vnutterably c. 1 Iohn 4. 9 10. Ephes. 3. To know the loue of Christ which passeth knowledge But that wee cannot therefore wee must loue him as Deut. 6. 5. with all our heart soule and might But this we cannot neyther since the fall of Adam therfore we must loue him with an vpright heart and this God will accept in Christ. Wee must loue him simply and absolutely for himselfe and all other things for him in and vnder him We must not loue him as we loue other things but aboue all other things in the world Mat. 10. 37. Hee that loueth father or mother more c. Nay Luke 14. 26. Hee that hates not father c. that is when they would withdraw vs from God and his Obedience therefore Deut. 13. 6. are we bidden if any neuer so neare and deare should entise vs to Idolatry wee should reueale him that he may be put to death If wee loue him not aboue all things he is not our God And this we ought to doe first because he is goodnesse it selfe which is most worthy of all loue and wheresoeuer we see any part of this Image it ought to draw our hearts vnto it Secondly he hath created vs after his owne Image redeemed vs by his deare Sonne preserued vs alwayes and multiplyed vpon vs and daily reneweth innumerable mercies both for soule and body and doe not these besides what hee hath promised vs hereafter challenge all our best affections Thus haue the worthy seruants of God done in their seuerall generations The holy Martyrs who haue forsaken all for his loue and counted meanly of their liues for his Names sake yea chose rather to endure the vttermost torturings that cruell persecutors could inflict vpon them rather than doe any thing to his dishonour This condemneth all such as are so farre from this loue of God as they are no better than haters of God Oh there be none so vile Yes wee are all such by nature till God worke a change Rom. 1. 30. and 8. 7. The carnall minde is enmity against God for it 's not subiect to the will of God nor indeed can be Saint Paul Rom. 5. Colos. 1. saith we were enemies to God 2 Chro. 19. 2. Wouldst thou loue them that hate God 1. Ahab a wicked Idolater and such as he so also in the end of the Second Commandement see if God call not Idolaters and such as pretend great loue to him and are at great cost and paines with him haters of him Such be all Atheists Heretickes c. Papists be Idolaters and great haters of God persecuting also his Truth Saints with fire and sword Among our selues be many abominable blasphemers contemners of God and all goodnesse The better any person thing speech action or duety is the more they hate it and the worse any thing or any company is the better it pleaseth them These be Sathans eldest sonnes marching in the Fore-ranke of the Deuils Band to whom without rare Repentance belongs nothing but a fearfull expectation of vengeance and violent fire to deuoure such aduersaries Heb. 10. 27. It condemneth all such as loue not God which indeed are to be ranked with the former haters of God saue that they doe it not in so high a degree But most will say they loue God or else it were pity of their liues and they defie him that shall say they loue not God What am I a dogge Thus if great words would carry it euery body would bee louers of God but it's deedes must proue it not words And the Holy Ghost hath left vs certaine and infallible markes to know the loue of God by by which if you will be tryed let vs briefly heare some of them and iudge your selues accordingly They that loue God hate euill Psalme 97. 10. They will keepe Gods commandements Ioh. 14. 21. 1 Iohn 5. 3. They that loue God would that all others did so and draw as many to God as they can as Philip did Nathanael Iohn 1. 41. Matthew the Publicans Mat. 9. to our Sauiour Christ. Isay 2. 1. and reioyce to see any come home to God by Repentance as the Angels of Heauen doe They will grieue when they see him wronged or dishonored as Moses when he threw downe the Tables and Phinees when he ran thorough Zimri and Cozbi Lots righteous soule was vexed at the vncleane conuersation of the Sodomites They that loue God will loue his Word being holy and pure as himselfe and containing his good will They loue his faithfull Ministers he that receiueth you receiueth me Luke 10. They will loue Gods Children and his Image wheresoeuer they see it 1 Iohn 5. 1. Psalme 16. 3. They will take paines in his seruice as Iacob did night and day in Labans for the loue hee bare to Rachel and be at cost as Dauid towards the building of the Temple and Mary with her boxe of precious ointment poured on our Sauiour Christ. Yea and speedily hee will goe about what God cals him to as Abraham that rose early to offer Isaac and Hamor who made speed to get the Shechemites to yeeld to the demands of Dinahs brethren because he so dearly loued her They that loue God are willing and glad to meet him or heare from him in the Ordinances of his Word Prayer Sacraments as the wife desireth and is glad to heare from her absent husband and to send or receiue tokens to him and from him They that loue God greatly are content to suffer for his Names sake as Paul that said I am not ready to be bound but to dye at Ierusalem for the Name of Christ. And that worthy Martyr that said Shall I dye but once for my Sauiour I could find in my heart to dye a hundred times for him Also they long for his last comming for their full Redemption and that they might bee euer with the Lord as 1 Thes. 4. 17. As the Church Reu. 22. Come Lord Iesu come quickly Or else they long to be with him in the meane time as Paul I desire to be dissolued and to be with Christ which is best of all Now if these be the true and certaine markes of the Loue of God and where these be wanting or much more where the contraries to these bee found there is no loue of God then must we necessarily conclude against the most part of people in all places that there is little loue of God abiding in them as will appear if we look ouer the particulars which might strike terror into their hearts if it were well considered For those whose hearts by these markes can beare witnesse on their sides let them labour to encrease more and more in this loue of God and see what priuiledges God hath promised and bequeathed vnto them Psal. 91. the three last Verses Because hee hath loued mee therefore will I deleuer him c. He shall call vpon me and I will heare him I will bee with him in trouble
I will be with him and glorifie him With long life will I satisfie him and shew him my saluation And Iohn 14. 21. Hee that loueth mee shall be loued of my Father and I will loue him and shew mine own self vnto him vers 23. Yea these are they to whom God hath promised his heauenly Kingdome Iames 1. 12. to them that loue him Thirdly it condemnes those that loue any thing more than they loue God as father mother wife childe profit pleasure friend yea or life it selfe which is no other than Idolatry and to make that our God which wee loue aboue God and spirituall Adultery as St. Iames cals it Iames 4. 4. as a man that loues a harlot more than his owne wife yet what is more common than this yea the trade of it with the common sort who for the sake of the things aboue named care not what dueties they omit or what sinnes they commit against God who yet ought to be loued aboue all and all things to be loued in and for him and vnder him and as may stand with our loue to him and not otherwise Yea the seruants of God because their loue is not perfect suffer many things to come in betweene God and vs and steale our heart and affection in part from him and that obedience that wee owe vnto him which we ought to bewaile deeply and labour euery day more and more that his loue may bee greater in vs than to any thing nay all things else that are in the world besides And so much of the Loue of God briefly hauing taken it but by the way CHAP. 3. Of Loue to our Neighbour and first what it is NOw I come to handle the duety of Loue to our Neighbour as that which necessarily floweth from the Loue of God And of this first What it is secondly of the Notes it 's knowne by thirdly of the Properties of true Loue and fourthly of the persons that we ought to loue 1 Loue is a sanctified affection of the heart whereby whosoeuer is indued withall endeuoureth to doe all the good he can to all but especially to them that be nearest vnto him 1. It s an affection seated as we say in the heart as all the other of hate hope feare ioy griefe c. as the vnderstanding is in the head These are in themselues good and not euill being giuen to Adam in his creation in whom they were all pure well ordered and in good tune louing the good and hating the contrarie and so in the rest But euer since the Fall they are vtterly corrupted the will and affections haue not onely lost all their purity but the will is become most rebellious and all the affections disordered and turned the contrary way As this of Loue is turned to the loue of euill to malice reuenge and selfe-loue 2. I say its a sanctified affection for ere a man can loue he must be regenerate sanctiffed throughout as in his vnderstanding and will so in his affections which is when a man is vnited to Christ by Faith he is sanctified by the Spirit that is the old and cursed disposition that is in vs by nature is put away and a new and contrary frame and disposition of soule wherein wee were at first created is brought into vs the vnderstanding enlightned the will made plyant and frameable to the will of God and so the affections purged and restored to their former integrity in some measure as to hate the euill so to loue the good to loue God and our brethren for Gods cause So that no vnregenerate or vnsanctified man can loue eyther God himselfe or any body else True Loue proceeds from a pure heart good conscience faith vnfained 1 Tim. 1. 5. from a soule purified by the spirit 1 Pet. 1. 22. And Gal. 5. it s reckoned among the fruits of the spirit And 2 Pet. 1. 