An enquiry into the original, nature, institution, power, order and communion of evangelical churches.…

1. The Principle of their collection into such Societies, next unto that of Faith in Christ Jesus, is Love unto all the Saints. For their conjunction being with some of them as such only, they must have a Love unto all that are so. And none of them would join in such Societies, if their so doing did in any thing impair their Love unto all the Disciples of Christ, or impede it in any of its Operations. And the Communion of these Churches among themselves, is and ought to be such, as that all of them do constitute as it were one Body and common Church, as we shall see afterwards. And it is one principal Duty of them, to stir up themselves in all their Members, unto a continual exercise of Love towards all the Saints of Christ, as occasion doth require; and if they are defective in this Catholic Love, it is their fault, contrary to the Rule and End of their Institution.

1. The Principle of their collection into such Societies, next unto that of Faith in Christ Jesus, is Love unto all the Saints. For their conjunction being with some of them as such only, they must have a Love unto all that are so. And none of them would joyn in such Societies, if their so doing did in any thing impair their Love unto all the Disciples of Christ, or impede it in any of its Operations. And the Communion of these Churches among themselves, is and ought to be such, as that all of them do constitute as it were one Body and common Church, as we shall see afterwards. And it is one principal Duty of them, to stir up themselves in all their Members, unto a continual exercise of Love towards all the Saints of Christ, as occasion doth require; and if they are defective in this Catholick Love, it is their fault, contrary to the Rule and End of their Institution.

2. Unto the constant expression and exercise of this Love, there are required, (1.) Present suitable Objects ⟨p. 122⟩unto all the Acts and Duties of it. (2.) A Description and Prescription of those Acts and Duties. (3.) Rules for the right performance and exercise of them. (4.) An End to be attained in their Discharge. All these things hath the Lord Christ provided for his Disciples, in the Constitution and Rule of these Churches. And a due Attendance unto them hath he appointed, as the Instance, Trial and Experiment of their Love unto all his Disciples. For whereas any might pretend such a Love, yet plead that they know not how nor wherein to express and exercise it, especially as unto sundry Duties mentioned in the Scripture as belonging thereunto, he hath provided this way, wherein they cannot be ignorant of the Duties of Love, required of them, nor of suitable Objects, Rules and Ends for their practice. It were too long to go over these things in particular; I shall only add (what is easily defensible) that Gospel-Love will never be recovered and restored unto its pristine Glory, until particular Churches or Congregations are reformed, and reduced to that exercise of Love without Dissimulation, which is required in all their Members among themselves: For whilst men live in Envy and Malice, be hateful and hating one another, or whilst they live in an open neglect of all those Duties, which the Lord Christ hath appointed to be observed towards the Members of that Society whereunto they do belong, as a Pledge and Evidence of their Love unto all his Disciples, no such thing can be attained. And thus is it in most Parochial Assemblies, who in the midst of their complaints of the Breach of Love and Union, by some mens withholding Communion in some parts of Divine Worship with them; yet besides the common Duties of Civility and Neighbourhood, neither know nor practise any thing of that Spiritual Love, Delight and Communion that