The Comforts of Divine Love, Sermon 2
SERMON II.
ROM. VIII. 35, 36, 37, 38, 39.
Who ſhall ſeparate us from the Love of Chriſt? Shall tribulation, or diſtreſs, or perſecution, or famine, or nakedneſs, or peril, or ſword?
(As it is written, For thy ſake we are killed all the Day long; we are accounted as Sheep for the ſlaughter.)
Nay in all things we are more than Conquerors, through him that loved us.
For I am perſwaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things preſent, nor things to come,
Nor heighth, nor depth, nor any other Creature, ſhall be able to ſeparate us from the love of God, which is in Chriſt Jeſus our Lord.
THIS Scripture I opened to you the Laſt Day upon a ſpecial Occaſion, which I then acquainted you withal. That Diſcourſe had the better Part of that Entertainment which the Apoſtle Paul's had at Athens, Acts 17.32. I have not heard nor believe that any here had ſuch ſlight Thoughts of Gods Love to Man, as to mock at the Diſcourſe; yet I have met with ſome that deſire to hear again of that Matter.
I need not repeat what hath been ſpoken. But becauſe the Love of God is a noble Subject, and ſo vaſily large, that our Thoughts cannot reach it to any ſuitable Comprehenſion, nor can our Tongues expreſs the Breadth, Length, Depth and Heighth of it, Eph. 3.17. So that when we have ſaid all we can, there is ſtill Matter for more: I ſhall now add ſomething to what was ſpoken, which was the leſs becauſe I was forced to be ſhort, to give Room for the Funeral which waited our Attendance upon it.
All that I ſhall now add ſhall be
I. To ſpeak ſomething in General of the Love of God.
II. To ſet before you the wonderful Priviledges and Advantages, that flow in upon us from the Fountain of Divine Love. And then,
III. To recommend the Contemplation of Gods Love to you, that your Thoughts may be taken up with the Wonders of it.
I. In General, the Love of God is not a meer Quality in God, but his very Eſſence. God is Love, 1 John 4.8. This Love in God is a neceſſary reſult of his Goodneſs, which is his very Nature. There is none Eſſentially, Abſolutely, and Perfectly Good but God, Mat. 19.17. This Goodneſs God lets forth to all Creatures, yet not with an Equality; but ſo as might beſt ſhew forth his Soveraignty in doing with his own as he pleaſed: And his Wiſdom in adorning the World with a beautiful variety of Creatures, of differing Perfections according to their different Kinds and Uſes. Hence it is uſual to diſtinguiſh the Goodneſs of God into
Firſt, A General Goodneſs to all Creatures. All that he Created he ſaw was very Good. And ever ſince he is good to all, and his Mercy is over all his Works. His Mercy is in the Heavens. Angels ſhare in it, Pſalm 36.5. And extends over all the Earth, He preſerveth Man and Beaſt, ver. 6.
Secondly, A Special Goodneſs to Man. Though he be little, if compared with the Infinite Perfections of the glorious God, that it is a Wonder that God ſhould be mindful of him, Pſalm 8.4. Much more that he ſhould magnifie him, Job 7.17. Yet is he ſo exalted above all his Fellow-Creatures of the Inferiour World, that he is made but a little lower than the Angels, and Lord of the Works of his Hands, ver. 5, 6. of Pſalm 8. Nor hath God left himſelf without a Witneſs of his ſingular Care and Providence over him, in that he doth good, and gives us Rain and fruitful Seaſons, filling our Hearts with Food and Gladneſs.
Thirdly, There is a moſt ſpecial Goodneſs to his choſen Servants, which David in Contradiſtinction to the two former calls Loving Kindneſs; How excellent is thy Loving Kindneſs, Pſal. 36.7. This moſt ſpecial Goodneſs is called Love, which being underſtood in a moſt ſpecial Senſe, differs from that common Goodneſs which God imparts to his Creatures, in that it ſignifies Gods ſpecial Delight and readineſs to communicate and unite himſelf to the Object Loved. Though this Love hath not properly different Degrees in God, for none of his glorious Attributes admit of a more or leſs, yet the Scriptures give us leave to make a Diſtinction in Compliance to the weakneſs of our Underſtandings. So that uſually the Love of God is ſaid to be Threefold.
