Philadelphia, Treatise · Chapter 16
CHAP. XVI.
Sect. I.
THere is one great Office of Love which we muſt perform one to another, even thoſe that are not called to lay down their Lives for the Brethren, muſt do this, that is, to bear one anothers Burdens. Bear ye one anothers burdens, and ſo fulfill the law of Chriſt. Gal. 6.2.
This duty is mutually to be performed to one another. Thou muſt bear thy Brothers Burdens, and he muſt bear thine. He that expects others ſhould eaſe and help him, let him be willing to eaſe others: Chriſtians in their journey to Heaven, muſt do like loving Travellers, who have a Burthen to carry, ſometimes one carrieth it, ſometimes the other; in ſo doing both will go on with the greater cheerfulneſs, and with eaſe perform their journey. To this courſe of Travellers (as Eſtius conceiveth) the Apoſtle alludeth,Estius in Galat. 6.2. when he ſaith, Bear ye one anothers burdens. Calvin ſaith, That Chriſtians muſt ſhew their Humanity one to another, which teacheth men to afford mutual help in their neceſſities by bearing one anothers burdens. This duty concerneth every Chriſtian; it is not only the duty of ſtrong Chriſtians to bear the burdens of the weak, but alſo the weak may, and muſt bear the Burdens of the ſtronger: Both have their Burdens; the ſtrong hath his, the weak hath his; both need help and eaſe, both are ſubject to faint under their Burdens; therefore we muſt bear one anothers burdens, even that which lieth heavy, and preſſeth down our Souls and Bodies. There are outward Burdens, and inward Burdens.
As to outward Burdens; thoſe that have ability muſt be merciful to their Brethren who are in want. St. Paul biddeth Timothy to charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded &c. that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to diſtribute, willing to communicate, 1 Tim. 6.17.18. Do then the rich bear the Burdens of the poor, when they are rich and plentiful in giving to thoſe that are in need? To do good, and to communicate, forget not; for with ſuch ſacrifices God is well-pleaſed, Heb. 13.16. It is given in charge, as a thing eſpecially to be remembred, and by no means to be forgotten. And St. John ſheweth, that thoſe who are able, and relieve not their poor Brethren, are void of the Love of God. 1 Joh. 4.20.21. If a man ſay, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a lyar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath ſeen, how can he love God whom he hath not ſeen? And this Commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God, love his brother alſo. Where ye ſee, that the profeſſion of Love to God, without Love and Compaſſion towards others, cannot ſtand with truth. And the ſame Law of Love that commandeth us to love, requireth us to love our Brethren and Neighbours alſo. But with what kind of Love? that the Apoſtle ſheweth in 1 Joh. 3.18. not a Love made up of words, or rooted in the tongue, but a Love that is Love indeed, and Love in truth: a Love ſeated in the heart, and bringing ſorth the fruits of Love.
Queſt. But here it may be demanded, if the want of a compaſſionate heart and hand towards the needy in thoſe that are able, be an Argument of the want of Love to God, whether on the other ſide, forwardneſs in relieving others, be always a ſure ſign of one that truly loveth God.
Reſp. I anſwer, No: for a man may bear the Burdens of the needy, and be helpful to them in many other reſpects, although he hath not the Love of God dwelling in him.
1. Out of a hope to merit at the hands of God, and to make amends for his ſins by this means; which maketh theſe things abominable in the ſight of God, and exceedingly wrongeth the free Grace of God, and the perfect merits of Chriſt. Such are the alms of the Papiſts many times, and thoſe works whereof they ſo much boaſt.
2. He may be moved unto it out of vain-Glory, that he may have the praiſe of men, and be counted a liberal and free-hearted man: ſo the Phariſees gave alms with ſound of Trumpet.
3. He may do it out of a natural pity, and a kind of freeneſs of ſpirit, as many of the Heathens have done. Therefore this alone, unleſs it be joyned with other Graces, and fruits of Grace in an holy Converſation, is no ſufficient argument, that a mans heart is poſſeſſed with a true and ſincere Love of God: ſo that the want of this Chriſtian Compaſſion and its fruits, is enough to prove him that hath this worlds goods, not to have the Love of God dwelling in him: but the practice of this duty alone, is not ſufficient to prove a man to have the Love of God in him. He that wanteth the uſe of his hands, cannot b… a good workman, in the exerciſe of a trade or handy-craft; but yet eve y one that hath the uſe of his hands is not a good work-man, but there is more required, as skill and exerciſe in ſuch a trade: ſo it is in this caſe. Therefore St. Paul ſaith, Alth…ugh I give all my goods to the poor, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing, 1 Cor. 13.3. ſuppoſing that a man may not only give plentifully, but give away all, and yet want the truth of Love to God, and to his Brethren.
