Elizabeth Town Gazette

THE HYPOCRISY OF COVETOUSNESS.
From Dr. C. Mather's Essays to do Good.
"Mark his hypocrisy! He weeps over the profligacy of the poor, and says, It is a sad thing that they are brought up without being educated in the fear of God, He laments every time the bell tolls the miserable condition of widows and orphans. He celebrates the praise of learning, and wishes public speakers had all the powers of a learned criticism, and all the graces of elocution. He prays for the down-pouring of the Spirit, and the outgoings of God in his sanctuary, and then how his soul would be refreshed! what a comfortable Christian would he be then! Tell this son of the morning that there are school-masters waiting to educate the poor, tutors longing to instruct youth, and young men burning with a vehement passion for learning and oratory;-tell him that the gratitude of widows, the hymns of orphans, and the blessings of numbers ready to perish, are the presence of God in his church. Tell him, all these wait to pour themselves like a tide into his congregation, and wait only for a little of his money to pay for cutting a canal. See how thunderstruck he is! His solemn face becomes lank and black; he suspects he has been too liberal already,—his generosity has been often abused;-why should he be taxed and others spared?-the Lord will save his own elect; God is never at a loss for means; no exertions will do without the divine presence and blessing; and, beside his property is all locked up. Behold, it is hid in the earth in the midst of my tent!"
"Let us respect truth even in the mouth of a miser. His ignoble soul tells you, that he would not give a wedge of gold to save you all from eternal ruin;— but, he says, God is not like him; God loves you. and will save you freely. This is strictly and literally true. There have been thousands of poor people beside you who have been instructed and animated, converted and saved, without having paid a penny for the whole; but this, instead of freezing, should melt the hearts of all who are able, and set them a running into acts of generosity."