I will be with him and glorifie him With long life will I satisfie him and shew him my saluation And Iohn 14. 21. Hee that loueth mee shall be loued of my Father and I will loue him and shew mine own self vnto him vers 23. Yea these are they to whom God hath promised his heauenly Kingdome Iames 1. 12. to them that loue him Thirdly it condemnes those that loue any thing more than they loue God as father mother wife childe profit pleasure friend yea or life it selfe which is no other than Idolatry and to make that our God which wee loue aboue God and spirituall Adultery as St. Iames cals it Iames 4. 4. as a man that loues a harlot more than his owne wife yet what is more common than this yea the trade of it with the common sort who for the sake of the things aboue named care not what dueties they omit or what sinnes they commit against God who yet ought to be loued aboue all and all things to be loued in and for him and vnder him and as may stand with our loue to him and not otherwise Yea the seruants of God because their loue is not perfect suffer many things to come in betweene God and vs and steale our heart and affection in part from him and that obedience that wee owe vnto him which we ought to bewaile deeply and labour euery day more and more that his loue may bee greater in vs than to any thing nay all things else that are in the world besides And so much of the Loue of God briefly hauing taken it but by the way CHAP. 3. Of Loue to our Neighbour and first what it is NOw I come to handle the duety of Loue to our Neighbour as that which necessarily floweth from the Loue of God And of this first What it is secondly of the Notes it 's knowne by thirdly of the Properties of true Loue and fourthly of the persons that we ought to loue 1 Loue is a sanctified affection of the heart whereby whosoeuer is indued withall endeuoureth to doe all the good he can to all but especially to them that be nearest vnto him 1. It s an affection seated as we say in the heart as all the other of hate hope feare ioy griefe c. as the vnderstanding is in the head These are in themselues good and not euill being giuen to Adam in his creation in whom they were all pure well ordered and in good tune louing the good and hating the contrarie and so in the rest But euer since the Fall they are vtterly corrupted the will and affections haue not onely lost all their purity but the will is become most rebellious and all the affections disordered and turned the contrary way As this of Loue is turned to the loue of euill to malice reuenge and selfe-loue 2. I say its a sanctified affection for ere a man can loue he must be regenerate sanctiffed throughout as in his vnderstanding and will so in his affections which is when a man is vnited to Christ by Faith he is sanctified by the Spirit that is the old and cursed disposition that is in vs by nature is put away and a new and contrary frame and disposition of soule wherein wee were at first created is brought into vs the vnderstanding enlightned the will made plyant and frameable to the will of God and so the affections purged and restored to their former integrity in some measure as to hate the euill so to loue the good to loue God and our brethren for Gods cause So that no vnregenerate or vnsanctified man can loue eyther God himselfe or any body else True Loue proceeds from a pure heart good conscience faith vnfained 1 Tim. 1. 5. from a soule purified by the spirit 1 Pet. 1. 22. And Gal. 5. it s reckoned among the fruits of the spirit And 2 Pet. 1. 7. its reckoned among other graces Faith Temperance Patience Godlinesse c. so that one is no more in vs naturally than the rest There be many things that the blinde world call Loue which are not this grace that we speake of nor come in any such account with God That betweene the fornicator and his harlot is no loue but lust as in Amnon which turned as soone into hatred Between drunkards and theeues is no loue but conspiracy for Loue reioyceth not in iniquity but in the truth that is in that that is good Nor that naturall loue of parents to their children This is in bruit creatures the Cowe loues nourisheth and defendeth her Calfe the Goose and Gander tend and brood their young Nor that ciuill loue that is between ordinary people in the world that stands only in eating and drinking prating and playing together which they count such loue and good fellowship as who so speakes against and cals for better spending of the time is cryed out vpon as an enemy to all loue and not to be suffered But our Sauiour Christ nor the Gospell comes not to bring such friendship but rather debate Such as that was among the Heathen and is only carnall whereas true loue respecteth the soule and that most of all which is no whit seene nor thought of among carnall men Vnregenerate men cannot loue their neighbours for while they be kinde to their bodies and haue no care of their soules is this worthy to be called Loue It s as ones friend or child should haue a hurt in the braine and another in the heele and he should carefully looke to the heele and let the braine putrifie Carnall Parents that pamper their childrens bodies and prank them vp braue and lay for great portions for them and suffer their soules to welter in sinne and dye and perish for want of instruction admonition prayer and holy example is this to bee called Loue what do they more than Turkish Parents The wicked Magistrate that is very friendly to all the Countrey and keepes a good house all the yeare and yet suffers sinne to reigne and houses of disorder to abound in his circuit the Sabbaths to be prophaned and like Gallio cares for none of those things call you this Loue The negligent Minister that sets on the great Pot and keeps good Hospitality among his neighbours and yet suffers their soules to famish for want of breaking to them the Bread of life The carnall neighbour that to the body of his neighbour is very kinde but suffers sinne to rest vpon his soule and rather nourisheth him therein than rebuketh him thereof this in the language of the holy Ghost is hatred and no loue Leuit. 19. 17. And what hold is there of vnsanctified mens loue one to another They may be very inward and great friends now and on the sodaine vpon a small occasion fall out and become deadly enemies They oft goe arme in arme to the Ale-house or Tauern embracing each other and stabbe one another ere they come forth See a liuely picture of this Iudges
