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But how muft thefe be Provided ford and ad

Not according to your Projecting Ambition, or their ex travagant Expectations, but according to more fober and pru dent Measures.

Provide fo for them, as to encourage their Industry, that they may live decently according to your prefent Rank and Quality, and may be enabled to maintain your Character, when they fill your Place, and enjoy your E ftate. Beyond this do not 'concern your Self for them. But be fo wife,

2. To provide for your Self as well as your Family: And do not hazard an Immortal Soul ; nor make your Self, not only a Drudge in this World, but eternally Miferable in the next, to) raife them to a Grandeur, which shall only inftruct them to defpife your Meannefs, and (by making

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·Provifion for the Flesh) the more artificially to ruin themselves. 3. What is fuggefted concerning Debts and Incumbrances, is à very uncertain Pretence: fince many Men who are in Debt, may be out of it when they please.

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Great Purchasers and great Dealers, who grafp at all, are feldom out of Debt. And if fuch Men must be excufed from Charity, till they have paid their Debts, the Poor and the Publick will be little better for them. But 'tis the Duty of the Clergy, 4. To Admonish such Men, That they are obliged to be Juft to God, as well as their Cre ditors.

They who talk fo much of paying their Debts (as if that might excufe them from giving to the Poor let them firft take care to pay their Debts to God, in Charitable Diftributions.

Which I thus prove to be their Duty. When

When God gave them their Eftates (either by Defcent from Others, or their own Industry) he referved to himself a ChiefRent, a proportionable Part of their Incomes, which he commands them to give, as occafion fhall require, to the Publick and to the Poor.

And will they not be Just to God, their Great Landlord, as well as to their leffer Creditors? Will they not pay God his own? Let them know therefore, if they refuse their Chief Rent of Charity, they have forfeited their Eftates; and God may take the Seizure, When and How he pleafeth.

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PLEA V.

Have both Ability and Inclination to be Charitable. But" am troubled to obferve. How Gifts and Legacies are shefed, and how often

often the Intentions of Pious Donors are Perverted.

T

ANSWER.

Hat this may not difcou rage your Charity, please to Confider; That there is nothing fixt and certain in this World. And if you dare not be Charitable, because your Gift may be abused; for the fame Reafon, you must neither Purchafe nor Bargain, because you may be Cheated.

Ufe therefore the best Caution, and take the best Advice And when you have

you can

fo done, leave the Succefs to God. And then, though the Wickedness of Others fhould pervert your Charity, yet God who is faithful, will Reward your good Intention.

And the better to avoid, Abur s, Finish your Charity, in your

Life, and depend not too much on Executors and Trustees.

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But left you should not Perfonally fettle your Charity in your Life, make choice of fuch Executors, as are of Ability, as well as Integrity: And, (in Modern Language) Who are Refponfible as well as Honest...

Let the Sick Man here Examine the former Paffages of his Life. And if he observes, That he hath not given to the Poor, in Proportion to his Eftate, let him then fupply that Defect, by Bequeathing to them a larger Charity at his Death.

And for his Conviction, let him feriously perufe the following Scriptures.

Scriptures concerning Alms

To

Deeds.

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O Do Good, and to communicate, forget not: for with fuch Sacrifices God is well pleafed. Heb. 13. 16.

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