Sermons preached

First in Giving, What you would Men should do to you, do you the same to them. Be as ready to do good, as to receive good. A Man is never in a right frame of Spirit, until he takes as much delight in doing others good, as he would take in having good done to himself: nay more, for our Lord tells us, That it is a more blessed thing to give than to receive, Acts. 20. 30. Why a more blessed thing? because this comes nearest to the Nature of God, who gives all, and takes of none. And therefore as we would imitate God in other things, we should in this also; for all God's Works should leave an Impression upon us: his Election should make us choose him and his ways; his Love, to love him; his Giving should make us to give. As a Child hath Part for Part, Limb for Limb, answerable ⟨p. 354⟩to his Father; so should a Child of God answer God in all his moral Perfections; especially in his Goodness. As you come behind, saith the Apostle, in no Gift, so do not come behind in this also, 2 Cor. 8. 2. And the Rule of Christ here is that which doth enforce this; (As ye would, &c.) do you afford to others that Comfort, that Succour, that Relief in all their Distresses, which you would desire they should afford to you, if you were in the same Case, and in the same distress. Alas, you will say, Pity should be showed to a Man by his Friend, and will you be Merciless, and shut up your Bowels, and not show this pity to others? If you were pined with Hunger, and your Children cry for Bread, and you have none to give them, would you not complain of the hardness of their Hearts which have this Worlds Goods, and shut up their Bowels against them, and not dispense any thing to their Necessities? Why, if you know the Heart of an indigent Person, it cannot but move you to observe this Rule. And the rather, because usually with what measure we meet to others, it is recompensed into our Bosoms by God's Providence: for what ever need others have of us, we have infinitely more of God; and there will a time come when we shall be as destitute before God, as they are before you. For Instance, In a time of Sickness, when all outward helps fail, Psal. 41. 1. Blessed is he that considereth the Poor, the Lord will consider him in time of Trouble.