9. in that sworne friendship that was betweene Abimelech and the House of Shechem who yet came shortly to hate each other so as they neuer lin till they had wrought each others destruction And no maruell for euen the Heathen could say That true friendship was grounded onely vpon vertue Neither can vnregenerate men much lesse loue the children of God For there is a naturall enmity between the seed of the Woman and the seed of the Serpent which all are till they be regenerate nor can any man loue grace in another till hee be sanctified and gracious himselfe They may bee conuinced in conscience that they bee the good seruants of God and better than themselues as Saul was of Dauid Herod of Iohn Baptist Pilate of our Sauiour Christ pronouncing him Iust. They may bee restrained from hurting them as Laban and Esau from hurting Iacob one in his hote pursuit of him the other in his meeting him with foure hundred men If a mans wayes please God hee will make his enemies at peace with him Prouerbs 16. As Daniel was preserued safe among the Lyons and the three Children tooke no hurt in the fire Nay they may doe them good as Cyrus did the Iewes restoring them to their land and liberty and furnishing them with all necessaries to the building the City and Temple of Ierusalem Ahashuerosh also and Artashashte to Ezra and Nehemiah and by them to the people of God But they doe it as Caiaphas that vttered that prophesie not of himselfe but as he was high Priest that yeare So these are vsed of God to such purposes As the Rauens that brought Elias bread and pottage in the morning and againe at euen But loue them they cannot at least not for their godlinesse sake They may doe a man outwardly some good t is not amiss to take it yet it s not good to bee too much beholding to them And what hold is there of their good will If they cry Hosanna now they may cry Crucifie him by and by If as Acts 14. 18 19. they so highly esteeme vs as to be ready to deifie vs yet by and by vpon a lying report they will be ready to stone vs. As Herod reuerenced Iohn Baptist and yet at the perswasion of Herodias cut off his head Dauid saith it was his familiar that ate bread with him and tooke counsell with him that yet lift vp his heele against him Psal. â— 1. 9. They are gone and hide their heads If the multitude go the other way or the times begin to turne any thing dangerous when they haue most neede of them they are gone Nay no bond of benefits bestowed no nor of nature it selfe is strong enough to binde such a man sure to the childe of God Our Sauiour Christ made Iudas his Disciple an Apostle of his owne Family Table and Messe made him his Purse-bearer and yet how villanously did he betray him into the hands of his vtterest enemies Iehoiada preserued the life of Ioash when all his brethren were slaine hâ—lp him to the Kingdome and was a guide to him as long as he liued with him yet how vngratefully and wrongfully did he cause his good sonne Zechariah a Prophet to be put to death And for the bonds of nature neuer so neare our Sauiour Christ foretold that which experience hath proued often true Matth. 10. 21. That the brother shall betray the brother father the sonne and children shall rise up against their parents to get them put to death There is no hold of any vnregenerate man but he may proue a persecutor therefore what 〈◊〉 to bee giuen to his loue Vse This shewes the miserable state of vnregenerate men that they can neither loue God themselues nor any body else while they are in this case what should such a man doe in the world One would thinke it should make him weary of himselfe If he would consider and beleeue it so it would Oh beg of God by his blessed Word and holy Spirit to worke a mighty worke of change in your hearts and to sanctifie you throughout that from hence you may be able to loue God your owne selues and others in a right manner till which time you cannot so much as loue your owne wife and children as you ought to doe 2. It teacheth also Gods people not to trust too much to such men and their loue liue peaceably with them vse them kindly accept kindnesse from them but open not our selues too farre to them leane not too much on them lest they proue like Egypt a broken reed that will run into our hand and they proue like a sliding foot and a broken tooth For if they bee pent they will burst They are like a Iade that will draw while its going but is not sure If the time alter there is no hold but hee may betray thee As Pilate who knew our Sauiour Christ to bee innocent and that all was wrongfully and of malice that was done against him and hee sought many wayes to ridde his hands of him and to saue his life yet when they vrged him that hee was not Caesars friend if he let him goe then he passed sentence of death against him Obiect But some will say I am not of your minde I will trust my honest neighbour before these runners to Sermons none will sooner deceiue one than they I know one that came from a Sermon and went and hired his neighbours house ouer his head Answ. I deny not but as euer there haue been so now be some that make a shew of godlinesse and deny the power of it and then the world is no wiser than to iudge and say so of all professors which is a most fowle wrong and a false thing For there are to be found that dare not deale vnfaithfully but say as Ioseph How should I doe this wickednesse and sin against God they haue the Spirit of God within them and the feare of God in their hearts to bridle them which the carnall person hath not nor any thing that one may warrant will tye and hold him And this euen the men of the world know for they will put the matters of greatest trust into their hands I haue knowne a very carnall Master that hauing diuers ruffianly seruants that he delighted in and a couple of sober Christian men and to these hee committed his keyes and matters wherein greatest faithfulnesse was required which yet he heartily affected not but they were fit to serue his turne So in matters of Arbitrement they will put their case to such as be of best report for godlinesse in the Country perswading themselues that they will deale vprightly and with a good conscience And the truth is he is not worthy the name of a Christian and its pity of his life that will not doe better than any carnall man in the world It followeth in the description of loue whereby whosoeuer is endued therewith for it s not to bee found in euery bush