SECT. II.
NOw as to inward burdens, I will ſhew, wherein Chriſtians bearing of one anothers burdens conſiſteth. In general, it is to eaſe and refreſh the drooping Spirits, groaning, ſighing, and mourning under the burden of Sin; this is (as the Prophet ſpeaks in another caſe) To looſe the bands of wickedneſs, to undoe the heavy burdens, to let the oppreſſed go free and to break every yoke. I ſhall lay open this duty in ſundry particulars.
1, When we pray for them, in their calamity, as earneſtly, as importunately, as affectionately, as for our own ſouls burthened with the ſame Load. Thus Job prayed for his 3 Friends, and the Lord was reconciled with them: Job's prayers eaſed them of the burthen of Gods Wrath, which might have layen long upon them. Cry to heaven for pardon, and you give preſent eaſe to one another: pray for the Favour of God, and ye make each others ſins lighter than a Feather, which before were as heavy as a mountain of Lead.
2. When we can mourn with them, and for them, lament their iniquities, and be humbled for their ſins, as for our own; when we can bow down heavily as though they were our Brethren, and behave our ſelves as one that mourneth for his mother. Moſes by his prayers and tears did bear the burden of the whole Camp of Iſrael. Mutual Humiliation for one another, brings mutual eaſe.
3. When we labour the Converſion and Reformation of one another. Jam. 5.19.20. He that converteth a ſinner, ſhall ſave a ſoul from death, and ſhall bide a multitude of ſins; here is Salvation from death and ſin, from multitudes of ſins, a deliverance from two inſupportable burdens, which have broke the backs of all the damned caſt-aways.
2. When we direct them to a right courſe of obtaining and regaining the Favour of God, from our own experiences. As men who have been troubled with any pain, will tell thoſe who have been labouring with the ſame, by what means they had preſent eaſe: What Medicines, what Oyntments, what Salves they uſed? make tryal of the ſame, and ye will find preſent eaſe. Thus when Chriſtians, who experimentally know the burthen of ſin, the horror of guilt, ſhall communicated their counſel and directions; This I did, and I obtained pardon, I humbled my ſoul, I taſted, I prayed, I reformed, I departed from evil, and the Lord gave me preſent eaſe.
5. When we apply the comfortable promiſes of the Goſpel to them: Seeſt thou a fellow-Chriſtian Chriſtian bitterly bewailing his ſin, full of ſhame and ſorrow for his ſin, going hither and thither like a deſolate forlorn man, fearing his eſtate and condition, queſtioning his Salvation, trembling at the thoughts of Hell, then muſt thou apply Goſpel-promiſes: to ſuch a one. The truth is, the promiſes do belong to none but to burdened ſinners; Come unto me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will eaſe you, This is to pour Oyl into their wounds, this is to bind up the broken in heart, when we aptly apply the promiſes to them. Doſt thou hear them complain of the greatneſs of ſin, apply that place Pſal. 25.11. Pardon mine iniquity, for it is great. Chriſt came to ſave the chief of ſinners. Doſt thou hear them complain of the multitudes of their ſins; apply that of Exod. 34.7. The Lord &c. forgiving iniquities, trangreſſions, and ſins. Do they complain of their miſery? apply thou the promiſes of mercy. Do they complain of their unworthineſs? apply the promiſes of free Grace; tell them, that God will freely heal all their backſlidings.
SECT. III.
THe reaſon why we are to bear one anothers burdens is, becauſe in ſo doing we ſhall fulfil the Law of Chriſt: it is the Law of Chriſt, it is the command of Chriſt, that we ſhould bear one anothers burdens, that Law which compels you to o…her duties, conſtrains you to this duty alſo.
Queſt. But where do we find that Chriſt gave this Law? or what is that Law of Chriſt?
Reſp. I anſwer, that Law which commands us to love one another, which our Saviour frequently calleth his Commandment, here he calleth his Law and Command.
Queſt. But what is that Law of loving one another, to bearing one anothers burdens?
Reſp. 1. Yes, becauſe in commanding us to love one another, he commandeth us to do any office of Love and Humanity one to another, whereof this of bearing one anothers burdens, is none of the leaſt duties of Chriſtian mutual Love.
2. Becauſe our Love of one to another muſt conform to Chriſts Love, which he ſhewed unto us. Now herein Chriſt did commend his Love unto us, in that he was pleaſed to bear …ur burdens: the burden of our ſins, and of his Fathers Wrath was laid upon his Shoulders. Had not the Lord Jeſus bore our burdens for us, we had been for ever cruſhed, and ſunk down under them. Shall Chriſt bear our Burdens, and ſhall not we bear one anothers burdens, and ſhew our ſelves therein to be followers of Chriſt?
