5. It is a duty that fitteth us to partake of the blessing which God hath commanded for his people when united : Ps. cxxxiii. 1-3, 'Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. It is like the precious ointment upon Aaron's head, that ran down upon the beard, that went down to the skirt of his garment ; as the dew of Hermon, and the dew that descendeth upon the mountains of Zion ; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.' This holy concord is a blessing both pleasant and profitable. God delighteth to pour out his graces on such a society : Mat xviii. 19, ' I say unto you, If two of you shall agree on earth touching anything they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.' God will not hear one sort of his children against another ; it is like 'the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard, that went down to the skirt of his garment.' There the pleasantness is described by the fragrancy of the holy oint- ment wherewith Aaron and his sons were anointed ; it is often called the oil of gladness, because it cheered the spirits of the chief priests, and all that were present in the temple. The profit of it, ver. 3, 'As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the moun- tains of Zion ; for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life lor evei'more.' It is as the dew which moistens the earth, which was a great blessing in those hot countries, and caused the fields to laugh with fatness ; he mentioned Mount Hermon and Mount Zion, Hermon was a fat and fruitful place ; it is usually put among the fair and pleasant pastures. There is the blessing ; they have most com- munion with God who have most communion with one another, and all this is in order to eternal life.
6. This is a duty that doth most discover the temper of our religion, which is wholly made up of love. It is a God of love that we serve, and they have no acquaintance with him that love not their brethren : 1 John iv. 7, 8, ' Let us love one another, for love is of God ; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God ; for God is love.' Again, 1 John iv. 16, ' God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.' Redemption by Christ, which is the great mystery of the christian religion, the most conspicuous end was the demonstration of
96 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SeR. XVII.
God's love: John iii. 16, 'God so loved tlie world, that he gave his only-hegotten Son.' So 1 John iii. 16, ' Hereby perceive we the love of God, that he laid down his life for us.' What is this mystery of re- demption but a wonder of love ? It was love stepped in, and recovered us out of that destruction and ruin wherein we had involved ourselves. What was the Son of God but love incarnate, love coming down from lieaven to earth, to die for a sinful world ? Now why was all this made known unto us ? Only to talk of, or comfort ourselves Avithal ? No ; that we might imitate it, that the true stamp and impression of our religion may be upon our hearts : Eph. v. 2, ' Walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us ; ' 1 John iv. 11, 'If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.' He that seetli the true face of redemp- tion, and understandeth the gospel and the grace of Christ, will easily be induced to see the reasonableness of such a duty. And what is the work of the Holy Ghost but to shed abroad this love in our hearts ? Rom. V. 5 ; the intent of the ordinances, but to represent this love and seal up this love ? So that we do express the true genius of our religion by love.
ilse. The use is to show us the excellency, and amiableness, and beautifulness of the christian religion in both these regards, as it requireth brotherly kindness and charity. Brotherly kindness or com- munion of saints : some things are pleasant and not profitable, as vain delights ; some things are profitable and not pleasant, as afiiictions and the sorrows of repentance ; some things neither profitable nor pleasant, as hatred, variance, strife ; some things pleasant and profitable, as the concord of God's people. Man is a sociable creature, and religion doth mightily befriend human societies ; for besides that brotherly kindness, that it requireth to be exercised among christians themselves, it re- quireth also love to all men, not only forbidding injustice to the names and persons of others, but uncharitableness, and those oppressions and injuries wherewith the world aboundeth. These things would be banished if men would be but true to this religion, and love their neighbour as themselves. It commands universal love and kindness among men, a readiness to forgive our greatest enemies. How easily would men be induced to pardon wrongs ! how patiently would they bear a modest dissent, where in this state of frailty all men cannot force their judgments to be of another mould and size ! How far would men be from doing hurt to one another, hurt no man, speak evil of no man ! Yea, how beneficial and helpful would men be to one another, seeking others' good as their own, affeeted with one another's welfare as their own, and rejoicing in it ! Oh, that the world would consider how much of Christianity consists in love and doing good ! Without that there is nothing so fierce, so bad, so cruel, which you may not be drawn to think, say, or do against your brother. The world is pre- iudiced against religion as an ill-natured thing, but there is no ground for such a prejudice, when we consider the christian religion requireth nothing but what is most fit for God to command, and most reasonable for man to obey.