Messiah, whom their fathers crucified and slew; and through prejudice, have rejected the New Testament. This they have done, in a sense, ignorantly. They, therefore, need to have the New Testament put into their hands, accompanied with a living interpreter, that they may understand the character of Christ, and see the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophecies in the life, works and doctrines of Jesus; that hereby they may become convinced that Christ is the Messiah of the Scriptures, the Shiloh, the Anointed of God, for the restoration of our fallen race. The Mohammedans, and all in Christian lands who embrace fatal errors, and who will never come to a knowledge of the truth, unless enlightened and instructed by the benevolent exertions of Christians, are objects of charity. No class should be left destitute of the means of grace,the sacred Scriptures, and a preached gospel. As these spiritual blessings are absolutely necessary to the salvation of the soul; so it is all-important, that every son and daughter of Adam should be in the enjoyment of them. III. Who are to perform these acis of charity?

Those who have a superabundance of this world's goods, should supply the wants of the destitute as God has given them the means. Says the Apostle to Timothy,

Charge them that are rich in this world, that they do good; that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate." All according to their several ability are obligated to relieve the indigent and suffering. Those who possess the Bible, and have the means of imparting it to others, should send the Scriptures to the heathen, and to all those in Christian countries who have it not, and are unable to purchase it. Missionaries, too, are to be sent by the Christianized part of the world, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God, to those who sit in darkness, and

in the region and shadow of death, and to all those who are unable to support the gospel even where Christianity exists. But a question here arises, How much is it duty to give in charitable contributions? It is difficult, if not impossible to determine with exactness what proportion of his property a man is bound to devote to private and domestic uses, and what to charitable purposes. The duty of alms-giving must be stated in general terms, and the amount bestowed in charities must be determined by the judgment and conscience of individuals themselves.—But is there no rule more definite by which we can be guided in this respect? Yes, as a specific but general rule, the golden one of our Saviour applies, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them.” This rule we are bound to follow. To neglect it would be to violate a precept of Heaven. And this requisition extends to spiritual as well as to temporal blessings. The spirit of this rule the primitive Christians imbibed and exhibited in their deportment. They "counted not their lives dear unto them, so that they might testify the gospel of the grace of God." They made great sacrifices for the "As many as were possessors of lands or houses, sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold and laid them down at the apostles' feet; and distribution was mode unto every man according as he had need. They had all things common."-Did all men love their neighbors as themselves, or did the spirit which reigns in heaven reign on earth, this course might with safety be adopted. By a law which once existed among some of the ancient states of Greece, all the citizens were made equal as to property. In this respect no one could claim a superiority over his neighbor. But this law has not been generally approved by mankind. While human nature remains as it now is, it is doubted whether

cause of Christ.

such a regulation would be advantageous to society. It probably would be the reverse. We ought however, as we have ability to bear one another's burdens, and so "fulfil the law of Christ." Those who are rich are under sacred obligations to devote a part of their property to the promotion of the spiritual and eternal interest of men, and they should do it with a settled plan or system and in concert with others. There should be an entire consecration to the Lord of all that we are and all that we possess. Such is the injunction of Scripture by precept and example. "Vow and pay unto the Lord, your God. Let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared." "And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, then shall the Lord be my God; and of all that thou shalt give me, I will surely give the tenth unto thee." My views on this subject are by another thus happily expressed : "Every man is bound to regard all his property, and all the avails of his industry and enterprise as belonging to God; he is to hold it all and manage it, as a sacred trust for which he must give account to the supreme Proprietor; he is to apply it and dispose of it exclusively as the Lord's servant, and in the work of the Lord."

IV. In what manner should we bestow our charitable contributions?

1. We ought to do it without ostentation or a desire to obtain the applause of men. "Take heed," says the Saviour, "that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them, otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven." We are not to conclude from this prohibition, that it is sinful to give alms, or make charitable donations, in the sight of our fellow men. This we may do and are frequently called to do. In case of public contri

butions it is unavoidable. The meaning of our Lord evidently is this: Take heed that ye do not your alms with a view merely to obtain the approbation of men. If you are influenced by this unworthy principle, you have no reason to expect a reward from your heavenly Father.' That this was his meaning seems evident from what follows. "Therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men." The hypocrites performed this duty from a spirit of pride and vain-glory. They sought the applause of men, and wished to be viewed as the most religious part of the community. In order to accomplish this purpose, they chose to give their alms in the synagogues and in the streets where was a great concourse of people to observe and applaud their liberality. Because multitudes thus publicly shared in their favors, they were in high estimation. Their conduct on these occasions indicated a proud, hypocritical spirit, and as such it was utterly condemned by Christ. Would we bestow our alms acceptably such motives and such a spirit must have no influence in actuating us, otherwise we also shall receive no reward of our Father in Heaven.

2.

Our charities as far as practicable should be given in a private manner.

Thus speaks the Saviour, "When thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee only." Some suppose that this Scripture refers to the placing of the corban, or poor man's box into which the Jews cast their free-will offerings on the right hand of the passage into the temple. There stood a box into which they cast money for the support of the poor. This they did with the right hand,

Be

as denoting readiness and disinterested intentions. ing forbidden to let their left hand know what their right hand did, intimated that they should conceal their contributions as much as possible. Secrecy is one evidence of sincerity. "Hence the Egyptians made the emblem of charity to be a blind boy reaching out honey to a bee that had lost her wings." Dr. Scott commenting on this passage observes, "Circumstances vary and require variation in outward conduct; there are many charities which can scarcely be promoted without some degree of public notoriety; and frequently a leading person may be called to excite those who are backward by a useful example. Yet no duty is more liable to be made occasion of vain-glory than this; and many designs, very beneficial to others, are supported by a liberality which almost entirely springs from this corrupt principle. The heart is deceitful, and when men love to have their names inserted among the subscribers to public charities, but are not equally liberal in private; when they love to speak and hear of their own beneficence, and are not willing to do much without the credit of it; it is too plain how the case stands with them. In general, private charities, if not more useful, are more unequivocal; and the less reward we receive from man, the more we may expect from our gracious God, provided we act from evangelical principles." There are some instances in which this direction of Christ may be strictly and literally complied with, such as charities bestowed on private individuals. But the principle, is what our Saviour had most in view in this injunction. "There are other cases in which it appears to be duty to make known our deeds of benevolence, not with a selfish desire to receive praise, but to manifest our engagedness in the work of the Lord, our love to him and his cause, our willingness to obey his commands, to assist in every good object which