7. its reckoned among other graces Faith Temperance Patience Godlinesse c. so that one is no more in vs naturally than the rest There be many things that the blinde world call Loue which are not this grace that we speake of nor come in any such account with God That betweene the fornicator and his harlot is no loue but lust as in Amnon which turned as soone into hatred Between drunkards and theeues is no loue but conspiracy for Loue reioyceth not in iniquity but in the truth that is in that that is good Nor that naturall loue of parents to their children This is in bruit creatures the Cowe loues nourisheth and defendeth her Calfe the Goose and Gander tend and brood their young Nor that ciuill loue that is between ordinary people in the world that stands only in eating and drinking prating and playing together which they count such loue and good fellowship as who so speakes against and cals for better spending of the time is cryed out vpon as an enemy to all loue and not to be suffered But our Sauiour Christ nor the Gospell comes not to bring such friendship but rather debate Such as that was among the Heathen and is only carnall whereas true loue respecteth the soule and that most of all which is no whit seene nor thought of among carnall men Vnregenerate men cannot loue their neighbours for while they be kinde to their bodies and haue no care of their soules is this worthy to be called Loue It s as ones friend or child should haue a hurt in the braine and another in the heele and he should carefully looke to the heele and let the braine putrifie Carnall Parents that pamper their childrens bodies and prank them vp braue and lay for great portions for them and suffer their soules to welter in sinne and dye and perish for want of instruction admonition prayer and holy example is this to bee called Loue what do they more than Turkish Parents The wicked Magistrate that is very friendly to all the Countrey and keepes a good house all the yeare and yet suffers sinne to reigne and houses of disorder to abound in his circuit the Sabbaths to be prophaned and like Gallio cares for none of those things call you this Loue The negligent Minister that sets on the great Pot and keeps good Hospitality among his neighbours and yet suffers their soules to famish for want of breaking to them the Bread of life The carnall neighbour that to the body of his neighbour is very kinde but suffers sinne to rest vpon his soule and rather nourisheth him therein than rebuketh him thereof this in the language of the holy Ghost is hatred and no loue Leuit. 19. 17. And what hold is there of vnsanctified mens loue one to another They may be very inward and great friends now and on the sodaine vpon a small occasion fall out and become deadly enemies They oft goe arme in arme to the Ale-house or Tauern embracing each other and stabbe one another ere they come forth See a liuely picture of this Iudges
but its rare and he that hath it hath receiued it from the Father of lights and its a gift of Gods Spirit Look for it therefore from aboue Endeuoureth to doe c. So that howsoeuer loue is in the heart yet it lyes not still nor sits idle but is working like the good huswife Prou. 3. 1. both by words and deeds to soule and body therefore that loue that is all within in the heart and none in the hand and life is a dead loue a carkasse like the dead Faith that St. Iames speakes of that is without workes and like bad mens loue to God which is without obedience to his commandements Endeuoureth to doe c. Puts forth it selfe and doth what it can though not what it would creeps where it cannot goe wisheth it could grieues that it cannot giues two mites a cup of water c. And indeed what we do here is rather endeuour than any great matter that wre attaine to especially at the first And a true endeauour with increase God accepts Hos. 6. 3. 1 Cor. 28. 7. It commands all the powers and abilities of the soule to further the good of the Beloued to whom it wisheth all good therfore the eye sees the tongue speakes the foot walkes for the good and benefit of the party beloued Why Loue will haue it so The memory is a faithful remembrancer the minde plods and counsels the affections pursue all purposes and occasions for his helpe all other things neglected Why Loue will haue it so Nay patience is enioyned to beare all the wrong that such one doth compassion must pity all the wants that such one hath humility and modesty giue way to any thing that he requireth Why Loue will haue it so Loue is like the great wheele of the clock all are turnd about when that stirres it sets on worke all the other graces in the soule to their seuerall works To doe good So that loue doth no hurt its contrary to its nature whatsoeuer hurt is done to soules bodies goods names Loue may wash her hands of it as none of her doing but whatsoeuer good is done that is of her To doe good Loue contents not it selfe to doe no euill but labours to doe good the harmlesse yet vnfruitfull fig-tree was accursed Such onely as haue done good will stand on the right hand at the last day To all For though brotherly kindnesse bee to the Saints yet Loue 2 Pet. 1. 7. reacheth to all neare and farre off strangers enemies within and without the Pale of the Church Turkes and Pagans we must pray for them do them any good if they come in our way as the Samaritan did to the Iew fallen among theeues Luke 10. But especially to them that be nearest So God giues leaue nay cōmandement that loue begin at our selues and ours so proceed First seeke our owne saluation then others our owne bodily preseruation from danger then others First begin with our owne family 1 Tim. 5. 8. then to our kinred 1 Tim. 5. 4. then to our owne Towne then to strangers as farre as we can and God requires no more If any therefore hauing good gifts resort to other folkes houses to repeate Sermons and neuer doe any such duety among their owne company which I haue heard of some these are iustly to be suspected of pride and hypocrisie They also that in outward things preferre strangers before their owne kinred and kinsmen before children doe not well To bestow vpon Copes-mates that please them or spend on lewd companions or be surety for them or any other to the hinderance or vndoing of wife and family is not Loue but folly and cruelty Nearest also in the spirituall bond For wee must especially loue the houshold of Faith Gal. 6. 10. Quest. Whether should wee loue our naturall or spirituall kinred best Answ. No doubt the Saints before our naturall kinred that be but carnall as our Sauiour Christ did Who is my brother He that doth the will of God he is my brother sister and mother yet wee must helpe our kinred whom Gods Word bindeth vs to prouide for as children and parents in their necessity though not godly before the Saints if both be in equall neede together because these be most specially committed to our care As a rich bad man and a godly poore man be at our house together I must loue the godly best and he must haue the highest roome in my heart but yet I may and must set the vngodly rich man highest at my table because God is the author of degrees among men and so the author of order not of confusion So is it in the other case of my naturall and spirituall kinred This is the vertue so oft commanded and so highly commended in the holy Scriptures commanded Rom. 12. 10. 13. 8. commended Col. 3. 14. called the bond of perfectnesse It binds vp all the dueties that wee owe to our neighbour which are many holds them together as the band doth the Fagot-stickes It makes euery duety easie as where this is not euery duety is irkesome nothing comes well off hand It ties societies together and families It s the strength of Kingdomes Cities Corporations and Villages Oh how it keepes out euill and sets vp good by it small things haue proued great and for want of it great things haue come to nothing In a Towne when chiefe men hold together what euill can stand against them what good may they not effect As on the contrary when some would pull downe houses of mis-rule and others to crosse them and out of spleen to them shall striue to vphold them when some would bring in the Ministery of the Word and others oppose it how must not the Deuill needes haue his throne in such a place In a Family when husband and wife both draw the right way Gods worship goes vp in that house children and seruants be well gouerned the outward state prospers But when they be diuided and disagree prayers be interrupted no good can get forward when one would goe to the Sermon the other is against it one would gouerne the children the other cockers them nothing can doe well for the band is broken that should hold all together and make all strong Euen seruants that agree not nay horses if they draw not together the worke cannot get forward 2 It s the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13. 8. Gal. 5. 13 14. 3 It s a very comely thing in the eyes of God and men onely hatefull to the Deuill to whose Kingdome this is a great enemy It s very precious and of most fragrant smell Also is very fruitfull in all good wheresoeuer it is as appeares Psal. 133. the whole Psalme 4 Loue is the beneficiall vertue other vertues benefit our selues but this doth good to others Faith drawes all from Christ to vs. Loue layes out all it hath for others good as the Sunne that shines forth his light to others hauing it
A TREATISE OF LOVE Written by IOHN ROGERS Minister of Gods Word in Dedham in Essex God is Loue and he that dwelleth in Loue dwelleth in God and God in him 1 Iohn 4. 16. This is the message that yee heard from the beginning that ye loue one another 1 Iohn 3. 11. And this Commandement haue we of him that he that loueth God should loue his Brother also 1 Iohn 4 21. LONDON Printed by H. Lownes and R. Young for N. Newbery at the signe of the Starre in Popes head Alley 1629. TO MY LOVING Neighbours of Dedham LOuing and good Neighbours the doctrine of Faith being gone forth into the World I thought it not amisse that the Daughter should attend vpon her Mother and therefore to put forth a Treatise of Loue to follow after Faith as they were both handled in your hearing not very many yeares since Now I desire that these things may liue and speake vnto you when I shall be taken from you In which two if you shall profit you cannot but doe well God shal be much honoured and I shall haue my great desire Now this of Loue I dedicate vnto you that as you haue learned in some measure to loue one another so that you doe it still and encrease more and more I found you by the care diligence of my worthy Predecessor in a peaceable state Thus through Gods mercy haue you continued without rents or diuisions sidings or part taking in peace and vnitie these three and twenty yeares of my abode with you wherein both the head and bodie of the Congregation looking one way much ill hath bin hindred and much good done and mainetained And I hope so to leaue you yea my hearts desire is that you may liue in peace and godly loue when I am gone that as you haue done so you may draw altogether as one man So shall nothing be too hard for you nor no force of wickednesse bee able to preuaile against you As a bound Fagot cannot be broken though the band loosed and sticks shattred asunder becomes weake As few or no suits of Law haue bin found amongst you but differences either betweene your selues agreed or by indifferent Neighbours compounded so doe still in the name of God And as I haue euer found you forward in good sort to any deed of Charity wherin you haue bin moued besides the good prouision made for your own poor so I beseech you to continue that you may shew forth the fruit of the Ministry of the Word so long so long continued among you and other townes seeing your well-doing and good order may be prouoked by your example and so God may haue much honour by you and hee take pleasure to dwell among you and be the God of your Posteritie after you from one generation to another Which I beseech him to grant for his mercies and his Christ his sake And you that be young now which God be thanked giue good hope if God let you liue to stand vp in your Predecessours roomes see that you labour to quit your selues as well as they haue done and better will be required as hauing more light euery day their example to make vse of In which hope I take my leaue and commend you all heartily to the grace of God remaining till death Yours in what seruice of Loue I can IOHN ROGERS A TREATISE OF LOVE CHAP. I. HAuing finished the Doctrine of Faith let me adde a few things concerning Loue which were deliuered from the same Text 1 Iohn 3. 