should afford us no pleasure, in comparison of devoting it to pious purposes : for, if it is more blessed to give it away, than to receive the most needful supplies, much more must the giving it away render us more blessed than either the spending or the saving of it can do. This is manifestly the scope of the divine aphorism in the text; and on this estimate of wealth our principles should be formed. It should be an established maxim with us, that to do good is to receive good, and to exercise love is to be truly blessed.]
2. To regulate our practice —
[Let the fore-mentioned principle be duly considered: and, when we are fully persuaded that to do good is the surest way to receive good, we shall gladly embrace every opportunity of benefiting others, and of getting good to ourselves.
Behold then, an opportunity now offers itself to every one of you ! and, in the name of our adorable Lord, we entreat you both to confer, and to receive, blessedness.
First, confer blessedness1 Think that perhaps your
present generosity may be overruled, not merely for the tem- poral relief of a distressed brother, but for the everlasting sal- vation of some immortal soul. O let this thought stimulate you to the most cheerful and beneficent exertions.
If any say, " I have nothing but what I earn by manual labour ; and even that is little more than suffices for my own necessities ;" I answer, This is the very case stated by St. Paul, who determines that such persons ought to give according to their ability s; and, in the very verse before the text, he tells us how he himself acted under those circumstances; and then he adds, " I have shewed you, that, so labouring, ye ought to support the weak'."
Next, receive blessedness. We have hitherto spoken on behalf of our indigent and afflicted brethren. But we must change our voice : it is not for them, so much as for you, that we preach : yes, you who are opulent, you who have the means of doing good, you are the persons to whom we preach, and for whom we preach. Receive blessedness, I say ; far greater blessedness than it is in your power to confer on others. Strengthen in yourselves the habits of benevolence. Imitate Him " who went about doing good ;" Him, " who, though he was rich, yet for your sakes became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich11." Imitate the God and Father of the universe, whose tender mercy is over all his works.
r If this be a Charity Sermon, it will be proper in this place to shew the particular nature of the charity, and what blessings are likely to accrue from it.
8 Eph. iv. 28. t ver> 34( 3r)t u o Cor. viii. 9.
1804. J Paul's readiness to suffer for christ. 531
Go, and put your money into his hands : for, " what you give to the poor, you lend unto the Lord; and he will pay it you again \ It is " fruit that will abound to your own account Kn It you trust in your wealth, it will be a foundation of sand, a broken reed : but do good with it, and you will « lay up in store for yourselves a good foundation against the time to come2. Whether then ye covet present or future happiness, remember the words of the Lord Jesus," and shew the love to others which he has shewn to you3.]
* Prov. xix. 17. y Phil. iv. 14.
z 1 Tim. vi. 18, 19. a John xiii- 34>