poore fig-tree was curst because it was ba ren so likewise Christ arraignes men at the last day because they have not done good Matth. 25. Now this good must be done to body soule estate and that freely not having respect to our selves as in the 1 Cor. 13. Many will doe good because they looke for the like againe this is not love Math. 5.46 For if yee love them that love you what reward shall you have doe not the Publicans the same Thus then we may see what men are that have not love like Ishmael Gen. 16.12 Wild men their hand against every man and every mans hand against them or like that Judge spoken of Luke 18.2 Hee feared not God nor reverenced man such mens love if wee may so call it never over-looks their owne doores just like Nabal 1 Sam. 25.11 Shall I then take my bread and my water and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers and give it to them whom I know not whence they be It 's worth your paines to read the former part of the Chapter whereby you shall see a perfect character of such a person especially in the 10. verse our love should extend farther as wee see Hebr. 13.2 3. Be not forgetfull to entertaine strangers c. we know not what our own condition may be we may see what hath beene the condition of Gods Saints Hebr. 11.37 They were stoned they were hewen asunder they were tempted they were slaine with the sword they wandered up and downe in sheeps skins and Goates skins being destitute afflicted and tormented Sure the Nabals of the world will have no acquaintance with these poore soules but suppose we acknowledge all this as indeed who can deny it yet there is more to be done we must love our enemies and doe them good as wee are commanded Exod. 23.4 But who is this Whom may wee take for an enemy not every one that doth us a discourtesie as David to Mephibosheth he did him an ill turne but could not be accounted his enemy for he loved him but hee is an enemy that of set purpose doth a man wrong causelesly and continues therein Saul hated David that gave him no cause 1 Sam. 28.2 such an enemy ought to be beloved of us it is Gods commandement Mat 5.44 But I say unto you love your enemies c. Prov. 25.21 If hee that hateth thee be hungry give him bread to eate and if he be thirsty give him water to drinke a man that loves not his enemy doth more hurt to himselfe then his enemy can doe to him for hee hurts his owne soule as wee may see Matth. 6.15 But if yee forgive not men their trespasses no more will your Father forgive your trespasses also Col. 3.13 we have many encouragements to this dutie God himselfe glories in this as a most excellent thing Mic. 7.18 Who is a God like unto thee that taketh away iniquitie and passeth by the transgression c. Prov. 16.32 Another motive is we cannot serve God or performe our dutie without it as Math. 5.24 We must leave our offering c. So in prayer wee mocke God if wee pray not without wrath wee desire him to plague us neither can we come to the Lords Table 1 Cor. 5.8 So likewise for receiving the Word James 1.21 Besides if we doe not forgive our sinnes lye upon our owne score Math. 6.15 and 18.27 So likewise there shall be no mercy to him that sheweth no mercy Iames 2.13 Besides this is the most equall thing in the world for the vilest person would have God forgive him as in Deut. 29.19 This reason cuts off many objections that men usually make against this truth As shall I stoope to him if I should doe so I should encourage him 3. It 's not the the first time 4. Lowe him no love 5. I have often told him his fault 6. I have deserved better at his hands 7. I should be accounted a coward c. 8. He will not sue or speake to me 9. This is a singular thing and divers like this true Gods children must doe singular things Math. 5.47 Wee know what example Christ gave at his death hee forgave them so did Stephen Acts 7. Now there are foure excellent properties in forgiving wrongs and injuries as First It must be done speedily let not the San go down upon our wrath for then twenty to one but it will rise upon our wrath Secondly it must be done constantly that is alwayes every offence Math. 18.22 Wee know we are bound to pray continually and we must not lift up our hands in wrath we must not be overcome of evill but let patience have her perfect worke Iames 1.4 And let Patience have her perfect worke that shee may be entire lacking nothing Thirdly we ought to forgive truly so we desire at the hands of God Mat. 35.18 1 Iohn 3.18 Fourthly it must be done willingly not by constraint there is no duty accepted by God but such as is willingly performed Gal. 4.15 But if I should doe all this my enemy will thinke I am guilty at his perill if hee will doe so abuse his neighbours patience if this be so that we must love our enemies there is no doubt but we must love our friends and those are of three sorts By nature grace and choyce That by nature the heathen will teach us and wee may see how they are condemned that are without naturall affection Rom. 1.30 1 Tim 3.3 Now this duty is not performed onely in the things of this life but also in that of the better life wee see an example of this in Cornelius Acts 10.24 He called together his kinsmen and speciall friends so Iohn 1.41 42. One brother brought another to Christ Next is the love of our friends by grace hee that loves shall be sure not to lose his reward Math. 10.41 42. Hee that receiveth a Prophet in the name of a Prophet c. so 2 Iohn 1.2 we have the example of Christ for this 1 Thes 4.9.10 So the Prophet David Psal 16.3 Also God is well pleased with this and takes it as done unto himselfe Matth. 