Of lovillt ottr Enemies. r47 as others explain it, they did not yet fuf ... ficieutly underfl:and the temper and genius of Chrifiianity; which is pur,·e and peace-– able, gentle and meek: (it!! ~( ;:weetne.f1·, and jitff of love. If me·n ·would imparti– ally examine their hatred and animofities againfi the enemies of their religion, I fear they wourd find thcn1 proceed fron1 a· principle which ~ thetnfdves would not wi l– lingly own. Pride and felf-conceit will n1ake a 1nan difd1in thofeof a different per~ {uafion; and think it: a difJ ~ar.agetnent to his judgment, that any ihould differ frotn it. Mere nature and felf-love will n1akc a n1an hate thofe who oppofe the intereff and advancen1ent of that party \vhich hin1felf has efpoufcd. Hence men are n1any: times ·n1ore difoleafed at fome fmall n1i- . 1 fiakes in judgment, than the greatdl: in1(- n1orali.ties in praclice; yea, pe1 haps, they will find a fecret pleafure, and'' icked fa– tis i ~t<:tion, in hearing or reporting the faults or fcandal of their adverfaries. Certainly t\1e power of rel,igion rigpdy prevailing in the foul, would mould us into another· tenlper : it would teach us to love and pit-y, and pray fot the pcrfon, as well as-. hate and condemn the errors they are fup– pofed tO. efpoufe; it \vould n1akc us wiih N 2: thehl
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