IX. Years, fo in Grace, till they come unto a SERM. Having proved that Charity is a Debt, and how far it is limited and reftrained, fhall, Secondly, proceed to bring fome Arguments to perfwade you chearfully to dif charge it. And First, We fhould be always ready to help and affift our Fellow-Creatures in their Wants and Neceffities, because it is what we would expect of them, if we were in their Condition, and they in ours; and therefore it would be unreasonable to deny them that, which we should think unreasonable for them to deny us. Secondly, Wefhould take Care chearfully to discharge this Duty of Charity, becaufe we do not know how foon it may be our own Cafe to want Affiftance @urfelves. No one can tell how it may pleafe God to deal with him, and what Condition he may be in before he dies, however profperous and fuccefsful he may be at prefent; and then if he hath stopped his Ears at the Cry of the Poor, he also fhall cry him felf, SERM. felf, but shall not be heard: For what IX. can he expect of God in his Adversity, who refused him any Acknowledgment in his Profperity? Or what can he expect from Men, when he himself refused to grant what he is now obliged to ask? But if he hath been accustomed to Acts of Charity and Beneficence, and hath not shut his Ears upon the Cries of the Poor and Needy, happy is he, the Lord fhall deliver him in the time of Trouble. A charitable Man when he is under Aflictions is fure to be pitied by all Men, and to draw Compaffion from that ftony Heart that feldom fhewed any before: For Nature is not so far degenerated, but it must love and admire that Divine Temper of Mind, that delights in doing Good, and fhew the greater Compaffion to it when in Distress. Thirdly, A third Argument I shall make Use of to perfwade you to a chearful Difcharge of this Debt is the Encouragement that attends it; for tho' Charity is a Debt which we are obliged to discharge, yet because it is always accompanied with fuch a lovely Frame of Mind, fuch Pity, such fuch fuch---what fhall I call it, fuch a Temper, SERM as I hope you know and feel better than IX, I am able to express, it has the Promise of many and great Bleffings. The Pfalmift, defcribing a good Man, makes it the top of his Character, that he hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the Poor; and then he adds the Bleffing that attends him, his Righteousness endureth for ever, his Horn fhall be exalted with Honour. He that giveth to the Poor, fays the Wife Man, shall not lack; but our Saviour carries the Bleffing to the highest Pitch, even to a Reward in Heaven, Go fell that thou haft, and give to the Poor, and thou shalt have Treasure in Heaven. After all this Encouragement, it is very furprizing to find that People will trust their Substance with Man, upon the Strength of an Earthly Hope and Affurance, which they would not trust with God, tho' they have his Holy Word for their Security, and Heaven itself for their Intereft and Reward. Fourthly, The laft Argument that I shall make Use of to perfwade you to difcharge this great Duty of Charity, shall Cc 2 be SERM. be drawn from the Love of God, who IX. gave his only begotten Son to die for our Sins, and not only fo, but whatsoever we ask of him as we ought, he giveth us. If God then fo loveth us, we ought alfo to love one another; and as we expect the Aid and Affiftance of God, fo let us aid and affift each other; but let us not expect to have our Petitions-granted of God, and yet at the fame time to deny the Petitions of our Brethren in Distress. To conclude. Let it be our Duty at this time more especially, to discharge this Debt of Charity with a becoming Chearfulness, not grudgingly or of neceffity, for God loveth a chearful Giver. The Children, who are your Petitioners, will abundantly recompenfe you by their daily Prayers for their Benefactors; nay, you will abundantly recompenfe yourfelves, by procuring a Right to thofe Bleffings which God has promised to the good and merciful Man. Look down then with Pity on your Petitioners, make the Fatherless Children rejoyce, and the Widow's Heart will fing for Joy. If Chrift died for them, . 29 as well as for us, let us not look upon SERM. them as Strangers and Aliens, but as Fel- IX. low-Heirs of the fame Promife. They have the fame bountiful Father, and the fame merciful Redeemer with ourselves. Are we Chriftians? So are they. Have we, who were Aliens, receiv'd the Adoption of Sons? So have they. Are we in expectation of everlafting Happiness in a future State? So are they. What should hinder then, but that they should partake with us in the Happiness and Comfort of this Life too? We all breathe the fame Air, and enjoy the Light of the Sun alike, which God fendeth to fhine on the Poor, as well as on the Rich. Let us not then withhold any Good which we have in our Power to do, but let our Charity be bright as the Day, and diffufive as the Light that fhineth from one end of the Earth unto the other. Perhaps you may never have another Opportunity; be sure to do Good then while it is called to Day, and you have it in the Power of your Hand to do it; that our Sons may grow up as the young Plants, and our Daughters as the |