able and eternal manfion, prepared for good men from the foundation of the world; where fhall be no more forrow, no more pain, and where tears fhall be wiped away from all faces.—Unto which happy ftate God in his due time bring us all, for his mercy's fake in Jefus Chrift his Son our Lord, SERMON SERMON XIII. COLOSSIANS, iii. 14. Above all things put on Charity, which is the bond of Perfectness. T cannot but be observed throughout IT the writings of St. Paul, that he is never fo elevated in his praifes of any one virtue, as when he difplays the excellence of Charity; never so earnest in his exhortations to, or enforcements of, the obfervance of any precept, as when he recommends and enjoins this comprehenfive duty. And indeed, whoever confiders Charity in it's just extent, as it is the the principle of all moral action, the confummation of all divine graces, the fpecial law of Chrift, and badge of his followers, will not eafily be induced to. think the tongue of men or angels idly employed in the commendation of fo heavenly a virtue. The misfortune is, men are apt to entertain either partial or erroneous notions of this duty; which in reality knows no bounds, nor any mixture of infincerity. Thus an alms now and then bestowed upon the indigent, and a few expreffions of pity over the unfortunate, shall be deemed by fome to fulfil the law of love: Whilft others by more liberal donations, perhaps bequeathing all their goods to feed the poor, when they can no longer enjoy them, affect to compound with Heaven for the enormities of their whole lives: Which, in the language of Solomon, is to offer unto God God the facrifice of fools. Whereas the Apostle in my text, as if in direct oppofition to any fuch vain prètences, ftiles Charity the bond of Perfectness, i.e. the cement or union of all good practice : Equally requifite to constitute the civil, the moral, and religious character of a Christian. I fhall therefore take occafion, upon this most copious and important fubject, to enquire fomewhat minutely into the power and fpirit of true Chriftian Charity, refpecting the temper and behaviour in general, or (to be moré particular) the thoughts, the words, and the actions, of every Disciple of Christ. 1. To begin with confidering the good and happy influence which this special grace, if duly applied and improved, might and ought to have upon our thoughts and affections. Under Under which head it is proper to be premifed, that, when treating of Charity, we are not to regard it barely as a civil virtue, which would carry us but a little way toward perfection; but as a religious obligation upon our confciences to love in the first place the Lord our God with all the mind and with all the ftrength; and in fubordination to that radical principle of all found morality, to love our neighbour as ourselves. For thus much does the gofpel command; whofe peculiar excellency it is, that it reacheth to the inward man, corrects our very thoughts, and purifies the heart; out of which are the iffues of life or death. The mere natural principle will fuggeft compaffion to a fellow creature when in the article of distress; the fame will also prompt a man to be kindly affectioned toward his relations, benefac tors, |