Charity
Considered one of the great spiritual writers in Anglican history, JermeyTaylor is listed among the ranks of the Anglican Divines. His greatest spiritual works are Holy Living and Holy Dying. As we begin the Pre-Lenten season, I thought it might be fitting to quote a section of Holy Dying and reflect on an important topic. In Holy Dying, chapter two, Taylor says,
"He that would die well and happily must in his lifetime, according to all his capacities, exercise charity; and because religion is the life of the soul, and charity is the life of religion, the same which gives life to the better part of man, which never dies, may obtain of God a mercy to the inferior part of man in the day of its dissolution.
Charity is the great channel through which God passes all his mercy upon mankind. For we receive absolution of our sins in proportion to our forgiving our brother. This is the rule of our hopes, and the measure of our desire in this world; and in the day of death and judgment the great sentence upon mankind shall to transacted according to our alms, which is the other part of charity. Certain it is, that God cannot, will not, never did, reject a charitable man in his greatest needs and in his most passionate prayers; for God himself is love, and every degree of charity that dwells in us is the participation of the divine nature; and therefore, when upon our death-bed a cloud covers our head, and we are enwrapped with sorrow; when we feel the weight of a sickness, and do not feel the refreshing visitations of God’s loving-kindness; when we have many things to trouble us, and looking round about us we see no comforter; then call to mind what injuries you have forgiven, how apt you were to pardon all affronts and real persecutions, how you embraced peace when it was offered you, how you followed after peace when it ran from you; and when you are weary of one side, turn upon the other, and remember the alms that, by the grace of God and his assistances, you have done, and look up to God, and with the eye of faith behold him coming in the cloud, and pronouncing the sentence of doom’s day according to his mercies and thy charity. Charity with his twin daughters, alms and forgiveness, is especially effectual for the procuring God’s mercies in the day and manner of our death."
At first glance, this may seem like an overemphasis upon your works, as though your works can force God to have mercy upon you and in your last days you better hope you have enough good works. However, this is not what Taylor is saying. He is writing to Christians, those who have been joined to Christ and received the grace of salvation. Charity is a divine attribute that we are called to reflect as we are formed further into the image of God. It is because of divine charity that we reflect charity to others. What Taylor might more aptly be seen as saying is, "Consider the fruit." Does your life reflect the charity of God? Is the Spirit working in you? This reading is supported by Taylor's words "...remember the alms that, by the grace of God and his assistances, you have done, and look up to God, and with the eye of faith behold him coming in the cloud, and pronouncing the sentence of doom’s day according to his mercies and thy charity." By God's grace and assistance, you have been able to live out a life of charity. The "sentence of doom's day" is not simply about what you have done but it is about his mercies and our clinging on to them, and in so doing, reflecting that to those around us. Life, Taylor reminds us, is not just basking in God's mercies while squandering our lives. We are called to make an effort, to flee from sin, and pursue holiness, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you" (Matt 6:14). We are able to do this because of God's mercies and we do this out of our love for God.
Why talk about this particular section from Taylor? Several reasons, including my duty to "advise the People, whilst they are in health, to make Wills arranging for the disposal of their temporal goods, and, when of ability, to leave Bequests for religious and charitable uses." (1928 BCP, 320). I say this as an encouragement, for though I have only been here a year, I have both experienced and witnessed this church’s generosity. It is also because as I look around on Sunday mornings we continue to grow, and as we expand our building, so does our mission to those around us as we seek to feed the poor and care for the widow and the orphan. Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not instruct you on the Christian virtues of charity, repentance, and almsgiving, especially as we approach Lent. Here is your encouragement to think of ways to incorporate these virtues in your life more, especially during Lent. And give out of love and thanksgiving, so that in your final days, you can look back and see the imprint of God in your life.
Ubi caritas et vera, Deus ibi est,
Fr. Aaron