t Cor.S.z,3. I4Taraz,43. z Cor,8.u. Eccl,g'-o. After what manner mMfi wegiveAlms, Serm I I, thing for their comfort and fupport. Oh how fad will thy reckoning be at the great day of judgment, when thou (halt hear, fo much fpent in cloiths, fo much in coftly diet, fo much in fatisfying thy carnal Tufts and pleasures, and fo little in relieving thepoor Saints and Servants of Jesus Chr ft. 2. Though thy plea be real, that thou art in truth in a low and mean efface, yet oughtelt thou to give fo:nething, when thou meeteff with thofe who are poorer than thy fclf, efpecially if they be in great nece(fity, Ep1i.4.38. The Apoflle exhorteth poor men, even fuch as work for their living ; fo to labour, that they may have not only to maintain themfelves and family, but alto to relieve the neceflitìes of others : Let him labour, faith the Apostle, working with his hands tha thing which isgood,that he may have togive tohim that needeth.The deep poverty of the Macedonians, we read,keht them not from contributing to the poor Saints at .7erufalem,who were poorer than themfelves. Who could plead greater poverty than the poor widow in the Go- fpel, who having but two Mites, caü them both into the Treafury ? of whom our Saviour giveth this reftimony, That she caft more into the treafury then the rich, for all they, did call in of their abundance but j7 of her want did caft in all that she had, even all her living. An half- penny or farthingof that little which a poor man giveth, is more in C:hrifts reckoning, than a whole mats of money out of a rich mans treafure: Say nor therefore I am. poor, and have but little, thinking thereby to excufe thy not giving, for thou cant]: not be poorer than that poor Widow ; but of a little give a little, and it will be accepted, for if there be a willing mind, it is acceptedaccording to that a man loath, and not according to that he bath not. God looketh not fo much to the greatness of the gift, as to the quantity of the (lore out of which it is given, and the largeness of the affedtion wherewith it is given. Object. 3; Someare ready to obje& and fay, they live in dangerous times, and know not what troubles may befall them, and therefore it will be wifdom ro keep what they have. Anfw.I. The more dangerous the times are, the more reafon thou haft to give out of thy flore towards the-relief of others, for i. Thouknoweft not how long thou mayeft enjoy thy life or eflate, whatfoever therefore thy handfindeth to do, do it with thymight ; that is, whatfoever ability or opportunity-thou haft of doing good, do ir, as with
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