for the benefit of their fellow-creatures. It is obvious that individuals of small property could not, without assistance from others, relieve the necessities of the poor to any great extent : and if they could not administer some temporal relief, they could not find easy access to the chambers of the sick. But being furnished with the means of easy access, they can pour the light of instruction and the balm of consolation into the souls of the afi^icted to great advantage ; and the persons so instructed and comforted, not only abound in thanksgivings to God for the benefits received, but in prayers to God in behalf of their benefactors. This St. Paul speaks of, as ennobling charity far beyond the mere conveyance of temporal relief*
Now, then, let me ask, How can you honour God more,
tlian in causing thanksgivings to arise to him from the altars of many hearts ? and, What compensation under heaven can equal the prayers and intercessions of saints in your behalf? Put your alms in one scale, and the prayers oflTered to a pruTjer- heariug God in the other, and say whether your recompence be not very abundant, or whether it is possible to lay out money in any other way to such advantage ? Let all of you, then, according to your power, "abound in this heavenly grace" of charity, after the example of your blessed Lord ; " who, though he was rich, yet for your sakes became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich"." Only get a sense of his love upon your souls, and a " sincere love to him" in return, and we shall have no occasion to entreat liberality from you ; for " you yovirselves will be willing of your own accord, and will be ready to pray us, with much entreaty, that we will take upon ourselves the office of ministering to the saints" as your stewards'^.]
t 2 Cor. ix. 12, 13. Cite ify^e wor^Zs, and mark what is said of their thanksgivings and prayers.
^ 2 Cor. viii. 9. ^ 9 Cor. viii. 3—8.