A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

The necessity of it follows, in respect of thy self. Things of greatest use should be of greatest estimation. Thou wouldest know if thou breathest Christian; the sign of it is thy Charity. This is the pulse of Faith; Saint James his demonstration:^y Show me thy faith by thy works. This is the best testification of thy love to God, saith Saint John. True religion must be considered both Quoad extra, and Quoad intra: so it is defined, Jam. 1.27. Pure religion and undefiled before God is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their afflictions, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. Here is a description of it; Quid in se, quale in alios. In it self it is Religion, a binding quality; and hath three proofs: by nature, it is Pure: by quality, undefiled: by object, Before God. Now Quoad extra, for the effects; these are two: Innocency in our selves, Charity towards others; relieving the widow and Orphan. Religion is not only contemplative; but the greater part of it, like the Mathematics, is in demonstration. There can be no assurance to thy soul, that thou art in GODS favour without Charity. Indeed faith is the life of a Christian; but the breath whereby he is known to live, is Charity, ^aThough I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and have not charity, it profiteth me not nothing. But may there ⟨p. 157⟩be a giving away of our goods to the poor, without charity? Yes; observe in those words five degrees: 1. Si impertiam, it is a good mans part to lend, Psal 37.26. He is merciful and lendeth: but here though I give; whereas most men open their hands only to take: give, and give freely without expectation of repayment. 2. My own, not another's: for many will cut large shivers of another's loaf: but my goods, Eccles. 11.1. Cast thy bread on the waters. 3. All my goods; not a little superfluity, not a competent portion, no nor yet a great sum; but all, Mat. 19.21. Behold, we have left all, and followed thee. 4. Not to the rich, but to the poor, such as have need, with a discreet election of objects for bounty, Isaiah 58.7 Break thy bread to the hungry. 5. To feed the poor, not to feast them; not superfluously, but necessarily. Yet a man may do all this out of ostentation, curious ambition, or idle prodigality; and not from the internal habit of charity, which is a gracious love to Christ and his members: