4. Because Christ would hereby publish to the World, the great respect he hath for Charity; therefore he tells us, He will take special notice of his Saints Charity ⟨p. 113⟩at that day. Charity, whether in relieving the Oppressed, or comforting the Sorrowful, or counselling the Doubtful, or supporting the Feeble, or feeding the Hungry, or visiting the Sick, or clothing the Naked, is highly esteemed of Christ. To what Duty hath he annexed more or larger Promises, Matth. 5.7. Psal. 18.25. Eccles. 11.1, 2. Psal. 41.1. Psal. 112.1. Isa. 58.12. He speaks of it, as if very much of Religion did consist in it, and almost all of it. Pure Religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is to visit the Fatherless and the Afflicted, James 1. ult. He slights our most severe Duties, (those which are most irksome to the flesh) if this be wanting, Psal. 58.7, 8, 9, 10. He limits his own Mercy to the merciful, 2 Sam. 22.25. James 2.13. He is himself a merciful High Priest, Heb. 5. He had compassion on the ignorant, and those that were out of the way, Heb. 5.2. On those that had nothing to eat, Matth. 15.32. On those that were scattered as sheep without a Shepherd, Matth. 9.36. Therefore he cannot but value exceedingly, and love tenderly those that are like ⟨p. 114⟩him. That which lieth so near his heart, must needs be enquired after, as much, if not more than any thing else. And there is scarce any thing that speaks our respect of persons or things, more than our enquiry after them. Joseph loved his Father Jacob dearly, I suppose far above all his Kindred, and therefore he first enquires after him. •s your Father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Gen. 43.27. David's heart was set on Absalom, therefore when the Messenger returned from the Battle, he doth in the first place, and in a special manner enquire after him. Is the young man Absalom safe? 2 Sam. 18. Thus Christ being so infinitely taken with Charity, cannot but make a great enquiry after it at the Great Day. It is fruit that will then abound to the Saints account, Phil. 4.17. And such Seed, that they who sow it liberally, shall reap it liberally, 2 Cor. 9.6.
4. Because Christ would hereby publish to the World, the great respect he hath for Charity; therefore he tells us, He will take special notice of his Saints Charity ⟨p. 113⟩at that day. Charity, whether in relieving the Oppressed, or comforting the Sorrowful, or counselling the Doubtful, or supporting the Feeble, or feeding the Hungry, or visiting the Sick, or cloathing the Naked, is highly esteemed of Christ. To what Duty hath he annexed more or larger Promises, Matth. 5.7. Psal. 18.25. Eccles. 11.1, 2. Psal. 41.1. Psal. 112.1. Isa. 58.12. He speaks of it, as if very much of Religion did consist in it, and almost all of it. Pure Religion, and undefiled before God and the Father, is to visit the Fatherless and the Afflicted, James 1. ult. He slights our most severe Duties, (those which are most irksome to the flesh) if this be wanting, Psal. 58.7, 8, 9, 10. He limits his own Mercy to the merciful, 2 Sam. 22.25. James 2.13. He is himself a merciful High Priest, Heb. 5. He had compassion on the ignorant, and those that were out of the way, Heb. 5.2. On those that had nothing to eat, Matth. 15.32. On those that were scattered as sheep without a Shepheard, Matth. 9.36. Therefore he cannot but value exceedingly, and love tenderly those that are like ⟨p. 114⟩him. That which lieth so near his heart, must needs be enquired after, as much, if not more than any thing else. And there is scarce any thing that speaks our respect of persons or things, more than our enquiry after them. Joseph loved his Father Jacob dearly, I suppose far above all his Kindred, and therefore he first enquires after him. s your Father well, the old man of whom ye spake?
