SERMON VII.

1 CORINTHIANS, XIII. 13.

"Now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity."

CHRISTIAN charity is a subject so vastly comprehensive as to afford us many different ways of considering it. There is, perhaps, no Christian virtue that is so generally, I might almost say, totally, misunderstood; nor is there any that will so richly repay the investigation of an attentive enquirer. How grievously it is prostituted in the every-day affairs of life, how often it is attributed to actions which have no one essential of Christian charity in their composition, cannot escape any one whose observation extends beyond the mere momentary wants and necessities of

his situation. The whole chapter from whence my text is taken relates in the most striking manner the peculiar graces and attributes by which this virtue may be distinguished. How widely it differs from that principle which the world dignifies with its name a very brief examination of the passage will convince us. Now in speaking of charity in the common language of the world, what is it we mean? is it an inward spiritual feeling? or is it an outward and ostensible act? I take it upon myself to assert that in almost every case in which the word charity is used, it is spoken of some action which would be far better described as liberality, sometimes as careless and indifferent profuseness, without one particle of that virtue which the Scriptures speak of as Christian charity. One man, out of the abundance of the wealth which God has given him, bestows with a liberal and indiscriminate hand on his poorer neighbours. He is spoken of as good and amiable and charitable. Another, out of

an easy and good-natured disposition, gives freely whatsoever is asked of him; a third ministers with ready generosity to the pleasures, the enjoyments, perhaps to the jovial recreations of his neighbours, and each claims his share of praise for charity. That this is the sense in which charity is but too generally understood, I think will be allowed me, while that such is not the charity of the Scriptures, a brief examination will convince us. Let me direct your attention to that chapter from whence my text is taken, 1 Corinthians, xiii. "Though I speak," says the apostle, "with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal." Although this will exalt our ideas of charity, although it will teach us the comparative value of worldly wisdom, and may form a fruitful subject of consideration, yet is it not that which we are now liable to mistake for charity. Again, the apostle says, "Though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries

and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing:" neither is it likely that in this manner we should misunderstand this great Christian virtue we are not likely to attribute it to the gifts of prophecy, the understanding of mysteries or knowledge, however we might sometimes be tempted to confound it with faith. It is hardly, however, in this manner that its misapplication would be dangerous. I shall pass therefore to that part of the apostle's exposition, which most directly contradicts the mistaken notions of it which are so prevalent. "Though I bestow all my goods," continues the apostle, "to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." It needs scarcely any comment on this, to point out the mistaken application of this virtue to that which the world dignifies with its name. Not a part only, and a superfluous part, but not all our goods bestowed to feed the poor, or even our very bodies

given to be burned, would approach that inestimable virtue of Christian charity.

I have already pointed out to you the distinction between an inward spiritual virtue, and a mere outward and ostensible act. All that of which the apostle has yet spoken partakes evidently of the latter, and is accordingly acceptable and praiseworthy in the sight of God, not on account of the action itself, but according to the motive from whence it springs; and can be so far only considered the fruit of Christian charity, as it originates in the feelings of which that virtue is composed. Let us not, therefore, in any case, deceive or blind ourselves by what we may consider deeds of charity, but look to the motive from whence such deeds may spring, as that only which can hallow them in the sight of God, or give them one single attribute of Christian charity. There may be those among us who will affect surprise at such a description, and imagine its effect will deter us from these deeds of kindness and benevolence, which require