When you are at any time turning away the _poor_, the _old_, the _sick_ and _helpless_ traveller, the _lame_, or the _blind_, ask yourself this question, Do I sincerely wish these poor creatures may be as happy as _Lazarus_, that was carried by _angels_ into _Abraham_’s bosom? Do I sincerely desire that God would make them fellow-heirs with me in eternal glory? Now if you search into your soul, you will find that there is none of these motions there, that you are wishing nothing of this. For it is impossible for any one heartily to wish a poor creature so _great_ a happiness, and yet not have a heart to give him a _small_ alms. For this reason, says _Miranda_, as far as I can, I give to _all_, because I pray to God to forgive _all_; and I cannot refuse an alms to those whom I pray God to bless, whom I wish to be partakers of _eternal glory_; but am glad to shew some degree of love to such, as, I hope, will be the objects of the infinite love of God. And if, as our Saviour has assured us, _it be more blessed to give than to receive_, we ought to look upon those that ask our alms, as so many _friends_ and _benefactors_ that come to do us a greater good than they can receive; that come to be _witnesses_ of our charity, to be _monuments_ of our love, to _appear_ for us at the day of judgment, and to help us to a blessedness greater than our alms can bestow on them. 12. This is the spirit, and this is the life of _Miranda_; and if she lives ten years longer, she will have spent _sixty hundred_ pounds in charity; for that which she allows herself, may fairly be reckoned among her _alms_. When she dies, she must shine amongst _apostles_, and _saints_, and _martyrs_; she must stand among the _first servants_ of God, and be glorious among those that have fought the good fight, and finished their course with joy. 13. Now this life of _Miranda_, however contrary to the fashion of the world, is yet suitable to the true spirit of Christianity. To live as she does, is as truly suitable to the gospel of Christ, as to be _baptized_, or receive the _sacrament_. Her spirit is that which animated the _saints_ of former ages; and it is because they lived as she does, that we now celebrate their memories, and praise God for their examples. There is nothing _whimsical_, _trifling_, or _unreasonable_ in her character; but every thing there described, is a proper instance of solid piety. 14. It is as easy to shew, that it is _whimsical_ to go to church, as that it is whimsical to observe any of these rules. For all _Miranda_’s rules of living to God, of spending her _time_ and _fortune_, of eating, working, dressing, and conversing, are as substantial parts of an holy life, as devotion and prayer. For there is nothing to be said for the wisdom of _devotion_, but what is as good an argument for the wise and reasonable use of _apparel_.