EDINBURGH, JUNE 5. 1789.

At a General Meeting of the Society in Scotland for Propagating Chriftian Knowledge,

THE thanks of the Society were given from the Chair to the Rev. Mr. Balfour, for his excellent Sermon this day preached before them; and he was requested to give his manuscript of the fame, to be printed for the benefit of the Society.

Jo. KEMP, SEC.

A

SERMO N.

2 COR. ix. 6. -LAST CLAUSE.

HE WHICH SOWETH BOUNTIFULLY SHALL REAP

BOUNTIFULLY.

THE fcriptures abound in a great variety of

the most beautiful images, and figurative allufions. These are sometimes employed as the only fit conveyance of spiritual truths to our minds; sometimes as apt and affecting illustrations of known truths; and fometimes to prefs them. more forcibly upon our attention, and allure us into a more cheerful compliance with their defign. In this and the preceding chapter the apoftle urges the Corinthians to be charitable to the poor faints. By the most infinuating addrefs he takes poffeffion of every avenue to their hearts, and puts them under the pleafing neceffity of yielding to his generous defign. However, left, covetoufnefs fhould exert a fecret counteracting A

influence, and fuggeft that the required liberali ty would fubject them to a great and unproduc tive expence, he fully obviates the objection, without formally ftating it, for he reprobates the gift bestowed with reluctance, and promises am ple returns to the cheerful giver. The inftruc tion thus given, needed not the affiftance of me taphor, to render it intelligible: But it is admi rably illustrated and enforced by the choice of a fimilitude, perfectly expreffive of his intention. "He that foweth bountifully fhall reap bounti

fully." As well might the husbandman look upon the feed unfparingly fcattered in his field, to be for ever loft; as the truly bountiful man fuppofe, that the riches, which, with a liberal hand he hath expended upon the poor, are thrown away. The expectations and returns in the one cafe, are not more reasonable and certain, than in the other. The general fentiment then is, that liberal charity fhall receive a rich and full reward. I leave the metaphor to illuftrate this fentiment. Such a fubject cannot be unfuitable, when met to give our countenance and support to a chari table inftitution, great in its defigns, and extenfive in its operation. We pay a juft, refpectful, and grateful tribute to the memory of its first

founders, and to the prefent members of the very refpectable fociety, whofe unceasing exertions and influence have been fo honourably and fuccessfully employed in following out the original scheme, when we affemble at their defire, to worship that God, who alone can crown their labours of love, and our co-operating charity with a rich and effectual bleffing. To direct and animate our profecution of this important object, I shall endeavour, through divine grace, First, To delineate the character reprefented in the text; and Secondly, To illuftrate the meaning and defign of the promise annexed.

Let us begin with calling your attention to the character here reprefented, "He that foweth "bountifully," in other words, the man of liberal charity..

And I obferve, First, That this is a character formed and perfected under the influence of fupreme regard to God and the Redeemer. No character can acquire any established diftinction by a fingle action, or a few occafional exertions. These must be uniformly called forth by fome fixed correfponding prin

ciple, otherwise the features will daily change, and a variable character appear. Indeed, our decifions upon character can feldom be true, when founded on tranfient evidence. But higher evidence we cannot expect, unlefs men act upon principle, and no principle can be fo powerful and extenfive in its influence as the love of God and the Redeemer. Wherever this prevails, the mind afpires to every degree of moral excellence, and there is perhaps no branch of that excellence, in which its operation is more certain, and apparent, than that of charity. Hence we read, "That love is of God, and every one that loveth is "born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth 66 not, knoweth not God, for God is love. He "that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and "God in him. But whofo hath this world's

goods, and feeth his brother have need, and "fhutteth up his bowels of compaffion from "him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” Wherefore adds the apoftle, addreffing himself to profeffing Chriftians, " My little children, let "us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in "deed." Thus it appears, that beneficent love to men is at once a natural confequence and