23. in my ordinary course one after another This is the commandement of God that wee beleeue in the Name of his Sonne Iesus Christ and loue one another Which seeing the holy Ghost hath ioyned together as two necessary inseparable companions and that the duety of Loue is of so necessary vse in the course of our liues I thought good to adde some things hereof to the former Treatise The holy Ghost hauing had occasion in Verse 22. of that Chapter to speak of the keepers of Gods commandements who are the parties whose prayers God will heare now in this Verse lest any should doubt and aske the question But what be those commandements he therefore names them and orings them all to these two heads Faith in Iesus Christ and Loue to our brethren and these he exhorts vnto to beleeue in Christ Iesus and to loue one another Now in that the Apostle hath reduced to two heads all the commandements of God and our dueties he hath mercifully prouided for our weaknesse and preuented those carnall excuses whereby most men cloake their ignorance and carelesse neglect of heauenly things Oh they be so dull to conceiue and the Scriptures so darke and they haue such ill memories and the Scripture so large as they can make no worke of them which is Adam-like to turne the fault from themselues vpon God As if they should say If God had giuen vs shorter and plainer Scripture and better wits and memories wee would haue done great matters But this is but the wickednesse and falshood of their hearts for they can finde wit and memory enough for the world their profits pleasures or lusts and what they haue a minde to and why should they not serue them for better things if they would bend themselues thereto And God hath mercifully left vs so much of his Word as is necessary to saluation cleare and plaine to euery humble teachable heart that seekes helpe of God by prayer and is willing to be ruled thereby Yea hee hath gathered the whole into short summes As the whole Law and will of God so large and scattered in the Scriptures is referred to ten words Deut. 10. 4. which are the ten commandements deliuered by God Exod. 20. and these ten referred to two Matth. 22. 40. and these two to one Galat. 5. 14. So our whole direction concerning Prayer is in that short plat-forme called the Lords-prayer So hath the Church of God since out of the Apostles writings gathered all the things we are to beleeue vnto eternall life into twelue Articles So hath God prouided in this lightsome and in that respect blessed age of ours abundance of good Books of the points and principles of our Religion some more large some more briefe Catechismes for euery bodies turne that euen the dullest and of worst memory may come to the knowledge of God themselues and their dueties and the things of saluation if they bee not shamefully carelesse So that the ignorance of the people of this Land which yet is fearfully grosse and more than any thinke for but they that try it is affected and wilfull and therefore their condemnation will be as more fearfull than of other Nations so most iust and inexcusable It 's lamentable to see how the precious time is spent with many in sinfull courses and exercises with most in eager pursuit of the world the profits honours and pleasures thereof as if they were the
for that end and not for it selfe Faith is like the bung of the barrell that takes in the beere or wine Loue is like the tap that lets it forth to the benefit of them that neede If a man bee neuer so full of knowledge and other good gifts and haue not this tap others may starue for all that and hee himselfe is but a sounding brasse and a tinkling cymball Wee are not borne for our selues nor our Talents giuen vs to hide but the perfection of all our gifts spirituall and temporall is the well imployment of them for the good of others The vsefull man is the happy man that keepes the best house and most drinke of his cup especially in spirituall things 5 This is the vertue that makes vs most like to God for he is loue and continually exercised in doing good to all euen to the ends of the world yea to his enemies though specially to his children to soules to bodies and euery way and hee is not weary to doe good euen to such vnworthy ones as we are So that when wee be full of loue giuing here lending there forgiuing this wrong and passing by that iniury requiting good for ill hath beene done to vs when wee be instructing counselling admonishing comforting praying for any that need wee are like vnto God in our measure and like to our Lord Iesus Christ who went about doing good Acts 10. 38. So must we walke in loue Ephes. 5. 2. Loue must be our continuall walke and wee must neuer be out of it for then wee are out of our way All our wayes and workes towards our brethren must be in loue and sauour of loue All our life must breathe loue as when wee come in heauen it shall be the common ayre wee shall breathe and draw in So that what is loue but the life and soule of the world and that without which all things else are nothing 1 Cor. 13. Oh that I could so paint out the face of this louely Vertue and set it before you that euery soule that sees it may fall into a deepe loue and liking therewithall But alas how lamentable a thing is it that so excellent and necessary a vertue should bee so scarce and rare to bee found among men as it is and that in these dayes of the Gospell and when the God of peace and loue dwels amongst vs whose people we professe our selues to be Alas it s as it were banisht out of the earth and departed from the sons of men and found but at a few hands and there but scantly But pride and contention oppression deceit malice and reuenge and all contraries to loue haue taken possession of all places of most hearts yea euen among true Christians what cold affection what hollownesse strangenesse hard surmises readinesse to fall out for trifles little power to forgiue to passe by wrongs to ouercome euill with good which yet God doth to vs euery day It s easie to heare reade and pray let 's shew the fruit of them in loue Oh let vs euery one suffer our selues to be prouoked yea and ouercome in this that we labour to bee possest of this grace of Loue in whom it hath not hitherto taken place and they in whom it s begun that they would encrease in it more as 1 Thes 4. 10. Hereby it shall appeare that wee regard Gods commandement wee shall doe much good and strengthen the places where wee liue We shall know we are not of the Deuill but of God 1 Iohn 3. 10. and shall be like vnto him what should we desire so much as to represent our Maker and to haue his Image shining forth in vs And the more loue God hath shewed to vs the more let vs shew to others the more he hath giuen vs of temporall or spirituall gifts giue the more to our brethren Freely ye haue receiued freely giue The more God hath forgiuen vs the more let vs forgiue others the more patient and slowe to wrath he hath beene with vs the more patience see wee shew towards our brethren And here with let vs stay our selues when wee finde readinesse to be prouoked or to renenge and thinke it a most vnreasonable thing that God forgiuing vs a thousand talents wee should catch and hold our neighbour by the throate for an hundred pence If this grace of Loue be in vs and abound wee shall honour God much and our holy profession get a good report and much loue in the Church of God and further our owne account against that day and prouide for the encrease of our glory in the Kingdome of Heauen CHAP. 4. Of the Notes whereby loue to our Neighbour may be knowne NOw to this end that none may deceiue themselues but may try whether they haue in them this grace of Loue or no or in what measure I will set down some of the chiefe acts effects or fruits of it as notes whereby it may well be knowne as a tree by the fruits 1. Loue is not left-handed but interprets and takes things at the best As it commends what is plainly good so it interprets fauourably what is doubtfull vntill it know the contrary speeches or actions of men towards our selues or others if they may be well taken it will not take them ill As the mother when the childe cries saith a pin pricks it it hath the fret or breeds teeth she is loth to say it s nothing but frowardnesse and so to chide or fight When Iosephs brethren out of malice had fold him into Egypt and afterward were affraid he would remember it what construction makes hee of it God sent me hither aforehand to prouide for you As our Sauiour Christ did when his Disciples were so sleepy in the garden though he mildly rebukes them for it yet hee fauourably helpes it saying The spirit is willing but the flesh is weake Yea if a thing be plainly euil yet Loue will make it no worse than it is It will not say it was done deliberately and of set purpose when it was done rashly maliciously when it was done weakly onely and in temptation For one may doe iniury to a bad action and its better to thinke and speak a little better of it than worse than it is Alwaies prouided this be vnderstood not of palpable notorious fowle euils nor of continued courses in sinning for what good or charitable construction can bee made of these When such therefore bee plainly reproued and told their danger and they cry out Oh you may not iudge Why what can Charity it selfe iudge but that you are of the Deuill and in the state of damnation for the present and without sound Repentance for euer It s therefore no property of Loue but a fowle fault and a signe of a corrupt conscience to extenuate and blanch fowle sins in bad persons 2. It will depart from his own right rather than breake peace as our Sauiour Christ Matthew 17. 27. Abraham to Lot Gen.
