Section 3: The Mischievous Effects of Uncharitableness

Now if we have not dwelt too long on this Subject, (namely) in tracing out this Mischief through its several Springs and Properties, and if my Reader be not quite out of Breath, I would ask him to take another Turn with me and walk down to a short Survey of the same Vice in its mischievous Effects; that we may be more warmly animated to pursue this Iniquity to the Death. If it were possible, we would leave it neither Root nor Branch, Name or Memory in the Christian World.

I. The first and most obvious Mischiefs I meet with among Christians of an uncharitable Humor, are the constant Disquiet of their own Spirits, the Vexation they give their Neighbors, the Injury they do to their own edification, and to the edification of all that converse with them.

Singulario has a Set of Notions and Rules whereby he adjusts his own Creed and his Practice; and whatsoever he hears in Religious Conference, or in public Duty, that does not precisely square to his Model, disquiets his Ears, disrelishes with his Taste, disturbs his Conscience, and thus prevents all the Benefit that his Soul should receive from the Discourse, or Worship.

I grant it very lawful for a Man to be disgusted with a Sermon, where the greatest part is spent in Notions contrary to his Judgment, and dressed up in Language very foreign to his usual way of Converse about divine Things; this is shocking to the Spirit of the best Christians, and the Conscience is so nauseated with the largest part of the Entertainment that his Soul cannot be nourished, and it is proper for him to forbear Attendance upon such a Preacher, and choose one more suited to the Temper of his own Spirit. But Singulario has an Aversion to a whole Hour's Discourse, because there were three Sentences of a Strain different from his Opinion. He reaps no Blessing from a Sermon of excellent Composure, of divine Materials, of an evangelic Frame and just Method, because there is one Expression in it that is the Characteristic of another Sect. He sits uneasy under a noble Discourse of Justification or of Faith, because (it may be) the Minister does avoid the Terms Imputed, Meritorious, Condition, and Instrument; and mentions none of the tortured Words of Noise and Party.

I will not indeed commend a Preacher that is always affecting to disguise his own Opinions, and forever hiding himself in ambiguous Language, and that in Points of Moment, thereby to maintain the everlasting Applause of all Sides. But I must chide Singulario for the wry Faces he makes at Church when he hears but a Word or two of contrary Sound, or when his Ears miss and long for a Set of darling Phrases.

Three Years ago I was in Company with Acharissa, a sour old Christian of a very narrow Spirit, and gave her a gentle Admonition for the frequent Reproaches she cast on the Ministers of Christ, that did not preach exactly according to her Humor; I blamed that petulant Liberty which she took with all her Neighbors and Acquaintance, to censure them severely for every lesser Difference of Practice or Worship. I recommended to her reading that valuable Sermon of the Reverend Doctor Tillotson against Evil-speaking; but I could not persuade her to peruse those few Pages, not only because of that strong Propensity she had to speak Evil of others, but because it was the Work of an Archbishop; which sort of Office, said she, is a mere Human Invention, and the Scripture knows it not. I know another Name which has the same narrow Spirit. Sequilla has ever given up the Conduct of her Soul to the Curate of her Parish, and after many Years Attendance on his Ministry, in great Security of Conscience, is well assured that she shall go to Heaven at last. Perhaps by some terrible Providence, or by some plain Word of Scripture, she is awakened to a deep and frightful Sense of Sin, and Danger of Eternal Death. She is visited by the Curate, and though he says some good things to her, yet she finds not the Way of Peace. A kind Neighbor recommends to her some Book of Consolation written by a Dissenter, but she refuses the Book and the Comfort at once, lest she should be guilty of that damnable Sin of Separation from the Church. How can I ever, said she, expect the Peace of God from the Pen of a Schismatic? And thus endures the Racks of Conscience rather than she will indulge Charity enough to hear or to read what a Nonconformist has written.