25.45 Yee have done it to me Next thing to draw our love they are worthy of our love and are said to partake of the divine nature 1 Pet. 1.4 Againe they are best able to require our love they can go to God for us Job 42.8 My servant Job shall pray for you c. The next is our friends by choyce as Ionathan loved David 1 Sam. 18.1.2 So also Paul loved Philemon The ground of this love should be our love to God and that Image of God in them Now there are divers things wherein this love is to be shewed as first in imparting to them what ever we know may be for their good as our Saviour Christ teacheth by his example Iohn 15.15 Next we must keepe our friends from hurt all we can as Ionathan did to David 1 Sam. 19.2 It 's a
the divellish proverbe Every man for himselfe and God for us all wee may well say and the Divell for us all Fourthly when one is hardly drawne to communicate any thing for the good of his brother we know 1 Cor. 13.4 Love is bountifull and Psal 112. A good man is mercifull which is also a fruit of love and Esai 32.8 A liberall man deviseth liberall things c. Fifthly when we blase abroad other mens faults casting them many times in the teeth with them when they have repented or at least might have done if wee had carefully put in practice our Saviours rule Math. 18. see a sweet Scripture Prov. 10.12 Love covereth all trespasses but there is commonly in good people a strong disposition to this evil they are very apt to offend in this to whisper secretly other mens faults as if they should thereby render themselves to their hearers to be religiously wise when indeed they doe the contrary for we are directed Gal. 6.2 to beare one anothers burthen and are said therein to fulfill the law of Christ Now there is no sorer burthen then sinne against God it 's able to breake of the strongest Christian without Gods help what an uncharitable thing then is this to lay upon such a poore soule all our hard and uncharitable speeches this is so farre from easing such as are overladen or helping to breake their burthen that wee hereby help to breake their backe as it commeth to passe Sixtly when men are inwardly vext at the good of others thus was Saul against David 1 Sam. 18.9 Thus many times men doe upon the same ground of Sauls hatred that is they thinke other mens goodnesse darkens and eclipses their glory and this I have knowne amongst men about matters of Religion when one is in a more forward way of reformation or differing something in judgement how doe they labour to finde some Spot or Blemish in that person or persons which thus stands in their way I can speake this by experience there are many aggravations of this sinne of uncharitablenesse As first when it s done to them that love us as wee may see the Prophet David complaine Psal 109.5 And they rewarded me evill for good and hatred for my friendship also when men hate such to whom they are bound in any speciall bond Husband wife Parents Children c. Secondly When they hate others for performing the chiefe Office of love thus we may see Amos 5.10 or when they hate others for godlinesse sake because they follow the thing that is good Psal 38 20. Thirdly when they carry a shew of love and hate them inwardly this was the practise of Ioab 2. Sam. 20.9 Thus also dealt Iudas with his Master and the Devill with Evah see then the evills of this sinne of uncharitablenesse spoyles and sowers all we doe and makes that God will not accept it it 's like that leaven of maliciousnesse 1 Cor. 5.8 see what wee are commanded 1 Tim. 2.8 I will therefore that men pray every where lifting up pure hands without wrath see also what is said 1 Iohn 3.15 and Math. 6.15 It 's said if we forgive not God wil not forgive us How should we then strive for a loving disposition in respect of God our selves and our brethren In respect of God consider first it 's his command 1 Iohn 4.21 So Ioh. 13.34 A new Commandement give I unto you that you love one another c. It is good for us to consider upon what occasion and at what time this was spoken by our blessed Saviour he was then to have them and it was just before his passion we alwayes take notice of the words of our dying friends and account that the strongest obligation marke also Christ calls it a new Commandement Why new not in regard of the matter of it But first in regard Christ renewes the practice of it Againe it was proposed by a new example the like was never heard of such love wherewith Christ loved his children neither indeed hath any man such love for our Saviour saith Ioh. 15.13 Greater love then this hath no man then to bestow his life for his friends see the