The Holy Arbor, Chapter 5 · Section 1 · Commandment 1 · Section 6
§. 6. Of Love.
THe Love of God is a moſt upright affection of the Minde, by which God is loved for himſelf, and our Neighbor for God: which Love is grounded on Gods love to us, 1 Joh. 4.19. Indeed Love is nothing elſe but a diſpoſition of the Will, whereby it cleaves or makes forward to ſome good that is agreeable to it ſelf; yea, all the Affections are nothing elſe but the diverſe motions and turnings of the Will. Now Love is that act of the Will, whereby it turns it ſelf to a thing; as Hatred is that whereby it turns it ſelf from a thing: And the object of Love is ſomewhat that is good, not that is True, or that is Beautiful, for this is onelyonly the object of the intuitive underſtanding: So that to love the Lord, is not onelyonly required, That we be perſwaded that he is well-affected to us, That he is willing to receive us, but alſo that we look on him as one that is ſuitable and agreeable to us: And indeed, that is the main, the other will follow eaſily. Hence men may have a perſwaſion of their ſins forgiveneſs, and yet want true Faith, for that which begets not Love is not Faith: Now a man may have that perſwaſion of Chriſt, yet not love Chriſt (as a Priſoner may of the Judge, yet not love the Judge) for love comes from ſome ſuitableneſs, ſome agreeableneſs between the parties: but when a man is humbled, and looks on Chriſt, and again is perſwaded that Chriſt looks on him, and that Chriſt will take him; when this is done, then a man receives Chriſt by Faith, and from this Faith iſſues this Love.
Theſe two great radical Vertues, Faith and Love, are the two Pillars, as it were, upon which the Fabrick of our Salvation is built: for nothing makes us the Sons of God, but ſuch Faith as is accompanied with Love and good Works: It is Gods pleaſure to ſave us in this maner, that it may be of grace. To love any man becauſe he is a Chriſtian and a childe of God, is a ſenſible and certain note that he is partaker of the true Love of God in Chriſt: And it is much eaſier to love Holineſs in the Saints then in God himſelf, becauſe he is far remote from us, and they amongſt us are viſibly ſeen; therefore unleſs we finde our hearts inwardly moved to love them, yea with a natural affection as it were, we but pretend to love God. Love is a commanding Affection, yea Love and Hatred are as it were the great Lords and Maſters that divide the Affections between them. Now the Reaſon why we hate God naturally, is by reaſon of that oppoſition and contrariety which is between God and every Man by Nature: for all Love comes from ſimilitude and agreeableneſs; therefore this ſinful Nature of ours muſt be broken in pieces and ſubdued, again new-molded and framed, before it can ever be fit to love God. Hence it is that any natural man that hath the moſt impure heart, may, to eſcape Hell and get Heaven, do all the works the Papiſts require, and for the ſame end that they require them, but to do it out of love to God, that is a thing no Hypocrite can reach to; and therefore the giving a cup of cold water proceeding from Love, is a better work then a Martyrdom, the giving ones body to be burned, and all that he hath to feed the poor, if it come not from Love; yea, then all this coming not from Love, is to God more acceptable, the very will of doing the leaſt good, though the deed be never done, ſo the Will ariſe from this affection of Love: But when a man loves not, he breaks the whole Law; for as Love is the keeping of the whole Law, ſo the want of Love is the breach of the whole Law.
Now true love looks firſt to Chriſts perſon, next to the Promiſes and benefits we have by him: And this love to God doth not ſo reſtrain us, but we may love the Creature alſo; yet ſo, that if this Love to the Creature doth over-ballance, or any away leſſen our love to God by the inordinateneſs of it to the Creature, then is it an adulterous love: Nor doth it reſtrain our liberty, for he that gives his heart to God, hath as much liberty as he that followeth his luſts; all the difference is, the one is an unjuſt owner, the other the Lord hath made the ſteward of his own heart, ſo that he hath it as before, onelyonly now he doth uſe it at Gods appointment, before it was at his own.
