Suppose we were to enter into an examination of our conduct for one week only, I am afraid we should find many, too many, lost moments, which, summed up together, would amount to hours at the week's end; and if this should be the case, through self-indulgence of any kind, we certainly ought to reform our conduct. Surely, we must confess such a reformation to be just and necessary, unless we can prove that we can be too grateful to God, or that it is possible to live too much to his glory.

2nd, Our Talents must also be devoted to God. These are very different in different persons, yet ought they to be employed to the same purpose in order to display the manifold wisdom of God. Whenever a man determines to dedicate these to the Lord, he affords a strong proof that the pure religion of the Gospel has taken possession of his heart, because, it is naturally the wish of man to please himself, and to appear amiable in the eyes of his fellow creatures. Some worldly object is the desire of every unregenerate man. If he be possessed of a fine genius, or a great capacity, then he seeks admiration for his wit and understanding. If he be of a plodding mechanical turn, then his excellent inventions and curious machines are to gain the applause of the artist,

and to add riches to his store; or, if he have a great memory, and have read much, he must then be praised by the learned, or astonish the ignorant with his profound erudition. But, all these, and various other talents, which might be named, will the Christrian lay out to the glory of God. He will consider that he is born to promote the happiness of Society, and therefore he will exercise his genius in devising plans conducive both to their present comfort and to their eternal happiness. Were many, who are ambitious to obtain dignity and honour, equally ambitious of doing good, we should soon see a pleasing difference in the dwellings of the poor, both with respect to their fortune and their morals, which degenerate through the indolence and neglect of those whose peculiar duty it is to guard against and repress sin and wickedness of every description. But, as some may be ready to think they are under no obligation to attend to these things, upon the supposition that they can do very little for the benefit of mankind, I think it incumbent upon me to desire, that they will, nevertheless, do all they can. They know it is their duty to do unto all men, as they would they should do unto them, and if they would but turn their attention to the matter, I am

persuaded they would not only prove themselves Christians, but also turn bad times into good ones.

3rd, Our Possessions must also be devoted to God. As he ordereth the course of all events by his providence, making poor, and making rich, it would be heathenism to maintain, that we do not hold our goods by his bounty; and then, surely, we must allow, that they ought to be spent to his glory. "One great reason (says the pious Mr. Law) for devoting all our "estate to right uses is this: because it is

capable of being used to the most excellent purposes, and is so great a means of doing good; if we waste it we do not waste a trifle, "but that which might be made as eyes to the blind, a husband to the widow, and a father "to the orphan, so that if we part with our "money in foolish ways, we part with a great

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power of comforting our fellow creatures,' and, I may add, of proving ourselves to be the Disciples of Jesus Christ." "If there be "nothing so glorious as doing good, then "nothing can be so glorious in the use of our money, as to use it all in works of love and "goodness, making ourselves friends, and fathers, and benefactors to all our fellow "creatures, imitating the divine love, and

6.

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turning all our power into acts of generosity, 66 care, and kindness to such as are in need "of it."

"If a man had eyes, and hands, and feet, "that he might give to those that wanted "them; if he should either lock them up in a "chest, or please himself with some needless "or ridiculous use of them, instead of giving "them to his brethren that were blind and "lame, should we not justly think him an in"human wretch? If he should rather choose "to amuse himself with these things, than to "follow the precepts of Christ by giving them "to those that wanted eyes and hands, should we not justly reckon him mad?”*

"Now money has very much the nature of

eyes and feet. If we either lock it up in "chests, or waste it in needless and ridiculous expences upon ourselves, whilst the poor "and distressed want it for necessary uses; if "we consume it in the ridiculous ornaments of "apparel, while others are starving in naked

* In this quotation from Mr. Law I have omitted a few words. He speaks of man entitling himself to an eternal reward by acts of charity ; and, again, of purchasing for ourselves everlasting treasures in Heaven. But such bliss is not to be purchased by money, neither have we any title to it, but by the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Yet, without such devotion and holiness as are here recommended, we have no reason to expect an admission into the Kingdom of God.

"ness, we are not far from the cruelty of him, "who chooses rather to adorn his house with "hands and eyes, than to give them to those "that want them. If we choose to indulge "ourselves in such expensive enjoyments, as "have no real use in them, such as satisfy no "real want, rather than to act like the Dis

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ciples of Christ, by disposing of our money "well, we are guilty of his madness that ra"ther chooses to lock up eyes and hands than "to give them to those that want them."

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For, after we have satisfied our own sober "and reasonable wants, all the rest of our << money is but like spare eyes and hands; it " is something, that we cannot keep to our"selves without being foolish in the use of it; "something, that can only be used well by "giving it to those who want it."

Thus you see, what great obligations are laid upon the Christian, and "if ye know these things, happy are ye, if ye do them;"* for "without holiness no man shall see the Lord."

3rdly, I shall now speak of the reward promised to the merciful. "Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy."

The very mention of mercy is sufficient to convince us, that after we have done all, we