A Christian Library, Chapter 17 – Chapter 19
CHAP. XVII.
Now, do we love Christ? or would we indeed expresse our thankfulnesse to him, for what we have received from him? Or do we desire to do something again for Christ, who hath done and suffered so much for us? here is a way chalked out unto us, which he prefers before all burnt-offerings and sacrifices, Mark. 12.33. When David could do the Father Barzillay no good, by reason of his old age: he loved, and honoured Chimham his son, 2 Sam. 19.38. And to requite the love of Ionathan, he shewed kindnesse to Mephibosheth. So if thou bearest any good will to God, or Christ, whom it is not in thy power to pleasure; thou wilt shew thy thankfulnesse to him, in his Children and poor members: who are bone of his bone, and flesh of his flesh, Ephes. 5.30. Is our Ionathan gone? yet we have many Mephibosheths: and he that loves God for his own sake, will love his Brother for Gods sake. Especially when he hath loved us (as it were) on this condition, that we should love one another, Iohn 15. This is my Commandement, (saies Christ) that ye love one another, as I have loved you, Vers. 12. And greater love than his was, cannot be, Vers. 13. And untill we consider, how infinitely good God hath been unto us: we can never shew any goodnesse towards our Brethren. We must know, he hath given us all we have: before we will part with any thing for his sake.
God in the beginning, had no sooner created the Heavens and the Earth, but he said, Let the Earth bring forth grass, the Herb yeelding seed, and the fruitfull tree yeelding fruit, &c. Gen. 1.11, 12. So when he hath by his Word and Spirit, created us anew, he commands us to be fruitfull in the works of Piety, and Charity, Col. 1.10. And the river of Charity, does alwaies spring, from the fountain of Piety. Faith is as the leads, and pipes, to bring in: and Love, is as the cock of the cunduit, to let out. And what availeth the one without the other? What avileth it, my Brethren, (saies St Iames) though a man saith he hath faith, when he hath no works, (that is, works of Charity) can the faith save him? For if a Brother, or a Sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, warm your selves, and fill your bellies; notwithstanding ye give them not those things, which are needfull for the body: what helpeth it? Even so the faith, if it have no works, is dead in it self, James 2.14. to 18. A just man lives by his faith, Hab. 2.4. Heb. 10.38. and others live by his charity. Pure Religion, and undefiled before God, even the Father, is this: to visit the fatherlesse and widdowes in their adversity, and to keep himself unspotted of the world, James 1.27. Love is the fulfilling of the Law, Rom. 13.10. and Faith is the fulfilling of the Gospel, Act. 13.39. & 16.31. 1 Thes. 4.14. 1 John 3.23. A Christian in respect of his faith, is Lord over all, 1 Joh. 5 4. & 2.14. in respect of his love, he is servant unto all, Gal. 5.13. Faith is the mother grace: by it we are justified, Luk… 7.47, 50. Gal. 3.8. our hearts are purified, Act 15.9. our persons are accepted, and our soules saved, Ephe. 2.8, 9. Luke 18.42. Yet in many respects, love is preferred before it: as 1 Cor. 13.13. Now abideth Faith, Hope, and Love, even these three; but the chiefest of these is Love. So that what the diamond is among stones, the Sun among Plaenets, and gold among mettals, such is Love among the graces. Love will make us to have publique spirits, resembling the Moon, which borroweth her light from the Sun, that she may convey it to all the inferiour creatures; takes from the Sea, that she may give to the lesser rivers. It will inforce us to practice, what the Apostle exhorts unto, Phil. 2. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also of the things of other men: let the same mind be in you, that was e…en in Christ Iesus, &c. Vers. 4, 5, 6. It will make us remember them that are bound, as if we were bound with them, and them that are in affliction, as if we were also afflicted in the body, Heb. 13 3. Which is but reason. As m…ist not thou thy self be in affliction or want? and wouldest not thou in thy need, be relieved? Why then shouldest not thou know it reason, to do to others, as thou wouldest have them do to thee? We ought to love our neighbour as our selves, Levit. 19.18. but how do we so, if we take not care for them, as we do for our selves? There is nothing that any one doth, or indureth, but any other may: We are all lyable to the same common misery, if unsustained. Therefore insult not over him that is cast down; but let it make thee humble, thankfull and compassionate: because it is a goodnesse not our own, that makes the difference, though pride will scarce believe it. The proudest he cannot say, this or that shall never befall me. Who can say (saies Menander) I shall never do, nor suffer this or that? For that we go not the round of others sinnes, or punishments, it is neither our goodnesse, desert, policy, or power preventing, but from those lines of gracious Providence, from Gods preventing, and preserving mercy. Doubtlesse he had been counted a prating fool, that should have told Haman, he should have held Mordecai's stirr up▪ much lesse have changed preferment with him. That Mordecai should be lifted up into Hamans favour at Court, and Haman should be exalted to that fifty cubits eminency above ground, in Mordecais room. But go we on.
