Exposition Upon 1 Peter, Biblical exegesis · Chapter 1 · Verse 22
Verse 22. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit, unto unfained love of the brethren; see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.
A Good life is an inseparable companion of Faith and Hope; God having bestowed upon them the former, the Apostle would not have them to be wanting in the latter. Generally he exhorts to Sanctification, vers. 14. then particularly, first to renounce their lusts, ibid. then to embrace the contrary, Holiness, vers. 15, 16. This he divides into two parts: 1. The fear of God; which contains all parts of Piety towards God, vers. 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. 2. Love to our brethren; which comprehendeth all the Duties we owe to them. These two are knit in a comely order, not to be sundred.
In this verse we have an Exhortation to true and Christian love; wherein we have, 1. The ground of it, The grace of God, which they had received, namely, for that they were Justified and Sanctified; which is set out by the part purified, Their Souls: the outward means whereby, the word called Truth, which they did obey; and the inward worker, the Spirit. 2. The end of it, which was as to all good duties, so to true love amongst the rest; as if he had said, Seeing you are pardoned and purged to this end, that you should love purely, see that you do so. This ground is a Reason of the Exhortation; where it seemeth the Holy Ghost keeps a good order both in his Exhortations and Reasons. Before he exhorted to the fear and love of God, now to the love of the Brethren: Before he had used Reasons both from the Godhead in general, vers. 15, 16. and from the first two persons of the Trinity; the Father, vers. 17. and the Son, vers. 18, 19. Now he useth one taken from the third person, the holy Spirit of God, who had wrought grace in them, and purified them to this end.
From the order which the holy Ghost useth, Note we two things:
1. Where there's no love nor fear of God,Doct. there can be no true Brotherly love,Where there's no love nor fear of God, there can be no true brotherly love. that being indeed the root from whence this springeth.
1. Therefore there can be no true love amongst the wicked: Drunkards meet together, and Pot-companionship is common, but this is no love,Use 1. its conspiracy; Love rejoyceth in good, not evil. No more is a company of Thieves and Traytors that conspire together,1 Cor. 13. 6. or many or fewer that combine against a good part, they may stick close, and hold together in evil, but this is no love; nor in those Towns where there's scarce any, or but mean teaching, where people meet twice or thrice a week to Bowls, and women to Stool-ball, or other games, thus to spend out their time, and to no good, is far from love; and yet if one speak against such things, Oh, say they, You are an enemy to love and friendship; and, It was as a peaceable Town till such a one came, as any other whatsoever, now there's no good-fellowship &c. But our Savior Christ saith, He came to bring no such peace in evil, but rather debate: The Devil is content with this peace, because they strengthen one another in evil; for if any good come to cross this merry prophane world, then will it be opposed: What hold is thereof their love? they go arm in arm to the Tavern, yet straight ready to stab one another, or betray each other,Iudges 9. 23. as Joab did Abner, and it was between the men of Sechem and Abimelech; if they be once out at deadly defiance, its seldom forgiven, never forgotten.
2. Nor can the wicked love the children of God truly;Use 2. they may be convinced in their conscience (as Saul) that they be the Servants of God, innocent men, and God may encline their hearts to favor them, as Cyrus to set the people at liberty to return and build (For if a mans ways please God, Prov. 16. 7.his very enemies shall be at peace with them) and Ahasuerus and Artaxerxes favored Ezra and Nehemiah; yea, as God kept Daniel among the Lyons, so he can and doth keep his children among the wicked; and as he made the Ravens bring Elijah meat, so he can make even the wicked instruments for his childrens good, but love them they cannot: They may do a man outwardly some good (and not amiss to take it) but to do it aright they cannot, as neither to pray, or do any other duty; and what hold of their favor? If they cry Hosanna now, within a while they will cry Crucifie him; as those of Lystra would have sacrified to Paul and Barnabas as gods,Acts 14. 15, 16, 19. but by and by upon a lying report of some, stoned them; and as Herod reverenced John the Baptist, yet at the perswasion of Herodias her Daughter, cut off his head: Judas betrayed Christ, and David complained that it was his familiar friend that did him the greatest hurt. If some great body shall say to them, I perceive or hear you are a great favorer of Puritans, they are gone, and hide their heads: if the multitude go the other way, or it be any thing dangerous, when there's most need of them, they are gone.
2. Upon this coupling of these two together,Doct. Note further, that Wheresoever there's the true fear and love of God,Where there's the true fear or love of God, there's also brotherly love. there will be also love towards our Brethren.
1. Therefore they that declare no love, but that they are void of all bowels of compassion,1 Ioh. 1. being all for themselves, are also void of the love of God.1 Ioh. 4. 12.
2. They also that malign,Use 1. mock and persecute the better sort, no worse brand of such that they have in them not the least dram of the love of God:Use 2. He that loveth him that begetteth, 1 Ioh. 5. 1.loveth also him that is begotten; Psal. 15. 4.and they that love God, make much of them that fear the Lord,Psal. 16. 3. having all their delight in such: The contrary is a black mark, and as bad as may be, as bad a brand as any can bear; as hereby we may know that we are translated from death unto life,1 Ioh. 3. 14. so by the contrary, that we are yet under darkness.
3. They that are contentious,Use 3. giving or embracing every trifling occasion conducing hereto, and can fret, and fall out, and live in enmity, and that day after day, week after week, monethmonth after monethmonth; let these suspect themselves, either the love of God hath no place in them, or else its in a very small measure, and their corruption overgrows the same.
Having purified your souls] These words are the Ground and Reason of the Exhortation; namely, That forasmuch as they were Justified and Sanctified by the Spirit of God to the exercise of all good duties, and so of love, that they would do that for which they had this cost bestowed upon them.
This presupposing a former impurity,Obser. notes the uncleanness that is in Soul and Body:There's uncleanness in us, both in Soul and Body They were created pure, but are now defiled in the sight of God, and that with sin, which God who is of pure eyes cannot abide; we are guilty of Adams sin, born in Original sin, therewith tainted throughout, so with infinite actual sins: Not only are our eyes full of adultery, our feet swift to shed blood, our mouthes full of cursing, &c. but our very souls defiled, and every faculty thereof,Gen. 6. 5. the thoughts of our heart being onelyonly evil continually, thereout proceeding Murthers,Matth. 15. Adulteries, &c. whereby we are defiled:Isa. 1. 16. This is implyed in that of the Prophet, Cease to do evil, learn to do well: Iam. 4. 8.and that of Saint James, Cleanse your hands ye sinners, and purifie your hearts ye double minded: Rev. 3. 17, 18.We are not without filthy nakedness, we are so corrupt, that our nature taints all our actions be they never so good in themselves, yea, the best and most holy of Gods Ordinances, the Word, Sacraments and Prayer, making them abominable in the sight of God: So impure that we cannot cleanse our selves, nay, nor desire it, conceiving that even our uncleanness is purity, and becomes us well: So as all the water in the Seas, all the help of Men and Angels cannot help us; it must be the mighty work of God alone, as the very water in Baptism teacheth us.