3. Becauſe this duty is one of the higheſt degrees of our obedience unto Chriſt: obſerve the words ſo fulfil the law of Chriſt: it is not a perfect, but ſolidum complementum, a ſolid, or ſubſtantial fulfilling of the Law of Chriſt. It is not ſaid of other ſincere performances, that we fulfil the Law of Chriſt; it is not ſaid of thy praying, thy hearing, &c. that thou doſt fulfil the Law of Chriſt, but of this duty of Love: Love is the fulfilling of the Law: Bearing of one anothers burdens (which is an eminent act of Love) is the fulfilling the Law of Chriſt. Without this, all other offices of Love, are but ſlight, ſuperficial acts of obedience: he that doth not do this, nihil habet, (ſaith Calvin) he hath nothing of a man, nothing of a Chriſtian, nothing of a diſciple of Chriſt, nothing of Chriſtian Love in him.
There is a Sect, not long ſince riſen among us, calling themſelves High-attainers, boaſting that they have attained to perfection of Holineſs, and therefore need not the help of ordinances. But theſe deluded wretches do come as ſhort of perfection, as the Earth doth of Heaven: but now thoſe who do Chriſtianly bear one anoth…rs burdens, are High-attainers indeed, for they fulfil the Law of Chriſt.
I know there may be ſtrong Love in mens hearts toward ſome perſons, without any partaking of the Love of God, and the ſpirit of Regeneration; and this Love may have ſomething commendable in it; but it is nothing in reſpect of Gods gracious acceptation: ſuch men do rather Love in obedience to the Law of nature; than in obedience to the Law, or Goſpel of Chriſt; therefore their Love loſeth acceptance with the Lord. I ſay, they love in obedience to the Law of Nature; for men have ſome parts of the Law of Nature remain written in their hearts,How men love in obedience to the Law of nature. ſince the Fall of Adam, as the Apoſtle ſheweth even concerning the Gentiles, or Heathens themſelves. Rom. 2.14.15 which Law I take to be more than the light of Nature, for otherwiſe (methinketh) it ſhould rather be called the Doctrine, or the inſtructions of Nature than a Law; for a Law carrieth Authority with it, and a binding power; but a light, or a doctrine doth but only ſhew and teach. But that which was written by Nature in the hearts of the Gentiles, the Apoſtle ſaith, was written as a Law, and ſo it carried a kind of Authority over their Hearts and Conſciences; not only ſhewing them what ſhould be done, but alſo enclining and bowing their ſpirits unto …t. So at this day, this law of Nature may encline the hearts of many (as a law) to love their Neighbors; and they do it in obedience to this law of Nature, that is, they yield to this natural enclination of their hearts, and according to it do love ſome perſons, whom their natures do encline them to love, until this Law be countermanded by a ſtronger law, the law of Sin and Corruption, enclining the heart to caſt off love, and to entertain bitterneſs of ſpirit, or the like, and until it be over-born by outward occaſions, which tend to quench Love. For this law of Nature is weak, and ſoon loſeth its authority and command; I mean, ſo far as it hath any thing good in it, ſo far as it is a broken piece (as it were) of the Image of God. But if we take the law of Nature for Nature corrupted, which is the law of Sin: that is very ſtrong, and hath a great command over the heart, and is hardly reſiſted. Now then they that have any commendable love in them towards others in their natural eſtate, they do but herein follow the inclination of their hearts, which is the ſame that I ſaid before, that they do it in obedience to the law of Nature, not in obedience to the law of Chriſt. B…t a Chriſtian, that will approve his heart to God muſt love others in the name of Chriſt, and in obedience to his Goſpel, which cannot be, unleſs we partake of the love of God in Chriſt, and have embraced Chriſt in the Goſpel. Now I co… ceive there may be more heat ſometimes in that natural love than in this Spiritual and Chriſtian love, and eſpecially in that ſinful love which is between divers perſons, which deceiveth many, and maketh them apt to bleſs themſelves, as if they were truly poſſeſſed of the ſpirit of Love, becauſe they find ſome ſtrength of natural affection in themſelves. But a little of that heat which cometh from the Sun-beams, is of more vertue and excellency than a great deal of Kitchen-fire. A little of the heavenly affection of Love (which is a proper heat of the ſpirit of Chriſt, and floweth from the love of God apprehended by ſaith) is more worth than a great deal of natural affection.