the elect and beloved of God that know one another and in the Judgement of charity account one another such might love one another as brethren and that with a pure heart fervently See my ground for this 1 Pet. 1.22 2. That all that are in truth in the light might so walke in the light as to have fellowship one with another So as the blood of Jesus Christ might cleanse us from all sin See my ground for this 1 John 1.7 And the rather because that if we say that we have fellowship with God and walke in darknesse we lye and doe not the truth See vers 6 And if we walke in the light we have fellowship one with another c. So that we cannot demonstrate that we have fellowship with God and the Lord Jeâ—us Christ unlesse we also have fellowship one with another And therefore cannot say with the Apostle to wit And truly our fellowship is with the father and with his son Jesus Christ See ver 3. Neither can we demonstrate that we are in the light nor that we love God unlesse we also love the brethren See Chap. 2 9 10 11. and Chap. 4.20 He that saith he is in the light and hateth his brother is in darknesse and walketh in darknesse and knoweth not whither he goeth And if a man say I love God and hateth his brother he is a lyar for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen how can he love God whom he hath not seen From which it appeareth that it is for want either of light or love or rather both if we have not fellowship one with another So that we cannot demonstrate that we are in the light nor that we love God nor that we love our brethren nor that God loveth us nor that we keep his commandements unlesse we so love our brethren as to have fellowship with them For this is his commandâ—ment that we love one another and that even so as Christ hath loved us for this is the manner and measure required as I shall further make to appear from the Law and Testimony 1. From the command of God Lev. 19.18 thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people but then shalt love thy neighbour as thy selfe 2. It is also the command of our Lord Jesus Christ Mat. 22.19 Luke 10.27 28. where the command is expressed This doe and thou shalt live John 15.17 This I command you that ye love one another 3. And the measure of this love which is here commanded is not a sparing or scant measure But this is my commandement that ye love one another as I have loved you See ver 12. And see also John 13 34. A new commandement I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another From which it evidently appeareth that though this commandement is but the same in substance which was from the beginning Yet in this respect it is new and held forth to us under that notion in regard it is backed with such an example to wit the example of Christ who in his own person hath exemplified it to us and commandeth us to follow his steps and to love one another as he hath loved us binding us hereby to his example in what we are able and to make it all our marke to aime at as the marke of the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus So that in respect of the measure of our love we ought not to be content with any lesser attainement then to love one another as Christ hath loved us 4. It is also the message that we have heard from the beginning that we should love one another See 1 John 3 11. And this is his commandement that we should beleeve on the name of his son Jesus Christ and love one another as he gave us commandement 5. It is like unto that first and great commandement to wit Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart with all thy soul and with all thy minde See Mat. 23.37 38 39 40. Deut. 6.5 6 7 8 9 c. For upon these two commandements hang all the Law and the Prophets 6. The end of the commandement is lâ—ve out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfained See 1 Tim. 1.5 From which some having swarved have turned aside unto vain janglings See ver 6. yea and that in these very dayes of ours 7. We are exhorted seriously to see that we love one another with a pure heart fervently See 1 Pet. 1.22 It must not be in word and in tongue onely but in deed and in truth 1 John 5.18 8. And the Apostle John seriously exhorteth us to it shewing us a strong reason to induce us to wit Beloved saith he let us love one another for love is of God and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God and he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love Chap. 4.7 8. It is therefore styled the royal Law James 2.8 Because it cometh both expressely and essentially from God the Father and from our Lord Jesus Christ who is Lord of Lords and King of Kings Now in regard it is both the expresse command to love one another and the essentiall and efficient worke of the Spirit of God for it both cometh of God and God is love And in regard that the end of the commandement is love c. And that the whole Law to wit that respects our neighbour is fulfilled in this to wit Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self and that this is that second great commandement and so like the first as that he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen cannot love God whom he hath not seen Nor manifest himselfe to be his Disciple nor indeed a true Christian See 1 John 4.20 Ch. 3.14 15 16 17 18 19 c. Then it necessarily followeth that such