How these Christians love

For a little while you may say, Woe is me, that I am constrained to live with Mesech, and to have my home among the tents of Kedar (Psalm 120:5). You may pour out your soul and lament the loss of true, genuine love on the earth. Lost indeed. You may well say, though not in the ancient sense, See how these Christians love one another. These Christian kingdoms, that are tearing out each other's bowels, desolating one another with fire and sword. These Christian armies, that are sending each other by thousands, and by tens of thousands, straight into hell. These Christian nations, that are all on fire with internal quarrels, party against party, faction against faction. These Christian cities, where deceit and fraud, oppression and wrong, yes, robbery and murder, do not leave their streets. These Christian families, torn apart with envy, jealousy, anger, and domestic quarrels, without number, without end. Yes, what is most dreadful, most to be lamented of all, these Christian churches. Churches, tell it not in Gath (2 Samuel 1:20), but alas, how can we hide it, either from Jews, Turks, or pagans, that bear the name of Christ, the Prince of peace, and wage continual war with each other. That convert sinners by burning them alive. That are drunk with the blood of the saints (Revelation 17:6). Does this charge belong only to Babylon the Great, the mother of harlots and of the abominations of the earth? No, truly. Reformed churches, so called, have learned well to follow in her steps. Protestant churches too know how to persecute, when they have power in their hands, even to blood. And meanwhile, how they also curse one another. They devote one another to the lowest hell. What wrath, what contention, what malice, what bitterness, is found everywhere among them, even where they agree in essentials and differ only in opinions, or in the outward details of religion. Who follows after only the things that make for peace, and the things by which one may build up another? Oh God, how long? Will your promise fail? Do not fear it, you little flock (Luke 12:32). Against hope, believe in hope (Romans 4:18). It is your Father's good pleasure still to renew the face of the earth. Surely all these things shall come to an end, and the inhabitants of the earth shall learn righteousness. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation (Isaiah 2:4), nor shall they learn war any more. The mountain of the Lord's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and all the kingdoms of the world shall become the kingdom of our God. They shall not hurt or destroy in all his holy mountain (Isaiah 11:9), but they shall call their walls salvation and their gates praise. They shall all be without spot or blemish, loving one another, even as Christ has loved us. Be part of the first fruits, if the harvest is not yet. Love your neighbor as yourself. The Lord God fill your heart with such a love for every soul that you may be ready to lay down your life for his sake (John 15:13). May your soul continually overflow with love, swallowing up every unkind and unholy temper, until he calls you up into the region of love, there to reign with him for ever and ever.