ed fo Excellent, as they are fuppofed to be in the Text?

'Tis to be taken for granted, that this enquiry does only extend it felf to fuch Outward Works, as are built upon a true Inward Principle of Charity. And undoubtedly fuch Works cannot but appear attended with great Excellency, if it fhould only be obferved, That whofoever performs them, does bear a part with those glorious Creatures, the Holy Angels, in the Execution of their high Office. For they are employed in Miniftration to the Neceffities and Infirmities of Men: And then do we moft confpire with those excellent Beings, and make the nearest approaches to their Perfection, when we approve our felves, as Faithful Guardians to thofe, who are placed below us, in a dependence upon our Protection and Succour. And yet it is the Excellency and Glory, even of those Bleffed Spirits, as well as of Charitable Men, That in these Beneficial Employments, they come up to the plaineft refemblance of God Almighty himself,

which they are capable of, and that in refpect of an Attribute, which, of all others, feems moft apt to command our Efteem and Love, His Infinite Goodness.

Reflections upon his Immenfity, Infinite Power, and Justice, may raife Wonder in us; but a Senfe of Complacency, and Joy, and Exultation, does not run in with that Wonder, till our Thoughts are turned upon his Goodness; which fupports every Being in it's proper State, and fupplies all thofe, which are capable of being Happy, with Happiness proportion'd to the utmost of their Capacity. The perfection of the Divine Nature cannot be conceived, without this Glorious Attribute: And in thofe * Men is the Image of this Divine Excellency truly Confpicuous, who are Beneficial to the utmost of their Power; whofe Goodness is diffufive of Support and Comfort, to as many Miferable objects, as they are capable of Comforting and Supporting.

* Οἶδα πολλαχὲς τῆς θείας γραφῆς, τῷ ὀνόματι τὸ ἐλεήμονα τις ἁγίας ἄνδρας τὴν θείαν δύναμιν προσκαλεμένες —Εἰ ἐν πρέπεσα τῷ Θεῷ ἡ προσηγορία τῇ ἐλεήμον@· τί ἄλλον καὶ οὐχὶ Θεόν σε προστ καλείται γενέσθαι ο λόγος, οιονεί μορφογενια τῷ τῆς θεότητος idual; Gregor. Nyff. de Beat. Orat. 5.

*

So Beautiful and Excellent are fuch fruits of Goodnefs, that whofoever reflects upon them, will plainly perceive their Excellency, from the Sentiments, which fuch a reflection does naturally raise up in his Mind. And every one will readily give in to this Obfervation, who does but confider our Saviour's account of the man who fell among thieves, which fripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. For the Different Characters of the Persons, who came that way, do fupply us with fuch different Affections, that the motions of our own Thoughts do fully testify the Bafeness 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 felves Discompofed and Uneafy, and moved with fome kind of Indignation against them. But as foon as we have paffed through these Difagreeable and Grating Characters, to

* Luke x. 30, &c.

the

the account of the Kind Samaritan, who fo readily and chearfully relieved the Diftreffed; this different view determines us to an high Efteem of the Compaffionate Person, and reduceth our Ruffled Minds, to a state of Serenity and Pleasure; as if such Actions were fo Generous and Excellent, that they must of Neceffity be Approved.

These observations might fuffice for an Answer to the Question 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 reflect upon the Excellency of fome Qualities and Difpofitions, which are the governing Principles in Charitable Minds, and to obferve the Neceffary and Peculiar relation and connection betwixt those Qualities and Charitable Works.

ift, The first of thofe Qualities is a ftedfaft Faith. The wife Man thus expresseth his Exhortation to Charity; * Caft thy

Eccl. xi. I.

1 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 reafon 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 Encrease, 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 obferve their Safe rules of action: Sinners lend to finners,

Παραντίκα τισὶ δόξεις ἀπολλύναι, ὥσπερ ύδατι τ ἄρτον του α dida's, daa" ——Greg, Thaumat, in Eccl. Metaph.

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