II. How these are conjoined, faith in Christ, and love to the brethren. And here, first, Of the connection, secondly. Of the order.
First, The connection. There is another sum and abridgment of the commandments given by Christ : Mat. xxii. 36, 37, ' Master, which is the great commandment in the law ? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.' Other things are mentioned by another apostle : Acts xx. 21, ' Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.' All have their use, for they speak accommodately to their purpose ; Christ of the sum of the law given by Moses, Paul of the sum of evan- gelical doctrine or covenant, John with respect to the purpose of his exhortation : he might have reduced the sum of the gospel to one head, faith in Christ ; yet for more distinct explication's sake includeth love also ; and this not without good reason, for these things are often coupled in scripture: Col. i. 4, ' Since we heard of your faith in Jesus Christ, and the love which you have to all the saints.' So Eph. i. 15, ' After I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love to all the saints ; ' 2 Thes. i. 3, ' Your faith groweth exceedingly, and your love towards each other aboundeth.' But above all, 2 Tim. i. 3, 'Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love, which is in Christ Jesus.' Now this connection must be always observed.
VeR. 23.] SERMONS UPON 1 JOHN III. 217
1. With respect to our own personal safety and the good of the church. Faith relateth more to our personal benefit: justification, Eom. V. 1, ' Being justified by faith;' sanctification, Acts xv. 9, ' Purifying their hearts by faith ;' salvation, 1 Peter i. 9, ' Receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls.' Love to the good of others, that we may have a tender care of the duty, honour, and prosperity of Christ's church. We are to build up ourselves in our most holy faith ; and we are also to love and edify the body, which is by love, and that which every joint supplieth, Eph. iv. 16. Surely their welfare should be regarded as your own. Love is called by the apostle. Col. iii. 14, ' The bond of perfection.' Love is the tie and bond which knitteth all the members of the church together, that their several gifts and graces may be employed for the public, whereas other- wise they serve for mutual prejudice. Without love we should, as a besom unbound, fall to pieces ; there would be no peace and safety, but only malice and reviling, and that too often mingled with our Avorship.
2. This connection is necessary, that grace may be found saving and sincere ; for faith without love is dead, James ii. 17 ; and love without faith is no saving grace, but a natural inclination, but a little good nature : so that faith and love are in a manner the rivals' of a christian, without which he cannot walk ; and if any one be wanting, the other is dead and withered.
Second, For the order, first faith, then love ; for faith produceth love, and the cause is before the effect. Faith apprehending the love of God in Christ, inflameth the heart in love to God again ; and then we keep his commandments, and love other things for God's sake, Gal. v. 6. When faith hath kindled in our souls love to God, then we love God above all, we shall love God in all, and that most which hath most of God. Surely if you love God as God, it will teach you to love the brethren ; the example of God's love in Christ will make some im- pression upon you, and you will love all that belongeth to God in the world.
Use 1. To reprove those that do little regard the planting, growth, or exercise of faith and love ; you are not truly subject to God if you decline any of his commandments, much more if you neglect the great commandments of faith and love.
1. By many faith is little minded, believing in Christ is a mystical truth. Moral obedience is evident by natural light ; for the law was written on the hearts of men, Rom. ii. 14, as well as in the book of God. Things seen by a double medium are greater. We are not sensible of the evil of unbelief, as we are of immoralities ; but now the gospel is confirmed by the Spirit, it is a great sin : John xvi. 9, ' Of sin, because they believe not on me ; ' and a dangerous sin : Mark xvi. 16, 'He that believeth not shall be damned;' John iii. 18, 19, ' He that believeth on him is not condemned, but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And tiiis is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil.' A double condemnation ; we are under condemnation already ; the sentence of the law is not reversed till we