Mary Magdalenes Tears Wiped Off, Objection 23
OBJECTI. XXIII.
But I need not conteſt ſo hotly about the meaſure of holy and vertuous Actions. The Apoſtle tells me, that without Charity all is nothing worth: I cannot deny, but that I do heartily endeavour to do all the good that I may, to any one who ſtands in need thereof; but I have no aſſurance that I do it in Charity, and ſo all my Hay, Wood, and Stubble may periſh, when it comes to the Teſt.
SOLUTION.
29. IT is no ſmall difficultie to define what that Charitie is, which you ſuſpect you want. You accuſe not your ſelf of the neglect of any good Dutie, that concerns the bodies or ſouls of men, and that as your Brethren and Partners with you in the common benefit of Redemption. You ſincerely endeavour to practiſe forbearance, are patient and not revengefull of Injuries; kind, tender and compaſſionate; as ſenſible and zealous of other mens good as of your own,; far from envying; well-pleaſed at other mens happineſſes; hating all fooliſh elation of mind; as alſo all pride and inſolence, in over-valuing your ſelf and deſpiſing others; you keep your ſelf from uſing others unſeemlie; either in Words or Geſture; inclinable to take care of others Good and Safetie, and not only of your own; you fall not upon any provocation, into violent and immoderate diſtempers of Anger; keep account of all the Good that hath been done by any, but none of the Evil; you rejoyce not at the Errors and Sins of other men, but are paſſionately grieved for them, and contrarily made glad, by the good and holy converſation of your fellow Chriſtians; inclinable to conceal all the Evil that you know of another, ſo far as is for his Good, and not contrary to the greater Good of others; you blelieve without prejudice all the Good you hear of others? or have Ground in Charity to believe of them? you hope that you believe not, and never ſo far deſpair of their Repentance, as to give over uſing all probable means which may reclaim your wandring Brethren; enduring much pain, trouble and loſs, without Regret, for the recovering of ſuch as are indangered by any unchriſtian practiſes. Now that this is that Charitie the Apoſtle ſo magnifies, you have not only the evidence of the thing it ſelf, but the credit of a moſt learned, pious, and judicious Paraphraſt on that Chapter; whoſe very words I have tranſcribed (at leaſt the full importance of them) for your ſatisfaction in this ſcruple: preſuming that the authoritie of ſo reverend a Perſon, will fix your judgement beyond the aſſaults of anie ordinarie Temptations.
I cannot therefore be ſo uncharitable to you as to joyn with you in a Verdict againſt your ſelf, for want of Charitie. I doubt not, but you have in your heart this Water ſpringing up to eternal life; though like Hagar almoſt dead by thirſt, you want an Angel to ſhew you this Fountain, Gen. 21. When ſuch fumes as theſe darken your Soul, do not ſeek for light from ſparks of your own kindling; but from the Sun of Righteouſneſs; that Light that lightneth everie one that cometh into the world. Jo. 1.9.
In a word therefore, you muſt know, that when the Apoſtle thus magnifies Charity, it is the ſame thing as to comprize and exalt the whole dutio of man toward our Neighbour, in that one word; and to prefer that before the guifts of edification, whether Tongues, Healing, Miracles, &c. the excellencie and reputation whereof, or of any heroical Action, as giving ones Goods to the Poor, or ones Bodie to ſuffer Martyrdome, is not comparable to that practical Vertue, in the full latitude thereof. And this cannot but be evident unto you, if you conſider the compariſon the Apoſtle makes betwixt Charitie and ſuch Gifts, in the 12, & 13 Chap.