Protestant charity a sermon preached at S. Sepulchres Church, on Tuesday in Easter week, A. D. MDCLXXXI / by Edward Stillingfleet ... Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699. 1681 Approx. 71 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 28 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2004-05 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1). A61587 Wing S5622 ESTC R8099 13725681 ocm 13725681 101595 This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal . The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission. Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A61587) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 101595) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1641-1700 ; 852:2) Protestant charity a sermon preached at S. Sepulchres Church, on Tuesday in Easter week, A. D. MDCLXXXI / by Edward Stillingfleet ... Stillingfleet, Edward, 1635-1699. [6], 47, [1] p. Printed by M. Flesher for Henry Mortlock ..., London : 1681. Reproduction of original in Huntington Library. Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford. Re-processed by University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Northwestern, with changes to facilitate morpho-syntactic tagging. Gap elements of known extent have been transformed into placeholder characters or elements to simplify the filling in of gaps by user contributors. 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Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements). Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site . eng Bible. -- N.T. -- Galatians VI, 9 -- Sermons. Charity -- Sermons. Charity -- Early works to 1800. 2004-02 TCP Assigned for keying and markup 2004-02 Aptara Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2004-03 Olivia Bottum Sampled and proofread 2004-03 Olivia Bottum Text and markup reviewed and edited 2004-04 pfs Batch review (QC) and XML conversion Protestant Charity . A SERMON Preached at S. SEPVLCHRES Church , On Tuesday In Easter Week , A. D. MDCLXXXI . By EDWARD STILLINGFLEET , D. D. Dean of S t Paul's , and Chaplain in Ordinary to His MAJESTY . LONDON : Printed by M. Flesher , for Henry Mortlock , at the Phoenix in St. Paul's Church-yard , and at the White Hart in Westminster-hall . 1681. To the Right Honourable Sir PATIENCE WARD , Lord Mayor Of the City of LONDON , AND TO The Court of ALDERMEN . My Lord and Gentlemen , IT is the great Honour of this City , since the Protestant Religion was professed in it , that it hath born a much greater proportion to the rest of the Nation , in publick Works of Charity , than in the largeness of its Buildings , and number of its Inhabitants . For when , upon the unreasonable clamours of our Adversaries of the Church of Rome , an account was thought fit to be taken of such Acts of Charity as lay more open to the view of the World , within sixty years from the settlement of the Reformation by Q. Elizabeth , it was found , that they exceeded all that had been done in twice that number of years in the time of Popery ; and that therein this City did equal the whole Kingdom besides . And although those who make this Report , complain of the too great reservedness of some Companies in making known their Benefactours ; yet upon the diligent search some persons made , it did appear , that as to the best parts of publick Charity in founding Schools and Hospitals , &c. more was done within that time , than from the Conquest to the Reformation . For , besides the large and constant Charity of the City in the Care of their Hospitals ; many particular Citizens did so great things in several parts of the Nation upon their own Stocks , that within that compass of Time , more than forty Hospitals were built and endowed , and above twenty Free Schools , and upon a reasonable computation , near a million of Money was thought to be bestowed in Works of Charity , in London and the two Universities . This was the true Protestant Charity of those times ; which ran in a clear , free and undivided Channel , without the mixture of Superstition , or being diverted from its proper course to serve private ends and designs . And this brought Honour to our Religion ; advanced the Reputation of the City ; and promoted the Good of the whole Nation . And such are great and wise ends ; fit to be considered and carried on by those to whom God hath given a heart sutable to the largeness of their Estates ; which they can neither carry into another World , nor better employ in this than by doing Good to Mankind with them . And as there still continued many and undeniable Instances among true Protestants of extraordinary designs of Charity by particular Members of this City , whom God had blessed in their Imployments ; so I have reason to hope , that this Age will afford remarkable Examples of the same kind to Posterity : That so our Protestant Faith may be always found fruitfull in good Works ; which will be the best means both to adorn and preserve it . To perswade and encourage others to tread in the steps of those worthy Citizens , whose Faith and Charity deserve their imitation , is the chief design of the following Sermon ; which out of due Respect to the Order of your Court , I now present to your Hands ; with my hearty Prayers to Almighty God for the continuance of his Blessing on this City and the Government of it . I am , My Lord and Gentlemen , Your most faithfull and obedient Servant , E. Stillingfleet . GALAT. VI. 9. And let us not be weary in well-doing ; for in due season we shall reap , if we faint not . WHen Iulian the Apostate designed ( if possible ) to retrieve the honour of the Heathen Religion , he easily discern'd that it was not enough for him to restore the Priesthood , to open the Temples , to appoint the Sacrifices to be offer'd upon the Altars ; but he found it necessary for them to imitate the Christians in the strictness of their Lives , in the solemnity of their Devotions , in the exactness of their Discipline , and especially in the erecting Hospitals , and taking care of the Poor . For he that would not believe the Christian Religion to be from God , thought himself bound to give some probable account , how a Religion so contrary to the Interests and Designs of this World , should be able to prevail against all the arts and power of its many and potent Enemies ; and upon the deepest search which could be made by himself , or the greatest Wits of the Heathens then about him , they concluded the flourishing and propagation of it to be chiefly owing to those things which he so much commended to the Heathens imitation . And from hence they inferred , that if the same things could be brought into Practice among the Gentiles , they should be able to supplant Christianity by its own methods , and restore Paganism by the same Weapons by which it was overthrown . This was thought so subtle and artificial a device by him whose great design was to extirpate our Religion in a soft and gentle manner , without the blood and cruelty of former times , that he writes an Epistle on purpose to Arsacius the chief Priest of Galatia , requiring punctual observance of these Commands ; and as to the chargeable and expensive part , he offer'd large provisions out of his own Revenue to defray it . But Saint Paul had been beforehand with him in Galatia , having planted Churches with great success there ; and Christianity , by his means , took so deep root in mens hearts , that neither the rage and fury of former Persecutions , nor the plausible arts and insinuations of Iulian were able to root it out . It is true , that these Churches , soon after their planting , were in great danger of being overrun by the pernicious Errours of some Seducers of that time ; ( the apprehension whereof put Saint Paul into that astonishment which he expresseth in the beginning of this Epistle , I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the Grace of Christ unto another Gospel , &c. ) yet by the early notice and care which he took to prevent the spreading of these corruptions among them , the Galatian Churches recover'd the soundness of their Faith , and have preserved a name among the Eastern Churches , though under great variety of conditions , to this day . Some take notice , that this is one of the sharpest Epistles written by Saint Paul. He appears indeed , by the beginning of it , to have been much