Jan. 22, 2007
Lecture 1, Sound Bite 9
Posted in Lecture 1: Love, the Sum of all Virtue
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Love will dispose to contentment in the sphere in which God hath placed us, without coveting any things that our neighbour possesses, or envying him on account of any good thing that he has. It will dispose men to meekness and gentleness in their carriage toward their neighbours, and not to treat them with passion, or violence, or heat of spirit, but with moderation, and calmness, and kindness. It will check and restrain everything like a bitter spirit; for love has no bitterness in it, but is a gentle and sweet disposition and affection of the soul. It will prevent broils and quarrels, and will dispose men to peaceableness, and to forgive injurious treatment received from others; as it is said in Proverbs 10:12, "Hatred covers up strifes, but love covereth all sins." Love will dispose men to all acts of mercy toward their neighbours when they are under any affliction or calamity, for we are naturally disposed to pity those that we love when they are afflicted. It will dispose men to give to the poor, to bear one another's burdens, and to weep with those that weep, as well as to rejoice with those that do rejoice. It will dispose men to the duties they owe to one another in their several places and relations. It will dispose a people to all the duties they owe to their rulers, and to give them all that honour and subjection which are their due. And it will dispose rulers to rule the people over whom they are set, justly, seriously and faithfully, seeking their good, and not any by-ends of their own. _____________________________________________ Cat's Q & A is cancelled for today - Cat is too tired. If you have thoughts, please comment. |
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