The rich mans charge delivered in a sermon at the Spittle upon Monday in…The rich mans charge delivered in a sermon at the Spittle vpon Monday in…

Secondly, From the example of Christ. He was his Fathers Almoner, Mercy was his Office: It belonged unto him as the Son of David, to show mercy, Matth. 9. 27. Mercy was his practise, He went about doing good, Acts 10. 38. All his miracles were in works of mercy, feeding, healing, raising, comforting; and though he be now in glory, yet he reckoneth the bounty showed to his members, as done to himself, Matth. 25. 35, 40. A Sacrifice was offered to God, though eaten by the Priest and the people; and our Alms are called Sacrifices, Heb. 13. 16. Phil. 4. 18. The poor only ⟨p. 40⟩are benefited, but God is honoured by them. And there is a connection between his mercy and ours; we forfeit his when we restrain our own, Math. 5. 7. Jam. 2. 13. And the Argument is strong from his to ours; his was to enemies, ours to Brethren; his to debtors, ours to fellow-servants. His free grace to me, mine just debt to my Brother, Rom. 13. 8. His for ever to me, mine but for a moment to my Brother; his in Talents to me, mine but in Pence to my Brother; his in Blood to me, mine but in Bread to my Brother; his mercy enricheth me, mine leaves my Brother poor still. If then I live by the mercy which I do enjoy, and must be saved by the mercy which I do expect, shall so much mercy shine on me, and none reflect from me upon my poor Brother? shall all the Waters of life run from Christ unto me, as those of Jordan, into a Dead Sea, to be lost and buried there? Wherefore doth the Sun shine, and the Rain fall on the Earth, but that it may be fruitful? The mercies of God should be as Dew and hear, as manure and culture to the Souls of Men, that being thereby enriched, they may empty themselves, and draw out themselves into the Bowels of others. Christ is the Fountain; Rich men the conduit, and Poor men the Vessels which are there and thence supplied.