+III. Christianity elevates and enriches the poor.+--It enjoins temperance, industry, honesty, and perseverance--the practice of which has raised many from poverty to wealth. The man who has prospered should never forget the claims of the poor. It is said that a certain man dreamed that the Saviour appeared to him and upbraided him with giving so little to His cause. The man replied, "I can't afford it." "Very well," said the Saviour; "let it be so. But do you remember, that when that business panic happened, how you prayed to Me to keep you out of difficulties? and I heard your prayer and tided you over the trouble. And do you remember also, when your little child was sick, how you prayed that her life might be spared, and again I heard your prayer and restored her? But now let it be an understanding between us that henceforth when you are in trouble I do nothing for you, seeing you can't afford to help Me." The man's conscience was touched, and he exclaimed, "Lord, take what I have; it is Thine." +Lessons.+--1. _Christianity is the source of the highest philanthropy._ 2. _Is the unfailing hope and comfort of the poor._ 3. _Has achieved its greatest triumphs among the poor._ _GERM NOTES ON THE VERSES._ Ver. 10. _Remember the Poor._ I. +The Church of Jerusalem was in extreme poverty.+--1. Because the poorer sort received the Gospel. 2. Because the richer were deprived of their riches for their profession of the name of Christ. II. It is the office of pastors and teachers, not only to preach and dispense the Word, but also +to have care of the poor.+ III. +Satisfaction, recompense, and restitution are the way to life+ by the appointment of God.--1. He must restore who is the cause of any wrong or loss to others and all that are accessory. 2. Restitution is to be made to him that is wronged and bears the loss if he be known and alive; if he be dead, to his heirs; if all be dead, to the poor. 3. The things to be restored are those which are of us unjustly received or detained, either known to us or unknown. 4. As to the order of restitution, things certain must first be restored, and things uncertain after. IV. It is not enough for us to give good words and wish well, but we must in our places and calling +do our endeavour that relief may be sealed to our poor.+--1. The charge was great to maintain the altar of the Lord in the Old Testament; the poor come in the room of the altar. 2. The poor represent the person of Christ. 3. Compassion in us is a pledge or an impression of the mercy that is in God towards us, and by it we may know or feel in ourselves that mercy belongs unto us. The observing of the commandment of relief is the enriching of us all.--_Perkins._