with them and desire to relieve them, as any one member of our body would feel towards any other that had sustained an injury. We should " look, not on our own things only, but every one also on the things of others ;" '* bearing their bur- thens," and being as ready to participate their sorrows as their joys. The language of our hearts should ever be in unison with that of Job, " Did not I weep for him that was in trouble ? was not my soul grieved for the poor ^ ?" This is a spirit which all must have, v^^hatever be their situation and circumstances in life : and if we can " behold our brother in need, and shut up our bowels of compassion from him," it may well be asked, " How dwelleth the love of God in us^?"]
2. A spirit of benevolence —
[This is a disposition of a higher kind. There is a natural tenderness in many, and a susceptibility of impression from tales of woe, at the same time that they are not active in searching out opportunities of exercising their benevolent affections. But our feelings towards mankind should resemble those of a tender mother, who needs not to have her sensibilities called forth by any distressing accident : she loves her child, and delights in administering to its wants : her regards are spontaneously exercised towards it ; and, if she see any occa- sion for more than ordinary attention, she finds her own hap- piness in contributing to the happiness of her child. Thus, if we saw one to whom a gift or loan was necessary, we should be ready, at the very first intimation of the case, to stretch forth towards him the hand of charity, conceiving ourselves more blessed in an opportunity of imparting good, than he can be in receiving it at our hands. In a word, we should tread in the steps of our adorable Lord, who " went about doing good ;" and, like the sun in its course, should exist only for the benefit of others, and diffuse happiness wheresoever we come.]
3. A spirit of generosity —
[Particular occasions must be met with a zeal propor- tioned to them. It may be, that some urgent necessity has arisen, and that a great effort is requisite to sustain an afflicted brother. Or, it may be a season of general distress, when the multitude of those who need our assistance calls for more than ordinary exertions to relieve them. We have an instance of this in the primitive Church. The Jews were so inveterate against their brethren who embraced Christianity, that they would, if possible, have deprived them of all means of subsist- ence : but the richer converts, who had lands or houses, sold them, and put all their money into one common stock ; thus
a Job XXX. 25. ^ 1 John iii. \7-