Presbycolo a Christian of the same Stamp, heard a Sermon lately and commended it above measure, confessed how much Light and Love was kindled in his Heart by it, and bestowed unusual Strains of Respect upon the Minister. But Presbycolo (said I) This Man never had the Hands of a Bishop, or preaching Elder, laid upon his Head to ordain him. At once I saw his Colour change, his Spirits sink, and he concluded that all the divine Affections in his Soul under that Sermon must needs be counterfeit, because now I know (said he) the Preacher is no Minister of Christ. O the wretched Influence of this Vice of Uncharitableness upon feeble and deluded Souls! It proceeds so far at last as to make Persons scrupulous of attending upon any Ordinance, lest the Administrator should not be a Man exactly of their Stamp. Thus their Hearts are vexed with everlasting Disquiet, for they can hardly hear a Prayer, or an Exhortation, but they find some Offence in it; like a Man with a Thorn in his Hand, whatsoever he takes hold of gives him Pain, but the Cause lies in his own Flesh.

There are other Instances of this Kind to be met with in the World. Nitidelli wears his Hair three Inches below his Shoulders, and it is ever well beautified with Powder. He frequently eats of a Dish of Food where Blood is one of the Ingredients, and he often takes half a Pint of red Wine to his own Share. He maintains serious Religion at Home and abroad. But Censorina cannot join with him in the special Ordinances of Worship. It is a shame for him (she cries) to wear long Hair; he is a Wine-bibber, and he abstains not from Blood; nor can I be reconciled to him upon any Terms, unless he retrench these horrible Excesses. But he still goes on careless and regardless of the Peace of his Fellow-Christian, and scorns her little Clamours, rather than endeavors, by Gentleness and Compliance, to satisfy or remove them. Now do you not walk charitably, O Nitidelli, for you grieve your Sister with your Meat and Garments, for whom Christ died. But I would gladly have Censorina learn also that the Kingdom of God is not Meat and Drink, but Righteousness and Peace, and Joy in the Holy Ghost. Both of you therefore ought to follow after things which make for Peace, and things with which one may edify another. Romans 14:15, 17, 19.

Nor is this Mischief confined to single Persons: It makes a farther Progress still, and infects the Neighbor and Acquaintance. Every Monday in the Evening Crites sits at the Head of a Club that meet together to arraign and sentence the Sermons of the foregoing Day. Did you mark, my Friends, such an Expression under the fourth Head? It sounded harsh in my Ears. Surely the Man is not Orthodox; pray acquaint your Families of the Danger of his Opinions, and forbid their Attendance. Truly, replies Momion, he insisted so much on the Grace of God, that he left but one quarter of his Hour-Glass for the Duties of the Gospel; I fear he is a Supralapsarian, my Spirit rises against him, and I must warn my Acquaintance of his Doctrine. A third Person in the Company begins to surmise that his Morals are not good: I have heard an ill Story of a Preacher not long since, says he, and surely this must be the Man? And then he proceeds in a direct Opposition to the Grace of Charity, as it is described by Saint Paul, 1 Corinthians 12:5. Titus 3:3. I easily believe all that is evil of him; I am provoked at him; I hope no Good from him; I cannot bear his Principles; I cannot endure his Person; and I should rejoice in the seasonable Death of such an Antinomian as this is. Thus does the Root of Bitterness spring up into wide Branches, it bears poisonous Fruit, and many Souls are troubled. Blessed be God who of late Years begins to purge out this sour Leaven from amongst us.

II. The next pernicious Effect I take Notice of, is, that an uncharitable Carriage brings a Disgrace and Blemish upon Christianity, beyond the Guilt and Scandal of Heathenism. It is the Character of the Gentiles indeed, that they were hateful and hating one another; but not for different Principles of Philosophy which they professed, nor different Methods of Worship, which they paid to their Gods. There were no Civil Wars proclaimed, nor Courts of Inquisition erected amongst them upon this Account, though their Controversies about divine Things were not trivial, and they differed widely in the very Foundations of Religion; and, as [an] ingenious Author expresses himself on this Subject, Though Poets have made the Gods enter into Factions and [Battles] for Commonwealths, yet Commonwealths never did the same for their Gods.

