220 The NEW and COMPLETE LIFE of our BLESSED LORD though the Judge himfelf upon another occafion declared thefe to be of more im- portance than theduties of charity fo highly applauded in this parable á But thofe who ark this queflion would do well to remem- ber, that piety and charity cannot fubfift feparately : piety, and it's origin faith, always producing charity ; and charity, wherever it fubfifis, neceflárily prefuppo- fing piety. There is fuch a connection between piety and charity, as it will evidently appear, if it be rightly confidered, that no man can be truly benevolent and merciful, without loving thofe difpofitions : confequently, he mull love benevolence in God, that is, he mull love God ; for piety, or the love of God, is nothing elfe but the regard we cherifh towards God, on account of his perfections. Piety and charity being thus effentially connected together; it was abun- dantly fufficient to examine the conduct of men with regard to either of thofe graces. In the parable, the inquiry is reprefented as turning upon the duties of charity, per- haps, becaufe in this branch of goodnefs, there is lefs room for felf- deceit than in the other. Itis common for hypocrites, by a pretended zeal in the externals of religion, to make fpecious pretences to extraordi- nary piety, and at the fame time are totally deficient in charity ; are covetous, unjuft, rapacious, and proud, and, confequently, deflitute of all love for their Creator. But none can aflume the appearance of charity, but by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, relieving the diffreffed, and _per- forming other benevolent offices to their brethren. The works of charity may in- deed, in fome particular cafes, flow from other principles than thofe of a pious and benevolent difpofition, as from vanity, or even views of intereft; but then it fhould be remembered that a common degree of hypocrify will hardly engage men to un- dertake them : they areby far too weighty duties to be fuflained by thofe.falfe prin- ciples, and therefore are feldom counter- feited. Confequently, we may conclude, that the love of God reigns in perfelion, wherever a genuine, extenfive, and per- manent charity is found. Therefore, this parable teaches us, in the plaineft manner, that however loud pre- tenfions we may make to piety, they will fland us in no fiead at the awful tribunal of the Son of God, if we are deficient in works ofcharity. At the fame time, if we confider it in it'strue light, it will give us no. reafon to hope well ofourfelves, if we are wanting in our duty to God ; and will thew us, that we rhould not onlybe charitable, but grateful; alto, jufl,temperate, and blamelefs, in all our dealings with mankind : for we fhould remember, that the duty we owe to the Almighty is no other than what is due from all men in all circumstances, and which it would be unjuft in us to neglect. It confifts in difpofitions and actions, the fame in kind, but different in degree, pro- portionate to the perfeétion of the objeél. He who loves and admires holinefs, juf- tice, and truth in men, cannot but love thefe perfeftions in God, that is, he mull love God : fo likewife, he that is truly grateful to an earthly benefactor, cannot be ungrateful to one from whofe bounty he receives all the good things he enjoys : and fince ingratitude in men is nothing more than forgetting the benefit received, and the benefactor who conferred the fa- vour; how can we acquit ourfelves from the charge of ingratitude to God, if we for- get the obligations we lie under to him, and are at no pains to return him thanks; that is, if we wholly neglect the external and internal exercifes of devotion. Since, therefore, the duty. we owe to God is the fame in kind with that we owe to man, it will undeniably follow, that true mo- rality can never exift where piety is want- ing ; and that a perfon renders himfelf ridiculous who pretends to morality and is deftitute of piety. Thus having endeavoured to Phew that juflice and piety cannot fubfift feparately from each other, I fhall now return to the remaining part of the parable, which exhibits
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