Charity: The Bond of Perfectness
By J. O. Corliss
The exhortation of the apostle is, “Follow after charity,” showing that it is something attained by going in a certain direction and following a clearly marked line of conduct. But why follow after this particular grace? As the band holds together the bundle of wheat, so charity is the “bond of perfectness,” or that which binds all the other graces together, Col. 3. Without it the other gifts will avail us nothing; for Paul says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.” Sounding brass is that which has a thin exterior, and when drummed upon, a loud, rattling noise is produced, indicating inward vacancy. So he who is fluent in speech, yet without charity, is of hollow pretensions. We may have faith, or bestow all our goods to feed the poor, and do it to appear generous merely, or to be well spoken of, and not be prompted by charity. No credit is given us on the books above for such acts, no profits accrue from it; but the Judgment will reveal the true motives, and show it a vain and fruitless work. “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; envieth not; . . . . thinketh no evil!” Such excellent qualities are certainly desirable, but how may we obtain them? By following after charity. As the student looks forward to a degree of eminence to which he hopes to arrive, and thereby obtain a fitness for life’s duties and a standing in society, he studies with diligence, and learns thoroughly all the intermediate grades, and thus follows after the crowning point. So may he who desires to be perfected in the Christian graces. Says Peter, “Giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.” By adding the above graces in the order described, we follow after, and attain to, charity, and so acquire all the excellent qualities of a perfect Christian character, which will fit us for the kingdom of God. J. O. CORLISS.