CONTENTS. And now, go to; I will tell you what 1 will do to my Vineyard: I will take a- way the Hedge thereof, and it shall be The fifth LETTER, wrote, under a feign- ed Name, to a Friend in a dangerous Fit An ESSAY on refined and friendly SER- The Duty of Charity stated and enforced. PROV. III. 27. With-bold not Good from them to whom it is due, when it is in the Power of thine Hands to do it. 10 difcourfe upon any Duty in Ge- SERM. I. neral, without applying to Parti T ticulars; is little more than idle Declamation and empty Flourish: it is to let our Arrows fly at Random, when we fhould direct them to a certain Mark. That Charity in general is a Duty, No-body will deny but there are Many, who, on the Account of particular Circumftances, think themselves entirely difcharged from the Performance of it: Many, who, though they own the Obligation, yet difown it in it's due Degrees. Suffer me then to confider, I. Who VOL. II. B SERM. I. It, Who are the Perfons obliged to Give to charitable Ufes, and in what Proportion. IIdly, Who are the Perfons qualified to Receive our Charity. IIIdly, The Manner in which we ought to bestow our Charity. And, Lastly, To lay before you the Motives to this Duty. Charity, in the most comprehenfive Sense of the Word, takes in a large Compass it extends itself to a hearty Defire and Endeavour to do all poffible Good by our Heads as well as our Hands; by our Words as well as Works: by inftructing the Ignorant, advifing the Mistaken, reclaiming the Wicked, comforting the Afflicted, encouraging the Virtuous and Worthy, &c. Charity even takes in Piety. For, not to men-. tion that Piety, or a Regard to the Deity, is the Foundation of Charity, or Love to our Fellow-Creatures; exemplary Piety is one confiderable Inftance of doing Good: It is letting our Light fhine out before Men, |