13. 9. If thou wilt take the left hand I will take c. As it will giue way in conference to one that is stiffe though one know hee hath the truth so it be in small matters After offences it will soone yeeld and seeke reconciliation though it were meet the other should seeke to him It stands not vpon termes it will lay downe the bucklers goe on the lower ground yeeld the way or the wall to those that it were meet should yeeld it to him For why it more prizeth and esteemeth Loue than small matters 3 It doth no hurt it s against the nature of it so to doe neither in life chastity of our neighbour goods or good name See this in the two chiefe patterns of Loue in God towards his and parents towards their children who doe nor can do them no hurt at least parents in their conceit 4 It seekes not her owne things but others as well as is commanded 1 Cor. 10. 24. 5 It prouoketh nor exasperateth not but striues rather to please as far as it may with good conscience As we see in a louing mother toward her childe so also in whomsoeuer it is truely found 6 It s not easily prouoked 1 Cor. 13. 5. but forbeares forgiues puts vp c. which is well seene in God and a naturall mother with her vnquiet childe It will couer naturall infirmities such things as be little weaknesses in our brethren yet not done of set purpose nor growing into extremities but onely naturall defects As some bee a little too quicke some a little too slow some see a fault and bee a little too ready to speake others somewhat too slow to speake or reproue a fault Some be a little too fine some a little too homely and plaine if they were not all so much on either hand it were better Some be somewhat too earnest in their businesse if it were not altogether so much it were better yet not much amisse and it s their nature who bee yet very gracious Some bee a little too negligent some be a little too merry some a little too solemne these and such like Loue will couer or else nothing Loue will not standvpon them rebuke or reproach them or deale hardly with them for these but wisely beare with them and in loue cure them if it can As for example a wife a godly woman good houswife louing duetifull in good measure but somewhat curst and quicke of speech or not so cleanly as were to be desired a good husband in loue will beare with these and bee thankfull for the maine that hee findes in her So a woman hath a husband good in all the substantiall points of the husbands duety but hee is somewhat too glum not so affable and châ—arly as might be or whose nature will not suffer him to vse such complementâ— to his wife as some can doe with facility Loue will reach her to beare with this A seruant is very trusty religious and carefull to please onely somewhat slow the Master or Mistresse must not rebuke him too oft too openly too sharpely for it as a thing they can hardly remedie no perfection to bee expected in any If you can cure it by a louing and priuate admonishion sometimes doe So a Neighbour conferres with his Neighbour and hee is a little too quicke and harsh but loue will not see it but considers it as a naturall infirmitie therefore will not exasperate him or bee put out of patience by him answering him tartly againe but passeth it by and goeth on in kind and friendly manner Loue will also couer and put vp wrongs done vnto it not seeing small ones passing by somewhat greater as considering he himselfe is a man and so subject to offend his Neighbour and so may stand in need of his pardon As also that hee offends God daily and would bee glad to obtaine pardon therefore he must pardon his Neighbour or else can haue small hope or boldnesse to come before him for mercie and this often yea vnto seuentie times seuen times If they bee greater matters yet Loue will easily accept of indifferent conditions of agreement If they be so great as they so endanger our name and estate as they are not to be passed by then its lawfull to flee to the Magistrate and take the benefit of Law yet so as Loue will teach the party to lay away malice and to forgiue the reuenge And in going to Law these two Caueats must be obserued First that it bee not for trifles These should rather bee forgiuen 1 Cor. 6. 7. Why rather suffer yee not wrong Secondly that it bee the last Remedie when all other waies of more peaceable agreement haue beene tryed It must bee as the cutting off a member when it cannot be healed otherwise Hitherto belongs also that Loue will teach vs to hide and couer folkes faults from the world except wee haue a cause and calling to speake thereof but rather of their vertues 7. Lastly Loue is bountifull beneficiall and helpefull not keeping what it hath to it selfe but ready to distribute and communicate to the good of others whether spirituall or temporall gifts Spirituall for loue begins at the soule and doth good to that first of children seruants neighbours It wil communicate any gift it hath to them that need it taking to heart their spirituall wants instructing the ignorant counselling the doubtfull comforting the afflicted admonishing them that be out of the way exhorting theÌ„ that begin to faint or stagger in the way praying for all So for outward things it will cause men to giue to the poorest that are to be holpe by Almes as they be able and lend freely to them that bee a degree aboue the poorest which hauing a Trade and skill and will to follow it yet want stock to employ themselues and their company These a man is as much bound in conscience to lend vnto according to their abilitie and honestie to pay again as to giue a peece of bread or a penny to a poore miserable Creature Mat. 5. 42. Deut. 15. 8. By this shore many a reeling house hath been kept from falling flat to the ground By this helpe many haue liued handsomely and brought vp their families that else must haue come to vttermost misery To the wealthy that haue no neede of vs yet to be neighbourly and friendly in lending or exchanging Courtesies with them To inuite them somtimes to vs to goe to them beeing inuited And in their sickenesse or heauinesse to visit them and comfort them in the best maner we can Vse Now seeing Loue is such a thing and that these bee the fruits of it If we looke abroad among men wee shall be forced to say there is but little loue in the world for where bee these Properties spoken of to be found as may appeare in going ouer them 1. Who takes not things in the worst part hardly construing mens words and actions doubtfull ones it
loue to them they might haue done full ill for all these what loue call you this It s like Faith without workes which God will condemne So to speake well of such and such men to pity them and say they are worthy men and pity they should want yet neuer doe any thing for them If God should feed them thus they would soon complaine 4 The fourth thing required in Loue is that it must be pure It must come from a pure heart as St. Peter speakes and be agreeable to the rule of the pure Word of God Pure Loue is seene in diuers things First it loues for some vertuous and good actions therefore the loue of the Adulterer and his Mate of Drunkards and Theeues that be sworne brothers is no loue To loue a man because he can dice well or sweare deeply drink others vnder boord or mocke and deride wittily or raile bitterly against the seruants of God this is cursed loue for true Loue reioyceth not in iniquity as we haue heard A worse note cannot be than when one sees one fight cunningly or desperately against God to loue him the better These be no better than Rebels and Conspirators against the Maiesty of God 2 Pure Loue is that which is grounded on Grace and Religion and on no transitory thing or in those that haue no grace we loue them for conscience of Gods commandement and because of that part of the Image of God that is in them which condemnes the carnall loue of the most which loue onely for worldly respects for strength beauty or any inward gift of the minde not sanctified as wit skill in Arts musicke play These are worthy loue but to loue onely for these is not true and pure Loue for thus loued the Heathen worldly mens loue is for such respects and no other Yea euen Gods seruants faile this way sometimes as old Isaac that loued Esau for his skill in hunting Dauid loued Absolon for his beauty and so doth many a man his wife which doe ill to build loue on so false grounds for when these faile oft the loue goes after 3 Pure Loue is in respect of the party himselfe whom wee loue and for no respect to our selues or any commodity of ours And such was Gods loue in giuing his Sonne to vs miserable sinners which condemnes the world who onely loue for selfe-respects As hee is my Vncle Friend loues mee or hath done this or that for mee or may doe mee a pleasure therefore I will make much of him or for feare he may doe me a shrewd turne This if it bee shaken out of the clouts will be found but selfe-loue wee haue a respect and aime onely to and at our selues Mat. 5. 46. Many a man shewes kindnesse or doth good to some onely to purchase credit The husband loues his wife because she pleaseth him well is faire a good housewife and for nothing else this is selfe-loue All the Papists charitable deeds were all selfe-loue for they were done with opinion of merit and so they loued themselues rather than the parties they gaue vnto So is all the loue of worldlings examine it and you shall most-what finde it to bee self-selfe-loue they haue some reach at themselues 4 Pure Loue is when wee so loue a man as we loue his soule and therefore will suffer no euill to rest vpon him but hate the sin in him whom hee loues most dearly and will counsell him to all good and from all euill Therfore so to loue our neighbour as not to tell him of his fault for angring or disquieting of him if he be such as wee may speake to is hatred rather than loue as God saith Leuiticus 19. 17. So Parents that loue their children so well as they will not nurture rebuke correct them they hate them they slay them in following their wayes Hee that spares the rod hates his childe Prou. 13. 