Seim. I..XXXIX. Ofdoing Good. World, yet the greatnefs of hisDithers does fo ftrengly plead for him , as to ii- lente all Confiderations to the contrary ; for after all, he is a Man, and is of the fame Nature with our felves, and the Confiderationof Flunianityought, for that time; to prevail over all Objeétions againft the Man, and to prefer him to our Charity, before the neareft Relation and Friend , who is not in the like Extre- mity. In other cafes, we not only may, but ought to relieve our Friends, and, thofe that have deferved well of us in the firft Place : But ifour Enemy bein Ex- tremity, then that Divine Precept takes place, If thine Enemy hunger, feed him ; if he thirfl, givehim to drink. Secondly, In the next Place, I think, that the Obligation of Nature; /nd the Nearnefs of Relation, does challenge a Preference ; for there is all the Reafbn in the World, if other Thingsbe equal , that we Ihould confider and fupply the Necefiìty of thofe, who are of our Blood and Kindred , and Members of our Family, before the Neceflities of Strangers, and thofe who have no Relation to us. There is a fpecial Duty incumbent upon us, and another Obligation betide that of Charity, tohave a particular Care and Regard for them. In this Cafe not only Chriftianity, but Nature ties this Duty upon us, t Tim. S. 8. If any man provide not for his own, efpeciallyfor his Domeflicks , for them that are of his Family, he hath denied the Faith, and is worfe than an Infidel ; that is , he Both not only offend againft the Law of Chriftianity, but againft the very Diäates of Nature, which prevail even amongft Infidels. And our Saviour hath told us, That when our Parents Rand in need of Relief, it is more acceptable to God, to employ our Eftates that way, than to devote them to him , and his immediate Service ; and that it is a kind of Sacrilege to confecrate that to God, whereby, our Parents may be profited, and provided for in their Neceffity. Thirdly, The Obligationof Kindnefs, and Benefits, lays the next Claim to our Charity. If they fall into Want, who have obliged us by their former Kindnefs and Charity, both Juftice and Charity do challenge from us a particular Confi- deration of their Cafe ; and proportionably, if we our felves have been obliged to their Family, or to anyother that are nearly related to them. Fourthly, Thofe who are of the heath'd offaith, and of the fame Religion; and Members of the fame Myftical Body, and do partake of the fame Holy My- fteries, the Body and Blood of Our Bieffed Saviour, the ftri&eft Bond of Love and Charity, Thefe fall under a very particularConfideration in the Exercife of our Charity. And of this the Apoftie puts us in Mind, in the laft Words of my Text ; let us dogoodunto all Men, efpecially unto thofe that are of the houfhold of faith. God hath a fpecial Love and Regard for fuch ; and thofe whom God loves, ought o be very dear to us. And this, perhaps, was a Confiderationof the firftRankin thofe Times, when Chriftians liv d among Heathens, and were expofed to continual Wants and Suf- ferings ; but it lignifies much lefs now, that Chriftianity is the general Profefii- on of a Nation, and is too often made ufe of to very uncharitable Pur_pofes ; to confine Men's Bounty and Benefits to their own Sed and Party, as if they, and none but they, were the houfholdof Faith ; A Principle, which I know not whether it bath more of 7udaifmor of Popery in it. Fifthly, After thefe, the Merit of the Perfons, who are the Objeâs of our Charity, and all the Circumstances belonging to them, are to be valu'd and con- fider'd, and we are accordingly to proportion our Charity , and the Degrees of it. I than inftancein fome Particulars, by which a prudent Man may judge of the refl.. Thofe who labour in an honett Calling, but yet are oppreft with their Charge, or difabled for a time by Sicknefs, or fome other Cafualty ; thefe many a time need as much, and certainly deferve much better than common Beggars; for thefe are ufeful Members of the Common -Wealth ; and we cannot place our Charity better, than upon thefe, who do what they can to fupport themfelves. Thofe likewife who are fallen from a rich and plentiful Condition, without any Fault or Prodigality of their own, meetly by the Providence of God, or fome 671
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