as well as Others, are to be Ad monished of their Duty Charge them that are Rich in this World.

And if their Loftinefs fhall 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 truft in uncertain Riches.

Solomon's Obfervation, That! Riches make themselves wings, and \\ flee away as an Eagle towards Heaven. Prov. 23.5.that is, they are gone with a fwift and imper-> ceptible Motion) is fully con- ' firmed by daily experience. Fire, Robbery, Suretyfhip, the i Falfenefs of a Friend, a Sinking Ship a Treasonable Word, the

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

Now thefe poffible Events, which may happen to the Rich eft, and level them with the Pooreft, do feasonably Admonish the Rich men of this World, not to be high-minded, nor to trust in uncertain Riches.

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And therefore, fince Riches are fuch uncertain Poffeffions and may and will fo unexpectedly leave them; 'tis Charity to direct these Rich men where to put their Truft. 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 Com forts do flow from him. Who giveth us richly all things to en joy of blut

3 ed of

And

And why is it that he giveth us richly all things to enjoy? Why have thefe Rich men fo large a Share of this World? "Tis for this Reason, viz. That they may do Good, be rich in Good Works, ready to Diftribute, willing to Com

municate.

And for their Encouragement, the Apostle affures 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 thefe Grounds and Reafons, (which have been more diftinctly enforced, in A Theolo gical Difcourfe of Laft 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 fo plain, and fo often repeated in the H. Scriptures; fo preffingly enforced, by fuch juft and reasonable Confiderations, that the Dying Perfon 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 Suggeftions of Satan, (who envies the Happiness of Mankind) or the Clamours of Diffatisfied Relations; (who, like Vultures, wait for their Prey;) I fay, if either of these can divert the, Dying Perfon, from Bequeathing to the Poor, they will not fail to furnish him with fuch Pleas and Excufes as thefe.

THIS

org of: 227 1ob26 A His preffing of Charity is a Popish Trick. How many brave Eftates have been ruined, by the wheedling Arts of thefe Canting Priests What stately Lordfhips have been Bequeathed to the Superftitious Ufes of Obits and Mafles for the Dead? And being rid of this Trumpery, muft the Clergy of the Reformation be still practifing upon us? Shall not our Friends Difpofe of their Eftates, and make their Wills, as they pleafe; but thefe Men in Black must pretend to Direct, and bring in their Items for the Poor and the Church o

T

ANSWER.

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

For