Preached Augufl 17. 1662. 151 with bitter- hearts : Hear what the Text faith, A new commandt give untoyou, 8ce. Wherein, Firft, you have the command, A new command Igive untoyou; It is not left to our diferetion, but, we are bound to it by vertue of a command, A new command Igive untoyou. Secondly,This command ,is inforced by Chrifts ownexample,as have loved you. It is called a new command, but love is an old com- mand, this Law is written in the nature of man. It is engraven in every mans heart by nature and it is an old command, becaufe founded among Gods antient. Statutes, the antient records of his Law, I but it is a new command too, becaufe preffed by a new ex-, ample ofChrift, as Ihave lovedyou, fo do you love one another.. Doa Chrigians ought to make confcience of thiS dutyof love mean.. other.Confident Iant wefhal:never feeReligion thrive in the world,: until we fee this grace oflove fiourifh in the hearts of Chriflians: For the Illuftration of this propofition, I (hall do there two` things ; Firft,Thew you the truth of this love; Secondly theex., tent of this love, Firff, truth of this love ; If you love one another,. faith Chrifr fee you do it purely, not cliffemblitiOut from the heart, iJoh.3.i8. my litre children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue, but in deed; and in truth ; diffembling love is like painted fire that will never warm ; we muff not be like the Bee, that !lath honey in her mouth,. but withal hath a fling in her tail; we muff not pretend to love, to have honey in the mouth, but withal have the fling of malice in- the heart; no laid the Apoille, let us- love indeed and in truth. Secondly, Extent of our love ; this Fountain of love muff. run.. in three ftreams., t. We muff tove all men, love their perfons, although we muff not love their fins, we have all the fame make, the fame lump anct mould, and therefore muff love; there is a natural love that every creature bears to his own- fpecies and kind. 2. Our lovemuff efpecially fiream out to the Saints of God, the houthold offaith. It is with our love,as it is with our fire,you keep fire all day upon the hearth, but upon fpecial occafions youdraw it outlarger;fo our love muff always burn to all : I but to the Saints- you muff draw out the fire, inlarge your affeCtions, we muff love as God loves, he.doth elpecially love the-Saints, love theSaints, love every creature with a common love,but efpecially the new creature; and indeed there is that in every true Saint, thatmay excite and al- lureour love. What are thegraces of the spirit, but fo many pearls toadorn the. Bride of chrift ? what is holinefs in the heart, but the im-
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