use what God has entrusted to us, unless we take our directions from his own mouth; that is his own Word.

From that source of information we learn, that a person has a right to make use of what he has, so far as his own comfort may require it. There is nothing better for a man than, that he should eat, and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw that it was from the hand of God. No immoderate indulgence is here recommended; but such as, is consistent with real enjoyment, and the highest sense of responsibility. We may have the necessaries; and even the accommodations of life, if our means will allow of them; and if we deny ourselves these, with the ability to procure them, we must have manifestly a higher object in view, or we shall not be doing our duty.

Next to ourselves, those are to be provided for, who are dependant upon us for support. If any provide not for his own, and especially for those of his own house; he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel. We ought to be much upon our guard here, lest we allow ourselves too great a latitude of interpretation, and thus infer from the Apostle's words what he never intended should be understood.

A parent may think he has a right to provide a large, and independent, estate, for each one of his children, and, that he is warranted by this passage, so to lay his plans, and manage his business, as to compass this object. This however is a task which, in most cases, is impracticable; and the state of things in the world will show us, that it is as improper as it is difficult of performance. Scarcely an instance can be found of a person, who has been in any manner benefited by the large inheritance which has come into his possession. Should we search the houses provided for the maintenance of the poor, we should probably find some persons of this description, among the incumbents upon the public bounty. There is no portion of scripture perhaps, which accords better to our own observation than these words of Solomon, There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, namely riches kept for the owners thereof, to

their hurt: But those riches perish by evil travail; and he begetteth a son, and there is nothing in his hand.

The wealthy and the honorable, are generally those who started in life unknown, and unassisted, and who by industry, and good management, as the means, have increased their substance, and added to their weight of character, while others more highly favored have diminished or sunk to nothing, through indolence and a life of dissipation. Parents would do well not to be anxious to lay up a hoard for the establishment of their children, but be content to furnish them with comfortable food, and raiment, and the means of instruction; attending to their capacities; and propensities; and endeavoring to fit them for those places in society, for which they appear to have been intended.

For one the pulpit may be a fit place, for another a court of justice; for another a mechanic's shop; and for another the field, where labor is the honest and honorable, occupation. There is as much difference in men as there is in beasts, and birds. All beasts have not the speed of the rein deer; nor the strength of the elephant, and all birds have not the eye of the hawk, nor the pinion of the eagle. All beasts, and birds, however, have their places, and their uses; and the same is the case with men.

As any thing may be spoiled by turning it to a use, for which it is not adapted; so a child may be rendered an useless member of the community, by thrusting him into a place which he has no qualifications to fill.

We have seen, that we may use our substance ourselves, and convert it to the support, and benefit, of our families: but there is a still farther use which requires our attention. As we have therefore opportunity, says, St. Paul to the Galatians, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith. He here speaks the sentiment of all his inspired brethren, and he has the plain, and unquestionable warrant of his Lord.

The world has always had its poor, calling for the attention of persons placed in better circumstances. To the indolent and the sottish, however destitute, who scorn the service which we daily perform, we may shut up our bowels of compassion; and if we contribute at all, to their sup

port, the case should be an urgent one. For such persons the best help that can be afforded, is a place to live, and an employment to take up their time. To do them good is to change their habits. It is the part of wisdom, and of duty at all times, to govern our conduct according to the circumstances in which we are called to act. If we are to have a special regard to the household of faith, in improving opportunities to do good, we are not disregarding the temporal wants, and sufferings, of our fellow men, to aim at their most important interest; and to endeavor to build up the kingdom of truth and righteousness in the world. There is nothing plainer in prophecy than, that this world, which has lain in wickedness from the fall of man, is to be restored, and that the gospel, which has been confined to the small portion of the human family, is to spread its light, and iufluence, from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. God acts invisibly, employing second causes, to effect his purposes.

