(2dly.) Our love is consequential in both these regards : —
[1st.] In respect of the love of God. Never did creature turn his af- fections towards God, if the heart of God were not first set upon him.
[2dly.} In respect of sufificient causes of love. God must be revealed unto us as lovely and deskable, as a fit and suitable object unto the soul to set up its rest upon, before we can bear any love unto him. The saints (in this sense) do not love God for nothing, but for that excellency, loveliness, and deshableness that is in him. As the psal- mist says, in one particular, Ps. cxvi. ], " I love the Lord, because!" so may we in general ; we love the Lord, BECAUSE ! Or, as David in another case, " What have I now done? is there not a cause ?" If any man inquue about our love to God, we may say, " What have we now done? is there not a cause ?"
odly. They differ in this also : — The love of God is like himself, —
1 Ezek. xvi. 1-14, etc.; Rom. ix. 11, 12; Tit. iii. 3-6; Dent. vii. 6-8; Matt. xi. 25, 26; John iii. 16.
so OF COMMUNION WITH GOD THE FATHER.
equal, constant, not cajioble of augmentation or diminution; our love is like ourselves, — unequal, increasing, waning, growing, declining. His, like the sun, always the same in its light, though a cloud may sometimes interpose; ours, as the moon, hath its enlargements and straiteuings.
(\st?) The love of the Father is equal, etc. ;^ whom he loves, he loves unto the end, and he loves them always alike. " The Strength of Israel is not a man, that he should repent." On whom he fixes his love, it is immutable ; it doth not grow to eteniity, it is not diminished at any time. It is an eternal love, that had no beginning, that shall have no ending; that cannot be heightened by any act of ours, that cannot be lessened by any thing in us. I say, in itself it is thus; otherwise, in a twofold regard, it may admit of change: —
[Is^.] In respect of \iB fruits. It is, as I said, a fruitful love, a love of bounty. In reference unto those fruits, it may sometimes be greater, sometimes less; its communications are various. Who among the saints finds it not [so] ? What life, what light, what strength, some- times ! and again, how dead, how dark, how weak ! as God is pleased to let out or to restrain the fruits of his love. All the graces of the Spirit in us, all sanctified enjoyments whatever, are fruits of his love. How variously these are dispensed, how differently at sundry seasons to the same persons, experience will abundantly testify.
[2(;Z^y.] In respect of its discoveries and manifestations. He " sheds abroad his love in our hearts by the Holy Ghost," Rom. v. 5, — gives us a sense of it, manifests it unto us. Now, this is^ various and changeable, sometimes more, sometimes less; now he shines, anon hides his face, as it may be for our profit. Our Father will not always chide, lest we be cast down ; he doth not always smile, lest we be full and neglect him: but yet, still his love in itself is the same. When for a little moment he hides his face, yet he gathers us with everlast- ing kindness.
Objection. But you will say, " This comes nigh to that blasphemy, that God loves his j)6ople in their sinning as well as in their strictest obedience; and, if so, who will care to serve him more, or to walk ■with him unto well-pleasing?"
Ansiuer. There are few tniths of Christ which, from some or other, have not received like entertainment Avith this. Terms and appella- tions are at the will of every imposer ; things are not at all varied by them. The love of God in itself is the eternal purpose and act of his will. This is no more changeable than God himself: if it were, no flesh could bo saved ; but it' changeth not, and we are not con-
' 1 Sam, XV. 29; Isu. xlvi. 10; Jor. xxxi. 3; ^fal. iii. 6; James i. 17; 2 Tim.ii. 19. » Ps. xxxi. 16, Ixvii. 1, cxix. lo5, xiii. 1, xxvii. 9, xxx. 7, Ixxxviii. 14; Isa. viii. 17. 3 Alal. iii. 6.
OF COMMUNION WITH GOD THE FATHER. 31
sumed. What then? loves he his people in their sinning? Yes; his people, — not their sinning. Alters^ he not his love towards them? Not the piayose of his will, but the dispensations of his gi'ace. He rebukes them, he chastens them, he hides his face from them, he smites them, he fills them with a sense of [his] indignation ; but woe, woe would it be to us, should he change in his love, or take away his kindness from us ! Those very things which seem to be demonstra- tions of the change of his affections towards his, do as clearly proceed from love as those which seem to be the most genuine issues thereof " But will not this encourage to sin?" He never tasted of the love of God that can seriously make this objection. The doctrine of grace may be turned into v/antonness ; the principle cannot. I shall not v/rong the saints by giving another answer to this objection : Detes- tation of sin in any may well consist with the acceptation of their persons, and their designation to life eternal.