Good to them that are of the Houshold of Faith. Is it not fit that they should partake of the bowels of Man's Compaffion, who communicate with us in the Everlasting Mercies of God? who are endu'd with the gracious Influences of the fame Spirit, and have the Image of the fame God, not only by Nature ftamp'd upon 'em, but by Grace renew'd within them? How can we make Others, nay how can we make Ourfelves believe, that we are in Earnest when we daily in our Creed profess that we have an intimate Union with all the living Members of Chrift upon Earth, if we have no Fellow-feeling of their Sufferings, nor in the leaft contribute to the Relief of their Diftrefs?

We may confider too, that We are but Pilgrims upon the Earth, and all Travellers upon the fame Road. The Greatest of us, tho' he may Travel with Coftlier Equipage, and more Splendid Retinue, yet is at beft but a Paffenger, taking a Journey to the fame Country where the meanest that fet out with him may be as great as He. Now how foolish and ridiculous, as well as barbarous and inhuman, must it be for One in this Condition to deny fo poor a Sum, as would defray the Neceffary Expences of a Fellow-Traveller, who at his Journey's End, and in his Own Country, which from

any

any of us is not very far off, has as great, perhaps a greater Eftate, as good, perhaps better Friends than himself? From all these Relations which we bear to each Other whether as Men or Chriftians, it plainly appears that this great Act of Religion, the Relieving the Poor, is a moft Reasonable Service.

But now were this Duty as feemingly Contrary to our Reason, as it is manifeftly agreeable to it, yet God's pofitive Command would both Juftify the Equity and Wisdom of it, and exact our ready and entire Obedience to it. Therefore Help the Poor, fays the Son of Sirach, Ecclus 29. 9. for the Commandments Jake. Now thro' the whole Word of God there is no Commandment more peremptorily enjoyn'd, or more frequently repeated than This, it fills every Page of Mofes and the Prophets in the Old, and thro' the whole New Teftament Our Bleffed Lord and his Apoftles inculcate nothing so often, urge nothing fo preffingly, recommend nothing fo affectionately as this great Evangelical Duty. It were needless they are so obvious, and endless they are fo numerous, to recite only the Places where we meet with this Command. I shall only observe therefore, that as our Love to God is chiefly exprefs'd and only made vifible by our Obeying Every one of his most Holy

Laws,

Laws, according to that of our Saviour If ye love Me keep my Commandments, fo in a particular manner and eminent degree God has made the Obedience to this Command a Sign of our Affection, and a Teft of our Love to him. And the highest Pretences without This are in his Sight no better than a Lye and abominable Hypocrify: Whofo hath this World's good, and feeth his Brother have need, and fbutteth up his Compaffion from Him, how dwelleth the Love of God in Him?

How was it poffible for our Saviour to make us more fenfible of this than by telling us, that denying fuitable Reliefs to the Hungry and Thirfty, the Naked and the Stranger, the Prifoner and the Sick, are all fo many Acts of Cruelty and Unmercifullnefs to Him? In as much as Te did it not to one of the leaft of thefe, Te did it not unto Me. As on the other hand he accounts every A& of Mercy and Bounty to the Poor, as beftowed upon Himself. Verily I fay unto you, In as much as Te have done it unto one of the leaft of thefe my Brethren, Te have done it unto What a Saying is this? Can a Man be Profitable to God? as Job asks the Question: and as Elibu: If thou be Righteous, what giveft thou Him? or what do's He Receive at thy Hands? Alas! my Goodness extendeth not to Thee, is the Confeffion of the Man after God's own Heart. Yet see here the infinite Conde

me.

Condefcenfion of our Saviour, he has found out a way how We may Give Somewhat even to Him who is already Lord of all; be Mercifull to the Fountain of all Mercy, and do Good even to Goodness it felf, in that he places to his Own Account and graciously accepts as Done to Himself whatever we do to his afflicted Members for his fake. And for this very Reafon has order'd that fince we bould not have Him always with us, as he speaks, yet We should have the Poor always, that whenever We will we may do them Good, Mark 14. 7. He has left them here his Representatives, that we might never want whereupon to Exercise our Love to Him, even to the End of the World. And therefore this Saying of our Saviour's, and that of Mofes in the 15th of Deuteronomy to which it refers, The Poor ball never Ceafe out of the Land, are not to be look'd upon by us barely as True Predictions, but as Gracious Promiles. For their Poverty fhall make our Riches truly Bleffings, by affording us Opportunity of Employing them to their nobleft and beft ufe, the comforting our Brethren, and the continual fetting forth the Honour and Love which we al ways Owe, and ought always to be paying to our Lord.

23

It is from no defect or failing of the inexhauftible stores of God's Goodness, that there

there is fuch a thing or name as Poverty among the Sons of Men. Had it been as agreeable to his Infinite Wisdom, as it was eafy to his Almighty Power, He might have made the fame Abundance and Plenty common to all Mankind, and left no room for the foolish Cavils against Providence, which are made by the Atheistical Murmurers at the prefent unequal Diftribution of the good things of this World. Or, fince it did please God to make this World confift as it does of Rich and Poor, He who thro' the WholeScripture declares fuch a Regard, and profeffes fo great aCare for the Poor, might fupply all their Neceffities with his Own hand. He that fed the Ifraelites in a barren Wilderness with Angels food, and bread dropt from Heaven, and preferv'd theirGarments from wearing out or waxing eld; He that fed his Prophet by Ravens, and bless'd the Poor Widows handfull of Meal and her Cruise of Oyl, fo that neither wasted or fail'd, could still if he faw it good, without calling in the help of the Rich, relieve all the wants of his Creatures Himfelf.

And

This perhaps fome would be apt to think more fuitable to his Wifdom, and more conducing to his Glory, because this would be daily to Exert and make visible an Almighty Power,and be fides make them whom he thus fuftain'd have a more near regard

to