be the meanest in every view among them, in actual necessity of receiving. The grand purport of our Lord's statement, whether iterally or figuratively interpreted, demonstrates that all who live in the habitual neglect of this duty, whatever may be their plea for omitting it, shall go away into everlasting punishment. It is not, however, to be supposed that the mere outward performance of the duty, without regard to the motives of such a conduct, is a sancient evidence of the title to everlasting life. Our Lord searches the heart; and requires to be loved with all the heart. The relief we afford to his people, must be given through love to Him but if we withhold that relief, no other evidence of love to him will be admitted at the last great tribunal; and therefore no other can now be approved by him. Thus, when our Lord addressed Peter with that searching question, "Lovest thou me?" and was answered by him in the affirmative,-Jesus replies, " Feed my Lambs." The same question being again twice repeated, and receiving similar answers, our Lord each time rejoins, "Feed (or tend) my Sheep." Thus he plainly, and most forcibly, intimated what is the genuine and infallible effect of love to Him; in perfect agreement with the evidence of it, which he describes in them who are finally accepted. The relief which it is incumbent on us to afford to Christ's necessitous people, must naturally be limited, in its kind and extent, to the ability with which we are endowed, and the opportunities of which we can avail ourselves. Our Lord varies, in a remarkable manner, the modes of relief; to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to entertain the stranger, to clothe the naked, to visit the sick and imprisoned: yet it is observable that these directions eminently apply to a state of persecution for Christ's sake; and that they chiefly relate to temporal assistance, which implies some power to render that kind of help. In his charge to Peter, it is evident that spiritual relief is chiefly enjoined. In each case, the weakest of Christ's people-are peculiarly specified as objects of relief; being most in necessity, and affording the best opportunity of acting from love to Christ, unmixed with selfish motives. The evidence is reduced to the lowest possible terms; "to one of the least of these my brethren :" and elsewhere we are assured, that if we have opportunity only to give a cup of cold water to one of these for Christ's sake, the reward shall not be lost. The case may be supposed, of a solitary believer, who has not even one of the least of his brethren within reach of his benevo lent Jent aid: but the spirit of the precept, and therefore of the evidence, is," as we have opportunity, to do good to all, and especially to the household of God." In all cases, while we possess rational faculties, and are therefore accountable creatures, we can pray for Christ's people: but intercession for them, accompanied with neglect of opportunities to do them good, can only be accounted hypocrisy, by "Him with whom we have to do." It is greatly to be lamented, that the genuine evidence of love to Christ here inculcated, is no more considered, and carried into effect. The exercise of beneficence to individuals of our own sect or party, and of hospitality to those of our own rank or scale of intelligence, is not uncommon: but to this, other motives, beside the love of Christ may prompt us. The weakest, the meanest of our brethren, like the worst sailing vessel in a fleet under convoy, most needs our attention; and to him it is that our Lord most emphatically directs it. Let us be careful to cherish no prejudice, by which we may exclude from our list of Christ's people the very persons who afford us the best opportunity of denonstrating our love to HIM. Vain will it be for us, in this sense, to say, "Lord, when saw we Thee hungry?" &c. Rather let our conduct be such, that our Lord may present to us, among the flock at his right-hand, objects whom we have relieved, although at the time we were doubtful whether they belonged to him. Sir, THE NOBLEST CHARITY, To the Editor. RABKASHED The Pages of your Magazine have often been honoured in recording the Missionary Zeal and noble Liberality of Christian Societies and Individuals, whereby others have been excited to imitate such good Examples. Perhaps you will have no objection to present to the Public an Example of former Times, in a Man whose Name will ever be dear to the Philosopher and the Christian Philanthro pist, the Hon Robert Boyle. As it may not be so generally known that he was as eminent for Religion and Missionary Liberality as he was in Philosophical Researches, the following Extract from his "Life" may be acceptable to many of your Readers; and may per haps excite some of them to imitate so excellent an Example of Love to the Souls of Men.