as an example highly to be admu-ed, and universally to be followed^. As for the Macedonians, who were proposed as an example to the Corinthians, their generosity exceeded all belief: for when in great affliction^ and in a state of deep poverty, they abounded unto the riches of liberality, and of their own selves, without any solicitation on the part of the Apostle, besought him with much entreaty to take upon him the distribution of their alms^. Nothing can give us a higher idea of the excellence of charity than this.]
3. In a way of encouragement —
[God assures us, that " whatever v/e give to the poor, we lend unto the Lord ; and that he will, in one way or another, repay us again '^." He will repay us, even in a xvay of temporal prosperity : for the giving of " the first-fruits of all our increase to the poor is the way, not to empty our barns, but to fill them with plenty, and to make our presses burst out with new wine'." Still more will he repay us in a way of spiritual pro- sperity ; since, " if we draw out our soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, he will satisfy our souls in cbought, and make fat our bones, and make us like a watered garden, or like a spring of water, whose waters fail not'^." Even with eternal reivards will he repay us, " recompensing, at the resur- rection of the just," the smallest services we have rendered his people', and not suiFering " even a cup of cold water to be left without its appropriate reward™."
I say then, with assured confidence in reference to this matter, " Cast your seed upon the waters ; and you shall find it after many days."]
But we may understand our text as encouraging our exertions also,
II. For the advancement of men's mental improve- ment—
To this the same image is applied by the prophet Isaiah ; who gives us this additional information, that persons, previous to their casting of their seed upon the waters, send forth their oxen and their asses to tread the ground with their feet, in order the better to prepare the earth for its reception : " Blessed are ye who sow beside all waters, that send forth thither the feet of the ox and the ass"." Now this refers to the publication of the Gospel in every place, however
f Mark xii. 42, 43. s 2 Cor. viii. 1 — 4. ^ Prov. xix. 17.
' Prov. iii. 9, 10. ^ Isai. Iviii. 10, 11. i Luke xiv. 14.
>» Matt. X. 42. n Isai. xxxii. 20.