This should humble us,Use. and make us desire speedily to be cleansed, which is by the Blood of Christ Jesus from sin past, and from the taint of nature by the Spirit of Sanctification: But how few are thus affected? how few take knowledge of their uncleanness, and that sin doth so defile them? 1. There are even open prophane ones, which yet seek no washing, but refuse it, yea, think themselves clean enough, yea, hate them that wallow not in the mire as themselves, thinking strange to see any cleanse themselves by the Word and Prayer, yea, think them strange that will not go on in their filthiness, by companying and joyning with them. 2. Civil persons can see no such thing, therefore few of them are cleansed, because few finde themselves leprous, and desire to be cleansed; let such take knowledge of their uncleanness,Iohn 3. 5. yea, let the civilest know, that if they be not born again of water and the holy Ghost, they cannot see the Kingdom of God: Seek therefore to be purged in time,Mat. 5. 8. that you may please God, and see him, for without holiness none shall see him:Heb. 12. 14. He onelyonly that hath innocent hands,Psal. 15. 2. and a pure heart, shall enter into his Tabernacle; else person, service, and all, is loathsom to God, and what should such a man do living? And the servants of God that are in some measure purged, must desire to be more purged of these evils that cleave to them,Obs. and prevail so much over them,Where there's sanctification of the soul, there's also sanctification of the body. and defile even their best duties.
Your souls] Hereby he means the whole man, both Body and Soul, for God sanctifieth throughout, and there the body is Sanctified, where there's Sanctification of the Soul, as from which comes the Sanctification of the Body.
In obeying the truth] The Word of God is the outward instrument of our cleansing:Doct. Thus were Zacheus, Mary Magdalene and the Goaler;The Word of God is the outward instrument of our cleansing. thus also are we sanctified. The Law pulling down, the Gospel by degrees lifts up, working an high prizing of the remedy, vehement longing after it,Ioh. 15. 3. & 17. 17. at last some perswasion which Faith unites to Christ, whereby guiltiness and sin is pardoned in Christs death, and corruption being taken away, the grace of Sanctification is given, which Faith sucketh from Christ the fountain of life; so that as he that is out of Christ can do no good,Iohn 15. 5. so united to him, we receive sanctifying grace;Acts 15. 9. therefore Faith is said to purifie the heart, namely, by uniting us to Christ, and the Word is the instrument to work Faith: Besides, the Word purgeth thus, not onelyonly setting before us as in a glass all our faults, and what we should do, but it worketh in us care and conscience to be obedient.
1. Therefore thank God for the Word,Use 1. the instrument of purging: Where it is not, all lie in the mire; O how we should desire the free passage of it!
2. If we see our children and servants defiled,Use 2. we must bring them to the Word, and pray and wait thereon.
3. For our selves,Use 3. we are to try, whether it hath been effectual to wash us, both heart and hand, if yea, then there's comfort, it hath obtained the right end; if not, but that we remain in our filthiness, or in any part of it willingly, its a fearful sign: Many have been cleansed by it, what hath it purged us of? Hath it washed our mouthes from swearing, lying? our hands from wrong? our eyes from wantonness? our hearts from the love of all sin, our master sin, especially as Zacheus?
They obeying the Word, their Souls and bodies were purged thereby,1 Sam. 15. 22. else they could not: This is better then Sacrifice, and disobedience is that which the Lord cannot away withal,Ier. 25. 12, 1…. but will grievously punish.2 Thess. 1. 8. All the stir is about obeying the truth, for men can be content to hear,1 Pet. 4. 17. but to obey is death; O how would the Word purifie men, if they would obey it! its just with God to take away the Truth from us, because we obey it not.
Truth] The Word is called Truth,Why the Word is called Truth not true onelyonly, but Truth, the Truth,Iohn 17. 17. nothing but Truth, and in matters of God and our Salvation, all the Truth,Iames 1. 18. the rule of Truth.
1. Then Traditions contrary to this,Use 1. are lyes, and whatsoever else.
2. Its Blasphemy to speak against this Truth,Use 2. or any part of it.
3. Let Gods poor people get the Word on their sides,Use 3. humble persons get a promise, and stay upon it against all contrary temptations: They are lyes, the Word is the truth; yet they suffer themselves to be more carried away with a temptation of Satan, or that riseth of their own unbelief, then they are comforted by three or four plain promises of Gods Word.
4. Let the wicked that make such slight account of Gods threatnings,Use 4. know,Heb. 13. 4. that they shall prove all too true for them; they shall not be held guiltless: and they go in danger of all Gods wrath and curses every hour, and hang over the pit of Hell, &c. These things move not, but the Word ought to make their hearts ake and tremble, as who shall one day finde whose word shall stand, theirs or the Lords.
Through the Spirit, Doct.] The inward worker is the Spirit, without which all will be in vain.The Spirit is the inward worker of Sanctification. Its the Spirit that worketh all from first to last, opens the understanding, works Faith, and then conveys power from Christ, to dye to sin, and live to righteousness; without him we shall have but binde eyes,Acts 11. 21. and 16. 14. ears stopt, no hearing ears: he opened the heart of Lydia.
We must not then trust to our selves,Use. or our wit, learning and parts, but acknowledge the very best thing in us, the wisdom of the flesh, to be enmity against God: Nor must we trust to any Preacher in the world,Rom. 8. 7. for its God onelyonly that giveth the encrease; but ever come in humility,1 Cor. 3. 6, 7. calling upon God, both on our own and the Preachers behalf, that God would give us his Spirit to make all effectual, that through him we may understand, believe and obey.
Unto unfained love of the brethren;] Hence note,
1. That till a man be cleansed by the Spirit of Sanctification,Obs. he is not fit to do any good,Till we be cleansed by the Spirit, we are unfit for any duty. no not for love; for the heart must first be emptied of the love of all evil, ere the love of any good can take place: The garden must be rid of weeds and stones, ere we sow and plant.
For those therefore that declare by their loosness,Use. that there remaineth the love of some lust in them, its as sure as God is in heaven, for all the countenance they make of Religion, and shew of profession, and good things, there is not any dram of true grace in them, and all the seeming good things they do, are in hypocrisie, and to no purpose; for the love of evil, and of good, cannot be at one time in one heart. O look to it, will you lose all your comfort here, and all your labor, yea Heaven it self, for some one sin?
2. The end of our Sanctification is to be fruitful in good works,Obs. and to set upon good duties.The end of our Sanctification is to be fruitful in good works.
