144 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XXIII.
had no reason to love us at so dear a rate : but we have all the reason in the world to love God and serve him. Therefore if he hath pre- vented us with his love, the thankful soul will think of a return and recompense, such as creatures can make to God. God's love of bounty will be requited by a love of duty on our part.
2. Love is a principle that will manifest and show itself. Of all affections it can least be concealed ; it is a fire that will not be hidden. Men can concoct their malice, and hide their hatred, but they cannot hide their love. It will break out and express itself to the party loved, by the effects and testimony of due respects: Prov. xxv. 5, ' Open rebuke is better than secret love.' When a man beareth another good-will, but doth nothing for him, how sliall he know that he lovetli him ? Can a man love God, and do nothing for him ? No ; it must show itself by some overt act ; love suffereth a kind of imper- fection till it be discovered, till it break out into its proper fruits : 1 John ii. 5, 'He that keepeth his word, in him is the love of God perfected ; ' as ' lust is perfected, when it bringeth forth sin,' Jam. i. 15. it hath produced its consummate act, and discovered itself to the full.
3. It bendeth and inclineth the heart to the thing loved. Amor meus est pondus meum ; eo feror, quocunque, feror. It is the vigor- ous bent of the soul, and it so bencleth and inclineth the soul to the thing loved, that it is fastened to it, and cannot easily be separated from it. We are brought under the power of what we love, as the apostle speaketh of the creatures : 1 Cor. vi. 12, ' But I will not be brought under the power of any.' It is deaf to coimsel in its measure ; it is true of our love to Christ, if we love him, we will cleave to him. A man is dispossessed of himself that hath lost the dominion of him- self, as Samson, like a child led by Delilah: so is a man ruled and governed by his love to Christ.
4. It is a most kindly principle to do a thing for another out of love. What is done out of love is not done out of slavish compulsion, but good-will ; not an act of necessity, but choice : 1 John v. 3, * This is love, that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous.' That is bad ground that bringeth forth nothing, unless it be forced. Natural conscience worketh by fear, but faith by love. Love is not compelled, but it worketh of itself ; sweetly, kindly, it taketh off all irksomeness, lessens difficulties, flxcilitates all things, and maketli them light and easy, so as we serve God cheerfully. Where love prevaileth, let it be never so difficult, it seemeth light and easy. iSeveu years for Rachel seemed to Jacob as nothing, made him bear the heat of the day and cold of the night, Gen. xxix. 10. But where love is wanting, all that is done seemeth too much.
5. It is a most forcible, compelling principle ; non persuadet sed eogit, one glosseth the text so. It cometh with commanding entreaties, reasoneth in such a powerful, prevailing manner, as it will have no denial : Titus ii. 11, 12, ' For the grace of God that, bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, teaching us that denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world.' Nothing will hold your hearts to your Avork so much as love. Lay what bands you will upon yourselves, if a temptation cometh, you will break them, as Samson did his cords, wherewith he
YeK. 14.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 145
was bound. Promises, vows, covenants, resolutions, former experiences of comfort, when put to trial, all is as nothing to love. But now let a man's love be gained to Christ, that is band enough : quis legem dat amantihus ? major lex amor sihi est. Love, so far as love, needeth no penalties, nor laws, nor enforcements, for it is a great law to itself, it hath within its bosom as deep obligations and engagements to any- thing that may please God, as you can put upon it. Indeed if there Avere not an opposite principle of averseness, this were enough ; but I speak of love as love. Fear and terror are a kind of external impulse, that may drive a soul to a duty ; but the inward impulse is love ; that will influence and overrule the soul, and engage it to please Christ, if it beareth any mastery there.
6. It is laborious ; it requireth great diligence to be faithful with Christ. Now love is that disposition which puts us upon labours : this, if anything, will keep a man to his work : Heb. vi. 10, * God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love ; ' and 1 Thes. i. 3, ' Remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labour of love.' It is not an affection that can lie bashful and idle in the soul. So Rev. ii. 4, * Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.' Till love be lost, our first works are never left. Our Lord when he had work for Peter to do, gauged his heart, John xxi. 15, ' Simon Peter, lovest thou me ? ' Love sets all a-going,