*_Theophilus._ “God is unwearied _patience_, an ever enduring _mercifulness_; he is unmixed _goodness_, impartial, universal _love_; his delight is in the communication of himself, his own happiness to every thing according to its capacity. He does everything that is good, righteous, and lovely, for its own sake, because it is good, righteous, and lovely. He is the good from which nothing but good cometh, and resisteth all evil, only with goodness.” This is the _nature_ and _Spirit_ of God, and hereby you may know, whether you are moved and led by the Spirit of God. Here is a proof that is always at hand. If it be the earnest desire, and longing of your heart, to be _merciful_ as he is merciful; to be full of his _unwearied patience_, to dwell in his _unalterable meekness_; if you long to be like him in _universal, impartial_ love; if you desire to communicate _every good_, to every creature that you are able; if you love and practise every thing that is good, righteous, and lovely, for its own sake, because it is good, righteous, and lovely; and resist no evil, but with _goodness_; then you have the utmost certainty, that the Spirit of God liveth, dwelleth, and governeth in you. But if you want any of these tempers, at least if the whole bent of your heart and mind is not set upon them, all pretences to an _immediate inspiration_, and _continual_ operation of the Spirit of God are vain. Where his Spirit dwells and governs, there all these tempers spring, as the certain fruits of it. Therefore keep but within the bounds here set you; and you may safely say, with St. _John_, _Hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us_.
_Academicus._ But surely the Spirit of God often discovers itself, and operates in very extraordinary ways, in uncommon illuminations and openings of divine light and knowledge, in strong impulses and sallies of a wonderful zeal, full of the highest gifts and graces of God: and these have frequently been God’s gracious methods of awakening a sinful world.
_Theophilus._ What you say, _Academicus_, is very true; and almost every age of the church is a sufficient proof of it.
But would you know the _sublime_, the _exalted_, the _angelic_, in the Christian life, see what the Son of God saith, _Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, with all thy mind, and with all thy strength; and thy neighbour as thyself. On these two_, saith he, _hang all the law and the prophets_. And without these _two things_, no good light ever can arise or enter into your soul. Take all the sciences, shine in all the accomplishments of the lettered world, they will only lead you from one vain passion to another; every thing you send out from within you is selfish, vain, and bad; every thing you see or receive from without, will be received with a bad spirit; till _these two_ heavenly tempers have overcome the _natural perverseness_ of fallen nature. Till then, nothing _pure_ can proceed from within, nor any thing be received in _purity_ from without.
Think yourself therefore incapable of judging rightly, or acting virtuously, till these two tempers have the government of your heart. Then every truth will meet you; no hurtful error can get entrance into your heart; but you will have a better knowledge of all divine matters, than all human learning can help you to.
An Extract from Mr. LAW’s Spirit of LOVE.