If he extends his gospel to all nations, and people, men must be the instruments, and, their substance must be the means. Wherever the Bible is sent, paper, and printing, will be indispensable; and whoever are employed to preach it, they must be fed, and clothed, and instructed, or they will not be able to teach others. For all these things expense must be incurred; and this expense must be met in the ordinary way; for it would be presumption to depend upon miracles in a day in which we see no miracles wrought; and have no encouragement to expect any.

Though little is done, compared with what ought to be done, and with what might be done; still the world was, probably, never so wide awake to righteousness, as at the present day. Among the many benevolent projects of a recent date, has one been suffered to come to a termination, through the deficiency of pecuniary support.

But my audience may think, that this address is misapplied, and plead that their substance is all taken up in supplying themselves, and their families, together with some little occasional assistance which they lend to the poor, in articles of food, and raiment. Let some things be here seriously considered,

What class of people, or what individual, has nothing to do with the direction, Honor the Lord with thy substance; and with the first fruits of all thine increase; and what class of people, or what individual, has nothing to do with the promise connected with this direction; So shall thy barns be filled with plenty; and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

How firmly established, and how widely spread, is Satan's kingdom in our ruined world; and how many, and how miserable, are his subjects? Moloch's name is to be found only in history; but abominations like those, which were anciently united with his worship, present now a sad, and heart affecting spectacle. If you saw children thrown by their parents into a river, would you not be astonished at this want of parental affection; or at this infatuation; and plunge in yourselves, to save them from drowning? If f you saw such little helpless creatures hanging upon the trees, where they must perish with hunger, or be devoured by the birds of prey, would you not instantly fly to their relief; and do all in your power to provide for their future safety? If you saw men, or women, lying in the road, where they must be crushed to death under the wheels of a monstrous carriage, unless speedily removed, would you not hasten to stop the carriage, or to raise the prostrate victims?

Though you are not spectators of such things, they actually exist, and others, not less horrible; and there is no way of curing the evil but by imparting religious instruction to the deluded people. This is an effectual cure; for as great things, with the exception of miracles, have attended the preaching of the gospel in heathen lands, in our own times, and quite lately, as were produced by the same cause in Samaria, when Philip exposed, and broke up the bewitching sorcery of Simon. Whole nations have given up their idol gods; and the stupid worship connected with them; and are now engaged in that reasonable service which it has ever been our privilege to perform.

If what the heathen need is the gospel, who shall send it to them? Many, more able, and perhaps, as many, less able, than we are, are coming forward with their contribu tions. No one would have blamed the widow, if she had

withheld her two mites from the treasury, when in a case less urgent, the rich were casting in their offerings; but, that she was not left to want we may be sure from the record of her charity; and of her confidence in God.

As the vine dresser thinks it no damage, but a great benefit to prune his vines of their superfluous branches; so we should lose nothing, but gain much, were we to remove from ourselves those things which owe their existence to our pride; which tend only to increase our pride; and the expense of which, if spared would form a fund sufficient to answer all important calls. Many things might be named which are no more essential to our support, and comfort, than the play things of a child, and these are generally, the things for which we pay the most. In the same divine volume in which we read, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; we read, Be ye not conformed to this world. Were we to take heed to this latter precept, our substance would increase, and be like the overflowing Nile, whose waters allow of being drained off, for the supply of all the adjacent country.

We have now gone through with the proclamation of Ezra, and will conclude our discourse with a brief notice of some things good, and evil, as we are respected. The lines are fallen to us in pleasant places; and we have a goodly heritage. Our own country has always yielded a sufficiency for the wants of the people; and generally, a very great surplus.

While Europe has been the theatre of war, and the slaughter house of mankind, here peace has reigned from the settlement of our original ancestors, with a very few years of interruption.

While men have been born kings in other parts of the earth, we have chosen our own rulers, and displaced them at our pleasure.

While men have almost every where been involved in the grossest darkness, respecting the things of another world, the bright, and morning star, the Sun of righteousness has ever shed his enlivening beams upon this land, and multitudes have, in the highest, and most important sense, experien