We have many descriptions of this duty both by the prophet and apostles, as well as by our Saviour; but the best description is his life.

If we pursue him through the whole scene of his terrestrial existence, we shall find, that to go about doing good was his invariablebusiness. To comfort the afflicted, and to feed the hungry; to restore the sick to health, and the blind to sight; to make the deaf hear, the lame walk, and the dumb speak, were the exercises he delighted in, and the continued actions of the day.

This was the life whose merits entitle us to heaven, and which is proposed the pattern of our imitation.

Hence appears the absolute necessity of Christian charity; for should we neglect those precepts which the Captain of our salvation has so strongly enjoined, how shall we hope for his favour! how shall we plead for acceptance by the merits of that life, whose example we have not profited by-which we thought not worth our imitation!

To add to the force of this argument, I might here quote the several texts of Scripture, wherein God has expressly commanded the duty of charity. But what has already been said will, I hope, be sufficient to convince you

as well of the nature and reasonableness, as the absolute necessity of it.

... IV. I shall only now, therefore, draw such reflections from the whole, as may best excite us to the due discharge of it.

As the great end of society is mutual assistance and support, if through iniquitous selfishness we refuse that assistance to others, which, in the possible chance of things, we ourselves might have stood in need of, we transgress the laws of nature, and the dictates of reason.

The great maxim of moral life is, to do to others as we would have others do to us. But if we neglect the complaints of misery which we could comfort, or the cries of distress we can possibly relieve, do we not resist the voice of nature and of reason, supposing the injunctions of religion entirely out of the question?

As man is formed for society, he is naturally a benevolent being, ready to rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep; kindly interests himself in the welfare, and wishes the prosperity, of his fellow-creatures. That this is more particularly the genius of this nation, the many public charities established within these few years sufficiently testify. These, let us hope, may cover a multitude of our national crimes. Would to hea

ven there were not such a multitude to cover! These are noble instances of that charming spirit of benevolence which is inspired by virtue, by piety, and wisdom!

Indeed, he who, in the midst of luxury and affluence, can behold his fellow-creatures ready to perish with want, deserves not the name of a human being. What can justify the man who gives to a tribe of useless domestics, or creatures that have no further end than to contribute to his amusements, that bread which the laborious hind has procured him, while he, perhaps, through want of a sufficiency of it, pines in weakness, or languishes to death.

What numbers of poor, whose industry is ineffectual, would the superfluity of affluence support!

How many are rendered incapable of labour by sickness, or accidents, or the infirmity of age, who cannot be received into public hospitals, and who get, it is to be feared, little relief from public contributions!

How many starve in unseen solitudes, scattered up and down over wilds and desarts, where the hand of kindness was never extended, which the eye of benevolence never saw !

Though we are not obliged to embitter life

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by constantly partaking of, or contemplating the miseries of our species, yet it is our duty to hear the complaints of distress, and to relieve necessity on all possible occasions.

We are assured that we are by such means laying up for ourselves infinite happiness in a future existence: for we are told, that he who giveth to the poor, lendeth to the Lord.

How ought the rich in this world to rejoice that they have it in their power to invest their possessions in the security of heaven! Can there be any greater joy to a rational creature than this, that he can make the frail fortunes of this life last beyond the grave?

This is effectually to lay up treasure in a repository free from the inroads of the robber, and the rust of time.

Riches thus applied are, indeed, a blessing; nor shall their possessors find, if thus they dispose of them, any unhappy consequences from that declaration, that it is hard for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

The divine pleasure which a benevolent mind enjoys in relieving the necessities of the wretched is, all other considerations apart, well worth the purchase. It is, as it were, a foretaste of that eternal joy which shall be the sure reward of those who have pity on the poor.

Since then nature and reason call upon us, since heaven and happiness invite us, since all laws moral and divine oblige us, let us perform this duty with cheerfulness and alacrity; for God loveth a cheerful giver.

Let us willingly impart of the good things of this life to the poor and needy. The Lord careth for them. Freely we have received, let us freely give.

Let us lay out the wealth we have in those uses, for which only it is serviceable, in clothing the naked, and feeding the hungry.

Let us not suppose that to be lost which is given to the poor; it is lent unto the Lord, and he will repay it.

That we may never be inattentive to the complaints of the necessitous, and never unheard when we implore the mercies of heaven, may the God of all truth and kindness grant!