on the care of heaven. If tempted at any moment to repine, they learn to say, ' " Shall a living man complain ? " If I had my desert, it is not bodily sustenance that I should want, but
a drop of water to cool my tongue in hell I see the
birds, that plow not, nor sow, nor gather into barns, have food in due season provided for them : why, then, should I despond ? The God that feedeth the ravens, can feed, me : and he will rather send me food by the very ravens themselves, than suffer me to want what he sees to be good for me.'
The rich, too, are taught most invaluable lessons by what they see around them. From beholding the distresses of others, they learn to sympathize with the afflicted — (what an invaluable lesson is that !) They learn, also, self-denial, which they gladly practise, " that they may have to give to him that needeth." And I hesitate not to say, that they have more ex- quisite pleasure in any instance of self-denial, than any person upon earth has in the most unbridled self-indulgence. But what shall I say of the delight they feel in acts of beneficence ? This is the very occupation, if I may so speak, of God himself, " who is good to all, and whose tender mercy is over all his works." This, too, is pre-eminently the point in which they are confonned to the image of " their Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ ; who, though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor, that we, through his poverty, might be rich^."
And now tell me, I pray you, whether these different classes be not greatly benefited, when called to the exercise of such graces; for which there would be -comparatively no scope, if these inequalities in providence did not exist? ]
2. They bring to God the greatest possible acqui- sition of glory —
[Take all these persons in their respective stations ; and see how all of them admire and adore God for the manifesta- tions which he thus gives of his providence and grace ; the poor, in having their wants so seasonably supplied ; and the rich, in being made God's honoured instruments of good to
man This is very particularly noticed by St. Paul, in
the following context ; and in comparison of this honour ac- cruing to God, the relief conferred upon the poor he accounts as nothing : " The administration of this service," says he, ** not only supplieth the want of the saints, (that is comparatively a small matter,) but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God ; while, by the experiment of this ministration, they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men ; and by their prayer for you, who long after you for
e ver. 9.