VII. CHARITY, CHARITY.

CHURCH story reports of Saint John, that being grown very aged (wellnigh a hundred years old), wanting strength and voice to make a long sermon, he was wont to go up into 167the pulpit, and often repeat these words: Babes, keep yourselves from idols; brethren, love one another.

Our age may seem sufficiently to have provided against the growth of idolatry in England. O that some order were taken for the increase of charity! It were liberty enough, if for the next seven years all sermons were bound to keep residence on this text: Brethren, love one another.

But would not some fall out with themselves, if appointed to preach unity to others? Vindictive spirits, if confined to this text, would confine the text to their passion; by brethren understanding only such of their own party. But O! seeing other monopolies are dissolved, let not this remain against the fundamental law of charity. Let all bend their heads, hearts, and hands, to make up the breaches in church and state. But too many now-a-days are like Pharaoh’s magicians, who could conjure up with their charms more new frogs, [Exod. viii. 7.] but could not remove or drive away those multitudes of frogs which were there before. Unhappily happy in making more rents and dissensions, but unable or unwilling to compose our former differences.