speak one word against it? Will any dare to speak against loving the
28. Now let this perfection appear in its original form. Who can speak one word against it? Will any dare to speak against loving the Lord our God with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves? Can anyone be against a renewal of heart, not only in part but in the whole image of God? Who will open his or her mouth against being cleansed from all pollution both of flesh and spirit? Who is against having all the mind that was in Christ, and walking in all things as Christ walked? What person who calls himself or herself a Christian has the audacity to object to devoting not a part but all of our soul, body, and substance to God? What serious person would oppose giving God all our heart and having one aim ruling all our habits and attitudes?
I say again, let this perfection appear in its own shape, and who will fight against it? It must be disguised before it can be opposed. It must be covered with a bear skin first, or even the wild beasts of the people will hardly be persuaded to worry with it.
But whatever those who may be opposed do, let not the children of God fight any longer against the image of God. Let not the members of Christ say anything against having the whole mind that was in Christ. Let not those who are alive to God oppose dedicating all our life to God.
Why should you who have God's love filling your heart withstand the giving him all your heart? Does not all that is within you cry out, "O who that loves can love enough?" What pity that those who desire and aim to please God should have any other aim or desire! It is even more a pity that they should dread as a fatal delusion, indeed abhor as an abomination to God, having this one desire and design ruling every habit and thought! Why should devout people be afraid of devoting all their soul, body, and substance to God? Why should those who love Christ count it a damnable error to think we may have all the mind that was in him?
We allow, we contend, that we are justified freely through the righteousness and the blood of Christ. Why are you so hot against us because we expect likewise to be sanctified wholly through his Spirit?
We look for no favor either from the open servants of sin or from those who have only the form of religion. But how long will you who worship God in spirit, who are "circumcised with the circumcision not made with hands,"" fight against those who seek an entire circumcision of heart, who thirst to be cleansed "from all filthiness of flesh and spirit" and to "perfect holiness in the fear of God?"
Are we your enemies because we look for a full deliverance from that "carnal mind which is hostility against God?"'* No, we are your family, your fellow laborers in the vineyard of our Lord, your companions in the kingdom and patience of Jesus. Although this we confess (if we are fools for Christ, yet as fools bear with us), we do expect to love God with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves. Indeed, we do believe that God will, in this world, so "cleanse the thoughts of our "cleanse the thoughts .. .":
This is a reference to the "Collect for Purity" from the weekly eucharist liturgy of the Book hearts, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that we shall perfectly kG rancn Prayer! See i love God, and worthily magnify God's holy name." sidebar on page 23.
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