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39 - Catholic Spirit - Sermons on Several Occasions · Philosophy and Faith

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Speaker 1: Catholic spirit. And when he was departed, thence he lighted
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Speaker 1: on Johonadab, the son of Rechab, coming to meet him.
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Speaker 1: He saluted him and said to him, is thine heart
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Speaker 1: right as my heart is with thy heart? And Johonadab answered,
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Speaker 1: it is, if it be give me thine hand. Second Kings,
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Speaker 1: Chapter ten, verse fifteen. It is allowed even by those
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Speaker 1: who do not pay this great debt, that love is
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Speaker 1: due to all mankind. The royal law, thou shalt love
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Speaker 1: thy neighbor as thyself, carrying its own evidence to all
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Speaker 1: that hear it, and that not according to the miserable
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Speaker 1: construction put upon it by these zealots of old times.
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Speaker 1: Thou shalt love thy neighbor, thy relation, acquaintance, friend, and
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Speaker 1: hate thine enemy. Not so I say unto you, said,
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Speaker 1: our Lord, love your enemies, Bless them that curse you,
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Speaker 1: Do good to them that hate you, and pray for
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Speaker 1: them that despitefully use you and persecute you, that ye
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Speaker 1: may be the children may appear so to all mankind
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Speaker 1: of your Father, which is in heaven, who maketh his
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Speaker 1: son to rise in the evil and on the good,
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Speaker 1: and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
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Speaker 1: But it is sure there is a peculiar love which
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Speaker 1: we owe to those that love God. So, David, all
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Speaker 1: my delight is upon the saints that are in the earth,
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Speaker 1: and upon such as excel in virtue, and so a
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Speaker 1: greater than he. A new commandment I give unto you,
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Speaker 1: that ye love one another as I have loved you,
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Speaker 1: that ye also love one another. By this shall all
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Speaker 1: men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have
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Speaker 1: love one to another John thirteen, thirty four, and thirty five.
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Speaker 1: This is that love on which the apostle John so
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Speaker 1: frequently and strongly insists, this saith. He is the message
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Speaker 1: he heards from the beginning, that we should love one another.
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Speaker 1: First John three eleven. Hereby perceive we the love of God,
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Speaker 1: because He laid down his life for us, and we
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Speaker 1: ought if love should call us there too, to lay
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Speaker 1: down our lives for the brethren Verse sixteen. And again, Beloved,
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Speaker 1: let us love one another, for love is of God.
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Speaker 1: He that loveth not knoweth not God. For God is
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Speaker 1: love four seven to eight. Not that we loved God,
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Speaker 1: but that He loved us and sent his son to
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Speaker 1: be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved. If God so
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Speaker 1: loved us, we ought also to love one another Verses
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Speaker 1: ten and eleven. All men approve of this, but do
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Speaker 1: all men practice it? Daily experience shows the contrary. Where
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Speaker 1: are even the Christians who love one another as He
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Speaker 1: hath given us commandment? How many hindrances lie on the way.
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Speaker 1: The two grand general hindrances are first that they cannot
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Speaker 1: all think alike, and in consequence of this, secondly they
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Speaker 1: cannot all walk alike. But in several smaller points their
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Speaker 1: practice must differ in proportion to the difference of their sentiments.
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Speaker 1: But although a difference in opinions or modes of worship
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Speaker 1: may prevent an entire external union, yet need it prevent
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Speaker 1: our union in affection? Though we cannot think alike, may
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Speaker 1: we not love alike? May we not be of one heart?
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Speaker 1: Though we are not of one opinion? Without all doubt
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Speaker 1: we may herein all the children of God may unite.
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Speaker 1: Notwithstanding these smaller differences, these remaining as they are, they
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Speaker 1: may forward one another in love and in good works. Surely,
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Speaker 1: in this respect the example of yehooms himself as mixed
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Speaker 1: a character as he was of is well worthy. Both
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Speaker 1: the attention and imitation of every serious Christian. And when
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Speaker 1: he was departed, thence he lighted on Johonadab, the son
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Speaker 1: of Reka, coming to meet him, and he saluted him
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Speaker 1: and said to him, is thine heart right as my
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Speaker 1: heart is with thy heart? And Johonadab answered, it is,
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Speaker 1: if it be give me thine hand. The text NAT
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Speaker 1: should devise itself into two parts. First, a question proposed
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Speaker 1: by Jehu to Johonadab, is thine heart right as my
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Speaker 1: heart is with thy heart? Secondly, an offer made on
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Speaker 1: Johonadab's answering, It is, if it be give me thine hand.
