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they that have eftates, fhould take heed of ing in them. They fhould labour to get hearts from their prefent enjoyments, mir pare their minds to be willing to part thing God calls for. They should life. and account him all in all, even in the and highest enjoyments of the Creat and dependance is the greatest home yeeld to God. But cf this I have fps largely, pag.207.

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VII. They ought to be very the open-handed to the neceffities of the pupon beral to good and pious ules. They that

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bave a multitude of tools to work with as most the Ancients fpake wifely) and mathe much fervice with them. Such oughts and vour not onely to be good themselves, good, to be rich in good works. They the elect of God, put on the bowels of Cel.3.12. Holy Fob could comfort The bleffing of him that was ready to pr upon me, and I caufed the widows beat joy; I was eies to the blind, and feet as Lame. I was a Father to the poor, &c. ming This is the best way for rich men fore their eftates, Prov.19.17. Het to c

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to the poor, lends to the Lord, and be mil him again. Though the poor man can thee, yet God becomes bis furety, and thee aßuredly-yea, fully and abundan

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man fhall be a lofer by God. 'Tis good therefore to lay up treafure where it may be fure to be forthcoming; to put it into Chrifts hands by relieving his poor members here on earth. But alas ! though God hath made fo many gracious promifes to the charitable, yet strange it is to fee how hardly people are perfwaded to the practife of this Duty. They can spend freely on their pride or lufts, or pleasures, and facrifice liberally to the Idol of their Credit; but what niggardize and pinching is there when it comes to a work of mercy? Let them meet in an Inn or Tavern, upon bufineffe, or in a way of kindness, then what ftriving is there who shall pay, and who shall pay moft? What throwing down their Money on the Table? &c. But how backward, and dull and clofe-fifted are they, when it comes to a work of Charity? Certainly at the day of judg ment, this will be a better account, Item, fo much Spent to relieve the poor and needy; fo much daid out for the advancement of Religion, or good Learning; fo much expended for publick good ufes; Rather than this, Item, fo much spent on pride, so much spent on luft, fo much in gaming, and in Luxury, and riot, &c. And therefore it concerns thofe that have this worlds goods, to confider how they use and employ them. And here it will not be amiffe to perfmade rich men not to defer and put off their Charities till their death, out of an Infidel fear, they should want Kk 4

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themselves before they dic. They should one well advises) make their own has executors, and their own eies their overfees better to be like the sheep, to do good live, than like the Swine, to be good thing till they die. I fhall conclude th with fome few Directions as to the mass we should exercife our Charity.

1. Do it in fincerity. Do it in es Gods Command and with an eie to his c heed the praise of men be not thy A that giveth (faies the Apostle, Rom him do it with fimplicity, & Mat.6.1.Te do not your Almes before men, to be fe otherwife ye have no reward of your Fair

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2. Cheerfully. God loveth a cheerf

2 Cor. 9.7. Deut.15.10. Thine heart grieved when thou giveft to thy peor

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3. Liberally; according to the pro thy eftate, 2 Cor. 9.6. He that fowes Shall reap fparingly, and he that foweth best fhall reap bountifully. We fhould think ry imprudent Husbandman, that to fire: feed at prefent, would fow fo thin, as to his crop. And the fame folly 'twill be in by the paringne and niggardize of our Ai we make our felves a lank Harvest here and lofe the reward God hath providede

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liberal Almes-giver. Now liberality is to be measured, not fo much by what is given, as by the ability of the giver. 'Tis not how much, but out of how much, that God looks ar. In 1 Cor. 16.2. The Apostle advises, Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in ftore, as God hath profpered him. Surely it were very expedient to lay by fomthing in bank for good ufes, either weekly, monethly, quarterly, or yearly (as may beft fuit with the variety of mens conditions) that fo they may not be unprovided of fomwhat to give, when occafion offers it felf; and then their Charity would flow more freely, without any regret, or grudging of heart, which those that leave all to occafional Charity are many times in danger of.

4. Humbly and thankfully. Let thankfulneß to God attend thy Charity to men. Bleffe God thou art not the needy perfon thy felf. Bleffe him for giving thee both an ability and a heart to diftribute and communicate. Though God hath lifted thee up in this world, above those thou relieveft, yet let not thy heart be lifted up, but be low in thine own eies. I fhall conclude this, with that Divine and affectionate thanksgiving of holy David, in 1 Chron. 29. 11. Thine O Lord is the greatness, and the power V. 12. Both riches and honour come of thee. V. 13. Now therefore our God, we thank thee and praife thy Glorious Name. V.14. But who am I, and what

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is my people, that we should be able to offer fo wil lingly after this fort, for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given the.

Deut. 8. 12, When thou hast eaten and ar full, and haft built goodly houses, and dwel therein, V.13. And when thy herds and thy flocks multi ply, and thy filver and thy Gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied.

V.14. Beware left thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God

V.17. And thou fay in thy heart, my power and the might of my hand hath gotten me this wealth.

V.18. But thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, for it is he that giveth thee power to gi

wealth.

1 John 3.17. But whofe hath this worlds good, and feeth his Brother hath need, and fbutteth s his bowels of compaffion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

Prov.29.7. The righteous confidereth the cause of the poor, but the wicked regardeth not to knew

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Ecclef.11.1. Caft thy bread upon the waters, fu thon fhalt find it after many daies. V.2. Give a portion to feven, and also to eight: for thou knoweft not what evil shall be upon the earth.

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