"Brethren, let us walk together
In the bonds of love and peace;
Can it be a question whether
Brethren should from conflict cease?
'Tis in union,
Hope, and joy, and love increase."
There would be fewer quarrels and less sin if every one had charity. "Charity," or love, "covers a multitude of sins." "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Tim. ii. 22).
In 1 Corinthians xvi. 14, it says, "Let all your things be done with charity," which means that all our actions are to be done in love. "God is love." Jesus had charity or love when He was on earth. His love knew no bounds. When God sent His only Son Jesus Christ down into the world, it was done thoroughly out of love to sinful man.
Jesus Himself was full of love, for He prayed for His persecutors when He was on the cross, and said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
"High beyond imagination
Is the love of God to man;
Far too deep for human reason;
Fathom that it never can:
Love eternal
Richly dwells in Christ the Lamb."
"If God so loved us, ought we not to love one another?"
Charity is being kind and loving to one another, and helping one another when we can. If we are not kind and gentle to them, we have not charity, and do not love each other. When people do ever such great things, if they do it for self-praise, and not for love, it does not profit them anything. If we love our neighbours as ourselves, we shall never do them any ill, but rather "kill them by kindness," even if they are inclined to resent our charity, or love.
Jessie Martha Collins
(Aged 11 years).
19, Platt Street, Pancras Road,
London, N. W.
[Very good Essays have been sent by Ada Dudley Mote, E. B. Knocker, A. J. Wells, H. F. Forfeitt, K. E. Thomas, W. E. Cray, C. Bowman, B. E. J. Noakes, A. Judd, C. Lack, Winnie Langman, and F. Lawrence.]