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النشر الإلكتروني

SERMON III.

Above all these things, put on charity: Col. iii, 14.

How afflictive was the view to our good apostle, of what himself either was in his unbelieving days, or of what he saw unbelievers every where practising! Hear how he describes it: "We ourselves also (who are now renewed by the grace of God) were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful (unto) and hating one another." Distressing consideration, that creatures of the same race, all alike God's workmanship, should be set on to envy and hate, to fear and devour one another; that the face of the earth should be overspread with ill will, and the voice of resentment, rage, and violence be every where heard ; that every man should be an enemy to every other; that upon causes little or great, discontent, clamour, bitterness, strife, tumults, war, bloodshed, should rise up and deform the peace of mankind. Lovely charity, the healer of this hell upon earth! Jesus, blessed peace-maker, manifested to dissolve the works of the devil, deliver us from ourselves, mortifying the baneful principles of contention in us; set up thy peaceful dominion in our hearts, teach us thy love, to love one another as thou hast loved us!

I have already shewn you that the rise of Christian love is in a vital union with Jesus Christ, whereby we are made living members of his kingdom, and our hearts drawn up to a love of, and conformity to God. We entered also into a more particular inquiry after the exercises and influence of brotherly love; and, after having advanced that the immediate effect of love in the soul was a universal well-wishing to others in their spiritual and temporal interests, we proposed to consider the exercise of Christian love in both these regards.

As to the spiritual interests of others, we set forth last Lord's day how love shewed itself towards those who are out of the way of salvation.

Now therefore we are to view it in its actions towards those, who appear to be children of God in Jesus Christ, walking with God as dear children. Here it will be sufficient to shew that well-wishing love rejoices in their spiritual welfare-gladly contributes to their advancement-is grieved for the decays of any of them-studies to live peaceably and affectionately with them-delights in their Christian fellowship.

1. Love rejoices in the spiritual welfare of others. The beloved and tender-hearted disciple says of himself, "I have no greater joy, than to hear that my children walk in the truth." So St. Paul expresses his consolation in the saints that are upon earth, "My brethren," he calls them, "dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown ;" and elsewhere, "what is our hope or joy, or crown of rejoicing, are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his

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coming?" And lest you should imagine there was any party selfishness in their joy, observe how James and the elders received St. Paul's account of his ministry and success; "when they heard what things God had wrought among the Gentiles by his ministry, they glorified God."

Now this joy in the saints is so signal a fruit of faith in Jesus Christ, and consequently a mark of a good state, that St. Paul particularly mentions it among the fruits of the Spirit, as he leads us out towards our brethren; "the fruit of the Spirit is love;" and then he next adds, "joy," whereby he plainly means (as appears by the duties respecting our brother that follow it) a real rejoicing over the souls of others. And let common sense speak; when we wish well to the interest of another, can we do otherwise than rejoice when his affairs prosper and succeed?

Let us examine our hearts by this rule. Is it a real unfeigned pleasure to us, when we see any seeking the kingdom of God? Do we find our hearts rise towards them with delight? Yea, and this notwithstanding they may differ from us in opinion, and perhaps have conceived some prejudices against us; still can we take satisfaction in them as our brethren, because of their holy and Christian conversation? Will we suffer no disgusts to harbour in our hearts against them, and this too, if they set out a more edifying example and carriage than ourselves, and thereby be a cause of lessening men's esteem of us? If so, we love indeed in reality, and not in pretence.

But how contrary this to the practice of the formal

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professor. If the sight of a serious Christian, who contends for the faith and practice of Christ's religion, walking closely after his Maker's example in a nonconformity to the world, his own lusts, and the fashions of others, as far as they contradict God's will and the interests of the Redeemer's kingdom-I say, if the presence of such a one be offensive to you, if you are secretly disgusted at him, nor can endure him because he carries religion farther than yourselves; you are angry at him because in some lesser things he doth not think in your way, and are apt to pick out every fault you can find in him, passing by and making no account in your mind of his godly deportment; in such case you are certainly without Christian love. For "charity rejoiceth in the truth," and see if you have any other reason for disliking such a one, but because of his pious and self-denying conversation; otherwise you could be well enough reconciled to him, if he would do like others; but you cannot bear he should be so precise and particular. I would God you would diligently read over, whatever you are, the history of the rage and malice of the Pharisees against our Lord, inquiring upon what cause they hated and persecuted him as they did. It might be the means of shewing you that you have too much of that spirit in yourselves.

2. Love gladly doth contribute to their spiritual advancement. St. Paul, though he had never seen the Romans, yet tells them, he longed to do so, that he might "impart to them some spiritual gift, to the end that they might be established." Love wants to be useful and helpful, to promote and edify; is willing

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to spend and be spent in advancing others, according to its abilities and opportunities. St. Peter would not be backward in that delightful work; if it were possible he would be of service when he should be no more, and could no longer speak; "I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth: yea, I think it meet as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance. Moreover I will endeavour that may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance." Love hath a watchful eye, jealous of another's soul. to admonish, exhort, and Love hath an open heart, to communicate its fears, and a tender hand, to do all in the spirit of meekness. Love is ready to communicate what it can. Love doth all things to edifying. Love lays no stumblingblocks in the way of the weak. seeketh not her own pleasure or humour. considereth another's weal. Love, in a word, hath the mind of Christ Jesus, who went about doing good, "who came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many."

Love hath a ready tongue, provoke unto good works.

Love

Love

I cannot stop to tell you what courses love takes to promote another's welfare. It were endless to set about it. They will be as various as the circumstances and abilities of one another. But in this work love is continually employed. Wilfully it doth nothing to the hindrance-gladly it doth any thing to the furtherance of another's salvation.

The point is, whether our hearts and hands be in

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