surprised and moved at the news of a great and sudden alteration among them ; which he was sure was not for the better . And by this plain dealing with them , he knew , till they consider'd better , they would be offended with him ; but withall he tells them this did best become a Servant of Christ , who , like a good Physician , hath more regard to the Disease than to the Palate of his Patient ; For if I yet pleased Men , I should not be the Servant of Christ. But having vindicated his own honour , which the evil reports of the false Apostles made necessary ; and argued with great strength and conviction against the imposers of the Law ; he betakes himself to the inforcing the practice of the general and necessary Duties of Christianity upon these Galatians . If they had such a mind to keep the Law , All the Law , saith he , is fulfilled in one word , even in this , Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self . It was a vain and foolish thing for them to contend about keeping the Law , who did overthrow the main design of it , by their heats and animosities against each other ; which , instead of preserving the honour of the Law , was the certain way to destroy one another . But if ye bite and devour one another , take heed that ye be not consumed one of another . From hence he shews , that hatred , variance , emulations , wrath , strife , seditions , heresies , are as much the lusts of the flesh as adultery , fornication , murther , drunkenness , revellings and such like ; and as destructive to mens Salvation ; of the which , saith he , I tell you before , as I have also told you in time past , that they which doe such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. And they that are true Christians must crucifie the flesh with all these affections and lusts thereof ; such as vain-glory , love of contention , envying the reputation of others . Let us not be desirous of vain-glory , provoking one another , envying one another . But the Apostle did not think the design of the Law , or the obligation of Christianity was satisfied with abstaining from doing injuries to others ; therefore he proceeds to tell them what exercise of tenderness , compassion and readiness to doe good to others were expected from them by the Law of Christ. ( 1. ) If a man , through the frailty of humane Nature , or the sudden surprise of a Temptation , be overtaken in a fault , do not , saith he , trample upon him , nor insult over him ; but endeavour with the spirit of meekness to recover him from his fall ; considering that we carry about us the same load of flesh , and are exposed to continual Temptations our salves . ( 2. ) If we see others groaning under the heavy burthen of their own infirmities , or the pressures and calamities of the world , do not add more weight to their afflictions ; but put your own shoulders under to bear a part with them , to make their burthen more easie to them ; for herein lies a great deal of that duty which Christ hath laid on all his Disciples . Bear ye one anothers burthens and so fulfill the Law of Christ. ( 3. ) If it be impossible for men to attend the service of your Souls and the affairs of this World together , never grudge nor repine at the exercise of your kindness and liberality towards your spiritual Teachers , v. 6. Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that teacheth in all good things . Which instances being mention'd , the Apostle subjoins two things : 1. A general Proposition , viz. That every man shall receive in another World according to the good that he doth in this . Be not deceived God is not mocked ; for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap . For he that soweth to his flesh shall of his flesh reap corruption , but he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting . i. e. He that looks onely after his present advantage in this world and dares not venture to doe any thing out of hopes of recompence for it in another life , he is said to sow to his flesh ; but he that is good and charitable and kind to others without hopes of any other advantage than what God will give him for it , is said to sow to the spirit ; the Flesh and Spirit being opposed as the two Centres of the different worlds : the great thing to which all things tend in this world being something carnal or that relates to the Flesh ; and the great principle of another world being wholly spiritual . And these two Flesh and Spirit are placed as two Loadstones drawing our hearts several ways , the one is much stronger , but at a greater distance ; the other hath less force in it self but is much nearer to us , by which means it draws more powerfully the hearts that are already touched with a strong inclination to it . But the Apostle useth the similitude of two Fields , wherein the product of the Seed answers to the nature of the Soil ; so he that sowes to the flesh , i. e. that minds onely his present interest in this world , his harvest shall be proportionable to his seed , he may reap advantages to himself in this world sutable to his pains and industry ; but the utmost this world can yield is but of a short continuance , being of a temporary , transient , corruptible nature , he that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption : but he that soweth to the spirit , i. e. hath so great a regard to the rewards of another life , that he is willing to let go a present enjoyment and bury it under ground , casting it in as seed into the earth in hopes of a future resurrection , however he may be condemned as a weak and improvident man by the men of this world , yet as certain as there is a life everlasting to come , so certainly shall all his good deeds yield an abundant increase and meet with a glorious recompence then , if there be no corrupt mixture in the sowing which may spoil the virtue of the seed , for he that soweth to the spirit shall of the spirit reap life everlasting . And let not men deceive themselves ; if they look onely at themselves and the things of this world , let their pretences be never so spiritual , if they dare not doe acts of Charity so as to trust God for a reward , they do but sow to the flesh ; and though the world may be cheated , and men may sometimes deceive themselves , yet God cannot be mocked ; he knows the hearts , and intentions , and secret designs of men , and according to them their reward shall be ; for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he reap . This I take to be the natural and genuine meaning of the Apostle in those words . 2. A particular Exhortation , not to be discouraged in well doing , which is the same with sowing to the spirit before , and with doing good in the following verse , both which are to be understood of the Works of Charity ; and therefore we ought to take it in that sense here . These are especially called good Works in the New Testament ; Dorcas is said to be a Woman full of good Works and Alms-deeds which she did . The Widow that was to be taken into Office in the Church , must be well reported of for good Works ; and these presently follow , the bringing up children , the lodging strangers , washing the Saints feet and relieving the afflicted ; In the Epistle to Titus , Saint Paul gives him a strict charge , that he deliver it with great assurance ( 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ) that they which believe in God might be carefull to maintain good Works ; these things are good and profitable unto men ; Where the same word is used in the Greek , that is in the words of the Text. And to the same purpose other words of a like signification are used , as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , To doe good and to communicate forget not ; ' 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , Charge them that are rich in this world — that they doe good , that they be rich in good works , ready to distribute , willing to communicate . That ye may abound to every good Work , saith Saint Paul ; which he after explains , by being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness . So that although well doing in the general may extend to every good action , yet by the particular sense of that phrase in the New Testament , and especially from the coherence of these words with the foregoing and following verses , it appears that the well doing here spoken of , is to be understood of Works of Charity . Which the Apostle , as they were Christians , did suppose them to practise , but being apprehensive lest the discouragements they met with in the world , should make them grow cold and remiss in this great duty , he therefore exhorts them not to faint or grow weary of doing it ; and to that end he lays down the most powerfull Motive and Consideration ; for in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not : i. e. ye shall not miss of a reward from God. So that from the words we may take notice of these two things which deserve our consisideration . 