HOW TO DO GOOD TO MANY. 541 it is made as natural; his heart is set upon it; he is created, and redeemed, and sanctified for it, as the tree is made for fruit. He studieth it as the chief trade and business that he liveth for; he waketh for it; yea, he sleepeth, and eateth, and drinketh for it; evento enable his body to serve his soul, in serving that Lord whose redeemed, peculiar people are all zealous of good works; Tit. ii. 14. The measure of this zeal of doing good is theutmost of their power, with all their talents in desire and sincere endeavor; the extent of the object is to all, (though not to all alike,) that is, to as many as they can. But for order's sake we must here consider: I. Who'this all meaneth, and in what order. II. What is good ; and what is that good which we must do. III. What qualifications he must have that will dogood to many. IV. What rules he must observe in doing it. V. What works are they that must be done by him that would do good to many. VI. What motives should quicken us to the practice. VII. Some useful consectaries of the.point. I. It is God's prerogative to do good to all ; man's ability will not reach it. But our all is as many as we can do good to. 1. To men of all sorts, high and low,rich and poor, old and young, kin- dred, neighbors, strangers, friends, enemies, good, and bad; none excepted that are within our power. 2. Not to a few only, but to as many persons of all sorts as we can; as he that hath true grace would still have more for himself, so he that doth good would fain do, more good ; and he that doth good to some would fain do good to many more. All good is progressive, and tendeth towards increase and perfection : why ate the faithful said to love and long for the dayof Christ's appear- ing, but because it is the great marriage day of the Lamb, when all the elect shall be perfect in our heavenly society ? And that makes it a more desirable day than that of our particular glorifica- tion at death. Theperfection of the whole body addeth to the perfection of every part, for it is a state of felicity inperfect love ; and love maketh every man's good whom we love to be as sweet to us as our own ; yea, maketh it our own and then theperfection and glory of every saint will be our delight and glory and to see each single one's love united in one perfect joy and glory, will add to each person's joy and glory. And can you wonder if our little sparks ofgrace do tend towards the same diffused multiplica- tion ; and if every member long for the completing of the body of Christ? O, how much will this add to every faithful Christian's joy ! It will not be then a little flock; not despised for singulari- ty, nor hid in the crowd of impious sinners, nor dishonored by
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