...011111M1 184 Perfec5l Love gives Boldnefs. S E x M. all our heart andfoul and mind ; it is a go- VIII. verning, and the greateft love, not fuch as is without all defect, which may be called finful, for tho' that may be laid to be our duty, elfe we should have no reafon to condemn ourfelves for defects, vet in the Old Teftatnent where the exprefíion is ori- ginally ufcd, it is intended to fignify no more than fincerity : for it expreffes the condition of the covenant God made with then, which certainly was not impra ticable, or above the reach of the prefent human capacity; and it is frequently attributed to particular good men who were far from be- ing altogether faultlefs. But, it is farther to be obferved, that this integrity of a virtuous temper and character, has no limits fet to it, no precife bounds to which it (hall tonne, and no farther. The higheft powers of our nature, and in their bell Rate, feem to be making continual progrefs ; there is always room for the enlargement of the underftanding and increafe in kcowledge, 'tis probable the mind will have the plea - fure of making continually farther advance- ment this way ; and for the moral capacities, experience teaches us that they grow; if chriftians do not find it fo, they are them. felves
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