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exhausting his unremitted labours; but while these are opening sources of pleasure to others, are they not deepening and widening the streams of his own enjoyment? Does not every instance of his beneficent agency become a new verification of the emphatic words of the Lord Jesus, "It is more blessed to give than to receive?" Acts xx. 35.

Not unfrequently has a powerful and beneficial impression been produced on the mind of an individual, by a few striking words, expressive of a sentiment of high importance. Such words, although not emanating from the authority of inspiration, have perhaps awakened the energies of a reflective mind, and given a salutary impulse to the efforts of a whole life. The excellent Dr. Cotton Mather, of New England, at an early period of life, read in the speech of a British envoy to the duke of Brandenburgh, this sentence; "A capacity to do good, not only gives a title to it, but also makes the doing of it a duty." This single sentence produced an impression. on his mind, which gave a character to his subsequent life, and after many years he published an admirable book, entitled, "Essays to do Good," which he designed to be an extended illustration of that memorable senténce. Respecting this very book, a distinguished statesman and philanthropist wrote to the son of the author, in these words: "When I was a boy, I met with a book entitled, Essays to do Good. It gave me such a turn of thinking, as to have an influence on

my conduct through life. For I have always set a greater value on the character of a doer of good, than on any other kind of reputation; and if I have been as you seem to think, a useful citizen, the public owes the advantage of it to that book."

Now if such was the effect, immediately or more remotely, attributable to the words of a British envoy, on the character of these individuals, what may we suppose to have been the effect produced on the susceptible and devoted heart of the great apostle, by these words of the Lord Jesus, "It is more blessed to give than to receive." Of these memorable words, all the writings of the apostle Paul are one continued illustration; his whole life is an impressive commentary. These words breathe the spirit by which he was actuated, in all his laborious exertions: they exhibit the estimate of happiness by which he was guided, in all the enterprises of his brilliant and glorious career: they furnish a most appropriate motto to the entire history of his mind and char

acter.

That it is more noble, that it is more praiseworthy to give than to receive, to communicate benefits than to be the recipients of favours, is an assertion which every one is prepared to admit. Perhaps, however, it may not appear to every one an unquestionable truth, that to give is more pleasurable than to receive; or that there is a delight far more exquisite, in the act of communicating than in the act of receiving good. It shall then be my object,

FIRST, To adduce some considerations by which the truth of this sentiment may be evinced. I observe, then,

1. That a disposition to communicate happiness, constitutes a resemblance to the blessed God.

That the adorable Jehovah, the uncreated source of blessedness, is himself supremely happy, and incomparably the most happy of all beings, who can for a moment doubt? Now that blessedness must arise, not only from the possession of boundless resources, but also from a disposition to employ those resources in the communication of happiness on a scale of most magnificent and glorious extent; even to a universe of creatures of various orders and diversified capacities of enjoyment. The correctness of this representation you cannot hesitate to admit, when you consider that, in one word, the blessed God has given us a summary of his character, and that the emphatic word is love. "God is love." 1 John iv. 16., Now the obvious meaning of this comprehensive declaration is, that it is the distinguishing characteristic of his nature to take delight in conferring happiness. It is his high and unrivalled prerogative, to give to all, and to receive from none. He is not worshipped by those who form just conceptions of his nature, "as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things.' Acts xvii. 25. Never was there an ascription of praise more worthy of his name, than that which the inspired psalmist offered in these

words, "Thou art good and doest good-and thy tender mercies are over all thy works." Psa. cxix. 68; cxlv. 9. It is his peculiar glory to be the source of sustenance to a world of dependent beings, who all wait upon him for continued communications of vitality and enjoyment. From the insect which feeds and dwells upon a single leaf, to the angel who wings his way from world to world, whatever may be the gradations of being, there is one invariable system of dependence on Him, whose delight it is to render their existence pleasurable.

But, perhaps, of all the regions of life and of intelligence over which Jehovah reigns supreme, there is not one which displays his benignity, in a manner so stupendous, as the world to which we ourselves belong. Here we behold the most signal manifestation of "the love which passeth knowledge." Eph. iii. 19. On the part of God, there has been displayed the most unwearied goodness, and on the part of man the most determined alienation and enmity: an uninterrupted series of mercies has been requited by unintermitted acts of rebellion. In all the guilt of this ungrateful and unnatural requital, we ourselves, without one single exception, are deeply implicated. And yet to this world of ours, involved in the tremendous consequences of the most awful apostasy, did the blessed God send the Son of his love, as an ambassador of peace. In this revolted province of his empire, did the Lord Jesus Christ appear in the

character of a Mediator, empowered to effect an entire reconciliation, and to accomplish a complete redemption. With this glorious design, he divested himself of all the radiance of Deity," he took upon him the form of a servant; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." Phil. ii. 7, 8. "Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be rich." 2 Cor. viii. 9. "Remember then the words of the Lord Jesus, how," in the utterance of a heart of love deeply feeling the sentiment expressed, "he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts xx. 35.

Was not this the sentiment which pervaded and animated the heart of the Friend of sinners, when to five thousand men, ready to faint with hunger, at a distance from their homes, he supplied a full repast, although no miracle would he perform for his own relief, when subject to the cravings of hunger after an abstinence of forty days? Was not this the sentiment by which he was actuated at Jacob's well, when to the woman who seemed but little disposed to grant the only request of Jesus for personal refreshment, recorded in the history of his life, he said, "If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water?" John iv. 10. Was not this

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