How happy would be the condition of Gods people in this world? How sweet and amiable would their conversing together be? How honourable to God and Christ, and to the Gospel of Truth and Peace in the sight of all? if their love to every Divine truth, and mutually among themselves, in the truth, and for the truths sake, did so shine forth, that it might be said of them, as it was observed and said in former times by Heathen Persecutors; See how these Christians love one another? This is the real character of Christs Disciples, and a proper effect of that purity of heart, which proceeds from effectual faith in Jesus Christ; therefore the Apostle Peter saith in, 1 Pet. 1.22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the Brethren: See that ye love one another with a pure ⟨image ?⟩heart fervently. But here is one maim and misery, that, as our knowledge of the truth is imperfect, •o our love to it, and one to another is imperfect; though the way of love […] a more excellent way, as the Apostle argueth, 1 Cor. 13. From the defect hereof, or herein, it is, that differences in apprehensions cause such distances and animosities among those who agree in fundamentals, through the remainders of flesh, even in the regenerate; though we are taught whereto we have already attained, to wa•k by the same rule, and to mind the same thing, expecting, that if in anything we be otherwise minded, God will reveal this unto us, Phil. 3.15, 16. As for needless contradictions, and causeless oppositions, what do they else but weaken the hearts and hands of Saints in the work of the Lord, and strengthen adversaries in their malicious and subtle designs and enterprises against the truth? Both which might be prevented, if Gods people would stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving for the faith of the Gospel. Wisdom expecteth to be justified of her Children, and therefore teacheth them to cry after knowledge, and to lift up their voice for understanding, to seek her as silver, and to search for her as for hid treasures. Which is to be done by searching the Scriptures diligently, with fervent prayer, for the illumination of the spirit of truth, that we may find those spiritual treasures which yet he hid in these rich Mines. Though all the words of wisdom's mouth are plain to him that understandeth and right to them that find knowledge;
HOw happy would be the condition of Gods people in this world? How sweet and amiable would their conversing together be? How honourable to God and Christ, and to the Gospel of Truth and Peace in the sight of all? if their love to every Divine truth, and mutually among themselves, in the truth, and for the truths sake, did so shine forth, that it might be said of them, as it was observed and said in former times by Heathen Persecutors; See how these Christians love one another? This is the real character of Christs Disciples, and a proper effect of that purity of heart, which proceeds from effectual faith in Jesus Christ; therefore the Apostle Peter saith in, 1 Pet. 1.22. Seeing ye have purifyed your souls in obeying the truth through the spirit unto unfeigned love of the Brethren: See that ye love one another with a pure ⟨image ?⟩heart fervently. But here is one maim and misery, that, as our knowledge of the truth is imperfect, •o our love to it, and one to another is imperfect; though the way of love 〈…〉 a more excellent way, as the Apostle argueth, 1 Cor. 13. From the defect hereof, or herein, it is, that differences in apprehensions cause such distances and animosities among those who agree in fundamentals, through the remainders of flesh, even in the regenerate; though we are taught whereto we have already attained, to wa•k by the same rule, and to mind the same thing, expecting, that if in anything we be otherwise minded, God will reveal this unto us, Phil. 3.15, 16. As for needless contradictions, and causless oppositions, what do they else but weaken the hearts and hands of Saints in the work of the Lord, and strengthen adversaries in their malicious and subtil designs and enterprises against the truth? Both which might be prevented, if Gods people would stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving for the faith of the Gospel. Wisdom expecteth to be justifyed of her Children, and therefore teacheth them to cry after knowledge, and to lift up their voice for understanding, to seek her as silver, and to search for her as for hid treasures. Which is to be done by searching the Scriptures diligently, with servent prayer, for the illumination of the spirit of truth, that we may find those spiritual treasures which yet he hid in these rich Mines. Though all the words of wisdom's mouth are plain to him that understandeth and right to them that find knowledge;
