_Third_ place, to shew when your charity is of the right kind.
And here, my brethren, I shall shew, _First_, When it is not; and,
_Secondly_, When it is of the right kind.
1. _First_, Your charity is not of the right kind, when it proceeds
from worldly views or ends.
If it is to be seen of men, to receive any advantage from them, to
be esteemed, or to gain a reputation in the world; or if you have any
pride in it, and expect to reap benefit from GOD merely for it; if
all, or each of these is the end of your charity, then it is all in
vain; your charity does not proceed from a right end, but you are
hereby deceiving your own souls. If you give an alms purely to be
observed by man, or as expecting favour from GOD, merely on the account
thereof, then you have not the glory of GOD, or the benefit of your
fellow-creatures at heart, but merely yourself: this, this is not
charity. Nor,
_Secondly_, Is that true charity, when we give any thing to our
fellow-creatures purely to indulge them in vice: this is so far from
being charity, that it is a sin, both against GOD, and against our
fellow-creatures. And yet, this is as common, as it is sinful, to carry
our friends, under a specious pretence of charity, to one or the other
entertainment, with no other view, but to make them guilty of excess.
Hereby you are guilty of a double sin: we are not to sin ourselves,
much less should we endeavour to make another sin likewise. But,
_Thirdly_, Our charity comes from a right end, when it proceeds from
love to GOD, and for the welfare both of the body and soul of our
fellow-creatures.
When this is the sole end of relieving our distressed fellow-creatures,
then our charity comes from a right end, and we may expect to reap
advantage by it: this is the charity which is pleasing to GOD. GOD is
well pleased, when all our actions proceed from love, love to himself,
and love to immortal souls.
Consider, my dear brethren, that it was love for souls, that brought
the blessed JESUS down from the bosom of his Father; that made him,
who was equal in power and glory, to come and take upon him our nature;
that caused the LORD of life to die the painful, ignominious, and
accursed death of the cross. It was love to immortal souls, that
brought this blessed JESUS among us. And O that we might hence consider
how great the value of souls was and is: it was that which made JESUS
to bleed, pant, and die. And surely souls must be of infinite worth,
which made the Lamb of GOD to die so shameful a death.
And shall not this make you have a true value for souls? It is of the
greatest worth: and this, this is the greatest charity, when it comes
from love to GOD, and from love to souls. This will be a charity, the
satisfaction of which will last to all eternity. O that this may make
you have so much regard for the value of souls, as not to neglect
all opportunities for the doing of them good: here is something worth
having charity for, because they remain to all eternity. Therefore, let
me earnestly beseech you both to consider the worth of immortal souls,
and let your charity extend to them, that by your advice and admonition,
you may be an instrument, in the hands of GOD, in bringing souls to the
LORD JESUS.