Magna Charta ecclesiæ universalis the grand charter issued out and granted by Jesus Christ for the plantation of the Christian faith in all nations ... / by George Lawson ...

Sect. 7.

Therefore after 1. The general obser∣vations premised, and 2. This discourse upon the several abridgments of the moral Law, I will in the third place manifest that love is the fulfilling of the Law.

1. The love of God is against all A∣theism, Idolatry, Apostasie; renounceth all confidence in any other thing, and will take God alone to be our God, who crea∣ted us, preserveth, redeemeth, sanctifieth us unto everlasting life, and will serve him, fear him, trust in him, be loyal and obedient unto him in the highest de∣gree, and will give all praise, glory, honour, and power to him as the only supreme Lord.

2. This love will not make any image or likeness of any thing visible or sensible to

represent him, nor cause any such thing to be made for that end; neither will it a∣scribe any divine power or sanctifying vertue unto any such thing; nor make it a sign of Gods special presence, nor worship or serve it, or serve God by it. It will re∣ject all traditions of men and all superstiti∣on in Religious Worship, and will faithful∣ly observe the institutions of God in Di∣vine Service.

3. This love will not swear falsly or vainly, to the dishonour of God and Christ our Saviour. It will be careful to swear the truth. It will not prophane or pol∣lute the name of God in the performance of his service, but will worship God and perform all religious duties with humility and reverence, so that God in them may be glorified.

4. This love will not prophane the times determined and hallowed by God for his more solemn worship, and will lay aside at those times, not only all sinful, but all se∣cular imployments; and will apply it in publick and private, to the performance of holy and heavenly duties. It will observe the first day of the week in acknowledge∣ment of Christs Resurrection, and the co∣ming down of the Holy Ghost, and by this

observation signifie our belief of the aboliti∣on of the Law, the taking down of the par∣tition wall, & the uniting of Jew & Gentile in one body Christian; neither will love so confine it self to one day in seven as not to observe those standing occasional times of humiliation or thanksgiving appointed by Authority both Ecclesiastical and Civil for the publick service and solemn Worship of God.

5. If we love God, we will love our selves in God; and as our selves our Neighbours, and that not only our Ac∣quaintance, Friends, near Relations, but Strangers, Enemies especially the Chil∣dren of God; and will do as we would be done unto. This love will honour, obey, and submit unto all our Superiors; whe∣ther in Family, or State, or Church, accor∣ding to their places, and will not disho∣nour, disobey, or any ways as such, dis∣respect them.

6. This love will not give way to An∣ger, malice, envy, implacable revenge, or any such violent and destructive passion, which tends to the endangering of limb or life: but it will account the life of our neighbour very precious, and will use all means to preserve it, and to live in peace, concord, and safety.

7. This love will detest adultery, whore∣dom, fornication, incest, and all unclean∣ness, with all the causes and occasions there∣of; it will endeavour chastity in body and spirit, and use all means to preserve it.

8. This love will not by any fraud or force take away or detain the goods of his neighbour out of covetousness, or any o∣ther iniquity, but will be careful to give e∣very one their own; and so not only be just, but also merciful, and liberal when God requires it.

9. This love will not bear false witness against his Neighbour, though his Enemy, nor any way seek to hinder or pervert just judgment, but will desire and use their best means to right his Noighbour, and to promote justice in all judicial proceed∣ing.

10. This love will not covet any thing that is his Neighbours, though he want it himself, will not envy his prosperity, will not rejoyce in the misery of an enemy; it will seek the good of every one, rejoyce in their happiness, look upon every one, espe∣cially a godly man, as his brother.

This love of God and our neighbour will desire, endeavour, and intend the obser∣vation of all these commandments from

the heart and soul, & that in obedience to Jesus Christ, who loved us, and gave him∣self for us: it will repent and grieve for disobedience, and speedily return sincerely to God Redeemer, seek for pardon in the name of Christ, and pray for the Spirit of sanctification to renew us more and more.