me, (faid he) for an Example, when he washed his 1697. Servants Feet. O he was meek and lowly indeed, and feeing his Love was fo great to them, and is alfo to us, let us love him again, not with feigned Love, but with Love that may manifeft us to be his Followers; and in this Love let us love one another; for this Intent our Lord iffued forth his royal Command, which is this, A new Commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another, as I bave loved you, that ye alfo love one another: By this fball all Men know that ye are my Difciples, if ye have Love for one another, John xiii. 34, 35. Chrift's Love was unfeigned to his Difciples, nay, to all the World in general; for what greater Love can there be, than for a Man to lay down his Life for his Friend; and he not only laid down his Life for his Friends, but for his Enemies also, Rom. v. 10. So that his Love was great and unfeigned: We ought with the fame Love to love him again, fince that he loved us firft; and this cannot be without Obedience to his Commands. Thus undoubtedly we fhould with true Love love him, and one another: This Love is exceeding precious, it thinks no Evil, and we may be fure, will not do any willingly or knowingly. If a Man feeth his Neighbour or Brother in that which is not Right, he prayeth to the Lord to help him, and tenderly admonisheth him; yea, if having this Love he woundeth, his Wounds are faithful, for faithful are the Wounds of a Friend, Prov. xxv. 6. He that is thus endued with Love, is not hindered from reproving his Brother, but if there be a Caufe, it rather ftirs him up to be faithful therein, without refpect of Perfons. O the Love that is raised in them that love the Lord above all, it is great to the Sons and Daughters of Men; it doth wonderful Things; it is valiant for God; it overcomes its Enemies: It is not overcome with Evil, but it often overcomes Evil with Good: It fmiteth Sin ia the Gate (that is, in its firft Appearance) before it be

entered

1697. entered into Man, fo as to fubject him thereunto; it gets Victory over the Devil, for he cannot ftand before God's Love. I would to God that People did but know the Virtue of Love to Chrift, and one another in him, it would cause them, for the Enjoyment thereof, to forfake all Manner of Enmity one against another, and all Things elfe, how near or dear foever; yea, though they were as a right Hand or a right Eye, they would be forfaken for its Sake, and for the Sake of him that firft loved us: And then we fhould ftrive, through the Ability of his Grace, (even the Grace or Spirit which he told Paul was fufficient for him) to love him again, and our Neighbour as ourself; but this curfed Self is loved too much, and our Neighbour too little.

Paul, the Apoftle of Chrift, did not after his Converfion hate his Neighbour, nor was he in Enmity with them; indeed when he was Saul, he did opprefs and injure his nearest Neigebours and chiefest Friends, for that blind Zeal was part of that Body of Sin and Death that was upon him, and from which by the Help of Chrift's Grace, he was delivered, and came to love his Enemies; and for their Good hazarded his Life: And for his Love to Chrift laid it down, as many holy Martyrs have done fince his Time. Surely they had not much Regard for Self then! Tho' it is a common Expreffion now a Days, Every Man for himself, and God for us all; But if every one were for his Neighbour or his Brather as much for himself, God would be the more for us all. But this Self Love is in the Sight of the Lord an Abomination, and the Great, Eternal God, abhors it: Therefore were the firft and second Commandments given forth.

If all People would obey these two Commandments, the whole Law and the Prophets, yea, and the Gospel too, would be all obeyed.

But

But this Self is a great Enemy unto Mankind, and 1697. doth very much hinder his eternal Happiness; it shuttéth the Ear from bearing the Caufe of the Widow and Fatherless, or of the Needy, and drowns the Cry of the Oppreffed; to which we ought not only to lend an Ear, but alfo to adminifter Relief, according to their Neceffity, and our Ability. But Mankind is too apt to defpife the bafe or low Things of the World, and to join with that which is pleasant to the Eye, and agreeable to the Luft of the Heart (like Dives the rich Glutton of Old, who loved Self better than poor Lazarus) but do not consider that which is lafting, and would do them Good for ever. How fhall I express the excellent Glory and eternal Sweetness of this Love to the Lord and our Neighbour? Oh! how is my Soul grieved, and how doth my Spirit mourn before the Lord, when I fee any walk contrray to the Commands of Chrift, or that are in Enmity to the Truth, and in Hatred one to another, even from my tender Years, ever fince God Almighty opened my Understanding, and made known to me him that is true: And my Cry hath been many Times to him, to keep and preferve me in his true Love and Fear to the End of my Days; in Love both to him and the Brethren: But more especially to those that do his Will (altho' there is univerfal Love in my Heart to all.) Chrift faid, For whofover shall do the Will of my Father which is in Heaven, the fame is my Brother, and Sifter, and Mother, Matt. xii. 50. Therefore my Love is more singly unto those. The Apostle alfo thus writes concerning Love to the Brethren; We, (fays he) know that we have passed from Death unto Life. (How did they know it?) because we love the Brethren: He that loveth not his Brother, abideth in Death, John iii, 14. Are they then in Death that are in Enmity with the Brethren? Affuredly they are, For this Enmity is Sin; And the Wages of Sin is Death, Rom. vi. 23. and thofe that are therein, are dead

