"The bond of perfectness"

In one of Paul's epistles, after urging upon those whom he calls "the elect of God, holy and beloved," the necessity of putting off all that is un-Christlike as well as of practicing manifold Christian virtues, he concludes his admonitions by saying, "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness." Has there ever been given to the world a more complete definition of charity than this? "The bond of perfectness"! How it opens thought to the vision of a unity which is all-desirable and absolutely without flaw, pure and blessed, embracing all!

Here, then, may be seen not only one great need of mankind, but the way to meet it. Here in four words is portrayed that unity for which all men in their inmost hearts are yearning; for is not the anguish they have seemed to suffer comprised in their sense of separation or lack of unity,—their supposed separation first of all from God, good; and as a consequence separation from each other? And the way to the happiness of perfect unity is through that "charity, which is the bond of perfectness."

Now charity has been much extolled, but men have not always understood how to practice it. Indeed, they have often failed to appreciate its real nature, and so have missed that use of it which would have produced united Christian fellowship. They have therefore often found themselves "at swords' points" with their neighbors when a right understanding and exercise of charity would have brought about harmony and true unity.

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Editorial
"God is the strength of my heart"
November 15, 1924
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