* So Beautiful and Excellent are fuch fruits of Goodness, that whofoever reflects upon them, will plainly perceive their Excellency, from the Sentiments, which fuch a reflection does naturally raise in his Mind. And every one up will readily give in to this Observation, who does but confider our Saviour's account of the man who fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. For the Different Characters of the Perfons, who came that way, do supply us with fuch different Affections, that the motions of our own Thoughts do fully testify the Baseness and Deformity of Uncharitableness, and the great Worth and Excellency of Charitable Works. We cannot reflect on those two, who passed by on the other fide, but we presently find our selves Discompofed and Uneafy, and moved with some kind of Indignation against them. But as foon as we have passed through these Difagreeable and Grating Characters, to *Luke x. 30, Est. the the account of the Kind Samaritan, who fo readily and chearfully relieved the Diftreffed; this different view determines us to an high Esteem of the Compaffionate Person, and reduceth our Ruffled Minds, to a ftate of Serenity and Pleasure; as if fuch Actions were fo Generous and Excellent, that they must of Neceffity be Approved. These observations might fuffice for an Answer to the Queftion before us; but because the Goodness of Moral Actions does much depend upon the Principles, from which they flow, it may poffibly be fome Additional Satisfaction, under the prefent Enquiry, briefly to reAlect upon the Excellency of fome Qualities and Difpofitions, which are the governing Principles in Charitable Minds, and to observe the Neceffary and Peculiar relation and connection betwixt those Qualities and Charitable Works. ift, The first of those Qualities is a stedfaft Faith. The wife Man thus expreffeth his Exhortation to Charity;* Caft thy * Eccl. xi. I I 3 bread bread upon the Waters; for thou shalt find it after many days. Whofoever makes an Eftimate of Things, by Outward appearance alone, and the Wisdom of this world, does as much charge Ill Management and Imprudence, upon those who give their bread to the hungry, as if they fhould * caft it upon the waters; from whence they cannot expect its Return. For, according to the pure Natural state of Things, there is little reason to expect, that Works of Charity will turn to account. It hath indeed fometimes happen'd, that a Benefit hath been returned by the very hands which Received it, with large Encreafe, into the Benefactor's Bofom. But inftances of this kind are not Numerous enough to fatisfie the Cautious Children of this world; who are in their generation wifer, than to depend upon Improbabilities, when they have more Certain Advantages in view. They will Inviolably observe their Safe rules of action: Sinners lend to finners, * Παραντίκα τισὶ δόξεις ἀπολλύνει, ὥσπερ ὕδατι ὁ ἄρτον dida's, dan dr-Greg. Thaumat. in Eccl. Metaph. to to receive as much again. 'Tis the peculiar Character of the Faithful Difciples of Christ, that they do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again. It is a ftedfast Faith alone, that can induce them to caft their bread upon the waters, even Then affuredly concluding, that they fhall find it after many days. And as great degrees of Excellency may be justly attributed to fuch Actions, inasmuch as they are grounded upon fuch a Glorious Principle, as a Firm and Steddy Faith; fo muft that Excellency ftill appear greater, when 'tis confider'd, That the Perfection of Faith it felf does fo far depend upon Works of Charity, equal to Mens Circumftances, that without them 'tis Imperfect: Otherwife, it would be difficult to account for St. Paul's Defcription of the only Saving Faith; * Faith which worketh by love: Otherwise, it would be difficult to vindicate the fame Apoftle's Contempt even of True Faith, when separated from Charity; + Though * πίςις δι' ἀγάπης ΕΝΕΡΓΟΥΜΕΝΗ. Gal. v. 6. I have all faith, fo that I could remove mountains, and have no Charity, I am nothing. And as in this refpect, the Perfection of Faith depends upon the Fruits of Charity; fo is it to be supposed and implied, that they are in the fame Sense, a Crown of Perfection to the other Good Qualities, which prefide in Charitable Men: Such is that prevalent Affection, which is in the next Place to be taken Notice of, namely, 2dly, A lively Hope. If there were no difference betwixt Wishes and Hope, Uncharitable Men alfo might lay Claim to this Affection: For Balaam himself, fo inflaved by a Narrow and Worldly Mind, that he loved the Wages of Unrighteousness, could yet wifh to Die the Death of the Righteous. But Hope is not to be measured by faint and Fruitless Wishes, nor yet by mere Expectation. St. John's Decifion of this matter, is full and plain: * Every Man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself. And ut 1 Joh. iii. 3. terly |