Believers Evidences for Eternal Life, Chapter 2 · Section 7 – Section 8
VII.
True love of the Brethren may be a 7th. Signe or Evidence of our Regeneration. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the Devil: whosoever doth not righteousuesse is not of God, neither he that loveth not his Brother, 1 Joh. 3. 7. Again he saith; Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, 1 Joh. 4. 7. And further he addeth; We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the Brethren: He that loveth not his Brother abideth in death, 1 Joh. 3. 14.
This Evieence of Brotherly love will be more judiciously and comfortably improved, if we consider, 1. The generall clearnesse of it. 2. What Brethren are here intended. 3. Some under-notes or discoveries of this Brotherly love.
I. The generall clearnesse of this Evidence. Experience tels us, that usually the weakest and most timerous Christians, who can find small or no comfort in other Evidences of their gracious state, yet can discerne some glimmerings here in their love of the brethren: And this one discovery hath supported many; because they evidently and experimentally feel in their own hearts that they cordially love the Brethren. He that loves his brother (said *Qui diligit fratrem magis novit dilectionem qua diligit, quā fratrē quem diligit. Aug. de Trinitat. l. 8, c. 8.Augustine) better knowes his love wherewith he loves, then his brother whom he loves.
II. What [Brethren] are here intended? Answ. There are (1.) Brethren by Nation, Act. 7. 23, 25. Rom. 9. 3. (2.) Brethren by nature, descended of the same naturall parents or parent, Mat. 1. 2. (3.) Brethren by office, 2 Pet. 3. 15. 2 Cor. 1. 1. Col. 1. 1. Philem. 1. (4.) Brethren by grace and supernaturall Regeneration, Philem. 16. Here understand Brethren in the last sense, for Brethren by grace; 1. Partly, inasmuch as the same Apostle speaking of this love of these hrethren elsewhere, cals them the children of God, 1 Joh. 5. 2. And, Begotten of him, 1 Joh. 5. 1. 2. Partly, because love to any other Brethren by Nation, Nature, Office, &c. (which are relations common to persons unregenerate with the Regenerate) may be incident to carnal persons and hypocrites, and so can be no distinctive character betwixt them that are borne of God, and them that are not.
III. Some under-notes or Discoveries of true brotherly love; or love of the children of God, begotten of him. We may discover whether we love the Brethren, Negatively, and Affirmatively; as in the former places the Apostle speaks of it both wayes.
Negatively; We love not the Brethren, the children of God:
1. Whilest we continue the seed of the serpent, and are of the world; for there is naturall enmity betwixt the seed of the serpent and of the woman, Gen. 3. 15. betwixt them that are of the world, and them that are chosen out of the world, Ioh. 15. 19.
2. Whilest we retain our carnal minde and heart which is enmity against God, his lawes and wayes, Rom. 8. 7. and cannot chuse but from this antipathie hate righteousnesse and supernaturall goodnesse in the Brethren, 1 Ioh. 3. 12.
3. Whilest we manifest any fruits of hatred against the Brethren, by reproaching them, spoiling them in their goods, imprisoning them, tormenting them, murdering them, or any way persecuting them, Gal. 4. 29. or consenting thereunto, Act. 8. 1. & 26. 10.
Affirmativel; We truly love the Brethren, the true children of God:
1. When we love them as such: The brethren for their spirituall brotherhood, 1 Pet. …. 17. The Godly for Godlinesse sake, for God … them: Christians, for Christianity, for Christ in them: The Saints for their …, for their Sanctity of person and Con…rsation. The spirituall children begotten, for their heavenly Fathers sake begetting them, 1 Ioh. 5. 1, 2. When Grace is the principal loadstone of our affection; when for this we love them more, then for Beauty, sweetnesse of disposition, Birth, Breeding, learning, Wit, Parts, Gifts, Wealth, Honour, or any carnall, worldly Accomplishment whatsoever, then we love the Brethren as right.
2. Hence, When we love and delight inthem above all sorts of people on earth, as the most excellent people. David saith, Thou art my Lord: my goodnesse extendeth not to shee; but to the Saints that are in the Earth, and to the Excellent in whom is all my delight, Psal. 16. 2, 3. Christ himselfe preferred them that heard the Word of God and kept it, as such, before his naturall brethren according to the flesh; yea, before his own mother that bare him and gave him suck, as such. Mat. 12. 47, 48, 49, 50. Mark. 3. 32, 33, 34, 35. Luk. 8. 20, 21. & 11. 27, 28. And the Saints have more intimate, endearing, continuing Relations to one another in Christ, then to all neerest naturall allies whatsoever; and are wont accordingly to esteem them: Paul loved Onesimas converted, as his Son, Philem. v. 10. as himself, ver. 17. yea, as his own bowels, ver. 12.
