Looking unto Jesus a view of the everlasting gospel, or, the souls eying of…

3. It holds out peace abroad, it commands all Offices of kindness, gentleness, love, meekness, humility, lowliness of mind towards others; and such sweet dispositions are usually received with fondness, and all the endearments of the neighbourhood; it prescribes an austere, and yet a sweet deportment; it commands all those labours of love, as to relieve the stranger, to visit the sick, to wash the feet of the poor; it sends us upon charitable embassies, to unclean prisons, nasty dungeons, and in the cause of Christ to lay down our lives one for another; it teacheth us how to return good for evil, kindness for injuries, a soft answer for the rough words of an Enemy; Oh when I think of this, I cannot but think of him who said, That either that this was not the Christian Religion, or we were not Christians. For my part I am easily persuaded, that if we would but live according to the discipline of Christian Religion, one of those great plagues that vexeth the world (I mean the plague of war) would be no more; certainly this was one of the designs of Christianity, that there should be no wars, no jars, no discontents amongst men; and if all men that are called Christians, were indeed charitable, peaceable, just, loving, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, what sweet peace should we have? how would this world be an Image of Heaven, and of the society of Saints and Angels above in Glory?

3. It holds out peace abroad, it commands all Offices of kindness, gentleness, love, meekness, humility, lowliness of mind towards others; and such sweet dispositions are usually received with fondness, and all the endearments of the neighbourhood; it prescribes an austere, and yet a sweet deportment; it commands all those labours of love, as to relieve the stranger, to visit the sick, to wash the feet of the poor; it sends us upon charitable embassies, to unclean prisons, nasty dungeons, and in the cause of Christ to lay down our lives one for another; it teacheth us how to return good for evil, kindness for injuries, a soft answer for the rough words of an Enemy; Oh when I think of this, I cannot but think of him who said, That either that this was not the Christian Religion, or we were not Christians. For my part I am easily perswaded, that if we would but live according to the discipline of Christian Religion, one of those great plagues that vexeth the world (I mean the plague of war) would be no more; certainly this was one of the designs of Christianity, that there should be no wars, no jars, no discontents amongst men; and if all men that are called Christians, were indeed charitable, peaceable, just, loving, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, what sweet peace should we have? how would this world be an Image of Heaven, and of the society of Saints and Angels above in Glory?