he might serve and honour God in the work of the ministry ; so might she be well content to live on earth again, seeing that her opportunities of benefiting the poor, and honouring God, and advancing her own eternal welfare, would be thus prolonged.]
Address —
1. Those who are living for themselves —
[This is the state of mankind at large ; " all men seek
their own, and not the things of Jesus Christk" But
this is highly criminal : our time, our talents, our very bodies and souls, are the Lord's, and must be altogether employed
for his glory1 All profession of religion unaccompanied
with activity in good works, is vain m. The very intent of the Gospel is to make us diligent in the performance of them11; nor can we ever answer the design of our Lord's sufferings, if we do not live, not unto ourselves, but unto Him that died for us and rose again0."]
2. Those who profess to be living unto God —
[Study, like Dorcas, how you can be most useful to the poor: consider their wants, and how you may most effectually relieve them. In " bearing the burthens of others, you fulfil the law of Christ;" and, in truth, you best consult your own happiness. Who that reads the character of Jobp, must not envy his happiness, as well as admire his piety? Verily there is a delight in acts of benevolence, which cannot be procured by any other means. Let all then who profess religion, shew forth their faith by their works. The poor may do their part, as well as the richq; and shall " be accepted" according to their respective abilities1.]
* Phil. ii. 21. i 1 Cor. vi. 19, 20.
m Jam. ii. 13 — 17. Matt. vii. 21. n Tit. hi. 8, 9, 14.
0 2 Cor. v. 15. and Rom. xiv. 7 — 9. P Job xxix. 11 — 13.
i Eph. iv. 28. r 2 Cor. viii. 12.