The L,ihreral-MansC;:úrde:._ 4s9 tuck if he lend thee a million , and thou refufel to pay him a Mite - Again, if he call for it,,. 'cis not for thy lofs.. that he requires it, but will give thee better riches, 1.44 ofhitn, and he willgive you the holy Chofl; nay, the /e ngrdom of Heaven : and thofe arc riches far above the value ofany fübltaace thou cnjoyeft ; Ask ofhim and he will forgive your fins, r0000 Talents ; whereas he demands but one penny of thee. I dare fay he loth greater things for thee already; than he delires for others. Again, confider what want you have ofhiin that demands this, He gives you daily bread, (give us this day our daily bread;) if you did not receive daily bread, and a hlcffing on it from him, youneithercould have bread,nor enjoy life by it. Again, mark on what terms he requires it, 'ds but to be lent,and to be lent upon Ufury too. Many covetous earth-worms,would beglad to hear of the molt advan- tageby Intcreftof mony,yet no Ufury is lawful except this,and this is fpoken (in this phrafe) to no other purpofc, buttoconvince the worldoffin, that feek gain totheir own lofs, andprocure their profit a wrong way. He thatgives to thepoor, . he lends to theLord upon Vfsury. It is the confeflïonof the Ufurer, that to receive ten in the hundred, is great gaits ; and he concludes, that much advantage doth acrue to his Coffers, and accounts it a profperous profeffion. Miferable trading, when we ex- change our Souls, andexpofethemto eternal deftruçtion for the procurement of a little wealth of this world, which liath not a minutes fc:bftance. But This is the trade of advantage, not ten inthe hundred, but a hundred for ten, nay a hundred for one. Toenjoy a hundred for one here, and (in theworld to come) eternal life, is advantage far above thecomparifonofany gain the earth canafford us. Further, mark who it is that asks this at thy hands, even he whole favour thou muft oneday feck; for wholecountenance thou wouldeft give all theworld; it ishe before whole feat thou rauft appear, that calls for, this duty of doing good withthy elate while thou enjoyel its deny not this fhall courtefic to him, left his favours (being abufed) turn into anger, and thou become a miferable inftance of his heavy difpleafure. No man dcfiring the favour of a Prince orJudge in fouie bufrnefs of importance, but wouldgladly embrace an occafion ofdoing him a pleafure, before the trial of his caulk, that fo the Judge may take notice ofhis good will, andgratifie his kindnefs. Beloved,we have,fpecial ufc for the favour ofChrift,andmuff' all ap- pear before his7isdoomentfiat. Nowwe have opportunity fufficient,Chriftinhis poor members oftheboufholdoffaith comes to you, expe/fing favour at your hands; he wills you to do good to them, and tohim ut them ; What you bellow on them, he accounts as a courtelic to himfclf.[n as much as you have done it to thofe,it extends unto him ; andwhat is denied them, he takes it as an injury to hiütfelf. Inafinuch as yon have not done it to thofe,you have not done it to him. Therefore,lookhow you extend mercyhere, to enjoy it hereafter ; and asyou expert the favour ofthe Judge,rnake way for his sindnefs,by the performance ofhis will,in a feafonablecon- tribution duringthis life ; he that Meth not mercy here, shall find none hereafter ; and fttdgmentjhall be mercilefs (faith' the Apoftle) to them that fbem not mercy, Nay, look that fuchmercy be fhown as God expec`teth; you that are wealthy, ac- cording to thewealth, and riches you poffe(s. God will accept ofno beggarly pre- fcnt from a wealthy man, neitherwill he receive a poor reward from the Coffers o him that hash hoarded up much red clay : where be hathfomn liberally, he will reap liberally. Look to it, for Chrill looksfor it. Wouldeft thou reap liberally in that day ? then low liberally in the mean time. Do according to your fcveral abilities, and, opportunities : andwhen you meet with advantage to do good, take it clear- fully, and make Lifeof it willingly ; it will much commend thylove to Religion,and improve thine own good in theconclufion. Somuch Ihall fe*cnowfom- this point; YQu fee ina word,the meaning and intent ofthe Apoftle is this ; that every man ac- cording to his elate and abiliry,whilehe bath time andmeans,fhouldbeftir hinifelf 10 dogood," Prot'. i9, it'.
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