1. A Love of Benevolence, Gods Eternal Good Will; this Chriſt ſpeaks of John 3.16. God ſo loved the World, &c. And this is there ſpoken of, as Antecedent to his giving Chriſt, and as a Cauſe of it. This Text is perplexed with Controverſie, becauſe of the general Word [the World] which ſome labour to ſtretch ſo as to comprehend every Man. But avoiding the Controverſie, we may underſtand the Text thus, God ſo pitied loſt Mankind, Gentiles as well as Jews, that he would not that all ſhould periſh, but that a Community, a World of Elect ones ſhould through Faith in Chriſt obtain Everlaſting Life.
2. A Love of Beneficence, which ſignifies the Acts of Love brought forth in Time, after we had a Being, in purſuance of his Eternal Purpoſe and Good Will. Thus Chriſts Death, our Juſtification and Sanctification are the Manifeſtation and Application of his Love, and called ſo, Eph. 5.25. Rev. 1.5.
3. A Love of Complacency, by which God rejoyceth over thoſe that are in his Way and Method brought home to Chriſt. This is fully expreſſed in John 14.21, 23. Beſides the Love of Benevolence, My Father, and I will manifeſt a more intimate Love and kind Familiarity.
Though I purpoſely avoided the abſtruſe and difficult Queſtions about Gods Love, yet theſe Diſtinctions are neceſſary for the anſwering ſome Objections which might ariſe in your Hearts about the Unchangeableneſs of Gods Love. The Love of Complacency and Beneficence admits of Variations, of leſs or more; being but Manifeſtations and Emanations of Divine Love upon us, when yet his Love of Benevolence is the ſame.
II. The next thing I promiſed, was a further account of the Priviledges and Advantages which accrew to us by the Love of God, which are ſo great and numerous, that I cannot reckon them up in order to you. I muſt take up with that of David, Pſalm 40.5, 6. Thy Thoughts to us-ward, cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: If I would declare and ſpeak of them, they are more than can be numbred.
I will therefore in this Matter cloſely follow the Footſteps of thoſe two great Apoſtles, the great Admirers and Preachers of Gods Love. The Apoſtle John in 1 John 3.1. reduces all the Priviledges of Love to this one, That we ſhould be called, that is, have Power and Right to be, the Sons of God, as John 1.12. This if rightly ſtudied, will appear to be ſo great a Love as cannot be fully expreſſed, but to be left to Admiration; Behold what manner of Love the Father hath beſtowed upon us!
The Apoſtle Paul in this Eighth Chapter of the Romans, doth as it were Comment upon, and explain that of, 1 John 3. in purſuit of that grand Concluſion, Rom. 8.1. There is therefore now no Condemnation to them which are in Chriſt Jeſus. That the Odours of this precious Oyntment might be further diffuſed for the Refreſhment of all that are in Chriſt (which he deſcribes by the Power and Influence of the Holy Spirit over them) he ſets himſelf to declare the Priviledges of ſuch, and fixeth firſt upon our Sonſhip; ver. 12. As the Apoſtle John did, but he endeavours a more particular Enumeration of our Priviledges, yet ſo that he reduceth them all to this of our being the Children of God. The Advantages which he inſiſts upon, ariſing from this grand Priviledge, are Three.
Firſt, If we are Sons, we partake of the Spirit of our Father, and this we do ſeveral Ways;
1. We are Led by the Spirit, ver. 14. Whether we read the Verſe backward or forward it holds true, As many as are led by the Spirit, are the Sons of God. And as many as are the Sons of God have been, and ſhall ſtill be led by the Spirit. Let us take in this Conſideration together with that of Sonſhip; and then ſay, Oh! What manner of Love is this, that we who were afar off, both in reſpect of ſinful Indiſpoſition and Enmity, ſhould be made ſo near, as to become Children! That we ſhould be changed in the Spirit of our Mind! That we ſhould by the Spirits leading, Teaching and Influence, be made conformable to the Image of Chriſt, and ſo be made Partakers of a Divine Nature, and ſhould have the Spirit (by whom we were wrought up to this very thing) to be our conſtant Tutor and Guide!
