VeR. 23.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 215
ing of it at least in our esteem, as a tiling unworthy to come in com- petition with Christ or tlie benefits offered by him, or to obstruct the duty we owe to him.
[2.] A devoting and giving up ourselves to the conduct of his word nnd iSpirit. Certainly all those that believe in the Son of God put tliemselves'into his hands, taking his will for the rule of their lives and actions, and look to be kept by his power unto salvation : 2 Cor. viii. 5, ' And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.' His word is their rule : Gal. vi. 16, 'As many as walk according to this rule.' His Spirit Iheir guide : Kom. viii. 14, ' For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God.' His precepts show their duty, and by the strength of his S[)irit they perform it ; so that faith in the Son of God is such a trusting ourselves in his hands as begets fidelity to him. Faith and faithfulness are nearer akin than so, and we must trust Christ if we mean to be true to him. We have sincerity enough in the promise, and fidelity enough in the thing promised.
Secondly, Love to the brethren is the next thing to be opened: 'That ye love one another, as he gave commandment.'
1. There must be an internal affection. He doth not only press us to do good to one another, but to love one another. A real love there must be, otherwise the most glorious actions are insignificant as to our acceptance with God : 1 Cor. xiii. 1-3. A sincere love there must be to them for God's sake, for the goodness he hath endued them with, and for the service they may do him, or the relation they have to him as creatures or children ; not for our own sakes, to barter courtesies with them. A selfish man can faithfully love none but himself, for he loveth all others for himself.
2. The persons ; we must ' love one another.' We are to love all things with respect to God, his natural image in all his creatures, and his moral and spiritual image in his children. There is a love to every oi^e without exception to whom there is an opportunity offered of doing them good. When the wounded man was passed by by the priest and Levite, the Samaritan performed the office of a neighbour ; and Christ biddeth us go and do likewise, Luke x. 36, 37. But because love to our neighbour supposeth love to God, and floweth from it as a stream from a fountain, therefore chiefly to the children of God : 1 John v. 1, ' Every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of liim. By this we know we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments ; ' 1 John iv. 21, ' This command- ment we have from him, that he that loveth God, lovetli his brother also.' We ought not to live to ourselves only, but for the benefit of one another, especially of our fellow-christians.
3. For the manner of exercising this love, it must be in a self-deny- ing way ; it is a Christ-like love, not only as we should love ourselves, but as Christ hath loved us ; that is, to seek their benefit with our own loss. In two things Christ showed his self-denial — in washing his disciples' feet, and dying for sinners. By the first he taught us that, if we may be serviceable to one another, we should stoop to the meanest offices, John xiii. 3, 4. Surely this is more binding upon us who are all mutual servants to one another, as being fellow-members
216 SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN HI, [SeR. XXX.
of one body, 1 Cor. xii. 25, 26 ; therefore we ought to employ our- selves in all the duties of love to our neighbour, though never so mean and never so laborious. The apostle speaketh of the labour of love, Heb. vi. 10. Though it be laborious and irksome to the flesh, yet the will and love of God must sweeten it. The apostle saith, Gal. v. 13, 14, ' By love serve one another, for all the law is fulfilled in one word, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.' Love will make us stoop to the meanest duties, to the meanest persons. The other example is in dying for sinners ; so ought we to love the brethren at the dearest rates: 1 John iii. 16, 'Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.' To prefer their good before our conveniencies and natural desires, especially where their spiritual good and the glory of God is concerned ; but alas ! few know how to prefer God's glory and their neighbour's good before the fulfilling their own fleshly lusts.
4. The fruits of this love are usually seen in giving and forgiving ; giving or parting with our estates for their relief: this I largely pleaded, verse the 17th ; and it is elsewhere pleaded from Christ's example : 2 Cor. viii. 9, ' Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that through his poverty you might be made rich.' And he telletli them that this he said to prove the sincerity of their love ; if love be hearty, it will discover itself this way. So in forgiving, Eph. iv. 32, ' Forgiving one another, as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.' God hath forgiven greater miscarriages and disingenuities. Mat. xviii.; therefore we must forgive with a readiness to do all duties of love and kindness to those that have done the wrong ; yea, none of us are so free from infirmities but that we need forgiveness ourselves, not only from God but men.