True Christianity Part 63

2. And though this latter is indeed the first, as being the foundation of all his other blessings, which are no more than infinite rivulets flowing from this universal fountain of divine love; yet, because it is invisible, the folly of man hardly considers it as any mercy at all. So that man, being delighted only with visible things, does not regard or consider that the love which is concealed under them, is greater and better than the things themselves. In a word, as smoke is a sign of fire, so are the blessings of G.o.d a certain proof of his love towards us.

3. Since, then, the gifts and blessings of G.o.d are, as it were, certain steps by which to mount up to G.o.d himself, it follows, that his love is as great as his gifts are; and as he made the whole world for the sake of man, and formed all creatures for his use, and regards them only as they serve and minister to his beloved creature, man; as he has exalted and loved him above all creatures, and as this love of G.o.d is the most sincere, pure, safe, and in a word, the highest good, which prompted him to form and love man, not for any advantage which He was to reap from him, but out of the overflowings of his free grace and boundless love; from all these considerations, I say, it is plain that man is more indebted to G.o.d for this love, than for all the particular gifts and favors that G.o.d can bestow, and man receive.

4. There are two things to be considered in every favor: the love that precedes and influences the giver, and the gift itself, which is the consequence of that love. The former is not only more n.o.ble and valuable than the latter, but is in all respects equal to the person that shows it.

Hence, it follows, that the love of G.o.d is as infinitely good and great as G.o.d himself. This confirms the position first laid down, that man is more obliged to G.o.d for his love, than for any or all of his particular graces and favors. And as man cannot subsist a moment without the favor and mercy of G.o.d (for on Him his breath and life entirely depend), it is plain that his obligations to G.o.d are greater than those of all the creatures besides.

Chapter XII.

Of Answering The Obligations Which Man Lies Under To G.o.d.

_I will love thee, O Lord, my strength._-PS. 18:1.

As G.o.d has freely and graciously bestowed all his gifts and blessings on man, he thereby obliges him to make some satisfaction and return for all these mercies. Now man can offer and dedicate nothing unto G.o.d, but what is entirely in his own power; so that all his outward goods and riches, are not a proper offering for G.o.d.

2. But as G.o.d has bestowed on him his greatest blessing, which is his love, so he expects to be requited with love again. And as the love of G.o.d to man is in the highest degree of perfection, so the love that he requires from us ought to be perfect, "with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength." Mark 12:30. And how just this return is, both nature and reason may convince us. For nothing is more natural and reasonable than to love them that love us, and to proportion our love to theirs; whosoever does not this, is ungrateful and unworthy of that love which he refuses to requite. And when G.o.d does not meet with this reciprocal love from man, as he very seldom does, he has then just reason to complain of injustice and ingrat.i.tude; for he requires nothing from man but love, in return for all that infinite love and mercy which he has shown to him.

3. Moreover, such is the nature of love, so sweet, so pure, so free, and so acceptable is it, that neither fear, nor honor, nor any other thing, is good or desirable, but as it is sweetened with love. No man ever was so great, as to despise the love of his inferiors; but the greater a man is, the more does he court the love and esteem of those below him. Yea, so true is this, that G.o.d himself, the most mighty and excellent of all beings, is so far from despising the love of mankind, that he earnestly courts and desires it. This then being certain, that love is the greatest treasure any man has, he is obliged to offer it to G.o.d, who has bestowed the fulness of his love upon man.

4. By what I have here advanced I would not be understood to mean that this perfect love, since the fall, is wholly in our own power, or that by it we can make a perfect return to G.o.d for all his benefits. My only design is to show that we are convinced in our own consciences, not only from the Word of G.o.d, but also from the light of nature, that we ought to love G.o.d as he has loved us.

Chapter XIII.

Showing That G.o.d's Love Appears In All His Works, Even In His Chastis.e.m.e.nts.

_He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities._-PS. 103:10.

As love is the root and principle of all the divine acts and operations, it follows that even afflictions, which are the work of G.o.d, proceed from love, and ought to be received by man as instances of G.o.d's favor. For love is the root of all the operations of G.o.d.

2. Hence no man ought to murmur against G.o.d when He corrects him, or repine at His chastis.e.m.e.nts, or quarrel with His judgments. Our sufferings are not chargeable upon G.o.d, but upon ourselves. It would become us much better to bear his corrections without remitting our love towards him; even as he punishes us, and yet tenderly loves us still. This would be a true instance and proof of the sincerity of our love to G.o.d.

