lses, but by
settled principles, and that you are to do good not merely because you
take delight in it, but that you may secure the favor of God who has
commanded this service. And as I have observed that where our Heavenly
Father has put forth a commandment, he has also annexed a reward to
induce us to obey it, so in our text the duty of beneficence is
presented in the form of a beatitude, like the introductory precepts of
our blessed Lord's sermon on the mount. "He that hath a bountiful eye
shall be BLESSED."

I propose, first, briefly to explain this duty, then to state its
obligation, and lastly to allude to the blessing promised in connexion
with it.

1. The expression of my text is peculiar. We hear in common speech of a
liberal or open hand as the characteristic of a benevolent man; but the
phrase, a bountiful eye, belongs alone to the sacred scriptures. There
also the opposite character of avarice and cruelty is represented by a
figure drawn from the same source. In the book from which my text is
selected, we are warned not to partake of the offered banquet of him who
spreads his table by constraint, and with ostentatious or mercenary
views, and not from the impulse of an hospitable spirit. _Eat thou not
the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty
meats: For as he thinketh in his heart so is he: Eat and drink saith he
to thee; but his heart is not with thee._[1] And again the character
and punishment of the man who is so anxious to acquire wealth as to
disregard the principles of honesty and the claims of charity is thus
described. _He that hasteth to be rich hath an evil eye, and considereth
not that poverty shall come upon him._[2] In the book of Deuteronomy too
where the law of conduct towards the poor is laid down, and the rich are
commanded not to take advantage of their necessities we read--_If there
be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates,
in thy land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden
thine heart, nor shut thine hand, from thy poor brother. But thou shalt
open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for
his need, in that which he wanteth. Beware that there be not a thought
in thy wicked heart, saying, the seventh year, the year of release is at
hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest
him nought, and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto
thee. Thou shal