sower, both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness[1]." The seed sown is that which the faithful bounty of a Christian trusts liberally to God on the assurance of an abundant harvest; the fruits of righteousness, the reward of grace here, and of glory hereafter, to be plentifully returned for it. Again, Timothy is directed, "Charge them that are rich in this world that they … do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life." And of all works of bounty, that to which we are now called has the greatest promises; for it is not only a mercy to the poor for Christ's sake, but also a direct enlargement of His kingdom, and a furtherance of His glory; so that when we are laid in our graves, and our spirits are at rest in Christ, we may not only still speak, but in a manner still labour and serve here upon earth, being partakers in the labours of every faithful minister in every church which has been planted at our cost for the glory of God's holy name. Thus may we be classed among those, who having "turned many to righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever." How great then is our privilege, who are called to take part in a work so blessed; to be imitators of Christ, and
- ↑ 2 Cor. ix. 6.
