By Hugh Binning
Humility is the root of charity, and meekness the fruit of both. There is no solid and pure ground of love to others, except that the worthlessness of self-love be first cast out of the soul; and when that excessive evil is cast out, then charity has a solid and deep foundation: “The end of the command is charity out of a pure heart,” (1st Timothy 1:5). It is only such a purified heart, cleansed from that poison and infection of pride and self-conceit which can send out such a sweet and wholesome stream, to the refreshing of the spirits and hearts of the church of God. If self-glory and pride have deep roots fastened into the soul, they draw all the sap and virtue downward, and send little or nothing at all up to the tree of charity, which makes it barren and unfruitful in the works of righteousness, and fruits of mercy and meekness. There are obstructions in the way of that communication, which only can be removed by the plucking up of these roots of pride and self-conceit, which prey upon all, and incorporate all in themselves and their own benefit, yet, like the lean cows who devoured the fat ones, are never the fatter or more well-favored.
It is no wonder, then, that these are the first principles that we must learn in Christ’s school, the very A-B-C s of Christianity: “Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls,” (Matthew 11:29). This is the great Prophet sent by the Father into the world to teach us, whom he has, with a voice from heaven, commanded us to hear: “This is my well-beloved Son, hear him.” Shouldn’t the fame and report of such a Teacher move us? He was testified of very honorably, long before he came, that he had the Spirit above measure, that he had “the tongue of the learned;” (Isaiah 1:4). He was a greater prophet than Moses, (Deuteronomy 18: 15,18) that is, the wonderful counselor of heaven and earth (Isaiah 9:6) the ““Witness to the people,” a Teacher and “Leader to the people.” And then, when he came, he had the most glorious testimony from the most glorious persons, the Father and the Holy Ghost, in the most solemn manner that the world ever heard of, (Matthew 17:5) “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him.” Now, this is our Master, our Rabbi, (Matthew 23:8). This is the Apostle and High Priest of our profession (Hebrews 3:1) “the light of the world and life of men,” (John 8:12 and 6:33,51)
Modernized in places by this site.
Mercy Triumphs! 