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Imprimatur,

BERN. GARDINER

Sept. 17. 1713.

VICE-CAN. OXON,

[1]

SERMON I. ·

Ecclefiaftes XI. 1.

Cast thy Bread upon the Waters, for Thou shalt find it after many days.

N these Words we have an Exhortation from the Royal Preacher to a generous, a diffufive, and difinterefted Charity. And for an Encouragement to the performance of fo noble and withall fo indispensable a Duty, there is a Promise annex'd to it of a Certain, tho' not always a fpeedy Reward, an Affurance that That Bread which in the wretched Worldling's Eye feem'd to be lavishly fquander'd away, and quite loft, and which the frank bestower himfelf gave without the leaft profpect or hopes of Return, yet fhall certainly tho'

A

after

after many days be found again, fhall furely at last come back into his own bofome with Intereft and Encrease either in this World or a better.

In the Text therefore there are plainly these two things to be confider'd,

ift. The Duty Enjoyn'd.
2dly. The Reward Promis'd.

1. The Duty, in Thefe Words, Caft thy Bread upon the Waters, which Expreffion being Figurative and very Comprehensive, has afforded room to the feveral Commentators upon the place to give feveral Expofitions of it, yet all of 'em very agrèeable to the Truth, and very confiftent with each Other. Which I fhall therefore briefly offer, because from them we may form a right Understanding of the Nature and Qualifications of this Duty, and the manner in which it ought to be perform'd.

And their feveral Interpretations put together amount to this, that thefe Words import a Command that our Charity should be,

ift. Plentifull and Liberal.

2dly. Willing and Chearfull.

3dly. Univerfal and without Exception. 4hly. Without Defign or Hopes of Requital.

ift. Plenti

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