(3.) We should love them all, whether we be obliged or disobliged ; for in brotherly kindness we are not to mind our own things, but the image of God and the glory of God, and the good and benefit of others : Phil. ii. 4, * Look not every one upon his own things, but every man also upon the things of others.' Whether we are invited to this love by benefits or courtesies done to us, or discouraged by neglects, we are to consider our duty to people as they stand related to God, otherwise we know one another after the flesh, when we value men by personal respects to us rather than by what of God we find in them : * If you love them that love you, do not even the publicans the same ? ' Mat,
VeR. 11.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN 111. 91
V. 46, What singular thing do we ? We are monsters of ingratitude if we should do otherwise.
(4.) The objects of this love are those that are partakers of like precious faitli with us, or, in one word, the brethren, or our fellow- christians. Our brethren in a natural sense are all mankind, as it is said, Acts xvii. 16, ' He hath made all nations of one blood.' There is a communion of the same nature. But in a christian sense, all the faithful are brethren in Christ, because of the communion of the same faith. Of these, some are only professors of the faith, who, in opposition to infidels, are called brethren : 1 Cor. v. 11, 12, ' If any called a brother be a fornicator, or a drunkard, or a railer, or covetous, or an idolater, with such an one eat not.' Others are really regenerate, or give hopeful evidences thereof ; these are born of the same seed, adopted by the same Father, brought up in the same family, partakers of the same Spirit, estated in the same inheritance, of the same brotherhood the apostle maketh mention, 1 Peter ii. 17. Now though they should not be such as we take them to be by their profession, yet our love is accept- able to God, because we love them upon this supposition, that they are brethren.
(5.) The reduplication or qualification of this object. These brethren must be loved as brethren with such a love, and upon that account, as Christ distinguisheth between giving to a disciple and giving to him in the name of a disciple, Mat. x. 42 ; as one that belongeth to Christ, stamped with the image of God, and sealed with his Spirit. If it be for some external respect, though the love be real in its kind, yet we have our own ends in it ; as many may show respect to the people of God to get advantage by them. Self-love is great in every one of us, and therefore in sincerity to love the brethren is a very difficult thing ; most have their ends in it, and make a market of their religion. Then it is brotherly kindness when we love them out of a respect to their holiness, or because of the image of God in them, A saint is to be loved as a saint, and a disciple as a disciple, eo nomine, not because learned, potent, opulent, but as a child of God ; if so, a quatemts ad omne, then we will love all in whom we see anything of Christ. Love will cover something that is unlovely in them, because partakers of tlie same grace, and look for salvation by the same Christ. Surely we will love them whether they be of our party or no ; but {sicut se liahet sim- pliciter ad simpUciter, ita macjis ad magis) the more godly, the more we will love them. Many love godliness in a low degree, while mingled with imperfections, — the impurity is a part of the reason of the love, — whilst a very strict man is hated. Well, then, tiiis is brotherly love. By this brief view of it we see it is very rare to be found amongst chris- tians. Self-love and the love of the world have almost destroyed it ; and where it is, it is not so fervent and effectual as it should be. In most persons, though professed christians, we either find no love, or if any be, a very cold one, such as will run no hazards for and with those whom we love.
I come now to speak of the other branch, charity, or love to all men, for it must not confine itself to fellow-christians only, but be diffused to all men, though they be not heirs of the same grace of life. In short —
92 SERMONS UrON 1 JOHN III. [SeR. XVII.
1. This love is either amor justitke, which consists ia justice and righteousness. We are not to wrong them or defraud them of their due, but so deal with them as we would be dealt with ourselves ; for this is one sort and kind of love : to love my neighbour as myself, and do as I would be done by, are equivalent expressions : Rom. xiii. 7, 8, ' Render to every one their due ; owe no man anything, but to love one another.' Again, there is amor compassionis, we must not hide ourselves from our own flesh, Isa. Iviii. 7 ; we must be affected with their misery, both by reason of sin and affliction, relieve their wants, seek their conversion, and promote it by ourselves and others by all ways and means possible. This we owe to barbarians and wicked ones, of what nation soever ; though we hate their ways, we must pity their persons.