and self-denial,- till they have executed their engagements, and fulfilled their word.]
2. To those who impart it —
[It sometimes happens, that even in the generous mind a niggardly thought will arise, and a backwardness to exercise the benevolence that is called for. Against such thoughts God has very strongly cautioned us": and we shall do well to be on our guard against them. We should be careful " not to be weary in well-doing." We should remem- ber, that God himself is pledged for the repayment of all that we either give or lend, provided we act from a principle of faith and love°. The best means of preventing such an evil thought is certainly to get the soul impressed with a sense of Christ's
love in dying for us? But, next to that, it will be well
to reflect, that we are only stewards of what we possess ; and that, though no individual has an absolute claim upon us, the poor at large have: a portion of our property is their " due," and we ought to pay it without delay "J. Let then every one lay by a portion of his income for benevolent uses'^, and bear in mind, that both his present and future happiness will be aug- mented in proportion to his liberality ^]
" Deut. XV. 7 — 11. o Prov. xix. 17. P 2 Cor. viii. 9.
<J Prov. iii. 27, 28. r 1 Cor. xvi. 2. s 2 Cor. ix. 6, 7.
Matt. V. 43 — 48. Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shall love thy neiglihour, arid hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despite- fully use you, and persecute you ; that ye may be the children of your Father ivhich is in heaven : for he maketh his sun to rise 071 the evil and on the good, and sendeth raifi on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye ? do not even the Publicans the same ? And if ye salute your brethren only, ivhat do ye more than others? do not even the Publicans so ? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
IT is well said by the Psalmist, that " the com- mandment of God is exceeding broad ;" since it reaches to every disposition of the mind, and requires infinitely more than man, in his present weak and