ment, (the very end for which the law was given, and which it was principally intended to effect,) is charity, out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned*^:" and this end not being answered, the whole law is made void. Again ; St. Paul says, that " all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this. Thou, shalt love thy neighbour as thy- self *^:" therefore, if this one grace is so connected with every part of the law as to fulfil it all, the want of this one grace must violate it all. Once more : it is said, " Put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness^:" it is that by which all the graces that constitute perfection are bound together, just as the armour was by the girdle that enclosed it. This therefore being wanting, no grace whatever is found in its proper place : they are altogether scattered to the winds.
What then, we would again ask, is the state of such a man ? a man that defeats the one end for which the law was given ; that violates it in all its parts ; and leaves at the disposal of every gust of passion all the graces which it was intended to combine ? We think that nothing more is wanting to confirm all the strong assertions of the Apostle, or to shew that, what- ever a man may either possess or do, without charity he is nothing but a tinkling cymbal ; he will be nothing to all eter- nity, but a miserable, self-deceiving, self-ruined hypocrite.]
From this view of Christian charity, learn the im- portance, ] . Of understanding clearly its nature —
[Certain it is that the nature of Christian charity is but little known. In truth, had it not been so fully opened in the chapter before us, it may well be doubted whether any man upon the face of the earth would have fully understood it : or rather, it may be doubted, whether any man on the face of the earth does fully understand it even now. No part of it can be understood any farther that it is experienced in the soul : and the defects of men in the practice of it shew how defective must be their views of its extent and obligations. But, it is only in proportion as we understand it, that we can have any just standard whereby to estimate our own character, or any sure directory for our conduct. But God will judge us by his perfect law, whether we understand it or not. He does not reduce his demands to the measure which we choose to fix ; but requires us diligently to learn his will, and then to do it " without partiality and without hypocrisy." Our first object then must be to get a thorough insight into the requirements of his law, and then to set ourselves with all diligence to the performance of it.]
<^ 1 Tim. i. 5. f Gal. v. 14. e Col. iii. 14.