34 On Charity as the End SERMON important exertions, indeed, there are of II. charity, which have no connection with giving or bestowing. Candour, forgiveness, gentleness, and sympathy, are due to our brethren at all times, and in every situation of our own fortune. The poor have opportunities for displaying these virtues, as well as the rich. They who have nothing to give can often afford relief to others, by imparting what they feel. But, as far as beneficence is included in charity, we ought always to remember, that justice must, in the first place, be held inviolably sacred. The wisdom of Scripture remarkably appears, in the connection pointed out by the text, between charity and good conscience, or integrity; a connection which I appre hend is often not attended to so much as it deserves. Among the frugal and industrious, great regard is commonly paid to justice. They will not defraud. They will not take any unlawful advantage in their dealings: And, satisfied with this degree of good conscience, they are strangers to that charity which is the end of the commandment. They are hard and unfeeling. 10* unfeeling. of the Commandment. II. 35 They are rigid and severe in SERMON their demands, They know nothing of humanity, forgiveness or compassion. Among another class of men, who have been more liberally educated, and who are generally of a higher rank in life, justice is apt to be considered as a virtue less noble than charity; and which may, on some occasions, be dispensed with. They are humane, perhaps, and tender in their feelings. They are easy to their dependents. They can be liberal, even to profusion. While, at the same time, they are accumulating debts, which they know themselves unable to discharge. Their affairs are allowed to run into confusion. Economy and good order are neglected. The innocent, in great numbers, suffer materially through their mismanagement : And all the while they assume to themselves the praise of being generous and good-hearted men. This surely is not that charity which the Gospel enjoins; and which, in its very essence, involves good conscience and integrity. He, who pretends to do good to his brethren without first doing them justice, cannot be accounted their D 2 unfeigned. Faith, in the Scripture se it, includes the whole of religious p ples respecting God, and respecting C Good principles, without good pract confess, are nothing; they are of no in the sight of God, nor in the estim of wise men. But practice not fo on principle, is likely to be always un and wavering; and, therefore, the fa religious principles enters, for a very derable share, into the proper discha the duties of charity. It will be admitted that, without our duties towards God cannot b perly performed. You may be a that your duties towards men will greatly suffer from the want of it. when pure and genuine, supplies to part of virtue, and in particular to the of charity, many motives and assis of the Commandment. II. 37 of which the unbeliever is destitute. He SERMON who acts from faith, acts upon the high principle of regard to the God who hath made him, and to the Saviour who redeems him; which will often stimulate him to his duty, when other principles of benevolence become faint and languid, or are crossed by opposite interests. When he considers himself as pursuing the approbation of that Divine Being, from whom ́love descends, a sacred enthusiasm both prompts and consecrates his charitable dispositions. Regardless of men, or of human recompence, he is carried along by a higher impulse. He acts with the spirit of a follower of the Son of God, who not only has enjoined love, but has enforced it by the example of laying down his life for mankind. Whatever he does in behalf of his fellow-creatures, he considers himself as doing, in some degree, to that Divine Person, who hath said, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me * Hence charity is with him not only a moral virtue, but a Christian grace. It acquires additional dig SERMON III. On our LIVES being in the Hand of [Preached at the Beginning of a New Year. *] PSALM XXXI. 15. My times are in thy Hand. HE sun that rolls over our heads, SERMON ΤΗ III. the food that we receive, the rest that we enjoy, daily admonish us of a superiour power, on whom the inhabitants of the earth depend for light, life, and subsistence. But as long as all things proceed in their ordinary course; when day returns after day with perfect simi January 6th, 1793: larity; |