1697. while they live. I with, and heartily pray to the God, and Father of Spirits, that from the Snares of Death his People may for ever be preferved.

Now I would fhew People fome of the many Snares of Death and Satan.

First, Some People are too apt to judge one another, and to speak Evil of Things they know not, except by Report and Suppofition, which too often lets in Enmity, and is not according to the Mind of Christ, but is a Snare of the Enemy of Man's Salvation. Surely if People were fenfible thereof, they would not fo hardly cenfure one another: For indeed, weought to be well fatisfied before we give Judgment, and then it ought to be in Love, and not in Enmity. It is better to fuffer, than to cenfure, or to be judged, than to judge Judge not, that ye be not judged, Matt. vii. 1. faid the Judge of Heaven and Earth. But People are too much poffeffed with Uncharitableness and Revenge one towards another, and are not fo ready to forgive one another their Trefpaffes, as the Almighty is to forgive them: Tho to forgive one another their Trefpaffes, be every Chriftian's Duty, and without which, we cannot juftly expect God to forgive us our Trefpaffes, as Chrift taught, Matt, vi.

14, 15.

Secondly, Perfecution for Righteoufnefs Sake, alfo is another great Branch of that corrupt Tree, which never did, and never will bring forth good Fruit, but must be cut down by the Ax of God's Power, which is laid to the Root of every corrupt Tree, in order to cut it down; and the Lord will burn it with unquenchable Fire. It is the true Church's Lot to be perfecuted, but she never perfecutes any; for he that is her High Prieft for ever, commanded quite the contrary, viz. Love to Enemies, and to do Good to them that hated them, and to pray for them that despitefully used and perfecuted them, Matt. v. 44. They were alfo to rejoice, and to be exceeding glad

when

when all manner of Evil was spoken falfly against them 1697. for Christ's Sake; because great fhould be their Reward in Heaven; and Chrift obferves, that fo they perfecuted the Prophets, Matt. v. 11, 12.

Thirdly, Many ate rebelling against God, and do ing Despite to the Spirit of Grace in their own Hearts, and trefpaffing one against another, not living in Love, but in Enmity against God and one another. The Judgment of Man is terrible to the Rebellious, how much more if Men rebel against God, our Saviour, will his Judgment be juft and dreadful, as he hath not only Power to kill the Body, but can afterwards caft the Soul into Hell? Oh! that the Sons and Daughters of Men would but fear to offend him, the King of eternal Glory. Ifrael, of old, his own peculiar People, did fear and tremble before him ; even all their Hoft, his Prefer ce was fo dreadful, Exod. xix. 18. And a noble King made a Decree, that Men fhould fear and tremble before the living God, Daniel vi. 26.

Oh! that all would work out their Salvation with Fear and Trembling, according to Scripture Teftimony, Phil. ii. 12. I defire all People might thus love the Lord, then fhould we fear exceedingly to offerid him: Alfo if one Man did truly, love another very well, were the Cafe thy own, thou wouldst very unwillingly offend him, whom thou loveft dearly. So if we love Chrift in Deed, and in Truth, thed we should fear to offend him, and must of Neceffity love one another alfo: So fhall we fufil the great Commands, that the whole Law and the Prophets hang on.

Fourthly, I have alfo many times been grieved, when I have heard Curfing and Swearing, and the Lord's Name taken in vain, which many too much abound in (by Sea and Land) and too little confider, that God will not hold them guiltless. Exod. xx. . I am fure this is far from obeying him. Oh! the

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