plowing.... will not rather say unto him, Make ready wherewith I may sup.... doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not." Eph. vi. 9. "and ye, masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening; knowing that your master also is in heaven, neither is there respect of persons with him." Col. iv. 1. "masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal," &c. 1 Tim. iii. 5. "if a man know not how to rule his own house," &c.

The reverse.

xiv. 11. "the house of the xv. "in the revenues of the

Prov. iii. 33. "the curse of Jehovah is in the house of the wicked." xi. 29. " he that troubleth his own house shall inherit the wind." wicked shall be overthrown.' wicked is trouble." v. 25. "Jehovah will destroy the house of the proud."

Respecting the possession of slaves, and the extent of the master's authority, see Gen. xvii. 12. "he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger-." Levit. xix. 20. "whosoever lieth carnally with a woman that is a bondmaid," &c. xxv. 44—46. "both thy bondmen and thy bondmaids which thou shalt have," &c. 1 Cor. vii. 21, 22. let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.... art thou called being a servant, care not for it." See also the epistle to Philemon. Concerning the forfeiture, by insolvency, of the rights of freedom, see 2 Kings iv. 1. "the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen." Matt. xviii. 25. "his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife," &c.

Respecting the punishment of slaves, see Gen. xvi. 6. "behold, the maid is in thine hand, do to her as it pleaseth thee." Prov. xxix. 19. "a servant will not be corrected by words; for, though he understand, he will not answer. Punishment, however, should not exceed due limits. Exod. xxi. 20, 21, 26, 27. "if a man smite his servant, or his maid, and he die-”

Respecting the manumission of Hebrew slaves, see Exod. xxi. 2—4. Levit. xxv. 39, 40. Deut. xv. 12, 13, 16, 17, &c. Jer. xxxiv.

The duties of SERVANTS. Gen. xvi. 9. "the angel of Jehovah said unto her, Return to thy mistress, and submit thyself under her hands." xxiv. 9. "the servant put his hand

under the thigh of Abraham his master, and sware to him—.” Prov. xvii. 2. 66 a wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame-." xxv. 13. "so is a faithful messenger to

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them that send him, for he refresheth the soul of his masters.' xxvii. 18. " he that waiteth on his master shall be honoured." Eph. vi. 5-8. "servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ-." See also Col. iii. 22, &c. 1 Tim. vi. 1, 2. "let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed and they that have believing masters, let them not despise them....because they are faithful and beloved." Tit. ii. 9, 10. "exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them in all things, not answering again, not purloining, but showing all fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." 1 Pet. ii. 18, 19. "servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward; for this is thankworthy-.'

The reverse. Gen. xvi. 4. "her mistress was despised in her eyes. 2 Kings v. 20, &c. "Gehazi, the servant of Elisha the man of God, said, Behold, my master hath spared Naaman this Syrian, in not receiving at his hands that which he brought; but as Jehovah liveth, I will run after him, and take somewhat of him." Prov. x. 26. "as vinegar to the teeth.. .. so is the sluggard to them that send him." xxvi. 6. "he that sendeth a message by the hand of a fool cutteth off the feet, and drinketh damage." xxx. 22, 23. “for a servant when he reigneth," &c.

CHAP. XVI.-OF THE REMAINING CLASS OF PRIVATE

DUTIES.

THUS far of domestic duties. We are next to speak of those which are exercised towards strangers.

The principal virtues in this class are almsgiving and hospitality.

ALMSGIVING consists in AFFORDING RELIEF TO THE POOR, ESPECIALLY TO SUCH AS ARE BRETHREN, IN PROPORTION TO

OUR MEANS, OR EVEN BEYOND THEM, WITHOUT OSTENTATION, AND FROM THE MOTIVE OF TRUE CHARITY. Exod. xxiii. 11. "the seventh year thou shalt let the land rest, and lie still, that the poor of thy people may eat." Deut. xv. 2. "this is the manner of the release," &c. v. 11. "thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor and to thy needy, in thy land.” xxiv. 19—21. "when thou cuttest down thine harvest in thy field-." Luke iii. 11. "he that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none." xiv. 12— 14. "when thou makest a dinner. . . . call not thy friends. . . . lest they also bid thee again.... but call the poor, the lame," &c. xvi. 9. "make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness, that when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations." Christ himself, although poor, set us an example of this virtue. John xiii. 29. "that he should give something to the poor." Eph. iv. 28. "rather let him labour.... that he may have to give to him that needeth."

