The Bibles Abstract and Epitome, Part 89
Love MercieMercy and Charitie.
LOve is a passion of the minde, whereby we are so affected towards any man, as that forgetting our selves we are wholly carried towards him, for that it transformeth the lover into the thing loved, and so joyneth them together, as that the lovers minde may be truly said to be there where his love is. And hence ariseth a sympathie and feeling, by which they are mutually affectionated one with an others good or evill. Love seeketh, not her own.1 Cor. 13. 5.
MercieMercy in man is a certaine compassion of anothers miserie in our heart, by which we are compelled to helpe if we can. And it is called MercieMercy, for that it makes the heart miserable, grieving for anothers evil, according to the Poets saying, Ha… ignara mali miseris succurrere disco:Virgil.
The troubles of mine own have learned mee,
To pitie others that in trouble bee.
Through Love, MercieMercy, and Charitie
Abraham entertained three Angels in stead of men, inviting them.Gen. 18. Act. 2. 44. 1 Sā. 25. & 4. 36. 2 Sā. 3. & 11. 29. Ruth 2. 2 Sam. 17. & 19 Act. 28. Matth. 14. Act. 10. 31. 2 Sam. 9. 1 Sam. 22. 1 Sam. 30. & 26. 2 Sam. 19. Act. 11. Act. 9. 2 King. 6. Gen. 29. Iob 31. & 30. 15. Act. 17. 1 Sam. 18. Act. 4. 1 Sam. 14. Matth. 27. 1 Sam. 22. Gen. 19.
Abigail relieved David, Nabal her churlish husband refusing.
Abner sent to David to make a Covenant of Peace with him.
Boaz suffered Ruth to gleane in his field eares of corne.
Barzillai relieved David with others flying from Absalom.
Barbarians entertained Paul with others coming from the Seas.
Christ fed the multitude, and healed all kinde of diseases.
Cornelius gave Almes abundantly, praising God alwayes.
David
Entertained Mephibosheth Ionathans sonne, Abiathar Abimelech the Priests son: Sent a blessing to his friends of the spoiles taken from his enemies: spared Sauls life, having opportunitie to slay him, and forgave Shimei cursing him.
The Disciples according to their abilitie sent reliefe to their brethren,
Dorcas gave almes to many, being dead was raised again.
Elisha entertained the Syrians, being sent to take him.
Iacob served Laban seven yeers for his daughter.
Iob entertained into his house many a stranger.
Iason entertained Paul and Silas, and other of the brethren.
Ionathan was knit to David in Love, passing the love of women.
Ioses sold his possessions, and gave it the Apostles to help them.
Ionathans Armour-bearers heart was with Ionathan.
Ioseph begged the body of Christ to bury him.
The King of Moab entertained Davids parents in house with him.
Just Lot entertained Angels in stead of men, and profered his daughters to the wicked Sodomites to free them.
Lydia entertained Paul and Silas, constraining them, &c.Act. 16. 1 Sam. 18. 4. Exod. 32. Chap. 2. Heb. 11. 25. Judg. 19. Rom. 15. …. 2 Cor. 8. 10. Mark 2. Mark 14. Nehem. 2. 1 King. 18. 1 Tim. 1. Gen. 45. Exod. 2. 6. Rom. 9. Philem. 1. Phil. 4. Rom. 16. Iosh. 2. Ruth 1. 2 King. 4. Luk. 10. 33. Act. 10. Act. 7. 1 King. 17. Luk. 21. 3. Luk. 8. 1 Joh. 3. …2. Psa. 112. 4. 5. … 2…. …
Ionathan gave David the Robe and Garment that covered him.
Moses prayed to God to blot him out of the book of life, rather then to destroy the people of Israel together: As also made choice to suffer affliction with his brethren, rather then to be called the son of Pharaohs daughter.
A man of Gibeah entertained a Levite and his wife to lodge with him.
The men of Macedonia made a Collection for the poore at Jerusalem.
Foure men carried the palsi…-man to Christ, who healed him.
Magdalene gave Christ a box of ointment, prised at a great summe.
Nehemiah used meanes to divers for building the wals of Jerusalem.
Obadiah relieved one hundred Prophets of God, being fed by him.
Onesiphorus refreshed Paul often, for which he commended him.
Pharaoh commanded Ioseph to give corne to his brethren.
Pharaohs daughter took up Moses out of the water, and nursed him.
Paul
Wished himselfe separated from Christ for his brethren.
As also wrote to Philemon to receive his servant again.
The Philippians communicated unto Paul, sending to him often.
Phebe gave hospitalitie to Paul and other brethren.
Rahab …id Ioshua's spies, the king of Jericho sending for them.
Ruth forsooke her own countrey, to live with Israels children.
The Shunami…e built a Chamber for Elisha, to entertain him.
The Samaritane had compassion on the wounded man.
