Let all your things be done with charity. 1 COR. XVI. 14. Above all these things put on charity. COL. III. 14. Now the end of the commandment is charity. 1 TIM. I. 5. Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace. 2 TIM. II. 22. Have fervent charity, for charity shall cover the multitude of sins. 1 PETER IV. 8. Many more scriptural passages might be quoted to shew the beauty and holiness of this virtue; indeed, as one of the early fathers of Christianity observes : CHARITY is the scope of all God's commands. It is charity only that maketh riches worth the owning. We may observe, when charitable men have ruled, the world hath flourished, and enjoyed the blessings of peace and prosperity; the times have been more pleasant and smooth; nor have any princes sat more secure or firm on their thrones than those that have been clement and benign, as Titus, Trajan, Antonine and others. And we may observe again, how rugged and full of breaks those times have been wherein cruel ones have had power. OWEN FELTHAM. It is not only the great and public efforts of Christian benevolence and charity that are owned of God, and blessed with his approval, but in the hour of midnight, in the secret chamber, and when the world takes no cognizance of our actions, His eye beholds them, and His ear is open to detect the slightest whisper that conveys its blessing, or its bane to the heart of a familiar friend. ELLIS. True charity is without ostentation; POPE has beautifully described a charitable man, as one who, "Did good by stealth, and blushed to find it fame ;" and POLLOK no less beautifully says: "The dews came down unseen at eventide And silently their bounties shed, to teach COURSE OF TIME. A PARAPHRASE ON THE 13TH CHAPTER OF THE 1ST EPISTLE Did sweeter sounds adorn my flowing tongue, Did Shadrach's zeal my glowing breast inspire, Softens the high, and rears the abject mind; Each other gift, which God on man bestows, Knowledge shall fail, and prophecy shall cease ; In happy triumph shall for ever live, And endless good diffuse, and endless praise receive. CHRISTIANITY Is the religion which was taught and promulgated, or openly declared, by CHRIST, which name of our Blessed Redeemer, is derived from the Greek noun Christos, meaning anointed. It was customary with the Jews, and other ancient nations, to anoint with great ceremony those chosen to any high office, and hence the applicability of the term, "The Anointed," to one appointed by God to be the King, Priest, and Prophet of His church and people; in whom, "dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily;" the chosen MESSIAH. The latter word is of Hebrew origin, and has the same meaning as the word CHRIST. The name JESUS signifies SAVIOUR, "and thou shalt call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins." MATTHEW 1. 21. For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. JOHN III. 16. From this Greek root Christos, are likewise derived all words beginning with CHRIS, of which JOHNSON gives no less than 16, with their separate definitions; of these, one is here quoted as an example, "CHRISTEN DOM, (from Christ and dun), the collective body of Christianity; the regions of which the inhabitants profess the Christian religion." There is too much truth in the latter part of the following sentence, by a modern writer. "The religion of Christ is peace and good will; the religion of Christendom is war and ill will." W.S.LANDOR. Were it not so, there would be little occasion for the efforts of the Peace, or any other philanthropic Society, as the rules laid down by our Lord and Saviour for the guidance of mankind are eminently calculated to produce concord and happiness; as PALEY observes, "Practical Christianity may be comprised in these words, devotion, selfgovernment, and benevolence;" and BOLINGBROKE affirms that "Christianity contains a most simple and intelligible rule of belief, worship, and manners, and that the Gospel is one continued lesson of the strictest morality, of justice, of benevolence, and of universal charity." The word GOSPEL in the original Greek, signifies good news or glad tidings, see Isaiah lii. 7. No two things are more opposed than the Christian and warlike spirit. PALEY. War is as contrary to the spirit of Christianity as murder. ADAM CLARKE. The law said, "Life for life," but CHRIST said, "Resist not evil." If Christian nations were nations of Christians, all war would be impossible, and unknown amongst them. SOAME JENYNS. War and bloodshed are utterly opposed to the meekness and gentleness of Christianity. BISHOP TAYLOR. Christianity quite annihilates the disposition for martial glory. BISHOP WATSON. The principles and practice of war are quite abhorrent to Christianity. BISHOP OF LLANDAFF. It was not till Christianity became corrupted, that its followers became soldiers. CLARKSON. All the virtues of domestic life are lessons which are taught in the Christian schools. It is like the sun, who, though he regulates and leads on the year, dispensing life and light to all planetary worlds, yet disdains not to cherish and beautify the flower which opens its bosom to his beam. So the Christian religion, though chiefly intended to teach us the knowledge of salvation, and be our guide to happiness on high, yet also regulates our conversation in the world, exerts its benign influence to every circle of society, and peculiarly diffuses its blessed fruits in the paths of domestic life. HOGG. I have known what the enjoyments and advantages of this life are, and what the more refined pleasures which learning and intellectual power can bestow; and with all the experience that more than three-score years can give, I, now on the eve of my departure, declare to you, (and earnestly pray that you may hereafter live and act in the conviction), that health is a great blessing, competence, obtained by honourable industry, a great blessing,-and a great blessing it is to have kind, faithful, and loving friends and relatives; but that the greatest of all blessings, as it is the most ennobling of all privileges, is to be indeed a Christian. Coleridge. What a model for our humble imitation is that Divine person who was clothed with our humanity; who dwelt among us, that the pattern, being brought near, might be rendered more engaging, the conformity be made more practicable; whose whole life was one unbroken series of universal charity; who in his complicated bounties never forgot that man is compounded both of soul and body; who after teaching the multitude, fed them; who repulsed none for being ignorant; was impatient with none for being dull; despised none for being contemned by the world; rejected none for being sinners; who encouraged those whose importunity others censured; who in healing sicknesses, converted souls; who gave bread and forgave injuries. HANNAH MORE.-Practical Piety. For precepts and examples of the early Christians, the reader is referred to the Prize Essay on Peace, chap. 9; Upham's Manual of Peace, chap. 12; Clarkson's Essay, being No. 3. of the Society's 8vo. tracts; Dymond's Inquiry, &c., &c. THE CHRISTIAN AND HIS ECHO. Must I my faith and love to Jesus show, But if a brother hates and treats me ill, If he my failings watches to reveal, As carefully conceal. But if my name and character he blast, Whatever usage ill I may receive, Must I be patient still, and still forgive? Be patient still, and still forgive. Why, Echo, how is this? thou'rt sure a dove? Amen! with all my heart, then be it so, Directly go. Things being so, whoever me reject, |