that we are at liberty to disregard it, as though it had no force at all. There can be no doubt but that the Baptist intended to inculcate a very tender compassion towards our indigent fellow-creatures, and a very enlarged exercise of liberality for their relief. To obtain, with as much precision as the subject is capable of, the true import of bis words, we shall adduce from other parts of Scripture, but especially from the writings of the same Evangelist,
1. Some other passages of similar tendency — [First, we shall notice one or two that are also figurative8
■ — There can be no doubt but that these require a very
high degree of liberality to the poor, since they were actually
practised in their strictest sense by the first Christians11
From these we may turn to others that are more plain1
What an accumulation of words is there in the former of these passages to encourage our compliance with the precept ; and
what a gracious benediction in the latter! To the rich
there is an especial charge given to be bountifulk ; but it is not to them only that this duty belongs ; but to those also who gain a daily subsistence by their manual labour1. To all, according to their ability, it equally appertains; for, on the foresight of a dearth in Judaea, all the disciples of Antioch, every one according to his ability, contributed instantly to their relief111.]
2. Some examples which are set forth for our imitation —
[That of Zaccheus is particularly to our purpose, because he was just converted to the faith of Christ, and because our blessed Lord himself acknowledged this heavenly disposition to be an evidence of his having actually obtained acceptance
with his God11 But the example of the Macedonian
Churches is yet more pertinent; because it is an example, not of an individual, but of whole Churches ; and those, not in a state of ease and opulence, but of great affliction and deep poverty ; and because it is expressly set forth for the imitation of others, who are called upon to imitate it, in order to prove the sincerity of their love to Christ0. By carefully com- paring these several passages, we see clearly what our duty is:
g Luke xii. 33, 34. and xiv. 12 — 14.
h Acts ii. 44, 45. and iv. 32 — 37. ' Luke vi. 38. and xi. 41. k 1 Tim. vi. 18, 19. ] Eph. iv. 28.
111 Acts xi. 28 — 30. n Luke xix. 8, 9.
0 2 Cor. via. 1—4, 8, 9.