196 Perfebi Love gives Boldnefs S E R M. can be, or as the frailty of our nature in VIII. this flate will allow. It is faid in the verfe immediately preceeding the text, he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, fir God is love ; that's the greateft intimacy of fellow - íhip we can have with the fuprerne being, and the neareft refemblance to his glorious charaeter. I took notice before, from the words of our Saviour, that to be merciful is to be perfef, as our heavenly father is; or to make the neareft approach that finite frail beings 'can make to the original foun- tain and pattern of all moral excellence. But becaufe the divine perfection is too high for us thoroughly to comprehend, though we fhould always be followers of him, as dear children, it has pleafed God to bring virtue nearer to the level of our capacity in the exemplary life of our Lord Jefus Chrift, who was holy, harmlefs, undefiled, and feparate from finners, and who in the days of his flefh went continually about doing good. Since, then, we profefs to abide in him, let us walk as he did. I fuppofe it will not be thought . any violence to the text, to comprehend in its meaning, that we have boldnefs in the judgment or confidence towards Jefus Ghr himfelf the judge, becaufe the like mind is in
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