1. The many discouragements men meet with in the World which are apt to make them grow weary in well doing . 2. The mighty incouragement which God gives to our continuance and perseverance in it ; for in due season we shall reap if we faint not . I. The many discouragements men meet with in the World , which are apt to make them grow weary in well doing . The Precepts of Charity deliver'd by our Saviour and his Apostles are so plain , so full , so many , so easie to be understood ; and those Precepts inforced by so just , and reasonable , and pious considerations , with respect to God , to the World , to fellow Christians , to the honour of our Religion , and lastly to our selves , from the comfort that is in well doing , and the reward that follows it ; that a man must have great impudence , to profess himself a Christian , and yet to think himself not obliged to doe acts of Charity . But notwithstanding all this , and much more which might be said to this purpose , there are too many still who are ready to find out some plausible pretences to excuse them from well doing ; which being the greatest discouragements to men from continuing in it ; I shall make it my present business to examin them , and to shew how little weight there is in them , especially being compared with the Authority of him who hath made this our duty , and the reward we may justly expect for performing it . And here I shall pass over the more common and trivial Objections , which every one can easily answer that makes them ; and rather argue an unwilling mind to perform their duty , than one unsatisfied about the reasonableness of it ; and I shall therefore insist on those that carry a greater appearance of strength in them ; which are chiefly these two , 1. From the different state of our Times from those when these Commands of Charity were given . 2. From the sad prospect of our own Affairs , which seem rather to call for a Care of our selves than Charity to others . 1. The first pretence is from the difference of Times ; There was then , say such men , great reason for Charity which will not hold now ; those were times of persecution for Religion , and many were driven to great streights and necessities on that account who deserved to be relieved , and the Christians had been worse than Infidels not to doe good to men that were brought to want meerly for Christ's and the Gospel's sake ; the Laws then could take no care of these poor and indigent persons ; for the Laws made them so , being then opposite to Christianity : but now our Religion is settled by the Laws ; and we have many Laws made for a competent provision for the poor , which will be sufficient if they be put in execution , and if they be not , what Charity is this to relieve an idle and disorderly sort of People who live upon Alms , when it is greater Charity to such to make them work and to provide for their own subsistence ? This is the force of the Objection which seems to have a great deal of strength and weight in it ; but before I give an Answer to it I must acknowledge the truth of some things contained therein . ( 1. ) That there is a great difference in the case of Charity , where our Religion is settled by Law , and where it is persecuted by it . For a larger measure and degree of Charity is justly required in a time of Persecution , in as much as those are the truest Objects of Charity who prefer the keeping Faith and a good Conscience before the good things of this Life . And we ought to look upon it as an unvaluable blessing , that we have the Christian , yea the Reformed Christian Religion settled by our Laws . And God grant it may ever so continue ! ( 2. ) It cannot be denied that we have very good Laws for the maintenance of the Poor , and that they might be sufficient for their common necessities , if they were duly executed . And it is a very just and reasonable distinction which our Laws make between the involuntary Poor , who are made so by the hand of Heaven , either by Sickness , or Lameness , or Age , or Children , or Fire , &c. and the voluntary Poor , who may help themselves but will not , being idle , dissolute and slothfull persons . These deserve rather the hand of Justice to punish them than that of Charity to relieve them : For Saint Paul himself is so far from thinking this to be true Charity , that he hardly thinks it so to keep such from starving if we take that Proverbial saying in its strict and literal sense , If any would not work , neither should he eat . ( 3. ) I grant that it is greater Charity to put persons upon providing for themselves than to relieve their present necessities . For that is the greatest Charity which doth a man the most good . And he that reduceth a dissolute and wandring Beggar to the taking pains for himself and Family cures an ill habit of his Mind ; puts him into the way of Vertue and Sobriety ; gives him a lasting stock for himself and Family ( for diligence and industry is so ) keeps him out of the danger of the worst sort of Company ; gains him more Friends , who will be far more ready to help a person industrious in his Poverty than the most clamorous and importunate Beggar . And therefore our Laws have wisely determin'd , that Work-houses are the best Hospitals for the Poor , who are able to help themselves . But after these concessions , I am far from thinking the command of Charity to be swallowed up in our Laws for the relief of the Poor . For , ( 1. ) If our Laws were the best in the World for this purpose , yet , if they be not duly executed , they leave as much room for Charity as if there were none . What if a Law were made that there should be no Poor at all among us ; but that immediate care should be taken , upon any man's falling into decay , that his Stock should be supplied out of the superfluities of the Rich ? If this Law were not executed , men would be altogether as miserable in their Poverty , and as great Objects of Charity as if there were no such Law in being . For the making of a Law for their supply without putting it in execution , is but like the Person in Saint Iames , who said to those who were naked and destitute of daily food , be ye warmed and filled ; but notwithstanding gave them nothing needfull for the Body ; what doth this profit ? What advantage or satisfaction is it to a Man to starve with the Law on his side ? Or can men be better fed or cloathed with the Words of a Law than of any particular Person ? If not , then if care be not taken for the relief and maintenance of the Poor according to the Laws , there is as great need of Charity as if there were none at all . ( 2. ) If we suppose the Laws for relief of the Poor to be duly executed , yet there are many particular cases of Charity which often happen which the Laws cannot be supposed to provide for . The Law takes care onely of general , and notorious , and common cases ; but there are continual Instances of singular and extraordinary cases where relief is as much wanted , but is rarely challenged . How often is some mens Reputation a snare to themselves and Families ; who had rather sink silently into the gulf of Misery , than have their wants made known to their insulting neighbours , among whom they have lived in as good fashion as themselves ? How many have been tempted rather to put an end to a miserable Life than to be despised and contemned for their Poverty in their old Age ! How many are unwilling to make known their condition for fear of a repulse and being thought Liars , or impudent and common Beggars ! How hardly will some pinch themselves and Families , before they will make known their necessities ! and some have been known to have brought themselves so low , that when their sad condition hath been discovered , they have been past all possibility of recovery . I hope such Instances are not