3. But are there then any demands made upon our charity, which when answered can yield us no reward or blessing? Surely not. Has it not already been declared that God demands of us no duty or sacrifice for which he does not offer us an abundant remuneration? And does he not emphatically pronounce his blessing upon the virtue I am now attempting to explain and enforce? "_He that hath a bountiful eye shall be_ BLESSED." The scriptures are filled with motives, inducements, promises, encouragements, addressed to every generous, nay to every interested feeling. _The merciful man doeth good to his own soul.[9] He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.[10] If thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul, then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day. And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones; and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters fail not.[11] Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy._[12] Are there not then abundant rewards promised to deeds of beneficence?--rewards, how far transcending our best services, how more, infinitely more than adequate to our most painful labors, our greatest sacrifices. God has a right to all we have, for he only lends us all, yet he condescends to receive a portion from us again, as if a favor were conferred upon himself, and he has put in his stead the sick, the naked, the hungry and the afflicted, and says, _inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me_.[13] And not only does he condescend thus to accept our charitable deeds, but gives them his blessing and reward. _Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble._[14]