as well as Others, are to be Ad monished of their Duty Charge them that are Rich in this World. And if their Loftiness shall think scorn to be thus Tutor'd by the Clergy, they are then Advifed, That they be not highminded. Not to be proud and infolent; not to flight and despise their meaner Brethren. And the more effectually to abate their Confidence, they are further to be Admonished; That their Riches are uncertain, and therefore 'tis the highest Folly, To trust in uncertain Riches.

Solomon's Observation, That Riches make themselves wings, and flee away as an Eagle towards Heaven. Prov. 23. 5. (that is, they are gone with a swift and imper ceptible Motion) is fully confirmed by daily experience.orien Fire, Robbery, Suretyship, the

Falfeness of a Friend, a Sinking

Ring

Ship a Treasonable Word, the

Tragical Exceffes of Wine and Paffion, with many other fuch like Accidents, have funk and ruined the Greatest in a Moment:

Now these possible Events, which may happen to the Riche eft, and level them with the Poorest, do feasonably Admonith the Rich men of this World, not to be high-minded, nor to trust in uncertain Riches...:

:

And therefore, fince Riches are such uncertain Poffeffions, and may and will so unexpectedly leave them; 'tis Charity to direct these Rich men where to put their Trust. Even in the living God: Who is not only a Sure and Certain Comfort, (for he is a living God, and a living Comfort;) but all other Comforts do flow from him. Who giveth us richly all things to en ige of old tudod,

And

And why is it that he giveth us richly all things to enjoy? Why have these Rich men so large a Share of this World? "'Tis for

this Reason, viz. That they may do Good, be rich in Good Works, ready to Distribute, willing to Com municate.

And for their Encouragement, the Apostle assures them, that by thus Doing Good, &c. they lay up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on Eternal Life.

From these Grounds and Rea fons, (which have been more distinctly enforced, in A Theolo gical Difcourse of Last Wills and Teftaments, to which I refer;) St. Paul doth Direct the Clergy not only to Admonish, but even to Charge and Command Rich Men, to be Charitable to the

Poor.

LA

The

The Precepts of Charity are so plain, and so often repeated in the H. Scriptures; so prefsingly enforced, by such just and reasonable Confiderations, that the Dying Person must needs be convinced in his Judgment, that it is both his Interest and Duty, To be Charitable to the Poor.

But notwithstanding all this, or whatever else can be faid on this Subject; if either the Sug-.. gestions of Satan, (who envies the Happiness of Mankind) or the Clamours of Dissatisfied Relations; (who, like Vultures, wait for their Prey;) Isay, if either of these can divert the Dying Perfon, from Bequeathing. to the Poor, they will not fail to furnish him with such Pleas and Excuses as these.

T

PLEA

&

THis preffing of Charity is a Popish Trick. How many brave Estates have been ruined, by the wheedling Arts of these Canting Priests? What stately Lordships have been Bequeathed to the Superstitious Uses of Obits and Masses for the Dead? And being rid of this Trumpery, must the Clergy of the Reformation be still practising upon us? Shall not our Friends Dispose of their Estates, and make their Wills, as they pleafe; but these Men in Black must pretend to Direct, and bring in their Items for the Poor and

the Church?

T

ANSWER

O the Great Honour of the Reformation, we can boldly Declare, That Charity is no Popish Trick.

For

A