2. This then was the very essence of his faith, a divine ἔλεγχος[16] of the love of God the Father, through the Son of his love, to him a sinner, now _accepted in the Beloved_. And _being justified by faith, he had peace with God_, yea _the peace of God ruling in his heart_: a peace, which _passing all understanding_, (πάντα νοῦν, all barely rational conception) _kept his heart and mind_ from all doubt and fear, through the _knowledge of him in whom he had believed_. He could not therefore _be afraid of any evil tidings; for his heart stood fast believing in the Lord_. He feared not what man could do unto him, knowing _the very hairs of his head were all numbered_. He feared not all the powers of darkness, which God was daily _bruising under his feet_. Least of all was he afraid to die; nay, he _desired to depart and be with Christ_; who _through death had destroyed him that had the power of death, even the devil; and delivered them who through fear of death, were all their life-time_, till then, _subject to bondage_.
3. _His soul_ therefore _magnified the Lord, and his spirit rejoiced in God his Saviour. He rejoiced in him with joy unspeakable, who had reconciled him to God, even the Father: in whom he had redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins._ He rejoiced in that _witness of God’s Spirit with his spirit, that he was a child of God_: and more abundantly, _in hope of the glory of God_, in hope of the glorious image of God, the full _renewal of his soul in righteousness and true holiness_; and in hope of that _crown of glory_, that _inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away_.
4. _The love of God_ was also _shed abroad in his heart, by the Holy Ghost which was given unto him. Because he was a son, God had sent forth the Spirit of his Son into his heart, crying, Abba, Father!_ And that filial love of God was continually increased by the _witness he had in himself_, of God’s pardoning love to him, by _beholding what manner of love it was, which the Father had bestowed upon him, that he should be called a child of God_. So that God was the desire of his eyes, and the joy of his heart; his portion in time and in eternity.
5. He that thus _loved God_, could not but _love his brother also_; and _not in word only, but in deed and in truth_. “_If God_, said he, _so loved us, we ought also to love one another_.” Yea, every soul of man, as the _mercy_ of God _is over all his works_. Agreeably hereto, the affection of this lover of God, embraced all mankind for his sake; not excepting those whom he had never seen in the flesh, or those of whom he knew nothing more than that they were _the offspring of God_; for whose souls his Son had died; not excepting the _evil_ and _unthankful_, and least of all his enemies, those who _hated, or persecuted, or despitefully used_ him for his Master’s sake. These had a peculiar place both in his heart and his prayers. He loved them _even as Christ loved us_.
6. And _love is not puffed up_. It abases to the dust every soul wherein it dwells. Accordingly he was _lowly of heart_, little, mean, and vile in his own eyes. He neither sought nor received the _praise of men, but that which cometh of God only_. He was meek and long-suffering, gentle to all, and easy to be intreated. Faithfulness and truth never forsook him; they were _bound about his neck, and wrote on the table of his heart_. By the same Spirit he was enabled to be _temperate in all things, refraining his soul even as a weaned child_. He was _crucified to the world, and the world crucified to him_: superior to _the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eye, and the pride of life_. By the same almighty love was he saved, both from passion and pride, from lust and vanity, from ambition and covetousness, and from every temper which was not in Christ.
7. It may be easily believed, he who had this love in his heart, would _work no evil to his neighbour_. It was impossible for him, knowingly and designedly, to do harm to any man. He was at the greatest distance from cruelty and wrong, from any unjust or unkind action. With the same care did he _set a watch before his mouth, and keep the door of his lips_; lest he should offend in tongue, either against justice, or against mercy or truth. He _put away all lying_, falshood and fraud; neither was _guile found in his mouth_. He _spake evil of no man_; nor did an unkind word ever come out of his lips.