But if the Heathens had been ever so much enraged, and quarrelled ever so fiercely for the sake of Opinions, and Formalities; still they were almost infinitely more excusable than Christians can pretend to be: For the very Doctrines of most of their Sects permit Revenge; and they have many a bloody Principle amongst them. But Christianity is the most mild, the most gentle, and the most peaceable Religion. Never a Doctrine was taught amongst Mankind, that has so much of Love and Sweetness in it. Never a System, or Rule of Duties, wherein Meekness and Candor, Charity and Compassion are so prescribed, and enforced.

Never was there a Religion instituted by God or invented by Men, with so much Goodness in the Heart and Soul of it, or so many Charms and Amiablenesses in the Face. It is built upon the Foundation of God's Eternal and Unchangeable Love. It was Love that assumed Human Nature, and became the great Prophet and Teacher of it, and the Spirit of Love in our Hearts is its Vital Spring within us. It is divine Love dwelling in Flesh, hanging upon a Cross, bleeding, and dying for Enemies and Rebels, that has purchased all the promised Blessings of our Religion; and it is the same Love arising from the Grave, and reigning in Glory, that distributes these Blessings to Men: And in all the melting Language of Compassion and Tenderness invites us to receive them. It was this Love dwelling personally amongst Men, calls himself our Brother, and charges us to love all the Professors of the same Faith as Brethren. He requires that we should be ready to lay down our Lives for one another, as he did for us all: And orders it to be the distinguishing Character of all his Followers, Hereby shall all Men know, that you are my Disciple, if you love one another, John 13:34, 35.

God himself is infinite and unseen Love, Christ is Love incarnate and visible: And a Christian is or should be an Effigy of that Love graven to the Life, by the Finger of the divine Spirit. Now, for the Professors of such a Doctrine to quarrel about Trifles, and grow malicious upon every Punctilio of different Sentiments, how grossly do they abuse the Christian Name? They rob their own Religion of its due Honour amongst Men, and bring infinite Shame and Discredit upon Christianity in the Face of Infidel Nations. It is for the sake of this Madness which is found amongst the pretended Followers of our blessed Lord, his Name is blasphemed among the Heathens; and the Conversion of the Kingdoms of this World to the Faith of Christ, rendered almost rationally impossible.

III. Thirdly, This uncharitable Temper rages even to Wars and Blood; has laid the Churches of Christ desolate, and dispeopled many Countries in Christendom. It does not spend itself in secret like a sullen Humor, or a Vapour of Melancholy, but breaks out into public Violence and Disorder, and all that is near it feels the Indignation. It sits brooding over the Eggs of a Cockatrice, and daily sends forth a fiery flying Serpent, Instruments of Cruelty are in its Habitation, and all its Children are Sons of Blood and Rapine.

O my Soul, come not into their Counsel; unto their Assembly my Honor be not united; for in their Anger they have slain Millions of Men, and in their Self-will they have dug up the Foundations of a Thousand Churches. Cursed be their Anger for it is fierce, and their Wrath for it is cruel. These Men of Division at the last Judgment Day, may justly expect to be divided from Jacob, and to be scattered far away from the Israel of God. For God will render to every one according to their Works. And surely these bloody Persecutions are such Works as demand like Revenges from a God of Justice; if such as practice them die without Repentance.

If you ask me the Method whereby this uncharitable Temper has advanced to such a Degree of Rage and Barbarity, it is very obvious and easy to be explained. At first these Men assume to themselves the Name of the Church, and lodge in themselves a Sort of Infallibility, or at least pretend to a divine Authority to determine finally all doubtful Cases of Religion, and to rule over the Consciences of Men. They set up the wretched Trade of Creed-making, and demand the Belief of Mankind: Then they give out Decrees, such as Christ and his Apostles never gave, and pronounce Damnation against all that doubt or disbelieve them; though their Fables are not cunningly devised, because they are made too big for Belief. Some of them contradict the most substantial Principles of Sense, Reason and Christianity.

