dren, and near Relations. This is a Duty of Nature; and the Apoftle has told us, If any Man provide not for his own, especially thofe of his own Houfhold, he is worse than an Heathen, and hath already denied the Faith. Nor muft their present Maintenance be your only Care, but likewife their future Well-being: For the fame Reasons which oblige you to lay up in Store for yourself against future Calamities, oblige you to do the fame for your Family. But what is the Measure, you will say, of this Provision for Futurity? Who can guess how much himfelf or his Family may want hereafter? And when shall we fatisfy this Duty, fo as to be able to begin the other of being charitable to our poorer Brethren? Our own present Wants must be supplied; and therefore he who can get no more than is neceffary for the prefent Maintenance of himfelf and Family, is under no Obligation to give to Charity: But when we get beyond this Neceffity, we are then obliged to provide for our own future Wants, and the prefent Wants of the Poor; so that I reckon to lay up in Store for ourselves, and to give in Charity to others, are concurrent Duties.

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 Unrighteousness, that when all shall leave and forsake you, you may be received into the Habitations of Righteousness, where there is Mercy, and Peace, and Joy for

evermore.

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DISCOURSE

DISCOURSE VI.

PART I.

I PETER iv. 8.

And above all Things have fervent Charity among your felves; for Charity fhall cover the Multitude of Sins.

**

HE Exhortation in the Text
being joined with other Exhor-
tations to Sobriety, and Watch-
fulness in Prayer, to Hofpita-

lity, and to a faithful Use and,

Exercife of the Gifts and Graces of God bestowed on the feveral Members of the Church; and yet, being introduced in this diftinguishing Manner, Above all Things have fervent Charity among yourselves, plainly fhews,

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