A Treatise of Love, Chapter 9
CHAP. 9. Of LoueLove to the Saints.
NOw I come to the louelove we owe to the Saints and true people of God; and these are to be loued in the greatest degree of all other men, and to be had in high price and account, Gal. 6. 10. Psalme 15. 4.
Thus did Dauid, Psalme 16. 3. All his delight was in the Saints. Psal. 119. 63. He was their companion. Psal. 101. He would hauehave such to attend vponupon him, and such only as neare as he could. So Cornelius, Acts 10. 7. had a souldier that feared God, that was at his hand.
Reasons of this are: First, the1. Image of God is most clearly seen in them: we are to reuerence and louelove the least part of it, wheresoeuer we see it, euen in wicked men; how much more then, the brightnesse of it, which stands in the graces of the Spirit, wisedome, holinesse, and righteousnesse, wherein they most liuely resemble their Maker? And the more of this we see, the more we ought to louelove, in children, friends, neighbours, or whomsoeuer. This is to be esteemed far aboue wit, beauty, strength, wealth, actiuity, or any gift of Nature or Art; these be toyes to grace: Fauour is deceitfull, and beauty vanity, but one that feares God, he or she, shall be praised. Therefore herein Rebecca was wiser than Isaac, who loued Iacob for his grace, more than Esau for his skill in hunting.
Secondly, God loues them best; therefore so should we. As whom the King fauours, all doe honour. These be his secret ones, precious in his account, as the apple of his eye; he hath rebuked Kings for their sakes.
When he drowned all the world, hee preserued his little number: As Lot in Sodoms destruction. Yea, if there had but ten righteous persons been found in fiue Cities, they had all beene saued from the burning. These bee marked in Ierusalem from the common destruction, Ezek. 9. These he sealed, Reuel. 7. to be preserued from the plagues bodily and spirituall, that should come vponupon the world. He makes more account of one righteous one, than of a thousand other, Isa. 43. 3, 4. As he did, when to make way for his people, the Iewes, into Canaan, he gaue seuen mighty Nations to the sword.
Thirdly, they be more excellent than any other, Prou. 12. 26. The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: meaning, that is not righteous, but wicked. More excellent in this life, at his death, and in the day of iudgement. These are written in the Booke of Life, be washt white in the bloud of the Lambe, clothed with his Righteousnesse, aricher robe than euer Salomon wore on his backe: adorned with the precious Iewels of Gods sanctifying graces, attended by the Angels, borne from aboue, the children of God, members of Christ, temples of the Holy Ghost, heires of all things here, & shall at death, and after the day of Iudgement, be inheritors of the Kingdome of Heauen, prepared for them before the beginning of the world. And for the wicked, we may say, as Psal. 1. 4. It is not so with them. And therefore good reason these should be best beloued.
4 Lastly, they be most vsefull, and can do vsus most good, by their counsell, example, prayers, when we be present with them, yea, absent from them: Hee that walkes Pro. 13. 20with the wise, shall bee the wiser; much good may we learne, and comfort may we get, by conuersing with them, that bee truely godly.
For their sake the world continues; if the number of the Elect were fulfilled, the wicked should no longer rout here, but come to iudgement, and be sent to their owne place.
For their sake, and at their prayers, many plagues are kept from the Land; as at Moses prayers they were from the Israelites: Many iudgements entred, hauehave been remoued, as Plague and Pestilence, and vnseasonable times; yea, finall desolation preuented: and had it not beene for a few, we might hauehave looked to hauehave been as Sodome, and as Gomorrha. All fare the better for the Righteous sake; as all that were in the ship▪ with Paul, had their liues giuen them, and were preserued from drowning for his sake, Acts 27.
Vse. 1. This then serues to reproue the folly of carnall people, that so dote vponupon wealth and honour, and things of this world, as if they that had them were the happy men; Oh they bee made, they cannot do amisse. And these, in their language, are vsually called the best men in the Towne, and these they crouch to and ad mire, when grace and the feare of God in any is little regarded; esteeming the seruants of God without wealth (how gracious soeuer) but poore snakes.