24. It s as one should bee so tender ouer a childe as not to suffer the winde to blow vpon it and therefore hold the hand before the mouth of it but hold so hard as hee strangles the childe As the Ape that hugs her young so hard as she kils it Againe friends perswade a man to doe this or that for preferment that he cannot doe with good conscience Oh they loue him they would faine see him preferred Wofull loue to the bodie to destroy the soule A neighbour hath a childe or cattell strangely handled one comes in of loue and perswades him to send to such a cunning man or good Witch the worst instrument of the Deuill of all for helpe Is hee a friend that will doe that that shall vantage one a penny and ere the yeare come about hinder him a hundred pound So when a good Christian is ready to suffer for a good conference and a friend comes and sayes Oh I pray cast not away yourselfe I wish you well be not too nice doe as others doe Cruell loue is this to perswade them to saue their bodies by doing that whereby they should cast away soule and body for euer As Peter aduiseth our Sauiour Christ not to goe vp to Ierusalem to suffer but to fauour himselfe Matth. 16. 22. which was to disswade him from doing his Fathers will and from that wherby Peter himselfe and all mankinde should bee saued and without which they had all beene lost for euer what loue therefore was this you may see by the thankes our Sauiour Christ gaue him who bade him get him behinde him Sathan for hee sauoured not of the things of God but of the world 5 Next our Loue must be feruent We must loue earnestly and hotly as wee can and secondly constantly for in these two things stands feruency First for the earnestnesse of our Loue as wee must stretch it to as many persons and in as many dueties as wee can to soule to body in giuing forgiuing c. as wee haue heard before so in these we must not be sparing but in giuing liberall for he that sowes sparingly shall reape sparingly 2 Cor. 9. 6. So in forgiuing plenteous to seuenty times c. For thus is God to vs in giuing for soule body goods name to our selues and ours day night neuer weary in doing vs good neuer vpbraiding In forgiuing how mercifull in passing by our manifold offences and that daily And the rather because a little loue is soon quencht therefore wee must so loue as though wee meete with many temptations from the parties themselues or from others that yet wee suffer it not to be extinguished And wee must loue feruently not doing these dueties when we can well and haue nothing to let vs but forget our pleasure profit ease c. to doe our neighbour good Loue seeks not her owne things It is laborsous 1 Cor. 13. as in the Samariran who set vp the wounded man vpon his horse and went on foote himselfe and left all the money in his purse for his charges and
dwell vpon the face of the earth high low rich poore men women yongue old bond free without or within the Church that eyther are or euer may be the people of God True our loue must begin at those that be neerest vs and must be most to those within the Church especially to the houshold of Faith but it must stretch it selfe farre and wide and ouer all and wee must doe all dueties of Loue to them as occasion shall be offered and we be able For whosoeuer hath or shall haue need of our helpe he is our neighbour whom wee are bound to loue because God hath commanded it and hee is our owne flesh Our prayers as a maine dutie of loue must reach at one time or other to all and doe them what other good we can Wee must pray for the poore Pagans that God would send his light and truth amongst them that they in time may bee brought into the bosome of the Church and the sheepfold of Christ Iesus For the Lords ancient people the Iewes that he would be pleased to make those dry bones to liue and to take the vaile of vnbeleefe from off their hearts that they may at last come to embrace and beleeue in the Lord Iesus Christ to their eternall saluation And that God would in mercie bring in the fulnesse of the Gentiles and to that end that he would hasten the ruine of Anchrists Kingdome that those nations that haue long lyen vnder the bondage of that man of sinne and in the darkenesse of superstition and Idolatry may be set at libertie and haue the light of the glorious Gospell to shine among them to teach them to know and worship the true God aright and to beleeue in Iesus Christ which is life eternall And for those within the Church wee ought to pray to God to continue his mercie towards them and to giue them grace to walke worthy thereof And for those that be falne into their enemies hands and bee in great distresse euerie way wee ought to send vp continuall feruent prayers and strong cryes out of the bowels of compassion towards their miseries vnto Almightie God the father and protector of his Church that though hee hath punished them for their sinnes as pleased him yet that hee would in iudgement remember mercie and humble their hearts vnder his heauie hand pardon their sinnes and restore their former liberties to them againe Yea and as their bodily necessities shall be truely made knowne to vs wee should be readie to reach out our hand to the reliefe thereof Ob. If anie will say They bee strangers to me what haue I doe with them Ans. Let such a one know that yet Gods Image nor his expresse commandement ought not to be strange vnto vs but ought to prouoke vs to this duety Yea they that bee neuer so ignorant prophane vngodly whether rich or poore we must wish well vnto them and seeke their good for as wee must not hate the vices for the persons sake so neyther the person for the vices sake Our loue towards them may bee a meane to winne them to God Vse But alas how few be there that thinke any such thing required of them and therefore no maruell though no conscience be made of the performance thereof for euen in those things that they know to be the will of God and their dueties yet few will be brought to the obedience of them Who so pities the miserable state of those that know not God nor haue any meanes of saluation but be out of the pale of the Church as to pray earnestly to God that hee would in mercie visit them in his due time Alas multitudes pray not for their owne selues and families their neighbours and nation and therefore no maruell they looke not so farre But mee thinkes that fearfull Prayer the Church maketh against such Psalme 79. 6. should strike feare into them to moue them to seeke to auoide the dint and danger of it How sew lay to heart the long and sore afflictions nay the wofull desolations of our brethren in the Palatinate Bohemia and places adioyning and therefore powre out compassionate repenting and feruent prayers to God for them We heare of their vnspeakeable miseries but are not affected with them either to profit by their harmes vnto sound repentance our selues or to put to our helping hand by our instant prayers to seeke their deliuerance Wee talke much of them and would faine see an end of their troubles and a returne of things but few be those that doe pray for them and that so seldome and so coldly as we can haue as little comfort as they haue hitherto found benefit for what fruit can be expected from prayers not ioyned with true repentance for God heares no sinners and let him that cals vpon the Name of the Lord and looks to be heard depart from iniquitie I doubt not but some there are that doe compassionately and feelingly wrestle with God for them from time to time yea do afflict their soules to obtain mercie for them whose prayers are assuredly not shut out or forgorten before God but shall in due time haue blessed effect but these I doubt are but a very few And for other dueties of Loue no maruell if as occasion serues they bee coldly performed to those that be further off when wee are found so faulty towards those wee daily conuerse with What extreme failing in the dueties of forgiuing wrongs and doing good to soules and bodies of those we haue to doe with Of which wee haue spoken already vpon one or two seuerall occasions therefore I now speake no more thereof onely I pray God to giue vs this true Loue that may reach out it selfe to all men as occasion is or shall be offered CHAP. 9. Of Loue to the Saints NOw I come to the loue we owe to the Saints and true people of God and these are to be loued in the greatest degree of all other men and to be had in high price and account Gal. 6. 10. Psalme 15. 4. Thus did Dauid Psalme 16. 3. All his delight was in the Saints Psal. 119. 63. He was their companion Psal. 101. He would haue such to attend vpon him and such only as neare as he could So Cornelius Acts 10. 7. had a souldier that feared God that was at his hand Reasons of this are First the Image of God is most clearly seen in them we are to reuerence and loue the least part of it wheresoeuer we see it euen in wicked men how much more then the brightnesse of it which stands in the graces of the Spirit wisedome holinesse and righteousnesse wherein they most liuely resemble their Maker And the more of this we see the more we ought to loue in children friends neighbours or whomsoeuer This is to be esteemed far aboue wit beauty strength wealth actiuity or any gift of Nature or Art these be toyes to grace Fauour is deceitfull and beauty vanity but one
