III. 1. We may learn, first, that a catholic spirit is not speculative latitudinarianism [ed. note: i.e., tolerance]. It is not an indifference to all opinions: this is the spawn of hell, not the offspring of heaven. This unsettledness of thought, this being 'driven to and fro, and tossed about with every wind of doctrine' is a great curse, not a blessing; an irreconcilable enemy, not a friend, to true catholicism. A man of a truly catholic spirit has not now his religion to seek. He is fixed as the sun in his judgement concerning the main branches of Christian doctrine. . . . Observe this, you who know not what spirit you are of, who call yourselves men of a catholic spirit, only becuase you are of a muddy understanding; because your mind is all in a mist, becuase you have no settled, consistent principles but are for jumbling all opinions together. Be convinced that you have quite missed your way, you know not where you are. You think you are got into the very spirit of Christ when in truth you are nearer the spirit of Antichrist. Go, first and leanr the first elements of the gospel of Christ and then shall you learn to be of a truly catholic spirit.

2. From what has been said, we may learn, secondly that a catholic spirit is not any kind of practical latitudinarianism. It is not indifference as to public worship or as to the outward manner of performing it. This, likewise, would not be a blessing but a curse. . . .

3. Hence we may thirdly learn that a catholic spirit is not indifference to all congregations. This is another sort of latitudinarianism, no less absurd and unscriptureal than the former. But it is far from a person of a truly catholic spirit. One is fixed in a congregation as well as one's principles. A person is united to one, not only in spirit, but by all the outward ties of Christian fellowship. There one partakes of all the ordinances of God. There one receives the supper of the Lord. There one pours out one's soul in public prayer and joins in public praise and thanksgiving. There one rejoices to hear the word of reconciliation, the gospel of the grace of God. With these nearest, best-loved brothers and sisters, on solemn occasion, one seeks God by fasting. There particularly the person watches over in love, as they do over this person's soul; admonishing, exhorting, comforting, reproving, and every way building up each other in the faith. These the person regards as his or her own household; and therefore, according to the ability God has given, naturally cares for them and provides that they may have all the things that are needful for life and godliness.

4. But while one is steadily fixed in religious principles, in what one believes to be the truth as it is in Jesus; whe one firmly adheres to that worship of God which is judged to be most acceptable in God's sigh; and while one is united, by the tenderest and closest ties to one particular congregation, one's heart is enlarged toward all humanity, those one knows and those one does not. One embraces with strong and cordial affection neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies. This is catholic or universal love. And the one that has this is of a catholic spirit. For love alone give the title to this character: catholic love is a catholic spirit.