A Noble Munificent Grace

Love is not only full of benvolence, but beneficence.  Love which enlarges the heart never straitens the hand.  He that loves Christ will be liberal to His members.  He will be eyes to the blind, and feet to the lame.  The backs and bellies of the poor shall be the furrows where he sows the golden seeds of liberality.  Some say they love God, but their love is lame of one hand, they give nothing to good uses.  Indeed faith deals with invisibles, but God hates that love which is invisible.  Love is like new wine, which will have vent; it vents itself in good works.  The apostle speaks it in honour of the Macedonians, that they gave to the poor saints, not only up to, but beyond their power (2Cor.8.3).  Love is bred at court, it is a noble munificent grace.
- Thomas Watson, All Things for Good (1663)

(art credit:  Giovanni di Balduccio, Charity, c. 1330, from the National Gallery of Art)