I. That GOD IS LOVE, and he that dwelleth in LOVE dwelleth in GOD, and GOD in him, 1 Joh. 4.
II. It is the Prayer of Christ that all who shall believe may be one, that the world may thereby be brought to believe that the Father sent him, Jo. 17. 21, 22, 23. And that they must love one another, even as he hath loved them, by which it is that all must know that they are his Disciples, Jo. 13. 34, 35.
III. This Love must extend to all that are of one Body, one Spirit, one Hope, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all: And this Unity of the Spirit must be kept in the bond of Peace, Eph. 4. 3. And if it be possible, as much as in us lieth, we must live peaceably with all men, Rom. 12. 18.
IV. Christians must love one another with a pure heart, fervently, 1 Pet. 1. 22. with a Love which suffereth long, and is kind, envieth not, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, beareth all things, believeth, hopeth, endureth all things, Rom. 13.
V. Yet must they not be so tender of each others Honour, as of Gods, nor justify the sin of any, nor make mens names a snare to draw the weak to sin, nor think that Love and Peace can be justly vindicated without gain-saying the Errors which oppose them, nor that Christ broke the Law of Love by his sharp rebuke of Peter, that tempted him to forbear the work of Love; nor by rebuking the hurtful zeal of James and John, nor by being angry with those that forbade little Children to come to him; nor Paul by withstanding Peter in his Separation.
VI. Christian Love must extend to those that differ from us, though faultily in Cases of tolerable infirmity, so as not to judge or despise them, but to receive them to our Communion, as Christ receiveth us, Rom. 14 & 15. Approving all so far, that serve God in that which his Kingdom doth consist in, Rom. 14. 17, 18.
⟨p. 10⟩VI. All Christians must earnestly oppose Divisions, and Sects, and sidings with Strife and Envy as a sign of Carnal Men, and must labour to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgment, and to glorify God with one mind and mouth, 1 Cor. 1. 10. & 3. 3, &c. And must not forsake the assembling of themselves, Heb. 10. 25.
VII.
I. That GOD IS LOVE, and he that dwelleth in LOVE dwelleth in GOD, and GOD in him, 1 Joh. 4.
II. It is the Prayer of Christ that all who shall believe may be one, that the world may thereby be brought to believe that the Father sent him, Jo. 17. 21, 22, 23. And that they must love one another, even as he hath loved them, by which it is that all must know that they are his Disciples, Jo. 13. 34, 35.
III. This Love must extend to all that are of one Body, one Spirit, one Hope, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all: And this Unity of the Spirit must be kept in the bond of Peace, Eph. 4. 3. And if it be possible, as much as in us lyeth, we must live peaceably with all men, Rom. 12. 18.
IV. Christians must love one another with a pure heart, fervently, 1 Pet. 1. 22. with a Love which suffereth long, and is kind, envieth not, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, beareth all things, believeth, hopeth, endureth all things, Rom. 13.
V. Yet must they not be so tender of each others Honour, as of Gods, nor justify the sin of any, nor make mens names a snare to draw the weak to sin, nor think that Love and Peace can be justly vindicated without gain-saying the Errours which oppose them, nor that Christ broke the Law of Love by his sharp rebuke of Peter, that tempted him to forbear the work of Love; nor by rebuking the hurtful zeal of James and John, nor by being angry with those that forbad little Children to come to him; nor Paul by withstanding Peter in his Separation.
VI. Christian Love must extend to those that differ from us, though faultily in Cases of tolerable infirmity, so as not to judge or despise them, but to receive them to our Communion, as Christ receiveth us, Rom. 14 & 15. Approving all so far, that serve God in that which his Kingdom doth consist in, Rom. 14. 17, 18.
⟨p. 10⟩VI. All Christians must earnestly oppose Divisions, and Sects, and sidings with Strife and Envy as a sign of Carnal Men, and must labour to be perfectly joined together in the same mind and judgment, and to glorify God with one mind and mouth, 1 Cor. 1. 10
