n 2 Cor. ix. 6. » Matt. vii. 13, 14. P Pro v. i. 18.
<l Prov. viii. 36. ^ Ps. cxxvi. 5, G.
Prov. xi. 25. The liberal soul shall he made fat : and he that watereth shall be ivatered also himself.
IF only we be careful to divest our statements of every thing which carries with it the idea of merit, it is scarcely possible to speak too strongly in praise of liberality, as lovely in itself, and as acceptable to God. To speak of it as contributing in any degi'ee to justify the soul before God, would doubtless be a fatal error ; but as rewardable, and certain to be rewarded both in this life and the life to come, we ought to speak of it : and the squeamish jealousy which is entertained on this head, and which fears to declare all that God's blessed word contains upon the subject, is, in my apprehension, extremely erroneous and unbecoming.
The words which I have just read will lead me to shew you,
I. The spirit we should possess —
In my text we see a spirit of hberahty, and a spirit of benevolence; the one constituting an internal prin- ciple in the soul, the other displaying itself in active exertions towards all within our sphere. Let me call your attention, then, to,
1 . A spirit of liberality —
[The liberal hand is good ; but the liberal soul is far better : and this it is wliich every Christian should possess. We should consider all that we have as so many talents com- mitted to us by our heavenly Master, to be improved for him. Our time, our property, our influence, should all be considered his ; and nothing as really ours, but the honour and happi- ness of employing all for God. We can easily conceive what the feelings of an angel would be, if he were sent from heaven to dispense blessings of any kind : there would be no grudging of his time and labour, nor would there be any pride and self-complacency in his mind on account of his fidelity in the execution of his office. He would consider himself simply as God's servant ; and find all his delight in doing the will of Him who sent him, and in being instrumental to the welfare of mankind. If this appear too strong an image, I must say, Instead of being too strong, it falls far short of the example wliich our blessed Lord has set before us : " Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, though he was rich, yet for your sakes became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich^." This is the true standard at which we should aim ; even such a delight in advancing the welfare of others, as disposes us to encounter whatever self-denial may be requisite for the attainment of our end. This may properly be called " a liberal soul."]
2. A spirit of benevolence —
[Principles in the heart must shew themselves by actions in the life. To " water others" should be the employment of us all. The whole world is the garden of the Lord. All of us are his plants ; and all of us his husbandmen, that should be occupied in watering the plants around us. Whether our capacity for exertion be greater or less, we should endeavour to improve it for God and man. If we have but one talent, we should not hide it in a napkin, but employ it for the Lord. We should consider what it is that every plant around us wants, in order that we may minister, as far as we are able, to its necessities. Does any need instruction, or comfort, or temporal relief? We should adapt our labours to his
=1 2 Cor. viii. 9.
no PROVERBS, XL 25. [ill.
necessities, and look to God for his blessing on our endeavours. Day by day the earthly husbandman is so occupied ; and it is an employnient in which we should daily engage, and of wliich we never should be weary. At the close of every day we should have the same testimony from conscience as holy Job enjoyed : " When the ear heard me, then it blessed me ; and when the eye saw me, it gave witness to me : because I de- livered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me ; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I put on righteousness, and it clothed me : my judg- ment was as a robe and a diadem. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame. I was a father to the poor ; and the cause which I knew not, I searched out^."]