2. By the Spirit another Advantage is given, ver. 15. The Spirit is to us a Spirit of Adoption, that is, a childlike Diſpoſition, to Love God, to depend upon him with a child-like Truſt and …onfidence, and in an humble boldneſs …nd freedom, being made Children; God would not have us to Act under a …aviſh Principle of Fear, which is a Spirit of Bondage, but by a free and …ngenuous Love.
3. The Spirit is alſo a Spirit of Witneſs and Aſſurance, ver. 16. The Spirit … ſelf beareth Witneſs with our Spirit, …t we are the Children of God. It is …eceſſary that Children ſhould know their Father, it conduceth much to their Comfort and Government. This the Apoſtle urgeth upon the youngeſt Chriſtians, as their Priviledge and Advantage, 1 John 2.13. I write unto yo… little Children, becauſe ye have known th… Father. The Spirit aſſiſts the Witneſ… of our Conſcience, clears our Doub… and gives comfortable Satisfaction Theſe Advantages we have by the Spirit, and all theſe are neceſſarily contained in the Priviledge of Sonſhip.
Secondly, Another Advantage by th… Priviledge of Sonſhip is noted, ver. 1…. If Children, then Heirs. The ſame Lo… that makes us Children, provides an … heritance for us: This Inheritance … Apoſtle magnifies, 1. As Glorious at… Great; ſo Glorious, that though … muſt ſuffer as Chriſt did, before … come to the full Poſſeſſion, yet the Gl… ry of that Inheritance is ſo great, th… our Sufferings are never to be mentioned, nor compared to the Glory that is … be revealed, ver. 18.2. Becauſe th… Certainty of that Inheritance, adds … ſmall Luſtre to the Glory of it. Th… Apoſtle ſhews us, that the Children … … have a full Certainty of it, and … live and rejoice in the Conſtant … Comfortable Expectation of it.
1. Not only by an Argumentation …awn from our preſent Preſſures and …lictions, for ſo the whole Creation …aneth and expecteth a Freedom, ver. … 22. But,
2. We have the Pledge, and Earneſt, … Firſt-Fruits of it already, ver. 23. …,
3. The Spirit helps forward and …vens our Hopes, We groan within …ſelves; and to help us further, our …pes are ſtronger by the Spirits Aſſi…e in our Prayers.
… By directing us to the Matter fit … prayed for. We know not what we … pray for as we ought, we are not …petent Judges of what is fit for us.
By exciting our Deſires to an ear…eſs, even groanings that cannot be …, which is the Spirits Interceſſi… us, ver. 26. So that by our Pray… our Hopes are confirmed; our De… come from himſelf, he knows and … them, and returneth the Anſwer … Prayers in inward Strength and Conſolation, ver. 27. He that ſearcheth the Heart, knoweth what is the Mind of the Spirit, becauſe he maketh Interceſſion for the Saints, according to the Will of God.
Thirdly, Another Advantage of Sonſhip is alſo mentioned, ver. 28. All things ſhall Work together for Good. Children expect Good, and not Hu… from Parents: So our Sonſhip aſſur… us, that whatever Troubles or Diſtreſſes we may meet with, they ſhall at la… by Gods over-ruling Diſpoſal, Wo… out our Advantage. Oh what mann… of Love is this, that we ſhould be ma… the Children of God! We have the… by the Gift of the Spirit, to lead an… teach us, until Chriſt be formed in … and as a conſtant Guide of our Way And hereby alſo we have free aceeſs … God, and Dependance on him: … have alſo the comfortable Witneſs … our Intereſt in Divine Love, and F… ture Happineſs in the Enjoyment … God: And by the ſame Spirit we hav… our Taſte of Heaven on Earth, rej… cing in the Hope of the Glory of God… and in the mean time our Troubles be come our ſpiritual Advantage.
