terly inconfiftent is this Character with the account which St. Paul gives of those, whofe end is deftruction, who mind earthly things, * Who are fo far from that Purity and Heavenly Difpofition, which Hope produceth, that their Hearts are Corrupted, and filled with the Love of this World. That alone is Genuine Hope, which takes off Mens Minds from Things on the Earth, and fixeth them on Things above; which gives us fuch an Eager and moving expectation of Eternal Bliss, prepared for Good Men, that we can eafily Sacrifice our Temporal Enjoyments to fo Glorious a Prospect; which renders us ever most Eafy and Chearful, and Joyful in fuch a Difpofal of our Earthly Treafures, as is most fubfervient to our Future Glory. This is the Exalted State of Charitable Souls; who are fo follicitous and so Delighted in exchanging the Good Things of this Life, for those of the next. So Rich is the Soil, where Works of Charity are produced: And because they cannot fall from their Excellency, or ceafe

*Phil. iii. 19.

to

to communicate Good, in all Relations, they do Confirm and Improve even Hope it felf; for when they are duely performed, * Hereby we know that we are of the truth, and fhall affure our hearts before him: They are the Grounds of Perfect Hope, and Dependence on God's Fa

vour.

3dly, The Third Embellishment and Recommendation of a Charitable Mind, is a Grateful Senfe of God's Goodness, and Munificence towards us. Indeed all God's Perfections are Infinite, and therefore incapable of Addition or Augmentation. We must all make this Humble Acknowledgment in the Words of Holy David, + My Goodness extendeth not to thee; but we fhould teftifie our Senfe of God's Favours, to the utmost of our Capacity, and therefore determine to extend our Goodness to the Saints that are in the Earth. Gratitude, that most Excellent and Amiable Quality, does always introduce Ardent Defires, and ear

* 1 Joh. iii. 19.

† Pfal. xvi. z.

neft

neft Endeavours, to make the best Returns of good Affections and good Offices. And though we cannot be profitable unto God; yet may Thofe, who are Created in his Image, be profited by us: And the Perfection of our Gratitude unto Him, does rife in proportion to our Charitable Beneficence unto them. And this suggests,

4thly, Another prevailing Principle in the Minds of Merciful Men, their Love of God the Son, our Bleffed Saviour, JESUS CHRIST; Who, fince we cannot be Beneficial unto himself, hath left it in charge with us, to prove our Love of Him, by the Miniftration of Relief to the Poor, whom he hath deputed in this respect, the Representatives of his Perfon, affuring * us, that all the Favours which we vouchsafe to them, shall be accepted and rewarded as done tot himself.

* Mat. xxv. 40.

† ἃ γαρ τοῖς ἐμοῖς χωρηγῆς, ἐμὰς γεωργείς. ἐγὼ μετ ̓ ἐκείων τὴν ἱκητίαν ματίζομαι. πρὸ τῆς δίκης τὸν δικαςὴν δωροδόκησον. δὸς αὐτῷ φιλανθρωπίας προφάσεις δὸς αὐτῷ Tãs ovgyváμns rás λas. Bafil. Seleuc. Orat. 26.

When

When Jonathan was Dead, David's Affectionate Efteem of him was by no means abated or diminished, but moved

him to this Enquiry; * Is there yet any that is left of the Houfe of Saul, that I may fhew him kindness for Jonathan's Sake. And when Mephibofbeth, the Son of Jonathan, was found, David thus expreffeth himself; + Fear not, for I will Surely fhew thee Kindness, for Jonathan thy Father's fake, and will reftore thee all the Land of Saul thy Father, and thou fbalt eat Bread at my Table continually. This Paffage cannot but move us with a Senfe of Honour for that Excellent Spirit, which was thus demonftrated, in David's Kind and Zealous Concern for the Remains of his Deceafed Friend. But to bring this Intimation ftill nearer to the Cafe before us: When our Lord committed the Care of his Mother, the Bleffed Virgin, to St. John; the Disciple teftified his love of Chrift, by his Readiness and Chearfulness in taking that Trust upon him: And who can conceive that Fervour

of Affection towards our Saviour, which glowed in this Disciple's Breast, under the Faithful Execution of his Charge? And fuch Generous Sentiments do inflame the Hearts of those, who, for the fake of Chrift, now Glorified in Heaven, do support and cherish his Diftreffed Members upon Earth.

And the Excellency of fuch Difpenfations will still further appear, as in the relation which they bear to Chrift, the Head of his Myftical Body, the Church, fo likewise,.

5thly and lastly, In that Immediate Relation which they bear to the Love of our Afflicted Brethren themselves, confider'd as Heirs of Eternal Happiness in Heaven; where there is an Univerfal Transporting Harmony of Affections and Defires, of mutual Endearments and Complacency. We shall there Eternally exercise an intire Love of God, and of the Holy Angels, and of all the Spirits of Just Men made perfect, Coheirs with us of thofe Blissful Manfions. And we are here upon Earth, to be train'd up into a Ca