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tion to fupport them. They may Imagine, or Alledge, that the Fire of God may poffibly fall from Heaven, and confume One part of their Substance, whilst the Chaldeans may feize upon Another: They may urge the Reafonableness of arming themselves against All future Dangers, against All Unexpected Accidents: And if this way of arguing be allowable, then must they fuffer the Poor to perish, because they themselves may Poffibly fall into that number. But they fhould be extremely cautious of trifling with themfelves in matters of this moment, and of running Perversely into fuch Fatal and Destructive Abfurdities. Neceffaries and Superfluities are not to be estimated by Poffibility, but by Probability, and the common Course of things. When any one hath made fuch Provifion, as will probably, and under the ufual course of God's good Providence, anfwer the Neceffities and Juft Conveniencies of Himself and Dependents; the other fhares of his Treasures are to be reached out unto those who want them. Not that works of Charity are to be neglected, whilft fuch

Provifion is Gathering, for 'tis not to be conceived, that a fincere Chriftian can, in a direct contradiction to Chrift's command, be, in any period of Life, so engaged in laying up treasures upon earth, that he wholly neglects to lay up treafures in heaven. St. Paul gives this commandment to the Corinthians; * Concerning the collection for the Saints, as I have given order to the Churches of Galatia, even So do ye. Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in ftore, as God hath profpered him. Charitable Contributions were not only incumbent upon thofe, who were poffeffed of a Full, Fixed Eftate, but upon all others likewife, whofe fupport depended upon Succefs in their Employments. Every one muft, from time to time, lay by him in fore, as God hath profpered him; must Conftantly devote unto good Works, as large a Proportion of his Encreafe, as will confift with the fupply of his present Exigencies, and with the Probable expectation of making fuitable Provifion for

* 1 Cor. xvi. 1, 2.

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the future support of himself and his Family. Mens Neceffities, and by confequence, their Abilities to perform works of Charity, are not capable of being fixed, in General, by Mathematical and exact proportions, and therefore do admit only of moral Determination, according to Probability, and the Ordinary methods of Providence.

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Let every one therefore compare his own Circumstances with the ftate of other Men, in his own rank: Let him attentively reflect, and duly depend, upon God's providential Difpenfations: Let him throw off all referves' for Senfual Enjoyments: Let him abandon Covetoufnefs and Ambition, and then proceed to determine, with the utmoft Serioufnefs and Sincerity, confidering that God plainly fees both his Ability and his Will: Let him thus Confcientiously and Faithfully determine, what proportion of his Riches is, in Reality, Superfluous to his Station; for whatfoever fhall, upon Impartial Enquiry, appear to be fo, is a Debt due to his Afflicted Brethren.

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God Almighty hath ranged Men in different Orders, that they may exercise the Virtues which their different States require. The Poor are to exercife their Patience and Refignation, their Hope and Affiance in God; and the Rich are to demonftrate their Charity to their Diftreffed Neighbour, by relieving him, and their Fidelity to God, by an Improvement of those Talents which were committed to Their charge for this very purpose, that they should be employed in Charitable Works, prudently proportion'd to their Wants and Deferts, who are the Objects of Charity. For 'tis a Pernicious Error, to imagine, that we are the Proper and Arbitrary Lords of our own Poffeffions, and that we may juftly and fafely dispose of them, according to our own Pleasure. This plaufible mistake, so confidently urged, and the Practices so generally built upon it, may pass with Impunity and Approbation amongst Men; but the Holy Scriptures declare, and in the Day of Judgment we shall be effectually convinced, That God is the fole Lord, who hath

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intrufted us with Treafures, to be dispofed of, not as our own humours direct, but according to his express direction and commandment, in fupporting and comforting the Needy and Afflicted.

Those who are tenacious of their Superfluities, do prevent the course of God's Bleffings through their proper Channels, frustrate the designs of Providence, and are at once Regardless of the Good of their Brethren, the Authority of God, and the Salvation of their own Souls. For 'tis Indispensably incumbent upon all * them that are rich in this world, that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to diftribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in ftore for themselves a good foundation, against the time to come, that they may lay hold on Eternal Life. And this brings me to the Second Enquiry proposed.

II. Upon what accounts chiefly it is, that Charitable Works are to be esteem

* 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18, 19.

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