who are Christians indeed and expect to be so accepted and accounted of either with God or men ought to account themselves most chiefly bound to this duty of love and that to all the brotherhood above all other duties commanded in the Law that concerns our neighbour And that in regard that all other dutyes are inferiour and lesser matters of the Law As tithing of Mint Annisse and Cumin was to the Jews which yet ought to be done provided that Judgement mercy and faith which are the greater matters be not thereby neglected nor secluded for this was in the Scribes and Pharisees a token of their hypocrisie and how can we possibly excuse our selves from the same charge if by our strivings and contests about inferiour outward circumstantiall matters and things of God as Sacramentall matters and wayes of government and ministration We neglect and hinder the growth of love and so of faith likewise which are the two essencialls and only infallible marks of our
Christianity And on the contrary part doe thereby provoke one another to wrath and enmity biting and devouring one another till we be consumed as is but just with God because we cannot agree but fall out by the way and that about the way like untoward children who part themselves into various pathes till they are be wildred and loose one another and some themselves and their poor soules And considering also that all the ordinances of God and the wayes of government and all the ministrations and gifts of God with all the ministrators whom he hath sent and set in his Church yea all the inferiour commandements in the morral Law with all the Prophets Apostles Scriptures both old and new yea all the truths and doctrines or examples therein held forth both concerning Judgements and mercies with all other wayes and means of grace Are all but given and held forth to us through the necessary meanes for this necessary end to wit The producing of love out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfained See 1 Tim 1.5 From all which I make bold to conclude that if we make not the observance and use thereof as helps and means conducing to the acquirement and fulfilling of this end but in our keeping of the lesser we obstruct the greater yea and even the mâ—ine of all And that which if attained would bring the lesser with it as a naturall fruit which is included in it and cannot possibly be seperated from it See 1 Cor. 13. Then without all question or peradventure we quite pervert the end of all the commandements and meanes of grace that God hath appointed at least so far forth as we use them so as hath been said before Making his commandements void and of none effâ—ct in our selves or others through our owne traditions for we thereby hinder both our selves and others from acquiring to the end of the holy commandements that are given unto us By the keeping whereof we might be made partakers of the godly nature love cometh of God for God is lâ—ve Now these things being generally assented too as so I nothing doubt but all that are Christians iâ—deed in the sight of God both doe and will assent with me thus farre at least and that they will agree to indeavour the acquirement of this blessed end as in duty they are bound I shall further propose those means and wayes which as I conceive would strongly conduce to the acquirement of this end through the help of God the which as I conceive are of absolute necessity and such as without which there is little hopes of this Accordant nor of keeping this commandement in the keeping whereof there is great reward 1. Then I desire as accounting it our duty and the naturall product of true brotherly love that we might pray one with and for another and each for all that we might be healed and our breaches repaired and we united and made of one heart of one mind and of one judgement and that the same mind might be in us that was in Christ Jesus This I doubt not but all that are godly will justifie and own and indeavour to pâ—actise but that we might doe it in faith it is required that we go first and be reconciled to our brethren and then come and offer our gifts See Mat. 5.23 24. 2. Therefore it is desired for this end that we might have fellowship one with another and each with any both in publick and private and that in all Gods ordinances so as love requireth so farre as possible and convenient as being all members of the same body to wit of Christ and each of other for how else is it ever possible that we should be reconciled if we meet not together my if we receive not one another even as Jesus Christ hath received us to the glory of God the Father See Rom. 15.7 3. John 9.10 Mat. 9.3 3. That instead of disowning or excluding any that is known to be Godly of whatever way or Church they are of either Ministers or people from the Lords Supper or any other ordinance they desire to partake of We might all be willing to invite each other to any ordinance that Christ hath appointed for mutuall comfort and edification where our selves are admitted owned as Godly in case when any Brother shall have occasion to sojourn or be occasionally amongst us to hear the word preached on any other businesse 4. And not only so as but barely to partake of the outward ordinances But that each and all that in the judgement of charity may be accounted brethren might be owned as such