What it is to love God:
1. To acknowledge God to be exceeding good, bountiful and merciful, not onelyonly in himſelf, but alſo in us and towards us, and that therefore he doth imploy his Power, Wiſdom, Juſtice, Mercy and Goodneſs to our Salvation, and ſo through the acknowledging of this his infinite goodneſs towards us to love God, as that we more covet and deſire our conjoyning and conformity with him, and the execution of his Will, then all other things whatſoever.
2. To leave and relinquiſh all things, rather then to be bereaved of his communion and fellowſhip, or to offend him in any thing; and to be ready to part with all other things which we love, for his ſake, and to care for nothing more then how we may do things acceptable and grateful to him.
There are five kindes of Love; viz.
1. Love of Piety, when we deſire the preſervation of any thing.
2. A Love of Concupiſence; that is, to love a thing meerly for our uſe.
3. A Love of Complacency; ſo the Maſter loves a towardly Schollar.
4. A Love of Friendſhip; that is, a Reciprocation of affection.
5. A Love of Dependance; that is, to love one on whom all good depends, ſo we are ſaid to Love God, yea with the three laſt kindes of Love.
Love is threefold
1. Natural, wherewith we love our ſelves, children, wealth, &c.
2. Sinful, that carries natural love the wrong way to love ſinful things.
3. Spiritual, which ſets limits to this Natural love, yea elevates it, and makes it an holy love.
Love to God is twofold:
1. General or Natural, which is in every one by Nature: Thus the wicked love God, as he is Summum Bonum, and doing good to all touching outward affairs. This is not true Love.
2. Special, when a man upon true evidences perſwading himſelf of Gods Love to himſelf, in particular, doth upon this ſenſible feeling and perceiving of Gods goodneſs, return unto God all his Heart, all his Soul, all his Stength, in Love and Thankfulneſs.
The right order of Love:
1. God in the firſt place muſt be loved, for that is the cauſe of love to our Neighbor.
2. We muſt love in Man onelyonly thoſe things which are to be loved, not thoſe things which are to be abhorred.
3. We muſt not love thoſe more or leſs who are equally to be loved, nor thoſe equally who are more or leſs to be loved.
4. We muſt love the Creator for himſelf, but the Creature for Gods ſake.
The right order of Love, as touching the degrees thereof:
1. We muſt love thoſe that belong to the Church in general, before a private Member thereof.
2. Thoſe of the houſhold of Faith, before thoſe which are not, for they are Sons with us, as well by Adoption as Creation.
3. Thoſe to whom we are bound by any bond of duty, nearer to us then other men.
4. Not ſtrangers ſo much as acquaintance, not enemies ſo much as friends.
5. For equals, we muſt proportion our affection to them more or leſs, as they are more or leſs profitable to the Church of God.
The love of God is wrought in us two ways:
1. By breaking our Nature in pieces as it were; that is, by Humiliation and the Law.
2. By moulding it anew, which is done by Faith and the Goſpel.
A man may alſo be aſſured of his love to God 2 ways:
1. By his conformity to him in Holineſs; not in equality and perfection, but in ſimilitude and conformity.
2. By the weaning of his affection from the things of this world, ſo far forth as they are ſevered from the Fear and Love of God.
The Reaſons why he that loves not Chriſt, ſhall not be ſaved:
1. Becauſe there is a Curſe on him and a woe due to him, for to ſerve God, and not to love him, is but Hypocriſie, which is to do the outward action, without the inward ſincerity; that is, without Love.
2. Becauſe he breaks the Evangelical Law; now he that breaks the Law hath a curſe due to him.
3. Becauſe he is an Adulterer; now in the Law of God an Adulterer ought to dye, and he that loves not the Lord is an Adulterer; that is, he is falſe to the Lord that ſhould be his husband, and loves ſomewhat elſe.
4. Becauſe he ſlights and rejects the Lords gracious offer.
The Diſpoſition of all thoſe that love God, is, To have their hearts after Gods own heart; and this is proper to the Saints: And the way to know whether our hearts be ſo or not, is by doing theſe two things; viz.