But, Oh folly and madnesse to worship the Golden Calfe! so highly to esteem men for red and white earth, gifts of Gods left hand, giuen euen to his enemies, things transitory & soone fading away, and that cannot keep their owners from the damnation of hell; and not to esteeme of the precious graces of Gods Spirit, giuen from aboue onelyonly to his Elect, and which doe abide vntounto euerlasting life.
Elisha, that worthy Prophet of the Lord, was of another minde, who, but for the goodnesse that was in King Iehoshaphat, would not hauehave once looked towards Iehoram, that wicked King of Israel, 2 Kin. 3. 14. which folly, of preferring wealth aboue grace, the Apostle St. Iames rebuketh, Cap. 2. 1, 2. &c.
Secondly, this rebuketh such, as make account of all alike, especially, if they be any thing ciuill; one as welcome to them as another, as much commended in life and at death: like as well of the ciuill, as of them that be truely religious, shew as much countenance, yeeld as much helpe to one as to the other. If they hauehave any thing to giuegive, they put no difference betweene the poore, good, or bad.
These are iustly to be suspected, and to be thought to be neyther Fish nor Flesh; for where true grace is, their eyes be annointed, that they can see a difference between men, and grace will draw to grace, and as discerne it, so embrace it: for though we challenge no such gift, as some that say, If they talke but halfe▪ an houre with a man, they will know whether he be the childe of God or not; yet, I say, God giues grace to discerne grace where it is, from bare ciuillity, at least by conuersing with them, and to preferre one infinitely before the other.
Many will commend a meere ciuill man, in whom its easie to discerne, that there is not one dramme of piety or true grace, to be as honest a man as need to be, and thinke and speake as well of him, as of a true good Christian; but this is a very dangerous signe, that there is no more but ciuill honesty in themselues.
Thirdly, this reproueth a more fearfull sinne yet, and yet the common practice of some, that in stead of louing the godly best of all persons, they can worst away with them. They could louelove such a kinsman, tenant, seruant, &c. but that hee is (as they call them) a Puritan, and they cannot abide these precise fellowes. Nay, they hauehave loued such and such a one, till it pleased God to conuert him, and euer since they could neuer abide him: As the chiefe Priests dealt by Saul, after he was conuerted, and became a Paul. Why? hee was the same man that he was, onelyonly he was better now: So its with the other that I spake of; which is a plaine argument, that they hate them for their goodnesse, as Dauid complaines, Psalme 38. 20. *My meaning is onelyonly to reproue those, who, vponupon sincere and deuout Chrians, such as make most conscience of their wayes, and are truely zealous in Gods seruice; fasten the odious name of Puritan, and cannot abide them.Though they pretend they hate them for this or that fault, yet▪ that is not so; for they louelove those that liue in greater faults, and themselues liue in farre greater, than they can possibly charge them withall: The truth is, its because they are better than themselues, and dare not be companions with them in euill, 1 Pet. 4. 4. therefore the openly prophane hate them: They hate them, because they flye a higher pitch, than they are willing to put themselues to the paines to attaine to, and so they count they discredit them, who, but for these precise ones, should be counted the best, and as good, as one would desire.
Besides, these tell them, that their fruitlesse profession of Religion will not serue to bring them to Heauen; and therefore vrge them to look further, which they are not willing to doe; and this makes them wish, they were all out of the way: for they onelyonly trouble the world, they should be quiet but for them. And thus our Sauiour Christ and the Gospell bring variance, not into the same Towne where before all went hand in hand to sinne, but into the same Family; because some will receiue the Gospell and the power of it, some others will not: therefore they are now at oddes, that were all one before in euill.