Such therefore as profess themselves to be Sanctified, must be more fruitful.
Touching the grace here exhorted unto,Eph. 2. 20. speak we both in general and particular:Iam. 1. 18. In general; where consider,
1. What Love is.Use. Its a Sanctified affection of the heart, wherewith whoso is endued,What Love is. endeavoreth to do all the good he can to all, but especially to them that be nearest unto him. Its an affection seated (as is said) in the heart, as the others of Hope, Fear, Joy, Grief, &c. are. They were all good and well ordered in Adam, but ever since his fall wofully corrupted, and utterly disordered and perverted; as this of love is turned either into an hatred of that we should love, or into self-love.
Its a Sanctified Affection: For ere a man can love, he must be Regenerate and Sanctified throughout, which comes by being united to Christ by Faith, whereby our affections are in some measure purged and restored to their former integrity, as to hate evil, and love good, God,Gal. 5. 22. and our Brethren for Gods cause: Love is a fruit of the Spirit, and must come from a pure Heart,1 Tim. 1. 5. good Conscience, and Faith unfained, and therefore cannot be in an unregenerate person; there may be indeed a shew and shadow of it, but thats no true love: They do not love one another, neither possibly can love the people of God.See Psal. 41. 9. & 55. 13. There's no trust in them, they do but watch their opportunity when to do them mischief:Mat. 10. 21. O the wretched condition of such! how needful wert for them to be wearied thereof? And for the people of God, they must not trust them, or too much open themselves to them: He onelyonly that fears God is to be trusted, he dares not deceive.
Wherewith whoso is endued, endeavoreth: Though love be in the heart, yet it must and will shew it self forth in the Life,See 1 Ioh. 3. …7. Words, and Deeds, to Soul and Body, else its like the love of bad men to God, who yet keep not his commandments;Iames 2. 14, 15, 16. or like the worldlings Faith which is without Works.
To do good: For its the nature of love, it can do no hurt, but what good it can it will do, to Soul and Body; and wheresoever any true good is done to Soul or Body,Rom. 13. 10. Goods or Name, there was love, love did it.
To all: For though brotherly kindeness be to the people of God, yet love reacheth to all, whether near or far off, to Strangers, Enemies, such as are not yet called, under the Turk, Pope, Pagans, &c. for whom we are to pray, and to do them all the good we can, with the pitiful Samaritan.Luke 10. 34.
But especially to them that be nearest: So God gives leave, nay, commands that our love begin at our selves and ours, and so go on forward to them that be nearest by nature:… Tim. 5. 4, 8, 16. Therefore they that prefer Strangers before Kinsmen, and Kinsmen before Children, are blameworthy, and to bestow upon any, to the undoing of ones Family, is not love but folly: as in them which wil spend in lewd company, their Wives and Children at home being in want. So must it be to them that …e nearest by grace:Gal. 6. 10. This is often commanded, and highly also commended in the Scriptures:Rom. 12. 10. and 13. 8. This is the bond of perfection, It bindes up all the duties that we owe to our Neighbor,Col. 3. 14. which are many, holds them together as the bond of a Fagot, and makes every duty easie, as where this is not every duty is irksome, nothing comes well off hand; It ties Societies together and Families: O how it keeps out evil, how it sets up good! By it small things have become great, and for want of it great things have come to nothing: Its the fulfilling of the Law,Rom. 13. 8. Its a most beneficial vertue; other vertues benefit our selves,Gal. 5. 13, 14. but this doth good to others:Psal. 133. Faith draws all from Christ to us, Love lays out it self for others good, as the Sun that hath no light for it self; other vertues be like the Bung of a Barrel, Love like the Tap that sets it abroach to the benefit of them that need. If a man be as full of gifts as a Tun of Liquor, if he have no Tap, others may starve;1 Cor. 13. 1, 2. so for Temporal things: without this all gifts are nothing, but as sounding Brass. We are not born for our selves, but the perfection of all we have is to employ: This is the lasting vertue, which (when others, as Faith and Hope, shall end) shall spring afresh, abound, and abide for ever; that vertue that makes us like to God, for he is Love, and doth good to all, even his enemies, though he have a special affection to his Children: O that I could paint out the face of this lovely vertue, that every one of us might grow in love therewith!
2. The properties thereof,The properties of love. whereby we may try whether it be in us, and in what measure. They are laid down by the Apostle unto the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 13. 4.Charity suffereth long, and is kinde; Charity envyeth not; Charity vaunteth not it self, is not puffed up, doth not behave it self unseemly, &c. Take we notice of a few of them; 1. Love will interpret things doubtful to the best; (that is, speeches or actions of men towards our selves or others) and if they may be taken well, will not take them ill: Our nature is to take every thing in the worst part, Love doth otherwise; the Mother saith a pin pricks the Childe, or it breeds teeth, when it may be its of frowardnes that it cryes. Thus Josephs Brethren sold him spitefully into Egypt, afterward when by reason thereof they were afraid, what construction made he thereof? God (saith he) did send me before you to preserve life. Gen. 45. 5.If a thing be plainly evil, yet it will make it no worse then it is, nor say it was done deliberately, when it may be it was done rashly; or maliciously, when it may be it was done weakly and in temptation; for one may do injury to a bad action, in making it worse, and its better to judge a little better of a thing, then worse then it is: Always provided this be understood, not of palpable, notorious, foul evils, nor of continued courses in sinning; for what good or charitable construction can a man make of these? Therefore such say foolishly, when being informed hereof, they Reply, Oh, ye must not judge; what can be judged of this case, but onelyonly that there may be Repentance? Its a fault in Ministers and others that will extenuate foul sins in bad persons and wicked livers, in the mean time aggravating a Professors oversight. 2. It will depart from its own,Mat. 17. 27. rather then break love, as give way in conference, and yield,Gen. 13. 8. though we know we have the truth, so it be in small matters; after offences yield, and sometimes seek Reconciliation, though it were meet the other should seek to us; for why? it more prizeth and esteemeth love,See M. Perkins Christian Equity. then small matters: It will lay down the bucklers, go on the lower ground, yield the way or the wal, when there's no reason for it. 3. It doth no hurt; its against the nature thereof so to do, whether in life,Rom. 13. 10. chastity, goods, and good name: See it in God, a perfect patern of love, He doth all good (no hurt) to his Children: It provokes not, but strives by all means to please all as far as may be with a good conscience; it seeks not its own things, but others as well. 4. Its not easily provoked, but forbears, forgives, puts up, &c. It wil cover natural infirmities,See Mr. Perkins cases of Cons. such things as be weaknesses in our brethren, natural defects, not done of set purpose, or breaking out into extremities:1. 3. cap. 3. pag. 135. As some be a little too quick, some a little too slow; some seeing a fault are too ready to speak,1 Cor. 13. 