height of mans love and this is very rare too as we may see Rom. 5.7 Doubtlesse one will scarce dye for a righteous man but yet for a good man it may be one dare die but see what Christ did as is set forth in the 8. verse whilest we were sinners Christ died for us when we were at greatest enmity against God We see now that if this duty be neglected we sinne not only against our brethren but against God himselfe as indeed there is no sinne whatsoever but it is against God this appeareth by Iosephs answer to his Masters wife Gen. 39.9 There is some resemblance of this in the lawes of our land for if a man steale from his neighbour the indictment runs thus against the King his Crowne and Dignity because he breaks the Kings lawes just so is the case betwixt God and us all our sinne whatsoever is against the great Law-giver let us consider this was the counsell of a dying friend that sweet Saviour of our soules how should this pierce the hearts of Gods children when they thinke of the wonderfull neglect of this duty If a dead father should know his last words sleighted would he like it much more then the Lord Christ for what ever he requires must be done if Abraham be commanded to sacrifice his sonne Let us learne then of the servants of Naman who said to their Master if the Prophet had required some great matter wouldst thou not have don it how much more when he saith Wash and be cleane so we love is all God requires and why desires he this he gaines nothing by it we have the benefit our selves Saint Iohn in 1 Joh. 3.16 sets before us Christs owne practice to move us to the performance of this duty see also farther 1 Iohn 4.9.10 11. Herein was the love of God made manifest c. Shall he that is every way infinite doe this and we neglect it that are so many thousand degrees below There are divers motives to this duty also in respect of our selves as first hee that loveth not his brother is a murtherer 1 Ioh. 3.15 If God should not punish such how should he be just we know what we say or at least thinke many times of a Judge or Jury when a murtherer is suffered to escape see also what is said 1 Iohn 2.9 The second motive he that hath this vertue of love may be able to resolve that great question of being in the state of Grace 1 Iohn 4.7 Iohn 13.35 There is also something to this purpose 2 Pet. 1.7.8 9 10. and we know that love hath this promise never to faile The next motive in respect of our selves is This inableth us to performe what ever God requires to be done to our brethren it is said 1 Cor. 12.7 The manifestation
of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withall and to that purpose in the last verse of this Chapâ—er the Apostle adviseth us to desire the best gifts having formerly mentioned divers but concludes in that verse that hee will shew them a more excellent way which he shewes in the next Chapter to be love and makes it plaine that without that all the other were or would prove unto them unprofitable it is most singularly set forth unto us in that 1 Cor. 13.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. and in conclusion he crowneth love with this above all the rest that it shall never fall away verse the 8. Love doth never fall away c. and therefore the Apostle adviseth us Col. 3.14 And above all things put on love which is the bond of perfectnesse this indeed ties all together and when this bond is broken we cannot performe our duty as we ought we see Nabal he could not helpe David he had no love The fourth motive is every man lookes that others should love him and supply his wants is it not most equall we should do the like to them See what Christ speaketh to this purpose Mat. 7.12 Therefore whatsoever yee would that men should doe unto you the same doe yee unto them c. want of love then is a most unreasonable sinne There are divers motives also to this duty in respect of our brethren first in regard of the neere relation we have to them they are of our own flesh Esa 58.7 we would not hurt our owne flesh but we know there should be a neerer relation of the same spirit Secondly there is not the worst but hath some thing in him to be beloved or whereby we may exercise our love that is delight or pity Thirdly the poorest and meanest may help the richest as we see David used the help of the poore Egyptian 1 Sam. 30.11 Also the poorest are or may be beloved of God Now to shew what this love is It is a fruit of the grace of Gods spirit no fruit of the flesh Gal. 5.22 and hence it is said 1 Iohn 4.7 love commeth of God and the Apostle Saint Paul saith that hee need not write unto them of this duty for this was taught them by God himselfe 1 Thes 4.9 But as touching brotherly love yee need not that I write unto you for yee are taught of God to love one another Thus we see then we have not love by nature Now there are divers conclusions may be drawne from this First that must needs be an error in such as maintaine that the first act of love is in man by nature wee may see this cleared by that the Apostle speakes Col. 3.14 And above all things put on love shewing that by nature men are without it so likewise