And, let us remember, though love will fhew itfelf in all good works, yet there may be many which feem to be fuch, without this divine principle. We may give all our goods to feed the "poor, and give our body to be burned, and not "have love." The Pharifces, in our Saviour's time, "were highly celebrated for "doing alms," and would "compafs fea and land to make a fingle "profylite." Yet his all-feeing eyes detected thefe hypocrites, as entirely deftitute of love either to God or man *. Where love is real, its poffeffor willfuffer long, and be kind; envy not; vaunt "not himself; be not puffed up; behave not him"felf in any way unfeemly; feek not even his "own; be not easily provoked; think no evil; "rejoice not in iniquity, but rejoice in the truth; "bear all things; believe all things; hope all "things; endure all things +." It has been rightly termed," the bright conftellation of all virtues "or graces." It is the fruitful fource of whatever is good, excellent, and amiable. It creates an heaven in the breast. It diffuses the beams of happiness around it. Were it universal, this earth would be a paradife. It never faileth; but, when prophecies, and tongues, and knowledge, fhall all fail, and vanifh away, love fhall remain, and form the brightest jewel in our crown of glory. Nay, it is the very effence of God himfelf. "Be"loved," whatever we do, then, "let us love one another!

* See Mat. xxiii- 15.—vi. 1, &c.Luke xi. 44. &c. t. Cor. xiii. 2, to 8.

another for love is of God; and every one "that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. "He that loveth not, knoweth not God: for "GOD IS LOVE *."

Wherever the infpired writers thus ftrongly enforce love towards our brethren, they always confider it, as arifing from obedience to "the firft and "greateft commandment," love towards God. It can indeed, where it is real and heart-felt, have no other fource. We are by nature selfish beings. We may, indeed, in our natural ftate, do kind actions, which may appear for our credit, or to perfons from whom we hope a return. We may provide for the wants of our families and friends, because they are ours. We may requite a benefit, because done to us. An Herod may give any thing, even to the half of his kingdom, because a damfel dances to please him t. As Kempis obferves, with his ufual depth of truechristian experience, " Many actions affume the appearance of charity, that are wholly felfifh. and carnal; for inordinate affection, felf-will,. "the hope of reward, and the defire of perfonal "advantage and convenience, are the common "motives, that influence the conduct of men ‡.

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*

But

1 John iv. 7, 8. + See Mark vi. 22, & 23. Payne's Tranflation, Bock 1. chap. 15. What fatisfaction muft it afford to all the friends of genuine religion,. that the "imitation of Chrift" has been tranflated into al moft every language of Europe; and has paffed through more editions than any book excepting the Bible, to which alone, perhaps it may yield the palm of fuperiority. How wonderful that it was written by a Papist, and a Recluse !!

But to love with a pure heart fervently," to love univerfally all God's creatures, not merely friends, but even enemies; this can arife only from our being "partakers of the divine nature," born of God to a new and fpiritual life, by faith in Jefus Christ, even the faith which we are confidering, "faith which worketh by love," by love to Chrift, love to God, love to all his creation. The apoft!e John exhorts," that he who loveth God, love

his brother alfo *;" well knowing that he alone, who does indeed love God, can truly love his brother. The true love of the one, and of the other, muft ftand or fall together. If any man "fay, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is "a liar ;"" if we love him that begat, we must "love him alfo that is begotten of him;" fo if we really love our brethren of mankind "made "after the fimilitude of God," then, and then, only can we truly "have the love of God in us §."

Now, my dear friends, afk your own hearts, as in the presence of God, Do you poffefs this certain teft of true faving faith, even a pure and ardent love to God and Man? How would these words. faulter on the tongues of fome! "Lord, thou "knoweft all things: thou knoweft that I love "thee." How would fome of you dread a difclosure of the felfish principle, which influences. all your conduct towards mankind! How affi.. duously do many of you" feek honour one of "another, neglecting the honour which cometh from

1 John iv, 21. Ver. 20. 1 John v. 1 § John

from God only. How then can ye believe *." With what care do you ftrive to amafs the smallest portion of "the unrighteous mammon" to the neg lect of the true riches!" Oh, my friends, what dreadful fcenes will be laid open, in that great day, when the fecrets of all hearts fhall be "revealed!" How will the falfe and hollowhearted profeffor of religion then ftand aghaft! he who was ever foremoft in all outward acts of devotion, who has been ready to say of himself to God the zeal of thine houfe hath even con"fumed me," and whose actions, if not his words, continually proclaimed to men, "Come ye, and "fee my zeal for the Lord!" Oh, how will fuch an one tremble with difmay, when God "fhall ma"nifeft the counfels of his heart!" It is dreadful to think of the appearance which will then be made by fome, of whom "all men speak well" in this world; the fmooth-tongued hypocrites, who profefs themselves every one's dearest friend; who would be thought to intereft themselves in the concerns of every man; and to forget only their own. "Ifrael (faith God by his Prophet) is an empty vine: he bringeth forth fruit to himfelf t." And, of how many of you, on the great day, will he make the fame declaration, while the affembled universe of men and angels are witness to its truth! But, remember! fpeaking of Chriftians, the apoftle fays, "None of us liveth to "himfelf; and no man dieth to himself. For, "whether

"whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and, "whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether "we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's *." Now, my brethren, can you truly fay this? Do you live unto the Lord, and not unto your felves? Do you live, and do all these things, to the glory of God, in Chrift, and the happiness and well-being of all his creatures, especially his true difciples, his adopted children in the gracious Redeemer, whom he has declared to be dear to him, as "the apple of his eye?": Is this love of God and man the great ruling principle of all your conduct, from which, as fo many streams iffuing. from an everflowing fountain, all your actions continually fpring? If not, I leave you to draw the felf-evident conclufion. You may yourselves know, whether ye be in the faith;" and you cannot for an instant doubt, after what has been already brought forward, that if not in the faith, then are you not in Chrift, you have no intereft in him, and whatever he may be to others, while you continue thus, he is no Saviour to you; but you are filling up the meafure of your iniquities," "until wrath come upon you to the uttermoft."

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If it were to be afked, "How does faith work "by love? or, by what medium does the princi"ple of faith in Chrift difplay itfelf in love to "God and man?" The anfwer is plain. "Till we believe in Chrift, with a true faving faith, we may fear God, but we cannot truly love him Many