A Guide to Godliness, Book 2 · Chapter 5
CAP. V.
Of the louelove of God, and diuers vertues which ſpring from it.
§. Sect. 1 Of the louelove of God, what it is, and wherein it conſiſteth, and of the meaſure and meanes of it.
THe next mayne and principall dutie is the louelove of God, when as knowing, beleeuing, and remembring his infiniteneſſe in all goodneſſe, excellency, beauty, and all perfection, and his ineſtimable louelove, grace, and bounty towards vsus, we doe louelove him againe with all our heart, ſoule, minde, and ſtrength, aboue all things, and all other things in him, and for his ſake. So that the cauſes of our louelove towards God, are his goodneſſe, excellencie, beautie and perfection in himſelfe; and his goodneſſe, grace, and benignity towards vsus. For goodneſſe is the onelyonly obiect of louelove, neither doe wee louelove any thing which is not either truely good, or at leaſt appeareth good vntounto vsus. And therfore ſeeing God is the ſummum bonum, and chiefe goodneſſe, when his nature appeareth to be ſo, we ſhould louelove him chiefly, and place our chiefe happineſſe in his fruition. But yet becauſe in this ſtate of corruption we are full of ſelfe-louelove, therefore wee cannot louelove God perfectly and abſolutely for himſelfe as we ought, till wee bee aſſured of his louelove towards vsus, and hauehave it ſhed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghoſt: for we louelove him, becauſe he loued vsus firſt, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh. Now the Rom. 5. 5. 1. Ioh. 4. 19.meaſure of our louelove, wherewith we are to louelove God, ought to be without meaſure, both becauſe he is immeaſurable in goodneſſe in his owne nature, and alſo becauſe his louelove towards vsus hath exceeded all meaſure; the which appeareth not only in our creation, whereby he hath giuen vsus vntounto our ſelues, and made vsus his moſt excellent creatures, but alſo in our Redemption, wherein he hath giuen himſelfe vntounto vsus, euen his onelyonly begotten and dearely beloued Sonne, of the ſame nature with himſelfe, to die for our ſinnes, and riſe againe for our iuſtification; and that, when we were not friends, but of no ſtrength, ſtrangers, ſinners, enemies vntounto him and his grace, the ſlaues of Satan, and children of wrath as well as others. And therefore if he thus loued vsus, when we merited no louelove, yea when we deſerued wrath and hatred, how much more, if it were poſſible, ſhould wee louelove him who is moſt louely, and infinitely deſerueth our louelove? But becauſe our nature being finite, we cannot louelove him infinitely, wee ought therefore to louelove him as much as is poſſible for vsus, with all our hearts, ſoules, and ſtrength: Or if we cannot thus doe, in reſpect of our corruption, yet at leaſt we muſt louelove him in ſincerity and vprightneſſe of heart, as much as we can, and be heartily ſorry that wee can louelove him no better. We muſt louelove him aboue all things in the world, as houſe, lands, parents, children, wiues, yea our owne liues, and be ready with all cheerefulneſſe to lay them downe for him, as he hath firſt laid downe his life for vsus. For if we ought to louelove all things in him and for him, then ought wee to louelove him much more, preferring his glory euen before our owne ſaluation, when as they come in compariſon, the one with the other. And this is that louelove of God, which is to be imbraced of vsus, as being in it ſelfe a moſt excellent vertue, and in diuers reſpects to be preferred before faith and hope; 1. Cor. 13. 13.and to vsus moſt profitable, feeing it aſſureth vsus of Gods louelove, and remiſſion Luk. 7. 47.of our ſinnes, transformeth vsus, after a manner, into the diuine nature (for where is louelove, there is likeneſſe, and it is the nature of it to change the louer, as much as may be, into the party beloued) and finally weaneth our hearts from the louelove of the world and earthly vanities, and lifteth vp our affections and thoughts vntounto God and heauenly things; maketh all that we doe or ſuffer for Gods ſake, eaſie and tolerable, yea ſweete and comfortable: for it ſeeketh not her owne, beareth all things, endureth all things; it inableth 1. Cor. 13. 6, 7.vsus to offer vntounto God cheerefull obedience, and to performe all duties of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe required vntounto a godly life, with ioy and delight, which without it are irkeſome and vnpleaſant, yea intolerable and impoſſible vntounto fleſh and blood. Now the meanes whereby our hearts may be inflamed with this diuine fire of Gods louelove, are, firſt, that we often meditate vponupon Gods infinite goodneſſe, excellency, beauty, and perfection, which make him worthy of all louelove, and how hee hath exerciſed theſe ſauing attributes towards vsus, in our creation and preſeruation, in our redemption, giuing his only Sonne to die for vsus, and for his ſake forgiuing vsus all our ſinnes, and in beſtowing vponupon vsus all the good things which wee inioy in this life, or hope for in the life to come.
