ying, Lord, when saw we thee an
hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee
a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we
thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer,
and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto
one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." "These ye
have always with you, but me ye have not always." It is strange how
earnestly, how solicitously, how pungently he presses this exhortation,
John xiii. 34, 35, "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one
another as I have loved you, that ye love one another. By this shall all
men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another," and
xv. 12 and l7, "This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have
loved you. These things I command you, that ye love one another," and his
apostles after him, 1 Thess. iv. 9, "But as touching brotherly love, ye
need not that I write unto you, for ye yourselves are taught of God to
love one another." Coloss. iii. 14, "And above all these things, put on
charity, which is the bond of perfectness." 1 Pet. iv. 8, "And above all
things have fervent charity among yourselves, for charity shall cover the
multitude of sins." But above all, that beloved disciple, who being so
intimate with Jesus Christ,--we may lawfully conceive he was mured to that
affectionate frame by his converse with Christ,--has been most mindful of
Christ's testamentary injunctions. He cannot speak three sentences but
this is one of them. All which may convince us of this one thing, that
there is a greater moment and weight of Christianity in charity than in
the most part of these things for which Christians bite and devour one
another. It is the fundamental law of the gospel, to which all positive
precepts and ordinances should stoop. Unity in judgment is very needful
for the well being of Christians. But Christ's last words persuade this,
that unity in affection is more essential and fundamental. This is the
badge he left to his disciples. If we cast away this upon every different
apprehension of mind, we disown our Master, and disclaim his token and
badge.

IV. The apostle Paul puts a high note of commendation upon charity, when
he styles it the bond of perfection. "Above all things," says he, "put on
charity, which is the bond of perfectness," Col. iii 14. I am sure it hath
not such a high place in th