generous Benefactor. While we respect the exercise of love in a fellow-creature, let us study to comprehend the unsearchable love of Christ k ; and let us make his love to us the model of our love to others1.]
2. In the way expressly intended by our blessed Lord —
[We have observed that the parable was intended to correct the lawyer's self-righteousness, and to unfold to him the true nature and extent of Christian charity. Let us therefore learn from it these invaluable lessons. Let us learn the folly of self- righteousness. The law requires us to " love God with all our hearts, and our neighbour as ourselves;" and if we obeyed it perfectly without the smallest defect throughout our whole lives, we might be justified by it. But who ever loved and served God to the utmost extent of all his faculties and powers? Who ever incessantly occupied himself in labours of love to- wards those who hated and despised him ? Who has not felt some backwardness to communion with God, and some want of sympathy with his neighbour ? Yet the law can be satisfied with nothing less than perfect obedience : it denounces a curse against us if we transgress it in one single instance111. Hence we are told that no flesh living can be justified by itn. Let us then cease to expect life by our own obedience. Let us for ever shut our mouths and stand guilty before God0. Let us acknowledge ourselves to need mercy as much as the Apostles p, and adopt the language of St. Paulq — Let us learn also the true nature of Christian charity. We are apt to imagine that persons of our own nation, sect, or party, are the proper objects of our love; but christian charity extends itself to all mankind. The distinctions of religion or politics should be forgotten, whenever an object stands in need of our assistance ; and we should sympathize as truly with our bitterest enemy, as with our dearest friend. Thus did St. Paul compassionate the un- believing Jewsr; and our Lord weep over their murderous and devoted citys. Let us then endeavour to mortify our narrow, selfish principles, and to abound in disinterested, self-denying offices of love4.]
k Eph. iii. 18, 19. J John xv. 12. ™ Gal. iii. 10.
n Rom. iii. 20. ° Rom. iii. 19. p Gal. ii. 16.
i Phil. iii. 8, 9. r Rom. ix. 2, 3. s Luke xix. 41.
1 If this were the subject of a Charity Sermon, it would be proper, in this place, to advert to the particular circumstances of the charity.