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Speaker 1: And first let us consider the question proposed by Jehu
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Speaker 1: to Johonadab, Is thine heart right as my heart is
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Speaker 1: with thy heart. The very first thing we may observe
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Speaker 1: in these words is that here is no inquiry concerning
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Speaker 1: Johonadab's opinions. And yet it is certain he held some
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Speaker 1: which were very uncommon, indeed quite peculiar to himself, and
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Speaker 1: some which had a close influence upon his practice, on
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Speaker 1: which likewise he laid so great a stress as to
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Speaker 1: entail them upon his children's children, to their latest posterity.
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Speaker 1: This is evident from the account given by Jeremiah many
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Speaker 1: years after his death. I took jaz and Iah and
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Speaker 1: his brethren and all his sons, and the whole house
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Speaker 1: of the Racabites, and set before them pots full of
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Speaker 1: wine and cups, and sit unto them, drink ye wine.
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Speaker 1: But they said, we will drink no wine for Jonadab
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Speaker 1: or Johonadab, the son of recab our father. It would
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Speaker 1: be less ambiguous if the words were placed thus. Jehonadab
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Speaker 1: our father, the son of Recab and of love and reverence,
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Speaker 1: to whom he probably desired his descendants might be called
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Speaker 1: by his name, commanded us, saying, ye shall drink no wine,
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Speaker 1: neither ye nor your sons forever. Neither shall ye build house,
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Speaker 1: nor sow seed, nor plant vineyard, nor have any but
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Speaker 1: all your days ye shall dwell intense. And we have
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Speaker 1: obeyed and done according to all that jonadab Our father
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Speaker 1: commanded us Jeremiah chapter thirty five or three through ten.
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Speaker 1: And yet Jehu, although it seems to have been his manner,
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Speaker 1: both in things secular and religious, to drive furiously, does
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Speaker 1: not concern himself at all with any of these things.
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Speaker 1: But lest johonadab abound in his own sense, and neither
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Speaker 1: of them appears to have given the other the least
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Speaker 1: disturbance touching the opinions which he maintained. It is very
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Speaker 1: possible the many good men now also may entertain peculiar opinions.
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Speaker 1: Some of them may be as singular herein as even
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Speaker 1: Johonadab was. And it is certain, so long as we know,
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Speaker 1: but in part, that all men will not see all
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Speaker 1: things alike. It is an unavoidable consequence of the present
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Speaker 1: weakness and shortness of human understanding, that several men will
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Speaker 1: be of several minds in religion as well as in
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Speaker 1: common life. So it has been for the beginning of
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Speaker 1: the world, and so it will be till the restitution
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Speaker 1: of all things. Nay farther, Although every man necessarily believes
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Speaker 1: that every particular opinion which he holds is true, for
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Speaker 1: to believe any opinion is not true is the same
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Speaker 1: thing is not to hold it. Yet can no man
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Speaker 1: be assured that all his own opinions taken together are true. Nay,
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Speaker 1: every thinking man is assured that they are not seeing
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Speaker 1: humanem estererare at Nesquierre to be ignorant of many things,
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Speaker 1: and to mistake in some is the necessary condition of humanity. This, therefore,
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Speaker 1: he is sensible is his own case. He knows in
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Speaker 1: the general that he himself is mistaken, although in what
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Speaker 1: particulars he mistakes he does not. Perhaps he cannot know.
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Speaker 1: I say, perhaps he cannot know. For who can tell
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Speaker 1: how far invincible ignorance may extend, or that come the
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Speaker 1: same thing invincible prejudice, which is often so fixed in
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Speaker 1: tender minds, that it is afterwards impossible to tear up
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Speaker 1: what has taken so deep a route. And who can say,
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Speaker 1: unless he knew every circumstance attending it, how far any
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Speaker 1: mistake is culpable. Seeing all guilt must suppose some concurrence
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Speaker 1: of the will, of which he only can judge who
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Speaker 1: searcheth the heart. Every Wise, man therefore will allow others
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Speaker 1: the same liberty of thinking which he desires they should
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Speaker 1: allow him, and will no more insist on their embracing
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Speaker 1: his opinions than he would have them to insist on
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Speaker 1: his embracing theirs. He bears with those who differ from him,
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Speaker 1: and only asks him with whom he desires to nite
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Speaker 1: in love. That single question is thy heart right as
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Speaker 1: my heart is with thy heart. We may secondly observe
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Speaker 1: that here is no inquiry made concerning Jehonadab's mode of worship,
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Speaker 1: although it is highly probable there was in this respect
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Speaker 1: also a very wide difference between them. For we may
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Speaker 1: well believe Johonnadab, as well as all as posterity, worship
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Speaker 1: God a Jerusalem, whereas Jay who did not, he had
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Speaker 1: more regard to state policy than religion. And therefore although
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Speaker 1: he slew the worshippers of bail and destroyed bail out
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Speaker 1: of Israel, yet from the convenient sin of Jeroboam the
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Speaker 1: worship of the golden calves he departed not set in
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Speaker 1: Kings ten twenty nine. But even among men of an
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Speaker 1: upright heart, men who desire to have a conscience void
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Speaker 1: of offense, it must needs be that as long as
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Speaker 1: there are various opinions, there will be various ways of
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Speaker 1: worshiping God. Seeing a variety of opinion necessarily implies a
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Speaker 1: variety of practice. And as in all ages men have
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Speaker 1: differed in nothing more than in their opinions concerning the
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Speaker 1: Supreme Being, so in nothing have they more differed from
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Speaker 1: each other than the manner of worshiping him. Had this
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Speaker 1: been only in the heathen world, it would not have
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Speaker 1: been at all surprising, For we know these, by their
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Speaker 1: wisdom knew not God, nor therefore could they know how
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Speaker 1: to worship Him. But is it not strange that, even
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Speaker 1: in the Christian world, although they all agree in the
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Speaker 1: general God is the Spirit, and they that worship Him
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Speaker 1: must worship Him in spirit and in truth, yet the
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Speaker 1: particular modes of worshiping God are almost as various as
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Speaker 1: among the heathen. And how should we choose among so
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Speaker 1: much variety. No man can choose for or prescribe to another.