13. 9. If thou wilt take the left hand I will take c. As it will giue way in conference to one that is stiffe though one know hee hath the truth so it be in small matters After offences it will soone yeeld and seeke reconciliation though it were meet the other should seeke to him It stands not vpon termes it will lay downe the bucklers goe on the lower ground yeeld the way or the wall to those that it were meet should yeeld it to him For why it more prizeth and esteemeth Loue than small matters 3 It doth no hurt it s against the nature of it so to doe neither in life chastity of our neighbour goods or good name See this in the two chiefe patterns of Loue in God towards his and parents towards their children who doe nor can do them no hurt at least parents in their conceit 4 It seekes not her owne things but others as well as is commanded 1 Cor. 10. 24. 5 It prouoketh nor exasperateth not but striues rather to please as far as it may with good conscience As we see in a louing mother toward her childe so also in whomsoeuer it is truely found 6 It s not easily prouoked 1 Cor. 13. 5. but forbeares forgiues puts vp c. which is well seene in God and a naturall mother with her vnquiet childe It will couer naturall infirmities such things as be little weaknesses in our brethren yet not done of set purpose nor growing into extremities but onely naturall defects As some bee a little too quicke some a little too slow some see a fault and bee a little too ready to speake others somewhat too slow to speake or reproue a fault Some be a little too fine some a little too homely and plaine if they were not all so much on either hand it were better Some be somewhat too earnest in their businesse if it were not altogether so much it were better yet not much amisse and it s their nature who bee yet very gracious Some bee a little too negligent some be a little too merry some a little too solemne these and such like Loue will couer or else nothing Loue will not standvpon them rebuke or reproach them or deale hardly with them for these but wisely beare with them and in loue cure them if it can As for example a wife a godly woman good houswife louing duetifull in good measure but somewhat curst and quicke of speech or not so cleanly as were to be desired a good husband in loue will beare with these and bee thankfull for the maine that hee findes in her So a woman hath a husband good in all the substantiall points of the husbands duety but hee is somewhat too glum not so affable and châ—arly as might be or whose nature will not suffer him to vse such complementâ— to his wife as some can doe with facility Loue will reach her to beare with this A seruant is very trusty religious and carefull to please onely somewhat slow the Master or Mistresse must not rebuke him too oft too openly too sharpely for it as a thing they can hardly remedie no perfection to bee expected in any If you can cure it by a louing and priuate admonishion sometimes doe So a Neighbour conferres with his Neighbour and hee is a little too quicke and harsh but loue will not see it but considers it as a naturall infirmitie therefore will not exasperate him or bee put out of patience by him answering him tartly againe but passeth it by and goeth on in kind and friendly manner Loue will also couer and put vp wrongs done vnto it not seeing small ones passing by somewhat greater as considering he himselfe is a man and so subject to offend his Neighbour and so may stand in need of his pardon As also that hee offends God daily and would bee glad to obtaine pardon therefore he must pardon his Neighbour or else can haue small hope or boldnesse to come before him for mercie and this often yea vnto seuentie times seuen times If they bee greater matters yet Loue will easily accept of indifferent conditions of agreement If they be so great as they so endanger our name and estate as they are not to be passed by then its lawfull to flee to the Magistrate and take the benefit of Law yet so as Loue will teach the party to lay away malice and to forgiue the reuenge And in going to Law these two Caueats must be obserued First that it bee not for trifles These should rather bee forgiuen 1 Cor. 6. 7. Why rather suffer yee not wrong Secondly that it bee the last Remedie when all other waies of more peaceable agreement haue beene tryed It must bee as the cutting off a member when it cannot be healed otherwise Hitherto belongs also that Loue will teach vs to hide and couer folkes faults from the world except wee haue a cause and calling to speake thereof but rather of their vertues 7. Lastly Loue is bountifull beneficiall and helpefull not keeping what it hath to it selfe but ready to distribute and communicate to the good of others whether spirituall or temporall gifts Spirituall for loue begins at the soule and doth good to that first of children seruants neighbours It wil communicate any gift it hath to them that need it taking to heart their spirituall wants instructing the ignorant counselling the doubtfull comforting the afflicted admonishing them that be out of the way exhorting theÌ„ that begin to faint or stagger in the way praying for all So for outward things it will cause men to giue to the poorest that are to be holpe by Almes as they be able and lend freely to them that bee a degree aboue the poorest which hauing a Trade and skill and will to follow it yet want stock to employ themselues and their company These a man is as much bound in conscience to lend vnto according to their abilitie and honestie to pay again as to giue a peece of bread or a penny to a poore miserable Creature Mat. 5. 42. Deut. 15. 8. By this shore many a reeling house hath been kept from falling flat to the ground By this helpe many haue liued handsomely and brought vp their families that else must haue come to vttermost misery To the wealthy that haue no neede of vs yet to be neighbourly and friendly in lending or exchanging Courtesies with them To inuite them somtimes to vs to goe to them beeing inuited And in their sickenesse or heauinesse to visit them and comfort them in the best maner we can Vse Now seeing Loue is such a thing and that these bee the fruits of it If we looke abroad among men wee shall be forced to say there is but little loue in the world for where bee these Properties spoken of to be found as may appeare in going ouer them 1. Who takes not things in the worst part hardly construing mens words and actions doubtfull ones it
may be not bad taking them to bee euill those that bee bad making them worse Thus the Iewes mis-interpreted our Sauiour Christ Iohn 2. Destroy this Temple c. which afterward cost him his life 1. Chro. 19. 3. How was Dauids good and louing Action towards Hanun wickedly mis-construed which cost the liues of many thousands Old Eli offended in this 1 Sam. 1. 14. iudging Hannah drunke because she prayed and her voice not heard What more common than to say Men doe that they doe to be seene and to winne credit when yet they doe it syncerely and to please God Or hauing inuited one to our house and he comes not to think or say he doth it out of some splene or want of good will Many a time in a yeare are we forced to recant and with shame say I thought it had been worse meant than now I see it was This is the cause of innumerable contentions and breaches among men 2. For departing from mens right who doth it but stand out stiffely to the vtmost This is an vsuall speech It is my right and I will haue it I aske no more but my right and that I will not lose This is thought but reasonable and he is thought an honest man that will haue but his right But it s an ill speech and resolution whether it be in conference If a man know hee hath the truth though it be but in small matters yet he will hold it out though the other bee neuer so peremptory till they fall flat out whereas in small truths its better to giue in Or in dealings couenants bargaines bonds men will haue their right and yet herein extreame right may bee extreame wrong Alwaies prouided that wee giue not away other folkes right especially Gods Moses would not yeed a hoofe Exod. 10. 