1. By hating what God hates; for our actions are effects of our affections.
2. By loving thoſe that fear the Lord, and hating thoſe that are enemies to him.
The difference between the love of God and fear of God; viz.
1. The love of God ariſeth from a Knowledge of Gods goodneſs: The fear of God ariſeth from a Knowledge of Gods Juſtice, and of his Power to puniſh ſins, and of that Right which he hath over all Creatures.
2. Love purſueth good, as God, and our conjunction with him; but Fear flieth evil, or the diſpleaſure and wrath of God, and our ſeparation from him.
The right maner of love to God:
1. It muſt be with all the heart; that is, the whole ſtream of our affections, deſires, intentions and endeavors.
2. It muſt be with all our might; that is, according to the Talent that God in any kinde hath given us.
3. It muſt be with the whole man, with all the faculties and powers both of ſoul and body, Deut. 6.5.
4. We muſt love God above all; that is, incomparably above all; abſolutely for himſelf, and all good things for his ſake, Mat. 10.17.
5. We muſt be rooted and grounded in love; that is, not by fits and ſtarts, but to be permanent in love.
6. It muſt be diligent and operative, not an idle and negligent love.
7. It muſt be free, without conſtraint; ſound, not in hypocriſie; total, without diviſion; continual, without end.
Why we muſt love the Lord above all:
1. Becauſe he is moſt Excellent, and the moſt amiable of all.
2. Otherwiſe we love him not as God.
3. Elſe we ſhould not love him conſtantly.
4. Becauſe he hath done for us more then all.
5. Becauſe he is the uttermoſt end of all Natures.
The way to be rooted in Love, is,
1. To be rooted and grounded in Faith.
2. To pitch our love on Chriſts perſon, not to love him for byreſpects.
Wherein our love muſt be diligent:
1. In preparing for Chriſts coming.
2. In adorning and beautifying the Soul for the approach of her Lover.
3. In keeping his Commandments.
God dealeth not hardly with us in requiring love, and that for theſe Reaſons:
1. It is that which every one may do.
2. He might have required far harder things.
3. It is for our own benefit.
The effect of love in the heart:
1. It makes the heart to cleave unto God, and to be well pleaſed with him ſimply for himſelf.
2. It moves the heart to ſeek by all means poſſible to have true worſhip with God in Chriſt.
The ſigns of our love to God:
1. Obedience both Active and Paſſive to Gods Commandments, Joh. 14.15.
2. A careful hearing, conſcionable keeping, continual meditating, and effectual practiſing of Gods Word, Joh. 14.23.
3. A true love towards our Brethren, 1 Joh. 4.20. & 5.1.
The ſigns of hatred of God; viz.
1. If we deſire that he were not, that there were no God to call us to Accompt.
2. If we look on him as upon a Judge onelyonly, and not alſo as a loving Father.
3. When we look on God and his ways as contrary to our hearts.
4. If we love any thing, as Wealth and Pleaſure, more then God.
The Tryals of our love to God in Chriſt:
1. By the quickneſs and activeneſs of the heart after Chriſt.
2. By the Affections, as grief when he is abſent, joy when he is preſent.
3. By hating ſin, and loving the Saints.
4. By doing for his ſake, yea matters of greateſt difficulty.
5. By the Bounty, as to part with Credit, Liberty, yea all for Chriſt.
6. By walking with the Lord; that is, by obſerving his dealing to us, and ours to him again.
7. By the Diligence of our love, by the pains we take for his glory.
8. By our Deſire of the preſent enjoyment of the thing beloved, without deferring.
9. By the Wages thereof, for love deſires no wages but the thing loved; ſo that he that loves the Lord indeed, would ſerve him for his own ſake, were there no Reward here, nor Heaven hereafter: for Love is its own wages.
10. By its Conſtraining us to pleaſe God: for if we love the Lord, it will put ſuch neceſſity upon us to pleaſe him, to obey him in all things, to do what he requires, whatſoever is for his advantage, that we cannot chuſe but do it, 2 Cor. 5.
