A Guide to Godliness, Book 2 · Chapter 10
CAP. X.
Of the reaſons which may moue vsus to imbrace charity.
§. Sect. 1 Of the excellency of charity.
ANd thus hauehave I ſhewed what is that charity both towards our ſelues and our neighbours, which is required in the ſecond Table: In the next place I will ſet downe ſome reaſons which may moue vsus to imbrace it, all which will reduce vntounto theſe their heads, the excellency, vtility, and neceſſity of it. The excellency of this charity herein appeareth, in that our Sauiour Chriſt maketh it the ſumme of all other duties and vertues required in the ſecond Mat. 22. 39.Table; ſo that if we hauehave charity, we hauehave all morall vertues; if that bee wanting, we are deſtitute of them all. Yea, the Apoſtles, not without the direction of his holy Spirit, doe ſeeme to goe further, making this charity the epitome and ſumme of the whole Law; He that loueth another (ſaith Rom. 13. 8.Paul) hath fulfilled the Law. If ye fulfill the royall Law (ſaith Iames) according to the Scripture, thou ſhalt louelove thy neighbour as thy ſelfe, ye doe well. Where either by a Synecdoche of the whole for the part, we are, as ſome doe, to vnderſtand the ſecond Table onelyonly, or becauſe true obedience to it, doth neceſſarily inferre our obedience to the firſt, in that it is an inſeparable fruit and vndoubted ſigne of it, it may not vnfitly comprehend our totall obedience to the whole Law. Secondly, in that the Apoſtle preferreth 1. Cor. 12. 31. & 13. 13.it before thoſe chiefe and fundamentall vertues, Faith and Hope, and that both, becauſe if we conſider them meerely in themſelues, it is of a more excellent nature, and alſo in reſpect of the extent, both of latitude and time; for whereas they reſpect our ſelues only and our owne ſaluation, this extendeth to the good and ſaluation of many others: and whereas they continue onelyonly for this life, charity attaineth to its greateſt perfection in the life to come, and ſhall euer remaine as a principall part of our euerlaſting ioyes. And thus alſo the Apoſtle Peter commendeth charity vntounto vsus aboue all other duties; Aboue all things (ſaith he) hauehave feruent 1. Pet. 4. 8.charity among your ſelues, for charity ſhall couer the multitude of ſinnes. Finally, the Apoſtle ſheweth the excellencie of charity, whereas hee exhorteth vsus aboue all things to put on Charity, as being the bond of perfectneſſe, or the moſt perfect bond, ſeeing wee are thereby vnited vntounto Chriſt our Col. 3. 14.Head, and as fellow-members one with another. For howſoeuer we are thus vnited firſt and principally by the Spirit of God and a liuely faith, yet this bond of vnion is perfected and made more firme and ſtrong, by this grace of charity, which transforming and changing vsus into the very nature of the things beloued, doth cauſe vsus to become one with them, and ſo inſeparably vnited, that nothing in the world, no not death Cant. 8. 6.it ſelfe, is of ſufficient force to pull vsus aſunder.
§. Sect. 2 Of the profit of charity, in reſpect of our neighbours.