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Speaker 1: But every one must follow the dictates of his own
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Speaker 1: conscience in simplicity and godly sincerity. He must be fully
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Speaker 1: persuaded in his own mind, and an act according to
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Speaker 1: the best light he has. Nor has any creature power
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Speaker 1: to constrain another to walk by his own rule. God
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Speaker 1: has given no right to any of the children of men,
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Speaker 1: thus to lord it over the conscience of his brethren.
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Speaker 1: But every man must judge for himself, as every man
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Speaker 1: must give an account of himself to God. Although therefore
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Speaker 1: every follower of Christ is obliged by the very nature
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Speaker 1: of the Christian institution to be a member of some
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Speaker 1: particular congregation or other, some church, as it is usually termed,
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Speaker 1: which implies a particular manner of worshiping God, For who
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Speaker 1: cannot walk together unless they be agreed. Yet, none can
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Speaker 1: be obliged by any power on earth, but that of
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Speaker 1: his own conscience, to prefer this or that congregation to another,
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Speaker 1: this or that particular manner of worship. I know it
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Speaker 1: is commonly supposed that the place of our birth fixes
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Speaker 1: the church to which we ought to belong, That one,
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Speaker 1: for instance, who is born in England ought to be
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Speaker 1: a member of that which is styled the Church of England,
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Speaker 1: and consequently to worship God in the particular manner which
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Speaker 1: is prescribed by that ch church. I was once a
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Speaker 1: zealous maintainer of this, But I find many reasons to
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Speaker 1: abate of this zeal. I fear it is a tender
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Speaker 1: with such difficulties as no reasonable man can get over,
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Speaker 1: not the least of which is that if this rule
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Speaker 1: had took place, there could have been no reformation from popery.
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Speaker 1: Seeing it entirely destroys the right of private judgment on
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Speaker 1: which that whole reformation stands. I dare not therefore, presume
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Speaker 1: to impose my mode of worship on any other. I
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Speaker 1: believe it is truly primitive and apostolical. But my belief
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Speaker 1: is no rule for another. I asked not therefore, of
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Speaker 1: him with whom I would unite in love? Are you
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Speaker 1: of my church, of my congregation? Do you receive the
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Speaker 1: same form of church government and allow the same church
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Speaker 1: officers with me? Do you join the same form of
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Speaker 1: prayer wherein I worship God? I inquire not do you
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Speaker 1: receive the Supper of the Lord in the same posture
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Speaker 1: and manner that I do? Nor whether in the administration
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Speaker 1: of baptism you agree with me in admitting sureties for
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Speaker 1: the baptized, in the manner of administering it, or the
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Speaker 1: age of those to whom it should be administered. Nay,
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Speaker 1: I ask not of you, as clear as I am
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Speaker 1: in my own mind, whether you allow baptism and the
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Speaker 1: Lord's Supper at all. Let all these things stand by.
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Speaker 1: We will talk of them if need be, at a
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Speaker 1: more convenient season. My only question at present is this,
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Speaker 1: is thine heart right as my heart is with thy heart?
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Speaker 1: But what is properly implied in the question. I do
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Speaker 1: not mean what did Jaehu imply therein? But what should
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Speaker 1: a follower of Christ understand thereby when he proposes it
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Speaker 1: to any of his brethren. The first thing implied is
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Speaker 1: this is thy heart right with God. Dost thou believe
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Speaker 1: his being in his perfections, his eternity, immensity, wisdom, power, justice,
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Speaker 1: mercy and truth. Dost thou believe that He now upholdeth
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Speaker 1: all things by the word of His power, and that
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Speaker 1: he governs even the most minute, even most noxious to
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Speaker 1: his own glory and the good of them that love him.