The Tryal of the Bounty of our love:
1. When it croſſeth Advantages to our ſelves.
2. When it croſſeth Self-love, for every man hath ſome particular Temptation.
3. When it is done chearfully and willingly, not grudgingly and niggardly.
Tryals of our love to holy men:
1. To love all the Saints; to love all grace, all holineſs in all the Saints.
2. To love none but the Saints with the love of Complacency; indeed the love of Pity reaches to all Mankinde.
3. To love them as they excel in grace, in holineſs, as they are more ſtrict, &c.
4. By delighting in their Company, and by the fruits of love to them.
The Properties of Love mentioned in the Holy Scripture, whereby we may examine whether we have true love or no:
1. Love is Bountiful, 1 Cor. 13. God obſerveth what his ſervice doth coſt us.
2. Love is contented with nothing but love again; the ſanctified are not content with Mercy without Grace.
3. Love deſireth the ſecond coming of Chriſt, 2 Tim. 4.8. It loves his Appearance here alſo in the beauty and purity of his Ordinances.
4. Love delighteth to be always ſpeaking of the party loved: Do we make the Lord Jeſus our Diſcourſe?
5. Love will do much, and ſuffer much, and both willingly for the party beloved.
6. Love is like Fire, in four reſpects:
1. It is Active, it will ſet all thy faculties awork for Gods ſervice.
2. It is Quick, it will not delay from day to day what God requires of thee.
3. It is Vehement, it will beſtow the height of your intentions about holy things.
4. It is Powerful, it overcomes all impediments, ſtill aſpiring towards Heaven.
7. Love commandeth all the Affections: eſpecially
Anger, when impediments croſs us: This is Zeal.
Fear, to tremble at Gods Word, at his Judgements.
8. Love doth things freely, and not looks for an exact Recompence; which is manifeſt in theſe two things:
1. It will not limit it ſelf in Duties.
2. It will not indent with God for Reward.
9. Love to God hateth ſin; many are angry with ſin, but hate it not.
10. Love loveth the Saints of God, for they are his Image, differing onelyonly in degrees.
The ſincerity of our love to the Lord, may be known theſe two ways:
1. By our even carriage towards him, not ſometimes for him and ſometimes for our luſts.
2. By our conſtant carriage, by our continuance and holding out in his ſervice; yet daily infirmities break not the Covenant, ſo long as our hearts are ſincere, and we take not another huſband; that is, love not any luſt more then Chriſt.
Reaſons or Motives perſwaſive to love the Lord; viz.
1. The Commandment of God; The Exhortations of the Prophets and Apoſtles, Deut. 6.5. Mat. 22.37. Mark 12.30.
2. The Examples of the holy men of God, Prophets, Apoſtles, Martyrs, &c. as Abraham, Gen. 12. Joſh. 23. Peter, Joh. 21.
3. The Excellency of it, for it knitteth and bindeth all other Vertues together; yea, he that loves is in God, and God in him.
4. The Profit of it: for all things work together for the beſt, to thoſe that love God, Rom. 8.28.
5. The Neceſſity of it: for without love, all other Vertues and rare Perfections profit us nothing, 1 Cor. 13.
6. It ſets a Price on all we do, be it never ſo ſmall, be it but a Cup of cold water given in love.
7. We loſe not by this love, which is contrary to all other loves even in that.
8. The Lord is Worthy of our love: for all Excellency is in God, and he is wholly delectable.
9. The conſideration of the Greatneſs of God might command our love; yea, ſeeing this great and mighty God is a ſuiter to us for it.
10. The eaſie Conditions he requires of us: for he might have commanded us to offer our children in Sacrifice, and our bodies to be burned, in being our Soveraign Creator, and we his Creatures.
11. God hath planted this very Affection of Love in us for this very end; and doth he then call for more then his own?
12. We have engaged our ſelves to love the Lord, being Baptized in his Name; nay, he hath bought us too, and loves us; yea ſo, as he gave even himſelf for us: Doth not this deſerve Love? O conſider this, all ye Adulterers, that divorce your ſelves from Heaven, to be enamored with Hell and your own Damnation.
