SERM.all Knowledge; and though I have all XIII. Faith, fo that I could remove Mountains; and have no Charity; I am nothing. And though I beflow all my Goods to feed the Poor, and though I give my Body to be burned, and bave not Charity; it profiteth me nothing. In St Paul's opinion therefore; though a man could preach like an Angel, and had the Knowledge of an inSpired Prophet; Though he had the Faith of an Apofile, and the Zeal of a Martyr, and gave away in Alms to the Poor, even his whole Subftance: yet, if his Religion confifted in Party and Faction, and promoted uncharitableness, imperiousness, and ill-treatment of Other men ; even notwithstanding all thofe Great Excellencies, it would profit him nothing. The Reafon of this lofty affertion, follows in the 8th verfe: For, all other excellent Gifts, and even Virtues themselves, are only of temporary continuance; But Charity Alone, never faileth: Whether there be Prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be Tongues, they shall ceafe; whether there be Knowledge it fhall vanish away: Faith fhall be swallowed up in Vifion, and Hope I fhall shall terminate upon Injoyment; but the SER M. and SERMON SERMON XIV. Of the Virtue of Charity. I COR. xiii. 3. And though I beftow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my Body to be burned, and have not Charity, it profiteth me nothing. I N difcourfing upon thefe SER M. here calls Charity; its oppofite Vice is: 2dly, To VOL. III. X and What confider the SER M. the excellent Effect, which the general XIV. Practice of this Virtue would have in the World; and the great Stress which our Saviour and his Apoftles accordingly do conftantly lay upon it, as being the Principal Part and the Main End of Religion: 3dly, To take Notice of the incredible Mifchiefs arifing to Mankind, from the Want of the Practife of this Great Virtue: And lastly, To draw fome useful Inferences from the Whole. THE Two Former of thefe Heads, I have already gone through: And have shown; That the word Charity here, does not fignify the particular Virtue of giving Alms to the Poor; For 'tis expreffly diftinguished from That, in the very words of the Text itself; But, that it is here made ufe of to exprefs a more general and extensive Virtue, even That Chriftian Temper and Difpofition, That general Love and Good-Will towards Mankind, which is the Great Foundation of All Virtues and good Habits; teaching men with meeknefs and Patience, with Tendernefs and Affection, with Gentleness and Kindnefs, after the Example of Chrift, to labour and be follicitous, for |