frequent among us . And yet we are lately told in Print by a Member of this City , That he hath reason to believe many hundreds have perished through want of late years . If this be true , and their case was known ; what a shame and dishonour is it , in the midst of so much plenty and luxury , to suffer such a reproach to Christianity to be among us ? But if their case were not known in time ; the stain is not quite wiped off , because there ought to be in so great , so rich , so well-governed a City , a due care taken to find out as well as to relieve the truly necessitous . ( 3. ) The obligations of Charity reach much farther than the force of our Laws doth . For how small a matter within this City doth answer the letter of the Law , where Persons enjoy very great and plentifull Estates ? And is that all which their thankfulness to God , their love to their Brethren , and the regard to our Saviour's Commands will draw from them ? Is this being mercifull as our heavenly Father is mercifull ? Is this giving our Alms in secret , that thy Father which seeth in secret may reward thee openly ? Is this making to our selves friends of the Mammon of unrighteousness ? Is this being rich towards God ; being rich in good works , being ready to distribute , willing to communicate ? Is this doing good to all men as we have opportunity ? Is this feeding the hungry , cloathing the naked , visiting the sick and imprison'd ? Can we imagine that will be a good answer at the great day , that we have paid our Rates to the Poor ? If the Christian Charity had extended no farther , Iulian needed not have been so solicitous to have the Heathens equal them ? The true Charity of Christians is a free and voluntary thing , not what men are forced to doe by the Laws ; It is a largeness of mind , that disposeth men to doe good to others , and embraceth every opportunity for that purpose ; It is the flowing of a Fountain which runs freely , easily and constantly ; and not like the pouring water out of a narrow mouthed Vessel , where but little comes , and with a great deal of noise . Charity spreads it self like the beams of the Sun , and warms and enlivens the colder parts of the Earth ; it pierceth into the bowels of it , and makes it self a passage to those secret and hidden objects which are out of the view of the World. True Christian Charity hath arms so large to comprehend the whole World within them ; but it is the Life and Spirit of that Body whereof Christ is the Head ; it passeth from one member to another , emptying it self from the larger vessels into the less , and so by a constant motion and course through the Body it keeps heat and union in all the Parts . To doe good because one cannot help it , is to obey the Law of Necessity and not of Charity . He that resolves to go no farther in Charity than the Law requires him , declares he would not have gone so far unless the Law had forced him ; which is in effect to tell the World , he hath not so much as an inclination to Charity . ( 4. ) Our Laws give great encouragement to the best , the noblest , the most lasting Works of Charity ; such as erecting Work-houses for the Poor that are able to work , endowing Hospitals and Alms-houses for the impotent , distemper'd and aged Poor ; setting up Free-Schools for the Education of Youth . And I never yet met with any Objection against these that will not hold against the best designs in the World. For it is possible they may be abused , and may accidentally prove an occasion of Idleness to some Persons , and they may exceed the due proportion of Persons fit for them , ( Although we yet see no great danger of that . ) Yet what design can the wit of Man pitch upon in a captious and suspicious Age , that will not meet with Objections from those that have a mind to cavil ? The best Religion in the World , the best Church , the best Government , the best Laws , the best Men cannot escape the censures of ill-minded Men ; and why should we think the best designs of Charity should ? But some men whose minds are set upon one particular way of Charity , are apt to disparage all other ways to advance their own : which is the common Errour of Mankind , to think sufficient Right is not done to the thing they admire , unless they undervalue all other things in comparison with it . But it is a part of Charity to allow , approve and incourage all true ways of Charity ; not to set up bodily Labour against the improvement of the Mind ; nor the learning of Arts and Sciences to the disparagement of breeding men up for Trade and Business ; nor to cry down Hospitals and Infirmaries for the Lame and Sick and Aged in comparison of Work-houses for the Young and Strong and Healthfull . For all these are excellent and most commendable ways of Charity , and have nothing of contradiction or inconsistency with one another , if they do answer the ends of their Institution . I do not go about to lessen the esteem of casual and occasional Acts of Charity done to particular Persons in present Want ; when our Blessed Saviour in the midst of all his Poverty took care of the Poor , for when he spake to Iudas at the Table , the Disciples supposed it was that he should give something to the Poor . What admirable Charity was this , when he had not whereon to lay his head , and was at the expence of a Miracle to give an entertainment to the People , yet he had an Officer , one of his own Apostles , to take care of the Poor ! And when he pronounceth such Blessedness to those who doe acts of Charity to them , and accounts them as done unto himself ; which is the highest expression of his gracious acceptance of such Acts from us , and of the great obligation that lies upon us to doe them ; since we ought not to think much of any thing we doe for the honour of our Lord and Saviour , who did and suffer'd so much for our sakes : Yet when we compare these with the publick Works of Charity before mention'd , being done for the same end ; we shall find these to exceed the other in some material circumstances , which add much to the excellency of them . ( 1. ) In the Largeness and Extensiveness of their design . Other Charities are for the present relief of some poor and indigent persons , whose bowels are refreshed , and backs are clothed , and hearts are eased , by the kindness of others to them ; but these are soon gone , and mens Charity cannot follow them beyond the Grave . But publick endowments of Charity are to last for ever , and doe good to the Poor of many Generations . The Ages to come will rise up and bless their Memory who took care to doe good to those whom they never saw ; and to provide for such , yea very many such , whom it was impossible for them to know . When a man sees a great object of Charity , as the Widow and Fatherless under extreme necessities , the Mother weeping and bemoaning her Children not having bread to put into their Mouths , and the poor Children looking ghastly and frightfully crying for want of bread , but not knowing where to get it , the very uneasiness of a man 's own mind at the sense of so much misery in others , will extort some present relief to still their cries , and to put such an unpleasing Idea out of his Fancy . But if the Object it self do not move , yet importunity may : if that doth not , yet custom , reputation , natural humanity , recommendation of Friends may prevail on men to be sometimes liberal to persons whom they see under present Wants . But how much doth all this fall short of a fixed , certain , perpetual provision for the necessities of those , whom none of those Arguments could excite men to shew kindness to ? The other is a more sensible , natural , private Charity ; this is a more rational , generous Christian Charity ; being built upon more free , and noble , and lasting considerations , most agreeable to the design and honour of the Christian Religion , which puts men upon doing the best things and which tend to the greatest benefit and advantage of mankind . And in the comparison of things that are good , the largest , the most publick , the most lasting ought to have the preeminence . ( 2. ) In their Consequence and Usefulness ; which ought to be especially regarded in Acts of Charity . For true Charity must be accompanied with Wisedom and Discretion . It is not a man's profuse liberality to every one that asks ; nor making himself poor to make others rich ; it is not