The Debt Book, Chapter 13
CHAP. 13. Of the diuerſities of louelove, and of the nature of Chriſtian religious louelove, towards one another.
BVT that ye louelove one another.] We hauehave a rule euen in moral diſcipline that the prayſe of vertue conſiſteth in action. This is as true of louelove as of any other whatſoeuer, *1. Cor. 13. 13.in this preferred before faith and hope, not ſimply, but becauſe it is diffuſiue of it ſelfe to the vſe of others, whereas theſe are confined to the perſon of the beleeuer. Wee hauehave alſo another rule that whatſoeuer wee would that men ſhould doe vntounto vsus, euen ſo ſhould we do to them; for this is the Law and the Prophets: Mat. 7. 12. But wee deſire that men ſhould louelove vsus, and accommodate themſelues to our ſeruice; therefore it is a naturall and a perpetuall debt to do the like vntounto them.
Now that louelove may be diffuſiue of it ſelfe in precious ſtreams, and operatiue with approbation of God and of man: let vsus chooſe out among the ſeuerall kinds of louelove, 1. the moſt excellent in nature, 2. the beſt eſteem'd in quality, 3. the moſt beneficial in the operations & fruits of it.
For the firſt, wee muſt obſerue that there are diuerſe kinds of louelove; as naturall affection whereby wee louelove our Parents, Children, and Kindred. Hee that hath not this is worſe then brutiſh: euen beaſts cheriſh and ſuckle their young ones. This though a Chriſtian cannot want, yet a reprobate may hauehave. There is a ciuil louelove, the obligation whereof is domeſticall or politicall ſocietie. Meere naturall men yeeld this for mutuall commodity and conſolation. There is a morall louelove conſiſting in an exact compenſation of affection with affection, of benefite with benefite, which falls ſhort indeed of that louelove which here we ſeeke, as our Sauiour ſhewes, Mat. 5. 46. 47. It may be in vnregenerate men, yet it is a great furtherance, to the producing and preſeruing of the charity, whereof we ſpeake. foreign. Greg. Nazian.Nothing ſo auaileable vntounto louelove, as compenſation of affection: which is expreſſed by mutuall offices, Vis vt ameris, ama; Wilt thou be beloued, then do thou louelove.
Laſtly, there is a chriſtian religious louelove, which is a ſanctified affection, wherby our hearts are ioyned either to our brethren in the faith, in contemplation of Gods image in them, ſhining in an eminency of Graces; or in reſpect of the common hope of our calling, declared by outward profeſſion; or elſe whereby we wiſh and doe good to our enemies, in obedience to him who hath commanded vsus ſo to doe.
There is not any kinde of theſe loues aboue mentioned, but it is a debt; and ſo is this chriſtian religious louelove alſo, and muſt be duely paied. Firſt, in reſpect of the communion of Saints: there is one body, one ſpirit, one hope of our calling, one lord, one faith, one baptiſme, one God and father of all, Eph. 4. 4, 5, 6. If a *Eccle. 4. 12▪three-fold cord bee not eaſily broken, how much leſſe this of louelove in ſuch a concurrence of inuincible obligations? It muſt alſo be paied as an homage to God, who will take no notice of our louelove to him, vnleſſe we louelove our neighbour; Thou ſhalt louelove thy neighbour as thy ſelfe, I am the Lord, Leuit. 19. 18. as alſo 1 Ioh. 4. 20. Hee that ſaith hee loueth God and hateth his brother, is a lyar. Who ſo loueth not his brother whom he hath ſeene, how can hee louelove God whom bee hath not ſeene?
Thirdly, it muſt bee paid, in regard of mutuall offices and duties, as of tender affections and earneſt prayers for one another; the intercourſe whereof cannot be ſtopped among Chriſtians. Maior eſt fraternitas Christi, quàm ſanguinis; Brotherhood in Chriſt is ſtronger then in blood. If kinne will creepe where it cannot goe, chriſtian charity cannot chuſe but be diffuſiue of it ſelfe, from the higheſt to the loweſt. *Pſal. 133. 2. 3.As the precious ointment from the head of Aaron to his beard, and to the skirts of his garment: as the dew of Hermon vponupon the hill of Zion; ſo this louelove imparts it ſelfe by a co-operation of Gods ſpirit, to the comfort and refreſhing of high and low, pertaining to the couenant.
Moreouer, as in ciuill debts, ſo alſo in ſacred, the paiment muſt be currant. It is not the louelove of brethren in euill, bee it neuer ſo ſtrong that will ſerue the turne; ſuch concord is a conſpiracy, as in *Gen. 34, 25.Simeon and Leui, in the outrage vponupon the Shechemites. It is not the doting of *Iudg. 16. 4. &c. Num. 25. 15.Samſon vponupon Dalilah, or of Zimry vponupon Cosby, be the men neuer ſo great, that will ſerue the turne; this is but carnall luſt. The currant louelove which beares the ſtampe of the Sanctuarie, muſt bee deriued *1. Tim. 1. 5.from a pure heart, a good conſcience, & an vnfaigned faith; this is the right myne out of which it muſt be taken. And in this reſpect the chriſtian louelove doth as much ſurmount all carnall loues, as gold or ſiluer doth copper or lead; which makes mee wonder, why we ſhould bee ſo ambitious of the friendſhip and countenance of men notoriouſly ſinfull, ſeeing how much ſoeuer they are beloued of vsus, yet they can but giuegive vsus droſſe for gold, chaffe for wheat. True chriſtian louelove indeed, as it is a noble heroicall grace, ſo can it not proceed but from a ſanctified originall.