necessary things and end of our being here when the meanes of the knowledge of God and the things that concerne our owne happinesse lye wofully neglected Hath God after the long night of superstition ignorance and idolatry that our Fore-fathers lay vnder caused the day to arise the sun of Righteousnesse to shine so long vpon vs and shall wee yet loue darknesse and not light be ignorant and grope at noone day Hath God set vs vp with those precious meanes of grace and life and giuen vs our full scope in them when he hath denied them to Nations twenty times as great as our selues and shall we make sleight of them Oh how many vnder the tyrannie of Antichrist that would skip at the crummes that fall from our tables would aduenture their liues for the scraps and leauings of such things as we cast vnder our feet They would and cannot we may and will not may we not iustly feare lest God ere long snatch his Word from vs and bestow it vpon them that will make better vse of it The Lord awaken the people of this Land to know the day of their Visitation and to vnderstand the things that belong to their peace before the decree come forth and it be too late Get knowledge and vnderstanding search the Scriptures make vse of such good helpes as the time affords plentifully Take our time Say not I am dull I haue a bad memory God hath taken away these pretences therefore they will not goe for payment at that day Next obserue that Faith and Loue are ioyned together as two inseparable companions wheresoeuer one is there is the other also and misse one misse both He that hath Faith must needs haue Loue for Faith worketh by Loue Gal. 5. Faith assuring vs of Gods loue to vs makes vs loue God againe and our neighbour for his sake at his commandement and for his Image that is in him And wheresoeuer true Loue is there certainly Faith hath gone before these can be no more seuered than sunne and light good tree and fruit As for that 1 Cor. 13. If I had all Faith and haue no Loue I am a sounding brasse and tinkling cymball it 's to be vnderstood of the greatest measure of the Faith of miracles which indeed might be seuered from that of Loue as in Iudas not meant of iustifying Faith of which before in the Treatise of Faith This may bee comfortable to many humble soules that vnfainedly loue God as appeares by good signes that loue his Word Ordinances and their Neighbours but Saints especially and yet doubt whether they haue any Faith or no they may as well doubt whether the sunne be risen when they see the beames therof shine in at their window It 's impossible to haue Loue till we haue Faith wrought in vs which is the mother-grace as impossible as to haue good fruit without a tree for it to grow vpon 2. This on the contrary witnesseth fearfully against the people of England and the most part euery where that there is no Faith among them seeing Loue is so scarce and hard to bee found The manifold idle and malicious wilfull suites in Law the many contentions brawlings raylings and fallings out for trifles doe shew there is but a little loue So much oppression cruelty extortion bribery symonie such racking and rending euery man for himselfe not caring who sinke so hee swimme so much deceit in bargainings and dealings in buyings and sellings as one knowes scarce whom to beleeue euery one spreads a net for his neighbour to catch him if he can such couetous pinching neglect of giuing where cause is of free lending by reason of vsurious lending and innumerable such courses as these doe cry out with a loud voice that Loue is but rare Such neglect of duety to others soules so few regarding to admonish reproue exhort comfort when and where there is neede few able fewer willing Besides so little loue to the Saints and true seruants of God All these beare witnesse strongly that Loue is wanting and therefore certainly that there is no Faith which where it is cannot but shew it selfe by true Loue in the fruits thereof Let men therefore whosoeuer they be keepe silence concerning Faith except they can proue it by their Loue which while they liue in the quite contraries thereto they can neuer doe Next whereas Faith and Loue being ioyned together yet Faith is set in the first place note that though in regard of time they be wrought together in the soule yet in order of nature Faith goes first vniting vs to Christ from whom are deriued into vs Loue and all other graces First this confutes that Popish assertion That Loue informeth Faith or giues a being vnto it which cannot be since Faith is before it It declares and makes Faith manifest where it is and proues the soundnesse and truth of it but giues no forme or being thereto 2 This sheweth that where Faith is not there it 's impossible Loue should be therefore an vnbeleeuing man or woman neither doth nor can loue God or their Neighbour which is a fearfull thing to be spoken and yet most true Therefore Lord how should it awaken such which are the greatest part to labour earnestly after this grace of Faith get this and get all and so on the contrary 3 Lastly let none of those that are about the worke of Faith hold off and say If I could loue God as I would and my Neighbour as I should then I could beleeue Nay rather know that you must first beleeue and then you shall be able to loue God and your Neighbour Obiect But here some may obiect that whereas the Apostle hath brought all our dueties to these two Faith in Christ and Loue to our Neighbour that this is defectiue for as much as the Loue of God which is the chiefe of all is left out Answ. We are to know that it 's not left out but necessarily included in the loue of our neighbour from whence that doth proceed for as hee that loues God cannot but loue his neighbour so no man can loue his neighbour truely in whom the loue of God is not wrought for whose Image and at whose commandement he loueth him 1 Ioh. 5. 2. CHAP. 2. Of the Loue of God OF which loue of God seeing both it 's the principall and that wherby we may know whether the loue of our neighbour be in vs yea or no which is the point wee mainly intend in this Treatise I will therefore speake a little of the same The loue of God is a most precious and honourable esteeming and affecting of him with a chiefe delight in him aboue all things God is worthy to be loued vnmeasurably because he is infinitely and vnmeasurably holy pure perfect and good in himselfe Also because he hath been vnmeasurably good to vs especially in giuing his Son to the death for vs. Iohn 3. 16. So God loued i. e. so vnmeasurably and
cursed generation of idle and sinnefull Varlets which seeing God hath maruellously and mercifully rid vs of what encouragement should it be to vs to relieue our owne true poore And for lending where is this in vse but rather as if God had neuer giuen precept of it or as it were a Statute repealed and that is out of date so is this duety of lending That cursed and cruell trade of Vsury hath eaten vp and banisht out of the Country this Christian duety of free-lending Some rich men are so grim and so austere as a poore man dares not speake to them for such a thing And indeede how few be there that haue any thing to lend at any time Some lend out all so neare to Vsury as they haue not to lend but borrow rather Or if a poore man doe any worke for them they cannot pay them of a good while they be so bare For as soone as any money comes in it must out againe straight as if it would burne a hole in the Cupbord or would be halfe an vndoing to them if it lay there but a weeke or two Others are euer purchasing and so keep themselues bare and in debt and then they whine at euery charge and wrangle at rates and are neuer fit or ready to lend or to any good vse Such bring a curse vpon themselues making themselues borrowers when they might bee lenders Deut. 28. 44. Others be so miserable as though they haue it yet they will not lend So for the last duety of neighbourly dealing inuiting visiting these are decayed so that we may beleeue in all these respects these be the times foretold Matth. 24. 12. wherein Loue should waxe cold Yet indeede there is a great deale of counterfeit loue of fauning crouching and congeying of pot-companionship and ioyning together in euill A great deale of selfe-loue also making others faults great and our owne small or none nay sometimes making them vertues extenuating and making light of the vertues of others highly esteeming our owne seeking our selues in all our dealings and courses with little regard of our neighbours which self-selfe-loue the Apostle 2 Tim. 3. 2. foretels shall be in the last times and sets it in the fore-front as the cause of many other euils that follow Now let euery man examine himselfe in particular touching these things and so make vse to his owne soule for comfort or the contrary But who shall not finde himself failing in euery one of them whereby we haue much cause to be humbled and the courses of the common sort are wholly contrary to all these properties of true Loue whereby they may conclude fearfully against themselues CHAP. 5. Causes of the want of Loue to our Neighbour NOw to this end that euery man may the better see how to mend that that is amiss let vs a little look into the causes of this want of Loue and what are the hinderances of the fruits thereof The maine and generall cause is an euill heart pestered with selfe-loue and many lusts that be contraries to Loue. 1 More particularly Want or weaknesse of Faith is one great cause When our Sauiour Christ told his Apostles they must for giue till seuenty times seuen times what said they Luke 17. 4 5. Increase our Faith Assurance of Gods loue to vs in pardoning our many sins and giuing his Son Iesus Christ and assurance of eternall Life makes vs loue againe and both to giue and forgiue which are two principall dueries and fruits of Loue. Pride and the following Vices are hinderers of the exercise of Loue. 2 Pride whereby men thinke highly of themselues and meanly of others thinke they may speake or doe any thing but others may doe nothing to them Onely by pride doe men make contentien Prou. 13. 10. Humblenesse causeth loue Ephes. 4. 2. Pride makes men think themselues so wise and good as euery body should say as they say doe as they doe and after a sort doe homage to them if they doe not then the peace is broken straight Pride will not endure a reproofe therefore being told of a fault they fall out deeply as Ioash with Zechariah Ahab and Iezabel with Eliah Herod with Iohn 3 Couetousnesse is another this makes men contend for trifles the least dammage done him is thought so great looking on it in a false glasse as its sufficient to breake Loue and cause a suite It causeth men to oppresse to vse false weights sleights c. It hinders both mercy to the poore and all other neighbourly offices of inuiting and the like 4 Enuie hinders Loue exceedingly When one enuies at the prosperity of another in whatsoeuer kinde of temporall or spirituall good things As Labans sons did at Iacob which changed their countenances towards him and made him weary of his place Cain that enuied that Abels sacrifice was better accepted than his and Esau that Iacob was blessed Ismael that Isaac was the son of the Promise what breach of Loue and wofull fruits followed of all these 5 Frowardnesse shortnesse of spirit breakes Loue very oft for angry words stirre vp strife Prou. 15. 1. 6 These dayes of peace are an occasion through mens corruption that men grow hollow and strange and to set light by one another Troubles cause men to make much of each other and cling together as the sheep that out of danger and in a faire day scatter themselues ouer a field in a storme or when they see a dog come run all together These and such like be wofull causes of the want of Loue which also bring forth as lamentable effects euery where both in Church and Common-wealth What wofull breaches hideous contentions what hard measure and wrongs are offered what enmities and oppositions to the hazzard of the Church danger of the Common-wealth and ouerthrow of the prosperity of many Parishes What ruine brings this want of Loue vpon many Families And among particular persons what breakings out both in word and deed to the dishonour of God Religion the vndoing each other many times both in soule and state to the disgrace of the Gospell and ill example of the beholders and hurt to their own soules by keeping them from and disabling them for the right performance of holy dueties which cause cold prayers and those not heard and hereby eyther kept from the Sacrament as many times it is Oh fearfull thing to bee spoken or else slubber it ouer and come with festered hearts and so lose the benefit nay by such vnworthy comming they prouoke the wrath of God and eate their condemnation as much as in them lyeth but oft times they eate and drink their iudgement a sore sicknesse and may be their owne death or the death of wife or some childe that is deare to them to teach them and others by their example the price of such boldnesse Now seeing these things bee so the Lord giue vs euery one hearts where we finde our selues faulty to humble our selues