9 yet most men stiffe in their owne will yeeld enough of Gods right can cut large thongs out of that They will not let their seruants play one houre on the sixe dayes yet can let them play on the seuenth what they will So are sins against the first Table made small account of in comparison of the breaches of the second 3 Whereas Loue hurts no way whence comes all the hurt and mischiefe that is done among men stabbing killing fighting quarrelling â—rayling reuiling scolding c. all the defilings of mens wiues children and seruants So for bribery theeuery cousenage false weights false wares c slandering defaming backbiting mocking and such like All these abound euery where I am sure Loue doth none of them Loue was not at the doing of these And for seeking others good as well as our owne O Lord where is this But in all mens courses the greatest part yea and among Christians they seeke themselues too much and others too little 4 Also that men will so readily prouoke one another by words and deeds they care not how 5 For being prouoked Lord be mercifull to vs who can beare any thing but taunt for taunt quip for quip hee shall haue as good as he brings If there bee a little trespass done them Oh how men stand vpon it and study reuenge Hence the innumerable suits in this land many thousands in a year for meer trifles that ten times as much is spent in them as is sued for A shame for England to bee so contentious hauing the Gospell of peace amongst vs. Oh mens stomachs be vp straight all their bloud is in their face or else looke as pale as ashes or secretly practising to reuenge Hand on the dagger straight on the top of the house by and by and flie in one anothers faces for trifles so farre off are we from forgiuing till seuenty times as our Master Christ hath commanded So short spirited as wee can beare nothing and that which is worse if we haue taken vp a displeasure once it s not easily laide downe but Sunne after Sunne Moone after Moone yea some yeare after yeare can carry it about with them quickly prouoked but hardly pacified especially truely It may be some will not bee seene to liue in open onmity yet haue hearts vnsound and full of secret grudgings that cause open breakings out vpon euery occasion Men can beare nothing but are straight carried after reuenge 6 And for speaking of our neighbours vertues and hiding their faults without iust cause and calling to the contrary where is that to be found Nay the contrary is most wofully common little of mens vertues spoken except a word or two to make way for a But and to speak of their faults and these we delight to be much in as the Crow that seeks out the carrion the Hogge that delights to lye in the mire rather than vpon the green grasse like the Flie that if there bee but one gall'd platt on the horses backe delights rather to sit on that than on all the whole body besides 7 And for the last where is communicating of spirituall good things Parents bring vp their children braue but how few catechize instruct admonish them pray with them and for them So for seruants their gouernors giue them meate drinke and wages and hold them to worke on the sixe dayes but little care how they spend the Sabbath or for instructing and examining them calling them to reading and praier and what loue call you this but such as you shew to your beasts So for neighbours what Christian conference is there what admonishing them that be out of the way but rather let them run on and talke of them behinde their backes and that oft times with reioycing which is fearfull What consolation is giuen to the heauie who layes their case to heart how few are able to speake a word in season and to comfort fitly but vtter vaine and frothy speeches to them fitter to doe hurt than good And for such as be troubled in conscience for their sinnes alas how few haue any skill of such things nay many will rather deride and make a scoffe at them saying they haue runne to Sermons so long till they will goe out of their wits Who prouokes one another to that that is good but euery man saith Who made mee my brothers keeper Nay men are so farre from these as they seeke all they can to driue others from God and goodnesse by their cursed counsell and wicked example and by all the discouragements they can deuise of threats mockes and taunts And is not this fearfull where is true Loue in the meane time that is a great way off And for outward things how backward are most in giuing to the poore any more than needes must what contentions at making of rates though God hath freed vs from the chargeablenesse of the Legall seruice and hath freed vs from that intolerable burthen of the Rogues that swarmed like Locusts all ouer the Land whose burthen lay on vs very heauie as they that bee of yeares can remember which yet yeelded small comfort the greatest part of them being a
loue to them they might haue done full ill for all these what loue call you this It s like Faith without workes which God will condemne So to speake well of such and such men to pity them and say they are worthy men and pity they should want yet neuer doe any thing for them If God should feed them thus they would soon complaine 4 The fourth thing required in Loue is that it must be pure It must come from a pure heart as St. Peter speakes and be agreeable to the rule of the pure Word of God Pure Loue is seene in diuers things First it loues for some vertuous and good actions therefore the loue of the Adulterer and his Mate of Drunkards and Theeues that be sworne brothers is no loue To loue a man because he can dice well or sweare deeply drink others vnder boord or mocke and deride wittily or raile bitterly against the seruants of God this is cursed loue for true Loue reioyceth not in iniquity as we haue heard A worse note cannot be than when one sees one fight cunningly or desperately against God to loue him the better These be no better than Rebels and Conspirators against the Maiesty of God 2 Pure Loue is that which is grounded on Grace and Religion and on no transitory thing or in those that haue no grace we loue them for conscience of Gods commandement and because of that part of the Image of God that is in them which condemnes the carnall loue of the most which loue onely for worldly respects for strength beauty or any inward gift of the minde not sanctified as wit skill in Arts musicke play These are worthy loue but to loue onely for these is not true and pure Loue for thus loued the Heathen worldly mens loue is for such respects and no other Yea euen Gods seruants faile this way sometimes as old Isaac that loued Esau for his skill in hunting Dauid loued Absolon for his beauty and so doth many a man his wife which doe ill to build loue on so false grounds for when these faile oft the loue goes after 3 Pure Loue is in respect of the party himselfe whom wee loue and for no respect to our selues or any commodity of ours And such was Gods loue in giuing his Sonne to vs miserable sinners which condemnes the world who onely loue for selfe-respects As hee is my Vncle Friend loues mee or hath done this or that for mee or may doe mee a pleasure therefore I will make much of him or for feare he may doe me a shrewd turne This if it bee shaken out of the clouts will be found but selfe-loue wee haue a respect and aime onely to and at our selues Mat. 5. 