210 AGAINST UNCHARITABLENESS. the principles of so glorious an example and predecesspr. Iler gentle government subdues the hearts of all her people to her- self; her charity joins their affections to one another; her paren- tal care and love reconciles christian parties, andher wisdom unites christiannations. IV. The last mischief I shall mention, and which should fright us terribly from the peril of it, is, that " an uncharitable man wounds the very vitals of that religion, by which hehopes for eternal life:" And whilst his fury rages against Isis brother for accidental differences,he shakes the very foundations of his own christianity, and endangers or prevents his own salvation ; his boasted orthodoxy in opinion is made vain, while his practical ungodlinesses are so réal ; and his faith appears to be little better , than that of devils, when he mingles so much of their malice with it. In vaindoes he glory in the brightness ofhis notions; in vain doth he presume " darknessis past, and the true light now shineth: For he that saith he is in the light and hateth his bro- ther, lee abideth in darkness, even till now; 1 John ii. 8, 9. Such a wisdom composed of mere opinion and wrath can never lead aright up to heaven', for it did not descend from thence : The wisdom that is from above isfirst pure, then peace- able, gentle, easy to be intreated, full of mercy and goadfruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace: But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not. What- ever your pretencesof truth he, this is bat lyingagainst the truth: This wisdom descendeth not from above, but his earthly, sensual, 'carnal, devilish ; James iii. 14-18. It is impossible there should be true faith without sincere love : If I understandall mysteries, and have all lntooledge, if I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have allfaith,.,so that I could remove mountains, and were destitute of charity, my pretensions to religion are the mere sound of noisy brass, or a tinkling cymbal ; 1 Cor. xiii. I, 2. It is such a charity, that snereth long, that is not easily pro- voked, that beareth all things, and believeth all things, and taketh all things in the best sense, and thinketh no evil: It is such a charity as this that is a substantial part of our religion. Charity in the heart, is absolutely required to make up inward christianity ; and the appearance of it in the life is a most neces- . sary part of godliness. It is true indeed, that all graces and virtues are very imper- fect in this present state, and there is'much of uncharitableness remaining in many a good man : But that man can never be good that has no charity. Zelotus has spent bis life in declaim- ing against some little modes and gestures used in worship by his fellowchristians, or in imposing some uninstituted ceremonies on the consciences of Iris brethren. IIe bath stirred up the
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