§. Sect. 2 Of the zeale of Gods glory, what it is, and wherein it conſiſteth.
Now the vertues and graces which ariſe and iſſue from louelove, are diuers, as zeale of Gods glory, ioy, and reioycing in God, thankefulneſſe and obedience. Zeale is the fruit and effect of our feruent louelove towards God, and as it were a flame ariſing from this diuine fire, whereby we are made moſt carefull and earneſt in ſeeking Gods glory, both in aduancing and furthering all meanes whereby it is furthered, and in oppoſing, hindring, and remoouing all the impediments whereby it may bee hindred. And this is to be ſhewed in all other vertues, as being the intenſion of them, and in all duties which we performe vntounto God. So the Apoſtle telleth vsus generally, that it is good to be zealouſly affected alwayes in a good thing. Gal. 4. 18.Our louelove towards God, and hatred of ſinne, muſt be zealous and hot, and not cold or luke-warme; our repentance muſt bee ioyned with zeale; Bee zealous and amend. We muſt zealouſly worſhip and ſerue God, according Apoc. 3. 19.to that of the Apoſtle; feruent in Spirit, ſeruing the Lord. Wee muſt not Rom. 12. 11. Tit. 2. 14. 1. Theſ. 3. 10.onelyonly doe good workes, but be zealous of them. Wee muſt pray with zeale exceedingly, and powre out our hearts like water before the Lord; with Lam. 2. 19.zeale we muſt preach the Word, and be inwardly affected with that wee ſpeake, that ſo alſo we may affect others; and we muſt with zeale heare the Word, and euen hunger and thirſt after this ſpirituall food of our ſoules, 1. Pet. 2. 1.that we may grow vp thereby. But yet our care muſt be, that our zeale be guided with knowledge, and not ſhew it ſelfe in all things, but (as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh) onelyonly in a good matter; and alſo that in aduancing of the Gal. 4. 18.meanes of Gods glory, and remoouing the impediments, wee keepe our ſelues within the limits of our callings. Now the meanes to attaine vntounto this zeale, is to conſider often and ſeriouſly how great things the Lord hath done for vsus, which will make vsus thinke that we can neuer be too earneſt in ſeeking his glory, nor too intent and feruent in all holy duties of his ſeruice. That it is an inſeparable propertie of all grace, to be zealous in them, and therefore there can be no grace at all, where zeale is wanting. That is an vndoubted ſigne of thoſe who are the redeemed of the Lord, to be zealous of good works: & therfore where there is no zeale, there can be no Tit. 2. 14.ſigne of redemption by Chriſt; finally, that luke-warmeneſſe is moſt lothſome vntounto God, and that thoſe who are ſo, he will ſpue out of his mouth.Apoc. 3. 17.
§. Sect. 3 Of reioycing in God, what it is, and the meanes wherby we may attaine vntounto it.
