e minds and practice of Christians now, as it
hath in the roll of the parts and members of the new man here set down.
Here it is above all. With us it is below all, even below every
apprehension of doubtful truths. An agreement in the conception of any
poor petty controversial matter of the times, is made the badge of
Christianity, and set in an eminent place above all which the apostle
mentions, in the 12th verse, "bowels of mercies, kindness, gentleness,
humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering." Nay, charity itself is but
a waiting handmaid to this mistress.

But let us consider the apostle's significant character he puts on it. It
is a bond of perfection, as it were, a bundle of graces, and chain of
virtues, even the very cream and flower of many graces combined. It is the
sweet result of the united force of all graces. It is the very head and
heart of the new man, which we are invited to put on, "Above all put on
charity." All these fore-mentioned perfections are bound and tied
together, by the girdle of charity and love, to the new man. When charity
is born and brought forth, it may be styled _Gad_,(407) for a _troop_
cometh, _chorus virtutum_,(408) "a troop or company of virtues" which it
leads and commands. Charity hath a tender heart, for it hath "bowels of
mercies,"--such a compassionate and melting temper of spirit, that the
misery or calamity, whether bodily or spiritual, of other men, makes an
impression upon it. And therefore it is the Christian sympathy which
affects itself with others' afflictions. If others be moved, it moves
itself through comfort and sympathy. This is not only extended to bodily
and outward infirmities, but, most of all, to infirmities of mind and
heart, error, ignorance, darkness, falling and failing in temptation. We
are made priests to God our Father, to have compassion on them who are
ignorant and out of the way, for that we ourselves are also compassed with
infirmity, Rev. i. 6 and Heb. v. 2. Then, love hath a humble mind,
"humbleness of mind," else it could not stoop and condescend to others of
low degree, and therefore Christ exhorts above all to lowliness. "Learn of
me, for I am meek and lowly in heart." If a man be not lowly, to sit down
below offences and infirmities, his love cannot rise above them. Self-love
is the greatest enemy to true Christian love, and pride is the fountain of
self-love, because it is impossible that, in this life, there should be an
exact correspo