The Marrow of the Oracles of God, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
How we should preserue our louelove to the godly.
THus of the rules that concerne the manifestation of our louelove to the godly. Now there are further diuers things to be obserued for the preseruation of our louelove to them: and these may bee cast into two heads: for, they are either such things as we must doe; or such things as we must auoide.
The things that wee must doe What wee must do to pr…serue our louelove to the godly. We must labour to be of one iudgement with them.to preserue louelove, are these:
First, we must striue to be like minded in matters of opinion; many discords or abatements of affection grow among Christians for their offences of opinion in diuers things. It is true, that difference of Iudgement should not cause difference in affection: If we cannot be of one minde, yet we should be of one heart: yet we see the contrary, and therefore eueryevery Christian should make conscience of it, to be so wary and so humble in his opinions, especially in things doubtfull, or not so necessary, as to take heed of admitting what might shew dissent from the godly; or if he must needs dissent, yet to be very wary how he discouer it to the vexation or entanglement of others. Now because this is very hard to perswade Christians vntounto; marke how vehemently the Apostle speaks of it, Rom. 15. 5, 6. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to bee like minded, that ye may with one mouth and one mind glorifie God. Wee must learne of the Apostle to pray feruently for this, that our natures, and the natures of others, with whom we conuerse, may be fitted hereunto: and, 1 Corinth. 1. 10. the Apostle adi…res them by the name of Iesus: I beseech you brethren, by the name of our Lord Iesus Christ, that ye all speake the same thing, and that there be no diuions amongst you, but that yee bee perfectly ioyned together in the same mind, and in the same iudgement. And in the Epistle to the Philippians, Chap. 2. ver. 1, 2, 3. he vrgeth them with strange vehemencie, to import the necessity of this duty: If, saith he, there be any consolation in Christ, or any fellowship of the Spirit, or any bowels of mercy, be like minded, hauing the same louelove, being of one mind. And certainely, this earnestnesse in requiring this duty imports, that some peruerse Christians will smoake one day for th…ir presumption, and waywardnesse, and pride of opinions.
2. Wee must follow the things 2. We must … peace.which may make for outward peace; and to this end we must labour to shew all meekenesse in our carriage, and long-suffering in forbearing one another, and forgiuing one another, Ephesians 4. 2, 3, 4.
3. Wee must striue to heare …. We must couer their weakenesse.our affection to such a degree, as that it may be able to couer the infirmities of others: He must get a couering louelove, that will liue constantly in the louelove of the godly: A louelove, that will couer a multitude of faults, 1 Pet. 4. 8. Prou. 10. 10.
4. We must confesse our faults 4. We must confesseour faults one to another.one to another, Iames 5. 16. It doth exceedingly preserue louelove, if men, when they hauehave offended, or wronged others, would quickly, and easily, and heartily acknowledge their offences. Nor doth this rule hold in case of trespasse onelyonly, but when wee hauehave not wronged others, yet discrcetly to complaine of the corruption of nature that cleaues to vsus, and the infirmities which daily trouble vsus. This doth worke not onelyonly compassion, but great increase of affection in others towards vsus: For acknowledgement preuents their secret loathing of vsus for such frailties if they should discerne them. And besides, it makes them the willinger to giuegive vsus leaue to reprooue their faults, when they see we are as willing to reprooue our owne; besides the ease it brings to our own hearts many times to make our moane to others, when our consciences are troubled.