Irenicum, to the lovers of truth and peace heart-divisions opened in the causes and…

First, they are against the solemn charge and command of God, and of Jesus Christ. 1 John 3. 23. This is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another as he gave us commandment. It is not an arbitrary thing that we should love one another, but it is the command of God, and a great command joined to that of believing in his Son Jesus Christ. The one is as truly necessary to salvation as the other. Let men talk of faith, of believing on the Son of God, of trusting to free grace in Christ, yet if they have dividing, contending spirits, no love, no sweetness, no grace of union with the Saints, their faith is a dead faith: And because God stands much upon this to have his people live together in love, at the beginning of the verse he says, it is his commandment; at the end of the verse he says, he gave us commandment; ⟨p. 199⟩And it is also observable, that he says of the commandment of love, that he gave us that commandment. It is a gift, for it is a sweet commandment. We should not only submit to it, as being bound by the authority of it: but we should open our hearts to it, and embrace it joyfully as a gift from God. The commandment of love God gives us as a gift from his love. The excellency of these commandments are further amplified, ver. 24. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. I do not think that you can find in all the Scripture any command of God in one ver. and a piece of another so inculcated and commended. Again, chap. 4. 21. This commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God loves his brother also. If you think you have any command to love God, or to believe in Jesus Christ, know the same authority lays a command upon you, to love your brother also. Joh. 15. 12. This is my commandment, that ye love one another as I have loved you. And ver. 17. These things I command you, that ye love one another. Christ you see likewise makes a great matter of the Saints loving one another. Surely the sin then must needs be great that breaks such a great commandment as this, upon which God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son lays so much weight.

First, they are against the solemn charge and command of God, and of Jesus Christ.