Secondly, charity is to be imbraced of vsus as the moſt profitable vertue, both to others and our ſelues. To others, becauſe it maketh vsus willing and 1. Cor. 13. 4.ready to performe all Chriſtian duties of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, which we deſire of others to be done vntounto vsus; for it ſuffereth with all patience and long-ſuffering all wrongs and iniuries, and ſeeketh to gaine them who are thus iniurious, by all duties of louelove. It is ſo kind, that being prouoked, it ſeeketh not reuenge, but laboureth to ouercome euill with goodneſſe. It enuieth not the proſperity of thoſe that are aboue vsus, but cauſeth vsus to reioyce with them in all their happineſſe. It is not puffed vp with pride, nor vaunteth it ſelfe aboue thoſe who are inferiour vntounto vsus, either in vertues, or in thoſe rewards, with which God in this life crowneth them. It doth not behaue it ſelfe vnſeemely, but obſerueth a iuſt decorum, and a Verſe 5.modeſt and ſober courſe in all conditions. It ſeeketh not her owne, but ioyntly aduanceth our neighbours good, in many things departing from her owne right, when greater benefit may redound to others; it is not eaſily prouoked to vniuſt anger, but beareth with many faults for their better reformation, in conſideration of humane frailty and infirmity. It thinketh no euill, nor intendeth hurt vntounto any, neither is it ſuſpicious to take any thing in the worſt part, which may admit of a more fauourable interpretation. It reioyceth not in iniquity, nor ſporteth it ſelfe in other mens falls and infirmities, Verſe 6.but rather in the ſenſe of humane frailty; it lamenteth their ſinnes, and deſireth their repentance and reformation, that they may bee ſaued. And contrariwiſe it reioyceth, when as they approoue their profeſſion of truth in their practice of righteouſneſſe. It beareth all things with meekeneſſe Verſe 7, 8.and patience, and reuengeth not iniuries, but leaueth vengeance to God, vntounto whom it belongeth. It beleeueth all things credible, and eaſily admitteth all iuſt apologies and excuſes, which tend to the manifeſting of innocency in others, or at leaſt, leſſe faultineſſe. It hopeth all things, and when there is no apparance of good in our righteouſneſſe, expecteth their reformation and amendment, and deſpaireth not of their future repentance. Finally, it indureth all things, and couereth a multitude of euils, and is not wearied in well-doing, but continueth conſtant in doing and ſuffering all things which may any waies tend to the good of our neighbours.
§. Sect. 3 Of the profit of charity in reſpect of our ſelues.
And as it is profitable to all others; ſo moſt of all vntounto our ſelues. For it repleniſheth our hearts with all ſound ioy and true comfort, as it is an infallible ſigne of all good in vsus, and belonging vntounto vsus, of all grace in this life, and glory and happineſſe in the life to come. For hereby wee are aſſured that God loueth vsus, and hath ſent his holy Spirit to dwell in vsus: If we louelove one another (ſaith the Apoſtle) God dwelleth in vsus, and his louelove 1. Ioh. 4. 12, 13. Gal. 5. 22. 1. Iohn 4. 7.is perfect in vsus. Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and hee in vsus, becauſe he hath giuen vsus of his Spirit. It is an vndoubted ſigne, which aſſureth vsus of our regeneration and new-birth. Let vsus louelove one another: for louelove is of God: and eueryevery one that loueth, is borne of God. Of our illumination by the Spirit, and of ſauing knowledge: for eueryevery one that loueth, is borne of God, and knoweth God, as it followeth in the ſame place. And againe; He that 1. Iohn 2. 10.loueth his brother, abideth in the light, and there is no occaſion of ſtumbling in him. It aſſureth vsus of faith; for faith worketh by louelove, as the Apoſtle Gal. 5. 6.ſpeaketh; and that by it we are truly iuſtified before God: for if we bee ſo charitable, as to forgiue men their treſpaſſes, then hath the Lord promiſed Mat. 6. 14.that he will forgiue vsus our treſpaſſes. So alſo it is an infallible note of our adoption; for in this the children of God are manifeſt, and the children of the 1. Iohn 3. 10.diuell: whoſoeuer doth not righteouſneſſe, is not of God, neither he that loueth not his brother; and aſſureth vsus that we are the true Diſciples of Ieſus Chriſt, if in this we follow his example, and doe his will. For this is his Commandement, Iohn 15. 12.that we louelove oue another, as he hath loued vsus. And by this ſhall all men Iohn 13. 35.know that we are his Diſciples, if we hauehave louelove one to another. It is an vndoubted ſigne of all other graces dwelling in vsus, and principally of our louelove of God; for eueryevery one who loueth him that begate, loueth him alſo that is begotten 1. Iohn 5. 1. 1. Iohn 4. 20.of him. And if any man ſay, I louelove God, and hateth his brother, he is a lyer: for he that loueth not his brother whom hee hath ſeene, how can he louelove God whom hee hath not ſeene? And of the truth of our Religion; for if wee louelove 1. Iohn 3. 18, 19. Iam. 1. 27.not onelyonly in word and tongue, but in deede and truth, we may hereby know that we are of the truth, and ſhall aſsure our hearts before God. It expelleth all ſeruile feare, and bringeth peace of conſcience; for there is no feare in louelove, but perfect louelove casteth out feare. Yea it is a notable meanes alſo of outward 1. Iohn 4. 18. foreign. Gregor. Nazian. Pro. 10. 12. 1. Pet. 4 8. 1. Iohn 3. 14. & 4. 17.peace with men, whilſt it beareth with infirmities, paſſeth by offences, and couereth a multitude of ſinnes. Finally, it aſſureth vsus of euerlaſting happineſſe: for we know that we hauehave paſſed from death to life, becauſe we louelove the brethren.
