2 5,0 vif ter what manner mil we give Alms, Semi/. ,.tit & ipfi iifdemea la.nitatifius o:5 ne.eii.13eaa in loc. Thcod.F , Eccl.3.1.11. Ga1.G.io. J7JFÓv, Luk.ic.3 1,3 2y 3334. Wcut.8.17. the body; chat. is,fay fome,as being members of the fame body,but rather, as Jez,a and others interpret the place, as beingyour felves in thebody of itefhandfrailty,fabjec to the like mileries ; for to longas we dwell herein there houfes of Clay, and carry about us chis earthly Tabernacle,we are all fubje& to the Like changes and chances ; which made old learned- 7heodoret,to reach his helping -hand to chofe out-cafi Africans,Fer when 1faw ( quoth he ) their pitifu l eftate, I began to lay to heart the doubtful turnings and inverfsons of humane things, and to fear left I my jelf might fall ixte the like evils. V. Our Alms mull be given feafoxab j ; for as the Wife-man fpeak- eth. To every thing there a feafon, and every thing is beautiful only in its time andfeafon ; And therefore it will be our wifdom fo to obferve the needs and necetlïties of o:her men, that we do not let flip any feafon, or opportunity of doing good. According to the exhortation of the Apo- file, As we have opportunity, let tee do good. The word in the Original tranllited opportunity, properly Signifies a feafonable time. Quell. Which are themolt feafonable times ofdoing works of mercy ? . Anfw. t. When accidentally chou meere(i with any fit obje ±s of mercy, thou mull not thenpafs them bywith the Prieft and Levite,buc with thegood Samaritan, prefentlypour the Oyl and Wine of thy cha- rity into the wounds of thy Brother, forthwith contributing fomewhat to his relief; For mifery being theproper obje& ofmercy,chou fhouldli then extend ihy mercy unto fuck as are in want and mifery. 2. When Godby his providencehath any way bleffed and encreafed thy flock and forre, by profp. ring thy adventure at Sea, or thy trading at home,or by force great Legacy bequeathed thee by force of thy friends, that is a feafonable time for thee to give out freely and liberally to the relief of the poor,in tellimony of thy thankfulnefs unto God for his bounty towards thee. I know it is ufual with moll men upon the en- creafe of their flock and flore, to facrifice to their own nets, CO afcribe their wealth to their own wit and policy, and to fay in their hearts; Theirpower,and the might of their hand hathgotten them this wealth. But mark what Mofes faith in the next verfe,t8. Thou /halt remember the Lord thy God, it is he that giveth theepower toget wealth. Seeing therefore what thou hall, thou hat} received from God, whatfoever the means and inaruments were of conveying it unto thee, is it not moll jull and equal, th c in way of thankfulnefs, thou flaouldfi let apart forne portion` thereof for thepoor and needy ? 3. The Lords Day isanother feafeuable time of doing works of mercy; according Co the Apofilcs Rule andDirection.; Now concerning thecol- leíl¡on
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