46. Many a man shewes kindnesse or doth good to some onely to purchase credit The husband loues his wife because she pleaseth him well is faire a good housewife and for nothing else this is selfe-loue All the Papists charitable deeds were all selfe-loue for they were done with opinion of merit and so they loued themselues rather than the parties they gaue vnto So is all the loue of worldlings examine it and you shall most-what finde it to bee selfe-loue they haue some reach at themselues 4 Pure Loue is when wee so loue a man as we loue his soule and therefore will suffer no euill to rest vpon him but hate the sin in him whom hee loues most dearly and will counsell him to all good and from all euill Therfore so to loue our neighbour as not to tell him of his fault for angring or disquieting of him if he be such as wee may speake to is hatred rather than loue as God saith Leuiticus 19. 17. So Parents that loue their children so well as they will not nurture rebuke correct them they hate them they slay them in following their wayes Hee that spares the rod hates his childe Prou. 13. 24. It s as one should bee so tender ouer a childe as not to suffer the winde to blow vpon it and therefore hold the hand before the mouth of it but hold so hard as hee strangles the childe As the Ape that hugs her young so hard as she kils it Againe friends perswade a man to doe this or that for preferment that he cannot doe with good conscience Oh they loue him they would faine see him preferred Wofull loue to the bodie to destroy the soule A neighbour hath a childe or cattell strangely handled one comes in of loue and perswades him to send to such a cunning man or good Witch the worst instrument of the Deuill of all for helpe Is hee a friend that will doe that that shall vantage one a penny and ere the yeare come about hinder him a hundred pound So when a good Christian is ready to suffer for a good conference and a friend comes and sayes Oh I pray cast not away yourselfe I wish you well be not too nice doe as others doe Cruell loue is this to perswade them to saue their bodies by doing that whereby they should cast away soule and body for euer As Peter aduiseth our Sauiour Christ not to goe vp to Ierusalem to suffer but to fauour himselfe Matth. 16. 22. which was to disswade him from doing his Fathers will and from that wherby Peter himselfe and all mankinde should bee saued and without which they had all beene lost for euer what loue therefore was this you may see by the thankes our Sauiour Christ gaue him who bade him get him behinde him Sathan for hee sauoured not of the things of God but of the world 5 Next our Loue must be feruent We must loue earnestly and hotly as wee can and secondly constantly for in these two things stands feruency First for the earnestnesse of our Loue as wee must stretch it to as many persons and in as many dueties as wee can to soule to body in giuing forgiuing c. as wee haue heard before so in these we must not be sparing but in giuing liberall for he that sowes sparingly shall reape sparingly 2 Cor. 9. 6. So in forgiuing plenteous to seuenty times c. For thus is God to vs in giuing for soule body goods name to our selues and ours day night neuer weary in doing vs good neuer vpbraiding In forgiuing how mercifull in passing by our manifold offences and that daily And the rather because a little loue is soon quencht therefore wee must so loue as though wee meete with many temptations from the parties themselues or from others that yet wee suffer it not to be extinguished And wee must loue feruently not doing these dueties when we can well and haue nothing to let vs but forget our pleasure profit ease c. to doe our neighbour good Loue seeks not her owne things It is laborsous 1 Cor. 13. as in the Samariran who set vp the wounded man vpon his horse and went on foote himselfe and left all the money in his purse for his charges and
rather than with those inuite them and loue their company to chuse These be lukewarme Christians Neuters neyther the one nor the other of both sides of euery side but God can see them to bee Enemies and will set them on his left hand when it will not serue them to pleade that they neuer hated them or opposed them Let men looke well to this Point for there bee many that thinke well of themselues for good Christians that yet will be found of this number But as they can haue no sound peace to their Consciences so shall they neuer haue good name in the Church of God till it bee otherwise Fiftly and lastly let this bee a Consolation to all those whose hearts doe beare witnesse and their practice bewray that they truly loue the Saints they can haue no better signe of the grace of God or that they bee true Members of the Church here and shall bee inheriters of glory hereafter that they loue God be Christs Disciples and be translated from death to life Alwaies prouided that you deceiue not your selues in this point as no doubt diuers doe To thinke that because you loue some one or two choyce ones that you are a louer of Gods people though you neglect all the rest which is not so for whosoeuer loues any in truth loues the grace of God in whomsoeuer hee sees it rich or poore high or low Or because you loue some that bee of your Kinne or for some outward good qualification they haue or some common gift of learning eloquence or because they bee rich or bee such as haue done you some pleasure or may doe for if your loue bee set vpon Gods seruants for such by respects this is not the true Loue of the Saints But if you loue them simply for the worke of Gods sanctifying grace that yousee or hear to be in them though you neuer saw them nor neuer shall yet for the grace of God your heart is knit to them as Ionathans to Dauid or if you know and liue neare them◠though they neuer did you any speciall good turne or be nothing to you outwardly and in the flesh nay though any such haue reproued you of some fault they haue seene in you yet you loue them for the Image of God that shines in them yea