A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

1. Take heed of a froward natural temper. Wherever this is predominant, it either weakens Love, or sullies the Glory of its exercise. Some good persons have naturally so much of the Nabal in them, that a man scarce knows how to converse with them. They mingle all the sweet fruits of Love with so much harshness and sourness, as makes them ungrateful unto those who most need them. I think it is a mistake, that Grace only subdues our sinful corruptions; it will if cared for and used as it ought, cure our natural Dispositions, so far as any evil, or occasion of evil is as it were incorporated with them. If it maketh not the froward, meek, the angry, patient, the peevish and morose, sweet and compliant, how doth it make the Leopard lye down with the Kid, and the Wolf dwell with the Lamb, Isa. 11. 6. And it is not enough considered how great a Lustre is put upon the exercise of Love, when it is accompanied with a natural condescension, compliance and benignity.

1. Take heed of a froward natural temper. Wherever this is predominant, it either weakens Love, or sullies the Glory of its exercise. Some good persons have naturally so much of the Nabal in them, that a man scarce knows how to converse with them. They mingle all the sweet fruits of Love with so much harshness and sowrness, as makes them ungrateful unto those who most need them. I think it is a mistake, that Grace only subdues our sinful corruptions; it will if cared for and used as it ought, cure our natural Dispositions, so far as any evil, or occasion of evil is as it were incorporated with them. If it maketh not the froward, meek, the angry, patient, the peevish and morose, sweet and compliant, how doth it make the Leopard lye down with the Kid, and the Wolf dwell with the Lamb, Isa. 11. 6. And it is not enough considered how great a Lustre is put upon the exercise of Love, when it is accompanied with a natural condescension, compliance and benignity.

2. Watch against the disadvantages of an outward condition. Those of high degree are usually encompassed with so many circumstances of distance, that they know not how to break through them unto that familiarity of Love that ought to be among Believers. But as the Gospel on all civil or secular accounts leaves unto men all their Advantages of Birth, Education, Offices, Power, manner of converse, free and entire, so with respect unto things purely Spiritual it lays all level among Believers. In Jesus Christ there is neither Jew nor Greek, Barbarian nor Scythian, bond nor free, but all are one in Christ, and it is the new Creature alone that makes the difference. Hence in all affairs of the Church we are forbid to have any respect unto the outward state and condition of men,