3. And though there is no proportion between the love of G.o.d towards man, and the love which the most perfect Christian bears to G.o.d, the one being infinite and the other finite; yet is it our duty continually to aim at the highest degrees attainable by us. We should endeavor that our love may be holy, pure, sincere, and persevering, even in the midst of sufferings and afflictions; as the love of G.o.d towards us is ardent, pure, unchangeable, and everlasting, even whilst he punishes and afflicts us for our sins. If we do not this, we are the most ungrateful of all his creatures; every one of which, in its order and capacity, answers the transcendent love of G.o.d with a pure love and obedience.

Chapter XIV.

Showing How, And On What Account, Man Is Obliged To Love G.o.d.

_If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned._-CANT. 8:7.

Hitherto we have distinctly considered the obligations that man lies under to G.o.d; which is a doctrine founded upon that natural relation that is between the giver and the receiver; and this is, as it were, a perpetual light of nature, to direct us to the several branches of our duty to G.o.d.

For as G.o.d has bestowed freely upon man everything that he possesses (whence the obligation arises), it plainly follows that man is obliged to offer up and restore unto G.o.d all that he has received from him. On the other hand, if G.o.d had given nothing, and man received nothing, there would have then been no obligation, nor any rule or measure of duty.

2. But as the love of G.o.d is the first and chief benefit which he has bestowed on man; so it is but just and reasonable that he who has so loved us should be loved by us again. Man, then, has nothing from himself, nor from others originally, but all things from G.o.d; and by consequence, is obliged solely to G.o.d. And this obligation cannot otherwise be discharged than by loving him entirely with all our hearts and with all our strength.

3. Lastly, as man continually depends upon G.o.d for his life and being; as he continually enjoys His favors and blessings, and, by His command and order, the service and a.s.sistance of the creatures; nothing less can be expected from so dependent a being, than love to Him who has so generously and bountifully blessed him.

Chapter XV.

Showing That All The Creatures Continually Remind Us Of The Love Which We Owe To G.o.d.

_Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?_-PROV. 8:1.

As G.o.d has loved man above all the creatures, or, to speak more properly, has loved him only, having created them all for his sake; so this perpetual love of G.o.d calls upon us, and exhorts us to love him with all our hearts; yea, all the creatures of the universe, whilst by G.o.d's command they serve us, and minister to our necessities, do, as it were, with united voices call aloud, and put us in mind of the natural obligations we are under to magnify and adore, to serve and love so gracious a Benefactor, and that freely and willingly; even as they, by G.o.d's command, freely and cheerfully a.s.sist and minister to us.

2. And as their love and service to us are not false and hypocritical, but sincere and faithful; so ought ours to be to our Creator. As they employ their whole strength night and day to serve us; so ought we night and day to be diligent and earnest in the service of G.o.d. As all the creatures, in their order, serve and minister to man alone; so ought all the powers of our souls and bodies to be employed solely in the service of G.o.d. And as the greatest natural pleasure which man has in this world, arises from the use and enjoyment of the creatures; so nothing is more acceptable to G.o.d than the sincere services of a devout soul; nothing delights him more than love, arising from a lively faith in Christ, operating in a free and willing spirit. From what has been said, it is plain that the creatures exhort and instruct mankind to love G.o.d: 1. With all their strength; 2.

Freely and willingly; 3. Heartily and sincerely; 4. Solely and entirely.

Chapter XVI.

A General Rule, Teaching Us How To Answer Our Obligations To G.o.d.

_Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits._-CANT. 4:16.

As the creatures are appointed by G.o.d to obey man; so man is obliged to love G.o.d, and in this the creatures are our monitors. Thus the trees furnish us with ripe, sweet, perfect, and pleasant fruits; which, if they were unripe, sour, or rotten, n.o.body would taste or care for. So it is not sufficient for man to offer his service, his love, fear, and honor unto G.o.d, unless they be genuine and perfect in their kind, being made acceptable unto G.o.d through Christ and in Christ, by the Holy Ghost, who produces in us all true and perfect fruits. This then is the great end for which we must labor, by faith and prayer, that we may bring forth fruits acceptable to G.o.d: like the trees which spend the whole twelve months of the year in laboring to produce fruits wholesome and pleasant to the eater; for G.o.d will no more accept our unripe, sour, or bitter works, than we ourselves would relish sour and unripe fruits.

2. Moreover, as the trees serve us, and naturally provide for our pleasure and benefit; so is it our duty to serve G.o.d "out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned" (1 Tim. 1:5), without hypocrisy and sinister designs, that both we and our works may be acceptable in his sight. In a word, that universal rule which holds in nature, must necessarily be transferred to our love and duty to G.o.d, namely, that a man ought never to cease from laboring, till he has brought forth fruits acceptable to G.o.d: on the other hand, that all superst.i.tion, will-wors.h.i.+p, and hypocrisy, are as hateful and abominable in the sight of G.o.d, as unripe or rotten fruits are to us.

Chapter XVII.

Showing That The Christian Who Loves Not G.o.d Is Without Excuse.