150 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. [SeR. XXIII.
[2,] It must needs be so, for love to God doth formally contain or naturally produce this love to our brethren.
(1.) It doth formally contain it ; for our love to God is not a fond affection or fellow-like familiarity, but is seen in our profession of real respect; which is manifested in imitation, obedience and esteem.
(1st.) Imitation ; for love doth imply such a value and esteem of God, that we count it our happiness to be like him, and the truest respect and affection which we can have to him is to write after his copy, and to study to resemble our Father. Surely they cannot be said to love God who do not imitate him, are not merciful as their heavenly Father is merciful, Luke vi. 36. Now God openeth his hand, and satisfieth the wants and desires of the needy and indigent. Do we love God, and count this a perfection in God ? Surely then the impression of it should be on our hearts. I would not have you pass over this lightly, that the truest love of God lieth in imitation of him. If the great demonstration of God's love to us be to make us like him- self, surely then the more like him the more we love him, 1 John iii. 2 ; for our love answereth his love to us, as the impression doth the stamp or seal. Or if the greatest aim of the creature and the highest expression of our love to God be conformity to him now, so it is when love is most perfect ; it doth most delight itself in likeness to God : Ps. xvii. 15, ' As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness : I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness.'
{2d.) Obedience to him, for his love is a love of bounty, ours is a love of duty : 1 John v. 3, ' This is love, that we keep his command- ments ; ' John xiv. 21, ' He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me.' Surely he doth not love God that doth not obey him, and acteth so contrary to his commands, which call everywhere for charity and mercy to the bodies and souls of men, which is so pleasing to God: Heb. xiii. 16, 'But to do good, and to communicate, forget not, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.'
(Sd.) Love is seen in an esteem or transcendental respect of God, a respect to God above all other things. Now he that shutteth up his bowels from his brother in necessity doth not love God above all, for there is something he valueth above him, and is loath to part with for his sake, and that is this world's goods : 1 John ii. 19, 'Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world ; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.' Now it is gross love of the world not to part with this wOrld's goods when God calleth for them. Whosoever loves God valueth God's favour above all other things, and counts himself happy enough in the enjoyment of God, whatever he loseth for it or parts with for it : Ps. iv. 6, 7, ' Who will show us any good? Lord, lift up the light of thy countenance. Thou hast put gladness into my heart, more than in the time when their corn and wine increased ; ' Ps. Ixxiii. 25, ' Whom have I in heaven but thee ? and there is none upon earth that I desire besides thee.' He that will not, at God's instance and command, part with these things, the poor inconsiderable trifles of this world, he preferreth the world before the enjoyment of God and the favour of God.
(2.) It doth naturally produce it, partly by looking to what is past,
VeR. 17, 18.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 151
and partly to what is to come. The one is gratitude, the other is trust.
{1st.) Thankfulness for what is past ; he hath done so much for us, that we should he willing to part with anything for his sake. There- fore when the apostle would have them prove the sincerity of their love, 2 Cor. viii. 9, he argueth, ' Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that when he was rich, for your sakes he became poor, that through his poverty you may be rich.' If we have a grateful sense of his wonderful mercy, we will be ready to make some return of affection to God. But you will say, How is charity to the poor any return of love to God ? Ans. What you do at his instance and command, you do to God and for God's sake. Now God commandeth this, and he hath devolved our respects to him on the poor and indigent. God taketh it as done to himself if done to them : Mat. xxv. 40, 45, ' Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.' And the apostle teach- eth us that we show love to his name when we minister to the saints, Heb. vi. 10. He taketh it as an expression of kindness and thankfulness to himself, which is given to his servants.