186 AGAINST UNCHARITABLENESS. .Uncharitableness is á loathsome part of the image of the fallen angel : It is a-kin to the hatred of God. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen; 1 John iv. 20. He that hateshis fellow- christian, and brings railing accusations against him for a dif- ference in little opinions, how can he expect to be beloved of God, who beholds in the best of us so many monstrous follies, and guilt of a more aggravated nature ? By the word uncharitable- ness here, I would not include our neglect of charity to the poor and hungry, nor our aversion to errors of the grosser kind; but I mean our aversion to such persons who not only profess to be Christians, but who also agree with us in thechief doctrines of Christianity, viz. the pardon of our sins by the atoning sacrifice of Christ, and the sanctification of men by the powerful opera- tiens of the Holy Spirit, and the necessity of faith in Christ, and good works, &c. I mean our aversion to those who differ from us in littlepunctilios of doctrine or duty which are not expressly and plainly written in the New Testament ; those who maintain such an aversion to their fellow -christians, as to pronounce dam- nation upon them, or some terribleand unchristian censures, be- cause they do not come up to our sentiments and practices in things which are of little moment, while we agree in all funda- mental points, and such as are of most importance. This uncharitableness is a vice attended with such a train of mis- chiefs, that I would set all my biggest powers in array to fight against it. It is a fountain ofsuch bitter waters, that I would fain dam up the spring. It is a plant of so poisonous a product, that I would dig deep and search for the roots, and tear up all the fibres of it, though they twined about my heart - strings. SECT. I.The Causes of Uncharitableness. An uncharitable humour springs generally from some of these following causes : I. From a malicious constitution of nature, an acrimonious or a choleric temper of blood. There are some animal engines of human flesh, that have their juices all soured in their very for- mation ; and there is an ill ferment raised in such persons at the perception of everyJobject, that-is not just suited to their present fancy and inclination : And by the hard laws of union between soul and body in this our fallen, state, the spirit too often com- plies with the fretful distempers of the flesh. Thereare but few thatattempt to suppress the ferment, and to resist the angry mo- tions of the animal ; and of those few that attempt it, scarce one in ten is very successful : For it is a work of toil and difficulty, perpetual watchfulness and unceasing prayer. This ill humour mixesitself with religion, as well as with civil affairs. It diffuses its malignity through all thestudies and
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