5. some a little too slow to speak or reprove; some a little too fine, earnest, negligent, merry, solemn, others a little too homely and plain, remiss, sad, sullen, &c. If they were not so much on either hand it were better: These love will cover, or nothing; love will not stand upon them, rebuke or reproach them, it will not deal hardly with them for these things, but wisely bear them: Thus will a loving husband bear with his wife, that fears God, though haply somewhat quick, and curst, haply not so cleanly, or provident altogether as were to be desired: So a wife with her husband, though haply not so affable, or whose nature will not suffer him to use such complements to his wife as some can with facility: So if a servant be very trusty and careful to please, onelyonly somewhat slow, the Master must not hereupon rebuke him too oft, too openly, too sharply, sometime lovingly in private he may: So a Neighbor confers with a Neighbor, and the one is a little too quick; love will not see it, but consider its a natural infirmity, its not much out of the way, though somewhat it is; love will not exasperate him, or answer him tartly, but go on friendly, in a maner not so much as taking notice thereof: Love will also cover and put up wrongs done unto it, not seeing small ones, but forgiving, and putting them up, saying, Thus ought I to do, he is a man, I am also subject to offend my Neighbor, and would be forgiven, and stand also in need that others should pardon me: And as a Christian I must do, For I sin daily against God,Mat. 6. 12. and so crave to be forgiven of him, as I forgive others: If they be greater matters, yet love will easily accept of any indifferent conditions of agreement, and that unto Seventy seven times: If they be so great, that without great prejudice to our estate and reputation they cannot be passed by, then its lawful to have recourse unto the Magistrate, and use the benefit of the Law; but so as there be no malice, and the revenge be not in any case sought after.Two Caveats to be observed of them that for redressing of wrongs make use of the Magistrate. Herein two Caveats must be observed, It must not be for trifles (which ought rather to be forgiven) and it must be the last remedy, when all other ways of more peaceable and quiet agreement have been tried, as the cutting off of an arm or leg, when no ways else will help: Hereto belongeth also, that love covers folks faults from the World,1 Cor. 6. 7. except it hath cause and calling to speak thereof, commonly it speaks of their vertues: The contrary is most wofully common, little of mens vertues, except a word or two to make way to speak of their faults, and these we delight to be much in;Simile. As the Crow that likes the Carrion, and the Hog that delights in mire, rather then to lie on the green grass, or the Flie, that is more on a galled or sore place of a Horse, then on his whole body, or one that passing by sweet flowers in a garden, gathers Hemlock onelyonly. 5. Its bountiful, beneficial and helpful, not having that to it self which it hath, but ready to distribute and communicate to the good of others, whether they be gifts Spiritual or Temporal. Spiritual; for love begins at the Soul, and doth good to that first, whether of our Children, Servants or Neighbors: Love taketh to heart their Spiritual wants, giving counsel to the ignorant & doubtful, comfort to the afflicted, admonition to them that be out of the way, exhortation to them that be in the way, and especially if they begin to slack,Mat. 5. 42. adding prayer for all. Temporal; It will give to the poorest that are to be helpt by alms,Deut. 15. 10. as it is able; it will give in greater measure on solemn times,Acts 4. 37. yea of the main stock in persecution or hard times; it will give cheerfully, and such God loves; it will also give quickly,2 Cor. 9. 7. that is to give twice; it will also lend to them that be a degree above the poorest,Prov. 3. 28. which having a Trade, Skill and will to follow their Trade, onelyonly want a stock to employ themselves and theirs: These a man is as much bound in conscience to lend unto, according to their ability, and honestly to pay again, as to give a piece of bread, or a peny to a poor miserable creature; by this help many have lived in good sort, and brought up their Families. To the wealthy that have no need of us, yet we must be neighborly and friendly, communicating in kindenesses with them, inviting them also sometimes to us, and going to them being invited; so we must visit them in their sickness and heaviness, and comfort them in the best maner we can.
Now love being such a thing,Obs. and these being the properties thereof,There's little love in the world. if we try the world by the same, we must needs conclude, that there's little love in the world. 1. Who takes not things in the worst part, hardly construing mens words and actions? the doubtful ones (haply not bad) they judge to be evil; those that be evil indeed, they make far worse then they are:1 Sam. …. 14. Thus did Ely judge amiss of Hannah, when her lips onelyonly moved; & the Jews with our Savior Christ, when he said,Iohn 2. 20. Destroy this Temple: this is the cause of innumerable contentions and breaches among men. 2. For departing from right, who doth it? who stands not out stifly to the uttermost? This is an usual speech, Its my right, and I will have it, I ask no more but my right, and that I will not lose; this is thought but reasonable, and he is thought but an honest man that will have but his right, but its an ill speech and resolution, whether it be in conference: If a man know he hath the truth (though it be but in small matters) yet he will hold it out, though the other be never so peremptory, till in conclusion, they fall flat out, this is nought; in small matters it were better to yield: so in Dealings, Covenants, Bargains, Bonds, men will have their right; herein right may be extream wrong, always provided that we give not away anothers right,Exod. 10. 9. especially Gods: Moses would not yield an hoof; yet most men are stiff in their own, will yield enough of Gods right; as they will not suffer their Servants to play one hour in the week day, but for the Lords day, they will suffer them therein to play as much as they will. 3. Whereas love does no hurt to any, Whence comes all the hurt and mischief in the world? Stabbing, Fighting, Quarrelling, Railing, Reviling, Scolding, Crying, all the defiling of mens Wives, Children, Servants? So for Oppression, Bribery, Thievery, Cousenage, false Weights, deceitful Wares? So Slandering, Defaming, Backbiting, Mocking? All these abound in the World: I am sure they come not of Love, it was never at the doing of them, and those that will so readily provoke one another by words and deeds they care not how, are far enough from love. 4. For being provoked, O Lord be merciful to us, who can bear any thing, but taunt for taunt, quip for quip; he shall have as good as he brings, is common with every one: How do men stand upon every small trespass? Hence the innumerable Contentions and Suits in the Land, thousands in a year for meer trifles, wherein ten times as much is spent then is sued for, which is a shame for England, having had the Gospel of Peace so long: Oh, mens stomacks be up straight, all their blood in their faces, or looking as pale as ashes, or secretly practising to revenge, hand on the Dagger straight, straight on the top of the house, fly in our Neighbors face by and by; so little love is there to forgive till Seventy, I may say till Seven times; so short Spirited, as we can bear nothing; and that which is worse, if we have once taken up a displeasure, its not easily laid down, but Sun after Sun, Moon after Moon, yea, Year after Year it continueth; quickly provoked, hardly pacified, especially truly. It may be we live not in open enmity, yet in secret grudging, the heart not sound, but ready to break out upon every occasion, can abide nothing but Revenge, which is fearful. 