I Sam.t5.z3. Ve: f. z 6. I,ük.I 7,1 O. After what manner muff wegive Alms, Serm.i t. with a forcible Motive ; for who would not do that which is wed-plea- tingunto God,who is bountiful in rewarding the kart good we do upon his command. This duty of Alms -givenbeing fo exprefly commanded in Scripture, it is not in our power to omit or negleCÌ :the fame; neither can any creature give us a difpenfation againfi the Creators command. A Prophet tfileth omiflîon of that which God enjoynech to be done ( yea though that omifiïon were but in part, and that upon a fair pre- tence ) Rebellion, which it as the fin of witchcraft, and flubbornnef, which is as iniquity, and idolatry. Againli him who failed in perform- ing the charge enjoyned him ( though he were a King ) this doom is denounced, becaufe thou haft rejeled the Word of the Lord, he hath al- fo rejeEled thee from being King. In like manner mayGod reje6t fuch as neglea this Duty of Charity, when he calls them ro it, from being Kings, and reigning in Heaven. We have a mánifcfi inflance thereof, Mat.25.41,41,43. Now the giving of Alms being a Duty fo expreflycommanded in the holy Scriptures, it cannot therefore lx-..accounted a matter meerly arbi- trary, left to a mans own will, to give or not to give. But it is a boun- den duty, which they that in any competent meafure can do, mutt not omit, which conlïderation cannot but be a firong incitation unto us,to make confcience of this Duty ofAlms- giving,as occalon is offe- red, and not to over-flip opportunities, that by the Divine providence are offered unto us. Should we negleel that which our Lord hath ex- prefly commanded ? that whereuntoby verrueof that command we are bound ? that whereof we are to give an account? Let us upon the Lords commands do what in this kind we can : And when we have done what wecan, fay, Weareatrprofttablefervants, we have done what was our duty to do. 2.Of the Equity of this Duryof Alms-giving.it is a moti equal thing, that he who bath wherewithal, fhould give to him that bath not. The equity arifeth both from the divine providence, and alfo from the in- ¡lability of mans Bare and condition. T. God for this end gives more to forge than co others, that they who have more abundance, fhould give out of their abundance to them whoare in wanr.This was typically fignified by the gathering of Man- na, which though it were rained down from Heaven, yet the Lord would nor allow, that they who had gathered much, even more than was needful for rhemfelves, and their houfhold, fhould hoard up their fuperfluity, but erloyned them to communicate of their abundance, to fuch
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