So shall _the merciful obtain mercy_: not only by the blessing of God, upon all their ways, by his now repaying the love they bear to their brethren, a thousand fold into their own bosom: but likewise by _an exceeding and eternal weight of glory_, in the _kingdom prepared for them from the beginning of the world_.
18. *For a little while you may say, _Wo is me that I am constrained to dwell with Mesech, and to have my habitation among the tents of Kedar_! You may pour out your soul, and bemoan the loss of true, genuine love in the earth. Lost indeed! You may well say, (but not in the antient sense) “See how _these Christians_ love one another!” These Christian kingdoms, that are tearing out each other’s bowels, desolating one another with fire and sword! These Christian armies, that are sending each other by thousands, by ten thousands quick into hell! These Christian nations, that are all on fire with intestine broils, party against party, faction against faction! These Christian cities, where deceit and fraud, oppression and wrong, yea, robbery and murder go not out of their streets! These Christian families, torn asunder with envy, jealousy, anger, domestic jars, without number, without end! Yea, what is most dreadful, most to be lamented of all, these Christian churches!――Churches, (_tell it not in_ Gath――but alas, how can we hide it, either from _Jews_, _Turks_, or _Pagans_?) that bear the name of _Christ_ the Prince of peace, and wage continual war with each other! That convert sinners by burning them alive: that are _drunk with the blood of the saints_!――Does this praise belong only to Babylon _the Great, the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth_? Nay, verily: but reformed churches (so called) have fairly learned to tread in her steps. Protestant churches too know to persecute, when they have power in their hands, even unto blood. And mean while, how do they also anathematize each other! Devote each other to the nethermost hell! What wrath, what contention, what malice, what bitterness, is every where found among them? Even where they agree in essentials, and only differ in opinions, or in the circumstantials of religion. Who _follows after_ only _the things that make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another_? O God! How long? Shall thy promise fail? Fear it not, ye little flock. Against hope believe in hope. It is your Father’s good pleasure, yet to renew the face of the earth. Surely all these things shall come to an end, and the inhabitants of the earth shall learn righteousness. _Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they know war any more. The mountain of the_ Lord’s _house shall be established on the top of the mountains_: and all the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdom of our God. _They shall not_ then _hurt or destroy, in all his holy mountain_: but _they shall call their walls salvation and their gates praise_. They shall all be without spot or blemish, loving one another, even as _Christ_ hath loved us.――Be thou part of the first-fruits, if the harvest is not yet. Do thou love thy neighbour as thyself. The Lord God fill thy heart with such a love to every soul, that thou mayest be ready to lay down thy life for his sake! May thy soul continually overflow with love, swallowing up every unkind and unholy temper, ’till he calleth thee up into the region of love, there to reign with him for ever and ever!