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SERM. one piece of money, the doubt with herfelf XVII. would have been, whether the fhould keep it

to herself, or lend it to God? But being two, there was fair Ground of hesitation whether she should keep one, and part with the other? This itself would have been a commendable charity, and he could have faid with Zaccheus, the half of my goods I give to the poor. But fo great was her foul, that though they were her laft, fhe would not even divide with God, but make him a present of all; and this was fufficient proof of her being forry it was no more.

How fhould this great example excite in us the like ready mind, and forward chearfulnefs of fpirit which raised these two mites to fuch an immenfe value in the fight of God, who regards not the quantity only of our alms, but that difpofition of the heart with which they are given; who tells us, Heb. vi. 10. That he is not unrighteous to forget those works which proceed from love; from the love of him, and our neighbour. Who commands his minifters to charge them who are rich in this world, that they be ready to give, and glad to diftribute, 1 Tim. vi. 17. Glad to find out opportunities of doing good, and to feek them, and rejoice to fet forward any common and extenfive good.

Now fince it is the giving freely and willingly is that which fanctifies our alms; and that we are for that reason warned, 2 Cor. ix.

7. not to give grudgingly, or of neceffity, forS E R Mo that God loveth a chearful giver; I cannot close XVII. this head without obferving, that the main occafion of people's failing in this great and even effential qualification of their charities, and the reason why they do not give with a wil ling and free heart, is because they do not come to a fixed refolution with themselves to lay aside fome certain proportion of their clear gain or yearly income for charitable uses; but generally leave this at large and uncertain, to be performed when they happen to be well difpofed, and that objects or occafions of cha→ rity offer of themfelves. This makes men careless and negligent in giving, and they do it with a fecret reluctance; and at beft with coolness and indifference. Whereas if they would obferve the rule laid down by St. Paul, I Cor. xvi. 2. that every one do weekly lay by in flore as God has profpered him, i. e. treasure up, as it is in the original, and as it is elsewhere expreffed, Treafure up for themselves treasures in heaven, Matth. vi. 19, 20. they would then be able to make a pretty good computation of what their treasure in heaven is; and what foundation they have laid against the time to come, for the attainment of eternal life. They would then make it their bufinefs to inquire for the greatest objects of charity, and feek diligently for opportunities of laying out their money in fuch an invaluable purchase. They would not trust their own heart, which is deceitful above all things, with a matter of

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SER M. fo great confequence to them; nor leave it to XVII. meer chance, and prefent temper, or inclination only; but determine well upon it from their best reafon and most mature deliberation.

If any one should ask what proportion of our worldly fubftance would be reasonable thus to dedicate to God? I fhall make no other anfwer than what the Holy Ghost has furnifhed us with in 2 Cor. ix. 7. Let every man do according as he is difpofed in his heart. And verfe 6. He that foweth little, fhall reap little, and be that foweth plenteously shall reap plenteously. It does not become us to prescribe bounds to what God has left at large and undetermined for wife and important reafons namely that our deeds of charity may be intirely free; and that there might be full scope left for the largest foul to exert itself to the utmoft, in a virtue which can never miss of a fuitable reward in the highest degree that it is practicable; nay though men come up to this great pattern which Chrift has laid before us. Which brings me to the

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IVth thing obfervable from this paffage, and that is, how little danger we are in of any blameable excess in the practice of this moft excellent virtue. There is great danger of coming fhort, and multitudes have been undone thereby, and fubjected themselves to that final and irreversible fentence, depart ye curfed into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and bis Angels; exprefsly faid to be for their failure in the due discharge of this great duty: But

fince the world began was it never heard that SER M. ever any person over-acted this part? If ever XVII. it was any one's cafe, it must be that of this widow, who caft into the facred treasury all she had, even all her living. The word is Bíos in the original, fhe parted with her very life and fuftenance; which at least muft fignify the whole allowance of that day, perhaps her bire or wages; and then the both wrought and fasted for her gift. The reft out of their abundance contributed largely, but they still kept more behind; but Chrift tells us fhe wanted what she gave: It was no imaginary. but a real want; the greateft in nature, the want of bread.

Now though this woman's offering was all that God had allotted her for the supplies of hunger and thirft, yet we find our Saviour did not condemn her, or argue her guilty of any indifcreet profufenefs; no nor of tempt-. ing God by rafhly and intirely throwing herfelf upon his providence: But on the contrary magnifies her gift above all the pompous charities of the rich; and proposes it by way of example and encouragement to all posterity.

This is not the only inftance wherein Christ has expreffed himself upon the work of charity even in this exalted degree; his direction to the young man who had great poffeffions, Matth. xix. 21. was, go and fell that thou haft, Τὰ ὑπάρχοντα, all your fubftance ; ὅσα ἔχεις, fays St. Mark, all you have, and give to the

poor,

SERM. poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven. XVII. This giving all a man's fubftance to charitable

ufes, has but a very harsh and ungrateful found in the ears of a worldly-minded man; nay in the ears even of fuch as are perhaps at the fame time reducing themselves to want and beggary, by confuming all their fubftance upon their lufts and vanities, and are thereby treafuring up to themfelves wrath against the day of wrath. And yet tell thofe very people of parting with their fubftance and giving it to the poor, and that they fhall have treasure in heaven, and they will call it mockery.

But let not people be deceived; this faying of our Saviour's was not calculated for that fingle perfon alone to whom it was spoke; for then it would not have been on record in the Gofpel; but it is full of inftruction to all mankind, and no more than what he recommends to his own little flock, Luke xii. 23. Sell that ye have, and give aims; provide your felves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the Heavens which faileth not.

These fayings of Chrift are not to be taken in the utmoft rigour, as if the advice were to part with all, and reduce ourselves to the extremeft want and mifery; it is not expected men should act up to this widow, and not leave themselves one farthing. But they import the giving to charitable ufes not only fome reasonable proportion of their annuity or gain, but the felling even their poffeffions

and

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