THE NEW COMMANDMENT. BY REV. RICHARD FULLER, D. D., PASTOR OF THE SEVENTH BAPTIST CHURCH, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND. A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.-John, xiii, 34. Scientific theology has its important uses, but it must not be confounded with religion. Nobody would discard mathematics; it would, however, be intolerable mockery if, instead of a warm, faithful portrait of one dear to us, the artist should furnish only a cold arithmetical enumeration of the sizes and proportions of his features. Indeed, though dry scholastic divinity may sometimes serve to expose error and heresy, it may be dangerous to true devotion; it is almost sure to kill the life out of piety, just as the knife destroys the strength and vigor of a healthy body, however indispensable surgery may be to explore the seats of disease, to remove tumors, and amputate limbs. The more you study the Gospel, the more will you feel that it appeals to the affections. The Saviour and his apostles constantly address the heart. One reason, indeed, why "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us," is, that religion may be a living, cordial, genial thing-gratitude and attachment to a person; and the sacred books always make love at once the motive and essence of all piety. "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Our text is a remarkable illustration of this truth. Jesus is about to leave the earth. Upon that earth, his church is to wage a war which shall certainly triumph. And, now, what are his parting instructions to his church? How are his followers to vanquish all the banded opposition of the world? Does he counsel them to amass wealth? to secure high offices? to acquire learning? to equip fleets and armies? to employ craft and intrigue? No; the first disciples were so poor that they could say, "Silver and gold have we none;" |