This sinne hath most fearfully ouer-spread this Nation, so that its more safe from the hatred and ill tongues of most, to bee any thing, rather than to be zealous and godly. A fearfull thing. EueryEvery man loues a couragious souldier, a diligent and resolute seruant for his Master, a man forward in his businesse; onelyonly forwardnesse and zeale for God and in Religion, that cannot bee endured. These be they that be the troublers, and a burthen to the places where they be, and so to the Land, and bee railed on as the vilest persons, when as yet these are perhaps vponupon their knees, pleading with God for the Nation, when multitudes are swilling, and swearing, and prouoking Gods wrath against it; therefore we hauehave small cause to be weary of them: the Land, no doubt, fares the better for them eueryevery day.
Is this the fruit of aboue threescore yeares peace and plenty of the Gospell; wherein it had been meet we had all beene such as I meane: that is, zealous and true hearted Christians, that now those few that labour to shew forth the power of true godlinesse, in an vniuersall obedience to the Word they professe, that these should be had in derision, and be a wonder in Israel? As sure as we liue, if all in this Land serued God, as it is to be feared, some doe, in an idle and meere ceremonious cōming to Church, hearing of Sermons, and receiuing the Sacrament, and yet liue as they list, and keep their lusts still, and the sinnes they hauehave a minde to; God would soone ease himselfe of vsus, and vomit vp such a lukewarme Nation: for how odious is this to God, to hauehave people draw neare to him with their lips, when their hearts are diuided from him, and run after their sinnes: to heare his Word, and hate to be reformed, or to mend a little in what they list, and no further than they please; to call vponupon God, and yet depart not from euill; in receiuing the Lords Supper, to professe Faith in Christ, and obedience to all Gods commandements, and in their liues to shew the clean contrary eueryevery day? what is this but to prouoke God against vsus, and to deceiue our owne soules?
And as for those particular persons that are haters of Gods true seruants, they are no such themselues, and their state is fearful. For they are not led by the spirit that Dauid and Cornelius was, and which I pray God I may euer be. They be no true Members of the Church here, nor shall bee heires of Gods Kingdome hereafter, as Psal. 15. 4. None of Christs Disciples, who are known by louing their Brethren, Iohn 13. 35. nor are translated from death to life, 1 Iohn 3. 14. but remaine vnderunder death to this houre: Nor hauehave any louelove to God in them, 1 Iohn 5. 1. for if they loued him that begetteth, they would louelove those that are begotten of him.
But they are of the seed of the Serpent, bearing enmity against the seed of the Woman, against Christ in his members; of Cains linage, of the broode of Ismael, worse than Balaam; Numb. 23. that said, How shall I curse, where God hath not cursed? or detest, where God hath not detested? are led by Sathan, who is an accuser of the Brethren, Reuel. 12, 10. who prouide wofully for themselues: for God said to Abraham, and so to all that be of the seed of Abraham by true faith, I will blesse them that blesse thee, and curse them that curse thee.
Their ill will is indeed against Christ, and reacheth to him; as he said from heauen to Saul, Why persecutest thou me? and, Its hard kicking against the pricks. Looke throughout all the Scriptures, and you shall see, that fearefull iudgements hauehave ouertaken the haters, and pursuers, or opposers of the true seruants of God. Later Histories of the Church, and our owne daily experience affords abundance of very true, sensible, and fearfull examples in this kinde. And if at the day of iudgement, they that hauehave done them no good shall be set on the left hand, and heare this dolefull sentence, Goe yee cursed &c. then what shall become of them that hauehave hated them, and done them hurt? Let eueryevery one therefore that hath beene guilty in this thing, repent deepely of it, as there is cause, and so shake off this blacke and fearefull Marke, else the time will come, when they shall wish, and would thinke themselues happy, to bee shadowed vnderunder their wing whom now they hate; when they shall see them receiued, and themselues refused.
Yet here againe let me put in this by the way, that I count not those for Gods true seruants who are such onelyonly in Profession, and not in their Practice.
