places around you. And he does this that he may fnrnish you with an opportunity, practically, of resembling HIM, who in the dispensation of boundless riches, is good and does good, and whose tender mercies are over all his works. The opportunity, however, of acting thus nobly with respect to the relief of misery, is very short. Can you want evidence of this? The changes daily One who a few taking place around you furnish it. days since dispensed these charities is now no more.* The cold earth lies upon her bosom! The darkness of the grave hides from her eye the miseries of the poor, and its silence shuts from her ear the widow's and the orphan's sigh! In behalf of these her last services were performed. Her stewardship is now ended. She is gone to GoD, to render to him an account of it; and her bereaved children need, and are receiving from others in kindly reversion, the sympathy she bestowed. Hearer-father-mother of a family, GoD only knows how soon this may be your lot! Mutable is the world! Misfortune may soon dissipate the riches you possess, death may suddenly cut off the life which you enjoy, and your children left dependent orphans, may be fed from the charity which you now bestow, * Mrs NOTT had been a Manager of the Society for the relief of distressed Women and Children from the time of its being constituted; in which capacity she rendered to the distressed her feeble services during her last illness and resigned her trust by death.. And is this our situation? And can we knowing it to be so, still be slothful? Presently will thine hand, palsied by death, be incapable of bestowing almsthine eye closed in darkness, of pitying misery-and will thy bosom soon, unfeeling as the clods that cover it, cease to palpitate at the tale of woe; and canst thou now shut up the bowels of thy mercy, or contribute with parsimonious exactness only, to the relief of those suffering objects which surround thee? Hark!--From the heavens a voice cryeth, "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might, because there is no work nor device in the grave whither thou goest." It is the voice of Jesus, who adds, hearer, for thine encouragement, Behold I Blessed is come quickly, and my reward is with me. that servant whom, when his Lord cometh, he shall find so doing. Go then, ye collectors of the bounty of the evening, and receive our charities. Go and let us see who will give unto the poor-Pardon my mistake. I mean who will lend unto the Lord, and in what abundance they will lend. And I pledge myself-Again, what am I saying? GoD pledges himself, however much you may bestow, in faith, that he will repay you again good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, even everlasting consolation will he repay into your bosoms. Almighty GOD! give us grace on this occasion to act worthy of the children of such a parent, and to thy name shall be the glory in CHRIST. AMEN. |