[The commands of God relative to these things are clear and express: " Come out from the world, and be separate, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a fatlier unto y^u, and ye shall be my sons and daugh- ters, saith the Lord Almighty \" Nor is the law respecting sympathy at all less forcibly enjoined: *' Bear ye one an- other's burthens, and so fulfil the law of Christ%"
In a word, I call upon you all to obey these great com- mands. Remember, it is not to any peculiarities of a sect that we are urging you, but to that Mhich God himself dig- nifies with the name of "pure and undefiled religion."
Say not, "Tliisis not my office: I cannot thus come out from the world, nor can I thus devote myself to deeds of charity." I readily grant that all cannot consecrate an equal measure of their time or property to these oflSces : but no man in the universe has any dispensation from devoting such a measure of his time and property to these things as his situation and circumstances will admit of. The command is equally obligatory on all : and a disposition to obey it ought to be equally strong on all: the various modes of our obedi- ence will be judged of by God himself, who alone knows what our respective states and circumstances require. But this I say, " He that soweth liberally shall reap liberally ; and he that soMCth sparingly, shall reap also sparingly." Respect- ing the excellence of such religion I dare appeal to your own consciences. See a person, whether of higher or lower rank, laying aside the cares and pleasures of the world, and visit- ing the abodes of misery: See the disconsolate " widow, and the helpless children," bemoaning their bereavement, whilst to the anguish occasioned by so severe a loss, the pressure of poverty is added; and, to the want of immediate sustenance, the prospect of permanent and irremediable distress : See the compassionateVisitor opening the sources of consolation which the Gospel affords, till the unhappy sufferers are brought to kiss the rod that smites them : See him administering present re- lief, and devising means for the future support of the family: How is he received as an angel from heaven ! And how docs " the widow's heart even sing with joy," whilst she acknow- ledges the hand of God in these succours, and, with feelings too big for utterance, adores her Heavenly Benefactor ! Go ye. Beloved, to such scenes as these, and ye will soon begin to see the beauty of religion, and to understand that para- dox, " It is more blessed to give than to receive." Yea, realize one such scene as this, and ye will need no fiu'ther per- sxiasion to assist the charity before us, or to emidate the zeal of those who are most active in it*.]
' 2 Cor. vi. 17, 18. ' Gal.vi. 2.
* The particular Institution may here be more fully opened and be fuiilicr recommended by either local, or general, considerations.