by actions more brilliant and obfervable. The former do good by fervices no lefs folid and fubftantial. The labours of the poor contribute, as effentially as the benefactions of the rich, to the general fupport and happiness of human life. Neither clafs, without the other, could comfortably fubfift. "The rich and the poor meet together: the Lord is the maker of them all."

God bestows an abundance on fome, not for their fakes only, but alfo for the fake of the poor who are with them. Hence the rich are charged to "be rich in good works, ready to diftribute, willing to communicate, and thus to lay up for themselves a good foundation against the time to come"-against the time, when, in the changes of human condition, it may be their turn to become poor; or against the time of general retribution, when every one will receive according to his works.

When we give to the poor, we lend to the Lord, who, in due time, will amply repay the loan. We are to do good to all, and efpecially to them, who are of the household of faith. The poor, whatever may be their character, are entitled to our charity, because they are needy: the virtuous poor have the firft claim, because they are worthy. He who receives a righteous man, in that name and character, will receive a righteous man's reward. He who fhall give to a difciple of Chrift a cup of cold water only, in the name of a difciple, and because he belongs to Chrift, fhall not lofe his reward. Whatever is done for fuch, Chrift accepts it as done for himfelf. If then we have this world's goods, and fee a brother who has need, we are to confider, that the Lord hath need of a part of these goods for that needy brother. If in this cafe we shut up

our bowels of compaffion, the love of Chrift dwells not in us. We then love him indeed, and in truth, when, at his call, we relieve the dif treffed, help the weak, and comfort the afflicted.

Christ has need of our abilities and fervices, as well as of our fubftance, in carrying on his work on earth.

His cause requires, that we dedicate ourselves to him, and openly profess our faith in him.

If there is need, that his church fhould be continued and his religion maintained in the world, there is need that fome fhould enter into his church, and profefs his religion. If none fhould be added to the church, it must expire with the fhort-lived beings who now belong to it. If the church should be discontinued, the means of religion would be dropped and loft, and religion itfelf cease and be forgotten; or exift only here and there in the folitary breasts of a few obfcure and despised mortals.

Now if Chrift has need of fome to honour and maintain his religion, then every one, who believes it to be divine, should confider, that the Lord hath need of him.

Among those who have never publickly profeffed their faith in the gofpel, there are many, I fuppofe, who believe it is true, and wish it may be preferved for the general benefit of mankind. They could not, at once, reconcile themselves to the thought, that the gospel should be extinguished, and that those who enjoy it should degenerate into atheists, idolaters, pagans, or barbarians. They could not easily make themselves willing, that their pofterity fhould grow up among fuch a horrible set of beings. Come forward, then, and join yourselves to the Lord-declare your faith in him, and friendship to him; for he has need of

you. If he needs any profeffors at all, why not you as much as others? You excufe yourselves on one pretence and another: but may not every man excufe himself as well? Is there, in your cafe, any peculiar circumftance, which exempts you from the common obligations of religion? If all should excuse themselves, as you do, where would be the church-where would be the religion of Chrift?

When religion declines when profeffors are declines-when few, and these few lofe the ardour of their zeal and love-when churches become like focieties of the world, then Chrift has need of you to ftrengthen the intereft, and restore the honour of his caufe among men.

You withdraw from the church, or refufe to come into it, because you see in it fo little religion, and fo many unworthy members. But if its real ftate is fuch as you apprehend, and you have fo much more purity and zeal than others, then you are the very perfons whom the Lord needs to fupport his languifhing caufe. Forfake not his church, when it is finking; but come forward; ftrengthen it by your example, advice and prayers: come; help to fuftain it by your friendly concurrence with the few, who may perhaps be found as really concerned as you for its increase and glory.

Chrift has need of fome to preach his gofpel; and they who undertake this work, fhould be influenced by a fenfe, that the Lord hath need of them. Paul was influenced by this principle. He had better worldly profpects in a fecular calling; but in no other profeffion could he do fo much fervice for Chrift. In the profecution of his ministry, he chose to bestow his labours, not where they would be moft lucrative to himself, but where they would most conduce to the fur

therance of the gofpel. He ftrove to preach, not where Chrift was named, left he should build on another man's foundation; but where the gofpel had not been preached, or the miniftry was not at that time enjoyed, that the word of falvation might be more extensively spread. He would not go, where the Lord had no need of him; but where the ends of his apostleship might beft be anfwered.

In times, when licentious opinions and corrupt manners prevail-when infidelity grows bold, and iniquity abounds, Chrift has need of the active fervices of his faithful minifters and fincere friends, who are then to stand up with courage againft evil workers, and bear teftimony against those who make void his gofpel. At fuch a time, if minift ers are to ftand foremost, yet they are not to ftand alone. All who regard the truth are to strengthen and support them. The zealous Levites, feeing the neceffity of a reformation in the church of God, faid to Ezra," Arise, for this matter belongeth to thee: we also will be with thee: be of good courage, and do it."

Warnings from a folitary voice have little ef fect; and never lefs, than in those corrupt times, when the advocates for vice and error, by evil communications, and by the circulation of licentious writings, ftrengthen the hands of evil doers. "Two are better than one; for if they fall, one will lift up his fellow." Christians are to be fellow-helpers to the truth. Paul befeeches the brethren, for the Lord Jefus' fake, that they strive together with him.

Chrift needs the service of those who are placed at the head of families.

The continuance and increase of his church depend on the faith and piety of the young and rif

as

IC

ing generation, and confequently on the fidelity
of parents to bring up their children in the nur
ture and admonition of the Lord. Children will
not be prompted, by natural inclination, to seek
after knowledge and virtue. They need inftruc-
tions to inform their minds, and exhortations to
awaken their attention. The Lord of the church
has committed their education to the care of their
parents; he requires, and he needs their diligence
and fidelity in the execution of this great charge.
Ordinarily they may expect that their faithfulness
will be followed with a bleffing, but their negli-
gence with a curfe, on their children, as well as
on themselves. They who are early trained up in
the way in which they ought to go, will purfue
it when they are old: but children left to them-
felves foon bring their fouls to ruin, and their pa
rents to shame. If there be need, that your chil-
dren should seek and ferve God in their early years,
and pass through life with wisdom and virtue
if there be need, that they should become mem-
bers of Chrift's church, walk in his ordinances,
and work out their own falvation-if there be
need that they should take up his religion, and
hand it on to a future generation, then he has
need of you to inftruct them in his religion, and
to lead them along in the way which he has mark.
ed for them.

When family order is much neglected, he has more need of the fervices of the faithful to re vive and restore it. If thofe around you treat with indifference fo neceffary a branch of religion, be not carried away by their example, but fay to them, as Joshua faid to the men of Ifrael, "If it feem evil to you to ferve the Lord, choose ye, this day, whom ye will ferve: but, as for me and my house, we will ferve the Lord."