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Seeing then that man compared to his Maker is but as dust in the balance; let us ascribe unto the bounty, the undeserved goodness, of our Creator, every blessing we possess. Do our fields smile with waving corn, as the temperate, and healthy, breeze forms it into golden billows, mocking the rolling waves of the Ocean; are our garners full of all manner of stores? Let us incessantly bless that gracious hand, which, though unseen by mortal man, provides for our necessities; let us remember Him who never slumbers, or sleeps; whose pervading sight beholds all the dwellers upon Earth.

Let us never cease to love and worship Jehovah, the God of Gods, and Lord of Lords; the High, and Mighty, One that inhabiteth Eternity; Who sitteth on the everlasting hills. He has crowned the year with His goodness, and His clouds have dropped fatness.

They have dropped upon the dwellings of the wilderness; and the little hills rejoice upon every side. The folds shall be full of sheep; the valleys stood so thick with corn, that all did laugh, and sing.

"Praise the Lord, O my Soul! and all that is within me praise His holy Namepraise the Lord, O my Soul! and forget not all His benefits!"

SERMON XVI.

FOR THE LOAN SOCIETY.

DEUTERONOMY XV. 7, 8.

IF THERE BE AMONG YOU A POOR MAN OF ONE OF THY BRETHREN WITHIN ANY OF THY GATES IN THE LAND WHICH THE LORD THY GOD GIVETH THEE; THOU SHALT NOT HARDEN THINE HEART, NOR SHUT THINE HAND FROM THY POOR BROTHER: BUT THOU SHALT OPEN THINE HAND WIDE UNTO HIM, AND SHALT SURELY LEND HIM SUFFICIENT FOR HIS NEED IN THAT WHICH HE WANTETH.

THE laws of Moses, as might naturally be expected when God Himself inspired that Prophet, and Leader, of the Jews, were the most equitable of all laws in the older periods of the World. Justice and mercy were the principal features in their Code; and our Lord Jesus Christ tells us expressly that He came to confirm the Law given by Moses.

In the service of perfect freedom which the Christian Religion has bestowed upon mankind, such as our pure Church exhibits in all her doctrines, and ordinances; the laws of retaliation of injuries, and all the mere local, and ceremonial, ritual of Judaism were entirely laid aside. The one would have proved too burthensome for the Gentiles; and were only necessary while the Jewish Nation was a peculiar People chosen unto the Lord: the other was inconsistent with Christian forgiveness, and peace.

But while our Saviour confirmed the Ten Commandments, showing that they comprised the whole duty of Christian Love; in all its blessed affections towards God, and towards our Neighbour ; He fully proved, in His life, His doctrine, His miracles, His Unity with the Father Almighty, who said, "I will have mercy, and not sacrifice."

Sacrifice was either an atonement, figurative of that one great, and sufficient, atonement, and sacrifice, made for the sins of all mankind upon the cross of Jesus Christ: or it was an offering of thanksgiving, and praise, acknowledging the bounty, and the majesty,

of God. But the pure spirit of benevolence, inspired by gratitude to the Lord Jehovah, and tenderness to the fellow creatures of His handy work; is more immediately acceptable to the Almighty; inasmuch as it is an emanation of His own pure Spirit, the Holy Spirit of consolation, and of peace.

"Peace, good-will to men," necessarily promote "glory to God in the highest ;" and the brightest triumphs of the Christian Faith are recorded in the tablets of Humanity. "Behold, how good and joyful a thing it is brethren to dwell together in unity! Like as the dew of Hermon which fell upon the hill of Sion. For there the Lord promised His blessing and life for evermore.'

To enforce that feeling of Brotherly kindness so strongly commanded in the words of our Text, Moses reminded them of God's mercy to themselves in their signal deliverance from the house of bondage. And he informed them "the poor shall never cease out of the Land; therefore, I command thee, saying, thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy Land."

Usury was condemned by Moses towards

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