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Speaker 1: Hast thou a divine evidence, a supernatural conviction of the
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Speaker 1: things of God. Dost thou walk by faith, not by sight,
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Speaker 1: looking not at temporal things, but things eternal. Dost thou
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Speaker 1: believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, God over all blessed forever.
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Speaker 1: Is He revealed in thy soul. Dost thou know Jesus
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Speaker 1: Christ and Him crucified. Does he dwell in thee and
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Speaker 1: thou in him? Is he formed in thy heart? By faith?
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Speaker 1: Having absolutely disclaimed all thine own works, thine own righteousness.
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Speaker 1: Hast thou submitted thyself unto the righteousness of God, which
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Speaker 1: is by faith in Christ, Jesus art thou found in Him,
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Speaker 1: not having thine own righteousness, but the righteousness which is
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Speaker 1: by faith. And art thou through Him fighting the good
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Speaker 1: fight of faith and laying hold of eternal life. Is
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Speaker 1: thy faith an her gamini de agappis filled with the
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Speaker 1: energy of love. Dost thou love God. I do not
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Speaker 1: say above all things, for it is both an unscriptural
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Speaker 1: and an ambiguous expression. But with all thy heart and
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Speaker 1: with all thy mind, with all thy soul, and with
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Speaker 1: all thy strength, dost thou seek all thy happiness in
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Speaker 1: Him alone. And dost thou find what thou seekest. Does
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Speaker 1: thy soul continually magnify the Lord and thy spirit rejoice
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Speaker 1: in God thy Savior. Having learned in everything to give thanks,
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Speaker 1: dost thou find it is a joyful and a pleasant
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Speaker 1: thing to be thankful. Is God, the center of thy soul,
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Speaker 1: the sum of all thy desires. Art thou accordingly laying
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Speaker 1: up thy treasure in Heaven and counting all things else
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Speaker 1: dung and dross hast the love of God. Cast the
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Speaker 1: love of the world out of thy soul. Then thou
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Speaker 1: art crucified to the world. Thou art dead to all below,
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Speaker 1: and thy life is hid with Christ in God. Art
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Speaker 1: thou employed in doing not thine own will, but the
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Speaker 1: will of Him that sent THEE, of Him that sent
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Speaker 1: THEE down to sojourn here a while, to spend a
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Speaker 1: few days in a strange land, till having finished the
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Speaker 1: work he hath given THEE to do, thou return to
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Speaker 1: thy Father's house. Is it thy meet and drink? To
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Speaker 1: do the will of thy Father, which is in Heaven.
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Speaker 1: Is thine eye single in all things, always fixed on Him,
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Speaker 1: always looking unto Jesus. Dost thou point at Him? And
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Speaker 1: whatsoever thou doest, and all thy labor, thy business, thy conversation,
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Speaker 1: aiming only at the glory of God. In all whatsoever
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Speaker 1: thou doest, either in word or deed, doing it all
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Speaker 1: in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks unto God,
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Speaker 1: even the Father through him? Does the love of God
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Speaker 1: constrain THEE to serve him with fear, to rejoice unto
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Speaker 1: Him with reverence. Art thou more afraid of displeasing God
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Speaker 1: than either of death or hell. Is nothing so terrible
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Speaker 1: to THEE as the thought of offending the eyes of
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Speaker 1: His glory upon this ground. Dost thou hate all evil ways,
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Speaker 1: every transgression of His holy imperfect law. And herein exercise
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Speaker 1: thyself to have a conscience void of offense toward God
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Speaker 1: and toward man. Is thy heart right toward thy neighbor.
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Speaker 1: Dost thou love as thyself all mankind without exception? If
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Speaker 1: you love those only that love you, what thank have ye?
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Speaker 1: Do you love your enemies? Is your soul full of
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Speaker 1: good will? Of tender affection toward them? Do you love
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Speaker 1: even the enemies of God, the unthankful and unholy der
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Speaker 1: bowels yearn over them? Could you wish yourself temporarily accurse
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Speaker 1: for their sake? And do you show this by blessing
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Speaker 1: them that curse you? And praying for those that despitefully
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Speaker 1: use you and persecute you. Do you show your love
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Speaker 1: by your works? Why you have time, as you have opportunity.
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Speaker 1: Do you, in fact do good to all men, neighbors
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Speaker 1: or strangers, friends or enemies, good or bad? Do you
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Speaker 1: do them all the good you can endeavoring to supply
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Speaker 1: all their wants, assisting them both in body and soul
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Speaker 1: to the uttermost of your power. If thou art thus minded,
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Speaker 1: may every Christian say YEA, if thou art but sincerely
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Speaker 1: desirous of it, and following on till thou attain. Then
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Speaker 1: thy heart is right as my heart is with thy heart.
