must certainly be supposed ; else the liberality, however great, will only turn to the confusion of him who exercises it, and prove a foundation of sand to him who builds upon it : but, supposing the person's state to be right before God in other respects, and his motives to be pure in the distribution of his alms, we do not hesitate to say, that he treasures up a rich reward for himself in the day that Christ shall judge the world ; insomuch that a cup of cold water only that has been given by him from right principles, " shall in no wise lose its reward." Jehovah himself in that day shall make a feast, a marriage-feast for his Son : and to it will he invite those who for his sake provided for the poor. There shall they sit down with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob ; and be regaled with all the delights of Paradise. Well is it said in reference to that day, " Blessed are they which are called to the marriage-supper of the Lambp." Yes; in the words of our text it is said, " Thou shalt be blessed ;" but how blessed the liberal man shall be, none but God himself can fully declare.]
We sum up the whole in two words of advice —
1. Accept God's invitations to you —
[You have already heard that in his Gospel he has spread a feast, even " a feast of fat things full of marrow, and of wines on the lees well refined q." The persons whom he invites are, not " the rich who think themselves in need of nothing, but the wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked1." As his servants, we invite you all ; and declare to you, that the poorer you are, and the more unworthy in your own appre- hensions, the more acceptable you will be at his table. Need I say how much God will be delighted to see his table fur- nished with guests ? Hear his own invitation : hear how he pleads with you, and entreats you to accept it ; hear how he expatiates on the delicacies he has provided for your repast s. He sets before you nothing less than the body and blood of his dear Son ; which Christ himself says, is " meat indeed, and drink indeed'." Think of this, and let nothing for a moment delay your coming.]
2. Conform vour invitations to his —