usefulness and dependence. Even in the state that was formed by God himself, it was ordained that such a diversity of ranks should subsist a. Still, however, it never was the divine intention that some should be left destitute of all the comforts of life, while others rioted in opulence and prodigality. To prevent this he commanded his people to forgive the poor their debts at the year of release b, and required all who should enjoy a comparative state of affluence, to relieve the poor and indigent.
In discoursing on the words before us, we shall consider, I. The duty enjoined —
God commanded his people to exercise liberality to the poor —
[He had appointed every seventh year to be a year of release0. By this means the poor could not be oppressed for any length of time. But this very law might also tend to the disadvantage of the poor. To prevent any such evil conse- quence, God ordered that his people should be equally favour- able to the poor notwithstanding the year of release. He enjoined the rich to lend to the poor, even under a moral certainty of losing their debt. Yea, they were to perform this duty in a bountiful and willing manner.]
His injunctions to them are, as far as it respects the spirit of them, equally binding upon us —
[God requires us to " do good and lend, hoping for nothing again^." And certainly this is our duty. The relation which the poor bear to us necessarily involves in it this obli- gation6. The Scriptures at large, as well as the immediate expressions in the text, inculcate this duty in the strongest terms f.
a " The 'poor shall never cease out of the land" ver. 11.
b He assigns as Ms reason for this ordinance, " to the end that there may be no poor among you" ver. 3, 4. See the translation in the margin of the Bible.
c ver. 1, 2. d Luke vi. 35.
e They are four times in the text called " our brethren." The force of this idea is admirably expressed, Job xxxi. 15 — 19. and it is further confirmed by the words of our Lord, Matt. xxv. 40.
f " Thou shall not harden thy heart, nor shut thine hand — Thou shalt surely lend — surely give — I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide" §c. See this enjoined on all generally, Luke