§. Sect. 4 Of the neceſſity of charity.
Laſtly, the neceſſity of charity may mooue vsus to imbrace it. For without charity humane ſociety cannot ſubſiſt and ſtand, ſeeing it is the maine bond whereby they are combined and knit together. Neither is it alone a chiefe motiue to make men entertaine mutuall fellowſhip and entercourſe one with another, but alſo a principall meanes to make them to continue with delight and comfort in this ſocietie. For charity couereth a Pro. 10. 12.multitude of ſinnes, and cauſeth vsus to paſſe by many frailties and infirmities, and either not to ſee and take notice of them, or by extenuating and excuſing them, to make them pardonable and eaſie to bee diſgeſted. Whereas if charity be wanting, there will eaſily creepe in iealouſies, ſuſpitions, ſiniſter interpretations, iniuries both offered and reuenged, deadly hatred, and implacable contentions; for as the Wiſeman ſaith, Hatred ſtirreth vp ſtrifes, from whence muſt needes follow diuiſions, and Pro. 10. 12.vtter breaking vp of all ſociety. For if two cannot walke together, vnleſſe they Amos 3. 3.be agreed, (as the Prophet ſpeaketh) with what bond can innumerable multitudes be knit together, if charity be wanting, and in ſtead thereof, heart-burnings and contentions be admitted? And as without charity there can bee no communion betweene man and man, ſo neither betweene man and God, which principally conſiſteth in fruition, and fruition in louelove; ſeeing we cannot louelove God, vnleſſe we alſo louelove one another, as the Apoſtle telleth vsus. We cannot without it hauehave any aſſurance that 1. Ioh. 4. 20.we belong to God, or that we are his children by adoption and grace; yea rather we may conclude that we are the children of the deuill, ſeeing the Apoſtle Iohn maketh the hauing or not hauing of charity, a prime marke 1. Ioh. 3. 10.of difference, whereby they may bee diſcerned the one from the other. Againe, all our other graces and gifts, though they make neuer ſo glorious a ſhew, yet if charity be wanting, are all of no value. If we could ſpeake 1. Cor. 13. 1, 2, 3.with the tongues of men and Angels, and hauehave not charity, we ſhould become as ſounding braſſe, or a tinkling Cymball. If we had the gift of Prophecie, and vnderſtood all myſteries and all knowledge; yea if we had all faith (namely, of working miracles) and could remooue mountaines, and had not charity, we were nothing. And though we could beſtow all our goods to feed the poore, and could giuegive our bodies to be burned, and had not charity, it would profit vsus nothing. Furthermore, where there is not charity, there faith alſo is wanting, or in ſtead of it, a dead faith, which hath no operation, for faith worketh by Gal. 5. 6.louelove; and if we hauehave a liuing faith, the Apoſtle Iames telleth vsus, that we Iam. 2. 18.may ſhew it by our workes: among which, the workes of mercy and charity hauehave a chiefe place: Whereas if theſe be wanting, our faith is (as he compareth it) like a body without breath, and no better then a ſtinking carcaſe Verſe the laſt.in Gods eſtimate. Finally, charity is moſt neceſſary, if euer we meane to attaine to eternall ſaluation, or to eſcape helliſh deſtruction; ſeeing the ſentence of life or death ſhall at the day of Iudgement be pronounced, Mat. 25. 34, 41.according to the workes of charity, either performed or neglected by vsus, as being the chiefe outward euidences, whereby our inward grace of faith, apprehending Chriſt vntounto ſaluation, may, to the iuſtifying of Gods righteous Iudgements, be vntounto all demonſtrated and declared.