The Marrow of Divinity, Religious treatise · Chapter 21
CHAP. XXI. Questions, and Cases of Conscience about Brethren, and brotherly love amongst Christians.
Quest. ARe all Gods children brethren?
Answ. Yes, as is proved, Col. 1.2. 1 Tim. 6.2. Mat. 23.8.
Quest. Why are they brethren?
Answ. First, because they are borne of the same womb, 1 Pet. 1.23.
Secondly, they are adopted of the same Father, Eph. 4.5.
Thirdly, they are brought up in the same family, Eph. 3.17.
Fourthly, they are estated in the same inheritance, Rom. 8.17.
Fifthly, they are written amongst the living in the same City, Isa. 4.3.
Sixthly, they execute the same Office of Prophets and Priests to God, Rev. 1.7.
Quest. What comfort may the consideration hereof afford them?
Answ. That though they are despised in the world, yet they are a people of a great kindred: the meanest Christian hath as good friends as the greatest Potentate. Grace works, as it were, a consanguinity with all the Saints.
Quest. What duties may the consideration hereof teach them?
Answ. First, to live familiarly together, to visit them, and not to be strangers one to another, Acts 15.36.
Secondly, to do all things faithfully each to other, 3 John 5.
Thirdly, to defend each other by words and deeds: Let not a brother be wronged if thou canst help it.
Fourthly, to supply their wants with brotherly affection, James 1.15. 1 Joh. 3.17.
Fifthly, to love them without dissimulation, Rom. 12.9, 10. and 13.8. Col. 3. 14. Eph. 4.16. 1 Joh. 3.11. and 4.21.
Quest. What evils must they avoid upon this consideration?
Answ. First, they must take heed of contention, Gen. 13.8. and that
1. By publick suits at Law, 1 Cor. 6.1, &c.
2. By private quarrels, or discords.
Object. But they do me wrong.
Answ. 1. Admonish them of it, Lev. 19.17. Mat. 18.18.
2. Be not rashly angry with them, Mat. 5.22.
3. If they repent, forgive them to seventy seven times, Mat. 18.21. and be quickly reconciled, Mat. 5.23, 24.
Secondly, speak not evil one of another, Rom. 14.10. Jam. 5.9. and 4.11. It's the Devils property to accuse the brethren, Rev. 12.10.
Thirdly, be not ashamed of them: for Christ is not ashamed to own them as brethren, Heb. 2.10.
Fourthly, have them not in respect of persons: for the poor are brethren as well as the rich, Jam. 2.1, &c. though they be in tribulation, yet are they companions in the Kingdom of God with us, Rev. 1.9.
Fifthly, all superiours must take heed of tyranny: For they rule over their brethren.
Quest. How shall I know who are Gods children, and so my Brethren?
Answ. First, by their innocency: they bear their fathers image.
Secondly, by their love to Gods House and his Word.
Thirdly, by their language, 1 Joh. 4.5.
Fourthly, by the opposition of the world to them.
Quest. What good shall I get by them?
Answ. First, by associating thy self with them, thou mayest escape many judgements. Sodom had been spared for ten righteous persons: and get much good. Potiphars House is blessed for Josephs sake, and Labans for Jacobs.
Secondly, thou mayest learn their ways.
Thirdly, thou mayest be better acquainted with the Father, by living amongst his children.
Quest. Why should we be so careful to love the brethren?
Answ. First, because it much commends us to God.
Secondly, it shews that we are translated from death to life, 1 Joh. 3.14.
Thirdly, that we are of the truth, 1 Joh. 3.19.
Fourthly, that we are born of God, 1 Joh. 4.7.
Fifthly, that God dwells in us, 1 Joh. 4.11.
Sixthly, that all we do for them shall be fully rewarded, Mat. 11.41.
Seventhly, it will give us boldnesse at the day of judgement, 1 Joh. 4.17.
Quest. How may I know whether my love to them be unfeigned?
Answ. First, if thou beest as willing to do them good as to proffer it, 1 John 3.18.
Secondly, if thou seek'st not thy own things: but canst love them against profit, credit, &c. Phil. 2.3.
Thirdly, if thou lovest all as well as some, the meanest as well as the greatest, Eph. 1.15.
Fourthly, if thou canst go to God for them in secret.
Fifthly, if thou canst love them constantly.
Sixthly, if thou canst reprove, as well as flatter and praise them.
Seventhly, if thou canst propose them as patterns for thy imitation.
Eighthly, if thy sorting with them makes thee more holy, and humble.
Ninthly, if thou doest to them as thou wouldst be done by.
Quest. What are the impediments of brotherly love?
Answ. Either ignorance will blind thee, or envy will corrupt thee; or pride, and inequality of gifts and place will swell thee; or infirmities will dull thee; or forgetfulnesse will disappoint thee; or objections and excuses will deceive thee; or trespasses will alienate thee; or the scorns of the world will discourage thee.
Quest. How may the ferventnesse of our love to the brethren be known?
