exists, it will be a pleasure to contribute towards the carrying on a work of such incalculable importance. When St. Paul went up to confer with the Apostles at Jerusalem, they added nothing to his knowledge of the Gospel ; " only they would that he should remember the poor: the same which I also (says he) was forward to do*^." To you then would we recom- mend 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 comforting the poor : but all, even the widow with a single mite, may testify their love to the poor, and their desire to advance the good work in which a select number are engaged. Even those who are " in deep poverty may abound unto the riches of liberality^" Let all then " prove the sincerity of their 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."]
k Gal. i. 10. 1 2 Cor. viii. 1—4. m 2 Cor. viii. 8.
Ps. xxxvi. 1. The transgressioii of the wicked saith ivithin my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
WHEN we speak of the wickedness of mankind, that command of our Lord is frequently cast in our teeth, " Judge not, that ye be not judged." But this command refers to an uncharitable ascribing of good actions to a bad principle ; which, as we cannot see the heart, we are by no means authorized to do. But, if it do not authorize us to " call good evil," it assuredly does not require us to " call evil good." If we see sin, it is no uncharitableness to pronounce it sin : and, if the sin be habitual, it is no uncharita- bleness to say, that the heart from which it proceeds is bad and depraved. We are told by our Lord, that " the tree is to be judged of by its fruit ; and that as a corrupt tree cannot bring forth good fruit, so nei- ther can a good tree habitually bring forth evil fruit ^" An error, and even a fault may be committed, with- out detracting from a person's general character : but a sinful course of life involves in it, of necessity, a
a Matt. vii. 16 — 18.