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178 SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. [Seu. XXVI.
That he might seek a godly seed.' God in the beginning made but one man for one woman, and one woman for one man, yet he could, if he would, have created more persons at once ; it was not out of defect of power, but wise choice, that their affections might be the stronger. Conjugal affection would' be weakened, if, as they are in the brutes, they were scattered promiscuously to several objects. The true object indeed of love is but one, and that is God ; he is loved for himself, and other things for his sake. All lines end in the centre ; so all the inclinations of the creature should terminate in God. Love was planted in us for this purpose, that other things might be loved in God and for God.
3. The force and vehemency of love showeth it was made for God.
[1.] It is a vehement affection, that swayeth the whole soul. God only deserveth these heights and excesses which are in love. We make gods of other things, when we love them without subordination to him. Samson was led about like a child by Delilah. Men con- temn all things, honour, name, credit, riches, for their love, ease, pleasure. Turn this to money, covetousness is idolatry, Eph. v. 5 ; to pleasure, and the belly becometh a god, Phil. iii. ] 9.
[2.] It is love maketh us good or bad men. Men are as their love is. We are not determined from our knowledge, but our affections ; a man may know evil, and yet not be evil ; he is a carnal man that hath carnal desires ; love is the inclination and bias of the will. Such as a man is, so is his love. A man's heart is where his love is, rather than where his fear is. It is love transformeth the heart ; it changeth us into the nature of what is loved. This is the difference between mind and will ; the mind draweth things to itself, and refineth and purifieth them ; but the will followeth the things it chooseth, and is drawn after them, made like them, as the wax receiveth the stamp and impression of the seal. Carnal objects make it carnal, and earthly things earthly, and heavenly things heavenly, the love of God godly : Ps. cxv. 8, ' They that make them are like unto them ; so are all they that put their trust in them,' stupid, senseless as their idols. Love transformeth into the things we love; therefore without love all is nothing, 1 Cor. xiii. 1.
[3. J So much of the Spirit of God as you have, so much love ; for love to God is the proper gift of the Spirit to all the adopted sons of God, to cause them with filial affection and dependence to cry, Abba, Father, Gal. iv. 6 ; not always seen in challenging an interest in him, as coming in a childlike affection and a spirit of love.
4. The sad consequence of not loving Christ. It is no arbitrary matter ; the apostle suiteth his threatening to the form of the highest curse among the Jews : 1 Cor. xvi. 22, ' If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha,' cursed till the Lord come ; suspension from the congregation, casting out, giving over all hopes of the party offending, and leaving them till the Lord's coming. There is no hope for you. Though you do not hate, yet if you love not, there is a curse that will never be repealed. God made Christ's love so exemplary, to astonish us with kindness. Anathema is too good for him, the apostle cannot express it under a double curse ; you will be cast out of the assembly of the first-born if you repent not.
VeR. 14.] SERMONS UPON 2 CORINTHIANS V. 179
5. Consider what advantages we have by love. An interest in all the promises : Eph. vi. 24,. ' Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity ; ' and Kom. viii. 28, ' All things shall work together for good to them that love God ;' and James i. 12, ' Blessed is the man that endureth temptations, for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him ; ' James ii. 5, ' Hath not God chosen the poor of the world, to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him ? ' Faith giveth a right, but love a sensible interest. We cannot take comfort in the sense, till sure of the con- dition and qualification ; our faith is not right, till it beget love.
6, It is not only among the graces, but the rewards. Entire love is a part of our happiness in heaven ; it is our only employment there to love God, to love what we see, and possess what we love ; so that love is the end and final happiness of man. Love is the final act, as God is the final object. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, and love is the perfection of it.