acceptance before God : for, as the Jews were not at liberty to offer sacrifice any where but upon the altar in Jerusalem'", so neither can we present to God any sacrifice but on this altar, the Lord Jesus Christ, who alone can sanctify our gifts, and render them in any respect worthy of God's acceptance". Of this it becomes us to have as distinct a conception as the Jews themselves had ; and never for a moment to approach our God without a deep conviction upon our minds, that in Christ only can either our persons or our services be ever pleasing in the sight of our God°.]
2. Of beneficence to man —
[This also is a duty incumbent on us. God has so ordered in his providence, that there shall always be some who shall stand in need of assistance, and others, who, as his almoners, shall be enabled to dispense the benefits which are required^ ; that by a free exercise of benevolent affections there may be such a measure of equality produced, as may best subserve the interests of the whole '3. Hence, " to do good, and to commu- nicate," is an employment in which we should be daily occupied, each of us according to our ability. The poorest, as well as the richest, should, as far as God has enabled him, find delight in this duty"^. Nor should we ever be so engaged in exercises of devotion, as to forget that we have duties to our fellow- creatures, which, in their place, are of equal importance with devotion itself. We may find it good to be on Mount Tabor : but we must not protract our stay there, when there is work to be done by us in the plains below ^ The duties of the second table must not be overlooked, any more than those of the first : nor can any measure of delight in God ever justify us in neglecting the offices of love to man. Liberality to the poor, especially when offered upon this altar, the Lord Jesus Christ, is as pleasing to God as any other oflfering whatever. Such was St. Paul's view of the succours which he had received from the Christians at Philippi ; which he represents as " an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, and well-pleasing to God*." But this also must be offered only through the Lord Jesus Christ : if presented as in itself good and accept- able, it would be rejected of God with as much abhorrence as the bribe of Simon Magus was by the Apostle Peter". The direction given by God himself, and which must never in any case be forgotten, is this; " Whatsoever ye do in word or deed,
m Deut. xii, 13, 14. " John xiv. 6.
0 1 Pet. ii. 5. P Deut. xv. 11.
1 2 Cor. viii. 14, 15. with Exod. xvi. 16 — 18.
r 2 Cor. viii. 2 — 4, 12. » Matt. xvii. 1 — 5.
t Phil. iv. 18. u Acts viii. 18—20.