and dealt with as such not in word only but in deed and in truth in a pâ—acticall manner in all these respects or in any other as we doe with brethren that are of the same judgement and society with us as accounting it our duty both to watch over and to exhort reproove admonish comfort restore and releeve and all such duties as need requireth in a brotherly way for his good and comfort as we our selves would also be dealt with in the like case for our soules health and benefit any wayes Reas For this we are commâ—nded Doe to all men as ye would they should doe unto you for this is the Law and the Prophets But if to all men much more to our brethren that in the judgement of charity are of the same body together with us under Christ our Head Reas For if they be members though they are but feete the body walketh slowly if it wanteth feete See 1 Cor. 12.21 22. nay If those necessary members of the body should either be cut off or it halteth on them you know the charge and how we are exhorted to make streight pathes for our feete lest that which halteth be turned out of the way which should rather be healed I wish this text were better understood then I doubt it is by the most part even of the Churches of Christ See Heb. 12 12 13 14 15. Such who halt betwixt two opinions should rather be healed and have streight paths made for their feete then turned out of the way to the Kingdome of Christ 5. That the doores of fellowship and Christian communion might be set as wide open as can lawfully be allowed or as can be practised without breach of duty and conscience towards God by building men up in their evill wayes and sowing pillowes under all arme holes healing their wounds slightly and preaching peace when there is manifestly no peace and that for their owne destruction Reas For if the doores of Discipline and Christian communion should shut out any of the elect of God either from hearing of the word or Church communion for their soules health or that they should be offended through the Churches default and scattered abroad yea whither they be weak or strong See Ezek. 34 they ought not to be thrust with the side or shoulder nor pusht with
blocks and offences that are on our parts and the Lord will blesse us and hear our prayers and reward our worke and labour of love that we have shewed to his name and for ought we know he may turne their hearts to be otherwise minded then we expect It may be our stiffenesse hath been a cause of theirs and theirs of ours And so likewise may our yeelding and holding forth of love and condescention provoke them to doe the like And therefore let no excuses reâ—ard or hinder our speedy indeavours for mutuall Accordance But let us make iâ— our â—usinesse and that as a matter of greatest importance and concernement to us yea as a matter of life and death lest the Lord cometh and findeth us smiting our fellow servants c. And give me leave a little to inculcate and beat it home to our very consciences Consider it seriously did not the Lord himself inculcate this command upon his holy Disciples and that over and over again with argument after argument and command after command and shall we think it needlesse in this frozen age Nay Did he make it his businesse when he was ready to leave them and to give it forth chiefely as his will and testament and shall not we think it worthy to be made as our businesse and that of greatest concernement in this our age and generation because the love of many waxeth cold already However in this treatise I study brevity expecting that men better able will make it their businesse And yet if I seem to repeat and fall on againe with the same Scriptures it is to presse them further Consider therefore thus saith the Lord A new commandement I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another John 13.34 Consider it I say It is the commandement of Christ to all such as are and would be accounted and knowne by all men to be his Disciples which is the promise annexed vers 35. By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples if ye have love one to another Now the measure of this love is expressed in the latter part of the 34. ver to wit As I have loved you that ye also love one another And this measure of love is further explained as to the latitude and extent thereof in reference to the same command to wit John 15.12 13. This is my commandement that ye love one another as I have loved you And how is that See vers 15. Greater love hath no man then this that a man lay downe his life for his friends And that this is the true and proper meaning of Christ without any misticall dark sence See how the same Apostle that loving Disciple who is therefore truly called the beloved Disciple or the Disciple whom Jesus loved as though in comparison he had loved none 〈◊〉 him And certainâ— it is that though he loveâ— them all yet he loved John with a more peculiar transcendent affection then any of tâ—e rest and chiefly because that his doctrine of lovâ— and his commands thereof took more impression in him then the other Disciples and the love of God and the love of the brethren tooke more place in his heart as so it is manifest in his Epistles and Gospel by his treating more and more fully of love then all the other Disciples 1 Con. From whence I may gather by the way That they that love most are