Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

XLIII. 1. A Christian indeed hath a special Love to all the Godly: such as endeareth his heart unto them: and such as will enable him, to visit them and relieve them in their wants, to his own loss and hazard, according to his ability and opportunity. For the image of God is beautiful and honourable in his eyes: He loveth not them so much as God in them; Christ in them; the Holy Spirit in them. He foreseeth the day when he shall meet them in Heaven, and there rejoice in God with them to Eternity. He loveth their company and converse; and delighteth in their gracious words and lives: And the converse of ungodly empty men, is a weariness to him (unless in a way of duty, or when he can do them good.) In his eyes a vile person is contemned, but he honoureth them that fear the Lord, Psal. 15.4. Other men grieve his soul with their iniquities, while he is delighted with the appearances of God in his holy ones: even the excellent ones on earth, Psal. 16.3. 2 Pet. 2.7, 8. Yea, the infirmities of Believers destroy not his Love; for he hath learned of God himself to difference between their abhorred frailties and their predominant Grace; and to love the very Infants in the Family of Christ. Yea, though they wrong him, or quarrel with him, or censure him in their weakness, he can honour their sincerity, and love them still: And if some of them prove scandalous, and some seeming Christians fall away, or fall into the most odious crimes, he loveth Religion never the less; but ⟨p. 105⟩continueth as high an esteem of piety, and of all that are upright as he had before, 1 Joh. 4.7, 8, 10. Joh. 13.34, 35. 1 Thess. 4.9. 1 Joh. 3.11, 14, 23. Matth. 25.39, 40