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fophers. For no law can subsist without a fanction; and, fince hope and fear are two of the strongest motives to action, that alone will justify him in ftriving to work upon those motives, which were most likely to control us to the obedience of the will of God.

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But, be this as it may, the precept of St. Paul to his converts, the Galatians, is extremely clear to us chriftians; who are more concerned to know the meaning of his text, than the propriety and justness of his application. For, in the fixth verse of this chapter we may read, " let him that is taught in the word, communicate to him that teacheth in all good things:" and in the tenth, as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them that are of the household of faith." The words of my text, therefore, being intermediate, and connecting these two paffages together, it is evident that the expreffion "well-doing" here ufed, must fignify the fame as "to com"municate in good things," or "" to do good." Let us not be weary then, fays

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the apostle, in relieving, by feasonable fupplies, the wants and diftreffes of our brethren; for God, who is our common father, will cheerfully repay what we shall thus charitably expend; and, in due time, will give us our reward, if we perfevere in our duty to the end.

Such, therefore, being the motives to christian beneficence, and fuch the bafis upon which it is founded; we will now proceed to confider further the nature of it in general, and then turn afide to that particular branch of it, which we are here affembled to promote.

And here, I do declare that I am chiefly distracted with the variety of matter that presents itself to my imagination, and the method in which I should arrange it for your use. I might ascend to the origin of property, and shew, that God, being the primary lord, and every proprietor only a receiver from him, it could only be meant to be given to any poffeffor, in trust that he should apply it to the benefit of his brethren in affliction, when his own neceffities were provided for and fupplied. I might

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argue alfo from the feelings of nature, and that tender fympathy which is excited by distress, that it was the defign of our beneficent author to provide, in the strongest manner, for its relief, by communicating the uneafiness of poverty to those in happier circumstances, and making it the interest of their own fenfibility to remove it. I might produce alfo fome prudential motives for the exercise of this virtue, as that it is the fure road to popularity and esteem, and that it is securing an harbour for ourselves against the winds and storms of adverfity. But to you, my brethren, I trust that I can advance founder arguments than these. A chriftian is not to be amused with reafons and probabilities, but acquainted plainly with the precepts, and examples, of the written word of God. thefe, he cannot be deceived; fince what we find commanded or forbidden there, must be performed or omitted on peril of falvation. Hear then the law by which we must be judged. "Bleffed is he that confidereth the needy: the Lord shall

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deliver him in the day of trouble."* "He that giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord; and look what he layeth out, it shall be paid him again.”† "Whofoever shall give to drink unto one of thefe little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple; verily, I fay unto you, he fhall in no wife lose his reward."‡ "He that foweth sparingly, fhall reap fparingly; and he that foweth plentifully, fhall reap plentifully let every man give as he is difpofed in his heart, not grudgingly, or of neceffity, for God loveth a cheerful giver."§ "Give and it shall be given unto you; good meafare, preffed down, and fhaken together, and running over, fhall men give into your bofoms: for with the fame measure that ye mete withall, it fhall be measured to you again."|| Charge them who are rich in this world that they do good, that they be rich in good works; ready to diftribute, willing to communicate;

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*Pfalm xli. 1. 42. Mark, ix. 41.

+ Prov. xix. 17. § 2. Cor, ix. 6. 7.

† Matt x. Luke vi. 38.

laying up in ftore for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.”*

These paffages fet forth to us the sense of fcripture upon works of charity, and those fruits which we may expect to gather from them" if we faint not." I would not be understood here to mean that the exercise of charity is of itself fufficient to "lay hold on eternal life," without that faith in Chrift, and that univerfal holiness, which is likewife required in fcripture.

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From the precepts of the gofpel thus explained and understood, we will go on to confider the practice of its author; and mark the leading lines of that beneficent life and character that was facrificed for us, leaving us an example that we fhould follow his fteps." The facred text informs us, that he went about doing good:" that he spent his whole life in fearch of ignorance and disease; that he might remove the one by his wisdom, and expel the other by his power. When he faw the hungry multitude that followed him for inftruction, we are told that he had compaffion on them;" and

* Tim. vi. 17-19.

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