Serm. CLIX. more than that ofRecervrng. 391 world, that they be not high minded, nor trufi in uncertain riches; but in the living God, who givethus richly all things to enjoy : that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to dftribute, willing, to communicate, laying up in flore for themfelves, a good foundation againfl thetime to come, that they may lay hold on e- ternal life. And the more to fix upon our minds the neceflity of doing good, efpecially in ways of Mercy and Charity, our Lord reprefents this, as the great matter of enquiry at the great day of Judgment, How they have behaved them- felves in this kind, What good they have done, or omitted and neglected to do; efpecially to thofe who were in mifery and want; and as if the fentence of eternal happinefs or mifery would accordingly pafs upon them. And this me- thinks fhould make a mighty impreffion upon us, to think that when we fhall ap- pear before the greatjudge of theWorld, we are toexpert mercy from him, accord- ing to the meafure that we have fhewéd it to others. And now if Men be thoroughly convinced of the happinefs of this Temper, me- thinks it fhould be no difficult matter to perfwade'them to it. If we believe this Sayingof our Lord, that It is more bleed to give, than to receive ;` let us do ac- cordingly. I know that to carnal and earthly minded Men, this mull needs feem a new and wrong way to Happinefs. For if we may judgeof Mens perfuafionsby their pra&ice, (which feems tobe a reafonable and good fure way of judging) I am a- fraid it will appear, that few believe this to be the way to Happinefs. If we mind the courfe of theWorld, and the actions of Men, it is but too evident that molt Men place their greateft felicity in receiving arid getting the good things of this World.; almoft all leek their own things, and but few the good of others. Ma- ny fay, who will thew us? who will do us any good? but few afk that cjueftion, What good thing pall I do that I may inherit eternal life ? And when our Lord tells Men that they muffgive to the poor, if they would have treafure in heaven; that they muff be Charitable, if they would be happy; that It is a more bleffed thing to give, than to receive ; thefe are fad and melancholy Sayings to thofe who have great poffeflions ; and moff. Menare ready with the young Man in the Gofpel, to part with our Lord, and to break with him. upon thefe terms. But let us remember, that this was the Saying of our Lord jefus, whom we all profefs to believe, and to imitate in all things : but more efpecially let us do fo in this, becaufe it was not a bare fpeculatton, a fine and glorious Saying, like thofe of the Philofophers, who faid great and glorious things, but did them not; but this was his coudant practice, the great work and bufinefs of his life. He who pronounced it the molt bleffed thing to do good, fpent his whole life in this work, and went about doing good. To this end all his altivity and endeavours werebent. This was the life which God himfelf, when he was pleafed to be- come Man, thought fit to lead in theWorld, giving us herein an example, that we fhould follow his flaps. He made full tryal and experience of the Happinefsof this Temper and Spirit; for he was all on the giving hand. He would receive no portion and fhare ofthe good things of this World ; he refufed the greateft offers. When the peoplewould have made him a King, he withdrew and hid himfelf; he was contented to be worfe accommodated than the Creatures below us. The Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have wefts : but the fon ofMan had not where to lay his head. He would not fo much as have any fix'd abode and habitation, that he might be at liberty to go about doing good. He received nothing but inju- ries and affronts, bafe and treacherous ufage from an ungrateful World, to whom he was fo great and fo univerfal a benefactor. The whole bufinefs of his life was to do goad, and to fuffer evil for fo doing. So fix'd and fteady was he to his own Principle and Saying, It is a more bleffed thing togive, than to receive. He gave away all that he had to do us good, he parted with his glory and his life, emptied himfelf, and, became ofno reputation ; and being rich, for our fakes became poor, that we through hispoverty might be made rich. So that he advifeth ups nothing, but what he did himfelf; nor impofeth any thing upon us, from which he himfelf defired to be excufed. And furely we have
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