Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Union Of Love To God And Love To Man, A Sermon, Preached In St. Andrew's Church, New Town, Edinburgh,
sense , heirs of the promises made to the fathers , ancl by the prophets . ' Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us , that we should be called the sons of God I Beloved , now are we the Sons of God : ancl it doth not yet appear what we shall he ; but we know that when HE shall appear , we shall be like HIM , for we shall see HIM as HE is * . ' Thereforewhile we ought to consider all men
, as being our Brethren , from the ties of a common nature , we ought to view every Christian as being in a peculiar sense our Brother and our Sister , and as enjoying , with us , privileges and hopes superior to what are enjoyed by the rest of mankind . Hence the argument which the Christian reli gion has laid great stress upon for the exercise of mutual love among the Christian
Brethren , is the consideration of their being- all the disciples of one Master and Lord , who is Christ Jesus , their and our immaculate head . Our Saviour , immediately , after he ascended up on high , poured down the gifts of the Holy Ghost upon the first converts , to strengthen their faith in his gospel ; but more particularly upon the Apostles , to . enable them to teach his doctrine , and to make proselytes toitwhereever they preached , with a view to his forming one great reli gious and spiritual society . From among all the different tribes and nations
of men dwelling on the face of the whole earth , he hath selected a certain number of followers , who are called and predestinated to be the true church of God . The doing of this was the first act of his power , after he entered into his glory . At Antioch , his disciples first took the name of Christians , by which name they continue to be distinguished from all other reli gious sects . They are one great reli- gious societywhose faith and hope do centre in one Glorious
Medi-, ator , who died for us all , and through whom we obtain the remission of sins , and eternal life . The circumstance of discipleship to the great Saviour and Judge of the world , is a new and strong tie of friendship among us . Love to one another , is the very badge , or the most distinguishing mark , of our Christianity . Therefore , saith our Saviour -f , * A new commandment
I give 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 one to another . ' Vain is itto pretend to be a Christian , without possessing the temper of love to . the Brethren . So well did the primitive Christians understand that love to their'Brethren was essential to the character of real Christians , that even the Heathen emperor , who persecuted them , bore this testimony , saying , - Behold how these Christians love one smother !'
_ The great apostle of the Gentiles , in order to represent the obliga-. tions which the Christian Brethren are under to love one another , tells us , that we are the members of Christ ' s spiritual body , and members of one another ; that is , he compares the mutual affection Which ought to subsist among Christians , to the union and sympathy
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Union Of Love To God And Love To Man, A Sermon, Preached In St. Andrew's Church, New Town, Edinburgh,
sense , heirs of the promises made to the fathers , ancl by the prophets . ' Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us , that we should be called the sons of God I Beloved , now are we the Sons of God : ancl it doth not yet appear what we shall he ; but we know that when HE shall appear , we shall be like HIM , for we shall see HIM as HE is * . ' Thereforewhile we ought to consider all men
, as being our Brethren , from the ties of a common nature , we ought to view every Christian as being in a peculiar sense our Brother and our Sister , and as enjoying , with us , privileges and hopes superior to what are enjoyed by the rest of mankind . Hence the argument which the Christian reli gion has laid great stress upon for the exercise of mutual love among the Christian
Brethren , is the consideration of their being- all the disciples of one Master and Lord , who is Christ Jesus , their and our immaculate head . Our Saviour , immediately , after he ascended up on high , poured down the gifts of the Holy Ghost upon the first converts , to strengthen their faith in his gospel ; but more particularly upon the Apostles , to . enable them to teach his doctrine , and to make proselytes toitwhereever they preached , with a view to his forming one great reli gious and spiritual society . From among all the different tribes and nations
of men dwelling on the face of the whole earth , he hath selected a certain number of followers , who are called and predestinated to be the true church of God . The doing of this was the first act of his power , after he entered into his glory . At Antioch , his disciples first took the name of Christians , by which name they continue to be distinguished from all other reli gious sects . They are one great reli- gious societywhose faith and hope do centre in one Glorious
Medi-, ator , who died for us all , and through whom we obtain the remission of sins , and eternal life . The circumstance of discipleship to the great Saviour and Judge of the world , is a new and strong tie of friendship among us . Love to one another , is the very badge , or the most distinguishing mark , of our Christianity . Therefore , saith our Saviour -f , * A new commandment
I give 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 one to another . ' Vain is itto pretend to be a Christian , without possessing the temper of love to . the Brethren . So well did the primitive Christians understand that love to their'Brethren was essential to the character of real Christians , that even the Heathen emperor , who persecuted them , bore this testimony , saying , - Behold how these Christians love one smother !'
_ The great apostle of the Gentiles , in order to represent the obliga-. tions which the Christian Brethren are under to love one another , tells us , that we are the members of Christ ' s spiritual body , and members of one another ; that is , he compares the mutual affection Which ought to subsist among Christians , to the union and sympathy