5. Where is communicating of Spiritual good things? Parents bring up their children brave, but how few Catechize, Counsel and Instruct them, pray with or for them? So for Servants, They give them Meat, Drink and Wages, with work enough on the six days, little caring how they spend the Lords day, neither instructing them, examining them, or drawing them to hear the Word, or Read, and Pray: What love call you this? shew you not as much to your Beasts? So for our Neighbors, who admonisheth them that be out of the way? do we not rather let them run on, talking of their Infirmities behinde their backs, and spreading them to their grace? Nay, do not many, yea most rejoyce thereat? what consolation to the heavy? who takes it to heart? how few are able to comfort fitly? but utter vain, idle, if not more hurtful words to to such, nay, many rather laugh and jest at heavy conscienced persons, every man saith, Is he is Brothers keeper? Nay, alas, so far from communicating Spiritual grace to them (which they ought) or to call one another to go to the house of God, as they rather use all means, by jesting at them, troubling them, &c. to discourage them; yea, how many have given lewd and wicked counsels to others to the dishonor of God? For outward things, how backward are most from giving any more then they needs must? What contentions at making of Rates? For lending, where is this? but rather as if God had never given precept for it, or as if it were like a Statute repealed, which is of no use, so is this duty: That cursed Trade of Lending upon Usury, hath eaten up, and banished out of the Countrey this Christian duty of free lending; What rich man hath almost at any time any thing to lend? Some are so grim and austere, as a poor man dares not speak to them for such a thing: Some put so much to Usury, as they neglect their Trading, set none a work, nor have ought to lend at any time, but rather borrow; and if a poor man happen to do any work for them, they cannot pay him in a good while, they are so bare; for as soon as any money comes in, it must out straight to Use, as if it would burn a hole in their Cupboard if it lay there two or three days, or a week. Others are ever Purchasing, and are ever in debt, and will be; then wrangle at Rates, grudge at this and that, are never fit to lend; such bring a curse upon themselves willingly, which is to borrow, when as they might else lend. Others are so miserable, that though they have wherewith, yet will not lend: So for Neighborly dealing,Mat. 24. 12. inviting, visiting, &c. Love is very cold. Here I may adde, That there's a great deal of counterfeit love, Pot-companionship, and joyning in vanity, a deal of fawning, crouching, conguing, &c. a great deal of self-love,2 Tim. 3. 2. making others faults great, and their own small or none; nay sometimes extenuating and making light of the vertues of others, highly esteeming their own; being ready to provoke and wrong others, but bearing nothing, straight provoked, seeking their own in all their dealings and courses, so making sure for themselves, without regard to their Neighbors: These be the times. Now let every man examine himself, and see how its with himself in these, who findes not himself ready to take things at the worst? and have we not often done so, when as afterward having heard that it was nothing so, but quite otherwise, we have been put to shame, and forced to say for our own excuse, We heard or thought it had been so: The like might be particularized in the rest.
3. The causes of the want of love:The causes of the want of love. 1. Want or weakness of Faith; when our Savior taught his Apostles this Duty, they said, Lord, encrease our Faith: Assurance of pardon makes us forgive. 2. Pride,Luke 17. 4, 5. whereby men think highly of themselves, meanly of others; think they may speak or do any thing, but that others may say or do nothing to them:Prov. 13. 10. OnelyOnly by Pride comes contention, but humbleness causeth love:Eph. 4▪ 2. Pride makes men think themselves so wise and good, as every body should say as they say, and yield in all things to them, when they do not, they break the peace, as Haman with Mordecai: Pride cannot endure a reproof, therefore could not Herod abide John, Ahab, Elijah and Micaiah: Pride makes men think so highly of themselves, and meanly of others, that they will not bear any wrong, but take the least in scorn. 3. Covetousness; this makes men contend for trifles, Oppress, use false weights and sleights, as also hinders from inviting and meeting together. 4. Envy at the thriving and wealth of others about them, or equal to them, as Labans sons did at Jacob; Cain, that Abels Sacrifice was better regarded then his; Esau, that Jacob was blessed; and Ismael, that Isaac was the son of the Promise. 5. Frowardness and shortness of spirit breaks love very often, for angry words stir up strife. 6. These very days of peace make men grow hollow and strange, and to set little one by another: As when Sheep see a Dog, they run all together; so trouble makes men to make much one of another, whereas its otherwise in peace: These be woful causes.
4. The effects of this want of love,The effects of the want of love. are lamentable every where, both in Church and Commonwealth; O what woful breaches and contentions? what wrongs and enmities? So in Families, so among particular persons, how break they out to the dishonor of God? yea, sometimes Professors one with another, to the shame of their Profession, the interrupting of their Prayers, or either the hindring of themselves from the Sacrament (as many a time it is) or slubbering it over, and coming with festred hearts, and so depriving themselves of the benefit thereof, nay, provoking the Lord by their unworthy receiving.
Seeing these things be so,Use. O let every one of us, finding our selves faulty, humble our selves, crave mercy, and labor to be reformed herein: To this end learn we to pluck out of our hearts those noysom weeds, that this precious plant of love may grow. We must strive against infidelity, and labor for more faith: In humbleness of minde we must labor to esteem every one better then our selves; we must labor for a moderate affection to outward things, setting more by peace then them; we must also avoid envy: We have more then we could have look'd for; Is our eye evil because our Masters is good? we must also cease from frowardness, and be gentle and meek; and labor we that this love to our brethren may shew forth it self in all good fruits, as in judging the best, departing from our right, not provoking, or being easily provoked, but forbearing and forgiving: Alas, we have need that others should forgive us; for who lives, and is not subject to offend? God forgives us many and great debts, and shall we catch our neighbor by the throat?Mat. 18. 26, 28 God bids us ask forgiveness on no other condition, but to forgive our offenders; and there's no better sign that a man is forgiven of God, then to shew mercy to men; none can be assured of that, but they will forgive: Let us therefore from the sea of compassion that God sheddeth out upon us, let fall some drop thereof on our neighbors, and not seek revenge, which every bad man,Pro. 19. 19. 11. yea beast can do, but pass by offences, which is the glory of a man: Besides, revenge is the Lords Office, and to revenge, is indeed to resist the Lord, without whose Providence nothing is done; this kept David from revenging himself on Shimei. Not to revenge, is always the best way for us, and the worst for him that wrongs us: There's no dealing with a man that commits his cause to God; more safe to anger a Witch, then an Innocent meek spirited man that hath his recourse to God; thou hadst better deal with one that will take revenge on thee to the uttermost. To this end keep we out anger if we can; if not, yet let it not rest in us, as it were sowring in our hearts: Let not the Sun go down upon it. This indeed the world accounts a base thing,Mic. 7. 18. but its honorable, it makes us like God: Neither must we labor for this a little, or some few times, but for a long skirted love,Prov. 10. 12. that will cover even a multitude of offences. And let our love shew it self in giving Spiritual and Temporal things; for God gives to good and bad, and makes us but Stewards of that he gives us, that we may dispense the same; yea, the more we give, the more we have, as which encreaseth by giving: and for Temporal things,Pro. 11. 24, 25. the high-way to thrive therein, is to be merciful; as to beggary, to be pinching.
