Thomas Watson

“Unmercifulness is the sin of the heathen. While you put off the affections of charity, you put off the badge of Christianity...”“When you are distributing to the poor, it is as if you were praying, as if you were worshiping God. There are two sorts of sacrifices: expiatory sacrifices (the sacrifice of Christ’s blood); and thank offerings (the sacrifice of alms). This, said holy Greenham, is more acceptable to God than any other sacrifice. Acts 10:4: “The angel said to Cornelius, ‘Your acts of charity have come up as a memorial offering before God.” The backs of the poor are the altar on which this sacrifice is to be offered up!”