injured, or from deceiving them by " vain promises" of com- pensation ; and to " break entirely every yoke," whereby they had galled and oppressed their brethren — these were the very first acts required to evince the sincerity of their repentance; since with the commission of such cruelties not the smallest measure of real penitence could consist.
But to the reformation of these habits God required them to add the exercise of mercy. They must " feed the hungry and clothe the naked," and consider every child of man as a brother whom they should regard " as their own flesh:" they were to take the most destitute of the human race, and " bring him, if occasion so required, to their own house," for the purpose of affording him more effectual relief: they were to feel such sympathy with him, as to " draw out," not merely their purse, but even " their very souls," for his relief; and so to apportion their benevolence, as to aim at not merely com- forting, but " satisfying, his afflicted soul." This is the spirit which God loves; this he approves infinitely beyond all out- ward services of whatever kind; and this he required of his people, as the best proof of a regenerate heart, and as the surest evidence of their love to him.]
Such a change as this, he assured them, should bring down upon their souls the richest blessings.
[They might have seasons of darkness and distress, even as others ; or they might be calumniated by evil men, yea, and be harassed by cruel persecutions: but, if they abounded in the heavenly dispositions before specified, " their light should break forth as the morning, and their darkness be as the noon- day; yea, their health should spring forth speedily;" and they should experience in their own souls far richer consolations than they ever did, or could, administer to their afflicted brethren: " their righteousness, which had been impeached, should go before them," to testify their real character; and " the glory of the Lord should be their rereward," interposing between them and their persecutors, like the cloud and pillar of fire, for their effectual preservation and protection. What- ever they might want, they should have liberty of access to God for it ; and upon their crying to him for it, he would present himself before them, saying, " Here I am; here I am; and whatever thou wantest I will give thee." Should they be in doubt how to act, " the Lord would guide them con- tinually:" should they be in any particular necessity or distress, he would " satisfy their souls in drought, and even make fat their bones," insomuch that their graces should flourish " like a well-watered garden," and their consolations abound " like a spring of water whose waters fail not."]