5. The general reasons inciting to this duty of love,Reasons inciting us to this duty of love. 1. God requireth it of us, who is love; and if we perform it, we do not so much serve our Neighbor as please God, who takes it as done to himself: If we neglect it, we neglect not our Neigbor onelyonly, but God,Isa. 58. 2. who takes himself wronged in this point. 2. We are all one flesh, and all have some part of the Image of God upon us: But for the people of God,. 1. We be members of the same body: The members of the Natural body not onelyonly hurt not, but help each other, else quickly would the body be brought to confusion. 2. Brethren,Gen. 13. 8. not Natural ones, but a better Brotherhood, a nearer Bond: Now between Brethren there must be no contention,1 Cor. 6. 6. and it were a shame for such to contend. 3. Both the Word requires it, and the Sacrament of the Lords Supper calls for, and puts us in minde of it. 4. No better Argument that we are in the light,Ioh. 13. 34, 35. love God, are Christs Disciples,1 Ioh. 3. 14. and translated from death to life, then this. 5. The beauty of a Christian is love; he's the best Christian who loves most, whose lips feed most, whose branches spread widest. 6. As it brings us much peace to our conscience, and will comfort us not a little on our deathbed, that we have not lived to our selves, but to be useful to many, especially to Souls; so it procureth us love in the places we live in, and in the Church of God, where we have a good name. No man is well beloved, though he have good things in him, if he be not loving; Oh, say they, he is a good honest man, but a harsh Censurer, Contentious, and so hasty, that no man can tell how to speak to him; he is a strait man, no man is the better for him by counsel, encouragement, admonition; so for other things: But if a man be full of love, Oh, it shall procure him love again, he shall be commended while he lives, and mourned for when he dyes;See Pro. 10. as they wept for Dorcas; but a proud, churlish,Acts 9. 39. close man, he shall live without being desired, and dye without being mourned for: Many would have Love, and Good-will, and Credit, but will not seek this way to procure it; they live closely to themselves, neither being useful, or any way liberal to their Neighbors, let them never look for it: Many care not, so they may scrape all to themselves (for their good name let it go whether it will) but these are bafounded, and its a curse so to live. Thus in general.
In particular, Touching the love to the Children of God, which is here chearfully called for, consider we both the duty, and the maner how its to be performed.
For the duty it self, it hath these two things in it, 1. That we have brotherly and tender affections one towards another. 2. That we shew it forth by brotherly actions and fruits answerable;Rom. 12. 16, 17. both which must necessarily go together.
1. Then,Obser. In vain do any challenge tender and loving affections, except they shew the fruit thereof to their Brethrens Bodies and Souls especially.The fruits of love towards our brethren must accompany the profession thereof.
2. Its not enough to do brotherly offices, unless they proceed from brotherly affections: Many a man will give frankly, and do other duties required of him, but defiles his liberality with insulting over the parties relieved,Obs. upbraiding them therewith,The doing of brotherly offices must proceed from brotherly affections. and thinking thereby to make them subject unto them; whereas a gift should be given chearfully, and seeing one that stands in need of our help, we ought compassionately to tender his estate as our own; remembring Gods commandment for relieving such a one, and thanking God we may: and though the party ought to be thankful, yet should not we stain our liberality with any sinister maner of giving: It must be frank, thats the nature of a gift, and it must also come from compassion and feeling. So for reproving, admonishing, &c. (an excellent duty, I would it were more usual) it must proceed from a brotherly affection, not proudly, imperiously, or harshly: So we must invite from a brotherly affection, else our brotherly action loseth his grace with God, yea, with men also if they perceive it.
And though we are chiefly to love Gods servants,Love must reach to all. Christians, professors with us of the same Religion, and our fellow Brethren; yet we are not to neglect any, we must love all, all that either be, or may be the people of God, though they be yet Pagans, Heathens, &c. for they are our own flesh, and have in them (as ye heard) some part of the Image of God, as in their Soul, which is a Spirit, and Immortal, and the Majesty of their face above all Creatures: A King, though an Heathen, hath a part of the Image of God in his Soveraignty.
Then we must love the Devil,Object. as having some part of Gods Image.
We are not,Sol. because he is pronounced of God as his final and desperate Enemy, appointed to destruction: So if we knew any such men (as the Prophets did) we ought not to love them, but hate them; not pray for them, but against them, as David did. For others, though Infidels we must love them, and if God cast them into our lot, we must do good to them, to their Souls and Bodies.
They be strangers to me.Object.
So was the Jew that fell among Thieves to the Samaritan,Sol. and in that Christ taught who is our Neighbor:Luke 10. 33. Gods Image ought not to seem strange to us, but loved wheresoever we see it.
They never did ought for me.Object.
But God hath,Sol. who bids thee love.
They have wronged me,Object. and are mine enemies.
This is no sufficient ground for thee not to love them,Sol. for the rule is not to love for that thou art loved,Matt. 5. 44. but because the Lord commands it:Rom. 5. 10. God is not our enemy, he deserves well of us, and to him we owe all that may be; and he hath turned us over to pay some of the debt we owe him to our enemy, and he will take it as paid to him:Note. O that we could learn this Lesson! And if we must love that small part of the Image of God where we see it, then where its more, we must love more: Therefore where we see the very face of his Image renewed in Wisdom, Holiness, Righteousness, and the Sanctifying Grace of Gods Spirit vouchsafing to make a man a new Creature, and Holy as he is Holy; Oh, this we ought to embrace, love, reverence in a high degree: we cannot shew a better tokenof our love to God,1 Ioh. 5. 1. & 3. 14. then to love his Image, and the more we see it,Zech. 2. 8. to love it the more, such are dear to God, as the Apple of his eye.
1. Those that make all alike,Use 1. make one as welcome as another, make no difference of good and bad in their countenance, help, assistance, they be not endued with the Spirit of God, for where it is, it will take knowledge of his own work, and make a man love it; yea, though a carnal man should have some natural parts of civility,Gal. 6. 10. skill, &c. more then a Christian man, yet we must affect grace most: These men be neither fish nor flesh.
