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SERM ture of Inconfiftencies, and fuch a shame IX. ful Miftruft of Providence, and Abuse of

Common-Senfe, that barely to mention it,

is fufficient to expofe it: And then these very People, when they die, by as strange, and undefigned a Sort of kindness, leave their Subftance to they know not whom, for no other reason, than because they cannot keep it any longer. But after all, tho' we may not withhold Good from them to whom it is due, yet we may withhold it from them to whom it is not due: For they who are able to help themselves, and fuch there are, who nevertheless refufe to do fo, can never be entitled to that Good, which it is in their own Power to help themselves to, and which should they receive, they must of neceffity rob those, to whom the Scripture has given a Title to it. The Rod of Juftice is the greatest Charity that can be beftowed on them, who by their voluntary Neceffities impofe upon Mankind, and deprive those who are truly neceffitous of that Help and Affiftance, which they would otherwife enjoy. They certainly are the

only

IX.

only Objects of Charity whofe Neceffities SERM. are not of their own making, such as they could prevent, or can deliver themselves from. The Impotence of Old Age, just dropping into the Duft, and haftening to put off its earthly Tabernacle, calls upon us to fupply the Defects of Nature, and if poffible, to give some Respite and Refreshment to the short Remains of Life. They who labour under any grievous Disorder of Body, whether they be old or young, loudly call for Succour; having befides their Pain a pinching Neceffity likewife to struggle with: But more efpecially they whom these Misfortunes have befallen in the Service of their Country, have a juft and equitable Claim to our Affiftance, and to fhare with us in the common Bleffings they have been fo inftrumental in procuring us. Nor are they to be forgotten, whom God has afflicted with a troubled Mind, whofe Reafon, if any there be, is kept under by exorbitant raging Paffions, and left to the extravagant Guidance of unaffisted Nature.

Since I am defcribing to you the feveral Objects of Charity, indulge me a few Words,

SERM. Words, while I recommend to you one
IX. thing more, in which your Charity would

be exceedingly well bestowed, I mean in
the Education of Youth. Every one knows,
and has feen, and fome indeed to their
Sorrow, the dismal Confequences that have
attended the Want of Education in our
Youth. Young People are prone enough
to Vice, notwithstanding any Restraints
that are put upon them, even under the
Influence of Virtue and Religion; but
when they are let alone to follow their In-
clinations without Controul, they rush on
adventrous in the Paths of Sin, till Old
Age, if fome unlucky Accident does not
take them off before, hardens them into
a reprobate and stupid Infidelity, so that,
for want of remembring their Creator in
the Days of their Youth, the Evil days
come upon them, and the Years draw
nigh, when they fall fay, I have no Plea-
fure in them: But when they are timely
accustomed to virtuous Habits, and by
good Inftructions trained up in the way
wherein they should go,
eafily depart from it, but

they will not

grow, as in

Years,

IX.

Years, fo in Grace, till they come unto a SERM. perfect Man, unto the Measure of the Stature of the Fulness of Chrift.

Having proved that Charity is a Debt, and how far it is limited and restrained, I fhall, Secondly, proceed to bring fome Arguments to perfwade you chearfully to dif charge it.

And Firft, We fhould be always ready to help and affift our Fellow-Creatures in their Wants and Neceffities, because it is what we would expect of them, if we were in their Condition, and they in ours; and therefore it would be unreasonable to deny them that, which we fhould think unreasonable for them to deny us.

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Secondly, Wefhould take Care chearfully to discharge this Duty of Charity, because we do not know how foon it may be our own Cafe to want Affiftance @urfelves. No one can tell how it may pleafe God to deal with him, and what Condition he may be in before he dies, however profperous and fuccessful he may be at present, and then if he hath stopped his Ears at the Cry of the Poor, he also shall cry him

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SERM. felf, but fhall not be heard: For what IX. can he expect of God in his Adverfity, who refused him any Acknowledgment in his Profperity? Or what can he expect from Men, when he himself refused to grant what he is now obliged to ask? But if he hath been accustomed to Acts of Charity and Beneficence, and hath not shut his Ears upon the Cries of the Poor and Needy, happy is he, the Lord fhall deliver him in the time of Trouble. A charitable Man when he is under Aflictions is fure to be pitied by all Men, and to draw Compaffion from that ftony Heart that seldom fhewed any before: For Nature is not fo far degenerated, but it must love and admire that Divine Temper of Mind, that delights in doing Good, and fhew the greater Compaffion to it when in Distress.

Thirdly, A third Argument I fhall make Ufe of to perfwade you to a chearful Difcharge of this Debt is the Encouragement that attends it; for tho' Charity is a Debt which we are obliged to discharge, yet because it is always accompanied with fuch a lovely Frame of Mind, fuch Pity, such fuch

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