The Proportions of Christian Liberality: A sermon, preached before a Monthly Association of Congregational Ministers and Churches, held at Trevor Chapel, Brompton, April 8, 1824 — John Shaqi
The Proportions of Christian Liberality: A sermon, preached before a Monthly Association of Congregational Ministers and Churches, held at Trevor Chapel, Brompton, April 8, 1824Collyer, William Bengo'
Religion
The Proportions of Christian Liberality: A sermon, preached before a Monthly Association of Congregational Ministers and Churches, held at Trevor Chapel, Brompton, April 8, 1824
Collyer, William Bengo'
Sermons, English -- 19th century
It’s seat must be in the _heart_. It is goodwill to man as a principle,
exhibiting itself by corresponding exertions. This expansion of soul
distinguishes the liberal from the illiberal:—compulsion or interest may
lead to a distribution of property—but “the liberal mind deviseth liberal
things”—it’s bounty flows spontaneously—the streams are diffused all
abroad, but the spring rises in the bosom—and the largeness of the supply
demonstrates that the fountain is inexhaustible. The heart of the
liberal man is a heart of flesh—it is sensitive, and can feel—it is soft,
and can yield to the touch—it is tender, and requires not to be pressed.
The heart of the miser is a rock—it may be calcined, but not softened—it
may be consumed, but not melted—the sunbeam of mercy, and the fire of
judgment, fall upon it alike in vain. His chest, although made of iron,
may be broken, it’s bars and bolts forced, it’s locks opened—but his
heart, never! Every moral malady proceeds from the heart—and every
Christian grace is enthroned there. Charity is love—and without love,
there is no liberality.
Liberality, when the heart is it’s centre, has the world for it’s
circumference. It’s ample circle embraces all mankind. The
_denomination_ is overlooked to make room for the species. “Am I not a
man, and a brother?” is the irresistible appeal; and whether it come from
the east or the west, the north or the south, it finds it’s way to the
secret recesses of the soul, and calls into action all it’s mighty
energies. Forgetful of the lines of political demarcation assigned by
princes, and recognised by nations—regardless of the narrow limits into
which a sectarian spirit has distributed the Christian world—as
indifferent to the colour of the skin, and to diversity of tongues, as to
the shibboleth of a party—unfettered even “by the bounds of the people,”
which “the Most High set, when he separated the sons of Adam, and divided
to the nations their inheritance”—Christian liberality, on the wings of
love, swift as those of the morning, and strong as those of the seraph,
sweeps over seas and mountains, the depths of the forest, and the sands
of the desert—un-scorched at the torrid zone, and unfrozen at the
poles—to scatter her blessings over the great Family of Man. “Have we
not all one Father? Hath not one God created us?” “As we have,
therefore, opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto
those who are of the household of faith.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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