t P~t. t. u. Jjoh. .,.7. SE R M 0 N IV. ~a~n5J~:~~h~~1~/! ~:~~~~~~d0~~~~ftr~L~:~~~h~J~:i~~~v~~~a~~~~ci!,~s0~v?th ~rj~~~;! in Nature, that has th~ eifential Parts that compofc a Man ; a Soul endowed 1rith all 1ts Faculnes, a Body Wlth. all 1~s Organs and Parts, but not in the V1gor of mature Age.. Thus r~newcd Hohnefs 10 a <;:hriiha~, JS compleat and entire in its Parts, bur not 10 Perfecbon of _Degrees; there 1s an umverfa! Inclmat10n to all that is holy, jufl ~~ddgr~~~~e~~~e Ch~~i~~~~a~v::~~~nc~ll~ ~~~~~~Yid~~~ ~~c~~t fo~~;~nb~~~:r:lq~~: ncrati?n there is co~municated a Prin~iplc of~ife and futable Opcrations,from whence the T1tle and Relat10n of a Father anfes; fo 10 Regeneration there are derived fuch holy and heavenly Qualities to the Soul, as conftitutc a Divine Nature in Man, whereby he is Partaker of the Life and Likenefi of God himfel f: from. hence he is a Child of God, and has an lnterell and Propriet:y in his Favour, Power and Promifes, and all the Good that flows from them, ond a Title to the Eternal Inheritance. !I. I will fhew what is included in our Love to the Children of God. Firj/, The Principle of this Love is Divine. The Soul is purifed throuzh the Spirit to u>ifeizned LO'lle of the Brethren.. Naturally the Judgment is corrupted, and the Will depraved, that carnal Refpects either of Profit or Pleafure are the quick and fenf1ble InCitements of Love ; and ull the Soul be cured of the fenfual Contagion, the Inclinati· on can never be d~rected, and the Defires faflned on the fupernatural Image of God in his Saints. As Hol10efs in the Creature is a Ray derived from the infinite Beauty of God's Holinefs, fo the Love ofHolmefs is a fpark from the facred Fire of his Love. St. John exhorts Chrifiians, Let us lO'Ue one another, for Love is of God. Natural Love a· mong Men is by his general Providence, but a gracious Love to the Saints is by h~ fpecial Influence. The natural Affection mull be faptized with the Holy Ghof/, as JVitb Fire, to refine it to a Divine Purity. Secondly, The Qualifications of this Love arc as follow : 1. It is fincere and cordial; it does not appear only in Expreaions from the Tongue Lr:~~ut~~e~~~~:;e:~t,ifsr~r~~0n~t ~~eJr~:Jg:;J:fo~g~~eo;&:ah::t ;;~e!!J1:~d Tfu~fn~ counterfeit formal Affection, fet offwith artifici~l Colou:s, is fo far from being pleafmg to God, the Searcher and Judg of Hearts, that tiS mfimtely provokmg to him. 2 . 'Tis pure ; the attractive Caufe of it is the Image of God appearing in them. Our Saviour aifures us, that Love fhall be glorioufly rewarded, that rcfpects a Diftipl• up.. that account as a Di[ctple, and a righteous Man as a righteous Man. The holy Love commanded in the Gofpel, is to Chrillians for their Divine Relation, as the Children of God, as the Members of Chrill, and Temples of the Holy Gholl. 3· From hence it is univerfal, extended to all the Saints. The Church is compofed of Chriftians that are different in their Gifts and Graces,and in their external Order; fome excel in Knowleedg, and Zeal, and Love, in active Graces ; others in Humility, Meek. ncfs and Patience, that fuftain and adorn them in Sufferings; fome arc in a higher Rank, others are in humble Circumftances : as in the vifible World things are placed Curably to their Natures, the Stars in the Heavens, Flowers in the Earth : and our fpecial Re- ~fh~~a;hcd~~i~ht~~r[ea:J'~~w~l;eo~~~~e"J:i~~d,!~:cd~fc~~~d: f~~~~c~~~~~~, a:~.:~ are more Rcafons that make a Perfon deferving Love, the degrees of Love fhould rife in proportion. But a dear Aifecrion is due even to the loweft Saints; for all have Communion in the fame holy Nature, and are equally infrared in the fame bleffcd Alliance. 4• It muft be fervent, not only in Truth, but in a degree of Eminency. St. Peter joins the two q_uahfications; See that ye lO'Ue one another ll>itb a pu:e Heart J:rventJoh. If• lit ~~ ; 0TJ~j;~;~;~~:~;:~~:n~,S ~~:~~~~~~:~~:~~O~~J:r ~~~7l~e j~~;;O~.lr~~ VJ~~~::J you! Admirable Example ! His Love was fin gular and fuperlative; a Love that faves and aftonifhes us at once; for he willingly gave his precious Life for our Ranfom. Tlus we fl10uld endeavour to refemble, tho' our highcll Expreaions of Love and Compaflion to the Saints, are but a weak and imperfect Imitation of his Divine Perfection. I flmll add farther ; This Love includes all kmds of Love. x. The Love of Efleem correfpondcnt to the real Worth and fpecial Goodnels ofcl1e p:,l. •r· Saints. 'Tis one Character of a Citizen of Heaven, that in his Eyes a vtle Ferfon ' ' rc~;'~:U:~· J~~~~:e~ ~[r~~~{kth~~~':{J ~~el~ro~0~~fo:~ft~1:o~~~~~~~::fo~ ;hz.fr;; , , ' - ~ bonours
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