The ſecond vertue ariſing from louelove, is ioy and reioycing in God, when being aſſured of his louelove towards vsus, and louing him againe, taſting for the preſent, how good the Lord is, and perſwading our ſelues of the full fruition of him in the life to come, we are exceedingly delighted, and euen glory in the aſſurance and ſenſe of Gods fauour. For it is the nature of louelove to make vsus reioyce in the thing beloued: and as the more excellent any thing is in our conceite, the more our louelove exceedeth, ſo according to the meaſure of our louelove, ſuch alſo is our ioy when we inioy it. And therefore needes muſt our ioy and reioycing in God exceed all other ioy, becauſe our louelove ought to bee proportioned to his goodneſſe and excellency, and our ioy to our louelove. In which reſpect, this diuine ioy ſwalloweth vp all worldly griefe, and cauſeth vsus to glory, not onelyonly in worldly proſperity, but alſo in perſecution and tribulation. Rom. 5. 3.And this is that ioy vntounto which the Scriptures exhort vsus: Reioyce in the Phil. 4. 4. 1. Theſ. 5. 16. Pſal. 37. 4.Lord alway, and againe, I ſay, Reioyce. Reioyce euermore. Delight thy ſelfe in the Lord, and he will giuegive thee the deſires of thine heart. Which if we attaine vntounto, then hauehave wee euen in this life, the firſt beginnings of our heauenly happineſſe. For as the Apoſtle teacheth vsus, the Kingdome of God Rom. 14. 17.conſiſteth in righteouſneſſe, peace, and ioy in the holy Ghoſt. Now the meanes to obtaine this ioy, is to labour after aſſurance that wee are vnited vntounto Chriſt; for we cannot hauehave it in our ſelues, but in, and through him: according to that of the Apoſtle, We ioy in God, through our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, Rom. 5. 11.by whom now we hauehave receiued the atonement. Secondly, if we would hauehave this ioy, we muſt labour after the aſſurance of our iuſtification, and remiſſion of our ſinnes; for peace with God followeth our iuſtification by faith, Rom. 5. 1, 3.and ioy this peace. Thirdly, let vsus labour after this aſſurance, that wee are the ſonnes of God by adoption and grace, and to hauehave it ſealed vntounto vsus in our hearts and conſciences, by his holy Spirit, that ſo our aſſurance of our heauenly inheritance, may vphold our ioy and reioycing in the middeſt of temporary croſſes and afflictions. Finally, let vsus labour to feele Gods louelove ſhed abroad in our hearts by the holy Ghoſt, which wee ſhall beſt diſcerne, by finding them inflamed with feruent louelove towards God, approoued to bee ſincere, by our care to flee all ſinne which is odious vntounto him, and imbracing all vertue and goodneſſe which is acceptable in his ſight. And if wee inioy God in this mutuall louelove, wee ſhall in all eſtates glory and reioyce in it, and in the middeſt of all worldly extremities, comfort our ſelues, with Dauid, in the Lord 1. Sam. 30. 6. 1. Theſ. 1. 6.our God.
§. Sect. 4 Of thankfulnes vntounto God, what is required vntounto it; and the meanes of it.
The third vertue ariſing from the louelove of God, is vnfained thankfulnes: for when in conſideration of Gods goodneſſe, mercy, and bounty towards Pſal. 116. 12.vsus, our hearts are inflamed with his louelove, and repleniſhed with ioy vnſpeakeable and glorious, then doe we thinke, with Dauid, what wee may returne vntounto him for all his benefits; and finding no poſſible meanes of making the leaſt requitall, in regard of our impotency, and Gods all-ſufficiency, we doe at laſt reſolue to remaine for euer thankfull debters, and to expreſſe our thankefulneſſe, both by our words in prayſing and magnifying, and in all our actions by glorifying him our Benefactour, who hath beene ſo infinitely gracious vntounto vsus, ſeeing wee hauehave nothing elſe to returne vntounto him. So that our louelove of God, proceeding from his louelove towards vsus, is the roote of our thankefulneſſe, and our reioycing in his louelove and goodneſſe, an inſeparable companion of it. For this thankefulneſſe is a vertue, whereby knowing, acknowledging, and reioycing in the ſenſe and feeling of Gods louelove, goodneſſe, and bountie towards vsus, wee are inwardly thankefull vntounto him for all his benefits, and outwardly expreſſe it, by prayſing and glorifying his holy Name, both by our lips and liues, whereby it appeareth what is required to this vertue of thankefulneſſe. Firſt, that wee apprehend Gods louelove, and inwardly reioyce in it, hauing our hearts thorowly affected with the ſenſe of his goodneſſe and bounty towards vsus. Secondly, that wee doe not aſcribe the bleſſings and benefits which wee inioy, vntounto any Jam. 1. 