So if we have any temper of our hearts, that makes us spiteful, or ill-natured towards any one man, the same temper will make us envious, and spiteful, and ill-natured towards a great many more.
If therefore we desire this love, we must exercise our hearts in the love of all, because it is not Christian love, till it is the love of all.
If a man could keep this whole law of love, and yet offend in one point, he would be guilty of all. For as one allowed instance of injustice destroys the justice of all our other actions; so one allowed instance of envy, spite, or ill-will, renders all our other acts of affection nothing worth.
Acts of love, that proceed not from a principle of universal love, are but like acts of justice, that proceed from a heart not disposed to universal justice.
9. Now, the noblest motive to universal tenderness is this, God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God.
Who therefore, whose heart has any tendency towards God, would not aspire after this divine temper.
How should we rejoice in the exercise of this love, which, is an assurance to us, that we act according to his Spirit, who is love itself?
God willeth the happiness of all beings, though it is no happiness to himself; therefore we must desire the happiness of all beings, tho’ no happiness cometh to us from it.
God equally delighteth in the perfections of all his creatures; therefore we should rejoice in those perfections wherever we see them, and be as glad to have other people perfect as ourselves.
10. *God, besides his own great example of love, which ought to draw all his creatures after it, has so provided for us, and made our happiness so common to us all, that we have no occasion to envy or hate one another.