Boston - BT700 B7 1769

18o Trial of ot:e 'J Stutt, State rn. Qlatten; and on many other fuch like accounts, whereby ~ick~d men may be induced t.o Jov.e the godly. But happy toey, wh.o can love rhcmfor naked gra-ce in them; for their 'heaven· horn temper and difpofition! who can pick th i; pFarl eut of a dunghill of infirmities in and about them; Jay hotd on it, and love them for it. {2.) lt is a Jove that wi!J be -given to all, in whom the grace of God appe.ars. They th~t love one faint, becaufe he is -a taint, will have /l)ve to all th.~ foi!J!s, Eph.i.1). They \viU love ali, who, to their difcern– i ng, bear the iqmge of God. They that can net love a gra· cious perfon in rags, but confine th:ir love to th,efe of them who wear gay cloathing, have not this love to-the brethr.en in them. fhefe who can confi ,1e their love to a 'party, to whom God has not confined his grace, are fouls too narrow to b.e p~t among ~he chi ldren. in wh;tt p oints foever men differ from llS, in their judgment .Or way; ye t if they appear t-o agree witli us, 'in love to God, and our Saviour Jefut. Chnft, and in bearing his image, we wi ll Ion them as bre· thren, if we ourfelves be of the he avenly fam-i ly. And ( 3. ) If th is J.,ve he in us, t he more gr':l Ce any perfon appears to be ')'OtTeff-::d o f, be wi il 1 be the more beloved by us. The more vehemently the holy fire of gra ce dp th flame in any, the hearts of true ChriHians will be the more warmed in love to thom. It is not with the f\int a-s with many other men, who tnake th emfe\ves the fiand;~rd for otiJers; :md ' love them fo far as th ey think they are like themfel -ves: But~ ' if they feem to ou t· fh ine, and darken them, th ~ir .Jo:ve is tut:ned to hatred and er.\'y ;· a.nd they endea~aur to detra& from the due praife of their ex a~pl ary 'piety : becaufe no· thing re.Iifheth wi th them in the P\ acrice of religion,.. 't:bat goes bey<-md their own meafures. What of the lif~ and power of religion appear~ in others, ferves on.ly to raife the ferpentine grudge in their P harifaical hearts : l3ut a,s . .fo.t·· them that are bo.rn again; their Iove a-nd aff~&ion to the' ,brethren, bears proportion to the degrees of the &vine i• mage they difcern io them. · _ \ Now, if ye would improve t'hefe things to t heknowledge of your' Hat~, I would advife you, ( t.) To fet apa>rtfEm~e· time, when ye are at home, for a revie,MI of y.0ur cafe ; , and try your !tate ~ by what has been faid. Many have comfort and clearnefs as to their fiatc, at a fermoo, wh~ in , . a ,.

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