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XV.

God is able to make all grace abound towards you; that ye always, having all-sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.2 Cor. ix. 8.

THE word grace has here a worldly, rather than a spiritual sense. The apostle is disposing his converts to a charitable contribution; and the doctrine of the text seems to be, that God will recompense the charitable man with worldly blessings; and in reward of his charities will not suffer the barrel of meal to waste, nor the cruse of oil to fail.

But now for what end was this doctrine thrown out? Not surely as a motive of charity: for when a man is charitable on this motive, he turns his charity into avarice.

The doctrine of the text therefore seems to be held out only as an encouragement to those pious, good people, who are sometimes checked in their charitable designs, by fearing lest they should exceed their circumstances, and bring

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their families to want. To such persons the text says, Be not afraid of falling into want yourself for your kindness to others; for God hath said, and seems to mean it in a literal sense, that, he who soweth plentifully, shall reap also plentifully.

XVI.

Early in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee, and will look up.-Psalm v. 3.

I will lay me down in peace, and take my rest; for it is Thou, Lord, only that makest me dwell in safety.-Psalm iv. 9.

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THESE two passages mark the limits (the morning and evening) of a pious day. The religious man, in whose life such a day makes an accustomed part, rises early and directs his prayer unto God. All is calm and quiet around him. His mind is not yet engaged in the bustle of the day; and he dedicates to God those moments of peace. The adoration of the divine attributes a request for the assistance of God's holy spirit, in all difficulties-a grateful thanksgiving for the protection of the past night—and a humble request for the continuance of that protection through the following day, are the immediate subject of his prayers.-Under

the holy influence of such sentiments he then goes abroad into the world; and whatever his

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business is, he pursues it with cheerfulness, industry, and honesty. Yet still he hath God in all his thoughts. He hath always about him a sense of God's continual presence-and a sense of duty, which reminds him, that as he is a member of society, he is also a creature of God.

As night draws on, his cares end. Recommending himself again to God, he lays him down in peace, and takes his rest; For it is thou only, O Lord, he cries, that makest me dwell in safety.

XVII.

Thou that teachest another, teachest thou not thyself?-Romans, ii. 21.

THIS piece of scripture should be the motto of every clergyman. He who does not adopt it into his practice, is the keenest satirist upon himself.

But the preacher, you say, excites his hearers to go on unto perfection-to obey precepts, which neither they, nor he, can live up to; and to imitate examples, which are equally beyond the reach of both.

It is true; and the christian minister is not expected to be an angel. At best, like the Jewish high-priest, in St. Paul's language, he will be compassed with infirmities. Yet still when he exhorts others to go on unto perfection, he must endeavour after perfection himself. The point is, honestly to endeavour; and if he fail in that, then only the text recoils upon him.

From open sins, one should hope even decency would restrain him. To hear a clergyman preach

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