, while she had no dependence for support
but the labor of her hands, gave $60 at one time to educate pious young
men for the Gospel ministry. "When she offered the above sum, the agent
refused to receive it all, until pressed by the humble donor, who said
that she had reserved five dollars; and that she hoped to earn enough to
provide for her wants in her last sickness, and for her funeral." This
is said to be but a specimen of her liberality; and her hopes in regard
to her earthly wants were not disappointed.

Perhaps in the small circle of our personal acquaintance, we can number
some few, who, with souls more elevated and spiritually refined by
grace, have bestowed in benefactions all their income; peradventure,
even common farmers and mechanics--such as have fallen under the notice
of the writer--who, after frugally supplying the wants of their
families, have generously given the remaining proceeds of their labor to
the Lord.

On these, and such as these, we should fix our eyes; they are stars of
the first magnitude which God has fixed in the dark canopy of time as
guides. We may not be able to give as they did; but the sacrifices they
made, we can and ought to make. If we seek to ward off the force of
their example by arguing that they gave too much, or by referring at
once to professedly good men who have given far less, we may reasonably
conclude that covetousness is still grasping and palsying our christian
sympathies. Such efforts are clearly but the struggles of selfishness,
to ease the conscience of the dart. For, from such generous deeds, the
voice does, and will come inevitably, "Go, and do likewise."

10. The felicity of beneficence. That "it is more blessed to give than
to receive," is the voice of inspiration. Jehovah's felicity flows
mainly from that fundamental element of his being, disinterested or holy
love, and its infinitely diversified and glorious workings. He created
us in his own image; and when this love has possession of our hearts,
and our conduct is in obedience to its laws, the mental machine works in
harmony, and the result is enjoyment; but when the opposite principle
controls, its movements are obstructed, and the result is sorrow. It is
a law of our being, as fixed as the ordinances of heaven, that we drink
the richest draughts when holding the cup of enjoyment to another's
lips. Happiness eludes the grasp of the pursuer; while like a flower
that sheds its sweetest fragr