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Our two governing and directive ́ Powers are the Understanding, and the Will. The Discovery of Truth and the Enjoyment of Good employ our whole Capacity. And when these two Powers have their free Scope and Exercife, when they mutually affist and adminifter to each other, the Whole is orderly and excellent: But if either takes upon it, to act without a due regard to the other, Diforder and Mifery, internal and external, muft neceffarily enfue.

How closely foever these two Powers are united, and, as it were, wedded together into one Spirit; and how much foever what is excellent and orderly depends upon their conjugal Harmony; yet we know, by tco fatal Experience, that they often separate, and pursue different and interfering Interests, and Pleasures; and that fuch a State is always attended with domeftick Difcord, inteftine Jars,

Jars, and Self-upbraidings. But when the Understanding is engaged in the Search of Truth; and Love is fhed abroad in our Hearts; then it is that we are full of Grace and Truth; then it is that Righteoufnefs and Peace kifs each other; then are we the Temples of God who dwelleth between thefe Cherubims.

What has been hitherto faid, by way of general Introduction only, will appear with fufficient Evidence from a particular Enquiry into the Import or Meaning of the Apostle's Words--which I Speaking the Truth in Love --fhall now proceed to make under the three following Heads.

First, I fhall enquire what we are here to understand by Speaking the

Truth.

Secondly, What it is to speak the Truth in Love: And,

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Thirdly, What the Connection between these two Branches may be, and their Confequences when they meet or are united together.

First then, the original Word (danbevoles) which is here tranflated Speaking the Truth, feems to be much more fignificant and comprehenfive; it ought not to be limited to the Act of the Tongue; it more immediately relates to the Exercife of the Understanding, and fignifies to purfue or fearch after Truth. It is very evident, that the Particular in which we excel all the other Creatures upon the Earth is our Understanding. In every other thing we find one or other of them very fuperior to us. 'Tis this only that gives us the Preeminence in the Scale or Gradation of Beings. There is not one of those Powers, which we enjoy in common with the inferior Part of the Creation, but is attended with its fpecial Advan

tages

tages and Pleasures; and we are generally at full Liberty to exercife them without Referve. Our Reafon only (our chief Endowment, given us to prefide over, to guide and regulate all the reft) has been denied the free Exercife of its Faculties, has been represented as a dangerous Power fitter to be extinguifh'd than exerted. The Eye nay range through the infinite Variety of Objects provided for it; may continually entertain it felf with new Wonders; may call in the Affiftances of Art to reach the more dif tant, and to perceive the minute Objects; whilst the Mind of Man, tho' form'd for a nobler Light, for a more extenfive and delightful Scene, has been check'd in its moft natural and important Searches; and Inactivity as well as Darkness have been deem'd its moft fuitable Entertainment. But as this is, I thank God, far from being the Cafe of our Country at prefent,

I fhall not pursue this Observation any further. Whatever Darkness worse than Egyptian, whatever fpiritual Blindness, our fuperftitious Neighbours (thofe of the Church of Rome especially) ftill groan under, we of this Church and Nation, it must be allowed, have the free Exercife of this most valuable Branch of Liberty, and fo far at least have Light in all our Dwellings.

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But to proceed It is evident not only from our internal Experience of the Peace and Perfection of our Minds, and from what we daily fee promoting or disturbing the external Order and Happiness of Society, but alfo from the Inftructions left us by him, who was the Way, the Truth, and the Life, that Moral and Religious Truths do above all others deferve our Attention and Diligence. For how eafy would it have been for him, by whom God made the Worlds, and

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