sideration-how they are to acquire the means of subsistence? and, on this account, they have always an argument at hand, against distributing their money for public and religious objects. But there is nothing more clear and express than the promises made to the Christian in reference to his temporal support, so that while he is diligent in his business and conducts his affairs with prudence and discretion, he need never harass his mind with anxious thoughts about future subsistence. The following are a selection of those divine declarations on which his faith and hope may confidently rely, as the words of him who is immutable, and who keepeth covenant and mercy to a thousand generations.

"The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof. Every beast of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills. Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the first fruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine. Better is a little with the fear of the Lord than great riches and trouble therewith. A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. I have been young, (says the Psalmist,) and now am old, yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. The liberal soul shall be made fat, and he that watereth shall be watered also himself. Thy bread shall be given thee, and thy water shall be sure. Take no anxious thought (says our Saviour) for your life, what ye shall eat or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body what ye shall put on. Behold the fowls of the air, for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to-day is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? The time is short,-it

remaineth that they who weep be as though they wept not; and they that rejoice as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy as though they possessed not; and they that use this world as not abusing it; for the fashion of this world passeth away. He who soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he who soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully; for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that ye always, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work. Be careful for nothing, but in every thing, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. I have learned (says Paul) in whatsoever state I am, therewith. to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound; every where, and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. But I have all and abound, and my God shall supply all your need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Godliness with contentment is great gain; for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out; and having food and raiment, let us there with be content. Charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches; but in the living God who giveth us all things richly to enjoy-that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come." The ancient worthies "took joyfully the spoiling of their goods, knowing in themselves that they had in heaven a better and more enduring substance." Moses "esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than all the treasures of Egypt." "Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with such things as ye have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, casting all your care upon him, for he careth for you. A good man showeth favour and lendeth; he wil! guide his affairs with discretion. He hath dispersed, he

hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth forever. Surely he shall not be moved forever. The righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance."

Such Divine declarations as the above, should have a powerful influence on the mind of every Christian, in reconciling him to his situation in life, and to the measure of wealth which Providence has allotted him; and, inspiring him with a noble liberality in the distribution of his riches, without fear of consequences. For God has pledged himself in these promises and declarations, that they who trust in Him, and conduct their affairs with discretion, shall want for nothing that is truly desirable in their pilgrimage through this world. "The young lions may lack and suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing." All the saints, in every age, have in some measure experienced the truth of these declarations, and, in many remarkable instances, they have been strikingly fulfilled, in cases where all prospects of subsistence had disappeared, and all hopes of deliverance had nearly failed; as might have been illustrated by many interesting facts recorded in the history of the church, and of individual Christians, had our limits permitted.

I shall conclude with the following sentiments,-and an anecdote stated by Dr. Witherspoon.

There are those who are rich in their poverty, because they are content, and use generously what they have; there are those, who, in the midst of their riches, are really poor, from their insatiable covetousness, or profusion.-Calmet.

The prayer which Socrates taught his pupil Alcibiades, is remarkable, and deserves the consideration even of a Christian" That he should beseech the Supreme God, to give him what was good for him, though he should not ask it; and to withhold from him whatever would be hurtful, though he should be so foolish as to pray for it."

The following piece of private history that happened n Great Britain, is related by the late Dr. Witherspoon, in one of his sermons.

"A gentleman of very considerable fortune, but a stranger to either personal or family religion, one evening, took a solitary walk through a part of his own grounds. He happened to come near to a mean hut, where a poor man with a numerous family lived, who earned their bread by daily labour. He heard a voice pretty loud and continued. Not knowing what it was, curiosity prompted him to listen. The man, who was piously disposed, happened to be at prayer with his family. So soon as he could distinguish the words, he heard him giving thanks with great affection to God, for the goodness of his providence in giving them food to eat, and raiment to put on, and in supplying them with what was necessary and comfortable in the present life. He was immediately struck with astonishment and confusion, and said to himself, does this poor man, who has nothing but the meanest fare, and that purchased by severe labour, give thanks to God for his goodness to himself and family, and I, who enjoy ease, and honour, and every thing that is grateful and desirable, have hardly ever bent my knee, or made any acknowledgment to my Maker and Preserver?' It pleased God, that this providential occurrence proved the means of bringing him to a real and lasting sense of God and religion."

APPENDIX.

THE following statements extracted from the "Report of the Commissioners," who were sent to Ireland to investigate the state of the lower classes in that country, exhibit a picture of the effects of covetousness, combined with its usual accompaniment-apathy in regard to the sufferings of others, which would disgrace à Pagan land, and much more a Christian land.

These Commissioners appear to have conducted their inquiries openly and fairly. They held their sittings in upwards of one hundred parishes. They were sent through the whole of the four provinces of Ireland, and obtained information from all ranks and classes, from "the highest landlord, down to the lowest beggar."

The details stated below, are only specimens of hundreds of similar details, equally horrible and revolting, which are scattered throughout a quarto volume of between four and five hundred pages. The answers to the questions put, taken viva voce, are printed verbatim, under the following seven heads. 1. Deserted and orphan children. 2. Illegitimate children and their mothers. 3. Widows with families of young children. 4. Impotent through age and infirmity. 5. Sick, poor. 6. Able-bodied out of work. 7. Vagrants.

1. The following extracts relate to widows with children.

They are seldom half fed, say a cloud of witnesses. One meal of potatoes a day, is the most they can expect, eked out with unwholesome weeds. Mr. Cotter, rector of a parish in the County of Cork, says, "One evening a parcel of workmen came to me for soup, which I was in the habit of giving. Some cabbage stumps that were thrown out of the kitchen were lying. The pigs and fowls had picked them almost quite bare. I saw myself six or seven of the poor women turn their faces to the wall, and eat the stumps the pigs had left. Peggy Kiernan, a beggar woman, says, the widows get, when at

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