see to that purpose Tit. 3.3 The second conclusion What may be in man by nature is not love as we see Iohn 3.6 The third conclusion That love which friend beares to friend parents to children c. is not this love 1 King 3.26 so the very Heathen may doe Mat. 5.46 The fourth conclusion if love be a fruit of Gods Spirit then wicked men can never love one another as we see betwixt the men of Shechem and Abimelech such friendship we shall finde in the Alehouse amongst drunkards the greatest shew of love when perhaps that was the first of their acquaintance and before they part one stab another it 's little better with all carnall men they cannot love never therefore keepe company with such neither trust a wicked man for at best he will be sure to leave thee in time of greatest need thus we see Ahab left Iehosaphat 1 King 22.30 and of this the Prophet David complains Psal 41.9 Yea my familiar friend whom I trusted which did eate of my bread c. See also an example in Judas Christ made him not onely an Apostle but also an especiall officer amongst the Apostles yet hee could not love him such mens friendship is like that of Iupiters Priests and the rest of the people mentioned Acts 14.13 that would have sacrificed to the Apostles and in the 19. verse were ready to stone them The fifth conclusion then may be this Labour all wee can to intrust our selves in the affections of Gods children for if there be any love it is amongst them this did the Prophet David Psal 16.3 To the Saints that are on earth and to the exellent all my delight is in them Let us now see the generall nature of love it is ready to doe good c. therefore the Lord is said to wait Esa 30.18 Thus it is also in men or at least should be See what the Apostle speakes Act. 21.13 What doe yee weeping and breaking my heart for I am ready not to be bound onely but also to die at Ierusalem for the name of the Lord Iesus thus also to the brethren Rom. 1.15 Therefore as much as in mee is I am ready c. So 2 Cor 12.14 See likewise what is said in commendation of the people 2 Cor. 9.12 For I know your readinesse of minde c. this also is commanded 1 Tim. 6.18 Now the readinesse is seene in these two things First when we doe good without intreatie as we see the Disciples did Act. 11.28 29 30. Whensoever they heard of the wants of the Saints sent them succour Secondly when we doe good at the first motion as Hyram 1 King 5.7 he rejoyced at the motion thus it 's said of that wisedome which is from above Iames 3.17 Easie to be intreated c. Some will performe an act of love with much intreatie as the unjust Judge Luke 18.36 this was not love for love will constraine us as we see Acts 16.15 of Lydia But when men are troubled and thinke much that any man should move them to this duty it 's an ill signe we ought to lay downe our lives as Saint Iohn speakes Iohn 10.11 and to doe good as the Prophet David speakes Psal 122.9 and so Heb. 13.16 To doe good and to distribute forget not c. Love is like the good woman spoken of Prov. 31.12 She will doe him good and not evill all the dayes of her life Hence ariseth three conclusions First love consisteth not in words and complements as Iames 2.16 This is no more love then the sonnes was obedience who said that hee would doe it but did it not see what Saint Iohn adviseth 1 Iohn 3.18 My little children let us not love in word neither in tongue onely but in deed and in truth The second conclusion is this If a man doe that which pleaseth a friend and is not good this is not love as wee see by the counsell given to Amnon 2 Sam. 13.4 5. And hence it is said Prov. 13.24 hee that spares the rod hates the childe because hee doth him no good The third conclusion such as say they hurt no body and yet doe no good have not love the
question whether Ionathan were a better sonne or friend in that he did Next wee should give our friends the best counsell we can Luke 12.4 And I say unto you my friends be not afraid of them that kill the body c. The next duty wee should beare a part with them in any affliction Psal 35.14 I behaved my selfe as to my friend or as to my brother I humbled my selfe mourning as one that bewaileth his mother Change of estate should not change friendship Prov. 17.17 A friend loveth at all times and a brother is borne for adversity So also in the first of Ruth 16.17 And Ruth answered intreat mee not to leave thee nor to depart from thee c. There are divers things wherein this love is abused as when the ground of it is our owne advantage and wee look upon them whilest the sunne of prosperity shines Next when our agreement in evill is the cause of our friendship also when we honour our friends in stead of giving them good counsell as Ionadab to his brother to abuse his sister 2 Sam. 13.5 and thus one drunkard gives counsell to another we shall see a notable example of such counsell in Zeresh Hamans wife and his friends Hest 5.14 where they gave advice that a gallowes of fifty cubits high should be set up to hang Mordecai it was notable counsell and so it proved at last Such also offend against this law that leave their friends in the time