2. But much worse are those that of all persons like the Children of God worst,Use 2. and that for their zeal and forwardness; If't were not for them they could like them, and therefore chuse swearers, jesters, and prophane persons for their companions, and cannot away with the society of Christians, who in their liberality will rather give to bad persons, fitting in the others light, and making them fare the worse for their zeal and godliness: Of all men they cannot away with these Puritans, and had rather their Friends should be any thing then of that number, their Sons, Daughters, and Tenants, &c. They would love them,1 Iohn 3. 14. ibid. 10. if they were not so precise: A bad sign, such are not translated from death to life, are not of God, are in darkness to this hour;Psal. 15. 4. & 16. 3. they are not led by Davids Spirit, who could not abide the workers of iniquity: The more of Gods Image a man seeth in another, to like him the worse is a fearful sign of no love to God: If you will needs hate, hate not them which God loves, but whom he hates; hate them not because he loves them, and because of their goodness,Gen. 27. 29. for God saith to them as to Jacob, I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee; Num. 23. 8.even Balaam himself refused to curse Israel: If they shall stand at the last day, and be damned that gave them no meat, then what shall become of their haters, imprisoners, and that for their goodness? Then would they be glad to be with the least of them, but it shall be far from them, how little soever they regard them in this world, and then shall their time of glory be, as is their enemies in this world: We must therefore labor to be religious, else we can never love them that be so because of their goodness.
Here also observe a difference between the love we ought to bear to the Wicked,How we ought to love the Wicked. Pagans, Infidels, &c. we must love them as our flesh, not as our brethren, for they have not God for their Father, the Church for their Mother, have not suckt the same breasts with us, the Word and Sacraments: Therefore look how natural Brethren be affected each to other, so ought Christians, Fellow-heirs of the same Inheritance, as having a better Brotherhood, as much as the Spirit is better then the Flesh, and Grace above Nature. Our Savior prefer'd the hearers and doers of the Word, before his natural Kindred: This is a more lasting Brotherhood, which abides longer then this life, even for ever, when it shall be with a most intire affection each to other, which often in this life is not, because of the weakness of Grace: Its unseemly for Kinsmen to disagree,Gen. 13. 8. much more Brethren, but most for Christians to fall out,See 1 Cor. 6. 8. to contend, wrangle, and be at odds: Do we not profess we are members of Christ, and perswade our selves our Neighbors are so? We do; then let Nature teach us: See how the natural members be affected? Are we not Fellow-Brethren? When therefore we live in enmity with our Neighbor that is a Christian, we do as much as in us lies put him out of the Lords Roll, and unbrother him; for is he our Brother, of the same Father and Mother, and can we jar with him? especially (though somewhat should fall out otherwise then well) can we suffer the Sun to go down upon our wrath? God forbid: When we come to Heaven, we shall love all our Fellow-Brethren, better then ever two Brethren loved in this World, and shall we not aym at it now, and come as near it as we can?Iohn 15. 19. and we have need so to do, for the World loves their own, therefore hates us; shall not we then hold together? shall we be divided within our selves? O what wrack comes of this in the Church of God in these days? whiles Brethren differ and contend, the common Enemies, Atheists and Papists multiply.
For the maner of it,Doctr. It must be without faining, love unfained; God hates dissembling in every thing,Love must be without fainng. loves simplicity and plain dealing,Rom. 12. 9. as in Jacob and Nathanael: If love, which is the main vertue, be counterfeit and false,1 Iohn 3. 18. what shall become of all the duties that proceed from thence?
Two sorts of persons may be here chiefly taxed:
1. Such as pretend to love,Use 1. but indeed hate, as Joab to Amasa, Saul to David, Psal. 28. 3.Judas to our Savior Christ; such have a mark of Rebrobation, workers of Iniquity, to whom belongs some notable judgement of God;Gen. 3. 5. they be like the Devil, who pretended to love Eve, Mat. 4. 3.and our Savior Christ: of these see Psal. 12. 2. & 55. 12. & 62. 4. Pro. 26. 24. Jer. 9. 2. 1 Sam. 18. 17, 25. 2 Sam. 20. 9. Those are more dangerous to them they hate, then if they bare open hatred; as one enemy within the walls, is worse then ten without: its also worse for themselves, for any vice cloaked or masked under shew of vertue, is double iniquity; such shall receive greater damnation, yet how common is this? Many will speak men as fair as may be, yet lie in wait to do them a shrewd turn, and as soon as their back is turned, raise a slander of them, and do them all the hurt they can: Others haply have done so with us, but so must not we do.
2. Such as pretend they love,Use 2. but do not: Many will salute with Good morrow, and Good night, when as there's no true love; one handful of true hearty love, is worth ten armfuls of their Court holy-water, crouchings, and congees down to the ground. These are clouds without rain, vessels with false bottoms, that have onelyonly a little water in the top. Such are they who pretend they love the poor, who yet coming to them, can get nothing of them, but what they are enforced to, and that very hardly. So many good Ministers have proved the good-will of a number that have made goodly shews, but have found small kindeness at their hands: What love call you this? its dead, as Faith without Works: Iames 5. 17.Such is theirs, who will speak well of such and such, and seem to pity them, saying, They are worthy men, and pity they should want, but yet relieve them not at all. If God should so feed and deal with them, they would soon complain.
See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.] Here's the Exhortation; wherein we have again both the duty required, which is to love one another, and the maner also, with a pure heart fervently.
Love one another] This noteth,
1. A mutual love:Obs. It must come from one to another mutually, and be at every hand.Love must be mutual. As others are to love us, so are we to love others; none free. Many wil look for a deal of love from others, that yet care not how little they themselves part with; would be visited, but care not to visit others; would have their own vertues commended, but will not do so by others; have their infirmities covered, but will not do so by others; would not be provoked, yet will provoke; would not that others should be quickly angry with them, who will yet be angry with others:Acts 20. 35. Alas, this is weakness; Its a more blessed thing to give then to receive, and we should rather strive to go before, and set others in our debt by love: A good minde rather remembers the debt that is going from him, then that which is coming to him. This often comes of pride in some men, to look for much of others, and perform little themselves: The husband often looks his wife should walk at an inch with him, though he will break many ells out of square; So the wife will look for much of her husband, not caring how little she perform: This is no equity; We must do as we would be done to. Its more dangerous for us to neglect our duty to others, then for them to neglect theirs to us; let us therefore strive who shall perform most each to other, Husbands, Wives, Neighbors, &c.
2. A community:Obser. We must not love one or two, or a few, but all that fear God in the place wherein we live.In love there must be a community. Love communicates it self, and is not ingrossed to a few.