I now take hold on the Opportunity, which theſe Conſiderations offer me to urge you to a ſerious Contemplation of Gods Love to us. Let your Thoughts be taken up with the Wonders of Divine Love.
1. You will find that all the Saints that have exerciſed their Thoughts up… this Subject, have run themſelves in… Wonder; and when they have …ought and ſpoken all they could, … have left the Reſt to ſilent Admi…ion. This you may obſerve in our …eſſed Apoſtle in ver. 31. of this …ghth Chapter. What ſhall we then …to theſe Things? It is not only an …ontroulable Certainty that he means, …o can contradict or ſay ought againſt …ſe things? But an Expreſſion of the …ccountable vaſtneſs of the Matter, …ch exceeded his Thoughts and Ut…ance. What Tongue, what Words … fully declare his Love?
The Apoſtle John expreſſeth a tran…rt of Admiration in theſe Words, … …ohn 3.1. Behold what manner of Love … Father hath beſtowed upon us! There …othing among Men that can be likened unto it; if that Priviledge and the Perſons upon whom it is beſtowed be conſidered. For Ʋs, who were Rebels and Enemies in our Minds by wicked Works, to be made Sons! Is this the manner of Men? Saul was convinced of Davids great Love to him by this Conſideration, 1 Sam. 24.19. If a Man find his Enemy, will he let him go well away? It is not uſual for Men ſo to do; but much leſs uſual is it for Men to heap kindneſſes upon Enemies. God's Love to us, far exceeds all that can be found among Men. David in Pſalm 36. find ſome dark Reſemblances whereby to erpreſs the extent of Gods Mercy an… Faithfulneſs. They are as high a… Heaven, ver. 5. Thy Mercy is in th… Heavens; and thy Faithfulneſs reache… unto the Clouds. ver. 6. Thy Righteouſneſs is like the great Mountains; … Judgments are a great Deep. But whe… he comes to ſpeak of Love, he finds … above Compariſon, and ſpeaks of it a… an unexpreſſible Excellency, ver. 7. How excellent is thy Loving Kindneſs. O God!
2. Leaſt ſome ſhould imagine that ſuch Expreſſions of Admiration, are only the high flights of ſome peculiar Favourites, and that Chriſtians of the common Rank are not much concerned herein, becauſe it may ſeem to be above their reach; I ſhall in a few plain Interrogations ſuggeſt to you ſome Things in Gods Love, which will appear to be wonderful to all.
Firſt, Who can tell the Firſt ſpring of Love in God? What Extrinſical Motive could poſſibly have a bending influence upon the Divine Will? Who …uth been his Counſellor? Or who could oblige him by any Gift? Rom. 11.34.
Secondly, Who can give an Account of Diſcriminating Love? Why was Jacob loved, and not Eſau? The Apo…le reſolves it, Rom. 11.33. O the depth of the Riches, both of the Wiſdom and Knowledge of God! Is it not a wonder that God ſhould provide a Saviour for fallen Man, and none for faln Angels, and yet they were more noble Creatures.
Thirdly, Who can bound the Extent of Divine Love? None but he that hath ſet bounds to the Ocean, which it ſhall not paſs. Who knows the Extent of it, 1. As to Perſons, that ſhall be ſaved by it? How great will be the General Aſſembly and Church of the Firſt-born? The Rays of the Sun are not ſcattered by viſiting a multitude of Objects, no more is Gods Love leſſened by having Mercy upon many. 2. Who can bound the Love of God, as to the Conditions of thoſe that ſhall be ſaved. God doth not fix his choice to the Wiſe, Great or Noble Perſons, 1 Cor. 1.26. Not many Wiſe Men after the Fleſh, not many Mighty, not many Noble are called. But being no Reſpecter of Perſons, he gives his Love to the moſt unlikely, and contrarily qualified, ſometimes to the greateſt of Sinners, to Perſecuters: Thus Paul reckons himſelf a Pattern to them which ſhould afterward believe, 1 Tim. 1.16.