You will see this plainly exemplified in a few Instances I shall give of their Decrees and Canons. As, Whosoever shall affirm that there are more or less than 7 Sacraments, let him be anathematized, excommunicated, or accursed: Whosoever shall affirm that the Substance of Bread and Wine remains in the Eucharist, together with the Body and Blood of Christ, or shall deny the wonderful Change of the whole Substance of Bread into Body, and Wine into Blood, which the Catholic Church calls Transubstantiation, let him be excommunicated: Whosoever shall say, that extreme Unction does not confer Grace, nor remit Sin, nor ease the Sick, let him be excommunicated. Thus oftentimes the same Anathema and eternal Death is denounced against such as disobey their Decrees about Matters of trifling Importance; Matters which they themselves can never pretend to be, in their own Nature, necessary to Salvation. He that shall say a common Minister can confirm as well as a Bishop, let him be excommunicated: He that shall say, the Ceremonies, the Vestments, et cetera in the Celebration of the Mass, are Incentives to Sin, rather than Duties of Piety, let him be excommunicated: He that shall say, a Priest may become a Layman again, let him be excommunicated: And whosoever shall say that the Hierarchy of Bishops, Presbyters, and Ministers or Deacons is not of Divine Ordination, let him be excommunicated.

When this Church has thus excommunicated and cursed Christians better than herself, and cast them out of her Arms, she gives them up to the secular Power, with an awful and deceitful Charge, that the obstinate Heretic shall not be hurt in Life or Limb; but with a full Design that they should be tortured, and destroyed. Having solemnly delivered them to the Devil in their Spiritual Courts, the temporal Executioner sends them out of the World; not that their Souls may be saved in the Day of the Lord, but that they may be plunged immediately into utter Darkness, where Satan dwells.

It is the Command of Christ to the Roman Church, by Paul the great Apostle, Romans 14:1. That such as were weak in the Faith should be received to their Fellowship, and not troubled with doubtful Disputations, such as the Observance of Meats and Days, and Things of like Moment: But the Romans have now so far rebelled against this Rule, as to admit Persons into their Communion upon no other Terms than a blind Submission to all the doubtful Disputables which that Church imposes. They had an Order from Saint Paul. Romans 15:7. to receive all such as Christ had received; and consequently to reject no others but those whom Christ rejects; but they forgot this charitable Canon of our Lord, while they receive Thousands to their Communion which have no visible Marks of the Image of Christ, and reject Thousands, and curse them to Hell, whom the Lord Christ will acknowledge for his, and pronounce them blessed of his Father at the last Day.

When they first begin to assume this Sovereignty over Faith and Conscience, they use a Show of Argument, and pretend to instruct and enlighten the Weak and the Ignorant. They admonish them to hearken to the Church; but if the Ignorant are still weak in Belief, and cannot be convinced of the Lawfulness of their Ceremonies, then they send the Sheriff and the Jailer to carry on the Dispute; a Prison and the Gibbet are the next Arguments; and when Reason and Scripture will not assist them, they employ Fire and Sword to contend earnestly for the Fables that were never delivered to the Saints.

To draw up an Account of the horrible Effects of Uncharitableness would be to transcribe the Ecclesiastical History of many Ages: Whole Churches and Quarters of the World, the Eastern and Western, have damned one another plentifully upon the Account of imposed Days, and Trifles which the Gospel leaves indifferent or rather forbids. How many of the Canons of ancient Councils have been influenced in their Formation by this assuming Spirit, and as terribly enforced in their Execution to the Reproach and Devastation of Christendom?