-By inserting it, you will oblige yours, J. J. "T HE Hon. Mr. Boyle was a man of extensive learning; one of the most exact enquirers into the works of Nature that any age has known; and what reflects the greatest honour honour on himself and upon Christianity is, that while he was an accurate Reasoner, he was also a firm Believer. His religion was not a mere profession, by which he was distinguished from an Atheist, a Jew, or a Turl:; but he suffered it to have its due and genuine influence on his life and actions. He did not only wish well to the cause he espoused, but endeavoured to diffuse that light and knowledge even in the most distant parts, which he saw so absolutely necessary for the present and future welfare of mankind. This indeed is the noblest kind of Charity, and therefore discovers the warmest benevolence. But Mr. Boyle's generosity and beneficence did not stop here; it was discovered in innumerable instances relating to the external wants and distresses of his fellow-creatures; and conferred too in such a manner as enhanced their value. But these I shall omit, and represent him only as an example of beneficence in the propagation of Christianity. He was at the Charge of the Translation and Impression of the New Testament into the Malayan language, which he sent over all the East Indies. He gave a noble reward to him that translated Grotius's incomparable book of the Truth of the Christian Religion into Arabic; and was at the expence of a whole impression, which he took care to order to be dis tributed in all the countries where that language is understood. He was resolved to have carried on the impression of the New Testament in the Turkish language; but the Company thought it became them to be the doers of it, and so suffered him only to give a share towards it. He was at seven hundred pounds charge in the edition of the Irish Bible, which he ordered to be distributed in Ireland; and he contributed largely both to the impression of the Welsh Bible, and of the Irish Bible in Scotland. He gave, during his life, three hundred pounds to advance the design of propagating the Christian Religion in America; and as soon as he heard that the East India Company were entertaining propositions for the like design in the East, he presently sent an hundred pounds for a beginning, and an example; but intended to carry it much farther, when it should be set on foot to purpose. He had designed (though some accidents did upon great considerations divert him from settling it during his life, but not from ordering it by his will) that a liberal provision should be made for one who should, in a very few well-digested Sermons every year, set The learned Professor of the Oriental Languages, Dr. T. Hyde. forth forth the truth of the Christian Religion in general, with out descending to the sub-divisions amongst Christians; and who should be changed every third year, that so this noble study and employment might pass through many hands, by which means many might become masters of the argument." *— Life of Mr. Boyle, p. 36, 37. Among other eminent Works which Boyle's Lectures have produced, Derham's Physico-Theology (the Substance of 16 Sermons) deserves a place in the library of the Philosopher and the Divine. ORIGINAL LETTER From the late Rev. EDWARD HITCHIN, B. D. to the Rev. Rev. and dear Brother Pye, Jan. 19th, 1773. part with you but Christ lives. If you go home now, you leave the cause of Christ among Dissenters, in a very low condition: but Jesus is a Priest upon his throne! Dear brother, pray for me-I will not cease to pray for you—[ long to meet you!-Mr. G's letter ràvishes my heart, He informs me that you preach at home: I mean your pro tempore home-may you preach to the last!the eternal .God will support you. My love to your amiable partner, my sister Pye-leave, O leave her with your God-leave your church with the blessed and adorable Trinity. Death, dear brother, is more formidable at a distance than when it is near. You are the object of my envy, rather than of my pity. It would be needless for me to cite the many passages that suit your case. The Holy Ghost be your comforter! Farewell, dear brother; my whole heart meets you-Farewell-not for eternity! How glorious shall we appear in Jesus! If you die first, think of me in your expiring moment, if nature and grace can, at that conjunc ture, permit the thought. I am, living and dying, your inviolable friend and affectionate brother, EDWARD HITCHIN. ENCOURAGEMENT TO PIOUS PARENTS. My dear Sir, A LETTER TO A FRIEND. KNOWING, with you, the heart of a father, and how anxiously a christian parent feels for the salvation of his offspring, I cannot refrain from making you the sharer of that pleasure which I lately derived from a Treatise of Dr. Goodwin on Election. Turning over his voluminous writings, I observed the title of his 7th chapter on that subject, viz. " God orders his election so, as to run in a successive line from godly parents to their children, yet not so as to infringe the freedom of election-grace and that this his way of acting is consonant to the principles of reason, and agreeable to his other proceedings." The author judiciously observes, that election is founded on the mere good pleasure of God; who, in election, did not consider these persons as children of such parents, as a motive to his choice. He considered them as persons yet to be created to glory; designing that they should pass through this world as a passage to it; and accordingly ordered their condition so as to manifest his love as that, geVOL. X. nerally |