fumes an effect, without the cause which alone can produce it. In short, Nothing but a principle of Piety, a grateful respect to the honour of God, the original and fupreme good, can fanctify, or throw any fhadow of merit upon, our beft performances : Which otherwise have their reward only in the gratification of that felfifh motive, whatever it be, that gave them birth. Hence did our divine Mafter fo particularly caution his Difciples against the hypocrify of the Pharifees; a vice of the mind utterly inconfiftent with true Religion; which leavened all their most plaufible fervices, rendering even `their prayers, their faftings, and their alms, of no account in God's fight. Whereas He gave them to understand, that the most private devotion of the closet, that unaffected abftinence which disfigures not not the face, and every the least inftance of fincere beneficence, are all observed by Him who feeth in fecret, and will reward them openly. And as this is a comfortable doctrine to perfons well difpofed, how small foever their abilities of doing good; fo is it a ferious warning to those who are poffeffed of more wealth than godliness, that they prefume not to compound with Heaven, for the habitual breach of moral, or neglect of religious, duties. The charitable donations of Cornelius (whose praise is in the facred story) are not represented as coming up alone for a memorial at the throne of grace; but as wafted thither on the wings of Prayer and Devotion. The character given of him is that of a devout man, who who gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God always. And thus faid the Angel unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God." God indeed hath expressly declared that He prefers works of mercy before any folemnity of worship due to Himfelf: But we are to remember that the real value of thofe very works depends entirely upon their being done in Charity; the true definition whereof is, Love of God and Love of Man. And though He certainly expects that we should do all things as becomes human nature, and agreeably to the relations we bear to each other: Yet will He finally regard our actions as they are more or less conformable to the relation we bear to Him, and to the revealed notices of his will. Wherefore Wherefore taking the Holy Scriptures for our guide, let us in the first place fet our affections right towards God, and fee that we love Him with all the Heart and with all the Soul: So fhall we not fail in the practice, or lose the recompence, of true Chriftian Charity, which is the Bond of Peace and of all Virtues. |