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Speaker 1: If it be, give me thy hand. I do not
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Speaker 1: mean be of my opinion. You need not. I do
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Speaker 1: not expect or desire it. Neither do I mean I
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Speaker 1: will be of your opinion. I cannot. It does not
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Speaker 1: depend on my choice. I can no more think than
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Speaker 1: I can see or hear. As I will keep you
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Speaker 1: your opinion I mine, and that as steadily as ever.
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Speaker 1: You need not even endeavor to come over to me
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Speaker 1: or bring me over to you. I do not desire
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Speaker 1: to dispute those points, or to hear or speak one
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Speaker 1: word concerning them. Let all opinions alone on one side
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Speaker 1: and the other only give me thine hand. I do
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Speaker 1: not mean embrace my modes of worship, or I will
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Speaker 1: embrace yours. This also is a thing which does not
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Speaker 1: depend either on your choice or mine. We must both
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Speaker 1: act as each is fully persuaded in his own mind.
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Speaker 1: Hold you fast that which you believe is most acceptable
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Speaker 1: to God, and I will do the same. I believe
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Speaker 1: the episcopal form of church government to be scriptural and apostolical.
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Speaker 1: If you think the Presbyterian or independent is better, Think
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Speaker 1: so still and act accordingly. I believe infants ought to
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Speaker 1: be baptized, and that this may be done either by
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Speaker 1: dipping or sprinkling. If you are otherwise persuaded, be so
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Speaker 1: still and follow your own persuasion. It appears to me
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Speaker 1: that forms of prayer are of excellent use, particularly in
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Speaker 1: the Great Congregation. If you judge extemporary prayer to be
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Speaker 1: of more use, act suitable to your own judgment. My
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Speaker 1: sentiment is that I ought not to forbid water wherein
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Speaker 1: persons may be baptized, and that I ought to eat
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Speaker 1: bread and drink wine as a memorial of my dying master. However,
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Speaker 1: if you are not convinced of this act, according to
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Speaker 1: the light you have, I have no desire to dispute
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Speaker 1: with you one moment upon any of the previous heads.
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Speaker 1: Let all these smaller points stand aside, Let them never
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Speaker 1: come into sight. If thine heart is as my heart,
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Speaker 1: if thou lovest God and all mankind, I ask no
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Speaker 1: more give me thine hand. I mean, first, love me,
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Speaker 1: and that not only is thou lovest all mankind. Not
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Speaker 1: only is thou lovest thine enemies or the enemies of God,
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Speaker 1: those that hate THEE that despitefully use THEE and persecute THEE,
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Speaker 1: not only as a stranger, as one of whom thou
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Speaker 1: knowest neither good nor evil. I am not satisfied with this. No,
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Speaker 1: if thine heart be right as mine with thy heart,
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Speaker 1: then love me with a very tender affection, as a
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Speaker 1: friend that is closer than a brother, as a brother
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Speaker 1: in Christ, a fellow citizen of the New Jerusalem, a
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Speaker 1: fellow's soldier engaged in the same warfare under the same
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Speaker 1: captain of our salvation. Love me as a companion in
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Speaker 1: the kingdom and patience of Jesus, and a joint air
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Speaker 1: of His glory. Love me, but in a higher degree
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Speaker 1: than thou dost the bulk of mankind, with the love
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Speaker 1: that is long suffering and kind, that is patient. If
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Speaker 1: I am ignorant and out of the way, bearing and
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Speaker 1: not increasing my burden, and is tender, soft and compassionate,
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Speaker 1: still that envieth not if at any time it please
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Speaker 1: God to prosper me in his work even more than THEE,
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Speaker 1: Love me with the love that is not provoked either
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Speaker 1: at my follies or infirmities, or even at my acting.
22:39
Speaker 1: If it should sometimes so appear to thee not according
22:43
Speaker 1: to the will of God, love me so as to
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Speaker 1: think no evil of me, to put away all jealousy
22:49
Speaker 1: and evil surmising love me with the love that covereth
22:54
Speaker 1: all things, that never reveals either my faults or infirmities,
22:58
Speaker 1: that believeth all things, is always willing to think the
23:02
Speaker 1: best to put the fairest construction on all my words
23:05
Speaker 1: and actions, that hopeth all things, either that the thing
23:10
Speaker 1: related was never done, or not done with such circumstances
23:14
Speaker 1: as are related, or at least that it was done
23:17
Speaker 1: with a good intention, or in a sudden stress of temptation,
23:21
Speaker 1: And hope to the end that whatever is amiss will,
23:26
Speaker 1: by the grace of God be corrected, and whatever is
23:29
Speaker 1: wanting supplied through the riches of His mercy. In Christ Jesus,
23:35
Speaker 1: I mean secondly, commend me to God in all thy prayers,
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Speaker 1: wrestle with Him in my behalf, that He would speedily
23:45
Speaker 1: correct what he sees amiss and supply what is wanting
23:49
Speaker 1: in me in thy nearest access to the throne of Grace.
