7. The impossibility of performing any other duty without it, Gal. 5:6;
5. The state and condition of the persons between whom this duty is naturally to be exercised, as,—(1.) Children of one Father, Mal. 2:10;
(2.) Members of one body, 1 Cor. 12:12, 13; (3.) Partakers of the same hope, Eph. 4:4; (4.) Objects of the same hate of the world, 1 John
3:13:
6. The eminency of this grace,—(1.) In itself, and divine nature, Col.
2:2; 1 John 4:7; 1 Cor. 13; (2.) In its usefulness, Prov. 10:12, 15:17; Gal. 5:13; Heb. 13:1; (3.) In its acceptance with the saints, Eph. 1:15,
16; Ps. 5:11; 1 Cor. 13:
7. The impossibility of performing any other duty without it, Gal. 5:6; 1 Thess. 1:3; 1 John 4:20:
8. The great sin of want of love, with all its aggravations, Matt. 24:12; 1 John 3:14, 15, and the like;—are so many, and of such various consideration, as not now to be insisted on.
Love, which is the bond of communion, maketh out itself and is peculiarly exercised in these things following:—
RULE II. Continual prayer for the prosperous state of the church, in God's protection towards it.
Ps. 122:6, "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee."
Phil: 1:4, 5, "Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now."
Rom. 1:9, "Without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers."