- couraging idleness, and sometimes of countenancing imposture,
and so readily find objections to every method of charity that can be mentioned to them, that their good inclinations are of very little advantage to the rest of mankind; but, however, they congratulate themselves upon their merit, and still applaud that generosity by which calamity was never softened, and by which want never was relieved.
But that all these imaginary pleas may be once more confuted, that the opportunity of charity, which providence has this day put into our hands, may not be neglected, and that our alms may be given in such a manner as may obtain acceptance with the great Judge of all the earth, who has promised to show mercy to the merciful, I shall endeavour to lay before you,
First: The importance and necessity of the practice of charity.
Secondly: The disposition of mind, which is necessary to make our alms acceptable to God.
Thirdly: The reasonableness of laying hold on the present opportunity for the exercise of our charity.
And, First: I shall endeavour to show the importance and necessity of the practice of charity. The importance and necessity of charity is so evident, that as it might be hoped that no proof could be necessary, so it is difficult to produce any arguments which do not occur of themselves to every reasonable and attentive mind. For whither can we turn our thoughts, or direct our eyes, where we shall not find some motive to the exercise of charity?
If we look up to heaven, which we have been taught to consider as the particular residence of the Supreme Being, we find there our Creator, our Preserver, and our Judge; our Creator, whose infinite power gave us our existence, and who has taught us, by that gift, that bounty is agreeable to his nature; our Preserver, of whose assistance and protection we are, every day and every moment, in need, and whose favour we can hope to secure
