fhall be Suitors for Mercy and Favour: Make to your felves therefore Friends of the Mammon of Unrighteousness, that when all shall leave and forfake you, you may be received into the Habitations of Righteousness, where there is Mercy, and Peace, and Joy for evermore. But it must be allowed, that Charity is naturally the Duty rather of the Rich than the Poor. And if it be the Duty of the Poor to give to Charity out of the little their Hands can earn; how much more will it be expected from fuch, to whom God has given more than enough? Who are appointed Stewards over his Houshold, and are entrusted with the good Things of the World, that they may use them to the Honour and Glory of his Name, and to the Comfort and Relief of their poor Brethren? He has given you plentifully, and made the Things you enjoy to be your own; he has fecured to you your Poffeffions, and commanded that no Man rob or steal from you, on purpose that you may shew your Love by the Freedom of your Offering. Look down and behold the Toil and Labour of Mankind, how in the Sweat of their Brow they eat their Bread; how their Hands are galled with Work, and their Shoulders with Burdens: And then look up to him, who has exempted you, and given you a Life full of Eafe and Comfort; and reflect what it is you owe to this kind, to this bountiful God. The Time will come when you must quit your Lands and your Houses when you fhall fhall be Suitors for Mercy and Favour: Make to your felves therefore Friends of the Mammon of Unrighteousness, that when all shall leave and forfake you, you may be received into the Habitations of Righteousness, where there is Mercy, and Peace, and Joy for evermore. DISCOURSE But it must be allowed, that Charity is naturally the Duty rather of the Rich than the Poor. And if it be the Duty of the Poor to give to Charity out of the little their Hands can earn; how much more will it be expected from fuch, to whom God has given more than enough? Who are appointed Stewards over his Houshold, and are entrusted with the good Things of the World, that they may use them to the Honour and Glory of his Name, and to the Comfort and Relief of their poor Brethren? He has given you plentifully, and made the Things you enjoy to be your own; he has fecured to you your Poffeffions, and commanded that no Man rob or steal from you, on purpose that you may shew your Love by the Freedom of your Offering. Look down and behold the Toil and Labour of Mankind, how in the Sweat of their Brow they eat their Bread; how their Hands are galled with Work, and their Shoulders with Burdens: And then look up to him, who has exempted you, and given you a Life full of Eafe and Comfort; and reflect what it is you owe to this kind, to this bountiful God. The Time will come when you must quit your Lands and your Houses; when you fhall |