218 Loving Chrill above all, S E R M. and to purify unto himfelf a, peculiar people zeal IX. ous of good works : He loved his church, and `rte gave himf If for, it ; that he Haight fanElify and cleanfe it, with the wafhing of water, by the word ; that he might prefent it unto himfelf a glorious church, not having fpot or wrinkle, or any fuch thing ; but that it fhould be holy and without blemifh *. Upon the whole then, it is evident that the love of Chrift, or the love df God, rnanifeftly contains in it the love of righte- oufnefs and goodnefs, effentially importing a difpoution to pratife it ; and if we mean any thing elfe feparate from, and unconnet- ed with this, we certainly deceive ourfelves. Some kern to place it in an unintelligent zeal and warmth of imagination, without confidering the true charater of the objet; expreffing itfelf by an intemperate heat for fpeculative notions and external circum- ftances, fuppofed to belong to the religion of Chrift, with violence againft all, who are differently minded concerning them. tut, furely a rational love to any perfon, is founded on jet apprehenfions of his real charater, and it fhows itfelf by a Rudious imitation of him, and a conftant endeavour * Eph. v. 25, 26, 27. to
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