A Discourse of Christian Love, Title page – Contents
Charitas Evangelica.
A DISCOURSE OF Christian Love.
BY The late Pious and Learned JOHN WORTHINGTON, D. D.
Published by the Author's Son.
LONDON, Printed by J. M. for Walter Kettilby, at the Bishop's Head in St. Paul's ChurchYard, 1691.
Imprimatur.
October 20. 1690.
Z. Isham, R. P. D. Henrico
Episc. Lond. à sacris.
THE PREFACE.
IT would be an unnecessary trouble, for me to endeavour, by a long and elaborate Preface, to evince the Usefulness of the Author's Subject; seeing it is both apparently most Seasonable, and also confessedly of the greatest Importance.
But since the Discourse is Posthumous, I must not forbear to give some account thereof; it requiring that in regard to the Author, which is the common and indeed always a just and becoming Civilty to the Reader.
In short, What I here publish, are the Remains of several Sermons, which he preach'd upon one Text; but where, I cannot positively affirm. Most probably they were some of his First Lectures at Hackney: And this I conclude from one of them, which bears Date 1670. the Year in which He was chosen Lecturer there; where, in the following Year, He Died.
Had the Author in his lifetime design'd these Papers for the Publick, it is not to be doubted, but they would have received some further Polishing, as well as Enlargements; and have come into the World with more Advantages.
What he could have made them, is well known to those who are acquainted with his Labours, in the Revising and preparing of Mr. Mede's and Mr. Smith's Works for the Press; as also, with his not to be unmentioned Edition of Thomas à Kempis.
But I would not lessen the Esteem of the following Discourse: Of which, this I may say (without breach of Filial Modesty) and onelyonly this I shall add, That whosoever peruses it with a becoming Candour, cannot but acknowledge it, if not Worthy of the Author, at least not Unworthy of the Publick View.
LONDON, Octob. 13. 1690. John Worthington.
THE HEADS OF THE Following Discourse.
CHAP. I. THE Rule and Measure of Christian Love
Page 1
CHAP. II. The Universality of Christian Love
15
CHAP. III. The Purity of Christian Love
55
A DISCOURSE OF Christian Love. THE INTRODUCTION.
THAT we may more fully apprehend the Doctrine of Christian Love (a Duty so frequently, so continuedly inculcated in the New Testament) it will be fit to consider the Characters or Qualifications of the true Christian Love wherein we are to walk. And to this purpose, what lies more dispersedly in several places of Scripture, which may bestlead us into the true and full notion of this so lovely a Grace, I shall collect and bring into your view; both to the clearing of the Truth it self, and for the illustrating by the way several expressions in Scripture.