SERM. The End of the Commandment is Charity, out of a pure Heart, and of a good Confcience, and of Faith unfeigned. First, it is to be confider'd, what is the Commandment in this Place; then, what Charity, with the Principles it fprings from and fubfifts by, a pure Heart, a good Confcience, and Faith unfeigned; thirdly, How we are to understand fuch a Charity's being the End of the Commandment. For the first; upon fearching how the Word in the Original, and those of the fame Derivation, are used in the ancient Tranflation of the Old Testament, and in the New, it appears to fignify here, the Charge which the Evangelifts of Christ received from him to deliver to their Hearers. So the Commandment is the Revelation of God committed to the Apoftles and Minifters of his Word, which they are enjoin'd to declare to the People, and in his Name require their Obedience and Submiffion. The Revelation confifts of Facts to be believed, and of Rules of Life and Manners to be observed; and the former fupport and inforce the latter. Out of this, the Old Teftament is by no Means to to be excluded. THAT alfo contains SER M. Matters to exercise the Faith and Obedi- XIII. ence of God's People, as well as the New. To our Purpose particularly, there is the true teaching of Charity, though ill in-. terpreted by the Scribes and Pharifees: And Mofes's Law (excepting the Ceremonies and Civil Statutes, which formed a Commonwealth and Church that are ceafed) is of perpetual Obligation to us Christians, according to our Lord's own preaching; Till Heaven and Earth pass, one fot or one Tittle shall in no wife pafs from the Law, till all be fulfilled. Matt. v. 18. Thus, I fay, the Sense of the Commandment in the Words before us is, the Preaching of Chrift's Minifters according to his Inftructions; and THAT we have now contained in the whole Body of Holy Scripture. The fecond Term to be explained is Charity; and the direct Meaning of it here is, the Love of our Neighbour. The Reafon of fo interpreting will appear on reading other Places of the fame St. Paul; wherein, at firft View, a Man must be fatisfied, he is delivering the fame Doc X 4 trinc SERM. trine with this in the Text. Thus Rom. xiii. XIII. 8. He that loveth another, hath fulfilled the Law. So again Galat, v. 14. All the Law is fulfilled in one Word, even in this; Thou fhalt love thy Neighbour as thyfelf. It is true, that Charity at large comprehends the Love of God, and of our Neighbour. Neither is the former fhut out by this Interpretation, but fuppofed. The Thing exprefs'd, is the Love of our Neighbour; but we know, THAT must be founded on the Love of God, to be a true Charity, and acceptable in his Sight. And this wil be infifted on particularly, when we confider the Original and Support of this Charity, in the Words next to be explained. At prefent I need only add, that the Love of our Neighbour is exercised, by doing him fuftice firft; and, fecondly, all other Services and Kindness, which his Circumstances require, and ours qualify us to perform. For we fhall understand the Nature of it more perfectly, as we proceed to examine the Caufes and the Companions of it, deliver'd in these three Articles, a pure Heart, a good Confcience, and Faith unfeigned. A First the Charity, which our Apoftle SER M. values, must rise out of a pure Heart; XIII. that is, a right and holy Intention. The Heart is almost all. THAT gives the fame Action different Natures. In this Matter, the Purpose of it must not be criminal; it must not be only innocent; it is neceffary, it should also be religious. Man may do many Acts of Kindness or Bounty to others in the fole View of compaffing fome wicked Defign; and these, it is plain, being tainted in their Original, are wicked too, Another does the fame, to obtain fome fair Intereft or Efteem, or other unforbidden End, but without any Regard to a Divine Commandment; and he, if he be not guilty of Hypocrify by pretending to more, is barely not condemn'd. His Acts are of a prudential Nature; and if their End be gain'd, they have their Reward. But Charity is religious; and nothing therefore is indeed Charity, that proceeds not from a religious Heart. This is that which forms and performs the inward Act. Now the inward Act is so very confiderable, that it may be of Value without the outward, but SER M. but the outward never of any without XIII. that. No Man can be faved that has not Charity: Yet we fee Multitudes under a natural, or a providential, Incapacity to exercise the external Works of it. Thoufands want the Means to fhew Love to their Neighbour, by relieving him with their Substance; and Millions, to do it by affifting him with their Knowledge and Prudence. It is true, the Deed proves the Sincerity; and the Want of the Deed, where Opportunity alfo is not wanted, proves the Infincerity of our Hearts. But it proves them to ourselves only, and to other Men. God knows and approves, according to its Perfectnefs, the internal Act, the good and hearty Defire and clear Determination of the Will, though it cannot, by fome invincible Impediment, produce the Effects defired and longed after. He blames or difallows of none of his Servants for not doing the Service which he hath not given him the Power to do. So if, by the Course of his Providence, or that of Nature (which is alfo his) he hath denied People the Skill, the Opportunity, the Wealth, to do Good with, it is plain, |