It is from his own bowels, and not any goodness in us, that he loveth ns. He loveth the work of his own Spirit, his own nature, that that is of his own. Though the child hath many infirmities, yet the Father seeth the nature of the child, and therefore loveth it. God seeth his image of holiness in us in some poor measure, and he loveth his own in us. And he loveth our love to him, which is in some measure. Though the disciples * Qu. ' entilates ' ? — Ed.
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had got into corners, after their unkind dealing with Christ, yet he knew they loved hina. As where there is love, there will bo a reflection of his love back again.
And then God knoweth if he should not shew mercy to sinners, he should have none to serve him on earth. And therefore saith the psalmist, Ps. cxxx. ver. 4, ' There is mercy with thee that thou mayest be feared ;' that is, worshipped. If God were not merciful to sinners, where should he have any to worship him ? And therefore God sheweth himself to be a Father, even to sinful creatures ; even in their wickedness, he seeth his own nature in them. He seeth some love, some work of respect in them, and if he should not love them, he would have none to fear him.
Beloved, live upon this. I spake before of the love of Christ. Here is the love of God the Father, who is" content to be a Father even in our sinful condition. If God be a Father to us, as to Christ, then let not our hearts be discouraged in afflictions, persecutions, temptations. God was a Father to Christ in his desertion. God leaveth us to ourselves sometimes, and we fear his love. Did not he leave his own Son upon the cross — ' My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ?' Mat. xxvii. 46 — and yet he ceased not to be a Father.
For persecution of enemies : was not Christ's whole life filled up with persecution, and yet a Son ? For temptations : thou art tempted, and thinkest thou art none of God's children. Satan did tempt our blessed Saviour, that he might be a merciful Saviour, and know how to succour thee in times of temptation. Therefore, be not discouraged. Say not, when thou art deserted, persecuted, afflicted, tempted,. God is not thy Father ; for by that reason thou mayest argue, God was none of Christ's Father. God was Christ's Father, notwithstanding his desertion for a time ; and notwithstanding his afflictions in the world, his persecutions of all sorts of men, and notwithstanding his temptations, God was his Father still. This we must observe, ' father ' is not a relation to-day, none to-morrow. It is an eternal relation. ' Dum percutis, pater es ; clion castUjas, pater es,' saith Austin (Ji) : ' While thou strikest us, thou art our Father; whilst thou correctest us, thou art our Father.' Parents are tender to their weakest and sick children ; and God is most tender of all to them that be weak. ' Go, tell Peter.' And therefore, never be out of conceit of God or Christ. We cannot be in a condition wherein, on any sound grounds, we may run from God.
But if this be so, let us learn of God to be indulgent. If I were to speak to ministers, I should be large to advise them to preach the law and the gospel. The very law is preached in mercy. The Lord taketh a severe course, but it is to order us. All God's severity is reducible to mercy and Christ ; all his afflictions, humiliations, and abasements, do they come from unfatherly affection ? No ; but to draw us home to him. And therefore, never be terrible to any, but with a bowel of compassion, but with a mind that they may see themselves, and see the comforts they have in Christ. We ought to be of his affection, the great Pastor and Bishop of the church. And so for ordinary Christians ; they should be indulgent one to another. Some are always cutting in ulcers ; always wounding and tearing themselves with ill usage and misconstruction ; keeping themselves from growing up in a better life, by observing the infirmities of them that be better than themselves. Oh, but ' go, tell my brethren' that my Father owneth them for his children, which may be a use of marvellous comfort to us.
Shall a child be always prowling for itself ? We think there is neither
458 A HE-UTIXLY CONFEKEXCE.
father nor mother to take care for it : your heavenly Father knoweth what you need. We ought to hibour for contentment in all conditions ; for God is our Father. And for others, if God be our Father, let us look to others that be our brethren ; own them, and carry ourselves to them as brethren. Let the strong carry themselves lowly to the weak. It is a sign of greatest strength to bo most indulgent. Many account it great commendations on their part to be censorious and to be severe. Ay, but that is the greatest part of their weakness, if they have any goodness in them. For \\ho was more indulgent to the disciples than Christ, who saw their weakness ? He bore with all their iniirmilics. Where we see any goodness, let us bear with many weaknesses. We ought to bo peaceable men : JJcali sunt pacijki* They that be appeased in their consciences, in sense of their own pardon, are ready to shew mercy to others. Busy, contentious, quarrelsome dispositions argue they never found comfort from God himself, t-^ If God be a Father, and we are brethren, it is a levelling word ; it bringeth mountains down and fiUeth up valleys. All are brethren, take them in what condition you will. If they be great in the world, brethren of high degree ; yet * brother' levelleth them. If they be of low degree, yet it filleth them up, and raiseth them to the height in this brotherhood. And therefore, ' Go, tell my brethren ; ' tell them all, for they be all equally brethren.