Love will cause us to open our hands unto such as are in want; and lend or give them sufficient for their need, as God commands, Deut. 15. 8. It will make us of Iobs spirit, who would not eate his morsells alone, but invited the fatherlesse to eate with him, Job 31.17. It will make a man love his enemies, and do good for them, that do hurt to him, Luke 6. 35. Yea, if need so require, as in a famine, or common persecution; it will make us sell our possessions and goods, and distribute them to all, as every one hath need, as did the Christians in the Primitive Church, Acts 2.44, 45. And lastly, which is above all; It will make a man to lay downe his life for the brethren ▪ 1 John 3.16. Whereas he that hath not this Christian grace, feels, and is sensible of common calamities, just so much as appertains to his own private estate & interest, and no more. It is the want of compassion, that takes no compassion of others wants. Yea, this is an argument, that the love of God is not in us, 1 John 3.17. Whatsoever we thinke, or say, it is not at all in us, Iohn 3.14, 15.17.
CHAP. XVIII.
Again, It's impossible that he who hath love should be ungratefull▪ Mary Magdalen had received much, and this made her love much: and loving much, she thought nothing too much to bestow, even upon the most remote members of Christ, to expresse her thankfulnesse, Luke 7.38. And the like of Naaman, when Elisha had done that great cure upon him; whose hands were no lesse …ull of thankes, then his mouth. Dry and barren profession of our obligation, where is power to requite are unfit for noble and ingenuous spirits. And so of Iacob; If (saith he) I come again unto my fathers house in safety, then shall the Lord be my God, and this stone which I have set up as a pillar, shall be Gods house; and of all that he shall give me, I will give the tenth unto him again, Gen. 28.21, 22. And Hannah, who vowed a vow, and said, O Lord of Hosts, if thou wilt looke on the trouble of thine hand-maid, and remember me, and not forget thine hand-maid, but give unto thine hand-maid a man Childe; then I will give him unto the Lord all the dayes of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head: and she did it accordingly, 1 Sam. 1.11.27, 28.
An ingenuous disposition cannot receive favours without thoughts of return. Behold thou hast been carefull for us (sayes Elisha to the Shunamite,) with all this care: what is to be done for thee? wouldst thou be spoken for to the King, or to the Captain of the Host? what is there to be done for thee? And when he understood that a sonne was the onelyonly thing she wanted and desired, her husband being old, he obtained of the Lord to fulfill her desire, 2 Kings 4.13. to 17. Both Christ, and the Angels, the Prophets and Apostles were wont to be very beneficial guests to their hostes, and hostesses, and ever payd a bless…ng for their entertainment. Elias requited his hostesse with a supernatnrall provision: He gave also her owne, and her sons life to her for his board. Yea, in that wofull famine, 1 King. …7. He gave her, and her sonne, their board for his house-room. Yea, it is storied of Pyrrhus an Heathen, that he did exceedingly grieve, for that a friend of his hapned to dye, before he had required his many favours.
Those hearts that are truly thank…ull, delight no lesse in the repayment of a good turn, then in the receit: and do as much study, how to shew their fervent affections for what they have received, as how to compasse favours when they want them. Their debt is their burthen, which when they have discharged, they are at ease, and not before. Resembling Homer, who never forgot to requite a benefit received, nor could be at rest, untill he had done it.
CHAP. XIX.
Nor can there be a better signe of true love, and …ound amendment, then that we can be content to be loosers by our repentance. Many formall penitents have yielded to part with so much of their sinne, as may abate nothing of their profit. It is an easie matter to say, (yea and think what they say to be true) that they love God and Christ. There is no Dives among us, but he thinks scorne to be charged with the want of love. What, not love God? But aske his conscience the next question; What good hast thou done for his sake? No he can remember none of that, no goodnesse, no workes of mercy or charity hath come from him all his life long But know this thou wretched rich miserly muckworme, that tho… artbound to performe these works of mercy to the poore, both ou… of duty, and thankefulnesse to him, who hath given thee thy selfe, and all that thou hast. Yea, if thou beest not a meere beast, or blocke: When thou beholdest them (the poor I meane) behold how thou art beholding to Him, that suffered thee not to be like them. Hath God given thee all things, and dost thou then thinke it a great matter to give him back something? especially seeing thou givest him but of his owne, as David gladly acknowledged, 1 Chr. 29.14. For shame consider of it, and let thy conscience make answer to what I shall aske thee, what can be more equall and just then to give a little unto him, who hath given all unto us? especially seeing he hath granted unto us the use onelyonly of what we possesse, reserving still the chief propriety unto himselfe, and to spare something unto the poor, out of our abundance at his request, who hath not spared to give unto us his onelyonly begotten, and dearly beloved sonne; that by a shamefull death he might free us from everlasting death and condemnation, and purchase for us eternall happiness. Yea in truth, what madnesse is it to deny, being requested, to give at his appointment some small portion of our goods? who by his owne right and authority may take all. And what senselesse folly were it to turne away our face from him, when he asketh in the behalfe of the poor, some earthly and momenta…y trifles, from whom we expect as his free gift, Heavens felicity, and everlasting glory.