A Treatise of Knowledge and Love, Part 2 · Chapter 8
Chap. VIII.
The fourth Inference: The aptneſs of the Teaching of Chriſt, to ingenerate the Love of God and Holineſs.
IF Love be the End and Perfection of our Knowledge, then hence we may perceive, that no Teacher that ever appeared in the World, was ſo fit for the ingenerating of true ſaving knowledge as Jeſus Chriſt. For none ever ſo promoted the love of God.
1. It was he only that rendered God apparently lovely to ſinful man, by reconciling us to God, and rendering him apparently propitious to his Enemies, pardoning ſin, and tendering Salvation freely to them that were the Sons of Death. Self-love will not give men leave to love aright a God that will damn them, though deſervedly for ſin. But it is Chriſt that hath made Atonement, and is the Propitiation for our ſins, and proclaimeth Gods love, even to the Rebellious: Which is more effectually to kindle holy love in us, than all the Precepts of Naturaliſts without this could ever have been. His Croſs, and his Wounds and Blood were the powerful Sermons, to Preach Gods winning love to ſinners.
2. And the benefits are ſo many and ſo great which he hath purchaſed and revealed to man, that they are abundant fewel for the Flames of Love. We are ſet by Chriſt in the way of Mercy, in the Houſhold of God, under the Eye and ſpecial Influence of his love; all our ſins pardoned, our Everlaſting puniſhment remitted, our Souls renewed, our wounded Conſciences healed, our Enemies conquered, our fears removed, our wants ſupplied, our Bodies, and all that is ours under the protection of Almighty love; and we are ſecured by Promiſe, that all our Sufferings ſhall work together for our good. And what will cauſe love if all this will not? When we perceive with what love the Father hath loved us, that of Enemies we ſhould be made the Sons of God, and of condemned Sinners we ſhould be made the Heirs of endleſs Glory, and this ſo freely, and by ſo ſtrange a means, we may conclude that this is the Doctrine of Love, which is taught us from Heaven by love it ſelf.
3. And eſpecially this work of love is promoted, by opening the Kingdom of Heaven to the foreſight of our Faith; and ſhewing us what we ſhall enjoy for ever; and aſſuring us of the Fruition of our Creators Everlaſting Love; yea, by making us fore-know that Heaven conſiſteth in perfect mutual endleſs love. This will both of it ſelf, draw up our Hearts, and engage all our Reaſon and Endeavours, in beginning that work which we muſt do for ever, and to learn on Earth to love in Heaven.
4. And beſides all theſe objective helps, Chriſt giveth to Believers the Spirit of Love, and maketh it become as a nature in us; which no other Teacher in the World could do. Others can ſpeak reaſon to our Ears, but it is Chriſt that ſendeth the warming Beams of holy Love into our Hearts.
If the love of God and holineſs were no better than common Philoſophical Speculations, then Ariſtotle, or Plato, or ſuch other Maſters of names and notions, might compare with Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and Athens with the Primitive Church; and the Schoolmen might be thought the beſt Improvers of Theology. But if thouſands of dreaming Diſputers wrangle the World into miſery, and themſelves into Hell, and are ingenious Artificers of their own damnation; and if the love of God and Goodneſs, be the healthful conſtitution of the Soul, its natural content and pleaſure, the buſineſs and end of life, and all its helps and bleſſings, the Soder of juſt Societies, the Union of Man with God in Chriſt, and with all the Bleſſed; and the Fore-taſte and Firſt-fruits of endleſs Glory; then Chriſt the Meſſenger of Love, the Teacher of Love, the Giver of Love, the Lord and Commander of Love, is the beſt Promoter of Knowledge in the World. And as Nicodemus knew that he was a Teacher come from God, becauſe no man could do ſuch works unleſs God were with him; ſo may we conclude the ſame, becauſe no man could ſo reveal, ſo cauſe, and communicate Love, the holy Love of God and Goodneſs, unleſs the God of Love had ſent him. Love is the very end and work of Chriſt, and of his Word and Spirit.