for you," that you may not labour in vain : yea, I have invited you to "come, even amongst the sheaves;" and, so far from '* reproaching you " for your boldness, have encouraged you k by the strongest assurances of the unbounded liberality of my Divine Master. Bear in mind, that you are gleaners. You must indeed labour with diligence : but the whole that you gather is a gift : you never raised by your own personal labour one single grain of what you gather : all your labour consists in gathering up what the Great Proprietor, your Lord and Saviour, has strewed for you. Whilst you, then, have all the benefit, let him have all the glory.]
2. As Proprietors, perform the duty that is here
enjoined you —
[Cultivate, every one of you, a spirit of liberality. Let " the stranger" share your bounty ; and let " the fatherless and widows" be the special objects of your care and tender compassion. If you comply not readily with this injunction, what pretensions can you have to call yourselves followers of Christ ? "If any man see his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him1?" "He that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" On the other hand, " abound in the riches of liberality ;" and " so shall your light break forth as the morning111," and " a recompence be given you at the resurrection of the justn."]
* Ruth ii. 16. l 1 John iii. 17.
m Isai. lviii. 7, 8. n Luke xiv. 14.