of their greatest necessity thus wee may see how Iobs friends left him Iob. 6.20 Yea many times they betray their friends as Iudas did his Master of this we have plenty of examples Let us then consisider how this duty of love is neglected yea almost out of use amongst us now in 2 Sam. 15.31 it was told David for strange tidings that Achitophel was one of the conspirators I thinke we cannot now account it strange to see one that hath beene a familiar friend as this Counseller was to David found amongst the conspirators but it were more to be admired to finde him any where but there especially when the sunne of our prosperity is setting as Davids was then thought to be we shall be sure to finde greene leaves after the strongest Winter frost and stormes as to finde a friend stand fast in the time of adversity but they will doe as Davids friends mentioned Psal 38.11 My lovers and my friends stand aside from my plague and my kinsmen stand afarre off This is not onely found amongst those fained friends as the world is full of but even amongst such from whom wee should expect better as we see in Iobs friends they were such as would be thought good men as may appeare by all their discourse and yet see how cruelly they deale with their poore friend in his affliction farre worse then Davids friends spoken of formerly they were strange and stood a farre off but these came neere to helpe to grieve and vexe Iob in his greatest extremity as if that were all they had now to doe for their poore friend to strive who should grieve him most It is a sad thing to finde this love wanting in our friends from whence we expect better and this made the Prophet David to utter that bitter complaint against his hollow hearted Counseller It was my familiar friend c. Psal 41.9 But what may the Lord say Looke backe David how was Vriah that poore friend of thine dealt with his life taken from him in the highst proofe of his friendship Thus wee complaine of the want of love in others but doe not thinke of our want of love to them but are of the same minde with Simon the Pharisie whose formality made him believe his condition to be better then it was as Christ shewes him and all us by setting before our eyes that penitentiall patterne Luke 7.44 Then he turned to the woman and said unto Simon seest thou this woman I entered into thy house and thou gavest me no water to my feet but shee hath washed my feet with teares and wiped them with the hayre of her head thou gavest me no kisse but shee since the time I came in hath not ceased to kisse my feet c. and then concludes Vers 47. That where little is forgiven they will love little who can reade this Scripture with dry eyes to see how short we come of this woman which the Pharisee thought so vile that it made him to call in question whether Christ were a Prophet because he admitted her to come so neere him shee came behind not presuming to behold that holy Saviour and at his feet accounting it happinesse enough to enjoy the meanest place about Christ and then see how she exprest her love she washt his feet with teares wiping them with the hayres of her head kissing and anoynting them her love forc'd all this from her but the sense of her sinne stopt her mouth we heare no word she spake our practice is contrary we speake much and with boldnesse but we have no other expressions but our words where is our love to the Saints where is our washing weeping and anoynting sure the want of these shew that wee are ignorant of that great love of our sweet Saviour to us and by the little love we have witneâ— to God and the world that we thinke little is forgiven us and as little do we consider what is given us How hath God blest this Kingdome of England made it fruitfull suffered none to prevaile against us but delivered us in a most unheard-of way and left us to praise his name and made other nations examples for us of his displeasure when hee might in Justice have made us examples for them but this is nothing to what he hath done hee hath given us his glorious Gospell our Saviour testifieth of John that there was not a greater borne of woman Math. 11.11 and yet he that is least in the Kingdome of Heaven is greater then he this is our condition in this Kingdome of grace Moses desired to see God and could not God hath manifested himselfe unto us in his Sonne Christ who is the image of the invisible God Col 1.15 so Heb. 1.3 What more can be said in him he hath given us all things How should these meditations raise our thoughts from the things here below and settle all our love upon Christ and all his Saints for hee takes that as done to himselfe take h ed how wee deny him any thing that hath given us all things that are fit for us hee hath redeemed our soules from hell set him have soule body wife children strength credit riches honour and all for Christ tells us hee that will not part with all for him is not worthy of him reade that heart-melting fifth of Cantic it 's a most sweet place of Scripture wherein is most lively set forth the most glorious perfect beauty of Christ how worthy hee is of our love above all things