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that substance upon harlots, which belongs to the distressed members of Christ !

But we need not throw these crimes, or any other, into the scale to add to the weight of our condemnation: it will be guilt enough to have withheld our bread from the hungry, and our drink from the thirsty, even though we should have withheld it from ourselves at the same time. For though Diyes was damned for starv ing the poor man whilst he pampered himself, yet it will not mitigate our sin in starving the poor, to say that we starved ourselves too. The miser may indeed call upon his threadbare coat and famished looks to witness that he makes a beggar of himself; yet he is not the less bound to relieve those whom God has made so: for his riches were not given him to be put under a bushel, but like the beams of the sun, to diffuse joy and plenty on himself and all around him.""

Here then, ye misers, learn the true and best use of all those hoarded treasures, N 4 which

which cost you so many anxious days and sleepless nights. An inspired Apostle will teach you better how to apply them than all the rules of œconomy, and all the calculations of gain, which ye so carefully have studied:-" Charge them, says he, "who are rich in this world, that they be "not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain "riches, but in the living God: that they "do good, that they be rich in good "works, ready to distribute, willing to "communicate." Nor can ye wish for higher interest than the same Apostle here promises for thus laying out your darling treasure:-" laying up in store, "says he, a good foundation against the "time to come, that they may lay hold " on eternal life."

And be not afraid by this means of diminishing what you have to leave to your children or heirs. If they have but a little, with God's blessing, it will be enough; and, without it, all you can leave them will be nothing worth; the rust and

moth will soon corrupt it all.

Remem

Remember too that your time for doing good is both short and uncertain. Can ye think that your riches will make you immortal? Can ye hope to carry your illgotten lands and possessions with you, or to transmit them into the regions of eternity? Or, if ye could, what would they avail you there? Would all your riches asswage the pangs of conscience, or bribe the justice of an avenging God? Would they prevail upon Abraham to send a messenger to warn your brethren, or extort from Lazarus a drop of water to cool your tongue? No: vain and fruitless are such hopes:-they are the dreams of phrenzy, the wild workings of a distempered brain. The voice of truth and reason will tell you far other things: it will tell you, that soon will all your treasures be buried in darkness, soon will all your enjoyments fade, except those which spring from a good conscience and a right use of God's blessings. Soon will that awful hour approach, when every worldly comfort shall fail, and the grave shall open its devouring jaws to receive you. And then, dreadful will it be to have your last moments

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moments disturbed with conscious guilt, and your dying groans interrupted with the imagined cries of the poor, against whom ye now shut your hands and hearts. But still more dreadful will it be to be awaked by the last trumpet hereafter, and to hear that terrible sentence rend your hearts:-" Son, remember that "thou in thy life-time receivedst thy

good things, and likewise Lazarus his "evil things: but now he is comforted, "and thou art to be tormented." Delay not therefore, whilst you have yet opportunity, to ward off these heavy curses, by doing good unto all men, as far as your abilities extend...

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Lastly, my brethren, of what condition soever ye are, whether rich or poor, go on chearfully in the faithful discharge of your duty; knowing that ye shall reap in due time, if ye faint not. The parable before us will teach you, that your labour will not be forgotten, or your expectations perish with the grave. The poor Lazarus was indeed for a while laid at the rich man's gate full of sores, and seemed to be forsaken

both by God and man;-but soon the time of his trial was ended; soon his patience under his afflictions was rewarded; soon a new and brighter scene was opened, and the loathsome and despised beggar transformed into an angel of light in Abraham's bosom.

To which happy place, that both the poor and the rich may rejoice together, may God of his infinite mercy bring us all, for the sake of that Saviour, who was poor that we might become rich!

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