giver.

DISCOURSE IX.

MATT. Xviii. 29, 30.

And bis Fellow Servant fell down at his Feet, and befought him, faying, Have Patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

And he would not; but went and caft him into Prifon, till he should pay the Debt.

WHEN we confider the various Ca

lamities and Diftreffes under which many Persons and Families lábour; and their utter Inability to fupport themselves under these Evils, it is fome Alleviation to obferve with what Diligence and Application Christian Charity has been at work to find proper Methods for the Comfort and Support of fuch as are in Mifery and Affliction.