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3. That charity and brotherly affection are to be religiously and stedfastly
practised.
In Malachi: "Hath not one God created us? Is there not one Father of us
all? Why have ye certainly deserted every one his brother? "
Of this same thing according to John: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I
give unto you."
Also in the same place: "This is my commandment, That ye love one another,
even as I have loved you. Greater love than this has no man, than that one
should lay down his life for his friends."
Also in the same place: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be
called the sons of God."
Also in the same place: "Verily I say unto you, That if two of you shall
agree on earth concerning everything, whatever you shall ask it shall be given
you from my Father which is in heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered
together in my name, I am with them."
Of this same thing in the first Epistle to the Corinthians: "And I indeed,
brethren, could not speak unto you as to spiritual, but as to carnal, as to
babes in Christ. I have given you milk for drink, not meat: for while ye were
yet little ye were not able to bear it, neither now are ye able. For ye are
still carnal: for where there are in you emulation, and strife, and
dissensions, are ye not carnal, and walk after man? "
Likewise in the same place: "And if I should have all faith, so that I can
remove mountains, but have not charity, I am nothing. And if I should
distribute all my goods for food, and if I should deliver up my body to be
burned, but have not charity, I avail nothing. Charity is great-souled; charity
is kind; charity envieth not; charity dealeth not falsely; is not puffed up; is
not irritated; thinketh not evil; rejoiceth not in injustice, but rejoiceth in
the truth. It loveth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things,
beareth all things. Charity shall never fail."
Of this same thing to the Galatians: "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as
thyself. But if ye bite and accuse one another, see that ye be not consumed one
of another."
Of this same thing in the Epistle of John: "In this appear the children of
God and the children of the devil. Whosoever is not righteous is not of God,
and he who loveth not his brother. For he who hateth his brother is a murderer;
and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him."
Also in the same place: "If any one shall say that he loves God, and hates
his brother, he is a liar: for he who loveth not his brother whom he seeth, how
can he love God whom he seeth not? "
Of this same thing in the Acts of the Apostles: "But the multitude of them
that had believed acted with one soul and mind: nor was there among them any
distinction, neither did they esteem as their own anything of the possessions
that they had; but all things were common to them."
Of this same thing in the Gospel according to Matthew: If thou wouldest offer
thy gift at the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought
against thee; leave thou thy gift before the altar, and go; first be reconciled
to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift at the altar."
Also in the Epistle of John: "God is love l and he that dwelleth in love
dwelleth in God, and God in him."
Also in the same place: "He who saith he is in the light, and hateth his
brother, is a liar, and walketh in darkness even until now."
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