And such also is the influence of love on the souls of men —
[On Zion, *' God commanded his blessing" in the days of old; and on our Zion also he still commands it, " even life for evermore." But what is the principle whereby he operates this glorious change ? It is love, or "faith working by love:" " Love is of God ; and every one that loveth, is born of God, and knoweth God : he that loveth not, knoweth not God : for God is love." *' God is love ; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in Gody and God in him." *' If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us^." It is by the exercise of this divine principle that " we know we have passed from death unto life ;" and " by it are we recognized by all men as Christ's disciples ^" The proper operations of this principle are distinctly and fully marked in the First Epistle to the Corin- thians'*; and they are most beautifully exemplified in the con- dsct of the primitive Christians ''. Such will every Church be, where love reigns : the graces of the whole collective body will flourish with ever increasing beauty and fruitfulness': and thai will be verified which God promised previously to every Sabbatic year, " I will command my blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth fruit for three years''."
Say then Whether Christian love and unity be not *' good?'*
Say
' Phil. ii. 1, 2. ^ Gen. ii. 4, 5. M John iv. 7, 8, 12, \6.
' 1 John iii. 14. ^- John xiii. 35. ^ I Cor. xiii. 4—7.
[' Acts iv. 32. * Hos. xiv. 4 — J. ^ Lev. xxv. 21.