3. I should go farther, to show what respect faith in such a condi- tion hath unto the covenant of God ; but I cannot now insist upon it.
IV. I thought to have shown you also, in the last place, the differ- ence between the faith of the godly and that of unbelievers, — that which the worst of men will have in God in the time of their dis- tresses, and that relief which true evangelical faith finds in an over- whelming condition; but I see it would take up too much time.
One word of use, and I have done.
Use. This is an overwhelming time, — a time wherein many are at the ends of the earth literally, and many metaphorically, — a time and season wherein most that fear the Lord are obnoxious to some over- whelming distress or other. Suppose that God hath not let forth upon many at this day an overwhelming sense of guilt, — that there are not many tempted, wounded, and troubled (though some there are, whom we meet with every day); yet I have great reason to fear that,
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if we were all rightly awakened, an overwhelming distress would come upon the minds of men, from the want of humility, holiness, fruitful- ness, faith, and love; which ourselves have sometimes enjoyed, and are proposed unto us, and which the examples of them who are gone be- fore us lead us to inquire after. Are none overwhelmed with the hardness of their hearts, instability of their spirits? — overgrown with careless, empty, light, worldly frames? Truly, more or less, we have all reason to be overwhelmed ; and we have showed you a little where our relief lies in this state and condition.
Are we ready to be overwhelmed with the calamitous condition of the people of God all over the world, and as to ourselves, our goods, and personal concerns, — any thing that is near and dear unto us? I pray God make our hearts jealous over it, especially those that are at ease in their health and prosperity. When God throws others of his people into the furnace, such have great reason to be jealous lest he deal more severely with them than the poorest saint that wants a morsel of bread. Well, you see the way of relief in this case also. It is God alone unto whom we must make our application. He is willing to receive us, because of the goodness of his nature; and he is able to save us, because of the abundance of his grace and power.
SERMON XXL1
GOSPEL CHARITY.
" And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness."
Col. iii. 14.
The word ayaTrj, which we here translate "charity," is the only word used in the New Testament to signify " love." And I wish we had
1 Joseph Caryl, so well known from his "Exposition of the Book of Job," was born in 1602. He studied at Oxford, and entered into holy orders in 1627. After preaching for some time in Oxford, he came to London, and preached with much acceptance before the Society of Lincoln's-Inn. He was a member of the As- sembly of Divines in 1643; and in 1645 he was appointed to the charge of St Magnus', near London Bridge. Along with Dr Owen, he accompanied Cromwell to Scotland in 1650; and towards the close of 1653 he acted on the Commission of Triers, for removing ignorant and scandalous ministers. He attended the Con- ference at the Savoy in 1658, when several Independent divines endeavoured to agree on a Confession of Faith. He was again in Scotland with Major-General Whal.ley and Colonel Goffe, in order to confer with Monk on the state of public affairs. After the Restoration, he was ejected from St Magnus', in 1662; but con- tinued to preach to a congregation of his former hearers till his death, which occurred in February 1672-3. The public duties to which he was often called be-
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always rendered it so, because in our common use of speech, charity is restrained to one effect of love, in relieving the poor and afflicted; which is nowhere the sense of the word in Scripture. It is love, then, that is intended. " Above all these things put on love." There is no grace nor duty but the exercise and practice of it is commanded in the Scriptures, and most of them fall under particular commands, and are enjoined absolutely; but there is but this one, that I re- member, which hath a preference given unto it in a command above other things, as here, 'E-zI -ffaai ds ro-oToig, — " Above all these things put on love." So 1 Pet. iv. 8, Upb vavrwv, — "Before all things, have fervent love among yourselves." And so in that of our apostle, 1 Cor. xii. 81. He had given them directions about the use and improvement of spi- ritual gifts for the edification of the church (and it is an excellent way to have the church edified, by the due and orderly exercise of the gifts of the Holy Ghost in the elders and members) ; but when he hath done, be adds, "Behold, I yet show you a more excellent way ;" and that is this duty of love, as he shows in the next chapter. It is not only commanded, but it hath a special eminency and excel- lency put upon it, in reference to all other duties, for some certain end.