squandering away an Estate among idle and indigent Persons , that makes him a charitable man ; but it is a wise dispensing the Gifts God hath bestowed upon him for the benefit and advantage of others . And the greater the Good is that is received the greater is the Charity in bestowing it . The Schoolmen reckon up seven sorts of Corporal Alms , and as many of Spiritual ; to visit the sick , to feed the hungry , to satisfie the thirsty , to cloath the naked , to redeem the captive , to entertain the stranger , to bury the dead ; are the former : to teach the ignorant , to advise the doubtfull , to comfort the sorrowfull , to correct the wicked , to forgive the injurious , to bear the troublesome , to pray for all ; are the Instances of spiritual Charity . But this is rather a distribution of the different sorts of Charity , than any just Rule and Measure of our obligation to the Acts of it . For although in the general , spiritual Acts of Charity to mens Souls , are to be preferred before what refers onely to their Bodies ; yet in particular cases a man may be more obliged to relieve their outward necessities than to give them good counsel for their Souls ; i. e. when those necessities are urgent and pressing , and by a present supply they may have longer time and be in better disposition to receive spiritual Advice . Some dispute if a bad man be in greater want and a good man in less want , which of these two is to be preferred ? And the Casuists say , The Work of Mercy is greater in the former Case ; but the Work of Charity in the latter . For Mercy onely relates to another's misery ; but Charity takes in other Considerations . So I say , when the competition lies between the present supply of some in great want , and making a lasting provision for more persons in less want , there may be more Mercy in the former case , but there may be greater Charity in the latter : because the more publick , the more common , the more usefull the Good is , the greater the Charity is in doing of it . I will not dispute , whether the breeding up of youth to Learning , or Labour , be among us the greater Charity ? I know no reason why two such excellent ways of Charity should be set at variance with each other . But certainly we are not to judge of mens usefulness to the publick meerly by the strength of their limbs , or the hardness of their hands , or the nimbleness of their fingers . Is it not possible that by the charitable education of Children in the ways of Learning and Knowledge some may arrive at a greater capacity of serving God and their Country , than if they had been grinding in a Mill , or tugging at an Oar all that while ? It is not onely keeping People to hard labour , or to continual working , which is the design of Charity ; but the most excellent way of Charity is , to improve all Persons according to their several Capacities , so as to make them more usefull and serviceable to the Publick . This is not onely doing Good to the particular persons , but to the whole Nation ; and Charity is not barely to be measured by the quality of its Acts , but by the largeness of the circumference it fills . The breeding up some few great and usefull Persons to a Nation is a Work of Charity the publick Good is more concerned in , than in the manual labours of many industrious Artificers : who do serve the Publick too in their way ; but there is a difference between those lesser Stars in the Firmament , that wanted a Telescope to discover them , and those great and splendid Bodies which influence the Earth , and direct mens passage in the deep Waters . That is therefore the greatest and most usefull Charity , which tends to the improving mankind according to their different Capacities ; some for Labour , others for Trade , others to be usefull to the rest of mankind with a respect either to their Country or to their Estates , their Bodies or their Souls : And which takes all possible care to prevent the unspeakable and innumerable mischiefs which idleness and debauchery do bring upon mankind . ( 3. ) In the Honour they bring to Religion . There are some cases , wherein our Charity must be so secret , that our left hand must not know what our right hand doth , i. e. when there is danger of vanity and ostentation in the doing of our Alms ; but when the honour of God and Religion is concerned , then Let your light so shine before men , that they may see your good Works , and glorifie your Father which is in heaven . But how can men see those Acts of Charity which are done in secret , and are industriously concealed from the knowledge of men ? And if that were to be taken as a strict command in all cases , then all the publick Works of Charity , which are most considerable for the Honour of God and Religion would be forbidden by the Gospel . But where men do excellent and praise worthy things for great and good ends , without Pharisaical Hypocrisie , it is the general concernment of Religion and the glory of God not to have such things kept from the knowledge of the World. For herein , saith our Saviour , is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit , so shall ye be my Disciples . So shall ye appear to be my Disciples , for Christ had owned them for his Disciples before , but this would manifest their being so to the World ; which would bring the greatest honour to God and to the Christian Religion . And it is certain nothing did more advance the reputation of it in the World , than their singular and extraordinary care of the Poor . For they not onely relieved in the first place those that were Christians , according to the Apostle's Rule in the next Verse ; especially to those of the Household of Faith ; but their Charity extended to the very Heathens : which Iulian takes notice of with great Indignation : Is it not a shame for us not to relieve our own poor , when the Christians not onely take care of their own but of ours too ? And by the case of Lucian's Peregrinus , it appears , that some pretended to be Christians on purpose that they might be partakers of the great bounty and kindness which the Christians shewed to their Brethren . But such Instances as these did not make them weary in well-doing ; but still as the Church increased in Riches by the free and large oblations of the People ; so greater care was taken for the erecting Hospitals for the reception of the Poor , who could provide no habitation for themselves ; and this was then always looked on as a particular concernment of Religion , and not as a meer political Constitution . Thus the matters of Charity stood in the Christian Church , till men came to be perswaded that by the Priest's saying so many Prayers for the dead , their Souls might be removed out of Purgatory and translated to Heaven . And when this notorious Cheat prevailed , the stream of mens Charity was diverted from the Poor , to the making good bargains for their Souls . And who could blame men who had spent all their days in Wickedness , or raised an Estate by Fraud and Oppression , if at their death they took care to leave enough to have so many Masses said for their Souls , as might by a reasonable computation serve for their Redemption out of Purgatory at a marketable Price . When the laying open these Cheats to the World , gave the first occasion to the Reformation , a mighty out-cry was every where made , that the Foundation of all good Works was destroyed , and if the Reformation prevailed there would be no want of Faith , when every one might choose what he pleased , but nothing like Charity was to be expected . To remove the former Calumny , our Reformers published the Articles of our Religion ; and to take away the latter , they put that admirable Prince Edward the Sixth upon the new founding the famous Hospitals of this City , ( for although there were some Hospitals before , such as Saint Mary Bethlehem , Elsying Spittal , Saint Bartholomew's , yet they were inconsiderable in comparison of what they have been since ) For by the care and Charity of the Governours and other Members of the City , they have yielded a wonderfull support to a mighty number of poor Children , and wounded and diseased Persons both in Body and Mind ; which being joyned with another Foundation of one single Person , this City may justly vye with any other in the Christian World as to so many and so great Foundations , for the best kind of Christian