SERM. VIII. Hence also charity disposeth to please our XXVII. neighbour, not only by inoffensive but by obliging demeanour; by a ready complaisance and compliance with his fashion, with his humour, with his desire in matters lawful, or in a way consistent with duty and discretion. Rom. xv. 2. Such charity St. Paul did prescribe; Let every one please his neighbour, for his good to edifica1Cor. x. 33. tion: such he practised himself, Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit; and, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might gain the more. ix. 19. Rom. xv. 3. Such was the charity of our Lord, for even John ii. 2. Christ pleased not himself: he indeed did stoop to converse with sorry men in their way, he came when he was invited, he accepted their entertainment, he from the frankness of his conversation with all sorts of persons did undergo the reproach Mat. xi. 19. of being a winebibber, a friend of publicans and Luk. vii.34. sinners. It is the genius and complexion of charity to affect nothing uncouth or singular in matters of indifferent nature; to be candid, not rigid in opinion; to be pliable, not stiff in humour; to be smooth and gentle, not rugged and peevish in behaviour. It doth indeed not flatter, not soothe, not humour any man in bad things, or in things very absurd and foolish; it would rather choose to displease and cross him, than to abuse, to delude, to wrong, or hurt him ; but excepting such cases, it gladly pleaseth all men, denying its own will and conceit to satisfy the pleasure and fancy of others; practising that which St. Peter enjoined in that precept, Be of one mind, be compassionate, love as brethren, be piti ful, be courteous; or as St. Paul might intend, SERM. when he bid us, xapíçeolaι áλλýλois, to gratify, to XXVII. indulge one another. IX. Love of our neighbour doth imply readiness upon all occasions do do him good, to promote and advance his benefit in all kinds. It doth not rest in good opinions of mind, and good affections of heart, but from those roots doth put forth abundant fruits of real beneficence; it will not be satisfied with faint desires or sluggish wishes, but will be up and doing what it can for its neighbour. Eph. iv. 32. strong as Cant. viii. 6. Love is a busy and active, a vigorous and spright- Love is ful, a courageous and industrious disposition of soul; death. which will prompt a man, and push him forward to undertake or undergo any thing, to endure pains, to encounter dangers, to surmount difficulties for the good of its object. 8. 16. Such is true charity; it will dispose us to love, as 1 John iii. St. John prescribeth, epyy kaì ảλnseía, in work and in James ii. truth: not only in mental desire, but in effectual performance; not only in verbal pretence, but in real effect. νεσθαι τῶν 1 Thess. v. Hence charity will render a man a general bene-'Aμáfactor, in all matters, upon all occasions; affording. to his neighbour all kinds of assistance and relief, Acts xx. 35. ̓Αντέχεσθαι according to his neighbour's need, and his own. ability it will make him a bountiful dispenser of 14. his goods to the poor, a comforter of the afflicted, a sous 21visitor of the sick, an instructor of the ignorant, an Thess. v. adviser of the doubtful, a protector of the oppressed, 14: a hospitable entertainer of strangers, a reconciler of 17. xxxi. differences, an intercessor for offenders, an advocate » Ομόφρονες, συμπαθεῖς, φιλάδελφοι, εὔσπλαγχνοι, φιλόφρονες. 1 Pet. iii. 8. Παραμυθεῖ γοψύχους. Job xxix. 32. SERM. of those who need defence, a succourer of all that XXVII. want help. Job xxix. 12. The practice of Job describeth its nature; I, saith he, delivered the poor that cried, and the fatherless, and him that had none to help him. The blessing of him that was ready to perish came upon me; and I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy. I was eyes to the blind, and feet was I to the lame: I was a father to the poor, and the cause which I knew not I searched out: and I brake the jaws of the wicked, and plucked the spoil Job xxxi. out of his teeth. If I have held the poor from their desire, or have caused the eyes of the widow to fail; or have eaten my morsel myself alone, and the fatherless hath not eaten thereof; if I have seen any perish for want of clothing, or any Job xxxi. poor without covering. The stranger did not lodge in the street; but I opened my doors to the traveller. 16. 