the most beloved and the most bent to the pressing and inculcating and communication of the doctrine of love unto their brethren 2 Con. And that they whomsoever that cannot cordially embrace and receive this doctrine are not cordially embraced and received of Christ and that in respect of the measure of our cordiallity 3 Con. Look how much more cordially we embrace and receive his doctrine of love by so much the more cordially we shall be and are embraced yea loved and received of the Lord Jesus Christ And thus much by the way Now for the proper extent of the manner and measure of this duty of love See 1 John 3.16 to wit Hereby perceive we the love of God because he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren It is not sufficient to love in word and in tâ—ngue only but it must be in deed and in truth vers 18. especially if we would know that we are of the truth and that the love of God dwelleth in us and would have our hearts assured before him See ver 17.19 we must not shut up our bowels of compassion if we have this worlds good and see our brother hath need for in such case there is no appearance or manifestation that the love of God abideth in us No he that loveth not his brother abideth in death And whosoever hateth his brother is a murtherer and we know that no murtherer hath eternall life abiding in him See vers 14.15 Read this Chapter throughout and Ch. 4. wherein it is so evident that the Apostle presseth this duty of love as the great and chiefest duty and command of Christ and that without which we cannot possibly be assured that we are yet passed from death unto life nor that God loveth us and we him nor that we keep his commandements and doe those things that please him nor that we know God or dwell in him and he in us nor that we shall have boldnesse in the day of judgment neither can our feare that hath torment in it be cast out nor can we prove our selves to be true men but lyars because it is impossible that he who loveth not his brother whom he hath seene should love God whom he hath not seen And this commandement have we from him that he who loveth God should love his brother also See Chap. 4. And this is the message that ye have heard from the beginning that we should love one another Chap. 3.11 See also 1 Tim. 1.5 Now the end of the commandement is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfained And why is this called the end of the coÌ„mandement but because that he that hath loved another hath fulfilled the Law for no man can love his brother but he loveth God nor any man love God but he will also love his brother and upon this hangeth the whole Law and the Prophets to wit To love God above all and our neighbours as our selves And againe Because if this love be in us in perfection as it ought the naturall product of it will be suitable both in respect of our duties to God and to our neighbours for love worketh no evill against our neighbours much lesse against God See 1 Cor. 13. Now this main duty of love and the measures and necessity of it being sufficiently proved and that from such authority as no Christian can for shame gainsay it or oppose it in the least I shall proceed to answer some Queries
Spirit be in some good measure found to be in us we are not fit to rule or have the least authority committed to us for we are somuch under age but in the minority of Christianity we cannot be spoken to nor accounted strong men nor men at age nor as yet at years of descretion but as unto babes in Christ who must therefore be kept as under tutors and governours till the time appointed of the Father And though it is a promise which we do and ought to expect and to comfort one another with that the Kingdome of Christ shall come with power and that it is also justly to be expected to be neer at hand and is in some measure already present and some will needs be so forward as to take it by violence and beat down all before them that stands in their way yea will not much care to destroy their brethren in whom the King of Heaven is already in some measure and so cut off them from living to see it and enjoy it in the power who desire it also as much as themselves but cannot accord to fetch it in by force of humane authority save only defensive whiles it is increasing and growing within us by the force and power of the Spirit of God nor is it lawfull to say that this temper of spirit cometh of God it is not the perswasion of him that calleth us to goe about to inforce conformity to our own principles and to impose them by force upon our deare brethren that are contrary minded but this is certainly of that spirit of Antichrist which is long since come into the world and yet this very temper of Spirit if power should be put into our hands would be found in measure lesse or more in any party of us Let us therefore judge in our selves whether we are any of us yet come to yeares of discretion suitable for governement whiles we are so partiall in our own cause and principles shall he that hateth right govern saith the Scripture Nay if the power and Kingdome be already in the hand of Christ and he giveth it to whomsoever he pleaseth can we expect to have it whiles in such a temper of spirit Nay may we not rather expect that wise servants shall have the rule and government over such lewd sons that can never agree but are ready to bite and devoure one another at every advantage Oh brethren consider and let us lay it to heart and charge it home upon our consciences betimes for there it will fall heavy one day and if we judge not our selves we shall certainly be judged and chastened of the Lord that so we might not be condemned with the world But if our master cometh and findeth us smiting of our fellow-servants you know the place where we must have our portion And if we possibly do not nor dare not or cannot smite them hand or with the sword yet there is a smiting which is as bad to wit With the tongue for it is compared to a sword or a sharp rasor And this kinde of smiting is too too frequent and common amongst us and sheweth clearely that if power and commission were in our hands the other sword would follow Oh these things brethren we had need to repent and to humble our selves and watch over our hearts left he cometh and find us in such a posture of spirit the danger is great yea it is so much the greater as it is expected to be neer at hand And therefore let us be exhorted by the Apostle Speak not evil one of another brethren c. Nor think not to escape if we neglect so great salvation If we know these things and that they are no other but the truths of God Oh take heed that we let them not slip but keep them applyed to our soules and consciences till they reply to doe them Blessed is that servant whom his master when he cometh shall find so doing verily such a servant shall be Ruler over all his goods Read but Mat. 24. from 41. to the end and consider it seriously for it much concernes us in these latter dayes And take notice of one thing if we be indeed the people of God we shall never ride on prosperously but in the wayes of truth of meeknesse and of righteousnesse See Psal 45 for we must not prosper but in the same way and manner that Christ hath led us for this Psalme is a prophesie concerning Christ and his Kingdom who will not own us but in the same paths that he hath trod before us Read it and compare it with our wayes and we need no more conviction Oh how many is there in this generation that are pure in their own eyes that yet are not cleansed from this filthinesse Pro. 30.12.14 that is so farre contrary unto brotherly love and meeknesse and of truth and righteousnesse Oh how sad will it be with us if the Lord cometh and findeth us so doing and in our envy and strife and not in that wisdome that cometh from above which is pure indeed and word yea peaceable and gentle full of mercy and of good fruits without grudging without hypocrisie seeing the fruit of righteousnes is sown in peace of them that make peace James 3.17 18. see also Ch. 4.11 12. ver 5 6 7 8 9 10. And blessed are the peace-makers Mat. 5. See there and consider to what sorts of people those 9 sorts of blessings do properly belong and whether there be any of them proper for such kind of postures of spirit as many of us are found in this our generation of Christianity The Apostle James telleth us plainly Ch. 1.26 That if any man amongst us seeme to be religious and refraineth not his tongue but deceiveth his own heart this mans religion is vain And the same Apostle also Chap. 4.11 Speak not evill one of another brethren he that speaketh evill of his brother and judgeth his brother speaketh evill of the Law and judgeth the Law c. And the reason is manifest because the Law forbiddeth it and commandeth love which is quite contradicted and judged by us when we speake evill one of another And therefore let us lay it seriously to heart and but consider it how apt we have been in these deviding times to speake evill yea and even the worst that we can have any pretence for one of another how apt have we been to pick out the worst taking all in the worser part in the evil part and whispering it out to the desparagement one of another by reaches and jeeres and reproaches even running descant upon the faults or failings and weaknesses one of another most inharmoniously and maliciously making it the most part of our discourse and esteeming them best company who could cast forth the purest jeeres and reaches against our brethren of any contrary way And who hath not been guilty in these respects And how sad is it that we have so little regarded
the prime efficient cause thereof and the most immediate as so it is yet as next immediate and as instrumentall causes whereby he workâ—th immediately he joyneth faith and love as co-operative and if I may so say as co-essenciall causes of all spirituall power and strength for working us up and making us capable and comprehensive to be filled with all the fullnesse of God for unlesse Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith and that we be rooted and grounded in love we cannot be able to comprehend with all Saints as vers 18. Nor can we be filled with all the fullnesse of God as ver 19. And consider also how no lesser meaâ—ures of the Spirit and Faith and Love will serve the turne to fulfill the desires and requests of the Apostle on their behalfe but that they might be filled with all the fulnesse of God which might teach us not to be content with any poor measures of his holy Spirit But to covet earnestly even the best gifts and the largest measures that are attainable and that we are capable of For he that hath bid us covet them and aâ—ke