despair? The Gospel may be preached by your alms. There are many links
in the chain of influences which God employs in rescuing sinners from
death; and one of the most effectual at the present period, is the
bestowment of funds to send forth the heralds of salvation. These
desires, therefore, that feebly burn in your breast, may be gratified.
In an important sense, you may preach the unsearchable riches of Christ
to the nations, thereby becoming a coadjutor in a work, the sublimest of
heaven and the most felicitating to man. This is an interesting truth.
Let it blaze quenchlessly before the mind, warming the heart to mercy.

11. The sin and danger of covetousness. Covetousness is unlikeness to
God, to our compassionate Saviour, to the blessed spirits before the
throne, whose only symphonies are love. When indulged, the frown of the
holy universe is fastened upon us. It is violating the laws of our
mental frame,--an instrument so exquisitely attuned that the slightest
vibration of its delicate chords awakens notes of joy or wailings of
sorrow; and it thus becomes the source of irritation and remorse here,
and of disquieting premonitions of the most appalling woes in the world
to come. Hear what God hath spoken: "But fornication and all
uncleanness or _covetousness_, let it not be once named among you. For
no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor _covetous_ man, who is an
_idolater_, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no man deceive you; for because of these things cometh the wrath of
God upon the children of disobedience." This is terrible language, and
explicit as terrible. According to the plainest principles of
interpretation, covetousness is here put in the same category with some
of the worst vices that degrade man and provoke the wrath of heaven.
Indeed, if benevolence is required equally with justice, then
covetousness is as distinctly a violation of the divine law as
injustice; and he who hoards as the expense of the suffering poor, is as