Answ. First, if thou accountest it thy greatest felicity on earth, next to the enjoyment of Gods favour, to have delightful fellowship with the brethren, Psalm 16.3.
Secondly, if thou hast enflamed desires after their fellowship.
Thirdly, if thou canst cover a multitude of faults in them, 1 Pet. 4.8.
Fourthly, if thou canst be at pains for them: Love is laborious.
Fifthly, if thou art speedy in doing them good, Prov. 3.28.
Sixthly, if thou lamentest thy absence from them as a bitter crosse.
Seventhly, if thou doest daily and heartily pray for them, and give thanks without ceasing.
…uest. What may nourish affections amongst Godly brethren?
Answ. First, remember often Gods love to thee in Christ, 1 Joh. 4.9, 10, 11. Eph. 5.1, 2.
Secondly, think much of Gods command for it, and his acceptation of it, Eph. 5.1, 2. 1 Pet. 1.22.
Thirdly, meditate often of our dwelling together in heaven, Jam. 2.5. 1 Pet. 4.8.
Fourthly, converse much together, have fellowship in Gospel duties.
Fifthly, consider the promises made hereunto, Eph. 4.15, 16. 2 Pet. 1.9, 10, 11. Phil. 2.1.
Quest. With what kinde of love must we love the brethren?
Answ. First, it must be a natural love, even such an one as ariseth out of our dispositions, as we are made new creatures in Jesus Christ, 2 Cor. 8.8.
Secondly, it must be a sincere love, without dissimulation, Rom. 12.10. not in word, but in deed, 1 Joh. 3.18.
Thirdly, it must be a fervent love: they must be loved above all other people, 1 Pet. 4 8. 2 Pet. 1.7.
Fourthly, it must be a pure love, that comes from a pure heart, 1 Tim. 1.5. A love in the spirit, Col. 1.8.
Fifthly, it must be a diligent love that will expresse it self upon all occasions: A labouring and working love, 1 Thes. 1.3. Heb. 6.10.
Sixthly, it must be a speedy love, Prov. 3.28.
Seventhly, it must be an humble love, a love that would ever serve the brethren, Gal. 5.13. Eph. 1.15. and 4.2. Prov. 19.7.
Eighthly, it must be a constant love, Gal. 4.18.
Ninthly, it must be a growing love, Phil. 1.9. 1 Thes. 4.10.
Quest. What rules are we to observe that brotherly love may continue amongst us?
Answ. First, some things are to be avoided: as
1. We must not fashion our selves according to this world, but avoid all needlesse conversation with wicked men, Rom. 12.1, 2.
2. We must take heed of, and avoid such as low discord, or cause divisions amongst men: whether such as go about to seduce men into opinions, Rom. 16.19. Gal. 5.12. 2 Pet. 3.16. or such as make contention in practise.
3. Take heed of being insnared with vain-glorious desires after worldly greatnesse, either in Church or Common-wealth, Mat. 23.8. Gal. 5. ult.
4. Take heed of conceitednesse, or willfulnesse in judgement: we must not be wise in our own eyes, but rather in lowlinesse of minde esteem other mens gifts, and judgements better then our own, Phil. 2.3. Rom. 12.10, 16. Prov. 12.15.
5. Take heed of worldlinesse, and self-love, and minding of our own things, and studying our own ends in conversing with others, 1 Cor. 13.5. Phil. 2.4.
6. Take heed of overmuch retirednesse, and neglecting comfortable fellowship with our brethren, Heb. 10.25. Phil. 1.6. Psal. 133.1.
Secondly, some things are to be practised: as,
1. We must provoke one another to love, both by words, and actions which must be without flattery, and dissimulation, Heb. 10.24.
2. We must strive without complement to shew the sound proofe of our love in all our actions: and by the fruits of it in all well-doing, strive to approve our selves to God and before men in this thing, 2 Cor. 8.24.
3. In all that we do to, or for the brethren, we should do them in a loving and respectful manner, 1 Cor. 16.14.
4. We must strive to be rightly ordered towards our brethren, in case of sin against God, or trespasse against us.
Quest. How may this be done?
Answ. First, if we know a fault in our brother, and finde that it tempts us to alienation from him, we must follow Gods counsel, Lev. 19.17. Reprove him plainly.
Secondly, we should be convinced that there are infirmities in the best, though we know them not, and therfore so to look for it, that when they do break out, we should be ready to bear with their infirmities, and forbear them if they be meer frailties, choosing rather to crosse our selves, then to provoke them in their weaknesse, Rom. 15.1, 2.
Thirdly, if our brother trespasse against us, we should shew our selves to be easie to be intreated, and forgive to seventy seven times, if he say he repenteth, Mat. 18.21.
Fourthly, if we have done wrong, we should make haste to be reconciled, and seek it, with willing acknowledgement, and readinesse to make satisfaction, Mat. 5.23, 24.
Mr. Byfield on Peter.