and craue mercy and to labour to be reformed in this point Therefore first let 's labour to plucke vp these noisome weedes out of our hearts that this precious plant of Loue may grow therein 1 Striue against Infidelity and labour to get Faith and the encreases thereof if by Gods grace we haue it already 2 In humblenesse of minde labour to esteeme others better than our selues 3 Labour for a moderate affection toward these outward and base things in comparison setting more by Loue and the sweet fruits of it than by them all and therfore much more than by small trifles 4 Auoide enuie Is our eye euill because our Masters eye is good wee haue more than wee might looke for 5 Striue against techinesse and shortnesse of spirit Think what a base lust and sinfull distemper it is how it exalteth folly and how ill it becomes vs and what an enemy it is to true Loue. And labour wee that this loue to our brethren may shew forth it selfe in all good fruits in iudging the best departing from our right not prouoking nor being easily prouoked but forbearing and forgiuing offences and wrongs and communicating of what God hath imparted to vs of any kinde and that for these Reasons weigh them well 1 First God requireth it of vs who is Loue 1 Iohn 4. 8. and if we performe it we doe not so much serue our neighbour as please God who takes it to himselfe and in neglecting this wee neglect not our neighbour onely but God who takes himselfe wronged in this behalfe 2 Our neighbour is our owne flesh and euery one hath some part of the Image of God in him or vpon him 3 The Word aboundantly cals for it the Sacrament of the Lords Supper puts vs strongly in minde of it 4 No better argument that we are in the light loue God and are Christs Disciples be translated from death to life be endued with that excellent grace of true Faith than this that we truely loue one another Iohn 13. 34 35. 1 Iohn 3. 14. As a King is not knowne by his apparrell great company with him c. which may be some meaner man but by his Crowne so is not a Christian knowne by his hearing Sermons or good words but by his Loue. 5 The beauty of a Christian is Loue he is the best Christian that loues most whose lips feede most whose branches spread widest 6 And for forgiuing wrongs what should wee doe else God forgiues vs many great debts and ill dealings with him and shall wee be ready to reuenge euery petty trespasse See Matth. 18. 34. what became of him that did so God bids vs aske forgiuenesse on no other condition than that we forgiue our neighbour Marke 11. 25 26. And no better signe that a man is forgiuen of God than to forgiue our neighbour and no man can be assured of that but he will forgiue Let vs therefore of the sea of compassion that God hath shed out vpon vs let fall some drops of it vpon our neighbour Also wee may stand in need of our neighbours forgiuenesse for who liues and is not subiect to offend his neighbour one way or other No cause therefore wee should seeke reuenge which euery Turke yea euery beast can doe but passe by offences which is the glory of a man Prou. 19. 11. Keep out anger therefore in such cases if wee can or if wee be not so strong yet let it not rest in vs sowring in our hearts Let not the sunne goe downe vpon it The world counts this base but indeed it s truely honourable It s the honour of God Micah 7. 18. and so it makes vs like him Let vs therefore labour to doe thus and not a little or some few times but get a long skirted Loue which will couer a multitude of offences as St. Peter saith 1 Pet. 4. 8. or as Prou. 10. 12. All trespasses 7 And for distributing things temporall or spirituall as wee haue great reasons there bee God giues to all both good and bad he hath giuen vs what wee haue for what hast thou that thou hast not receiued and giuen vs them to be good stewards and dispensers thereof to the good of others 1. Pet. 4. 10. And the more wee giue the more we haue and not the lesse it encreaseth in the giuing as the loaues in our Sauiour Christs hands especially in spirituall things yea in temporall therefore giuing is compared to sowing which in good ground is vsually with encrease Therefore a worthy Minister vpon occasion asking his wife whether there were any mony in the house she answered that she knew but of one three pence Well saith he wee must goe sowe that is giue something to the poore knowing that to bee the way of bringing in Prou. 11. 24 25. Deut. 15. 10. The best thrift is to be mercifull and the way to beggery in a a mans selfe or his posterity is to be pinching And to conclude all Loue in the exercise of it will bring much peace to our consciences and comfort vs not a little on our death-bed that we haue not liued to our selues but to be vsefull to many especially to soules It procureth vs loue in the places wee liue in and in the Church of God a good report No man is well beloued though he haue good things in him if he be not louing Oh say they he is a good honest man I thinke but he is a harsh censurer contentious so hasty that no man can tell how to speake to him hee is a strait man liues all to himselfe few the better for him by counsell admonition encouragement and the like and so for outward things very close-handed and neare But if a man be full of loue it will procure him loue againe he shall be well spoken of while hee liues and mourned for when hee dyes which is a good mercy of God and the temporall reward of righteousnesse and loue Pro. 10. 7. The memoriall of the Iust shall bee blessed Thus they wept for Dorcas and shewed the coates shee had made Acts 9. 39. But a proud churlish close man shall liue without being desired and dye without being mourned for These would haue loue good will and credit in the Countrey and Towne they liue in but they will not seeke by this way to procure it will not be at the cost bee not vsefull liberall c. let them neuer looke for it Let them winne it if they will weare it Others care not so they may scrape all to themselues what the world say of them let the good name goe which way it will But these are base minded persons and they carry little better than a curse about them while they liue CHAP. 6. Properties of true Loue. NOw yet for our further direction in this point of Loue I will set downe some such Properties as the Scripture requireth in it as that it must be mutuall common sincere without feigning feruent pure
rather than with those inuite them and loue their company to chuse These be lukewarme Christians Neuters neyther the one nor the other of both sides of euery side but God can see them to bee Enemies and will set them on his left hand when it will not serue them to pleade that they neuer hated them or opposed them Let men looke well to this Point for there bee many that thinke well of themselues for good Christians that yet will be found of this number But as they can haue no sound peace to their Consciences so shall they neuer haue good name in the Church of God till it bee otherwise Fiftly and lastly let this bee a Consolation to all those whose hearts doe beare witnesse and their practice bewray that they truly loue the Saints they can haue no better signe of the grace of God or that they bee true Members of the Church here and shall bee inheriters of glory hereafter that they loue God be Christs Disciples and be translated from death to life Alwaies prouided that you deceiue not your selues in this point as no doubt diuers doe To thinke that because you loue some one or two choyce ones that you are a louer of Gods people though you neglect all the rest which is not so for whosoeuer loues any in truth loues the grace of God in whomsoeuer hee sees it rich or poore high or low Or because you loue some that bee of your Kinne or for some outward good qualification they haue or some common gift of learning eloquence or because they bee rich or bee such as haue done you some pleasure or may doe for if your loue bee set vpon Gods seruants for such by respects this is not the true Loue of the Saints But if you loue them simply for the worke of Gods sanctifying grace that yousee or hear to be in them though you neuer saw them nor neuer shall yet for the grace of God your heart is knit to them as Ionathans to Dauid or if you know and liue neare them◠though they neuer did you any speciall good turne or be nothing to you outwardly and in the flesh nay though any such haue reproued you of some fault they haue seene in you yet you loue them for the Image of God that shines in them yea though you see heare or know some imperfections in them and things worthy blame yet seeing signes of synceritie you loue them notwithstanding are glad when they doe well and grieue at the contrary this is good Examine your selues by these things if you bee taken tardy then deceiue your selues no longer If your heart witnesse on your side by these tryals then be comforted and labour to encrease in this grace that so your euidence may be strong And the rather because this hath kept many from sinking in time of Temptation when all other euidences haue beene to seeke Thus much of the loue that all ought to beare to the People of God CHAP. 10. How true Christians should loue each other NOw I will adde yet one thing more and that is How true Christians should loue and carry themselues towards each other They ought to loue one another most entirely and more than they doe or can loue the common sort They must loue them as fellow-members of the same mysticall body whereof Christ is the head Now how do the members of the natural body loue sticke together and seeke the good of each other defend and tender one another reioyce in each others wel-fare and grieue at the contrary so ought the Members of the spirituall body much more if it were possible Wee cannot loue all thus for all are not fellow-members in this body of Christ. Secondly they must loue as brethren therefore the loue that is to bee betweene them is called Brotherly kindenesse 2 Pet. 1. 