ftianity. There is fo manifeftly, when perfons S ER M. think the very affumed name it felf a criterion XVII. enough of a Chriftian, and fo would ftretch that which is peculiarly Chriftian love to a proportionable latitude. As very often the Chriftian name is affumed, and taken on by fuch perfons as understand not, nor believe any more of the Christian religion than mere Pagans. As to them it is by mere hap that ever that name comes upon them. As if it were enough to make a Chriftian, only to live on fuch or such a turf; or as if because they think it fit and convenient to call themselves Christians, therefore they must be accounted as fuch; and under that confideration be owned, refpected, and loved as fuch without any difference, though all their practices hold forth nothing less than a perpetual avowed hoftility unto Chrift, as it is with too many others.

I WOULD indeed allow to that profeffion as much of respect as can, with any appearance of juftice, be understood duly to belong to a name; and fuch are to be loved fuitably to the ftate and condition they are in. But totally to mistake their ftate and condition, and then to exercise love to them without difcrimination according to that mistake, certainly there is a great injury done in this cafe especially where the case is so very apparent, that perfons more fignificantly fhew themselves what they are by what they do, than can be known by what they are called. And then,

I.

VOL. (2) WHEN the notion of Chriftianity is too much narrowed and restrained, or of those whom we are to account and love as Chriftians. The whole Chriftian fraternity is confined by fome to those of their own party, or particular way and perfuafion in respect of some little things, altogether extra-effential and circumftantial only to religion. And fo Christian love comes to be confined to, and is exercised only within this little circle. This is a very great injury on the other hand; and the fame thing in effect as to fay, Lo, here is Christ, and there he is; yea, it is to say exclufively here he is, and no where elfe! And it is as great a fault to fay he is not where indeed he is, as to fay he is where he is not. Love to Christians, as Chriftians, furely ought to run a larger courfe. And again,

2. WHEN the principle of love doth languish. Suppofe the object of it to be stated never fo rightly, without any error or mistake, the languor and decay of the principle does every whit as much intrench upon the law of love, and is a more injurious violation of it, than a mistaking the object. When love fo exceedingly fails a. mong Chriftians as fuch, that upon reflection it is hardly to be known whether any fuch thing be alive or at work or no; when, I say, our love fo waxes cold, it is, as our Saviour intimates, a time of great iniquity. And it is plain he means it of that love that ought to have its exercise to Chriftians, fellow Chriftians, and not merely of love to himself. For in the context you will find

him fpeaking of perfons betraying one another; SER M. and hating one another; and then he adds, Be- XVII. caufe iniquity fhall abound, the love of many fhall' wax cold". And indeed the cause is very manifeft and obvious to be from thence, from the abounding of iniquity.

HE that loveth a Christian as a Christian, must be understood to love Chriftianity it felf proportionably more. That which makes a thing fuch, is more fuch; that which makes a perfon lovely, is more lovely. To love Chriftians as Christians, is to love their religion. But now, when once the iniquities of the times abound, many who loved profeffors before grow cool in their love. It was taken up for their conveniency, and it is laid down for their conveniency, according as may best serve their turn.

Now this coldness of love among Chriftians confidered as fuch is a dreadful token, how little and flight an account foever is made of it. The law of love doth not only fay, Love your brother or one another; but with a pure heart fervently. And it is not a little that is contributed to the life and vigour of religion it self, by the vigour and lively exercise of this love. Therefore this great duty is recommended upon this very account, and with this defign that our hearts may be established in holiness. The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one towards another, and towards all men, even as we do towards you; to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable

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Matth. xxiv. 12.

1 Pet. 1. 22.

VOL. in bolinefs before GOD even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jefus Chrift with all his faints.

I.

3. AN unaptness to take care of avoiding offences among Chriftians is another breach of this fame law of love. Too many lay no restraints upon their fpirits in this matter at all, or have no confideration of the cafe; never saying, "Shall "I offend by this or that, or shall I not?” And others are as faulty in being apt to take offence, where the matter carries none in it. They are tefty, froward, and captious, fo that no one knoweth how to converfe with them, or careth to have to do with them, or to be of their fociety. And again,

4. THAT I may haften through many things, which I would at this time say to you in the close of all this long difcourfe, a very great difficulty either to give or receive fatisfaction, is very unfuitable to the love of our brother.

To give fatisfaction: how are the spirits of many straitened and bound up in this cafe, by their own pride and felf-conceit, and the great opinion which they have of themselves! As if it were a far greater reflection to fay, "Sir, I "have done wrong;" than it is to do another wrong. Or that men must needs give out themfelves to be of fomething above a mortal human race, that it is impoffible they fhould ever have offended, or ever do amifs. How great mifchiefs would one fuch word as this fometimes prevent, among thofe with whom we have a fa

I Theff. 111. 12, 13

miliar

miliar converse, "Sir, I confefs I have not done SERM, "well in fuch a thing, pray pafs it by !" That XVII. great precept of confeffing our faults to one another, and praying for others, how is it quite thrown out of doors now-a-days! how rare instances are there of any fuch kind of practice!

AND there is as great an unaptnefs on the other hand to receive fatisfaction. Perfons infift highly upon the wrong, and cannot abate fo much as one punctilio. Such things as forbearance and forgiveness, where there is an offence and wrong done, how little do they obtain in common practice in our time! And it is amazing to think that the moving inforcements which we have in fcripture of that one thing, should fignify fo little among us. Forgive ye one another the trefpaffes that ye commit one against another, even as Gop for Chrift's fake freely forgave us, Oh what! fhould not fuch a confideration as that is prevail with Chriftian hearts to forgive, when it is confidered how freely GOD for Chrift's fake is faid to forgive us? Be kind to one another, iender hearted, forgiving one another, even as GOD for Christ's fake bath forgiven you. And again,

5. A MUTUAL fhynefs and ftrangeness to one another, without a fufficient caufe, is alfo unfuitable to this brotherly love. Many Chriftian friends grow of a fudden ftrangers to one another, and no one can tell how or whence it hould be. It may be the perfon that is paffive

Jam. v. 16.

Eph. iv. 32. Col. 111. 12, 13.

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