to Jacob, for the love which he bore to Rachel ; so the reproach which she incurred, the humble duty which she discharged, the expensive present which she conferred, seemed as nothing to this woman, for the grateful love which she bore to her God and Saviour. Her motive is revealed to us; the Lord who read it in her heart, has left it for our instruction. "She had been much forgiven, for she loved much;" and her love delighted itself in this act of zealous and unsparing gratitude.

No wonder, then, that he who knew man's nature, has left it written, If ye love me, keep my commandments. It is not all that he has left for our instruction in righteousness: he has declared the will of God, and affirmed that only they who do that will, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; he has taught us what is suited to man, endued as he is with a reasonable and immortal soul; and has directed us to "whatsoever things are honourable, and true, and just, and lovely, and of good report." He has not omitted the recompense of reward; and has spoken of the good things prepared at God's right hand for them that love him. But he still shows us a 66 more excellent way;" even that law of love which extends beyond the

letter of command, and which is already overpaid by the gratification of serving and obeying; which is never wearied, because it has in itself a perpetual refreshment; which always acts, because it exists within; which suffereth long, which vaunteth not itself, seeketh not its own; but dareth all things, hopeth all things, endeavoureth all things, endureth all things.

It now remains, brethren, that I apply what has been said to our case to-day.

He, whose we are, and whom we serve,-he to whom we owe even ourselves, he has said, If ye love me, keep my commandments. And this is his commandment, "that we love one another;" this is his commandment, "that we do unto others as we would they should do unto us." It is his command that want should be assisted, that sickness should be visited, that calamity should be relieved.

The hospital, whose funds you are invited to replenish, enables you to fulfil this commandment to an extent and with a success not otherwise attainable. Many thousand persons every year partake of its mercies. Can we

This sermon was preached at St. Martin's church in behalf of the Charing Cross Hospital.

doubt whether this is agreeable to the Saviour's will? He has given us alike example and command, to show that if we love him, we shall smooth the pillow of disease, and allay the agonies of pain. For he himself, though his first and chief message was to the sick, yet went about doing good, restoring health to the body, strength to the limbs, power to the senses; effecting that by the exercise of omnipotence, which this Institution this Institution attempts

Were he

through your bounty to perform. present now, as he was present in the house of Simon, I am sure that you, like the woman who had been much forgiven, would be eager to show him your highest reverence, to give him every testimony of your love. This ye cannot do; for Him ye have not with you, but the poor ye have always with you; and they are his own words,-"Inasmuch as ye do it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye do it unto me."

86

SERMON VI.

CHARITY THE CHARACTERISTIC OF

CHRISTIANS.

JOHN Xiii. 35.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

IT cannot surprise us that our blessed Lord should make this the rule by which his disciples should be governed,—that they have love one to another. There is something in charity and benevolence so suitable to man's condition in the world, that it is approved at once by our reason. The very description of it is captivating. "Let love be without dissimulation. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."1

1 Rom. xii. 9-15.

These words have the effect of a delightful picture upon the mind. They represent a scene which it is pleasing to look upon, and which it would be far more pleasing to belong to. And therefore we cannot be surprised that He, who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, should leave it in charge to his disciples, that they cherish this love in their hearts, and exhibit it in their lives.

There is something, however, arising out of these words which may well surprise us. How is it, that in reading this description of philanthropy, it strikes us as the description of a world which is not ours? of some scene which is as foreign to our experience, as it is captivating to our imagination? Why was it left as the characteristic of the disciples of Christ Jesus, that they have love one towards another? Is not the belonging to one common nature;— is not the being creatures of the same God;is not the being exposed to the same wants, the being oppressed with the same infirmities, the being inhabitants of the same trying and uncertain world, a sufficient bond of union among mankind? Must they need to be commanded so to act, as we might expect them to act spontaneously? Did it require the teaching of the