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SECT. V.
IV. MAlice and Hatred makes men most contrary to God, and most like unto the Devil. It makes a man most contrary to God, for God is Love, 1 Joh. 4.16. It is the Nature of God to love men; He is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he is of a most glorious, lovely, and loving Na∣ture, and is the Author of all Love in us. This sheweth what a God he is to us, and every Crea∣ture findeth him to be a loving God, a loving Father. As the Sun is Light, and the Foun∣tain of Light, and gives Light to the Stars of Heaven, and to all sublunary things; so God is Love it self, and the Fountain of all Love: he filleth the Angels in Heaven with Love, he filleth the Saints on earth with mutual and spiritual Love; and the natural Love and Affection that are in men one to another, are sparks and rays of Gods Love: all the Crea∣tures are objects of his Love, every Creature of God is good, therefore beloved of God. Do ye think God would vouchsafe to call himself by the Name of Love, if there were not a won∣derful excellency in Love? now, he that dwelleth in Love, dwelleth in God, and God in him: he that embraceth the Love of God by Faith, and there∣upon unfeignedly loveth God and his Brethren,