Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

II. I will show what is included in our Love to the Children of God.

II. I will shew what is included in our Love to the Children of God.

First, The Principle of this Love is Divine. The Soul is purified through ¹the Spirit to unfeigned Love of the Brethren. Naturally the Judgment is corrupted, and the Will depraved, that carnal Respects either of Profit or Pleasure are the quick and sensible Incitements of Love; and till the Soul be cured of the sensual Contagion, the Inclination can never be directed, and the Desires fastened on the supernatural Image of God in his Saints. As Holiness in the Creature is a Ray derived from the infinite Beauty of God's Holiness, so the Love of Holiness is a Spark from the sacred Fire of his Love. St. John exhorts Christians, Let us love one another, ²for Love is of God. Natural Love among Men is by his general Providence, but a gracious Love to the Saints is by his special Influence. The natural Affection must be baptized with the Holy Ghost, as ⟨p. 106⟩with Fire, to refine it to a Divine Purity.

First, The Principle of this Love is Divine. The Soul is purified through ¹the Spirit to unfeigned Love of the Brethren. Naturally the Judgment is corrupted, and the Will depraved, that carnal Respects either of Profit or Pleasure are the quick and sensible Incitements of Love; and till the Soul be cured of the sensual Contagion, the Inclination can never be directed, and the Desires fastned on the supernatural Image of God in his Saints. As Holiness in the Creature is a Ray derived from the infinite Beauty of God's Holiness, so the Love of Holiness is a Spark from the sacred Fire of his Love. St. John exhorts Christians, Let us love one another,