the exceeding grace of God in you." And then he adds, with a heart overflowing with gratitude to God, " Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift^l"
Now, if there were no such inequalities, there would be no scope for the rectifying of them ; and, consequently, none for the adorations and thanksgivings offered unto God by those for whom he had so mercifully interposed. Say, then, whe- ther these inequalities be not, on the whole, an unspeakable blessing to mankind ; and whether, instead of repining at them, we ought not to adore and magnify our God, who makes such use of them, for the exercise of such grace, and for the manifestation of such glory unto men ?]
Let me not, however, forget your necessities, bre- thren, whilst I plead for the rehef of others : but let me entreat you,
1. To seek from God the suppHes which you your- selves need —
[None of your fellow-creatures, how destitute soever they may be in respect of temporal necessities, are half so neces- sitous as you, in relation to your spiritual condition. In this respect, all, whether rich or poor, are on a level. Truly, there is a sad "equality" with respect to this: all being not only "wretched and miserable," in a general view, but " poor, and blind, and naked," in particular. And who shall give you relief? Shall any fellow-creature be able to succour you ? No : the best man on earth has " no more oil in his vessel than is needful for himself." There is no help for any man, but " in Christ Jesus, in whom it has pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell ;" and " from whose fulness he has ordained us to receive." Get then, I pray you, brethren, a just sense of your necessities ; and look to Christ for a supply of them : for " he is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you, having always all-sufficiency in all things, may abound unto every good work^."]
2, To impart to your fellow-creatures the relief which they need —
[The occasion is indeed urgent'^ And I may well
call upon you to impart out of your abundance, according to your ability. Of course, some of you are able to give but little: but, "if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not'." This, however, I must say, " He that soweth
<■ 2 Cor. ix. 12—15. e 2 Cor. ix. 8.
^ Here the occasion, whatever it may be, should be set forth.
' ver. 12.