7. Therefore though some scoffing Ismaels deride this name and say Oh you bee of the Brethren yet wee are not to bee ashamed of this name seeing GOD so speakes Gods children be brothers and sisters they haue the same Father which is God the same Mother the Church begotten by the same immortall seed the Word of God nourisht with the same milke and meat of the same Word and holy Sacraments heires of the same Inheritance in Heauen by Christ Iesus A better Brother-hood than that of nature as much as the spirit is better than the flesh Yea and a more lasting Brother-hood that will last when this is vanisht away which lasteth onely for this fraile life of ours but the other abideth for euer Therefore our Sauiour Christ said Who is my Mother and who are my Brethren Naturall Brethren ought to loue dearely how much more we that are of a better kindred It s very pleasing to God our Father and to the Church our Mother that all their children should liue in loue as Psal. 133. 1. and a ioy to all the brothers and sisters As it is a ioy to any earthly Parents to haue their children loue well together and the contrary is very grieuous and they will mourne to each other There be two Boyes can neuer agree two Girles that loue not one another what will they doe when we are gone Now to loue as Brethren is this To haue Brotherly affections each to other inwardly and to declare the same outwardly by brotherly actions For the first we are bidden Rom. 12. Be affectioned to lòue one another as to weep with them that weepe to haue compassion of their miseries as Heb. 13. 9. As the Samaritan had compassion on the man that fell among Theeues And our Sauiour Christ had compassion on the spirituall miserie of the People Mat. 9. 36. St. Paul was affected with the miseries of the Iewes and tooke them deepely to heart Rom. 9. 1 2 3. So Nehemiah hearing of the distresse of the Church of the Iewes at Ierusalem though hee were well himselfe yet he so mourned for them as it was seene in his face The contrary is blamed Amos 6. No man is sorry for the affliction of Ioseph So to reioyce with them that reioyce as Luke 1. 58. yea though it were ill with ourselues As Paul in prison yet reioyced to heare of the welfare of the Churches These brotherly affections bee so necessary as all brotherly actions not proceeding from these are in no account with God As a man may giue all his goods to the poore and haue no loue and so bee but a tinckling Cimball 1 Cor. 13. As if a man should giue that hee might merit thereby or to purchase credit or for companies sake or with vpbraiding and from no compassion of the poore mans misery it would neither please God nor profit him that doth it So to admonish one which is a speciall duety of Loue but if done with twitting reproaching as glad they haue some matter against him it hath lost his grace and reward with God And herein the poore may shew as much loue to their
but when these be worst regarded there can be no worser signe 7 Orderly To our owne kinred first 1 Tim. 5. and so on to our owne Towne and so further as God giues occasion and abilitie 8 According to euery mans ability To whom much is giuen of them is much required The Master called his seruant that had fiue Talents to account for fiue 1 Tim. 6. 17. Rich men are charged to be rich in good workes hee that hath but little little is of him expected if it be but a cup of cold water a widowes mite where is no more it shall be as well accepted as great things of the rich For God requires not of a man according to that he hath not but according to that hee hath and that he will require It s therefore a great fault in most Parishes that the meaner sort beare the chiefest burthen and not the richest but a man not a quarter sometime not halfe a quarter of their substance shall bee halfe as much in charge as they Fie vpon such inequality amongst men of good conscience it ought not so to be Though it were but a foolish thing for one of vs to say If I were such a rich man I would doe thus and thus much good more than such a man doth because we were neuer in that state and therefore know not the temptations belonging to that state yet this wee may truely say that such and such a rich man hath meanes in his hand to doe very much good Oh what elbow roome he hath he might reach out his hand two wayes ten waies and bee neuer the worse Towards the Ministry of the Word to helpe a poore body out of great trouble c. What is it for a richman to giue here twenty shillings there forty shillings fiue pound to this good vse or that And when some charge is to be borne by a company of meane men to exempt them and beare it all himselfe what good by lending poore young beginners and such as want stocke But alas how farre off is it from the most such Some doe no good others nothing answerable to their ability They lose their honour that God hath put vpon them Truely let them looke to it for they haue great accounts to make And if their receipts bee found great and their layings out small God will cast such bills in their faces and themselues into hell 9 We must giue according to euery ones need for their neede should be the whetstone to our liberality As in deere times or in time of sicknesse and distresse to reach out our hand more than ordinarily not to giue hand ouer head as much to those that haue lesse need as to those that haue more The wicked will be most clamorous and if we goe by that oft times the better minded poore which be more bashfull slow to speak for themselues shall haue wrong therefore we ought to informe our selues as well as wee can of euery ones wants especially in our owne Parish and to carry our hand accordingly we must not be bountifull to our wealthier neighbours and pinching to the poore If we cannot do both let our feasting the wealthier alone and do good to the poore for that will be the truer more certain testimony of our loue because they cannot requite vs againe But you shall haue some that will spare no cost to make a feast to them that haue no need which with the other too hath his place that yet are very miserable to the poore and will the same day of such feast shake vp a poore body like a dish-clout that comes but for some of the scraps Let not these boast of their Loue. And then to shew our selues most kind helpfull when their need is greatest for a brother or neighbour is borne for aduersity and that is the triall of loue God is neuer so neare his seruants with his comforts as in their greatest afflictions And therefore while a man is in prosperity and good case to salute him vse him kindly be glad of his company and when the world frowns on him and God casts him behinde then not to know him to shake him off goe on the other side of the way or if we must needs take notice of them then to speake sleightly to them houerly and be strange and far off this is no true loue and yet this is that that manie a one finds in the world as Pro. 14. 20. 19. 4. 7. These bee like winter-plashes that be very broad when there is no need of them but in summer are dry when they should do most good Thus many a worthy Minister while they haue enioyed their health and Ministry haue had countenance of all sorts both Gentlemen and Yeomen that after by some occasion hauing had the case altered with them haue gone vp and downe moping and no body especially of the wealthier sort take notice of them but shun them as if they had the Plague about them So the wiues of many painfull Ministers while their husbands liued were made account of and inuited that when God hath taken their husbands from them when they had most need of comfort haue found cold friendship not of strangers onely but euen of those that professed greater loue to the parties deceased This is but carnall or at least but cold loue that is then farthest off when there is most need of it whereas true Loue reioyceth to bee shewing it selfe where is most good to be done 10 We must giue with compassion and out of a pitifull heart and feeling of others miseries as we are bidden Col. 3. 23. to put on tender mercies and bowels of compassion c. and 1 Pet. 3. 8. Be pitifull c. and Isa. 58. 10. Poure out our soule to the hungry that is haue compassion of their miseries Thus did the Lord to vs when we had plunged our selues into irrecouerable misery he took pity on vs and gaue vs his blessed Son c. So had hee compassion on the gronings of Israel vnder Pharaohs bondage So in the book of Iudges diuers times Iudg. 10. 16. so also Neh. 9. 17. This will proue vs to be liuing members not dead stockes A little giuen with compassion is more acceptable to God than neuer so much without 1 Cor. 13. yea compassion alone is much accepted with God and men where there is nothing else to be had Which condemnes the great Almes-deeds of Papists that proceed from no compassion towards the poor but out of loue to themselues to saue their owne skins That giue to be seen of men that giue by constraint of authority or for shame and to auoide reproach or to satisfie the requests of friends Or those that giue with twits and taunts and proud insultings checkes and vpbraidings especially towards those that bee any thing well minded all these haue their reward they are like to haue except their worke had come from a better root Whereas many