Serm.I i. that they mag ire Acceptable unto God ? 27! with all diligence, fo fpeedily. And faith the Wife-man, Give a por- Chap.n.z. tion to fevers, and elfo to eight ; as if he hadPaid,. let thy liberality be large and bountiful, not limiting it to few, but diflributing to many, mark his reafon in the next words, for thou knowefl not what evil ¡ball beppon the earth ; t. e. what troublefome times may be. I have read of an Husbandman, who. hearing of the approach of an Army, and fearing thereby the lofs of all his corn, caufed as much as poftïbly hecould co be carried into the City,and committed the cuflody thereof to a friend of his. In like manner let the appreheñfion of dangerous times pre- vail with thee, to deliver forne confiderable part of thy elate unto the poor members of ChriE, whereby it will be beff preferved from lofs and fpoils. 2. Thy liberality to the poor, will be a notable means to free chine heart from thofe anxious and diflruftful fears of evil times, whichdo ufually poffefs the hearts of unmerciful men, as the Pfalmifl feem- eth co imply, Pfalrn a I 2.7,9.. He ¡hall not be afraidof evil tidings, his heart is fixed trolling in the Lord.. The reafon whereof he ren- drech- verfe 9. Irebath dií, erfed, he bathgiven tothe peor, therefore he (hall not be afraid of evil tidings. And indeedfuchhave leall groundof fear, for I. God hash promifed to deliver fuch from theevil to come, as Pfal,4 t .I. Bleffed is he that confidereth the poor, theLordwill deliver him in time of trouble. 2. God bath promifed, that though they lhould fall into trou- bléfome times, yet they (hall find abundance of fweet peace and comfort in their own fouls, for faith the Lord, If thou Bran, out ifa,5s.to. thy foul to the hungry, and fat;sfie the ofkited feel, i. e. If thou !halt afford unto him that which may fupply his necefity, and fatisfie his hunger, then ¡hall thy light rife in obfcurity, and thy darknnefß be A the noon day. Wnere light fignifieth peace and com- fort, as darknefs fignifieth atfli&ion. So rhac the. Prophets mean- ing is, that merciful men !hall have peace and comfort, in the moll troublefome-and uncomfortable times ; which if it were feriouf- lyconfidered, would be a great encouragement to to abound in works of mercy. Objet1.4. Some objest and fay, If I be fo full in giving, I may want my felf before I dye. . e4nfp. I. Doth the husbandmin forbear to row his feed for fear
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