though you see heare or know some imperfections in them and things worthy blame yet seeing signes of synceritie you loue them notwithstanding are glad when they doe well and grieue at the contrary this is good Examine your selues by these things if you bee taken tardy then deceiue your selues no longer If your heart witnesse on your side by these tryals then be comforted and labour to encrease in this grace that so your euidence may be strong And the rather because this hath kept many from sinking in time of Temptation when all other euidences haue beene to seeke Thus much of the loue that all ought to beare to the People of God CHAP. 10. How true Christians should loue each other NOw I will adde yet one thing more and that is How true Christians should loue and carry themselues towards each other They ought to loue one another most entirely and more than they doe or can loue the common sort They must loue them as fellow-members of the same mysticall body whereof Christ is the head Now how do the members of the natural body loue sticke together and seeke the good of each other defend and tender one another reioyce in each others wel-fare and grieue at the contrary so ought the Members of the spirituall body much more if it were possible Wee cannot loue all thus for all are not fellow-members in this body of Christ. Secondly they must loue as brethren therefore the loue that is to bee betweene them is called Brotherly kindenesse 2 Pet. 1. 7. Therefore though some scoffing Ismaels deride this name and say Oh you bee of the Brethren yet wee are not to bee ashamed of this name seeing GOD so speakes Gods children be brothers and sisters they haue the same Father which is God the same Mother the Church begotten by the same immortall seed the Word of God nourisht with the same milke and meat of the same Word and holy Sacraments heires of the same Inheritance in Heauen by Christ Iesus A better Brother-hood than that of nature as much as the spirit is better than the flesh Yea and a more lasting Brother-hood that will last when this is vanisht away which lasteth onely for this fraile life of ours but the other abideth for euer Therefore our Sauiour Christ said Who is my Mother and who are my Brethren Naturall Brethren ought to loue dearely how much more we that are of a better kindred It s very pleasing to God our Father and to the Church our Mother that all their children should liue in loue as Psal. 133. 1. and a ioy to all the brothers and sisters As it is a ioy to any earthly Parents to haue their children loue well together and the contrary is very grieuous and they will mourne to each other There be two Boyes can neuer agree two Girles that loue not one another what will they doe when we are gone Now to loue as Brethren is this To haue Brotherly affections each to other inwardly and to declare the same outwardly by brotherly actions For the first we are bidden Rom. 12. Be affectioned to lòue one another as to weep with them that weepe to haue compassion of their miseries as Heb. 13. 9. As the Samaritan had compassion on the man that fell among Theeues And our Sauiour Christ had compassion on the spirituall miserie of the People Mat. 9. 36. St. Paul was affected with the miseries of the Iewes and tooke them deepely to heart Rom. 9. 1 2 3. So Nehemiah hearing of the distresse of the Church of the Iewes at Ierusalem though hee were well himselfe yet he so mourned for them as it was seene in his face The contrary is blamed Amos 6. No man is sorry for the affliction of Ioseph So to reioyce with them that reioyce as Luke 1. 58. yea though it were ill with ourselues As Paul in prison yet reioyced to heare of the welfare of the Churches These brotherly affections bee so necessary as all brotherly actions not proceeding from these are in no account with God As a man may giue all his goods to the poore and haue no loue and so bee but a tinckling Cimball 1 Cor. 13. As if a man should giue that hee might merit thereby or to purchase credit or for companies sake or with vpbraiding and from no compassion of the poore mans misery it would neither please God nor profit him that doth it So to admonish one which is a speciall duety of Loue but if done with twitting reproaching as glad they haue some matter against him it hath lost his grace and reward with God And herein the poore may shew as much loue to their
of their Faith and Loue But a number be vsurers oppressors grinders rakers all for themselues and so couetous as they will part from nothing by their good will if any thing come from them it s so hardly as one should wring water out of a stone or pull away a peece of their flesh as Nabal that sent away Dauids seruants empty and with a churlish answer Some others so prodigall and riotous and giuen to their pleasures and to all excesse as they waste their state so fast as they disable themselues to doe that good they might it s not to bee had Luxury keeps them so bare which if they had grace to measure their matters with iudgement might liue a great deale better themselues and doe much good where need is Or if some be so rich as they hold their state yet they lay it on so vpon themselues and theirs as no cost is spared vpon braue apparrell new fashions costly and curious dyet hawks hounds dice cards gaming 's that yet when it comes to a matter of giuing are as pinching as they that haue not the tithe of their estate can beteeme nothing to the poore or good vses very franke in idle expences to serue their owne lust very sparing to those that haue need like the Glutton Luke 16. who spared nothing from himselfe nor nothing for poore Lazarus And those Amos 6. that fed to the full of the fattest and drunke of the sweetest till they were fitter to stretch themselues and tumble vpon their costly beds than to do any good yet they had not so much as a thought of the poore that were in want And as the Foole Luke 12. that made account hee had much and all for himselfe Soule eate drinke and take thine ease thou hast goods laid vp for thee for many yeares Notwithstanding the commandement of God which they cannot be ignorant of and the Law of Nature which would be holpen if they were poore Gods and good mens example and the many promises of blessing made to this duety yet are no whit moued by all these but fast glued to the world and can heare nothing that should pull any thing from them This was one of Sodoms sinnes Contempt of the poore Let these sorts of men know they are not so ill for others as they be for themselues As they shew well there is no loue of God or men in them as 1 Iohn 3. Who so hath this worlds good and sees his brother haue neede and shuts vp his compassion against him how dwelleth the loue of God in him So they will pull some iudgement of God vpon their owne heads as their Predecessors whom I haue named haue done And this is one reason no doubt that mens