II. GRATITUDE To Gon. For his greP.t and manifold gifts to us, e8pecle.lly the.t of hia Son, with all the unspeake.hle blessings which come to us with and through him, If duly sPnsible of whe.t we he.ve received from God, we sbe.U be eager to make him such ret.um, poor thoup:h it is, as ie possible to us, a.nd she.ll feel that we can never do enough for him who hu done so much for us. III. LovE TO Gc>D AND MAN, The subste.nce of true religion. Love to God, awakened and kept alive by his love to us and by increasing knowledge of his all-perfect and lovely chamcter, will _produce love for his worship, his people, his cause in the world, our fe\low- men. In helpmg these by deed and gift, we offer sacrifices to him (Phil. ii. 17; iv. 18 • Heh. xiii. 16), and aU who love him will offer such sacrifices. In proportion to th~ ardour of their love will be the measure of their services ; and they will never grow weary of them, since love makes them a delight. IV. JusTICE TO OTHERS, The worship of God cannot he maintained, .nor his ldngdom extended, nor his will as to the poor done, without cost of various ldndR, in which it is right that all should do their pa.rt according to their capabilities. If some shirk their dut_v, others may he compelled to do more than fairly belongs to them. The thouaht 0 of this will move each to take his proper share of gift or labour. V. THE EXAMPLE OF OTHERS. 1. The liberal, expenditure of some on their idols. Heathen. Worldly men. Ourselves, perhaps, before we were converted. 2. The liberality Qf many Ohristi=. In every circle a few are known who are generous in deed or gift, or both, in the 1,ervice of God and the poor. Their zeal incites others by the power of sympathy and the feeling that they are themselves under equal obligation to their Sa.viour and their God. 3. The cost at which multitudes of Ohristians have had to serve God. In times of persecution their religion has cost many their property, liberty, or lives ; ll.Ild they have home the cost bravely and gladly (Heh. x; 34:; Acts vi. 41; Phil. ii. 17; Col. ii. 24). Shame on ns if we grudge the much smaller cost of religion to 116. 4 . .Above all, tl,e example of our Lo,·d and Saviour; (2 Cor, viii. 9; Titus ii, 14.) Remembrance of the cost to him of our opportunity of serving God acceptably will strengthen us when t.empted to make our religion as cheap as possible. :.: VL PERCEPTION OF THE WORT.BLESS!."ESS OF .A RELIGION TH.AT COSTS US NOTHING, 1i It is unreal. .A mere name and pretence. Real religion begins and is maintained at the cost of much thought, feeling, and prayer. Where it exists it must move the heart. to zeal and generosity in the service of God, cannot hut manifest itself in works and gifts. 2. It is 1-inaccept,a,ble to GfJd. In.st.ead of accepting, he abhors it. It' is contrary to his will The spirit of the old injunction, "They shall not appear before the Lord empty," is plainly of universal application; and the New Testament abounds in precepts enjoin- ing zeal and generoliity in the service of God.· 3. It is there/ore fruitless of good, nciw and hereafter. It may be correct in creed, fair in profession, interesting in sentiment, beautiful in phrase; but it is useless. It answers no substantial end of a religion. It does not elevate and improve the worshipper. It can hardly secure even the approval of men. It does not anrt, but ensure and increase, the judgments of God. Those who practise it will justly have their" portion with the hypocrites ''.,(Matt. xxiv. 51). .: VII. .A.sstlll.A.NcE OF BECOMPENBE. God will not let any man be 11, loser in his.service. 1. He give, valuable rpoard, now to those wlw ezpend their .energies or substance for liim. 'l'he practical manifestation of Christian principles strengthens them. Talents employed are multiplied. "Unto every one that bath shall he given, and he sbe.111:iave abundance" (Matt. xxv. 29). Service opens opportunities and develops· capacities for service. Influence for good widens, honourable positions in Christ's Church are-reached without amhitioll6 striving for them, the esteem and affection of the good are enjoyedr, The pleasure of doing good is experienced, and, withal, the pleasures of a good conscience -the con.sciousness of Christian principles, affections, and aims, .and of the Rpproval ·of God. 2. G-reat i, their reward in l1eaven. Perfected. character;, enlarged and exalted aervice • the unclouded light of the Divine countenance; the blessings of those whom they h~ve helped to save; the eternal joy and glory of the Lord. • In conclU11ion: 1. This resolution deserves the serious consideration and adoption of: (1) MiciHters and otwir teachers of religion 1 who a,re often tempted to do their work with as little trouble to themselves as possible. '!he help afforded by such hooks as this may Le nbused hy the indolent. (2) All who have opportunity to expend money, time, or talents in the service of Christ. Cordially adopted, it will make the numeroua ctt. urv. 1-25.J THE SEC:OND BOOK OF SAMUF,T,, 631
calls on Christinn zciil and liberality in our day matter of thankfulness rather than of Bnnoyance, It will induce even the poor to render aid accorciiug to their m,·ans. 2. 'l'he subject shows the disadvantages attending endowments of religion. They tend to deprive worshippers of the pleasure anrl profit of worshipping God with cost to them- selves. Where they exist, Christians should compensate themselves for the loos thus inflicted on them by exercising all the greater generosity towards other brnnches of Divine service, such as missions at home and abroad, charity to the poor, etc.-G. W.