towards God or man. We have none towards God : for St. John says, " Whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, lioiv divelleth the love of God in himh ?" Nor can we have any real love towards our fellow-creature : for St. James saith, " If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled ; notwithstanding, ye give them not those things which are needful to the body ; what doth it profit1?" Nor, in fact, can we have any true religion at all : for St. James again saith : " Pure religion and undefined before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction k." Indeed, I must add yet further, that we can have no hope before God in the day of judgment : for our Lord will say to those who have neglected these offices of love, " Inasmuch as ye did it not to the least of these my brethren, ye did it not to me : and therefore depart accursed into ever- lasting fire1." I do then most solemnly recommend to you, my brethren, that you very especially attend to this duty at all times, and under all circumstances. And, when I strike this chord, saying, " Remember the poor," I do hope that in your hearts there will be found a corresponding string, that shall vibrate at the touch ; and that every one of you will reply, 'This is the very thing which I myself am forward to do.']
2. It is that which the present occasion more par- ticularly calls for — m
To conclude — Unite in your own hearts the blessed dispositions which are here exhibited. Cultivate,
1. A spirit of candour towards those who differ from you —
[There is in many a narrowness of mind, like that of the Apostles, when " they forbad a man to cast out devils, because he followed not with them." It cannot be expected that all should think alike on matters of minor importance : nor should you be grieved with any because they move not exactly in your way. There is no need that you should adopt the forms of those who differ from you : you must all judge and act for yourselves : but you should concede to others the liberty which you claim ; and " bid God speed to all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity."]
h 1 John iii. 17. { Jam. ii. 15, 16.
k Jam. i. 27. ' Matt. xxv. 40, 41.
m Here state the particulars of the Charity for which you plead ; and urge on the audience either its necessities or its use.