better effect than if you were to bestow your alms upon the poor with your own hands, unless you could at the same time inquire into all the circumstances of their different cases, and stop to unite spiritual instruction with your temporal relief. These persons, like the elders at Jerusalem, cannot, out of their own funds, do good to any great extent ; nor would their visits be well received by the poor, if they tendered nothing but good advice: but, when they can impart also some relief for the body, they are more kindly welcomed as instructors for the soul: the hearts, as well as the houses, of the poor are easier of access, when the way is smoothed by " a gift in the bosom."]
3. Similar obligations to exercise it — [They felt the force of redeeming love; and judged that they administered to Christ himself, whilst they relieved him in his distressed members. And are these motives to bene- volence lessened by the lapse of time ? Are not we as much bound to devote ourselves, and all that we have, to Christ, as they could be ? In some respects, our obligations to exert ourselves are greater than theirs : for the sole object of their benevolence was, to bestow temporal relief; whereas that, though an important, is a subordinate, consideration with us, who aim principally at promoting the eternal welfare of our fellow-creatures. If then we profess to love the Lord Jesus Christ, let us now approve our love to him, by our zealous exertions, and liberal contributions0.]
c This IId head of the discourse might be treated thus ;
1. We have a similar occasion for benevolence.
2. Let us exercise it in the same manner with readiness, with generosity — with a special regard to Christ as our common Head and Saviour.