and recognized as the fruits of the fpirit, we enter into a ftill higher, because more spiritual and divine enjoyment. "The peace of God,

paffing all understanding, then keeps the heart "and mind through Jefus Chrift." The Chriftian, "examining himself, and proving his own "works, rejoices in himself, and not in ano"ther." When he tries his experience and conduct by the fcriptural marks of genuine Christianity, and finds that his charity is not the confequence merely of good nature, or facility of temper; that it is not a fudden emotion produced by the incidental fpur of the occafion, but a fixed and gracious principle implanted and cherifhed by the Holy Spirit, fuch evidence of the power of the gospel, and of fupernatural grace, convinces him of his intereft in the favour of God. Having this confidence towards God, he reaps bountifully indeed, being ftrengthened in his affurance of the approbation and love of his heavenly Father. "He knows that he has

paffed from death unto life, because he loves "the brethren." "The fpirit thus witneffeth "with his fpirit that he is a child of God; and "the effect is joy, unfpeakable and full of glo"ry." What renders the acquifition of this joy

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the more valuable, is its infeparable connexion with fpiritual improvement. "The joy of the "Lord is our flrength." Health, vigour, and exertion, have not a more certain mutual influence than fpiritual enjoyment, activity, and improvement. As bodily ftrength is increased by exercife, and work done at first with much difficulty, becomes eafy by perfevering application; fo repeated mental exertions, and the frequency of active duty in life, produce thefe good habits, which mark a confiflent and improving character. These are the natural effects of all the gracious operations of a fanctified mind. "We

"work out our falvation with fear and trem"bling; for it is God who worketh in us both "to will and to do of his good pleafure.' What Chriftian can take this connected view of thefe increafing confolations in divine love and growing holinefs, without finding that he that foweth bountifully fhall reap bountifully?

ADD to this, in the fecond place, the bleffing and prayers of those who receive your help.

*All this is beautifully fet forth in the fhort but com. prehenfive hiftory of the churches in Judaea, Galatia, and Samaria; A&s ix. 31. by the Apostle's prayer for the Colofians, i. 9.—13. and by Peter, 2 Ep

i. 2.-12.

Thefe, as they are often exprcffed by common mendicants, are of no value. Neither can the curse causeless fall upon your head. Yet do not flight the grateful acknowledgments of an honeft mind, nor defpife the efficacy of prayer. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous "man availeth much." If animated by pure and fervent charity, the children of God will be the first objects of your regard. You will love and ferve them for the truth's fake which dwelleth in them. Your kindnefs to them will be amply repaid by their prayers; and them" their

heavenly Father heareth always." Job felt and enjoyed this as a rich recompence of his gene rofity; chap. xxix. v. 11-14. "When the cc ear heard me, then it bleffed me; and when "the eye faw me, it gave witnefs to me, becaufe "I delivered the poor that cried, and the father

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lefs, and him that had none to help him. The

bleffing of him that was ready to perish came

upon me; and I caufed the widow's heart to

fing for joy." Your kind attentions may have been divinely excited in anfwer to their fupplications, and their devotions thus increafed fhall no lefs prevail in your favour.

IN the third place, the promife in the text holds up, as a farther inducement to liberal charity, a richly varied and extenfive prospect of good to the world. Chriftian charity first turns its kind and compaffionate eye to the poor faints. These are brethren for whom Chrift died. His love to them is not diminished by the permiffion of their poverty and afflictions; for these, as they are intended trials of their faith and patience, fo are they of your charity to them, and your love to him. The ftronger then, and more numerous teftimonies of regard you fhow to him in his poor fuffering members on earth, the greater glory redounds to him through their thanksgiv ing, the greater profit to your own fouls by their prayers, the greater advantage to the church by their restored affiftance, and the greater good to the world by their example.

But I must beg your attention to very different fcenes. Your reward is great in contributing to the victories and triumphs of faith over adverfity, but greater fill if you confider the various efficacy of prudent liberal charity, extended to the poverty and diftreffes of thofe who are flrangers to the faith, and hopes, and comforts of the gospel-their fituation is truly deplorable. To struggle with

want, difappointment, and direfs, proves often a hard and alarming confli& to the real Chriftian; and it is a glorious office to hold up their hands till they conquer, and call us to divide the fpoils. But how dreadful and dangerous is the state of the poor and afflicted who are yet in their fins? They are not, however, beyond the reach of divine mercy, and ought not therefore to be cxcluded from our charity. Yea, we are encouraged in this exercife of it by the most inviting profpect of extenfive usefulness among human beings, wretched in themfelves, and pefts in fociety. By meeting the needy with a seasonable fupply, the truly bountiful man may prevent apowerful and often ruinous temptation, or check the progrefs of a criminal and dangerous propensity. By furnishing the means of fubfiftence, and proper incitements to indufry, he may fave from defpondency, recover from feeblencfs and indolence, awaken to virtuous fenfibility, and reftore to active and ufeful exertion. The bleffing conferred upon one may frequently extend to many. Relief to the parent raay be the prefervation of the family. The children religiously educated, and trained to ufcful employment, will contribute to the welfare of the community.