The Rules of a Holy Life, Chapter 26
CHAP. XXVI.
How wee 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 bee obserued for the preseruation of our louelove to them: and these may bee cast into two heads: for, they are either such things as wee must doe; or, such things as wee must auoide.
The things that we must do to preserue louelove are these.What wee must do to preseru… our louelove to the godly. Wee must labour to be of one iudgment with them
First, wee must striue to be like minded in matters of opinion; many discords or abatements of affection grow among Christians for their differences of opinion in diuers things. It is true, that difference of Iudgement should not cause difference in affection: If wee cannot bee of one minde, yet wee should bee of one heart; yet wee see the contrary, and therefore eueryevery Christian should make conscience of it, to bee so wary and so humble in his opinions, especially in things doubtfull, or not so necessarie, as to take heed of admitting, who might shew dissent from the godly; or if hee must needs dissent, yet to bee very wary how hee discouer it to the vexation, or entanglement of others. Now because this is very hard to perswade Christians vntounto, marke how vehemently the Apostle speakes of it, Rom. 15. 5, 6. Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded, that yee may with one mouth and one minde glorifie God. We must learne of the Apostle to pray feruently for this, that our natures, and the natures of others, with whom wee conuerse, may bee fitted hereunto: and 1. Cor. 1. 10. the Apostle adiures them by the name of Iesus: I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Iesus Christ, that yee all speake the same thing, and that there be no diuisions amongst you, but that yee bee perfectly ioyned together in the same minde, and in the same iudgement. And in the Epistle to the Philippians cha. 2. ver. 1, 2, 3. Hee vrgeth them with strange vehemency to import the necessitie of this duty: If, saith he, there bee any consolation in Christ, or any fellowship of the Spirit, or any bowels of mercy, bee like minded, hauing the same louelove, being of one minde. And certainely, this earnestnesse in requiring this duety, imports, that some peruerse Christians will smoke one day, for their presumption and waywardnesse, and pride of opinions.
2. Wee must follow the things,2. We must follow peace. which may make for outward peace; and to this end wee must labour to shew all meeknesse in our carriage, and long-suffering in for-bearing one another, and forgiuing one another, Ephes. 4. 2, 3, 4.
3. Wee must striue to heate our affections to such a degree,3. We must couer their weaknesse as that it may be able to couer the infirmaties of others: Hee 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. 12.
4. We must confesse our faults one to another,We must confesse our faults one to another. I am. 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 we hauehave not wronged others, yet discreetly to complaine of the corruption of nature that cleaues to vsus, and the infirmities which daily trouble vsus: This doth work 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 discouer them. And besides, it makes them the willinger to giuegive vsus leaue to reproue their faults, when they see wee are as willing to reproue our owne; Besides the ease it brings to our owne hearts many times to make our moane to others, when our consciences are troubled.