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 affections, our lives, and thoughts to this question? Are our affections holy and pure? Does love to God direct every thought, and perform every work. Does this love circulate amongst the brethren, and show itself in love to the neighbour, in charity, benevolence, and kindly feeling? If so, we have sold much; we have given to the poor, and we will feel the blessing. But, on the other hand, if our affections are impure—if self-love dictates every motive, forms every thought, and gives utterance to every word—then it will produce a direful progeny of demons—envy, uncharitableness, revenge, treachery, deceit, and ill-will; these will so darken and pervert the judgment, as to utterly exclude the light of Revelation from our sight, and deprive us of its counsel and guidance. These evil affections, like a subtle poison, will run through every faculty of the soul. Self-love destroys the harmony and peace of nations; it is the fruitful source of wars, contentions, bloodshed, and sorrow! it is of a serpentine quality, which can discover nothing save the venom that hisses; and the malice that creeps.

If any of these are the inmates of our spiritual house, be assured they can do us no good: let the motto shew us how they are to be dealt with—"Sell that ye have, and give to the poor!"—part with these that the poor in spirit may be fed—that the young affections of goodness, holiness, truth, and mercy may be nourished—may grow and flourish in immortal beauty! Whoever performs this great work will assuredly provide himself with bags which wax not old—with treasure everlasting in the heavens.

The bags mentioned must have reference to something of a spiritual nature: this is evident from their