3. Hence; When we love all such as we apprehend to be the children of God. For he that loves one child of God, as a child of God, *Quatenusipsum, includit de omni.consequently loves every child of God, whether noble or ignoble, rich or poor, bond or free, male or female, &c. For the same God, the same Christ, the same Grace, is as truly amiable in one as in another. See Col. 1. 4. Philem. 5. They that only can love rich. Saints in gay clothes, with goldrings, &c. but despise the poor Saints, are partiall in their love, and have the faith of God with respect of persons, Jam. 2. 2, 3, 4. they love not the person for his graces, but rather graces for the person.
4. Hence; When we love them most that are most gracius, (other things being alike.) For where Grace allures the affection, the more Grace, the stronger motive and allurement. Jesus loved all his Disciples, Ioh. 13. 1. but Iohn eminently gracious he loved peculiarly above all the rest, Ioh 21. 20. yea, as grace grows in the same person, true love towards him will grow proportionably.
5. When we love the Brethren sincerely, unfeigned…y, really; not only in word & tongue, but indeed and truth, 1 Pet. 1. 22. 1 Iob. 3. 16, 17. being ready to expresse all amiable respects, and acts of love towards them, Act. 4. 32.
6. When we peculiarly love their Society; …ing most intimate, contenting delight in …r communion, above all other. *Noscitur ex socio, qui non dignoscitur ex se.Soci…y is hardly dissembled. The heart loving …lights must in fellowship with the compa…on beloved. I am (said David) acom…ion of all them that feare thee, &c. Psal. 19. 63. In them is all my delight, Psal. 16. 3. & 101. 6. Regenerate persons have no …ontenting fellowship with the ungodly, Psal. 1. 1, 2. & 26. 4, 5, & 101. 7. & 119. 115.
7. Finally, we love the brethren aright …hen we love them constantly. Christ loves …hem to the end, Joh. 13. 2. So should they …ove one another to the end. The ground of their love still continues, viz. Gods command, Their Spirituall Relation, Their true Grace: So should their love still continue.
VIII.
Hope and assured apprehension in some measure that we shall be conform to God and to Christ in his glorious appearing, may be an eighth signe of Regeneration. Beloved, now are we the Sons of God; but it doth not yet appeare what we shall be: But we know that when he shall appeare, we shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is, 1 Joh. 3. 2. Here are, 1. The gracious Relation of the Regenerate unto God for present; Now they are Sonnes … God. 2. The glorious perfections reserve… for them for future: For Particular, not ye… appearing to us exactly, compleatly; Fo… Generall; It shall be a blessed conformity to him, in that full trans-forming Beatifi… call vision of him at his appearance, which Vision (as *Visuri sumus quandam visionem fratres, quam nec oculus vidit, nec auris audivit, nec in Cor hominis ascendit. Visionem praecellentem omnes pulchritudinesterrenas Auri, Argenti, Nemorum atque Camporum; pulchritudinem maris, & acris, pulchritudinem Solis & Lunae, pulchritudinem Stellatum, pulchritudinem Angelorum; Omnia superantem, quia exipsa pulchra sunt omnia. Aug. Expos…n Ep. Ioan. Tract. 4. de cap. 11….Augustine hath noted) excell… all earthly beauty of Gold, Silver, Woods▪ Fields, Sea, Ayre, Sunne, Moone, Starres, or Angels: surpassing all, because all things hav… their beauty from it. 3. The precognition, or knowledge which the Regenerate have of this even in this life. We know—Knowledge implies some measure of certainty o… assurance hereof in Gods children in thi… life. As there are degrees of Faith, 2 Thes. 1. 3. So of assurance; the highest is ful… assurance, Col. 2. 2. Heb. 6. 11. & 10. 22. All the Regenerate arrive not at full assurance: who yet attaine certainty. All reach the certainty of the object beleeved, viz. That the glory promised shall certainly be performed, i… sure. All reach the certainty or assurance of the Subject believing in some sort, viz. Some, full assurance: Many, Assurance of sense and Evidence: But All reach Assurance of adherence whereby they certainly cleave to, and test upon the promises and the happinesse …romised; this is so of the essence of Faith, …hat Faith cannot be without it. Do we thus know, or hope for conformity to God in glory?
Signes of this knowledge or hope in us of our …formity to God in glory.
1. Peace with God, and joy in hope of this glory, Rom. 5. 1, 2.
2. Conformity to God in grace: purifying themselves, as God is pure, 1 Ioh. 3. 2, 3.
3. A cheareful disposition to part with any earthly enjoyments for Christ, or to endure any afflictions or persecutions for him, Heb. 10. 34. & 11. 26. & ver. 35, to 40.
4. Leading on earth an heavenly conversation, Phil. 3. 20. Col. 3. 1, &c.
5. Frequent and fervent desires, breathings, groanings, longings after Christs appearing, and full enjoyment of him face to face, 2 Cor. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 8. Cant. 8. 14. Rev. 22. 20.