The Practice of Piety

2 The duties to be performed in respect of our neighbour, is Charity.

Charity is a hearty forgiving of others who have offended us, and after reconciliation, an outward unfeigned testifying of the inward affections of our hearts by gestures, words, and deeds, as oft as we meet, and occasion is offered. For first, without love to our neighbour,¹ no sacrifice is acceptable unto GOD. Secondly, because one chief end wherefore the Lords Supper was ordained, is, to confirm Christians love one towards an other.² Thirdly, no man can assure himself ⟨p. 739⟩that his own sins are forgiven of God, if his heart cannot yield to forgive the faults of men that have offended him.³ Thus far of the first sort of duties which we are to perform before we come to the Lords Table, called Preparation.

Charity is a hearty forgiuing of others who haue offended vs, and after reconciliation, an outward vnfained testifying of the inward affections of our hearts by gestures, words, and deeds, as oft as we meete, and occasion is offred. For first, without loue to our neighbour,¹ no sacrifice is acceptable vnto GOD. Secondly, because one chiefe end wherefore the Lords Supper was ordained, is, to confirme Christians loue one towards an other.² Thirdly, no man can assure himselfe ⟨p. 739⟩