them can easily give them and make us capable and comprehensive of them through faith and love which are in Christ Jesus Now the spirit worketh faith and worketh by faith to make us capable of discerning all spirituall things for they being invisible as God himselfe cannot be seene with bodily eyes but only through an eye of faith And faith worketh by love and also worketh love See 1 Thess 1.3 Gal. 5.6 For what we cannot see through faith and apprehend to be lovely we cannot possibly love it I meane it of spiritualls and invisibles And therefore it followeth that if we have but a little faith a dim-eyed faith we have also but a little love and a little desire after spirituall things but are poor and content also to remain poor in all such respects See Rev. 3.7 8. But God hath chosen the poore of this world rich in faith to be heirs of his Kingdome And David also his eyes were upon the faithfull in the Land and upon the excellent that they might dwell with him Psal 101.6 But he was a man after Gods own heart where shall a man be found now in this generation that maketh his choice after the same rule to make them his associates and companions and delight and his counsellers as David did See Psal 16.3 James 2. 2 3 4 5. And why is it but for want of faith which worketh by love and worketh love to the choicest objects that are the most lovely and also the most loving for there is a reciprocacy in this respect in the sight of God as hath been shewed But if it be conceived that many doe in a great measure as David did I say let us take the Apostles counsell who beseecheth in such a case to increase more and more See 1 Thess 4 10. which sheweth that he would not have us rest content with any poore or scant measures but to be pressing forwards towards perfection in such respects wherein we can never goe beyond the mark that is set us and therefore it is that the Apostle biddeth seeing we desire and are zealous of spirituall gifts seeke that we may excell to the edifying of the Church See 1 Cor. 14 12. From which it is evident that we may and ought to seek that we might excell provided it be not to make our selves famous in the eyes of men but that our consciences may bear us witnesse in the holy Ghost that our end is mainly for the edifying of the Church Now this end can never sway us to any great zeal unlesse our love to the Church ingage us to it and the love of Christ must as it were constraine us as it did the Apostles yea and even Christ himselfe now where love engageth us it will not pervert the end of such ordinances which Christ hath left us for our edification to make them as stumbling blocks and as rocks of offence to obstruct our communion whereby we have occasion for edifying one another in faith and love But it will rather cast up and prepare the way and remove the stumbling blocks out of the way of his people See Isa 57.14 That so all the elect and beloved of God may accord with us and come in and consecrate with us in all Christian communion and brotherly fellowship for it is the nature of love to unite cordially for love is in the heart and therefore it was that in the primative times they that beleeved were of one heart and of one mind and the successe was they had all things common Now it is well known that cordiall love cannot be enforced but must be induced we cannot cudgell it into the hearts of any God is the Author and Fountaine thereof nor can our seperation and keeping a part ever induce it but it must be induced through loving and kind fellowship and communion together and therefore it is that God hath commanded fellowship Consider seriously this Text of Scripture what it clearely importeth I speak it as to wise men as the Apostle did to judge what I say of it to wit 1 Cor. 10.14 15 16 17. Wherefore my dearly beloved fly from idolatrie I speak as to wise men judge ye what I say The Cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the blood of Christ The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread one body for we are all partakers of that one bread From all which give me leave to aske you doth not his bidding us fly from idolatry imply that we may idolize the bread and wine as so not only the Papists do who account it the reall body and blood of Christ which they heare us doe and must containe till all things be restored But when we make account as if the bread and wine after consecration or blessing of them had any vertue in them to nourish our soules to eternall life â—hich were only left us as outward signes to be eate and drunke in remembrance of him and that by his body the Church so that when they gave thanks or blessed the bread and wine they did not pray that the bread and wine might be blessed to the people for their Spirituall nourishment But they prayed that the communion and fellowship of the misticall body might be blessed that is to say that their union and fellowship together might be a meanes oâ— their edification and that is faith and love and so might grow up together and hold close to the Head from which all the body being knit together by joynts and bands having nourishment ministred might increase with the increase of God See Coloss 2.19 And this is the end for which this Sacrament was ordained to wit for our edification in faith and love and that by having communion with Christ who hath