should remember the poor : the same which I also (says he) was forward to do'." To you then would we recommend the same benevolent disposition ; and we pray God that there may be in you the same readiness to cultivate it to the uttermost. All may not have time or ability to do much in instructing and com- forting the poor : but all, even the widow with a single mite, may testify their love to the poor, and their debire to advance the good work in which a select number are engaged. Even those who are " in deep poverty may abound unto the riclies of liberality"^." Let all then "prove the sincerity of tlieir love to Christ " by their compassion to his poor members'; and let them know, that " even a cup of cold water given for his sake shall in no wise lose its reward."]
' Gal. i. 10. " 2 Cor. vlii. 1—4. ' ib. ver. 8.
Ps. xxxvii. 3 — 6. Trust in the Lord, and do good: so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt he fed. Delight thy- self also in the Lord ; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord ; trust also in him, and he shall bring it to pass : and he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noon-day.
IT might be supposed that God, the righteous Governor of the universe, would in this world dis- tinguish his people from his enemies by his visible dispensations towards them: but he does not: he suffers "all things to come alike to all; so that none can discern either love or hatred by all that is before them^." This is often a stumbling-block to the righteous, who are apt to be discouraged, when they see the prosperity of the wicked, and are themselves suffering all manner of adversity. David was at one time greatly dejected, or rather, 1 should say, offended, at this very thing ; and was led to ima- gine that he had served God for nought''. To guard us arainst such mistaken views of Providence, and against the feelings which they are wont to excite in the breast, he wrote this psalm. That we may
not
» £ccl. ix. 1*^-2. " Ps. kxiii. 1—14.