We may clearly see from hence,
1. From whence proceeds that leanness, of which so many complain —
[Many complain, that, notwithstanding the Gospel is so rich in its blessings, they are not happy. But I believe it will be generally found, that they who complain thus live only for themselves. I think it almost impossible that they who live for God and for their fellow-creatures should not be happy. Such circumstances as Job's may exist, but they are rare ; and
f Heb. vi. 10, 11. b Prov. xix. 17. ^ Luke vi. 38.
* Jsai, Iviii. 10, 11. ^ \ Tim. vi. 18, 19. ' Ezek. xxxiv. 2G.
even he himself endured them but for a time. Examine, then, your state as before God, and see whether you possess the dis- positions of wliich my text speaks : for, if you do not, how is it possible that you should have any blessing from the Lord ? Hear what Job would have thought of such a state as yours : " If I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail ; or have eaten my morsel alone, and the fatherless have not eaten thereof; if I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any poor without covering ; if his loins have not blessed me, and if he were not warmed with the fleece of my sheep; then let mine arm fall from the shoulder- blade, and mine arm be broken from the bone'"." What you sow, you must expect to reap: and if you "sow but sparingly," in the way of love and mercy, " you shall reap but sparingly" of those blessings which the God of love and mercy will bestow.]
2. What encouragement we have to proceed in the work before us —
[The charity which I would propose to your support is
worthy of all the aid which you can afford to give it"
And for your encouragement, I will appeal to all : Who amongst you ever abounded in liberality, without fi,nding it a source of joy? or who ever watered others, without being himself watered
of the Lord ? If I considered only the charity before us,
I should urge you to be liberal : but I chiefly urge it because " I desire fruit that may abound to your account"."]
ra Job xxxi. 16 — 22.
" Here enter into a description of the particular charity : and if it be a Benevolent Society, address separately the Contributors who "give," and the Visitors who "water." " Phil. iv. 17.