Serin. i r . that they may be Acceptable autoGod? 268 There are, among others, two Metaphors often ufed by the Holy Gho(l, in felting our Alms- giving, which do much amplifie the com- modity thence arifing. One is taken from lending ; The other from [owing. I. Alms- giving is fet forth in Scripture by lending ; yea, to fuch a lending, whereby we have not only the principal re(lored, but with great encreafe. And whereas fuch as put forth their money unto men, can expect but fix in the hundred ; If we in obedience to the command of God, fnall freely part with our money to the ufe of the poor, for their relief, we (hall receive an hundred for fix,yea, an hundred for one, and eternal life to boor. And weneednot w doubt of the payment ; Mar.ao<3e. for though the poor be never fo unable, yet we have an all-fuficienc Surer), evenGod himfelf, who bath undertaken to pay whatfoever is thus put forth, according to that of the Wife-man, He that bath pity Prov09.17. capon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord, and that which he hath given, will he pay him again. Where you have Gods counterbond to fave you harm- lefs,in which he both acknowledgeththe debt,andpromifech payment. And what better fecurity can any man delire than a bondunder Gods own hand ? The contîderation whereof fhould me thinks make us wil- ling to embrace anyopportunity of putting out our money to this great advantage. 2. As for the other Metaphor of faring, it is in Scripture applyed to Alms- giving, under this phrafe, He bath difperfed. As the Husband- PfaLixz.,; man difperfeth his feed which he foweth in the earth; fo doth the Alms - giver, his Alms, expofition, this is added by way of tio , He bath given to the poor. The Apoflle alfo appliech untoAlms -giving this proverbial fpeech, He vrhich foweth (paringly, ¡hall reap fparin.gly ; and Cor.9.G, he which foweth bontutifully, ¡hall reap bostntiful1y. Nowwhat is it char ordinarily bringeth forth a greater increafe than (owing feed in fertile Ground ? It is Paid of 1faac, that he famed in the Land, and received in Gen , 6 r, the fame year art hundredfold. And Chrifl faith, thargoodgroundbeareth Mat.';. filatt, fame an hundred-fold,fcme fixty-fold,fame thirty-fold. NowAlms- giving is one of thofe things that (hall receive an hundred-fold, and 11411 inherit everIafiing life,. If therefore profit and advantage may be a Motive to flir us upun- to any thing, furely it fhould be a motive ro incite us unto liberality in
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