Charity , in the Education of Youth and the Care of the Impotent and Diseased . Our Religion teacheth us better , than to have so vain and fond an opinion of our good Works as to think we merit Heaven by them ; but surely our Charity is so much the greater , if we doe these things out of a sense of Gratitude to God , than if we think to drive a bargain with him , and put our imperfect Works in the Ballance with an infinite and eternal Reward . Those of the Church of Rome may think they carry on a better Trade with Heaven than we doe ; and that they have a mighty advantage in the overballance of what they hope for in exchange for what they part with ; but they had best look well to the stating their Accounts , the due value of their Works , and the reason of expecting such a disproportionable return ; lest at last they deceive themselves , and totally fail of their expectations : For in the great day of Account , all things will be most exactly weighed ; and although the greatest Benefactours rejoyce in the highest Acts of Kindness , yet when any thing is challenged in a way of Iustice , men do not love to be imposed upon or over-reached in a Bargain . What madness then is it , for any sinfull Creatures to hope that any Acts of theirs , being weighed by Divine Justice , can bear any proportion in a way of Merit , with no less than the Kingdom of Heaven ? This we utterly disclaim , and owe all our hopes of Heaven meerly to the infinite Goodness and Mercy of God through his Son Christ Jesus : and yet we think our selves never the less bound to be fruitfull in good Works ; because we hereby testifie our obedience to the Laws of Christ ; our sincere love to God and our Brethren ; our readiness to doe good to others by the mercies which God hath bestowed upon us ; our sense of the obligation we have to one another , as partaking of the same nature , and liable to the same infirmities , and exposed to the same calamities ; our expectation of a blessed reward , though not due to the merit of our Works , but to the infinite Grace and Mercy of God. And I do not see , but where men have a due regard to God and Religion , such considerations as these do more effectually stir men up to true Acts of Charity , than those mercenary and corrupt Doctrines in the Roman Church ; which look rather like cunning devices to pick the Peoples Pockets than any real Arguments for Charity . And upon a carefull examination , it hath been found , that our Protestant Doctrine was so far from stopping up the Channel that ran so freely before , that within sixty years after the Reformation more great and noble Works of Charity were done in founding of Schools and Hospitals , than for some hundreds of years before ; and some say from the Conquest till that time of the Reformation . But this I have formerly insisted more upon , on the like Occasion . The summe of what I have said is this , that we have no reason to be weary in well-doing ; on the account of our Laws for the common relief of the Poor ; because those Laws cannot provide for all cases of Charity ; and because they do suppose the greatest Works of Charity to depend upon the largeness and freeness of those mens minds to whom God gives a heart to doe great and worthy things with the Estates he hath given to them . 2. But there is another plausible pretence yet behind , viz. from the consideration of our own Times . Were the times calm and fixed ; had we a fair prospect of things before us , that were a great encouragement to Charity ; but we live in perplexed and doubtfull times , and know not what may become of us all ; mens minds are strangely discomposed and full of Fears ; and therefore this is a very unseasonable Time to perswade them to Charity , when they ought rather to lay up and secure something against an evil day . To which I answer , 1. What times were those the Primitive Christians lived in , who so much abounded in Charity ? Saint Paul tells us of himself and his Brethren , they were hungry and thirsty , naked and buffetted , having no certain dwelling-place ; labouring , working with their own hands , reviled , persecuted , defamed ; and yet nothing relating to this World was so much their care and concernment as providing for the Poor . For when he went up to Ierusalem , and there conferred with Iames , Cephas and Iohn , at his departure they had nothing to desire of him and Barnabas , but to remember the Poor , the same which I also was forward to doe ; as Saint Paul relates it . And you may see how earnest he was in it , by his dealing with the Corinthians , when he perswades them to a liberal contribution to the poor Christians in Iudea , who then suffer'd much either through Famine or Persecution or both . Saint Paul had undertaken for the Churches of Achaia , ( of which Corinth , being a populous and trading City , was the chief ) but the Collection not being yet made among them , he sends some on purpose to Corinth to make all ready against his coming to them , and perswades them to great liberality in their giving : for which end he makes use of the most powerfull and prevailing arguments and great arts of insinuation . ( 1. ) He sets before them the Example of the Churches of Macedonia ; which is truly a very extraordinary instance of Christian Charity . They were under great trouble and deep poverty at that time themselves , yet understanding by Saint Paul this occasion of more than ordinary Charity , they not onely strained themselves even beyond their abilities , but did it with that cheerfulness and satisfaction of mind , that they intreated the Apostle to accept of what they had given , and to undertake the managing of so good a Work. And Saint Paul seems to speak of it with a kind of transport , Moreover , Brethren , we do you to wit of the Grace of God bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia ; how that in a great trial of affliction , the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their liberality ; for to their power I bear record , yea and beyond their power they were willing of themselves ; praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift , and take upon us the fellowship of the ministring to the Saints . Nothing can be added to the weight of these words and the Emphasis wherewith they are penned . ( 2. ) He lets them know what a shame and reproach it would be to so famous a Church for other Divine Gifts to come behind others in Charity . Therefore as ye abound in every thing , in faith , in utterance , in knowledge , and in all diligence , and in your love to us , ( what artificial insinuations are these ! ) see that ye abound in this Grace also . ( 3. ) But lest he should seem to press too hard upon them , he draws off again ; I speak not by commandment , but by occasion of the forwardness of others , and to prove the sincerity of your love . ( 4. ) Yet he hath no sooner said this , but he comes on again with the most prevailing Argument taken from the Example of our Blessed Saviour : For ye know the Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ , that though he was rich , yet for your sakes he became poor that ye through his poverty might be rich . Can any thing be more moving to Christians than this ? ( 5. ) His design was not to lay a burthen upon them , but to excite mutual compassion in Christians to one another . ( 6. ) This would be a demonstration to the World of their kindness to him , and that he had not spoken great things of them without cause . ( 7. ) They might justly expect a retribution sutable to their Bounty ; But this I say , He which soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly ; but he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully . ( 8. ) This would be the occasion of many thanksgivings and prayers to God for them . For the administration of this service , not onely supplieth the want of the Saints , but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God. ( Whilst by the experiment of this ministration they glorifie God for your professed subjection unto the Gospel of Christ , and for your liberal distribution unto them , and unto all men . ) And by their prayer for you , which long after you for the exceeding Grace of God in you . Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift . Wherein he supposes the thing as already done , as believing it impossible for them to resist the force of so many Arguments . And yet all this while Saint Paul supposes their condition to be such as in a little time they might stand in need of relief from others ; which he thought was so far from being an Argument against present Charity , that he useth it the other way ; that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want , that their abundance may also be a supply for your want . i. e. Do not consider what times may come upon your selves so as to hinder doing Good while it is in your power to doe it ; leave those things to the wise Providence of God ; if he think fit to reduce you to want , he that now excites your hearts to doe good to them , will stir up others to make up the same measure to you . So that while the Christians were either under great persecutions , or in expectation of them , through the Power of the Magistrates , or the Rage of the People ; yet the Apostles pressed them , and that with great success , to a free , cheerfull , liberal contribution to relieve those who labour under greater wants than others . 2. This very consideration is used as an Argument in Scripture to perswade men to Charity , viz. That we do not know what times may come upon us . Give thy portion to seven and also to eight ; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth . This seems to the men of this World a strange way of reasoning , and it may be they suspect from hence that Solomon was not so wise a man as they took him to be . What! give away what one hath because one knows not what times may come . No certainly , say they , we ought to get what we can , and to save what we have , for that reason . The difference of reasoning in this case proceeds upon the different Principles on both sides . Solomon believed a Divine Providence and they do not . And he thought that would be particularly concerned for the good of those , whom no sad prospect of Affairs could discourage from well-doing according to their Ability and Opportunity . II. And so I come to the Incouragement here given to patient continuance in well-doing ; for , in due season we shall reap if we faint not . Wherein are three things considerable . 1. The certainty of a future recompence for well-doing . We shall reap . 2. The time of receiving it , not immediately , but in due season . 3. The condition supposed on our parts , which is continuance in well-doing . If we faint not . Some understand it as relating to the reward , that we shall receive it without fainting ; reaping and harvest being a time of labour and sickness ; but the more natural meaning of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , seems to be the taking the participle , as implying the condition on our parts . 1. The certainty of a future recompence for well-doing . God is not unrighteous , saith the Apostle , to forget your work and labour of love , which ye have shewed towards his name ; in that ye have ministred to the Saints and do minister . Though it be a work and labour , though it may seem uneasie and troublesome for a while ; yet being a work and labour of love ; it is but the work and labour of sowing , which a man goes through the more cheerfully because he expects a plentifull increase . He doth not reap presently the very same which he sowed , but a wonderfull improvement of it , when the seed being cast into a fruitfull soil brings forth some thirty , some sixty , some an hundred fold . And this Harvest doth not depend upon the uncertainty of the Weather ; here are no fears of blasting and mildew , or locust to prevent the joyfull expectation of it ; no danger of the seed rotting in the ground , or being pickt up by the fowls of the air ; but he that ministreth seed to the sower , will multiply the seed sown , and increase the fruits of their righteousness . His Word is engaged that they which sow shall reap a plentifull increase ; and therefore God will not be unrighteous in not performing his Promise . This men may as certainly depend upon as that Night and Day shall follow each other ; for Heaven and Earth may pass away , but the Word of God endureth for ever . 2. The time of this retribution , in due season . Most men are unwilling to trust God too long upon his bare Word ; they would have something in hand , and the remainder hereafter . And God by the course of his wise Providence , doth very often order things so in this World that the most charitable men , although they may not abound with the greatest riches , yet generally meet with the fewest difficulties ; and in their straights find more unexpected assistance than other men . David made it the observation of his own time , that in all his days though he was then grown old , he never saw the righteous , i. e. the charitable man , forsaken , nor his seed begging bread . And they have far more reason than other men to hope , that if they do fall into trouble and sickness , God will have a particular regard to them ; and besides this , they have the natural or rather spiritual contentment that follows doing Good ; and they have more satisfaction and ease in it , than others have in hoarding up Wealth for they know not whom . But none of all these are the reaping here mention'd ; They are like Ruth's gleaning of handfulls in the field of Boaz , which shewed a more than ordinary kindness ; notwithstanding which he said , The Lord recompense thy work , and a full reward be given thee of the Lord God of Israel , under whose wings thou art come to trust . So it is here , they may have better gleanings and fuller handfulls sometimes in the common Field of Providence , but this is not the full recompence which the God of Mercy will give to those that trust in his Word . That is onely to be expected at the great Day when the Lord the righteous Judge shall say , Come ye blessed of my Father , inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the Foundation of the World. For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat ; I was thirsty and ye gave me drink ; I was a stranger and ye took me in ; naked and ye clothed me ; I was sick and ye visited me ; I was in prison and ye came unto me : For inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my Brethren ye have done it unto me . O the infinite Goodness and unexpressible Kindness of our Blessed Saviour , who in the day of Judgment will interpret all Acts of Charity so much to the advantage of those that doe them ! Who would deny any thing to a Servant of that Lord who takes all kindnesses to them as done to himself , and rewards them accordingly ? What other apprehensions will covetous and hard-hearted Wretches then have of their sordid penuriousness in heaping up riches , without any tenderness or compassion to the necessities of their Brethren and Christ's Representatives ? How will they wish ten thousand times , when it will be to no purpose to wish , that they had rather laid out their money in doing good , than laid it up for those , who may go to Hell the faster for the great Temptations they leave behind them . Neither let the prodigal Fools think they shall escape better , for being so contrary to the griping and stingy humour of the Covetous ; for it is not the vain and careless squandring an Estate away in riotous courses will make a man's condition more tolerable at that day ; but it is the provident , seasonable , carefull distribution of our Charity for wise and good ends , which shall meet with so glorious a reward . 