1. It is the very Health and Holiness of the soul, and the contrary is the very state of sin and death. What is Holiness but that Uniting Love by which the will adhereth to God and delighteth in his Goodness as it shineth to us in his works, and specially in Christ and in all his members (and in a common sort in all mankind?) And what is the unholy state of sin and death, but that Con•ractedness and retiring to our SELVES, by which the selfish person departeth from the due Love of God and others, and of that holiness which is contrary to this his selfishness? So far as any mans Love is contracted, narrowed, confined to himself, and to a few, so far his soul is indeed unsanctified and void of the Unity of the Spirit, or the Spirit of Unity. If a man lived in banishment or a prison uncapable of doing others any good, yet if he have that Love and spirit of Unity which inclineth him to do it if he could, this is his own health and rectitude, ⟨p. 31⟩and acceptable unto God. Little do many Religious people think how much they do mistake unholiness and sin it self, for a degree of holiness above their neighbours! When they contract and narrow their Christian Love and Communion to a party, and talk against the Churches of Christ, by disgraceful and Love-killing censures and reproaches, as being not holy enough for their Communion; this want of the spirit of Love and Unity, is their own want of holiness it self. It was the old deceit of the Pharisees, which Christ the messenger and mediator of love condemned, to think that holiness lay more in sacrifices and Ritual observances, and in a strict keeping of the Sabbaths rest and such like, than in the Love of God and all men: And the lesson that Christ twice set them to learn was, [I will have mercy and not sacrifice.] He hath most grace and holiness who hath most of the spirit of Love and Unity.
1. It is the very Health and Holiness of the soul, and the contrary is the very state of sin and death. What is Holiness but that Vniting Love by which the will adhereth to God and delighteth in his Goodness as it shineth to us in his works, and specially in Christ and in all his members (and in a common sort in all mankind?) And what is the unholy state of sin and death, but that Con•ractedness and retiring to our SELVES, by which the selfish person departeth from the due Love of God and others, and of that holiness which is contrary to this his selfishness? So far as any mans Love is contracted, narrowed, confined to himself, and to a few, so far his soul is indeed unsanctified and void of the Vnity of the Spirit, or the Spirit of Vnity. If a man lived in banishment or a prison uncapable of doing others any good, yet if he have that Love and spirit of Unity which inclineth him to do it if he could, this is his own health and rectitude, ⟨p. 31⟩and acceptable unto God. Little do many Religious people think how much they do mistake unholiness and sin it self, for a degree of holiness above their neighbours! When they contract and narrow their Christian Love and Communion to a party, and talk against the Churches of Christ, by disgraceful and Love-killing censures and reproaches, as being not holy enough for their Communion; this want of the spirit of Love and Unity, is their own want of holiness it self. It was the old deceit of the Pharisees, which Christ the messenger and mediator of love condemned, to think that holiness lay more in sacrifices and Ritual observances, and in a strict keeping of the Sabbaths rest and such like, than in the Love of God and all men: And the lesson that Christ twice set them to learn was, [I will have mercy and not sacrifice.] He hath most grace and holiness who hath most of the spirit of Love and Unity.
