Catholic Spirit

A passage from the sermon

Is thine heart right, as my heart is with thy heart? If it be, give me thine hand. I do not mean, be of my opinion. You need not: I do not expect or desire it. Neither do I mean, embrace my modes of worship; or, I will embrace yours. This is also a thing which does not depend either on your choice or mine.

But what I do mean is this: love me with a very tender affection, as a friend that is closer than a brother — as a brother in Christ, a fellow-citizen of the new Jerusalem, a fellow-soldier engaged in the same warfare. Love me with the love of friends and the love of brethren; and provoke me to love and to good works. So far as you can, in a tender, careful, yet candid manner — admonish me of my faults. Pray for me without ceasing. And love me not in word only, but in deed and in truth.