Fourthly, Who can reckon up all the ſeveral Benefits of Love? Adoption, Juſtification, Sanctification, and Eternal Life, are frequently mentioned: But who can number his other Thoughts of Love to us-ward? Pſalm 139.17. How Great is the Sum of them! If I ſhould count them, they are more in number than the Sand. Who can give an account of his Gracious Viſits, his Tokens of Love, his particular anſwers of Prayers, his ſecret Strengthnings and Revivings? They that have endeavoured to compaſs and deſcribe the whole Globe of Divine Love, muſt leave vaſt ſpaces upon which they muſt write, Terra Incognita.
Fifthly, Who can give a true Eſtimate of Gods Love? It far ſurpaſſeth all outward Comforts. Life, and the Contentments of it, is the chief of outward Comforts. But Gods Loving Kindneſs is better than Life, Pſalm 63.3. It is above what our Senſes can inform us of, 1 Cor. 2.9. Eye hath not ſeen, Ear hath not heard, neither hath entered into the Heart of Man, the things that God hath prepared for them that Love him. What we have received already of the firſt Fruits of this Love, will ſhew that what is to come is a great Felicity. But we cannot from all that know fully what thoſe Pleaſures are that are at Gods right Hand for evermore, 1 John 3.2. It doth not yet appear what we ſhall be.
3. I ſhall add, That though we cannot fully comprehend what is the Breadth, and Length, and Depth, and Heighth of his Love which paſſeth Knowledge, Eph. 3.18. Yet it is the Duty, and will be ſtill the Advantage of all Saints to endeavour to poſſeſs their. Hearts deeply with a rooted and grounded Senſe of Gods Love: This is the Apoſtle's Prayer for the Epheſians, and the Duty of all, That they may be able to comprehend with all Saints, ver. 18.
That it is our Duty will appear by the Advantages, which will follow upon our endeavour: Some of the chief I ſhall enumerate. As,
Firſt, The Senſe of Gods Love will make us Thankful. Thankfulneſs is a natural return to great and undeſerved Favours: The Heart being filled with this fulneſs of Gods Love, will find it ſelf ſtraitened till it give it ſelf eaſe by venting it ſelf in Praiſe, Pſalm 116.12. What ſhall I render unto the Lord for all his Benefit, towards me?
Secondly, It will make us Humble. The Glory of Divine Love will beget Self-Reflections upon our Unworthineſs: So it did with David, when God had promiſed him many Bleſſings by Nathan. See how he leſſens himſelf, 2. Sam. 7.18. Who am I, O Lord God? …d what is my Houſe, that thou haſt …ought me hitherto? Undeſerved Love …akes an Ingenuous Spirit to take ſhame … it ſelf for former misbehaviour. When Gods Love to Ephraim had turned him to Repentance, and ſo to Peace, he ſaw his former Miſcarriages were … preſent Reproach; this aſhamed and unfounded him, Jer. 31.19. Ezek. 16.63.
Thirdly, A Senſe of Gods Love hath a ſpecial engaging and exciting Force …pon us to Obedience. It doth not only oblige us, and make us Debters, as …om. 8.12. But by a powerful Inclination, it doth moſt ſtrongly move and incline. Fear of Wrath is a ſtrong Compulſive, and we need it; but Love draws more effectually, becauſe it begets a delight to do the Will of God; and becauſe Cords of Love are the Bands of a Man, Hoſ. 11.4. Such obliging kindneſs as beſt ſuits a Man of Reaſon and Ingenuity.
Fourthly, Senſe of Love will mightily ſtrength and encourage us againſt all Sufferings. Love makes every thing eaſie. This was the Strength and Conrage of all the Worthies mentioned a Heb. 11. This bore out all the Marty… in all Perſecutions.
Fifthly, Senſe of Love is that which gives ſweetneſs to all Temporal Bleſſing…. Riches, Honour, Peace, if they be no… given in Love, may be our great…. Plagues, and will afford no Satisfact… on. Divine Love expreſſed in the… like the Philoſophers Stone, change their Nature, and turns our rejoicing in them to a rejoicing in God.