17.thing elſe, but onelyonly vntounto God, as our ſupreme and chiefe Benefactour, who is the principall Author of all our good. Thirdly, that wee doe not ſmother our thankefulneſſe in our hearts, but cauſe it to breake forth, firſt, in our words, by prayſing & magnifying Gods holy name; for as the Pſalmiſt ſpeaketh, It becommeth the righteous to be thankefull; and ſecondly, in Pſal. 33. 1.our workes, by doing thoſe things which are pleaſing vntounto God, in whom our ſoule delighteth; that ſo the light of our godly liues ſhining before men, we may cauſe them alſo to glorifie our Father which is in heauen. Mat. 5. 16.The which ought to be performed of vsus in all things and at all times, both in proſperity and aduerſity, plenty and penury, health and ſickneſſe; according to that of the Apoſtle, But be filled with the Spirit, ſpeaking to your ſelues in Pſalmes, and Hymnes, and ſpirituall ſongs, ſinging and making melodie Eph. 5. 18, 19.in your hearts to the Lord; giuing thankes alwayes for all things vntounto God the Father, in the name of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. An example whereof wee hauehave in Iob, who bleſſed the Lord when he was depriued of all his ſubſtance; Iob 1. 21.and in the Church grieuouſly afflicted, who in the middeſt of all her calamities, did acknowledge Gods mercies, in that they were not vtterly Lam. 3. 32.conſumed. Now the meanes whereby vve may be ſtirred vp to this duty, and inabled to performe it, are firſt to conſider, that this thankfulnes and thankſgiuing is good, pleaſant and comely; according to that of the Pſalmiſt; Praiſe ye the Lord, for it is good to ſing praiſes vntounto our God: for it is Pſal. 147. 1.pleaſant, and praiſe is comely. Secondly, conſider that it is the will of God that we ſhould be thankefull vntounto him for all his benefits, which if we performe, he requireth nothing elſe at our hands, nor any other requitall for all his mercy and goodneſſe towards vsus. And this reaſon the Apoſtle vſeth, 1. Theſ. 5. 18. Pſal. 50. 13, 14.In eueryevery thing giuegive thankes: for this is the will of God in Chriſt Ieſus concerning you. Thirdly, that it is moſt pleaſing vntounto God, and that the ſacrifice of the calues of the lips is much more acceptable then of Bulls and Goats. Fourthly, let vsus continually meditate vponupon Gods manifold and ineſtimable mercies beſtowed vponupon vsus in time paſt, his eternall louelove, our election, creation, the great worke of our redemption by the death of his onelyonly begotten and dearely beloued Sonne, our vocation and effectuall calling to the participation of this great benefit, from which innumerable others are excluded; our iuſtification, ſanctification, continuall preſeruation, together with our aſſured hope of glorificatiō, with al ſpecial bleſſings which from day to day he beſtoweth vponupon vsus. With all which, our hearts will be filled with thankfulnes, and our mouthes with praiſes & thankeſgiuing, if we throughly meditate on them: eſpecially if withall we conſider our vnworthines of the leaſt of Gods fauours, and according to Iacobs example, Gen. 32. 10.compare Gods ineſtimable mercies with our demerits. Laſtly, let vsus meditate and conſider what a foule vice vngratitude is, & how vile and odious in the ſight of God & mē, that the Lord wil neuer let it go vnpuniſhed, nor ſuffer any to inioy his benefits, who through their vngratitude wil not acknowledge them, nor render the praiſes which are due vntounto him.
§. Sect. 5 Of obedience vntounto God, what it is, and wherein it conſiſteth; and of the properties of true obedience.
