2. That what measure we mete to others, we may expect to have meted to ourselves —
[Mankmd at large feel a far greater disposition to exert themselves in behalf of a man of active benevolence, than they do for one whose regards have terminated on himself alone. But it is not on the good dispositions of men that we are called to rely. God himself has engaged, that what we do for others, he will accept as done to himself; and " that what wo lend to him, he will repay us again." Very remarkable are his promises to this effect : " Blessed is he that considereth the poor : the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble. The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive : and he shall be blessed upon the earth : and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. The Lord ivill strengthen him ujwn the bed of la7iguishing ; and make all his bed in his sickness '." The language of the Prophet Isaiah is yet stronger still : " If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, (observe, it is not our money only, but our soul, with all its tenderest emotions, that is to be drawn forth,) and if thou satisfy the afflicted soul ; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon-day : and the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones : and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not''." Here Almighty God himself is pledged to recompense into our bosom the kindness which we shew to others : and " he will recompense it in full measure, pressed down, and running over." If then we would have consolations ministered to us in our troubles, let us labour to impart them to our afflicted brethren : for " what we sow, we shall reap ;" if we supply the wants of others, God will supply ours'; and if "we cast our bread upon the waters, we shall be sure to find it after many days."]
For your direction in reference to this duty, we beg leave to offer the following hints : 1. Do not undervalue the grace of charity — [It is too often overlooked, not only by the world at large, but also by many who profess godliness ; who imagine, that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is all that is needful for their best interests. But let me say, that, whatever faith a man may have, *' if he have not love also, real, active, self- denying love, he is no better than sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." Only recollect how great a stress St. James lays on " visiting the fatherless and widows in their affliction," when he declares, that " pure and undefiled religion" mainly consists
i Ps. xli. 1—3. k Isai. Iviii. 10, 11. ' Phil. iv. 14, 19.