goods shift masters so oft besides the ill account they will make of their stewardship when they shall be called thereto for which they must make their reckoning to heare no better sentence than O euill and vnfaithfull seruant take him bind him hand and foote and cast him into vtter darknesse Let these better bethinke themselues in time and breake off their sinnes by repentance and their vnrighteousnesse by mercy to the poore that there may be a healing of their error and a preuenting the iudgements of God Oh that my counsell from God may be acceptable to them 2 But for those that out of conscience of Gods commandement and faith in Gods promises made to this duety out of a zeale to bring glory to God doe good to others and to further their owne reckoning make conscience to bee doing good with a mercifull heart carry a liberall hand as God giues ability in themselues and occasion from others let them take it to themselues as a good marke of the truth of their Religion and know they can no way prouide better for their comfort or the continuance of Gods blessing vpon them and their estate than by continuance in this duety 3 And thirdly let this prouoke all sorts of men to take knowledge of this duety of mercifulnesse to the poore as one part of Gods will and well weighing the reasons vsed to prouoke thereto set themselues to make conscience of the performance thereof which that they may do indeed they must be perswaded to remoue out of the may certaine vices that be deadly enemies thereto and labour for the contrary vertues 1. The first is Vnbeliefe which as it breeds many other vices so that of Vnmercifulnesse for that casts so many doubts and feares of what they may want themselues and that it will hinder them in their estate to giue here and there as they withdraw therefore labour for Faith to beleeue that as God will performe all his promises so those made to this duety and therefore that its the high way to thriuing and this will set vs to it and that with chearfulnesse 2. Pride which is seen in excesse of costly attire for our selues and ours ayming at high pitches and great portions for our children and such and such estates must be obtained this must needs hinder liberality therefore the Apostle 1 Tim. 2. 9 10. forbids women to be deckt with costly apparrell but commands to aray themselues with good workes Noting they cannot doe both for the backe is a theefe the meaning is when its superfluous and beyond their ability all duties discharged Oh what an infinite deale of good might be done if but the superfluities of folkes apparrell were taken away which might very well be spared 3 The like may be said of intemperance excesse of cheere variety costliness of dishes at mens tables God allowes to men according to their degrees to some vsually to others at festiuall times daies of greater reioycing yet to none excesse or so as they thereby be disabled for such good workes as their place cals for at their hands The excesse of this Land in these two forenamed things would abundantly not only relieue the wants of our poore at home but would make a blessed supply of the most wofull and crying necessities of our distressed brethren abroad And is it meet that some should be hungry and others drunken as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 11. 21. Were it not much meeter that they had our superfluities which doe vs but hurt to supply their necessities and so both should be better The Lord giue vs at last to make conscience of this Duety it s more than high time so to doe 4 Idlenesse and vnthriftinesse which vsually goe together are great lets of liberalitie For if one goe euer to the heape and by labour adde nothing thereto in time it will consume and so hee shall haue nothing for himselfe nor the poore therefore the Apostle Ephes. 4. 28. commands to worke with the hands that so there may bee wherewith to giue to them that want But vsually idlenesse is ioyned with spending gaming drinking and such vnthrifty courses and this hastens beggery the faster and so preuents liberalitie in a high degree The prouident
but when these be worst regarded there can be no worser signe 7 Orderly To our owne kinred first 1 Tim. 5. and so on to our owne Towne and so further as God giues occasion and abilitie 8 According to euery mans ability To whom much is giuen of them is much required The Master called his seruant that had fiue Talents to account for fiue 1 Tim. 6. 17. Rich men are charged to be rich in good workes hee that hath but little little is of him expected if it be but a cup of cold water a widowes mite where is no more it shall be as well accepted as great things of the rich For God requires not of a man according to that he hath not but according to that hee hath and that he will require It s therefore a great fault in most Parishes that the meaner sort beare the chiefest burthen and not the richest but a man not a quarter sometime not halfe a quarter of their substance shall bee halfe as much in charge as they Fie vpon such inequality amongst men of good conscience it ought not so to be Though it were but a foolish thing for one of vs to say If I were such a rich man I would doe thus and thus much good more than such a man doth because we were neuer in that state and therefore know not the temptations belonging to that state yet this wee may truely say that such and such a rich man hath meanes in his hand to doe very much good Oh what elbow roome he hath he might reach out his hand two wayes ten waies and bee neuer the worse Towards the Ministry of the Word to helpe a poore body out of great trouble c. What is it for a richman to giue here twenty shillings there forty shillings fiue pound to this good vse or that And when some charge is to be borne by a company of meane men to exempt them and beare it all himselfe what good by lending poore young beginners and such as want stocke But alas how farre off is it from the most such Some doe no good others nothing answerable to their ability They lose their honour that God hath put vpon them Truely let them looke to it for they haue great accounts to make And if their receipts bee found great and their layings out small God will cast such bills in their faces and themselues into hell 9 We must giue according to euery ones need for their neede should be the whetstone to our liberality As in deere times or in time of sicknesse and distresse to reach out our hand more than ordinarily not to giue hand ouer head as much to those that haue lesse need as to those that haue more The wicked will be most clamorous and if we goe by that oft times the better minded poore which be more bashfull slow to speak for themselues shall haue wrong therefore we ought to informe our selues as well as wee can of euery ones wants especially in our owne Parish and to carry our hand accordingly we must not be bountifull