,3ERDA ,XL.1 LIVING ABOVE TUB DEAD. r71 scension of : the Son Of God ! Surprising honour put -on the liberal christian:! But here is the only place for acquiring these honours, though they are published here- after. .- There is no poor christian.to'be supplied in heaven out of the stores of your bounty, no naked saints tobe cloth- ed there. All the regions of heaven cannot afford any such object of your compassion and love. Many a saint onearth is hungry, and thirsty, and naked, and exposed Ito sore _hardships and necessities, but necessities and hardships are unknown in heaven. Many a widow, and - orphan; and poor destitute christian, lies sick and groan- ing as it were at the gates of glory : Let us seize the op- portunity to feed, to support, and to comfort them ; for ,there is no destitute creature, no sick or poor, no needy widow or orphan, within the gates. Life is given to some persons for this very end ! Good _Dorcas was even raised from the dead, arid had her life lengthened out to rnake more coats and garments for the poor. Ministering to the saints is a delightful labour, and a business worth living for. In this world the rich christian has the honour of being a steward for God to feed his children ; but in the world above, there are no earthly treasures to receive such a sort of consecrationas this is, no alms to be offered up as an acceptable sacri- fice to God the Father, or to his Son Jesus. See then :that ye practise this virtue as often as providence gives a -proper occasion, and thus consecrate your substance to the Lord of the whole earth. Lend a little to the Lord in this manner, and it shall be paid with large interest : He that hath pity on the poor lendeth to the Lord, and he will repay him," Prov. xix. 17. . Perhaps another week, or another day, shall divide you from all your earthly riches; no more of them can be laid out for God : Perhaps deathmay send you into the invisible world, and ye shall have no more objects of your pity for ever; whatsoever thy hand then finds to do, do it with all thy might," Eccles. ix. 10. " You that are rich in this world, be rich in good works, ready to. distribute. willing to communicate, laying up in store R. good foundation against the time to corne, that ye may lay hold on eternal life," 1 Tim vi. 18, lg. And re- zxrcmber that " he that -sows sparingly, shall reap spar=
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