Moreover, if he says, he loves Christ, yet doth not his sayings, he is also a liar, and the truth is not in him, or, Christ is not in him; who said, "I am the truth;" and thus man becomes reprobated; for Paul, writing to the brethren, saith," Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith, prove your own selves; know ye not, your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?" 2 Cor. xiii. 5. Which in-dwelling of Christ is a great mystery to many; although Christ within (which the apostles preached) was the hope of the saints' glory. Col. i. 27. And, Oh! how earnest was Christ in prayer to his Father, that his followers may be one in him, and that they may be united together in one. John xvii. Such was the love of Christ to his church; now, what remains on the church's part, since Christ has done his part, surely it is, that we love him again; for, saith John," He that loveth not, knoweth not God; for God is love." 1 John, iv. 8. They that dwell in enmity, are not the children of God, but the children of satan, who always hated the appearance of Christ, the light of the world; and yet stirreth up those that are led by his dark spirit, to war against him, and his seed, in his children; who said, "I am the light of the world.”

But indeed it is as Christ hath said, "Men love dark. ness rather than light;" and how strange is it, seeing the one is so glorious, and the other so miserable? But the reason is, as Christ hath showed, "because their deeds are evil." John iii. 19. That is indeed the very cause; for if their deeds were good, they would love the light, which is Christ Jesus, the Lord of life and glory; and bring their deeds to him, that he might judge them; who will give righteous judgment to every man according to his works, John v. 29. The righteous will have their portion in the resurrection of life, joy, and peace, in the Holy Ghost; but the wicked in the resurrection of damnation. Oh! that I might be instrumental in the hand of the Lord, to open the eyes of some that are spiritually blind, that they might see the splendour, the beauty, and the great glory of the dear Son of God, that most excellent light which God hath

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prepared, according to good old Simeon's testimony of him. "Thou hast (says he) prepared him a light to enlighten the gentiles, and to be the glory of thy people Israel." Luke iii. 32. A glorious light indeed! Truly, methinks every body should be in love with him. For my part, he is my chiefest joy. I would not part with him for all the pomp and vain glory of the world; neither would I have the shining beams, and glorious rays, (which comfort me for well doing, and reprove me for, and discover, the contrary) clouded from my sight and understanding, for the finest gold, or choicest rubies. Such is my love to Christ, the bridegroom of souls; but, by the way, it hath cost me many a tear, and many groanings in my spirit, before I came thus to enjoy Christ, who is the beloved of all the redeemed. Oh! may I never give him cause to withdraw himself from dwelling in me. Oh! the universal love of Christ: it is everlasting to them that are open-hearted unto him, and to all that will hear his voice, so as to obey it; for, says he, "I stand at the door and knock," (that is the door of the heart of man) "if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." Rev. iii. 20. And John says, "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us: God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him." 1 John iv. 16. A heavenly habitation, and glorious dwelling-place! Who would but endeavour to dwell in love, and forsake enmity, that they might attain unto such eternal happiness, as to have their abode with the Lord.

This fulfilleth the words of Christ. "For he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you." John xiv. 17. How was he to be in them? A comforter for well-doing, that they might have the hope of glory, and a reprover for sin, self-righteousness, and wrong judgment. Indeed it was the great love of God in thus sending his beloved Son, a light into this dark world, to shew people their evil deeds, and to condemn sin in the flesh: for he is the sinful world's condemnation, as well as a saviour and justifier of the righteous and holy believer. The Jews of old hated him, and many of them did in

tend to darken his bright and shining light; but some of the Jews believed on him, and, after they came truly to believe on his name, spread his gospel of truth and glad tidings amongst the children of men, and also suffered for his name's sake. It is also said, "He came unto his own, and his own received him not; but as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." John i. 11, 12. But what say such to him as account themselves spiritual Jews (seeing the apostle tells us, "He is not a Jew that is one outwardly." Rom. ii. 28.) I mean those that call themselves by his name; why many of them trample upon his light and appearance, and despise the spirit of his grace, which is a swift witness against evil, and lets men see what is good, and what is bad, comforts for the one, and brings judgment and condemnation for the other. I can truly say, I would with my whole heart, that God did dwell a comforter in all (or Christ, or the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit, which are all one) but this can never be, while sin remains and has an evil root in mankind. "An evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit." By this we may know christians from anti-christians, and lovers of Christ from them that love him not: if we love him we become subjects to him, subject to do his will. Oh! it is a brave station to be subjects of the King of heaven, and if we love him unfeignedly, with all our might and mind, and our neighbours (or them that are already his subjects) as ourselves, and with the sword of the spirit valiantly encounter with the devil and satan; Oh! then shall we be his subjects, and he will receive us into his warfare, and through him we shall be victorious, for the Lamb and his followers will have the victory. I would press people in love into this warfare, having commission from my master and Lord (I mean spiritual) by shewing them what anxiety of soul, and distress of mind, they will procure to themselves, by living in enmity to the Lord and his saints. Oh! my soul, I charge thee, with all those that have any regard to the holy Jesus, obey the commands of the Lord, and love his followers,

or thy neighbour as thyself. Let his universal spirit of love to all dwell in thee, Oh! my soul!

I would have all to cast down that which they glory in (that is not right in his sight) at his footstool, and do like the poor penitent woman, that lay and wept at his feet. Luke vii. 38. She thought all little enough to get into his favour. Christ himself also was meek and lowly; "Learn of me," said he. Mat. xi. 29. All power in heaven and earth was given unto him; "Take me (said he) for an example;" when he washed his servants feet. Oh! he was meek and lowly indeed, and seeing his love was so great to them, and is also to us, let us love him again, not with feigned love, but with love that may manifest us to be his followers; and in this love let us love one another; for this intent our Lord issued forth his royal command, which is this, "A new commandment give I unto you, that ye love one another as I have loved you, that ye also love one another: by this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love for one another." John xiii. 34, 35. Christ's love was unfeigned to his disciples, 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 same love to love him again, since that he loved us first; and this cannot be without obedience to his commands. Thus undoubtedly we should, with true love, love him, and one another: this love is exceedingly precious; it thinks no evil, and we may be sure will not do any willingly or knowingly. If a man seeth 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 cause, it rather stirs him up to be faithful therein, without respect of persons. Oh! 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 smiteth sin in the gate (that is, in its first ap pearance) before it be entered into man, so as to subject him thereunto; it gets victory over the devil; for he cannot stand before God's love. I would to God that people did but know the virtue of love to Christ, and one another in him, it would cause them, for the enjoyment thereof, to forsake all manner of enmity one against another, and all things else, how near or dear soever; yea, though they were as a right hand or a right eye, they would be forsaken for its sake, and for the sake of him that first loved us: and then we should strive, through the ability of his grace (even the grace or spirit which he told Paul was sufficient for him) to love him again, and our neighbour as ourself; but this cursed self is loved. too much, and our neighbour too little.

Paul, the apostle of Christ, did not, after his conversion, hate his neighbour, nor was he in enmity with them; indeed, when he was Saul, he did oppress and injure his nearest neighbours 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 Christ's grace, he was delivered, and came to love his enemies, and for their good hazarded his life; and, for his love to Christ, laid it down, as many holy martyrs have done since his time. Surely they had not much regard for self, then! Though it is a common expression now-a-days, Every one for himself, and God for us all:' but if every one were for his neighbour, or his brother, as much as 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 first 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 this self is a great enemy unto mankind, and doth very much hinder his eternal happiness; it shutteth the