[1.] The trial of the rich.
(1.) Their thankfulness to God. God might have laid them low as well as others. If they abuse their high estate to pride and oppression, they tax the wisdom of the great governor of the world, and are un- thankful to him : Prov. xxii. 2, ' The rich and the poor meet together, the Lord is the maker of them both ; ' that is, God is the moderator ' and disposer of each man's estate. One by God is largely furnished with temporal good things, whether they come to him by right of in- heritance, or free gift, or honest labour, it is all from God ; the other
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is kept bare, and under pressing necessities, eitlier by the calamities of the times, or defect of means, or miscarriage of instruments, or by some sudden blast and disappointment of God's providence. Now these meet together in the same world, in the same kingdom, and the same town or city, and they have often business to do one with another, and have need one of another. If the rich carry it imperiously to the poor, or the poor enviously to the rich, they pervert God's government, do not observe the duties which God expecteth from them in their several conditions of life. Well, then, it is but in poor perishing riches that we differ one from another, and we must all stand before our judge to give an account how we have behaved ourselves in either state : Prov. xvii. 5, ' Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his maker.' He that despiseth the poor carrieth himself haughtily, contemptuously, he forgetteth who maketh him to differ, and who it is that casteth the world into this order, lifting you up and keeping down others; he might have laid you low as well as others, you might have been born of mean parents as well as rich.
(2.) To try their sympathy and humanity. Poverty and other miseries will not be wanting among the children of men, that the rich may have occasion to exercise their charity, and love, and compassion to their poor brethren ; as the great veins are filled with blood to supply the lesser. And indeed human nature hath nothing better nor greater than a heart and power to help the miserable : Acts xx. 35, as our Lord said, ' It is a more blessed thing to give than to receive.' Where did our Lord say so ? Christ in all his sayings hath often com- mended giving, but never receiving. But it is blessed because it comes nearer to the nature of God, who giveth to all, but receiveth of none ; it cometh nearer to the goodness of God to have a heart to give, and the happiness of God to have a power to give. Now thus will God try the duty of the rich and opulent.
[2.] For the poor, they are upon their trial too, for the trial of their patience, humility, self-denial, dependence upon God. In the meanest station we may do service to Christ. In a concert of voices it is no matter what part a man sings, provided he sings well, treble, mean, or bass. God appointeth to every man his condition ; if he carry it well, he is accepted with God. Grace puts both upon the same level : James i. 9, 10, ' Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted ; but the rich in that he is made low.' The poor man is not to be sad and dejected if God hath put him into a low condition ; but to be well pleased with it, as it giveth him advantages of submission to and trust in God more explicit ; and living by faith, which in a more plentiful condition is obscure and hard to be found. Thus God hath called him to a glorious estate of grace, though mean and low in the world ; and he who hath riches and honour, and all commodities in this life, is to rejoice that he hath a humble heart, doth not lift up himself above others, being mindful of the changeableness of the things of this world ; so that grace cureth the inordinacies of either condition : ' Poor in spirit,' Mat. V. 3 ; reconcilable to a low estate.
2. That when others' necessities are presented to us, it is a call from God to exercise our love and charity towards them. If he seeth his brother hath need. Affirmativa non lirjant ad semper; positive duties
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have their proper season, and in their season they bind : * As we have opportunity, let us do good to all men,' Gal, vi. 10. Now one season is when God layeth the object before us, and their case is brought to us by sight or hearing : Isa. Iviii. 7, ' When thou seest the naked that tliou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh.' We are to search out the hungry and needy ; but more especially when God presenteth them to us, we must not turn away the face, as refusing to see or own or to take notice of him : Job xxxi. 19, ' If I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering ; ' ready to starve for want of meat, or perish for want of clothing. When God layeth them in our view, or bringeth the notice of them to our hearing, surely then their necessity calleth for our charity, and it is hardness of heart and mercilessness not to be affected with it. The contrary is represented in the rich man, when the poor man lay at his gate, Luke xvi. 20 ; though he fared deliciously every day, yet the crumbs of the table were not given him. Therefore consider we live in a time of wants, and distresses are multiplied, war, fire, decay of trade ; many feel the sad effects of it. If you be not ready to relieve and help them to your power, how will you answer it to God in the day of your ac- counts ? It is made a heavy charge. Job xxii. 7, ' Thou hast not given water to the weary to drink, thou hast withholden bread from the hungry.' Eliphaz falsely accused Job of unmercifulness and sinful parsimony ; but when God doth justly accuse of these things, what shall we answer ? God doth try us by daily objects of charity and compas- sion. If we do not help them, we omit a duty in its season ; when we meet with convenient objects, this grace must be exercised.