But it moves my Grief and Wonder, that a modern Church that pretends not to Infallibility should assume a strange Dominion over our Faith and Practice. It asserts its own Power to decree Rites and Ceremonies, and Authority in Controversies of Faith; when in the very proceeding Words it confesses, that the Churches of Jerusalem, Alexandria, and Antioch have erred, so also the Church of Rome has erred, not only in their Living and Manner of Ceremonies, but also in Matters of Faith. It demands my Admiration, that such a Church should canonically denounce her Excommunications in abundance, against those that dissent from her in some disputable Things, while they retain all her professed Doctrines of the Christian Faith.

And it is a Pain and a Shame to our Eyes to look backward upon other Times, and to behold Pamphlets written against Toleration by such as are Ministers of the Gospel of Peace, that perfect Law of Liberty. It was their Opinion then, (and they told the World so in Print) that Sectaries ought to be silenced by the Civil Power: Now Sectary is a Name of broad Dimensions, and has a terrible Stretch with it; the long Scourge would in Time reach all those who differ from the Hand that manages that Weapon of Chastisement: None must be authorized to preach in any Form, but by the Solemnity of imposing Hands, by a Company of authorized Men. Because some subjected themselves to the Determination of a Synod, they would make it the Duty of all their Neighbors to wear the same Yoke; and thought others were bound to become Slaves to the same Dictates. But I forbear this Charge, and almost wish it canceled: For as the Magistrate did not put in practice the uncharitable Pamphlets, so those Reverend and Honorable Writers have been taught to acknowledge the Mistake of their Zeal, when their own verbal Rods have been turned against them, and became real Scorpions with Stings and Scourges a thousand-fold. The Fathers have been dearly instructed in the Value of Toleration and Liberty by most abundant Retaliations. The Children have learned to preach this Part of the Gospel well, and I am persuaded they will never forget it again.

If we turn over more ancient Annals, the Marian Days give us horrible Examples of fiery Zeal in the Clergy, and the glorious Reign of the succeeding Virgin-Princess is hardly to be purged from the Stain of Blood. Blessed be God who has put into the Heart of our Civil Governors to restrain the Fury of all Spiritual Administrators. The long and dreadful Train of Capiases and Jailers, Prisons and Plunderings, Ruin and Banishment, Silencings and violent Suppressions are no longer the Attendants of the Anathemas of any Church among us. And I hope no Church mourns the Loss of them; though there are some Anathemas that abide still as Terrors to those that are weak in Faith, and not very honorable Monuments of that Church's Charity.

In these late Years the Scene of Great Britain was a little Shadow of Spain and France, where Dragoons and the Inquisition manage Ecclesiastical Discipline. We were brought to the very Gates of Aceldama. The Agents of Rome were ready with their Instruments of Death. Adored be the Divine Spirit that awakened the Rulers of the Church to behold the common Danger, and raised in them generous Resolutions and Promises to exercise Charity and Temper towards their Brethren. Glory to that God whose kind Providence sent us a Deliverer, and forbid England to become a Field of Blood and Martyrdom: And new Songs of Praise are still due unto Divine Mercy, for establishing the Person and Heart of our Queen in the Throne and the Principles of so glorious an Example and Predecessor. Her gentle Government subdues the Hearts of all her People to herself; her Charity joins their Affections to one another; her parental Care and Love reconciles Christian Parties, and her Wisdom unites Christian Nations.

4. The last Mischief I shall mention, and which should fright us terribly from the Peril of it, is, that an uncharitable Man wounds the very Vitals of that Religion, by which he hopes for Eternal Life: And while his Fury rages against his Brother for accidental Differences, he shakes the very Foundations of his own Christianity, and endangers or prevents his own Salvation; his boasted Orthodoxy in Opinion is made vain, while his practical Ungodlinesses are so real; and his Faith appears to be little better than that of Devils, when he mingles so much of their Malice with it. In vain does he glory in the Brightness of his Notions; in vain does he presume Darkness is past, and the true Light now shines: For he that says he is in the Light and hates his Brother, he abides in Darkness, even till now, 1 John 2:8, 9.

