Reason 3. There is no keeping the law without loving the law. There is a keeping the commandments by way of defence, and by way of obedience ; a keeping of them by way of preservation, when we will not suffer them to be violated or wrested from us by others ; and a keeping of them by way of observation, when we are mindful of them, are careful to observe them ourselves. This latter is the mean- ing of the scripture notion of keeping the law. Now this cannot be without love ; nothing can hold the heart to it but love. What bonds will you cast upon yourselves ! But if a temptation come, you will break them all, as Sampson did the cords wherewith he was bound. It is not your promises, vows, covenants, resolutions ; not your former experiences of comfort, when put to no trial ; all is nothing to love. To evidence this to you, three things are needful — labour, valour, and self-denial.
1. To keep the commandments is a laborious thing, and requireth great diligence. Now love is that disposition that maketh us laborious and diligent. If anything keep a man to his work, it is love. Labour and love are often put together : Heb. vi. 10, ' God is not unrighteous, to forget your work and labour of love ;' 1 Thes. i. 3, ' Your work of faith, and labour of love.' It is not a slothful and idle affection, but will make a man take any pains, and endure any toil, nescit amor molimina — love never findeth difficulties. The reason why they object difficulties is because they love not. The church of Ephesus, when she lost her first love, she left her first works, Rev. ii. 4. Our Lord Jesus, when he had work for Peter to do, gageth his heart upon this point : John xxi. 15, ' Simon Peter, lovest thou me ? feed my sheep, feed my lambs.' No man can endure the toil of the ministry, and the many troubles and difficulties he meeteth with in the discharge of it, without love to Christ. It is love sets all the wheels in the soul a-going.
2. To keep the commandments requireth spirit and courage, not only the labour of an ox, but the animosity and courage of a lion ; for we are not only to work, but fight and contend for our duty against the enemies of our salvation. Now the most valorous and courageous
VER. 165.] SERMONS UPON PSALM CXIX. 205
affection is love. A cowardly lover is a monster, one that hath all liver and no heart. The poets in their fictions ascribe the valour of the person whom they would represent as noble and heroical to the strength of their love. Certainly the heroic acts of the martyrs came all from love. Others will not be at the charge of keeping the commandments of God that lie cross to their profits and pleasures ; but love will cause us to do the will of God, whatever it cost us. Yea, it is loath to serve God with that which cost nothing : Cant. viii. 6, 7, ' Love is strong as death, many waters cannot quench love.' Death conquereth the stoutest, but cannot conquer love : ' They loved not their lives to the death,' Kev. xii. 11. The waters of affliction cannot quench it, no threatenings, no promises can quench it. Love will not be bribed from Christ, nor frighted from Christ. You will be assaulted on both sides, with hopes and fears, but nothing shall fright or allure the soul from Christ.
3. To keep the commandments there needeth much self-denial and submission, that he may have a heart to stoop to the least intimation of the will of God, though it be against your own will, and against your own carnal sense and inclination and interest. A man can never keep the commandments till he thus deny himself ; therefore the world wondereth what is the reason that men do so submit against their humour and interest. And say, If this be to be vile, I will be more vile ; as holy David said : nothing can do this but love. When a man loveth you, you have the keys of his heart, you can open and shut it when you please. Sampson like a child submitted to Delilah, because of his love to her. So Gen. xxxiv., Hamor and Shechem submitted to any terms, to be circumcised, because of the delight the young man had to Dinah ; the father loved the son, and the son loved Dinah, and therefore both submitted to that hateful, painful ceremony. Jacob's service for Rachel seemed but a few years because of his love to her, Gen. xxix. 20. So if we love the law of God, we will submit to the duties of it, against the hair and bent of our hearts.
Use 1. Examination.
1. Do we receive the truth of God in the love thereof? Do we embrace the offers of Jesus Christ heartily? Acts ii. 41, ' They re- ceived the word gladly.' Do you keep up your relish of the gospel, delight to hear of Christ, to read of Christ, to meditate of Christ, and the doctrine of salvation ? not one part, but all ? Ps. i. 2, ' His delight is in the law of God ;' the whole law. Ungodly men will catch at promises, seem to show a love to these, but grudge at the mandatory part of the word. Do you delight when it is pressed upon you, when you are warned of your danger ? know most of your duty, and the way how to attain your blessedness ? Do you love it most when you feel the tragical effects of it ? As the apostle saith, ' The command- ment came, and sin revived, and I died.'