(4) God in and by them doth extend his care, goodness and love unto others. It is his Will and Pleasure that many who belong unto himself in an especial way, and others also among the community of mankind, should sometimes be cast into, and it may be always to be in a condition of wants and straits in this world. To take care of them, to provide for them, to relieve them, so as they also may have an especial sense of his Goodness, and be instrumental in setting forth his Praise, is incumbent on him who is the great provider for all. Now one signal way whereby he will do this, is by the Fruits of Obedience brought forth in others. Their Charity, their Compassion, their Love, their Bounty, shall help and relieve them that are in wants, straits, sorrows, poverty, imprisonment, exile, or the like. And so it is in all other cases; Their meekness, their patience, their forbearance, which are of these Fruits, shall be useful unto others, under their weaknesses and temptations. Their Zeal, their Labour of Love in teaching and instructing, or preaching the Word, shall be the means of the Conviction and Conversion of others. So doth it please God by these Fruits of Obedience in some, to communicate of his own Goodness and Love, unto the help, relief, succour and redress of others. For those so relieved do, or at least ought, to look on all as coming directly from God. For it is he who not only commands those who are the means of their Conveyance unto them, to do what they do, but he directly works it in them by his Grace, without which, it would not be. And all this redoundeth unto the Glory of God. This our Apostle expresseth at large, 2 Cor. 9. 12, 13, 14, 15. For the Administration of this service (that is, the Charitable and bountiful Contribution of the Corinthians unto the Poor of the Church of Jerusalem) not only supplieth the wants of the Saints themselves, (the thought whereof might give great satisfaction to the minds of men benign and compassionate, namely, that they have been able to relieve others) but it is abundant also by many Thanksgivings unto God; It hath this Effect upon the minds of all that are concerned in it, or do know of it, to cause them to abound in thanks and praise unto God. And he showeth both the Grounds whereon, and the Way whereby this Praise is so returned unto God.
(4) God in and by them doth extend his care, goodness and love unto others. It is his Will and Pleasure that many who belong unto himself in an especial way, and others also among the community of mankind, should sometimes be cast into, and it may be always to be in a condition of wants and streights in this world. To take care of them, to provide for them, to relieve them, so as they also may have an especial sense of his Goodness, and be instrumental in setting forth his Praise, is incumbent on him who is the great provider for all. Now one signal way whereby he will do this, is by the Fruits of Obedience brought forth in others. Their Charity, their Compassion, their Love, their Bounty, shall help and relieve them that are in wants, streights, sorrows, poverty, imprisonment, exile, or the like. And so it is in all other cases; Their meekness, their patience, their sorbearance, which are of these Fruits, shall be useful unto others, under their weaknesses and temptations. Their Zeal, their Labour of Love in teaching and instructing, or preaching the Word, shall be the means of the Conviction and Conversion of others. So doth it please God by these Fruits of Obedience in some, to communicate of his own Goodness and Love, unto the help, relief, succour and redress of others. For those so relieved do, or at least ought, to look on all as coming directly from God. For it is he who not only commands those who are the means of their Conveyance unto them, to do what they do, but he directly works it in them by his Grace, without which, it would not be. And all this redoundeth unto the Glory of God. This our Apostle expresseth at large, 2 Cor. 9. 12, 13, 14, 15. For the Administration of this service (that is, the Charitable and bountiful Contribution of the Corinthians unto the Poor of the Church of Hierusalem) not only supplieth the wants of the Saints themselves, (the thought whereof might give great satisfaction to the minds of men benign and compassionate, namely, that they have been able to relieve others) but it is abundant also by many Thanksgivings unto God; It hath this Effect upon the minds of all that are concerned in it, or do know of it, to cause them to abound in thanks and praise unto God. And he sheweth both the Grounds whereon, and the Way whereby this Praise is so returned unto God.
