Ifa 58.6. Is not this the fast that I have choSex?

V.7. Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are caft out, to thy boufe? when thon feeft the naked, that thou cover bim, and that thou hide not thy felf from thine own flesh?

V.10. And if thou draw out thy foul to the hungry, and fatisfic the aflicted foul; then shall thy Light rife in obscurity, and thy darkneß as the noon day.

Acts 10.4.- ·And he faid unto him, Cornelius, thy Prayers, and thine Almes are come up for a memorial before God.

Heb.13.16. But to do good, and to communicate, forget not, for with fuch Sacrifices God is wellpleafed. Prov.22.9. He that hath a bountiful eye, fhall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread to the poor. Prov.28.27. He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack, but he that hideth his eyes fhall have many a curse.

Prov.11.24. There is that fcattereth, and yet encreafetb, and there is that withholdeth more I than is meet but it tendeth to pover

ty.

Prov 21.13. Whofe ftoppeth his eares at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.

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I come now to speak of the Dates being

to the poor.

Poverty hath its dangers, evils and

ons, as well as riches and abundance. Ami are Duties belonging to thofe that well as to the rich, and they are the low.

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their mind who

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I. They ought to take heed of s or repining against God; and to best and contented with the condition wherein he hath placed them. We Creatures, and he hath a right to what he will. 1 Sam. 2.7. The Land poor, & makethrich, he bringeth low, s up. And who art thou o man, that replu God: Shall the thing formed fay to him ed it, why haft thou made me thus? He potter power over the clay, of the fam make one veßel to honour, and another nour? &c. As the Apostle reafons, Rin 21. Let not the poor therefore murmat Gods dealing with them, but labour to Satisfied with their Lot. Let them not their condition with thofe they count mo for Sperous and happy than themselves, but with them they fee more miferable: Ads He they will have caufe to bleffe God for the portion. Let them pray earneftly to the L for that great bleffing of a contented mind, 1

der

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in s

and

the

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out which, the wealthieft condition is very uneafie and irkfom; and with which the pooreft is pleafing and delightful. I have learned (faith Paul, Phil. 4.11, 12, 13.) in whatever ftate I am therewith to be content. I know how to be abafed, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am inftructed, both to be full and to be hungry; both to abound and to fuffer need, I can do all things through Chrift which strengtheneth

me:

II. They ought to be very humble. With their low condition, they fhould carry a lowly mind. They fhould give due respect to those whom God hath fet above them in the world and from whom they receive benefit. There are fome poor people that have as ugly a pride and infolency of Spirit in them, as is to be found any where among men. There is a leathern pride, and a ruffet infolency, 'tis not alwaies conch'd under gorgeous apparel: "But furely those whom God hath made low in this world, fhould be lowly in their own eies. They fhould labour to be poor in Spirit, deeply fenfible of their fpiritual wants and then there is a great bleffedneffe belongs unto them, Mat. 5. 3. Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Therich muft be thus poor, if they intend to come to Heaven.

1. III. They fhould be diligent and painful in their Callings. The Apoftles Charge is, z Thef.

3.10. That they that will not work, should not ca Idleneffe and lazineffe is the fin of many poor peo ple. If they would work, they might eat their own bread, and not be chargeable to any. A pa man to whom God giveth health and industry to get his living, is poffeft of a great treasure, and ftock yielding him daily rent. The labour thi gets him bread, gets him alfo an appetite to ex it, and peep to refresh him when he is weary, and health to continue his labour, Ecclef. 5. 12. The fleep of a labouring man is fweet, whether he cat little or much, but the abundance of the rich will not fuffer him to fleep. His many Children give him leffe care,then few Children to the rich, and leẞ trouble to provide for them. For in rich mens houses, the Charge groweth alwaies as the Children grow. In poor families that live byla bour, the Charge growes leffe as the Childr grow up. The Sons ferve the Father in his work, the Daughters pin by their Mother. Their portio is their Trade and Labour, by which (with Gods bleffing) they live comfortably.

IV. They should be frugal, not presently, as foon as ever they have got a little money, going to the Ale-boufe, and drinking it away (s too many do) but should lay it up to fupply their neceffities. And they should be careful and provident to improve the opportunities cha God puts into their hands. As in fuch time when work is plenty and provisions cheap, they

fhould

fhould then lay up fomething against a time of need, and not flacken their industry, and grow Rothful; nor be proud and fcornful, lavishing out all they get, on their backs and bellies; and fo when work is fearce, provifions dear, and fickneß comes, they fuffer want, through their own improvidence, and become burdenfom to o

thers.

V. Above all things they ought to be exceeding careful of the welfare of their fouls, and very diligent to work out their falvation. And now, o all ye that are poor in this world, Come, and let us reason together. Your outward condition in this life, ('tis confeß'd) is mean and poor, and poffibly you cannot expect it will be much mended; yet lift up your hearts, and comfort your felves with this confideration, you are as capable of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the Glory of the world to come, as any others; if you (through your own folly and negligence) be not wanting to your felves. Here (poffibly) with all your labour, you cannot raife your felves to any confiderable eftates. He would be a welcome man unto you, that could direct you how in an honest and just way, by using due care and industry, you might attain a hundred pounds a year, How diligently would you listen to his advice, and how earnestly and punctually obferve his Directions? Now therefore come on, and confider feriously, whether it will not be an extream folly and madnesse in you (baving fo golden