ast away this upon every different apprehension of
mind, we disown our Master, and disclaim his token and badge."(130) He
goes on in the same strain in the following paragraph--"The apostle Paul
puts a high note of commendation upon charity, when he styles it the bond
of perfection. 'Above all things (says he) put on charity, which is the
bond of perfectness,' Col. iii. 14. I am sure it hath not so high a place
in the minds and practice of Christians now, as it hath in the roll of the
parts and members of the new man here set down. Here it is above all. With
us it is below all, even below every apprehension of doubtful truths. An
agreement in the conception of any poor petty controversial matter of the
times, is made the badge of Christianity, and set in an eminent place
above all."(131) And in the same chapter he adds, "This is the sum of all,
to worship God in faith and purity, and to love one another. And,
whatsoever debates and questions tend to the breach of this bond, and have
no eminent and remarkable advantage in them, suppose they be conceived to
be about matters of conscience, yet the entertaining and prosecuting of
them to the prejudice of this, is a manifest violence offered to the law
of God, which is the rule of conscience. It is a perverting of scripture
and conscience to a wrong end. I say then, that charity and Christian love
should be the moderatrix of all our actions towards men. From thence they
should proceed, and according to this rule be formed. I am persuaded if
this rule were followed, the present differences in judgment of godly men,
about such matters as minister mere questions, would soon be buried in the
gulf of Christian affection."(132) I shall mention only another in the
same chapter. "Is not charity more excellent than the knowledge and
acknowledgment of some present questionable matters about government,
treaties, and such like, and far more than every punctilio of them? But
the apostle goes higher. Suppose a man could spend all his substance upon
the maintenance of such an opinion, and give his life for the defence of
it, though in itself it be commendable, yet if he want charity and love to
his brethren, if he overstretch that point of conscience to the breach of
Christian affection and duties flowing from it, it profits him nothing.
Then certainly charity must rule our external actions, and have the
predominant hand in the use of all gifts, and in the venting of all
opinions."(133) And