32. Such is a charitable man; the sun is not more liberal of his light and warmth, than he is of beneficial influence. He doth not spare his substance, being rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate and where his estate faileth, yet the contribution of his endeavour will not be wanting; he will be ready to draw and press others to beneficence; so doing good not only according to his power, but in a manner beyond it, making the ability of others to supply his own weakness, and being liberal with their wealth. The description of Coru. Nep. Cimon is a good character of a charitable man, Nulli fides ejus, nulli opera, nulli res familiaris defuit. in Cimone. Thus may the poorest men be great benefac tors: so the poor apostles, who had nothing, yet SERM. did enrich many; not only in spiritual treasure, but XXVII. taking care for supply of the poor, by their pre- (1 Cor. iv. 11.) cepts and moving exhortations: and he that had not Cor. vi. 1o. where to lay his head, was the most bountiful person that ever was; for our sake he became poor, that we by his poverty might be made rich. In all kinds charity disposeth to further our neighbour's good, but especially in the concerns of his soul; the which as incomparably they do surpass all others, so it is the truest and noblest charity to promote them. ὡς πτωχοί, πλουτίζον 2 Cor. viii.9. 16. It will incline us to draw forth our soul to the Isa. Iviii. 7 hungry, and to satisfy the afflicted soul; to bring Ezek. xviii. the poor that are cast out to our house; to cover the naked, to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, to break every yoke; to supply any corporal indigency, to relieve any temporal distress: but especially it will induce to make provision for the soul, to relieve the spiritual needs of our neighbour; by affording him good instruction, and taking care that he be informed in his duty, or conducted in his way to happiness; by admonition and exhortation quickening, encouraging, provoking, spurring him to good Eis Tagoğuworks; by resolving him in his doubts, and comforting him in his troubles of conscience; (lifting up the hands which hang down and the feeble knees;) by seasonable and prudent reproof: by all ways serving to convert him from the error of his Jam. v. 20. way; and so saving a soul from death, and hiding a multitude of sins; which is the proper work of charity; for charity, saith St. Peter, covereth a mul- 1 Pet. iv. 8. titude of sins. σμὸν καλῶν Heb. x. 24. 'Avoghá σατε. Heb.xii. 12. 14. Thess. v. Prov. x. 12. Matt.iv.23. ix. 35. SERM. This was the charity of our Saviour: He went XXVII. about doing good, healing the bodily infirmities, Acts x. 38. (every sickness and every disease among the people,) satisfying their bodily necessities, comforting them in their worldly distresses, so far as to perform great miracles for those purposes; (curing inveterate maladies, restoring limbs and senses, raising the dead, multiplying loaves and fishes:) but his charity was chiefly exercised in spiritual beneficence; in purveying sustenance and comfort for their souls, in feeding their minds by wholesome instruction, in curing their spiritual distempers, in correcting their John xiv. 1. ignorances and errors, in exciting them to duty by powerful advices and exhortations, in supporting Matt. v. 10. them by heavenly consolations against temptations and troubles. XV. 11. xvi. 33. V. 15, 16. viii. 7. XX. 35. 26. Thus also did the charity of the holy apostles Acts iii. 6. principally exert itself: they did not neglect affording relief to the outward needs of men; they did xxviii. 8, 9 take care by earnest intercession and exhortation Rom. xv. for support of the poor; but especially they did la1 Cor. xvi. bour to promote the spiritual benefit of men: for Gal. ii. 10. this they did undertake so many cares, and toils, and travels; for this they did undergo so many hardships, so many hazards, so many difficulties and troubles; a Therefore, said St. Paul, I endure all things for 2 Tim. ii. the elects' sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. I. 2 Cor. viii. 7. ix. 1. 1 Tim. vi. 18. Heb. xiii. 16. 10. X. This indeed is a property of charity, to make a man deny himself, to neglect his own interest, yea to despise all selfish regards for the benefit of his neighbour to him that is inspired with charity, his own good is not good, when it standeth in competition with the more considerable good of another; |