Mat. VIL 12.] the eighteenth sermon. 373
law and against experience. You complain to God in the bitterness of your soul, when ye are under these oppressions; so will they com- plain against you : therefore it is more evil in you. The —
3. Observation is this : That this rule is spiritual, and concerneth the inward man as well as the outward ; not only actions, words, and practices (though it be said, whatsoever men do unto you), but the thoughts. The whole law of God is spiritual : Ps. xix. 7, ' The law of Cod is }Xirfect, converting the soul ;' not only guides the motions of the outward man, but reachetli to the workings of the heart. As is the lirst table, so is the second : for we are told. Mat. xxii. 39, ' The second is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.' How like to it ? It is as spiritual as the first, and therefore not only what I do, but what I would think and pur^wse to do to others, is comprehended in it. Christ therefore s})eaks of adultery committed in the heart, by impure and wanton thoughts and desires. This rule, which concerns the whole second table, not only concerns the actions, but your dis- jxisitious and inclinations ; and not only provides against hard speeches, and outward behaviour, but the secret grudgings in your hearts against others, that your affections may not be alienated from them. For mark, what is here, What 3'e would men should do to you, do the same to them. In other places it is, ' Love thy neighbour as thyself,' Gal. V. 14 ; so that all the duties and practices which concern the good of our neighbour, must proceed from a principle of love. The justice of the second table, as required of Christians, is a justice tem})ered and excited by love. Tliough our outward acts be never so pleasant, yet if love be not at the bottom of it, it is not right. As 1 Cor. xiii. 3, * If I give all my goods to the poor, and have not charity, it signifietk nothing.' You will think that is excessive charity, to give all my goods ; yea, but if it be not done with love, it is nothing worth, not accepted, nor rewarded by God. And so we must refer these words not only to the outward man, but the principle of love which is in the heart.
4. Proposition : That all which is done by virtue of this rule, must be done not only out of love to man, but out of love to God, and as an act of obedience. For when Christ gives us this direction, ' Whatsoever ye would,' &c., he doth not give it as a ]X)litic course, to establish peace ii\ the world, but as a compendious rule to guide us in the duties of the second table. Self-love is the measure, but it is not the reason, ground, or principle of our actions. A measure it is, for we will cer- tainly do right to ourselves ; but to make it an- act of ol^edience, so it is accepted of God. It is a common rule, all moral duties must be done as in and to the Lord ; out of the love of God, fear of God, and obe- dience to his blessed majesty : therefore it is said, Eph. v. 21, * Sub- mitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.' That must be the great principle which swayeth us ; not polic)', or respect to our own interest, but conscience. There must be a right principle of motion, as well as a just action, if we will do exactly and according to the law of Christ. Therefore here is the great difference between a Christian and another man in the duties of the second table in his moralities ; he turns second table duties into first table duties ; it is a thing carried on throughout the whole scripture. Thus if he gives
374 THE EIGHTEENTH SERMON. [MaT. YII. 12.
alms, his alms is a sacrifice ; sacrifice is a duty of the first table, but alms is clearly a duty of the second table. !So all his commerce (I do but instance in one for all) ; what he doth to men must be done in and to the Lord. So here in this very case, love to man, it is but a stream which comes from a higher fountain, and that is love to God. A Christian loves God first, and indeed he loves nothing but God, for he loves God in all his creatures. In men we love his natural image, but in the saints his spiritual image : 1 John iv. 21, ' This command- ment have we from him, that he who loveth God, love his brother also.' Our love to our ordinary brother must be excited and measured by our love to God ; and our love to our Christian brother, our fellow- Fjiiints, must be from the love of God : 1 John v. 1, ' Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him.' So much for the negative part.
Secondly, Now let us come to the affirmative part, which establisheth charity ; for it is not enough if we do not hurt others, but we must do them good. Now charity "is seen in two things— both in giving and forgiving.