Many can be content to love one or two, or a few, but they oppose and justle against many others, and live unkindely with them: This is no true love, nor ought love so to be; yet in many Towns there is siding, which at the length turns to its undoing; yea, we must love the meanest that fear God, and not neglect them, as the meanest member of the Body is regarded of the chiefest; we must not have the Faith of Christ in respect of persons.Iames 2. 1. God hath vouchsafed to give his Son to Redeem them, his Spirit to Sanctifie them, and Heaven to be possessed of them, and shall we despise them? Nay, we ought rather to encourage and hearten them on in well doing, seeing so few of that sort fear God. If we regard them, they will bear their poverty the better, and it will be a great chearing to them: There's nothing more comely, then for the wealthy to be thus affable and kinde to them;Prov. 22. 2. The Lord is the Maker of both, and being fellow-Brethren and fellow-Members,Iames 2. 5. the one as dear to God as the other, a little wealth must not puff up the ones minde over the other.
With a pure heart] Every kinde of love is not that which is here required;Gal. 5. 22. it must be the fruit of the Spirit,1 Tim. 1. 1. proceeding from a Sanctified heart, and be agreeable to the pure Word of God.
This hath many properties:The properties of pure love. 1. It loves for some good actions, which condemns the common love of wicked persons, as of the Fornicator and his Harlot, the Adulterer and his Mate, the Drunkards and Thief, though sworn Brethren. To love any because they can rail against goodness, or Dice well, or are eager against the Servants of God,1 Cor. 13. 6. &c. this is cursed love. True love rejoyceth not in iniquity, a worse note cannot be, then for one to love them, whom as Rebels and Conspirators against God, he sees fighting against God. 2. Pure love is that which is grounded on Grace and Religion, not on any transitory thing, which condemns the carnal love of the world, which love onelyonly for worldly respects, as strength, beauty, and the like; or if it be for any inward gift of the minde not Sanctified, thats also but carnal, as wit, skill in Arts, Musique, &c. these are worthy love; but to love onelyonly for these, is not true and pure love, for thus the Heathens loved;Gen. 25. 28. as Isaac loved Esau for his hunting, and many a man his wife for her beauty: These are false grounds, when they fail, love fails. 3. Pure love is in respect of the party himself whom we love, and for no respect to our selves, or commodity of ours, which condemns the world, which onelyonly loves on such respects, as because he is my Uncle, my Friend, loves me, hath done this or that for me, or may do me a pleasure; therefore I will make much of him, or for fear he may do me a shrewd turn. This being shak'd out of the clow…s,Mat. 5. 46. is indeed but self-love, as having a respect onelyonly to our selves. Many a man shews kindeness to others to purchase credit: The charitable deeds of the Papists were of self-love, for they were done out of opinion of merit: So the love of worldlings, they have a reach at themselves. 4. Pure love reflects chiefly on anothers Soul, therefore hates his sin in him, whom he loves most dearly, advising him from all evil, counselling him to all good.
This condemns all impure love:Use. So to love, as not to tel our neighbor of his fault for angring or disquieting him;Lev. 19. 17. this is hatred: So Parents that love their children so well, as they will not nurture, rebuke or correct them, do indeed hate them, & slay them in following their ways: He that spares the rod, hates his childe. Prov. 13. 24.Its as if any should be so tender over a childe, as not to suffer the wind to blow on it, and therefore holds their hand before the mouth of it, but holds it so hard, as they strangle the childe;Simil. or as the Ape, which hugs her yong one so hard, that she strangles it. Again, friends perswade a man to do this or that for preferment, which he cannot do with a good conscience, Oh, they love him, they would fain see him prefer'd; woful love to the body, by destroying the soul: A neighbor hath his Childe or Cattel strangely handled, one comes in of love, perswading to send to such a Cunning-man or good Witch (one of the Devils worsts instruments) Is this love? Is he a friend that will do that whereby a peny may be gained, but many hundred pounds lost? So when a Christian is ready to suffer for a good Conscience, and a friend comes and says, Oh, I pray cast not away your self, I wish you well, do as the times are, and as others do: This was the tormentors love to Martyrs (tormenting love indeed) that by saving their bodies, their souls might perish: Thus would Peter have perswaded our Savior,Mat. 16. 22. O Master, these things shall not be unto thee; but if Christ had not suffered, we had all perish'd in our sins, yea, the Saints in Heaven must have come out from thence, for they went to Heaven by Christ who was to be crucified; What love was this? our Saviors Answer shews, that he gave him no thanks for that counsel.
Fervently.] This stands in two things, Earnestness and Constancy.
1. For the Earnestness of our love,Obs. we must stretch it to as many persons as we can,A Christians love must be earnest. and to as many duties, as giving, forgiving, &c. and therein we must not be sparing; as in giving, For he that gives sparingly, shall reap sparingly: 2 Cor. 9. 6.So for forgiving, it must not be onelyonly an offence or two,1 Pet. 4. 8. Charity covers a multitude; thus is God to us, in giving for Soul, Body, Goods, Good-name to us, to ours, day and night, never weary, never upbraiding us: So in forgiving, how merciful is he to pass by our many offences, and that daily? should not we then herein resemble him? Again, a little love is soon quench'd, soon hindred, but we must love so, as if we meet with many temptations from our selves, or the parties whom we are to love, our love notwithstanding must last still; yea, we must not onelyonly do these things when we can well do them, or there's nothing to let us, but even forget our ease, pleasure and profit to do our neighbor good: Love seeks not her own things,1 Cor. 13. 5. is laborious; we love our selves fervently, and therefore must so love our neighbors.
This condemns the cold frozen love of the world,Use. wherein there's no heat or fervency, a little thing lets: We are so full of self love, that we will not speak so much as a good word in defence of the very best,1 Sam. 30. 23. whether man or cause,Hest. 4. 16. if thereby we may be prejudiced never so little;Obs. so did not Jonathan, so did not Hester, when she adventured her life for her people.Love must be constant.
2. For the constancy thereof,Heb. 13. 1. Unity must be kept, we must seek Peace,Eph. 4. 3. and follow after it, and its a part of fervency when it will not easily be broken off.Psal. 34. Gods love is constant, ours must be so; the Devil will assay to break it off, we must therefore the more stand in it: Oh, its the easiest matter in the world to break off love, but we must not embrace any occasion moving hereunto.
This rebukes the inconstancy of many men,Use. that are won with an Apple (as we say) and lost with a Nut, that will upon every slight occasion break friendship; I loved him as well as could be (will some such say) till such and such a thing fell out: and what, are you now broke off? what can worldings do more? If God should so deal with us, how miserable were we? but his love is constant, yea, he loveth us in our adversity and low estate, nay, best then, and is then nearest with his comforts; so it ought to be with us, for then our Neighbor hath most need of us, and then our love will appear most free, not mercenary: But how contrary this is, daily experience sheweth, while men be in prosperity they have many friends, which in their affliction forsake them (as Doves, that come to fair houses, not to low cottages) whereof Job often complaineth.