Serm. I r. that they maybe Acceptable ante Ged ? 249' mull fodo it, as if we were alone. That Alms is not unacceptable which Non eft ingrate isgiven andfeen of men, but that which is given to be feenof men. So that emrfyna qu the fcope of our Saviour in the fore- mentioned place, is to take us off"' g æ flr l `' from all vain glory, in giving of our Alms, that as much as in us lieth videatur. we (hould endeavour to hide and conceal our good works from the eye of the world. IV. Our Alms muff be given with a compaonate heart, with bowels of aj 'feetion. The Greek word for Alms is derived from a word that fig- ÊAlSNcórvvn ntiñes Mercy, which incimatech the difpof tion of thegiver, how he ab ti's& fhould be a merciful man, whole bovvels are moved at the miferyof ricordia. another, and thereupon contributes to hisneed vvith bovvels of com- paílion. In giving vve muff not only open our hands, but our hearts atfo in pity and companion ; vve mu(t draw out our own fouls ( as the Prophet Pfal.S 8.10. fpeaketh ) as vvell as ourpurfes, to the hungry andofi1ed; vvhicti is im- plied underfeveràl exprenìons of Charity, tired in Scripture by the Ho- ly Ghoff, as He that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he. And again, He Prov.I4.. r. that hash pityupon the poor, lendethunto the Lord. And faith the Ape Char9, 7. St. Patel, Put on, as theEIJFI of God, bowels of mercy. And faith the be- Col 3 1a. loved Difciple St. John, who fo hath this worldsgoods, andfeeth his Bro- ther bath need, andfloutteth up hisbowels of companionfrom him, how dwel- 17oh.3.i 7. leth the love of God in him f It is not fuflicient to have an open, liberal hand, unlefs vve have alto an open and compaffionate heart ; for if the Sacrificeof our Alms-deeds be not mingled vvith the oyl and incenfe Benefcentia eu ofmercy and compailion,ic will not be acceptable untoGod, who will bexevolentia have Mercy, as well as Sacrifice. In contributing therefore to the 4 marare debar. fErsn ëtears relief of the poor ; let our inward afeElion, go along with our outward- nomen imponit Rflion, operi No. Amb. As helps hereunto, (zffic.3,. I. Be well informed in the benefitthat compa ton brirsgeth, and that not only to thy difireffed Brother, who is fuccoured, but affo ro thy felf, to whom in this cafe a promife of mercy is made; Bleffed are the merciful, Mati,9 for they (hall obtain mercy ; Mercy fromother men, and mercy from God himfelf. 2. Well weigh the common condition of all, howAll things come alike to Ecc1.9.2.. all ; as the Wife-man fpeaketh, fo as thou all() art fubjedi to the fame diftrefs whereunto others are brought and therefore as Aquinas faith, Propter poJbi- we (hould have companion on other mens mifery, for the pofír'bility of 1 rltemfinf o' n. fufering the like Which argument the Apoffle ufeth to the Hebrews, aa,aa.que(1.3, laying) Remember them which f u f er adver f a yt as beingyour f elves al f o arc.x. the Heb,t3.3..
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