2. This knowledge is like the knowledge of heaven. Faith and im- perfect love here answereth to vision and complete love there. The sight and love of God is our felicity in heaven, therefore it should be our business on earth ; for here we do but train up ourselves for a more perfect estate, and Christ would make our work and reward suit. To see God and love him is our business now, and it is our happiness here- after. Here we follow the light of faith, there the light of glory. The understanding must see the truth it believeth, and the will possess the good it loveth. He that seeketh God is happy, and he that perfectly loveth him cannot be miserable. There we have no other employment than to behold and love God. The divine essence would be a torment to the blessed if the understanding transmitted it not to their will.
3. God rewardeth love with love : Prov. viii. 17, ' I love them that love me ; ' and John xiv. 21, 'He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him.' And those whom he loveth he will not be unmindful of, for he knoweth them.
4. None know God so much as they that love him ; for the afi'ection sharpeneth judgment. Therefore the pure in heart shall see God : Mat. V. 8, ' Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God ; ' as being purified from the dregs of sin, and having their minds cleansed.
5. Till we refer all that we know and believe to the true practice of the love of God, we are not sincere : 1 Cor. xiii. 1-3, ' Though I speak with the tongues of men and angels, and have not charity, I am become
1 Qu. ' disowned ' ?— Ed.
SERMON UPON I CORINTHIANS VIII. 3. 143
as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal : and though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have no charity, I am nothing : and though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.' A man may be burnt in the flames, and yet not at all acceptable to God ; dive into all mysteries of religion, yet not be affec- ted with them ; cast out devils, yet be cast out among devils ; give his goods to the poor, yet have his soul full of vainglory ; speak eloquently and accurately of God and Christ, yet not have his heart subdued to God. Yet a man cannot have charity and be upon ill terms with Christ ; all that love him are beloved of him.
Use 1. Is of exhortation, to join with your knowledge of God love to God.
Motives. 1. From the reward and benefit Is it not a great mercy to be known of God, and to be approved in the sentence of his word ? Gal. V. 6, ' In Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith, which worketh by love.' To be chosen, ac- cepted, and avouched to be his peculiar people : 1 Cor. xvi. 22, ' If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha ; ' compared with Eph. vi. 24, ' Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity.' To be owned in his ordinances ; the great feast of the gospel is prepared for such : 1 Cor. ii. 9, ' Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.' To be re- garded in his providence above all the dwellers on earth : Ps. Ivi, 8, ' Thou tellest my wanderings : put thou my tears into thy bottle ; are they not in thy book ? ' Though they seem base and vile in the eyes of men, can scarce cleanse themselves, yet they are accepted of God. Our friends will not know us in adversity, and the rich will not know the poor ; yet God knoweth them and owneth them, how despicable soever they be : Ps. xxxiv. 6, ' This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.' God's approbation is more worth than the approbation of all the world : 2 Cor. x. 18, ' Not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.' And at the last day, when every man shall receive his final doom and sentence, they shall be admitted to glory : James i. 12, ' Blessed is the man that endureth temptation ; for when he is tried, he shall receive uhe crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him ;' James ii. 5, 'Hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him ? '
2. From the duty,
[1.] There is no tme knowledge else. We do but talk like parrots of God and Christ, though with never so much subtlety and accuracy, till we love him: Judges xvi. 15, 'How canst thou say, I love thee, when thy heart is not with me ? ' Rom. ii. 20, ' An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge, and of the truth in the law ; ' 2 Tim. iii. 5, ' Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.'