Serinai. abat they maybeAcceptable Hato God ? 255 5. Bybeffowing of Bibles on poor Children, whereby through the care of their Parents, they may be acquainted with the knowledge ofthe holy Scriptures, which are able tomake them wife unto falvation. Memorable is the piousgift of Sir John Fenner, who by his lati will gave fix pounds per annum to fewcral out -Parifhes in London, for the buying of Bibles, to be diliributed among(+ poor Children. From my own experience I can fay, that this gift bath occafioned many poor people to teach their children co read, that fo they might be capable of chafe Bibles, which are to be given only to fuch as can in force meafure read. 6. By ereEting of Country - Schools, and endowing them with force competent maintenance, for teachingof poor mens children,who have not wherewithal to pay for their fchooling ; which will be a fpecial means nor only to further their civil, but likewife their fpirirual educa- tion.For thereby they will be made more capable of Divine inUru6tion. Experience teacheth us how ineffe6+ual the moll powerful Minil+ry is upon an ignorant and unlearned Congregation. Quefiionlefs therefore theereáing of Country-fchools i; a work of charity, more noble in it felt, more acceptable unto God, and morebeneficial to the Kingdom, than the building of Alms- houfes,who are coo often filled with fwarms of idle drones.Buc though thisSpiritasal Charity is queftionleis the more excellent, as tending co a more excellent object, namely, the fouls of our neighbours, yet the bodies of our neighbours mutt be cared for as well as their fouls : Our Charity therefore muff allo extend to them, and in this kind it may be practifed and expreffed. II. By a free and liberal giving to the relief of thofe who are in want, of which I have already largely fpoken. I I 1. By a ready lending to fuch, as being in a Calling,wantflock,, or other means to help themfelves in their Trades. This Duty of lending we find exprefly commandedboth in the Law, and in the Gofpel ; in the Lavv,as in the placebefore quoted ; Them (halt open thinehand wide to thy poor Bro- ther, and fhalt (urely lend him frufficient for his need, in that which he want - eth, &c. In the Gofpel, Lend ( faith our Saviour) looking for nothing again ; that is, lend not only to fuch from whom you may hope,by rea- fon of their ability, to receive your own again ; but allo to fuch, as by reafon of their poverty may perhaps never be able ro repay you. The ?falmift' maketh this a no-e of a righteous anda good man, that he is ever merciful and lendeth ; that he fheeneth favour and lendeth. Where we fee it is fee down, as the property of fuch a man, that he is ready to lend to the poor, to fuch as (+and inneed of his help, and that freely, without hope of gains This z Tina.3.i 5, Doceref:nplici- ter eft maims qtsana pafce e, Aquin.za,zæ. queíl. 3z Deut,i5.7,8. Luke 6,3 51 Pfa1.37.2 6, Pfal,i Iz,s,
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