Now this Love is founded in our persuasion concerning the Spiritual state and condition of each other. I mean, that especial mutual Love is so, which ought to be among the Disciples of Christ as such. For although we are on other grounds, obliged unto a Love towards all mankind, whether Friends or Enemies, yet that peculiar Love which the Gospel so chargeth on the Disciples of Christ is an effect of, and built upon their common and mutual Interest in Christ. They are to love one another as Members of the same mystical Body, and united unto the same Spiritual Head. Whatever Love there may be on other accounts among any of them which doth not arise from this Spring and Fountain, it is not that Gospel Love which ought to be ⟨p. 89⟩among Believers. And how can this be in us, unless we have a good persuasion concerning our mutual Interest and In-being in Christ? God forbid that any should press that peculiar intense Love, that ought to be among the Members of the Body of Christ, to take off, or derogate from that general Love and usefulness which not only the Law of our Creation, but the Gospel also requireth of us in an especial manner towards all men. Yea he who professeth Love unto the Saints, that peculiar Love which is required towards them, and doth not exercise Love in general towards all men, much more if he make the pretence of Brotherly Love, the ground of alienating his Affection from the residue of mankind, can have no assurance that the Love he so professeth is sincere, incorrupt, genuine, and without dissimulation. But this special Love is the special Duty of us all, if we believe the Gospel, and without which foundation well laid, we can rightly discharge no other mutual Duty whatever. Now this, as is evident, we cannot have, unless we have a persuasion of the only ground of this Love, which is our mutual Relation unto Jesus Christ. And to act this Love aright as to its object as grounded on this persuasion, take heed of evil surmises, these are the bane of Evangelical Love, though some seem to make them their Duties. Those concerning whom we hear that they make profession of Faith and Obedience towards our Lord Jesus Christ, and know not that they any way contradict their Profession by wicked works, we are obliged to bear the same Love towards, as if we knew them sincere.
Now this Love is founded in our perswasion concerning the Spiritual state and condition of each other. I mean, that especial mutual Love is so, which ought to be among the Disciples of Christ as such. For although we are on other grounds, obliged unto a Love towards all mankind, whether Friends or Enemies, yet that peculiar Love which the Gospel so chargeth on the Disciples of Christ is an effect of, and built upon their common and mutual Interest in Christ. They are to love one another as Members of the same mystical Body, and united unto the same Spiritual Head. Whatever Love there may be on other accounts among any of them which doth not arise from this Spring and Fountain, it is not that Gospel Love which ought to be ⟨p. 89⟩among Believers. And how can this be in us, unless we have a good perswasion concerning our mutual Interest and In-being in Christ? God forbid that any should press that peculiar intense Love, that ought to be among the Members of the Body of Christ, to take off, or derogate from that general Love and usefulness which not only the Law of our Creation, but the Gospel also requireth of us in an especial manner towards all men. Yea he who professeth Love unto the Saints, that peculiar Love which is required towards them, and doth not exercise Love in general towards all men, much more if he make the pretence of Brotherly Love, the ground of alienating his Affection from the residue of mankind, can have no assurance that the Love he so professeth is sincere, incorrupt, genuine, and without dissimulation. But this special Love is the special Duty of us all, if we believe the Gospel, and without which foundation well laid, we can rightly discharge no other mutual Duty whatever. Now this, as is evident, we cannot have, unless we have a perswasion of the only ground of this Love, which is our mutual Relation unto Jesus Christ. And to act this Love aright as to its object as grounded on this perswasion, take heed of evil surmises, these are the bane of Evangelical Love, though some seem to make them their Duties. Those concerning whom we hear that they make profession of Faith and Obedience towards our Lord Jesus Christ, and know not that they any way contradict their Profession by wicked works, we are obliged to bear the same Love towards, as if we knew them sincere.