Some zealous Professors there are, which yet are not so diligent in their callings as they ought to be. Some not so carefull to keep out of debt, or not to pay their debts, but hang on eueryevery bush, and breake promises shamefully, to the iust opening the mouthes of their Neighbours. Some bee rash and indiscreete, giuen to censure too deepely. Some spend all their zeale in crying out against Ceremonies, and neglect matters more belonging to edifying themselues and others. Some forsake their owne Ministers when they preach, very vncharitably and indiscreetly. Some separate themselues from the Church, and our Ministrie and Societie altogether. Now if a Minister, or any Christian shall shew his dislike of such courses in generall, or rebuke any particular person for any of them, hee is not to bee ill thought of for so doing, nor to be reputed an hater of Gods seruants.
Fourthly, there are diuers sorts of them that be no open enemies to Gods children, that yet will bee found no other, when God shall come to iudgement; and therefore here to be discouered and reproued. They bee not with them; therefore they bee against them. They can sit and heare them vniustly euill spoken of, and yet be neuer greeued, nor once open their mouthes in their behalfe. That pry into their liues, and if they can spy a hole in their coate, they reproach them by it, and tell it from one to another, and that with no griefe. Can cast out a scoffe against them: That care not for their company. Delight rather in those that spend the time in telling Newes or Tales, of this or that body: with these they can sit long; but for other that will hold to any godly speech, they take no pleasure in them: They make matches with such rather than with those; inuite them, and louelove their company to chuse. These be lukewarme Christians, Neuters, neyther the one, nor the other, of both sides, of eueryevery side: but God can see them to bee Enemies, and will set them on his left hand; when it will not serue them to pleade that they neuer hated them, or opposed them. Let men looke well to this Point: for there bee many that thinke well of themselues, for good Christians, that yet will be found of this number: But as they can hauehave no sound peace to their Consciences, so shall they neuer hauehave good name in the Church of God, till it bee otherwise.
Fiftly and lastly, let this bee a Consolation to all those whose hearts doe beare witnesse, and their practice bewray that they truly louelove the Saints; they can hauehave no better signe of the grace of God, or that they bee true Members of the Church here, and shall bee inheriters of glory hereafter; that they louelove God, be Christs Disciples, and be translated from death to life. Alwaies prouided, that you deceiue not your selues in this point, as no doubt diuers doe, To thinke, that because you louelove some one or two choyce ones, that you are a louer of Gods people, though you neglect all the rest: which is not so; for whosoeuer loues any in truth, loues the grace of God in whomsoeuer hee sees it, rich or poore, high or low. Or because you louelove some that bee of your Kinne, or for some outward good qualification they hauehave, or some common gift of learning, eloquence, or because they bee rich, or bee such as hauehave done you some pleasure, or may doe: for if your louelove bee set vponupon Gods seruants for such by respects, this is not the true LoueLove of the Saints: But if you louelove them simply for the worke of Gods sanctifying grace that yousee or hear to be in them, though you neuer saw them, nor neuer shall, yet for the grace of God your heart is knit to them, as Ionathans to Dauid: or if you know and liue neare them… though they neuer did you any speciall good turne, or be nothing to you outwardly and in the flesh, nay, though any such hauehave reproued you of some fault they hauehave seene in you, yet you louelove them for the Image of God that shines in them: yea, though you see, heare, or know some imperfections in them, and things worthy blame, yet seeing signes of synceritie you louelove them notwithstanding, are glad when they doe well, and grieue at the contrary: this is good.
Examine your selues by these things; if you bee taken tardy, then deceiue your selues no longer: If your heart witnesse on your side by these tryals, then be comforted, and labour to encrease in this grace, that so your euidence may be strong: And the rather, because this hath kept many from sinking in time of Temptation, when all other euidences hauehave beene to seeke. Thus much of the louelove that all ought to beare to the People of God.