Such a Wisdom composed of mere Opinion and Wrath can never lead aright up to Heaven, for it did not descend from thence: The Wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of Mercy and good Fruits, without Partiality, and without Hypocrisy, and the Fruit of Righteousness is sown in Peace of them that make Peace: But if you have bitter Envying and Strife in your Hearts, glory not. Whatever your Pretenses of Truth be, this is but lying against the Truth: This Wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, carnal, devilish, James 3:14, et cetera. It is impossible there should be true Faith without sincere Love: If I understand all Mysteries, and have all Knowledge, if I speak with the Tongues of Men and Angels, and have all Faith, so that I could remove Mountains, and were destitute of Charity, my Pretensions to Religion are the mere Sound of noisy Brass, or a tinkling Cymbal, 1 Corinthians 13:1, 2. It is such a Charity that suffers long, that is not easily provoked, that bears all things, and believes all things, that takes all Things in the best Sense, and thinks no Evil: It is such a Charity as this that is a substantial Part of our Religion. Charity in the Heart, is absolutely required to make up inward Christianity; and the Appearance of it in the Life is a most necessary Part of Godliness.

It is true indeed, that all graces and virtues are very imperfect in this present state, and there is much of uncharitableness remaining in many a good man. But that man can never be good that has no charity. Zelotus has spent his life in declaiming against some little modes and gestures used in worship by his fellow Christians, or in imposing some uninstituted ceremonies on the consciences of his brethren. He has stirred up the magistrate to persecute some of them to prisons, and almost to death. He flattered his conscience with hopes that his zeal for the church should not only render him acceptable at the last day, but provide him a large reward. He lies now languishing upon a bed of sickness, on the very borders of eternity, and is terribly awakened to behold his own mistake. While he stands within sight of the tribunal of Christ, and the face of the Judge, his former practice appears to his conscience in its true and frightful shape. The fire that has animated him against his brethren, now flashes in his soul, and discovers its infernal source. Now he dreads to be made an example of the same vengeance among devils, with which he has pursued his fellow mortals. He groans out his last breath in bitter agonies, cries to the God of Love for mercy upon his departing spirit, and expires almost without hope. He is gone. But we leave his soul to the compassions of a God who can better pardon his mighty errors, than he would forgive others in their little mistakes.

Thus dreadfully has this vice of uncharitableness prevailed against the honor of Christianity, and the peace of mankind. Thus sacrilegiously has it taken away one of the brightest marks of the best religion, and that is love. It has defaced the beauty of our holy profession, scandalized the sacred name that we bear, made a slaughterhouse of the church of Christ, and deceived the souls of men to their own eternal ruin.

Just as I had finished this essay, Pharisaino happened to come into my study, and taking up the first leaf, read the title, and was persuaded this discourse must be written against himself.

No (said I) there is not any man alive personally intended in these papers, but if you please to peruse them, and shall apply the characters to yourself, I hope you will confess Divine Providence has led you into a conviction of your false zeal. Pharisaino sat him down immediately, and with a running eye passed through every page. And though the frequent wrinkle of his brow discovered his inward chagrin and disgust, yet he paid me many a ceremony. And behold (said he) how language and fancy will dress up zeal like a monster to fright men out of their fervor of spirit.

I have heard, added he, that you have some skill in painting, pray draw me the figure of this uncharitableness in just and proper colors; this monster which you complain has so narrowed and disgraced, and murdered Christianity. I will attempt it, Pharisaino, if you will furnish me with a sheet of large paper, and that of the fairest kind, to represent the Christian church in this world. First, I will pare it round, and reduce it to a very small compass. Then with much ink will I stain the whiteness of it, and deform it with many a blot. At the next sitting I will stab it through rudely with an iron pen. And when I put the last hand to complete the likeness, it shall be smeared over with blood.