IN PROPORTION TO OUR MEANS. Matt. x. 42. "whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in my name-." Luke xi. 41. "rather give alms of such things as ye have." Acts iii. 6. "silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I thee." 2 Cor. viii. 12, 13. "if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that which a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."

OR EVEN BEYOND THEM. Luke xxi. 4. "all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God, but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had." 2 Cor. viii. 3. “to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power, they were willing of themselves." He subjoins, however, v. 13. "I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened; but by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want." On this, as on similar occasions, we are to be guided by geometrical rather than by arithmetical proportion, regulating our bounty according to the rank and dignity, the education and previous condition of each individual; lest we fall into the absurdity

4 Milton, when speaking of his mother, particularly notices her charitable disposition. Londini sum natus...... matre probatissima, et eleemosynis per viciniam potissimum nota.' Defensio Secunda pro Populo Anglicano. Prose Works, Symmons' ed. V. 230.

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of equalizing those whom nature never intended for an equality.

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TO THE POOR; that is, to such as are unable to support themselves by their own labour and exertions. Lev. xxv. 35. "if thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee, then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger.' Deut. xv. 7, &c. "if there be among you a poor man," &c. 2 Thess. iii. 10. "if any would not work, neither should he eat." Hence we are not bound to relieve those vagrants and beggars who are such of choice, and not of necessity. v. 11, 12. 66 we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies; now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread." Among the poor are to be reckoned orphans and widows, on account of the desolate situation of the one, and the tender age of the other. Exod. xxii. 22-24. “ye shall not afflict any widow or fatherless child." Deut. x. 18. “he doth create the judgement of the fatherless and widow." xiv. 28, 29. "at the end of three years thou shalt bring forth all the tithe of thine increase.... and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, which are within thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied," xxvii. 19. "cursed be he that perverteth the judgement of the fatherless or widow." Job. xxix. 11, &c. "because I delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless-." xxxi. 16. "if I have withheld the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless have not eaten thereof." Psal. lxviii. 5. "a father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation." cxlvi. 9. "he relieveth the fatherless and widow." Prov. xxiii. 10, 11. "enter not into the fields of the fatherless; for their redeemer is mighty." To these may be added such as are weak or helpless from any cause whatever, and all who are in affliction, especially for religion's sake. Isai. lviii. 7. "is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that

5 This is an allusion to the mendicant Friars, who made poverty a part of the rule of their order. Their increase was so great, owing to the encouragement shewn them by Pope Innocent III., that Gregory the Tenth found it necessary to reduce them to the four orders of Dominicans, Franciscans, Carmelites, and Augustines.

thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" Matt. xxv. 36. “naked, and ye clothed me; sick," &c. Luke xiv. 13. "call the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind.” Heb. vi. 10. "God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister."

WITHOUT OSTENTATION. Prov. xxi. 14. "a gift in secret pacifieth anger, and a reward in the bosom strong wrath." Matt. vi. 1, &c. "when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee-." 2 Cor. viii. 24. "wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf."

OUT OF TRUE CHARITY. 1 Cor. xiii. 3. "though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, I am nothing.' Not therefore of compulsion. 2 Cor. viii. 3. "they were willing of themselves." v. 8. "I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love."

Scripture everywhere declares that the reward of almsgiving is great. Job. xxix. 11-25. "when the ear heard me, then it blessed me. . . . because I delivered the poor that cried,' &c. Psal. xli. 1. "blessed is he that considereth the poor : Jehovah will deliver him in the time of trouble," cxii. 9. compared with 2 Cor. ix. 8, 9. "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; as it is written, He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the poor, his righteousness remaineth for ever." Prov. xiv. 21. "he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he." xix. 17. “he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth to Jehovah, and that which he hath given will he pay him again." xxii. 9. "he that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed, for he giveth of his bread to the poor." xxviii. 27. "he that giveth to the poor shall not lack." Isai. lviii. 6, &c. "is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry? &c. then shall thy light break forth as the morning.' Matt. x. 40-42. "he that receiveth you, receiveth me, and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me." xxv. 34, 35. “ come, ye blessed of my Father.... for I