3. Especially , in the last place , if we faint not , and do not repent of what good we have done , but continue so doing to the end of our Lives . For this reason I presume it is that many reserve their greatest Acts of Charity to their Deaths ; but it is dangerous putting off their Repenting and doing Good till they come to die , for fear their hearts , or those whom they trust deceive them . But if men begin to doe well in their health and strength , let them not faint when they come to die ; but continue charitable as well as faithfull unto death , and God will give them a crown of life . And now my business is to make particular Application to this great Assembly not to be weary in well-doing ; and therefore I shall repeat to You , A true Report , &c. You perceive by this Relation , how much Good hath been already done in the care of the Education of poor Children , and in the cure of and provision for the Maimed and Distracted , all which are very commendable ways of well-doing , and it is a great advantage to me this Day , that I am onely to perswade you not to be weary in this well-doing , for in due season You shall reap if ye faint not . You have already broke through many discouragements , and since the sad calamities of Plague and Fire , which made such desolations among us , You have done even as to these charitable Foundations , what hath been to the Admiration and Astonishment of beholders . Which of us all who saw the City in its Ruines , with so many Churches and Halls and Hospitals buried in its rubbish , could ever hope to have lived to see them rise again with a much greater Glory ; and our new-built Hospitals to appear with that Magnificence , that strangers may easily mistake them for Palaces ? We have lived in an Age that hath beheld strange Revolutions , astonishing Judgments , and wonderfull Deliverances ; what all the Fermentations that are still among us may end in , God alone knows ; our unanswerable returns to God for his great Mercies may justly make us fear , that he hath greater scourges provided for us ; the best thing we can doe for our selves , is to amend our ways , and to bring forth fruits worthy of amendment of life ; not barely to own and profess the Protestant Religion , but to adorn it , by holy and exemplary lives , and doing all the Good we can while we have opportunity . And to that end I shall offer these Considerations , and so conclude . 1. The more Good ye doe , the more Comfort you will find in the doing it . Therefore be not weary in well-doing . There is a certain secret pleasure and inward satisfaction that follows doing Good ; which increases by exercise and continuance . This is so far above the pleasure of the Covetous and Voluptuous in pursuit of their ends , that it approaches nearest of any thing we can conceive , to the satisfaction of the Almighty , who delighteth in doing Good. It was a remarkable saying of our Saviour , which Saint Paul preserved , It is more blessed to give than to receive . How happy do the Poor think themselves , when those who are Rich are bountifull to them ! But the advantage is on your side ; they are the receivers but you are the gainers . What you bestow on them you lay up in store for your selves : which will yield far greater comfort when you come to die than having raised a vast Estate : for that is onely carrying a greater account into another World ; but this is a great help to discharge it . 2. Doing Good is really one of the best parts of our Religion . True Religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this , to visit the Widow and Fatherless in their Affliction , and to keep himself unspotted from the World. It is not giving a cold formal visit to the Widow and Fatherless that makes any part of Religion , but doing all the good we can to them , by advice and counsel , by supplying their wants and taking care of their affairs . No Duty takes in so much of the substance of Religion as true Charity . It is the fulfilling of the Law ; the end of the Commandment , i. e. of the Gospel ; the bond of perfectness . That , without which , all other pretence to Religion is but flattering of God and meer hypocrisie . For all our Prayers and Praises are but verbal acknowledgments ; that which he hath put the trial of our love to himself upon , is our love to our Brethren . For he that loveth not his Brother whom he hath seen , how can he love God whom he hath not seen ? 3. Doing Good to others is taking the best care of our selves . We all seem very apprehensive of dangerous times , and very fearfull what may become of us ; the best course every wise and good man can take in difficult and uncertain times , is to doe his own duty and to leave events to God. And there is no duty more unquestionable , more safe , more advantagious , to himself as well as to others , than to doe good : i. e. to be kind and obliging to all , to forgive injuries , to reconcile enemies , to redeem captives , to visit the distressed , and according to our abilities and opportunities to relieve those that are in wants and necessities . This is the way to dwell safely , and to be quiet from the fear of evil ; for as long as God governs the World he will take care of those who commit themselves to him by patient continuance in well-doing . 4. Doing Good doth the most answer the obligations God hath laid upon you by the Mercies he hath vouchsafed to you . And now give me leave to plead with you the Cause of the Poor and Fatherless Children , the Cause of the Wounded and Maimed , who cannot help themselves , the Cause of those who deserve so much more pity because they cannot pity themselves , being deprived of the use of their Understandings . If God hath provided well for you and for your Children , wherein can you better express your thankfulness for such a mercy than by your kindness and charity to those who are destitute of the means to make them Men. If you have reason to bless God for your good Education , shew it by taking care of theirs who may hereafter bless God for your kindness to them . If God hath blessed you with Riches and a plentifull Estate in this City , and raised you beyond your hopes and expectations , what can you doe more becoming the Members of this City than to be kind to the Children of those who have been such and reduced to Poverty ? Remember from what God hath raised you ; do not think much to consider what you have been , as well as what you are . You can never take the just height of God's Mercies to you unless you begin at the bottom ; and let others measure your height now , as some have done that of the Pyramid's , by the length of your shadow , by the refreshments they find under you . Think what God hath brought you to , and for what end ; Was it for your own sakes , that you might be full , while others are empty ; that you might swim in abundance , while others are pinched with necessities ? Was it not rather to make you his Conduit-Pipes to convey blessing and comforts to others through your means ? When you are in health and at ease , then think of the miserable condition of those who lie in Hospitals under aches and pains and sores , having nothing to comfort them , but the Charity of good People to them . They cannot represent their own condition to you , being unable to come abroad to do it . Be you good Samaritans to the wounded and hurt , bind up their wounds with your kindness , and help to defray the charges of their cures . This is loving our neighbour as our selves , and that is fulfilling the Law , and the great design of the Gospel . Lastly , when you think what a blessing it is that you do enjoy the use of your Reason and Vnderstanding , pity the poor Creatures whom God hath deprived of it . How easily , how justly , how suddenly may God cast you into their Condition ? Shew the esteem that you have of this Mercy of God to your selves , by the freeness of your Charity to those that want it . Therefore , I conclude in the Words of the Text , Let us not be weary in any of these ways of well-doing , for in due season we shall reap if we faint not . FINIS . Notes, typically marginal, from the original text Notes for div A61587-e180 Dr. Willet's Synops . Papismi , p. 1219. 1224. Notes for div A61587-e970 Sozom. l. 5. c. 15. Hist. Trip. l. 6. c. 29. Gal. 1. 6. 1. 10. Ch. 1 , 2. Ch. 3 , 4. part of 5. Gal. 5. 14. 15. 20. 21. 24. 26. Gal. 6. 1. 6. 2. Gal. 6. 7. 8. Act. 9. 36. 1 Tim. 5. 10. Tit. 3. 8. Tit. 3. 14. Heb. 13. 16. 1 Tim. 6. 18. 2 Cor. 9. 8. 11. 2 Thess. 3. 10. Jam. 2. 16. Proposals for Imployment of the Poor , p. 29. 1681. Luk. 6. 36. Matt. 6. 4. Luk. 16. 9. 22. 21. 2 Tim. 6. 18. Gal. 6. 10. Matt. 25. 35 , 36. Stat. de 39 Eliz. c. 5. & 21 Jac. c. 1. 14 Car. 2. c. 9. Co. 2. Instit . 723. John 13. 29. Matt. 25. 34. 40. Visito , poto , cibo , redimo , tego , colligo , condo . Consule , castiga , solare , remitte , fer , ora . 2. 2. Q. 32. art . 2. Cajet . in 2. 2. Q. 32. art . 4. Matt. 6. 3. Matt. 5. 16. John 15. 8. Jul. Ep. ad Arsac . 1 Cor. 4. 11 , 12 , 13. 2 Gal. 9. 10. 2 Cor. 8 , 9. ch . 2 Cor. 8. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. 2 Cor. 8. 7. v. 8. v. 9. v. 13 , 14. 2 Cor. 8. 24. 9. 6. v. 12. 13. 14. 15. 8. 14. Eccles. 11. 2. Heb. 6. 10. 2 Cor. 9. 10. Psal. 37. 25. 41. 1 , 3. Ruth 2. 16. v. 12. Matt. 25. 34 , 35 , 36. v. 40. Act. 20. 35. Jam. 1. 27. Gal. 5. 14. Tim. 1. 5. Coloss. 3. 14. 1 John 4. 20.