e no evil. They wash their hands, as Pilate,
as if they were free of the blood of these just men, whose souls cry under
the altar. Ver. 21-23: It is a burden to the world and a plague to
mankind, when servants, unworthy men, and persons unfit for high places
are set in authority, and when wicked men have their desire of plenty and
honour, (chap. xix. 10.) and when an odious woman, or men of hateful
vicious dispositions, come to preferment and are espoused by a
state,--nought they were while alone, but worse now when they have crept
into the bed and bosom of the state; her roots were nought before, but now
she is planted in rank mould, and will shoot forth her unsavoury branches
and blossoms,--and when handmaids, kept in a servile estate because of
their disposition and quality, get their masters ushered out, and they
become heirs, at least possessors of the inheritance or trust. Ver. 33
shows how necessarily war and contention follow upon unnecessary
provocations by word or deed, such as we have given many to England,
though indeed they have given moe.(405) And lastly, chap. xxxi. 20, 26, 31
shows how word and work should go together, and men should be esteemed and
praised according to their works and fruit of their hands.

A TREATISE OF CHRISTIAN LOVE.

John xiii. 35. "By This Shall All Men Know That Ye Are My Disciples, If Ye
Have Love One To Another." First Printed At Edinburgh In 1743.

To The Reader.

This treatise concerning Christian Love, was composed by the pious and
learned Mr. Hugh Binning who was minister of the gospel at Govan, near to
Glasgow. He was much celebrated and esteemed in this church, for several
practical treatises, frequently printed for the benefit of the public, but
this is not inferior to any of them.

Though there have been many excellent discourses in late years on this
divine subject, yet, considering that there never was a time wherein a
treatise of this kind was more seasonable and necessary than the present,
when the love of many, of too, too many, is waxed cold, and this holy fire
is almost extinguished, this cannot be thought to be superfluous.

The author was a minister of a most pacific temper, and this amiable grace
and virtue did illustriously shine forth in him; and in this discourse, he
breathes with a spirit of love in the most affecting and gaining manner,
so that, I dare say, that, though it be above ninety years since he
composed it, it does not fall