and Restrictions: One in particular is men- SERM. tion'd, and another implied, in the Text;, IX.

that we have it in our Power to dif
charge this Debt, and that it is to be
paid only to thofe to whom it is due.
For whenever we are enjoined to do Acts
of Charity and Beneficence, if it be not ex-
prefs'd, there is always implied an Ability
of doing them: It being required of every
Man in thofe Cafes, according to what he
hath, and not according to what he hath
not, And therefore, tho' we are not to
withhold Good from them to whom it is
due, yet this Precept is fo far limited, as
to fuppofe it to be in the Power of our
hand to do it. But there are very few
who act befides the Precept, by doing
more than their Abilities will permit; the
greatest Part will not do fo much as they
are able, but with poor Excufes and Ob-
jections, which are always ready at hand,
when we have not a Mind to do our Duty,
refufe to do that Good, which it is in the
Power of their hand to do.
But God,
who knows the Secrets of all Hearts,
knows alfo our Abilities and Wants, and

SERM. how far we are able to affift each other; IX. and however we may with falfe Excuses

impofe upon Men, yet I prefume we need not be informed, how little they will avail in the Sight of God. Thofe, who have the Talent in their Hands, are certainly accountable for the Mifmanagement of it. If we confider this as we ought, and remember likewise how uncertain all things are, we should let flip no Opportunity of doing Good, when it is in our Power to do it. This is the Advice of the Wife Man in the Words immediately following the Text, Say not unto thy Neighbour, 80, and come again, and To-morrow I will give thee, when thou haft it by thee. And what can be more reasonable; for (not to mention that whatever it is that hinders a Man from doing Good To-day, when he has it in his Power, will likewife do fo To-morrow,) how does he know, what may happen To-morrow? How is he certain what a Day may bring forth? But why To-morrow, any more than To-day? To-morrow we may die, and lose all Opportunity of doing Good: But fuppofing

we

we should not, yet as every Morning SERM. brings along with it a new Day, fo does it IX. alfo a Variety of new Circumstances and Revolutions. But fhould à Man live never fo long, perhaps he may never meet with an Opportunity of doing fo much Good any more: The Seasonableness of the

Charity much increases the Value of it; for as a Word fpoken, so also a Gift given in Season, how good is it? We must be carefull how we say it is not in our Power to do Good, when we ourselves are the Occafion of it: For tho' this Debt is limited and reftrained, and can extend only to those who are able to discharge it, yet they will by no means be excufed from doing it, who put it out of their Power, and throw away their Abilities in idle and useless Diverfions, when they have so many Oppor tunities of employing them to relieve the Neceffities of the Poor, who are all the while perishing for want of the common Neceffaries of Life: For indeed this is throwing away what is not our own; it is withholding Good from them who are the proper Owners of it, and to indulge B b 2

and

IX.

SERM, and recreate ourselves at the Expence of others. And indeed this is a Custom too much obferv'd, and which can never be too much lamented. People fquander away that very often in unlawful, or at leaft, in vain and trifling Pleasures, which, by a well-timed Charity, would refresh the Spirits of the Needy, and fave a Soul alive. There is another Sort of People, who if a Brother or a Sifter be naked, and deftitute of daily Food, will fay unto them, Depart in Peace, be ye warmed, or filled, notwithstanding they will not give them thofe things, which are needful to the Body; and that, because they fay, they cannot afford it, when perhaps their Income is much greater, and their Outgoings much lefs, than any of their Neighbours. I put it thus, because a Man may have a great Income, and yet may not be able to do fo much Good as one who has lefs, because his Outgoings may be greater, upon the account of a numerous Family and poor Relations, which we are preingaged to provide for in the firft Place, and other Circumftances which demand greater Expens

ces

ces, according to the Station of Life he is SERM. in; but the greater a Man's Income is, IX. and the lefs his Outgoings, the harder will it be for him to prove, that he cannot af ford to do Good with it. But there are a Sort of People in the World, who think they were born for their own private Ends, and that a good or bad Life confists in the Quantity of Money they have fcraped together; without confidering they were born for the Goodof Community; and that if God had not been more merciful to them, than they are to their Fellow-creatures, notwithstanding all their Endeavours, they would not have fo great a Talent put into their Hands to do Good withal. However, in People of this Temper one thing is very furprizing, that as they withhold Good from others, fo they do generally from themselves too, and out of a ftrange fort of Frugality, fuffer themselves to want even for fear they should want; which is to run into Danger in order to avoid it, and to anticipate future Miferies, which are only poffible, by making them certain and prefent; which is fuch an odd Mix

ture