23:53
Speaker 1: Beg of Him who is then very present with THEE,
23:56
Speaker 1: that my heart may be more as thy heart, more
24:00
Speaker 1: right both toward God and toward man, that I may
24:04
Speaker 1: have a fuller conviction of things not seen, and a
24:07
Speaker 1: stronger view of the love of God in Christ Jesus,
24:11
Speaker 1: may more steadily walk by faith not by sight, and
24:16
Speaker 1: more earnestly grasp eternal life. Pray that the love of
24:21
Speaker 1: God of all mankind, may be more largely poured into
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Speaker 1: my heart. That I may be more fervent and active
24:29
Speaker 1: in doing the will of my Father which is in Heaven,
24:32
Speaker 1: more zealous of good works, and more careful to abstain
24:36
Speaker 1: from all appearance of evil. I mean, thirdly, provoke me
24:42
Speaker 1: to love and to good works. Second thy prayer, as
24:45
Speaker 1: thou hast opportunity by speaking to me in love, whatsoever
24:50
Speaker 1: thou believest to be for my soul's health, Quicken me
24:53
Speaker 1: in the work which God has given me to do,
24:56
Speaker 1: and instruct me how to do it more perfectly. Yea
25:00
Speaker 1: smite me friendly, and reprove me whereinsoever I appear to
25:04
Speaker 1: THEE to be doing rather my own will than the
25:07
Speaker 1: will of Him that sent me. O, Speak and spare
25:10
Speaker 1: not whatever thou believest may conduce, either to the amending
25:15
Speaker 1: of my faults, the strengthening my weakness, the building me
25:19
Speaker 1: up in love, or the making me more fit in
25:22
Speaker 1: any kind for the Master's use. I mean lastly, love me,
25:29
Speaker 1: not in word only, but in deed and in truth,
25:33
Speaker 1: so far as in conscience thou canst retaining still thy
25:37
Speaker 1: own opinions, in thy own manner of worshiping God, join
25:40
Speaker 1: with me in the work of God, and let us
25:43
Speaker 1: go on hand in hand. And thus far it is
25:47
Speaker 1: certain thou mayest go speak honorably wherever thou art, of
25:52
Speaker 1: the work of God by whomsoever He works, and kindly
25:56
Speaker 1: of His messengers. And if it be in thy power,
26:00
Speaker 1: not only sympathize with them when they are in any
26:03
Speaker 1: difficulty or distress, but give them a cheerful and effectual
26:07
Speaker 1: assistance that they may glorify God on thy behalf. Two
26:13
Speaker 1: things should be observed with regard to what has been
26:16
Speaker 1: spoken under this last head. The one the whatsoever love, whatsoever,
26:22
Speaker 1: offices of love, whatsoever spiritual or temporal assistance. I claim
26:27
Speaker 1: from him whose heart is right as my heart is
26:30
Speaker 1: with his, the same I am ready, by the grace
26:33
Speaker 1: of God, according to my measure, to give him the other.
26:39
Speaker 1: That I have not made this claim in behalf of
26:42
Speaker 1: myself only, but of all whose heart is right toward
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Speaker 1: God and man, that we may all love one another
26:50
Speaker 1: as Christ hath loved us. One inference we may make
26:55
Speaker 1: from what has been said. We may learn from hence
26:59
Speaker 1: what is a Catholic spirit. There is scarcely any expression
27:03
Speaker 1: which has been more grossly misunderstood and more dangerously misapplied
27:07
Speaker 1: than this, But it will be easy for any who
27:10
Speaker 1: calmly consider the preceding observations to correct any such misapprehensions
27:15
Speaker 1: of it, and to prevent any such misapplication. For from
27:20
Speaker 1: hence we may learn first that a Catholic spirit is
27:24
Speaker 1: not speculative latitudinarianism. It is not an indifference to all opinions.
27:31
Speaker 1: This is the spawn of Hell, of the offspring of heaven.
27:34
Speaker 1: This unsettledness of thought, this being driven to and fro
27:38
Speaker 1: and tossed about with every wind of doctrine, is a
27:41
Speaker 1: great curse, not a blessing, an irreconcilable enemy, not a
27:45
Speaker 1: friend to true Catholicism. A man of truly Catholic spirit
27:51
Speaker 1: is not now his religion to seek. He is fixed
27:55
Speaker 1: as a son and his judgment concerning the main branches
27:58
Speaker 1: of Christian doctrine, which is true. He is always ready
28:01
Speaker 1: to hear in wigh whatsoever can be offered against his principles.