The fourth and laſt vertue ariſing from the louelove of God, is obedience; which is a fruit of our louelove, and thankfulneſſe, whereby in all things we ſubmit our ſelues, our wills and actions, wholy vntounto Gods good will and pleaſure, both in doing all that he requireth, and in patient ſuffring whatſoeuer he impoſeth. So that this obedience is of two kinds. Firſt, our actiue obedience to Gods Law, whereby wee conforme our whole man vntounto the reuealed will of God. The which is an inſeparable fruit of our louelove towards God, and an infallible note whereby wee may diſcerne that which is ſound and ſincere, from that which is falſe and counterfaite; for if we louelove God, we will keepe his Commandements; And this is the louelove of God, if we keepe his Commandements, and his Commandements are not grieuous. The Ioh. 14. 15.properties of this obedience are theſe: Firſt, that it be abſolute vntounto whatſoeuer 1. Ioh. 5. 3.God requireth, and admit of no diſcourſe of reaſon when we know his will; but whether profit or diſprofit, honour or diſgrace, the fauour or diſpleaſure of men doe follow vponupon it, we are to doe the things that he Act. 4. 19. & 5. 29.inioyneth. Secondly, it muſt be total, both in reſpect of the obiect and ſubiect. In reſpect of the obiect, we muſt obey God in all his Commandements at all times, neither adding nor detracting, nor declining therefrom Gal. 3. 10. Deut. 12. 32. Ioſ. 1. 7.on the right hand or on the left. Neither is it ſufficient that wee obey God in ſome things, and neglect others, or in many and moſt things, and not in ſome few: for he that thus ſinneth in one thing, is guilty of all; but we muſt propound vntounto our ſelues the whole Law of God for the rule Iam. 2. 10.of our liues, obſeruing one table as well as another, and worſhip him both in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, and that not only for ſome ſmall time, but Luke 1. 74, 75.all the dayes of our liues. In reſpect of the ſubiect, our obedience muſt bee Deut. 11. 1.with the whole man, and like our louelove from which it ſpringeth, it muſt be performed with all our hearts, ſoules and ſtrength. But eſpecially the Lord requireth the inward obedience of the heart, wherein he chiefely Pro. 23. 26. Iohn 4. 23. Luke 1. 74. 2. Chro. 25. 2.delighteth; we muſt worſhip him in ſpirit and truth, in ſincerity and vprightneſſe of heart, as before his face, and in his ſight and preſence; neither is it ſufficient that we doe that which is right, vnleſſe we doe it vprightly. It muſt be voluntary with cheerefulneſſe and delight, as the Saints and Angels doe the will of God in heauen. For louelove maketh eueryevery burthen light, and the Commandements of God not to be grieuous. Yet this internall obedience is not ſufficient, vnleſſe the externall be ioyned with it. 1. John 5. 3.For God will bee worſhipped with the whole man, with our bodies, as well as with our ſoules; with our outward actions, as well as with our inward affections.
§. Sect. 6 Of the meanes of obedience, whereby we may be enabled to performe it.
Now the meanes which may moue and enable vsus to yeeld this obedience, are theſe; firſt, we muſt conſider that the Lord hath created vsus to this 1. Cor. 6. 20. Luke 1. 74. Rom. 6. 18.end, that we ſhould ſerue him, and to the ſame purpoſe, when we were by ſin vtterly loſt, hath redeemed vsus with the ineſtimable price of his Sonnes moſt precious blood, that wee ſhould worſhip him in holineſſe and righteouſneſſe before him all the dayes of our liues, that being freed from ſinne, we ſhould become the ſeruants of righteouſneſſe; and from the ſlauerie of Satan, that we ſhould ſpend our dayes in Gods ſeruice. Secondly, let vsus meditate on the riches of reward, and that liberall wages which the Lord hath freely promiſed to giuegive vntounto thoſe who faithfully ſerue him; in which reſpect we may iuſtly ſay of our actiue obedience, as the Apoſtle of our paſſiue, that all our ſeruice in this preſent world, is not worthy the glory Rom. 8. 18. 2. Cor. 4. 17.which ſhall be reueyled; for it is ſlight, ſhort and imperfect, but ſhall cauſe vntounto vsus a farre more excellent and eternall waight of Glory. Thirdly, let vsus conſider, that though our beſt ſeruice be mingled with many imperfections, and ſtayned with our corruptions, yet God in Chriſt will accept of it, and not only pardon our wants, but reward our wills and workes. For he will Mal. 3. 17.ſpare vsus, as a man ſpareth his ſonne that ſerueth him, accepting of our will for the deede, and of our ſincere affections, as of perfect actions. Fourthly, let vsus conſider, that hereby we ſhall be aſſured of all Gods promiſes: for Godlineſse is profitable for all things, hauing the promiſes of this life, and of that 1. Tim. 4. 8.which is to come. Neither doth God require our obedience for his owne ſake; (for he is moſt abſolute in perfection, and our righteouſneſſe doth not Job 22. 2. Pſal. 16. 3.profit or extend vntounto him) but for our owne good and benefit, that he may crowne our obedience with eternall bleſſedneſſe. For hee that keepeth the Law, happie is he; and he that heareth Chriſts Word, and keepeth it, is by Pro. 29. 18. Luke 11. 28.him pronounced bleſſed. Laſtly, let vsus often propound vntounto our ſelues the examples of Gods Saints and Seruants, that hauehave gone before vsus, and ſet before vsus their obedience as a patterne for our imitation: For more cheerefully may we trauaile in this way of holineſſe and righteouſneſſe, if wee ſee a plaine path beaten by thoſe that hauehave gone before vsus. But eſpecially let vsus ſet before vsus the neuer-erring example of our Sauiour Chriſt, who tooke more delight in doing his Fathers will, then in his meate and drinke, and in all things was obedient vntounto him to the death, euen the John 4. 34. Phil. 2. 6, 7.bitter death of the Croſſe, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh.
