238 THE SIXTH SERMON. [2 Thes. hi. 5.
remembrance of the Lord's mercies, especially of onr redemption by Clirist. To draw ni<^li to him in ordinances, there this delight is exercised again, Tliere is prayer. A gracious soul cannot be a stranger to it, because it cannot have a greater refresliing than to be alone''with God, and unbosom himself with God. The hyi)Ocrite is PL-jeoted from being capable of this character : Job xxvii. 10, 'Will he delight himself in the Almighty ? will he always call upon God ? ' Sometimes he will call upon God, he is frighted into a little religious- ness, it may be, when death is at his back, in great afflictions, or time of great judgments ; but he hath no constant delight in God. The constant delight in God is that that brings the saints into his presence. So for all other Christian duties: Ps. cxxii. 1, ' I was glad when they said unto me, Come, let us go into the house of the Lord.' There they entertained traffic and commerce with God about matters of the highest concernment to their precious and immortal souls. Nay, all their work, the whole course of their obedience, is sweetened to them, because it is commanded by God, and tends to the enjoyment of God : as Ps. cxii. 1, ' Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his commandments ; ' they not only keep the command- ments, but delight (and that greatly) to keep the commandments. And Ps. cxix. 14, ' 1 have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.' Delight in God is a great act of love, to Avhich we sliould not be strangers, even in the house of our pilgrimage, though we have no assurance or sensible enjoyment of his favour ; for it is a duty of the first commandment, that results from the own- ing of God as our God.
XL For the external effects of love, they are doing and suffering his will, when we are contented to do what God will have us do, and be what God will have us be.
1. For doing. If we love God, we shall be loth to offend him, we shall be desirous to please him. Faith, I do confess, is a marvellous grace, it can apprehend things strange to nature, but it can do no worthy thing for God, till it be accompanied with love, Gal. v. 6. When the apostle tells us of that fiiith, that carries away the prize of justification, he describes it to be a ' faith working by love.' Faith itself serves as the bellows to blow up this flame in our hearts, as the next and immediate principle of action. In short, love is the over- ruling bent of our souls, the weight and poize upon us that inclines us to God. And look, as all noble qualities, when restrained, cannot pro- duce their con.'^ummate act, so love suffers a kind of imperfection, till it can thus br(;ak forth into some act of thankfulness to God ; but then it is perfected : 1 John ii. 5, * Whoso keepcth his word, in him the love of God is perfect,' that is, hath attained its consummate act, that which it aims at. No man certainly can be owned as a perfect, sincere lover of God, but he that makes conscience of doing what he commands ; none but they have a deep sense of his majesty ; none but tFiey have an esteem of his favour; therefore they dare not hazard it by a breach or neglect of their duty.
2. For sullering his will. For when the apostle prays here God would direct their hearts to love him, he means that they should en- dure anytliing rather than deny the faith, and confess Christ whatever
2 TllES. III. 5.] THE SIXTH SERMON. 239
it cost them. As obedience is virtually contained in love, so also courage and resolution. Solomon represents love as a powerful thing, as an affection that will not be bribed nor quenched : Cant. viii. 7, ' Many- waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it : if a man would give the whole substance of his house for it, it would be utterly con- temned.' It is true of love in general, much more of love to God. In carnal matters, love is a venomous poison ; when it hath invaded tlie heart, nothing will reclaim us : but in divine matters, it is a sovereign antidote against temptations, both on the right hand and on the left. For right-hand temptations, all the riches, pleasures, honours, are con- temned, they cannot bribe them over from Christ that really love him. All the floods of persecution cannot quench this holy desire. This is the genius and disposition of love, when once the bent of the heart is set towards God and heaven, they are vehemently set against anything that would turn them out of the way, and divert them from their purpose. III. To speak of the properties ; if it be sincere : —
1. It is not a speculative but practical love, not consisting in loftv airy strains of devotion too high for the common rate of us poor- mortals. No ; it is put upon a surer and infallible test — our obedience to God. Again, it consists not in a bold familiarity, but in a humble subjection and compliance with his will. 'He that hath my com- mandments and keeps them, he it is that loves me.' God's love is a love of bounty, but ours a love of duty ; therefore we are properly said to love God when we are careful to please him, and fearful to offend him. The scripture declares both : the first, ' This is love, to keep his commandments, and his commandments are not grievous ; ' the second, Ps. xcvii. 10, ' Ye that love the Lord, hate evil.' When we are fearful of committing or omitting anything may be a violation of his law, a grief to his Spirit, or a dishonour to his name, then we are said to love God. Whatever lofty and luscious strains of devotion we may otherwise please ourselves with, here will our trial rest. He doth not love God that can most accurately discourse of his attributes, or soar aloft in the nice speculations of contemplative divinity, or pre- tences of secrecy with God, but he that is most awful, serious and conscientious in his duty.