to our wealthier neighbours and pinching to the poore If we cannot do both let our feasting the wealthier alone and do good to the poore for that will be the truer more certain testimony of our loue because they cannot requite vs againe But you shall haue some that will spare no cost to make a feast to them that haue no need which with the other too hath his place that yet are very miserable to the poore and will the same day of such feast shake vp a poore body like a dish-clout that comes but for some of the scraps Let not these boast of their Loue. And then to shew our selues most kind helpfull when their need is greatest for a brother or neighbour is borne for aduersity and that is the triall of loue God is neuer so neare his seruants with his comforts as in their greatest afflictions And therefore while a man is in prosperity and good case to salute him vse him kindly be glad of his company and when the world frowns on him and God casts him behinde then not to know him to shake him off goe on the other side of the way or if we must needs take notice of them then to speake sleightly to them houerly and be strange and far off this is no true loue and yet this is that that manie a one finds in the world as Pro. 14. 20. 19. 4. 7. These bee like winter-plashes that be very broad when there is no need of them but in summer are dry when they should do most good Thus many a worthy Minister while they haue enioyed their health and Ministry haue had countenance of all sorts both Gentlemen and Yeomen that after by some occasion hauing had the case altered with them haue gone vp and downe moping and no body especially of the wealthier sort take notice of them but shun them as if they had the Plague about them So the wiues of many painfull Ministers while their husbands liued were made account of and inuited that when God hath taken their husbands from them when they had most need of comfort haue found cold friendship not of strangers onely but euen of those that professed greater loue to the parties deceased This is but carnall or at least but cold loue that is then farthest off when there is most need of it whereas true Loue reioyceth to bee shewing it selfe where is most good to be done 10 We must giue with compassion and out of a pitifull heart and feeling of others miseries as we are bidden Col. 3. 23. to put on tender mercies and bowels of compassion c. and 1 Pet. 3. 8. Be pitifull c. and Isa. 58. 10. Poure out our soule to the hungry that is haue compassion of their miseries Thus did the Lord to vs when we had plunged our selues into irrecouerable misery he took pity on vs and gaue vs his blessed Son c. So had hee compassion on the gronings of Israel vnder Pharaohs bondage So in the book of Iudges diuers times Iudg. 10. 16. so also Neh. 9. 17. This will proue vs to be liuing members not dead stockes A little giuen with compassion is more acceptable to God than neuer so much without 1 Cor. 13. yea compassion alone is much accepted with God and men where there is nothing else to be had Which condemnes the great Almes-deeds of Papists that proceed from no compassion towards the poor but out of loue to themselues to saue their owne skins That giue to be seen of men that giue by constraint of authority or for shame and to auoide reproach or to satisfie the requests of friends Or those that giue with twits and taunts and proud insultings checkes and vpbraidings especially towards those that bee any thing well minded all these haue their reward they are like to haue except their worke had come from a better root Whereas many
First and chiefly to God who giues the ability the commandement and the heart to doe you good and vpon former experience depend vpon him in after needes and resolue that whatsoeuer want you suffer you will vse no vnlawfull meanes to help your selues but rather make knowne your burthens and God will make a way Secondly be thankfull to those whom he hath made his instruments to doe you good so God giues good leaue and see it practised by godly Hezekiah 2 Chron. 31. 8. In token of your thankfulnesse pray to God for them that God would blesse their basket and store themselues and theirs especially that hee would giue them much ioy and comfort to their soules and to haue long life and happy dayes For you that are borrowers borrow no more than you haue possibility of paying againe Appoint such a day as in all likelihood you may repay it worke night and day to keep touch borrow it of another to pay rather than breake day for if you keep your day you keepe your friend Or if you be much disappointed that you cannot then come before the day tell your case and craue fauour and a new day and shew your selues as carefull to pay as euer you were to borrow so shall you haue a good conscience and prouide well for your selues for if you deale honestly you shall not neede to feare but you shall finde friends Many there be that care not what they borrow neuer care for paying they cared to borrow it they say let the Owner care to come by it againe they doe not meane to take two cares which beare the marke of wicked men Psal. 37. 21. for the godly make great conscience of it as the son of the Prophets that was so sorry for the losse of the axe Alas Master it was but borrowed 2 Kin. 6. 5. And the Prophet Elisha wrought a miracle to this purpose encreasing the oyle in the Widowes cruse and bade her sell it and first pay her debts and then liue of the rest For we must owe nothing to any but to loue one another that is not wilfully or through carelesnesse but what we can meane to pay They will appoint it may be a neer day though they know no means to compasse it onely to obtaine their purpose But when they haue it they care to keep no day nor yet come at the Creditour nor in his sight as neare as they can These play the fooles as well as the wicked men and vndoe themselues vtterly which otherwise might haue beene vpheld and liued comfortably of their credit though they had no ability of their owne But when they haue no ability nor credit neither they must needes hasten apace to misery and thank themselues Let all that haue any wit or conscience take heed of this But especially let all those that make greater profession of Religion than others beware of this that they giue no iust occasion to carnall men to speak ill of them and their holy profession for their sakes nor to the godly to be griened by their vnfaithfulnesse FINIS Vse Vse Vse 1. 2. Wishing well is the pulse of loue and heates wheresoeuer loue is aliue Effects Reasons 1. Loue of our enemies Vse 1. Esay 10. 1. Pro. 13. 20 * My meaning is onely to reproue those who vpon sincere and deuout Chrians such as make most conscience of their wayes and are truely zealous in Gods seruice fasten the odious name of Puritan and cannot abide them Reas. Rules fâ—â— right relieuing 2. Cor. 8. 12. Pro. 17. 17.