§. Sect. 7 Of paſſiue obedience, and patience in afflictions.
The ſecond kinde of obedience is paſſiue, and is called patience, which is a fruit of our louelove and thankfulneſſe towards God, whereby we ſubmit our ſelues meekely and conſtantly to beare all thoſe croſſes and afflictions, Gal. 5. 22.which it ſhall pleaſe God to lay vponupon vsus. The cauſes of which patience are diuers; the firſt and principall is the Spirit of God, of which it is a fruit. Secondly, a liuely faith, which not only apprehendeth the promiſe of eternall happineſſe, with which our temporarie afflictions are not to be compared, but Gods ſpeciall promiſes of ſtrength to indure all trials, and of helpe and deliuerance in Gods due time. Thirdly, truſt and affiance in God, who hath promiſed to be with vsus in all our afflictions, and neuer leaue vsus to our owne weakeneſſe, or to the malice and fury of our enemies, vponupon which we conclude, that though he kill vsus, yet we will truſt in Iohn 13. 15.him. But the louelove of God is the next and immediate cauſe of our patience, which maketh vsus meekely to ſuffer whatſoeuer he impoſeth, who ſo loueth vsus, and whom we ſo louelove. For louelove endureth all things, and the greateſt difficulties are not hard vntounto it. It is ſtronger then death, the waters 1. Cor. 13. 7. Cant. 8. 6, 7.of afflictions cannot quench it, and the floods of calamities cannot drowne it. The obiect of this patience is afflictions, which the Lord impoſeth for the tryall or correction of his children; for all, whom he loueth, he chaſtiſeth: and whoſoeuer will be Chriſts Diſciple, muſt denie himſelfe, take vp Heb. 12. Luke 9. 23.his Croſse, and follow him, that is, that croſſe and meaſure of afflictions which God himſelfe impoſeth vponupon him: Neither are we to take vponupon vsus burthens of our owne making, but ſuch only as the Lord allotteth vntounto vsus; which are thoſe alone that we cannot by lawfull meanes auoid, or without falling into ſinne. The manner how we are to beare theſe afflictions, is firſt voluntarily, with a meeke, quiet and contented minde, as being ſent of God for our good, yea cheerefully and ioyfully, as they are ſignes and ſeales of our adoption, and ſpeciall meanes to further and aſſure our euerlaſting ſaluation. Secondly, we muſt beare them conſtantly, ſo long as it ſhall pleaſe God to continue them vponupon vsus, that is, till he giueth vsus honeſt Iam. 1. 4.and lawfull meanes to be freed and deliuered from them; not thinking it inough that we hauehave borne ſome few, or many afflictions, but holding out vntounto the end: for he is not crowned who hath fought well for a time, but he that neuer giueth ouer, till he hauehave obtained the victory, acording to that of our Sauiour; Be faithfull vntounto the death, and I will giuegive thee the 2. Cor. 4. 16. Apoc. 2. 10.Crowne of life. But of theſe points, as alſo of the meanes whereby wee may be enabled with patience, comfort and ioy to endure afflictions, I hauehave written largely *Chriſtian Warfare the third part.elſewhere, and therefore will content my ſelfe thus briefly to hauehave touched them in this place.