Simon entertained Peter in his house to lodge with him.
Steven prayed for the men that stoned him kneeling.
One widow
Relieved Elijah in the famine, being in penurie.
The other cast all that she had into the Treasurie.
The women healed by Christ of their infirmities, ministred unto him againLuk. 19. 8. o…t of their substances.
Love
Is the fruit of the Spirit, the bond of perfection, the fulfilling of theGal. 5. 22. Chap. 3. 14. Rom. 13. 10. 1 Cor. 6. 14. 1 Tim. 1. 5. 1 Joh. 4. 7. 1 Co…. 8. 1. 1 Pet. 4. 8. Ephes. 3. 17. Prov. 10. 12. 1 Cor. 8. 1. 1 Cor. 13. 4. 1 Cor. 1. 8. 1 Ioh. 4. 8. 18. Rom. 13. 10. Psal. 16. 3. Prov. 10. 12. Law, the way to doe all things in, and the end of the Commandement,Prov. 10. 12. being out of a pure heart, a good Conscience, and faith unfained: it commeth of God, so that he that loveth is born of God; it edifieth, covereth the multitude of sinnes, excelleth faith and hope, doth not evil to his neighbour, boaiteth not it self, neither is puffed up, doth no uncomely thing, neither seeketh her own things, edifieth, and is not provoked to anger, neither thinketh any evill, suffereth all things, and endureth all things, is without feare, and never falleth away, though prophesying be abolished, or tongues cease, or knowledge vanish away: and is a cleare, neare, and sociable way.
Ʋse. 1 Cor. 13. 5.Heb. 10. 24. 1 Pet. 4. 8. 1 Joh. 4. 20.
All things work to the best to them that love God: and all things done withoutRom. 8. 18. 1 Cor. 1. 13. Matth. 22. 37. Num. 13. 9. & 13. 8. Gal. …. 14. 1 Pet. 4. 5. 1 Cor. 14. 1. Love are nothing, because they are not done acceptable to God: All the Law and the Prophets are fulfilled in this word, namely, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy soule, heart, and minde, and thy neighbour as thy selfe. It is a good thing, saith the Apostle, to love earnestly alwayes in a good thing.
Use.
1. This should teach us to love one another with a pure heart, fervently, in1 Pet. 1. 22. Chap. 4. 8. 1 Ioh. 2. 10. Col. 3. 14. deed, not only in word and tongue, but with love without dissimulation: for heRom. 13. 8. 1 Cor. 16. 14. 1 Joh. 3. 17. that loveth his brother abideth in the light, and there is no occasion of evill in him: Above all things then put on Love which is the bond of perfection.
2. For MercieMercy, know that the man that hath MercieMercy on the poore lendeth toPro. 19. 17. Levit. Matt. 5. 7. 25. 35. Pro. 11. 25. 2 Cor. 9. 6 Rom. 12. 8. Matth. 5. 1 Cor. 16. 14. the Lord, who will recompence him that which he hath given: For the liberall person shall have plentie, and he that watereth shall have rain: Blessed is the mercifull, for he shall (saith Christ) obtain merciemercy. Let all your things, saith St Paul, be done in Charitie.
Use.
1. If none shall obtaine MercieMercy, but such as shew merciemercy; how shall those beRom. 12. 8. Prov. 19. 17. Chap. 28. 27. condemned who at their gates have Divinitie, no humanitie; wholsome counsell, no wholsome food; exhortation, but no compassion; Scripture against begging, but no bread against famishing: The bread of the Sanctuarie is common withIam. 2. 16. them, not the bread of the Butterie: They wish something, but they do nothing: They have open mouths, but shut hearts; soft words, but hard bowels; Exhortation,Col. …. 12. Eccl. 11. 1. 1 Pet. 4. 9, 10. but no compassion; opposing works to words, veritie to vanitie, and verball complements to reall implements.
2. Learne to be mercifull as your heavenly Father is mercifull.Luk. 6. 36. Heb. 6. 10. Isai. 58. 10.
Reade Rom. 13. 8. Chap. 12. 8, 10, Heb. 13. 1. Ioh. 3. 18. Ephes. 4. 2. Chap. 5. 2. 1 Cor. 16. 14. Psal. …2. 4. Levit. 19. …, 10. Chap. 23. 22. Deut. 15. 7, 8. Ch. 24. 19, 20. Syr. 4. 31. Prov. 15. 17. Cant. 8. 6, 7. Syr. 17. 22. Cant. 3. 10. Prov. 11. 17. Iames 1. 19. Prov. 14. 21. 1 Pet. 4. 9. Deut. 24. 19. Luk. 11. 41. Chap. 16. 9. Prov. 3. 28. Ch. 11. 17. Levit. 25. 35. Tit. 3. 8. Isai. 58. 6, &c. Eccl. 11. 3. 1 Pet. 4. 10.