3. The broken-hearted, serious christian, that thinketh works can never have enough of his care, or too little of his trust, that is always liard at work for God, and yet seeth God must do all at last, he is per- suaded that grace doth not weaken his duty, but enforce it ; yet, when lie hath done all, counteth himself but an unprofitable servant, and is still approving himself unto God more and more ; and yet the more he doth, the more daily need he seeth of Christ. No man liveth under a greater dread of the holiness and justice of God, yet flicth oftener to his mercy. We must comfort these.
[1.] Consider, God observeth all the good that we do, and ponder- eth every action, of what kind soever it be ; whether giving food, or clothing, or harbour, or entertainment, or visiting, or comforting ; it will all be fruit abounding to your account, Phil. iv. 17. The more you abound in acts of communion with God, or relief towards such as are in misery, the greater will your reward be in the last day. There is fruit for our account, and abounding for our account.
[2.] The least actions done for Christ's sake shall be rewarded by him ; for some of the actions are more inconsiderable than the other ; yet, if done for Christ's sake, a meal's meat, a little harbour, yea, a visit, is taken notice of ])y him. He doth not say, Ye feasted me, ye made
Vers. 35, 36,] sermons upon matthew xxv. 65
me sumptuous entertainment ; but, Ye gave me food, ye clothed me, ye visited, &c. The least action done for Christ's sake shall not go unrewarded : Mat. x. 42, ' Whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only, in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in nowise lose his reward.'
[3.] God will pardon all their failings. Here is no mention of the evil, but the good they had done. An honest upright heart is dis- pensed with as to many weaknesses : Mai. iii. 17, ' I will spare them as a man spareth his own son that serveth him.'
I come now to the second point : —
Doct 2. That Christ ordereth his dispensations so that some of his people are exposed to necessity, others in a capacity to relieve them.
The privileges and promises of the gospel do not exempt the one from distress, nor do the duties and rules of the gospel make the pos- session of riches to the other unlawful. In the one sort of good men Christ is hungry and athirst, in the other sort of good men he feedeth and clotheth them : Christ is in the giver and receiver : these want, that they may have matter of patience ; those abound, that they may have matter of bounty : Abraham was rich, Lazarus that slept in his bosom was poor. It is so —
1. That he may show himself to be the governor and disposer of all things here in the world, and that he giveth honour and riches to whomsoever he will, Dan. iv. 17. If these things were at the devil's disposal, God's friends should never have them.
2. To show that the bare possession is not unlawful ; that it is not the having, but the ill use that bringeth so much mischief.
3. That the world may know somewhat of his favour to his people, and what prosperity he can bestow upon all if it were expedient : some diseases require cordials, others sharp and bitter potions.
4. That in the time of our exercise we may have a pledge what he will do for us hereafter, and give us in heaven.
5. That they may be instruments of his providence, to supply others that want house and harbour, and all necessaries ; as the great veins receive blood to convey it to the lesser : some are kept under affliction. We sail more safely to the haven of salvation with an adverse wind than a jDrosperous.
Use. If it fall to your lot to give rather than to receive, bless God in that behalf, and neglect not your duty. God could level all to an equality, but he will not, that you may be instruments of his provi- dence to cherish them : you should be a fountain, not to keep the water to yourselves, but to overflow for the necessity of others.
I come now to the third point : — •
Doct. 3. That works of charity, done out of faith and love to God, are of greater weight and consequence than the world taketli them to be.
1. There is a command of God requireth it. Next to the great duties of the gospel, nothing more enforced. To relieve the necessi- ties of the poor is not arbitrary, but a duty required of us according to our abilities ; it is charity to them, but a clue debt to God, and a part of our righteousness. Stewards are to dispense the estate by the master's command.
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2. It is the trial of our love to Christ. He hath made the poor his proxies and deputies. We would cozen ourselves with an empty faith, and a cheap love, if God had not devolved his right upon our brethren : 1 John iii. 17, ' But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him ? ' If Christ were sick in a bed, we would visit him ; if in want, we would relieve him. Christ is so nearly conjoined with his servants, that in their afflictions he is afflicted, in their comforts he is comforted ; he looks upon it as done to him. The godly of old time thought themselves much honoured if they could get a prophet or an apostle to their houses : Heb. xiii. 1, ' Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have enter- tained angels unawares,' Here is Christ himself ; will you refuse him who is heir of all things ?