What lieth in the underſtanding between God and us that hinders Love: for Love uniteth
1. Temptations to Atheiſm.
2. Temptations to think that the Scriptures are not true.
3. Temptations to think amiſs of God in any thing.
4. Temptations to doubt of the favor of God.
The two main Impediments of our love to Chriſt:
1. Strangeneſs, for it diſſolveth Love, breeding Ignorance and Fearfulneſs; but a truly grounded holy Boldneſs, is the Parent and Nurſe of Love.
2. Uncircumciſion of heart, or worldly-mindedneſs, Deut. 30.6. that is, worldly Luſts, worldly Cares, worldly Deſires, when they abound in the heart.
The Means to enable us to Love the Lord; viz.
1. Labor to know him: Beſeech the Lord to ſhew himſelf to thee, for till then thou wilt never love him.
2. We muſt labor to know our ſelves: We muſt conſider our ſins, what we are, what hearts we have, what lives we have led.
3. We muſt labor to get the Aſſurance of Gods ſpecial Love to us; the two notes whereof are theſe:
1. The Love of our Brethren: for then we love God, and then he loves us.
2. Our love of God: for whom God loves, to them he gives his grace to love him again.
4. Prayer, for it is a lovely Suit; and think you that if we requeſt to love him, he will deny it us? ſurely no, Jam. 1.17.
5. A careful and diligent Hearing of Gods Word, with continual Meditation on the ſame, whereby we attain to Faith, which inflames us with Gods love towards us, and thereby ſtirs up again our love towards God.
6. We muſt labor earneſtly that the Spirit of God may dwell in our hearts: Love is a fruit of the Spirit, Gal. 5.22.
7. The continual Meditation of Gods wonderful works, and of his infinite benefits, which by the death of his onelyonly begotten Son, he beſtowed ſo freely on us.
The love of our Neighbor is ſaid to be like unto our love to God for theſe Reaſons:
1. Becauſe that Commandment of loving our Neighbor, is oppoſed unto the Ceremonies.
2. Becauſe the Obedience of the Firſt Table, is the cauſe of the Second.
3. Becauſe the breach of the Second Table, doth as well deſerve eternal puniſhments, as the breach of the Firſt.
4. Becauſe it appertaineth to the Moral Worſhip, which is deſcribed in the Firſt and Second Table.
5. Becauſe of the Coherence of both, for that neither can be obſerved without the other.
6. Becauſe one is the Author of both.
7. Becauſe both of them contain our whole Obedience.
The maner how we muſt love men; viz.
1. It muſt be as Chriſt hath loved us, Eph. 5.2. not in equality, but reſemblance and conformity.
2. We muſt love our Neighbor as our ſelves, Mat. 22.39.
3. We muſt love them as the ſame Members of the ſame body love one another, Rom. 12.4, 5.
Our love muſt be conformable to Chriſts love: The maner whereof was this; viz.
1. Chriſts love was Free, without conſtraint, not for any Merit in us, 1 Joh. 4.19.
2. His love was a right and True love, he loved us not to profit or benefit himſelf, but onelyonly us.
3. His love was Diſcreet, he loved our perſons, not our ſins, 1 Cor. 13.5, 6.
4. His love was Vehement, he gave himſelf to the death for us, 1 Joh. 3.16.
5. His love was Fruitful, ſhewing it ſelf in the effects thereof, Jam. 2.15, 16.
6. His love was Conſtant, Joh. 13.1. True love doth never fall away, 1 Cor. 13.8.
7. His love was General, to the Poor as to the Rich, to his Friends, to his Foes, Mat. 5.44.
That we may know how to love our Neighbor as our ſelves, we muſt know that Self-love is twofold:
1. General, which is Natural Love, whereby every one ſeeketh his own good and preſervation: This kinde of love in it ſelf is not evil, the order thereof being rightly obſerved.
