Lastly, the necessity of charity may move us to embrace it. For without charity humane society cannot subsist and stand, seeing it is the main bond whereby they are combined and knit together. Neither is it alone a ⟨p. 143⟩chief motive to make men entertain mutual fellowship and intercourse one with another, but also a principal means to make them to continue with delight and comfort in this society. For charity covereth a 1multitude of sins, and causeth us to pass by many frailties and infirmities, and either not to see and take notice of them, or by extenuating and excusing them, to make them pardonable and easy to be digested. Whereas if charity be wanting, there will easily creep in jealousies, suspicions, sinister interpretations, injuries both offered and revenged, deadly hatred, and implacable contentions; for as the Wise man saith, Hatred stirreth up strifes, from whence must needs follow divisions, and 2utter breaking up of all society. For if two cannot walk together, unless they 3be agreed, (as the Prophet speaketh) with what bond can innumerable multitudes be knit together, if charity be wanting, and in stead thereof, heart-burnings and contentions be admitted? And as without charity there can be no communion between man and man, so neither between man and God, which principally consisteth in fruition, and fruition in love; seeing we cannot love God, unless we also love one another, as the Apostle telleth us. We cannot without it have any assurance that 4we belong to God, or that we are his children by adoption and grace; yea rather we may conclude that we are the children of the devil, seeing the Apostle John maketh the having or not having of charity, a prime mark 5of difference, whereby they may be discerned the one from the other. Again, all our other graces and gifts, though they make never so glorious a show, yet if charity be wanting, are all of no value. If we could speak 6with the tongues of men and Angels, and have not charity, we should become as sounding brass, or a tinkling Cymbal. If we had the gift of Prophecy, and understood all mysteries and all knowledge; yea if we had all faith (namely, of working miracles) and could remove mountains, and had not charity, we were nothing.
Lastly, the necessity of charity may mooue vs to imbrace it. For without charity humane society cannot subsist and stand, seeing it is the maine bond whereby they are combined and knit together. Neither is it alone a ⟨p. 143⟩chiefe motiue to make men entertaine mutuall fellowship and entercourse one with another, but also a principall meanes to make them to continue with delight and comfort in this societie. For charity couereth a 1multitude of sinnes, and causeth vs to passe by many frailties and infirmities, and either not to see and take notice of them, or by extenuating and excusing them, to make them pardonable and easie to bee disgested. Whereas if charity be wanting, there will easily creepe in iealousies, suspitions, sinister interpretations, iniuries both offered and reuenged, deadly hatred, and implacable contentions; for as the Wiseman saith, Hatred stirreth vp strifes, from whence must needes follow diuisions, and 2vtter breaking vp of all society. For if two cannot walke together, vnlesse they 3be agreed, (as the Prophet speaketh) with what bond can innumerable multitudes be knit together, if charity be wanting, and in stead thereof, heart-burnings and contentions be admitted? And as without charity there can bee no communion betweene man and man, so neither betweene man and God, which principally consisteth in fruition, and fruition in loue; seeing we cannot loue God, vnlesse we also loue one another, as the Apostle telleth vs. We cannot without it haue any assurance that 4we belong to God, or that we are his children by adoption and grace; yea rather we may conclude that we are the children of the deuill, seeing the Apostle Iohn maketh the hauing or not hauing of charity, a prime marke 5of difference, whereby they may bee discerned the one from the other. Againe, all our other graces and gifts, though they make neuer so glorious a shew, yet if charity be wanting, are all of no value. If we could speake 6with the tongues of men and Angels, and haue not charity, we should become as sounding brasse, or a tinkling Cymball. If we had the gift of Prophecie, and vnderstood all mysteries and all knowledge; yea if we had all faith (namely, of working miracles) and could remooue mountaines, and had not charity, we were nothing.
- 1Pro. 10. 12.
- 2Pro. 10. 12.
- 3Amos 3. 3.
- 41. Joh. 4. 20.1. Ioh. 4. 20.
- 51. Joh. 3. 10.1. Ioh. 3. 10.
- 61. Cor. 13. 1, 2, 3.
