no LIFE AND CORRESPONDENCE OF THE [1784 



tain of all Light ! yet we should not see them walking together in unity, 

 or pursuing any common path or way ; but fiercely contending con- 

 cerning their Inward Light ; some calling their's the good Old-Light, 

 and others calling their's the true New-Light. To whom an old 

 divine of our church, (the venerable Bishop Andrewes,) were he now 

 living, would say — " There is no Light among you — the Devil hath 

 blinded you all." 



But, Thirdly, we should find another set of men, and those of truly 

 respectable and venerable name, professing themselves guided only by 

 a sure and written Form of Sound Words, revealed and given to them 

 for their Listruction, their Guide, and their Salvation, by their 

 Almighty Creator himself — Yet, alas ! they would be seen, perhaps, 

 almost as irregular and eccentric in all their motions as the rest ! 



This is a sad view of things — and as the Poet says — 



" In Pride, in reasoning Pride, the error lies, 

 All quit their sphere, and rush into the skies ! " 



And would to God, therefore, that, in all Religions and in all Sciences, 

 this accursed root of Bitterness and Contrariety could be wholly plucked 

 out of the Christian world. For until Humanity and divine Charity 

 can have their sway, until our Faith is exercised in Love, and the 

 Truths of God are held in Righteousness of Life, there will never be a 

 total harmony among men ! 



However strong our Reason, however enlightened our Souls, however 

 ardent our Faith; unless that spirit of Love and Humility be in us, 

 which was in Christ Jesus, all besides will be of little value. 



With good reason, therefore, does St. Paul admonish his beloved 

 Timothy to let his Faith be exercised in Love, and "to hold fast the 

 Form of sound Words which he had heard of him ; " for even in those 

 early days, some had begun to depart from the foundation laid by 

 Christ and his Apostles; following "vain babblings," being like 

 withered leaves, sticking to the tree, only to be blown away by the first 

 wind of doctrine; still desiring to hear some new thing ; led by the ear 

 and not by the heart, or as it is strongly expressed in my text, " heap- 

 ing to themselves Teachers, having itching Ears," &c All 



other marks of our faith, therefore, are vain and delusive, unless we 

 have that Scripture mark of hearts glowing with Love — a transcendent 

 Love, flowing forth in fervent Piety towards God, and universal good- 

 will towards Man ! 



Faith, therefore, according to my text, cannot be a mere empty 

 assent to truth, but the holding of truth in love. It is love that shews 

 the true nature of faith. By this it must work ; and by this only can 

 God be pleased. For love flowing from faith is the hand-writing of 

 God on the heart. Whatever proceeds from it thus, will bear His 