Sixthly, Senſe of Gods Love lead us to a Delighting in God. This … one of the great Duties recommended t… us, Pſalm 37.4. The Particulars of the Advice given there, are all founded upon the different Dealings of God with the Godly and Wicked, the Sum whereof is this: That God hath a peculiar loving Regard to Godly Men, as to vindicate them, ver. 6. To bleſs their …njoyments, ver. 16. To ſhelter them againſt Calamities, ver. 19. To direct their ſteps, ver. 23. If God delighteth in his Love to us, we ſhould delight our ſelves in Love to Him.
The Contemplation of Gods Love …ill afford us ſweet Thoughts. Love in is own Nature is a ſweet Subject of Me…itation, affording Deſire, Delight and by; and like a Plentiful Spring of Living Waters which can never be exhau…ed, it will furniſh us with ſuch varie… of Matter, that we ſhall have no oc…ſion to be weary of the Purſuit. Gods …houghts of Love will ſtill be Precious, ſalm 139.17.
Men can delight themſelves in Works of curious Art and Contrivance, in Works of Nature much more: With what delightful Diligence have ſome …en ſtudied the wonderful Contrivance of the Humane Body, yea even of Worms and Flies? Others fill themſelves with Admiration in ſtudying the great Globe of Heaven and Earth, and with Pleaſure obſerve the Perfection of …eatures, as fitted for their Ends and Uſes, and the ſubſerviency of them for the Beauty and Eſtabliſhment of the Univerſe, according to the Appointment of the Glorious and Wiſe Creator: And why then ſhould not Chriſtians make … their Pleaſure to ſtudy the Infinite Lov… of God? This is more eſpecially o… Concern, and will be the Delight Work and Joy of Heaven to Eternity.
Seventhly, Senſe of Gods Love as … is the greateſt Cordial in all Diſtreſſe… ſo it is the greateſt Guard againſt a… Affrightments of Fear. The Children of God are exerciſed with Fears frequently, but there are two ſpecial Affrightments againſt which the Apoſt… advanceth the Triumphant Aſſurance of the Text.
1. The Firſt great Affrightment that afflicted Chriſtians are diſtreſſed with is, That their Tribulations and Diſtreſſes are Argument of Wrath. Thus they are ready to conclude, If God had loved us, would he have done thus unto us? This is too frequent: Trouble brings Sin to Remembrance; and a trembling Heart fears the worſt: Thus Holy David diſcovered his Fear, Pſal… 6.1. O Lord rebuke me not in thine Anger, neither chaſten me in thy hot diſpleaſure.
But a due Conſideration of Gods Love will remove this Affrightment, in that none of theſe things are undoubted Characteriſtical Marks of Gods Hatred; they are no part of the damning Curſe, but an humbling mark ſet upon us for our Tryal and Exerciſe, after all the damning Part was removed. Hence the Apoſtle, 1 Tim. 2.15. ſpeaking of the Woman who had a particular mark of Diſpleaſure ſet upon her, tells us, She may be ſaved — notwithſtanding her ſorrowful Child-bearing. And in this place, the Apoſtle takes away this fear, by telling us, In all ſuch things we are more than Conquerors.
2. The Second Affrightment is, That theſe Diſtreſſes might tempt us to turn off from God and Holineſs; and this might ſeparate us from the Love of God. This Affrightment is removed, by the Conſideration that our ſtanding is bottomed upon Gods Unchangeable Love. It is poſſible enough for us and our Graces to fail, if we had not a greater Strength than our own to bear … So ſure is Gods Foundation, … will take care for Perſeverance. … great Affrightment, which is too … nary with the Timerous, Ah I … ſhall fall and miſcarry at laſt, is, … ſweetly anſwered, If it was Gods … that wrought up your Heart to … him, it will keep you, that you … not depart from him.
Eighthly, Senſe of Gods Love to … will be a means to kindle and ſtir … our Love to God. We Love him, … cauſe he loved us. Love begets Lo… If God hath ſo loved us? Let us … deavour to Love Him.
FINIS.
End of the text · Richard Gilpin, The Comforts of Divine Love (1700)