How poorly therefore, _Claudius_, have you read the scripture? How little do you know of Christianity, if you can talk of your _estate_ and _condition_, as a pretence for a freer kind of life? Are you any more _your own_, than he that has no estate or dignity in the world? Must _mean_ and _little_ people preserve their bodies as temples of the Holy Ghost, by _watching_, _fasting_, and _prayer_; but may you indulge yours in _idleness_, in _lust_, and _sensuality_, because you have so much _rent_, or such a _title_ of distinction? And you must either think thus, or else acknowledge that the holiness of _saints_, _prophets_, and _apostles_, is the holiness that you are to labour after with all diligence and care. And if you leave it to others, to live in such piety and devotion, in such self-denial, humility, and temperance, as may render them able to glorify God in their body, and in their spirit; you must leave it to them also, to have the benefit of the blood of Christ. 6. Thus much being said to shew, that _great devotion_ is not to be left to any particular sort of people, but to be the _common spirit_ of all Christians; I now proceed to consider the nature of _universal love_, which is here recommended to be the subject of your devotion at this hour. By intercession is meant a praying to God, in behalf of our fellow-creatures. Our blessed Lord hath recommended his love to us, as the pattern of our love to one another. As therefore he is continually making intercession for us all, so ought we to intercede for one another. _A new commandment_, saith he, _I give unto you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another._ The newness of this precept did not consist in this, that men were commanded to love one another; for this was an old precept, both of the law of _Moses_, and of nature. But it was new in this respect, that it was to imitate a new, and, till then, unheard-of example of love; it was to love one another, as Christ had loved us. And if men are to know that we are disciples of Christ, by our loving one another, according to his example; then, if we are void of this love, we make it plainly known we are none of his disciples. 7. There is no principle more acceptable to God, than an _universal_ fervent love to all mankind, _wishing_ and _praying_ for their happiness; because there is no principle that makes us more like God, who is love and goodness itself, and created all beings for the enjoyment of happiness. The greatest _idea_ that we can frame of God is, a being of infinite love and goodness; using infinite wisdom and power for the common good and happiness of all his creatures.