28:05
Speaker 1: But as this does not show any wavering in his
28:08
Speaker 1: own mind, so neither does it occasion any It does
28:12
Speaker 1: not halt between two opinions, nor vainly endeavor to blend
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Speaker 1: them into one. Observe this, you, who know not what
28:19
Speaker 1: spirit ye are of, who call yourselves men of a
28:22
Speaker 1: Catholic spirit only because you are of a muddy understanding,
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Speaker 1: because your mind is all in a mist, because you
28:29
Speaker 1: have no settled, consistent principles, but are for jumbling all
28:33
Speaker 1: opinions together. Be convinced that you have quite missed your way.
28:38
Speaker 1: You know not where you are. You think you are
28:40
Speaker 1: got into the very spirit of Christ, when in truth
28:43
Speaker 1: you are nearer the spirit of Antichrist. Go first and
28:47
Speaker 1: learn the first elements of the Gospel of Christ, and
28:51
Speaker 1: then shall you learn to be of a truly Catholic spirit.
28:56
Speaker 1: From what has been said, we may learn secondly that
29:00
Speaker 1: Cathic spirit is not any kind of practical latitudinarianism. It
29:05
Speaker 1: is not indifference as to public worship or as to
29:08
Speaker 1: the outward manner of performing it. This likewise would not
29:12
Speaker 1: be a blessing but a curse far from being in
29:15
Speaker 1: help thereto it would, so long as it remained, be
29:18
Speaker 1: an unspeakably hindrance to the worshiping of God in spirit
29:21
Speaker 1: and in truth. The man of a truly Catholic spirit,
29:25
Speaker 1: having weighed all things the balance of the sanctuary, has
29:29
Speaker 1: no doubt, no scruple at all concerning that particular mode
29:33
Speaker 1: of worship wherein he joins. He is clearly convinced that
29:37
Speaker 1: this manner of worshiping God is both scriptural and rational.
29:41
Speaker 1: He knows none in the world which is more scriptural,
29:45
Speaker 1: none which is more rational. Therefore, without rambling hither and thither,
29:49
Speaker 1: he cleaves close there too, and praises God for the
29:53
Speaker 1: opportunity of so doing. Hence we may thirdly learn that
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Speaker 1: a Catholic spirit is not indifference to all congregations. This
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Speaker 1: is another sort of latitudinarianism, no less absurd and unscriptural
30:08
Speaker 1: than the former, but is far from a man of
30:11
Speaker 1: a truly Catholic spirit. He is fixed in his congregation
30:15
Speaker 1: as well as his principles. He is united to one
30:19
Speaker 1: not only in spirit, but by all the outward tithes
30:22
Speaker 1: of Christian fellowship. There he partakes of all the ordinances
30:26
Speaker 1: of God. There he receives the Supper of the Lord.
30:30
Speaker 1: There he pours out his soul and public prayer, and
30:33
Speaker 1: joins in public praise and thanksgiving. There he rejoices to
30:37
Speaker 1: hear the Word of reconciliation, the gospel of the grace
30:41
Speaker 1: of God. With these his nearest, his best beloved brethren,
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Speaker 1: on solemn occasions, he seeks God by fasting. These particularly,
30:52
Speaker 1: he watches over in love as they do over his soul, admonishing, exhorting, comforting, reproving,
30:59
Speaker 1: and every way building up each other in the faith.
31:03
Speaker 1: These he regards as his own household, and therefore, according
31:08
Speaker 1: to the ability God has given him, naturally cares for
31:11
Speaker 1: them and provides that they may have all the things
31:15
Speaker 1: that are needful for life and godliness. But while he
31:19
Speaker 1: is steadily fixed in his religious principles, in which he
31:22
Speaker 1: believes to be the truth as it is in Jesus,
31:26
Speaker 1: while he firmly adheres to that worship of God which
31:29
Speaker 1: he judges to be most acceptable in his sight, and
31:32
Speaker 1: while he is united by the tenderest and closest ties
31:36
Speaker 1: to one particular congregation, his heart is enlarged toward all mankind,
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Speaker 1: those he knows and those he does not. He embraces
31:46
Speaker 1: with strong and cordial affection neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies.
31:52
Speaker 1: This is Catholic or universal love. And he that has
31:57
Speaker 1: this is of a Catholic spirit, For love alone gives
32:02
Speaker 1: the title to this character. Catholic love is a Catholic spirit.
32:09
Speaker 1: If then we take this word in the strictest sense,
32:12
Speaker 1: A man of a Catholic spirit is one who, in
32:15
Speaker 1: the manner above mentioned, gives his hand to all whose
32:19
Speaker 1: hearts are right with his heart. One who knows how
32:23
Speaker 1: to value and praise God for all the advantages he enjoys,
32:27
Speaker 1: regard the knowledge of the things of God, the true
32:30
Speaker 1: scriptural manner of worshiping Him, and above all, his union
32:34
Speaker 1: with a congregation fearing God and working righteousness. One who,
32:39
Speaker 1: retaining these blessings with the strictest care, keeping them as
32:43
Speaker 1: the apple of his eye, at the same time loves
32:46
Speaker 1: as friends, as brethren in the Lord, as members of
32:50
Speaker 1: Christ and children of God, has joint part takers now
32:55
Speaker 1: of the present Kingdom of God and fellow heirs of
32:58
Speaker 1: His eternal Kingdom. All of whatever opinion or worship or
33:03
Speaker 1: congregation who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who love God,
33:08
Speaker 1: and man who, rejoicing to please and fearing to offend God,
33:14
Speaker 1: are careful to abstain from evil and zealous of good works.
33:18
Speaker 1: He is the man of a truly Catholic spirit who
33:22
Speaker 1: bears all these continually upon his heart, who, having an
33:26
Speaker 1: unspeakable tenderness for their persons and longing for their welfare,
33:30
Speaker 1: does not cease to commend them to God in prayer,
33:34
Speaker 1: as well as to plead their cause before men who
33:37
Speaker 1: speak comfortably to them, and labors by all his words
33:41
Speaker 1: to strengthen their hands. In God. He assists them to
33:45
Speaker 1: the uttermost of His power in all things spiritual and temperal.
33:50
Speaker 1: He is ready to spend and be spent for them, yea,
33:54
Speaker 1: to lay down his life for their sake. Thou, o
34:00
Speaker 1: Man of God, think on these things. If thou art
34:04
Speaker 1: already in this way, go on. If thou hast heretofore
34:08
Speaker 1: mistook the path bless God, who hath brought thee back,
34:13
Speaker 1: then thou run the race which is set before thee
34:15
Speaker 1: and the royal way of universal Love. Take heed. Lest
34:20
Speaker 1: thou be either wavering in thy judgment or straitened in
34:24
Speaker 1: thy bowels, but keep an even pace rooted in the faith,
34:28
Speaker 1: once delivered to the saints, and grounded in love, in
34:32
Speaker 1: true Catholic love, till thou art swallowed up in love
34:37
Speaker 1: for ever and ever, weary of all this wordy strife,
34:44
Speaker 1: These notions, forms and modes and names to THEE the Way,
34:48
Speaker 1: the Truth, the life, whose love my simple heart in flames,
34:53
Speaker 1: divinely taught at last, I fly with THEE and Thine
34:57
Speaker 1: to live and die. Forth in the midst of Babel
35:01
Speaker 1: brought parties and sex, I cast behind, enlarg'd my heart
35:06
Speaker 1: and free my thought. Where'er the latent truth. I find
35:11
Speaker 1: the latent truth, with joy to own and bow to
35:14
Speaker 1: Jesus name alone, redeem'd by Thine almighty grace. I taste
35:21
Speaker 1: my glorious liberty with open arms, that world embrace. Be
35:26
Speaker 1: cleave to those who cleave to THEE. But only in
35:31
Speaker 1: Thy saints delight, who walk with God in purest wight.
35:36
Speaker 1: One with the little flock, I rest the members sound
35:39
Speaker 1: to hold thy head, the chosen few, with pardon blest
35:44
Speaker 1: and by the anointing Spirit, led into the mind that
35:48
Speaker 1: was in THEE, and to the depths of Deity. My
35:52
Speaker 1: brethren friends and kinsmen, these who do my heav'nly Father's will,
35:58
Speaker 1: who aim at perfect holiness, and all thy counsels to
36:02
Speaker 1: fulfill athirst to be whate'er thou art, and love their
36:07
Speaker 1: God with all their heart. For these, howe'er in flesh disjoin'd,
36:12
Speaker 1: where'er dispers'd o'er earth abroad, unfeigned, unbounded love, I find
36:18
Speaker 1: and constant as the Life of God, Fountain of life.
36:23
Speaker 1: From thence it sprung as pure as even and as strong,
36:28
Speaker 1: join'd to the hidden church unknown. In this sure bond
36:32
Speaker 1: of perfectness, obscurely safe, I dwell alone and glory in
36:37
Speaker 1: the uniting grace to me, to each believer, given to
36:43
Speaker 1: all thy saints in earth and heav'n. End of Section
36:49
Speaker 1: thirty nine