3. The Gospel enjoins Universal Love among Men.1 This is that fire which Christ came to kindle upon the Earth; 'tis the abridgement of all Christian perfection, the fulfilling of the Divine Law, for all the particular Precepts are in substance, Love. He that loves his Neighbour will have a tender regard to ⟨p. 327⟩his Life, Honour and Estate, which is the sum of the second Table. The extent of our Love must be to all that partake of the same common nature. The universal consanguinity between Men should make us regard them as our allies. Every Man that wants our help is our Neighbour. Do good to all, is the command of the Apostle.2 For the quality of our Love it must be unfeigned without dissimulation. The Image of it in Words without real Effects, provokes the Divine displeasure: for as all falsehood is odious to the God of Truth, so especially the counterfeiting of Charity, that is the impression of his Spirit, and the seal of his Kingdom. A sincere pure affection, that rejoices at the good, and resents the evils of others as our own, and expresses it self in all real Offices, not for our private respects, but their benefit, is required of us. And as to the degree of our Love,3 we are commanded above all things to have fervent Charity among our selves. This principally respects Christians,4 who are united by so many sacred and amiable bands, as being formed of the same Eternal Seed, Children of the same Heavenly Father, and joint-Heirs of the same Glorious Inheritance. Christian Charity hath a more noble Principle than the affections of nature, for it proceeds from the Love of God shed abroad in Believers, to make them one Heart and one Soul, and a more Divine pattern, which is the Example of Christ; Who hath by his Sufferings restored us to the Favour of God, that we should Love one another, as He hath Loved us. This Duty is most strictly enjoined, for without Love, Angelical Eloquence is but an empty noise,5 and all other Virtues have but a false lustre; Prophecy, Faith, Knowledge, Miracles, the highest outward ⟨p. 328⟩Acts of Charity or Self-denial, the giving our Estates to the Poor, or Bodies to Martyrdom, are neither pleasing to God, nor profitable to him that does them.
3. The Gospel enjoyns Universal Love among Men.1 This is that fire which Christ came to kindle upon the Earth; 'tis the abridgment of all Christian perperfection, the fulfilling of the Divine Law, for all the particular Precepts are in substance, Love. He that loves his Neighbor will have a tender regard to ⟨p. 327⟩his Life, Honour and Estate, which is the sum of the second Table. The extent of our Love must be to all that partake of the same common nature. The universal consanguinity between Men should make us regard them as our allies. Every Man that wants our help is our Neighbour. Do good to all, is the command of the Apostle.2 For the quality of our Love it must be unfeigned without dissimulation. The Image of it in Words without real Effects, provokes the Divine displeasure: for as all falshood is odious to the God of Truth, so especially the counterfeiting of Charity, that is the impression of his Spirit, and the seal of his Kingdom. A sincere pure affection, that rejoyces at the good, and resents the evils of others as our own, and expresses it self in all real Offices, not for our private respects, but their benefit, is required of us. And as to the degree of our Love,3 we are commanded above all things to have fervent Charity among our selves. This principally respects Christians,4 who are united by so many sacred and amiable bands, as being formed of the same Eternal Seed, Children of the same Heavenly Father, and joynt-Heirs of the same Glorious Inheritance. Christian Charity hath a more noble Principle than the affections of nature, for it proceeds from the Love of God shed abroad in Believers, to make them one Heart and one Soul, and a more Divine pattern, which is the Example of Christ; Who hath by his Sufferings restored us to the Favour of God, that we should Love one another, as He hath Loved us. This Duty is most stricty injoyn'd, for without Love, Angelical Eloquence is but an empty noise,5 and all other Virtues have but a false lustre; Prophesie, Faith, Knowledge, Miracles, the highest outward ⟨p. 328⟩Acts of Charity or Self-denial, the giving our Estates to the Poor, or Bodies to Martyrdom, are neither pleasing to God, nor profitable to him that does them.
- 1Rom. 13.14.
- 2Luk. 10.36. Gal. 6.10. 1 Pet. 1.22. Rom. 12.9.
- 31 Pet. 4.8.
- 4Tot & t•nta Christiani nominis charissima vincula. August.
- 51 Cor. 13.