2. Special, which is
1. Carnal, whereby a man preferreth the benefit of his Body and Fleſh, before the good of his Soul and Spirit, 2 Tim. 3.2. This is a Mother-ſin.
2. Spiritual, whereby a man preferreth the good of his Soul before all things in the world.
That we may know how to love our Neighbors as fellow-members, we muſt know, That
1. One Member of the Humane Body doth not envy another, which hath not the ſame office with it, 1 Cor. 12.
2. One Member doth not appropriate his Office to it ſelf, but communicateth it to the good of all.
3. One Member of the Body being hurt of the other, doth not revenge it ſelf upon the other Members.
4. One Member ſuffereth with another, and rejoyceth with another, Rom. 12.15.
5. One Member of the Body expoſeth it ſelf to danger for the defence of another.
The Properties of true love to our Brethren:
1. It muſt be in Adverſity as well as Proſperity.
2. It muſt be ſincere and ſound, not feigned or hypocritical, Rom. 12.9.
3. It muſt be fervent, increaſing inwardly, and ſhewing it ſelf in the fruits thereof outwardly, 1 Pet. 4.8.
4. It muſt be conſtant, holding out unto the end, Heb. 13.1.
5. It muſt not be for any private by-reſpects.
6. We muſt love thoſe that are our enemies and hate us, Mat. 5.46, 47.
The ſigns of true Chriſtian Brotherly love:
1. If we love God unfeignedly with our hearts, and labor to keep his Commandments, 1 Joh. 5.2.
2. If we love without ſervile and ſlaviſh fear, for there is no ſuch fear in love, 1 Joh. 4.18.
3. If we can forgive wrongs, forget to revenge them, and pray for them that did them, 1 Cor. 13.
4. If it be not onelyonly in time of Proſperity, but when he ſtands in moſt need of our love: if it be more manifeſt to our Brother in his adverſity then in his proſperity, Prov. 17.17.
5. If it be not for outward reſpects, but becauſe they are the Sons of God.
6. If it be not outward in ſhew onelyonly, but inward in the heart.
Motives perſwaſive, or Reaſons to inforce our love to our Brethren:
1. Except we love our Brethren, we do not love God; and if not God, he not us, 1 Joh. 4.20.
2. Except we have this love, we know not God, for God is love, 1 Joh. 4.8.
3. If we love not our Brethren, we abide in death, 1 Joh. 3.14. are none of Gods children, 1 Joh. 3.10. but the Devils.
4. He that loveth not his Brother is a manſlayer, neither ſhall he be ſaved, 1 Joh. 3.15.
5. Becauſe God ſo commandeth us to love one another, yea on pain of eternal death, Heb. 2.2.
The Vices repugnant unto the love of God; viz.
1. The caſting away of Gods love, or the contempt and hatred of God, which is through the alienation of our Nature from God and Gods Juſtice, and by reaſon of an inclination thereof to ſin, therefore to flie and ſhun God, accuſing and puniſhing Sin.
2. Inordinate love of our ſelves, and of other creatures, which is to prefer our Luſts, or Pleaſures, or Life, or Glory, or any other thing before God, and his Will, and Glory, and to be willing rather to neglect and offend him, then to part from thoſe things which we love.
3. A feigned love of God, an hypocritical, counterfeit, or ſelf-reſpecting love, whereby alſo we may here offend: Now we cannot here ever offend in the exceſs, becauſe we never love God ſo much as we ſhould.
Hail, O thou lovely Grace, whoſe rare feature,
When Faith and Hope vaniſh from the Creature,
Shall ever Luſtre forth, in Heaven be,
As now of Sweetneſs, full of Majeſty.
By thee the Graces all enamell'd are,
'Mongst whom thou ſhin'ſt the Heart Attractive Star:
By thee the Saints are ever ſo inflam'd,
To be but warm th'are holily aſham'd.
Sweet Flame! perfume my Soul, and in thy fire
Raviſh'd, let me from whence thou cam'ſt, aspire.