Comparatively in the second degree of love and thus he loves his Church and children Deut. 10.15 Hos 11.4 Zach. 2.8 III. Superlatively in the highest degree of love and thus he loves Christ Iohn 10.17.15.9.17.24 An. 2. Sometimes love is referred to God the Son who is said I. To love his Father And II. His Church Psal 45.11 Cant. 1.2.7.10 And III. Some particular persons Mark 10.21 John 11.35 36.20.21 And IV. To love righteousness Psalm 45.7 Answ 3. Love sometimes is referred to God the holy Ghost Rom. 15.30 And 4. Sometimes to the Church of Christ Can. 7.12 5. Sometimes to men and that both I. To good men Gen. 22.2 Luke 7.5 Iohn 21.15 16. 1 Pet. 1.8 And also II. To bad men 2 Chron. 26.10 Psalm 52 3 4. And 6 Sometimes to beasts Hos 10.11 Qu. 6 How many ways is a thing loved An. Things are loved three manner of ways viz. I. Propter se for themselves thus we love health II. Non propter se sed propter aliud not for themselves but for another end thus the sick man loves a bitter potion not for it self but for healths sake III. Et propter se proper aliud somethings are loved both for themselves and for another end thus we love good wine and such Preserves and Censerves as we like and are good for our health and the preservation thereof Qu. 7. From whence comes this word Love An. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Love comes from doing or working because it is a working grace not onely working it self but setting all the soul on work to attain what is believed True love is never idle but worketh industriously to serve him who is beloved for as fire is most active among the elements so is love most active among vertues and graces and As a root is ingendred of moisture and celestial heat so love groweth ariseth or springeth from the moisture of devotion and the supernatural heat of the holy Spirit whence it becomes so vigorous and active Qu. 8. What is Love in general An. Ovid who thought himself a Master of that art and writ precepts of the same thought it more obscure then the letters of Ephesus or the riddles of Sphinx to tell what it was so that being demanded to shew the definition thereof said Love is I know not what it cometh I know not from whence who sent it I know not it engendreth I know not how it is satisfied I know not wherewith it is felt but how I know not and to what end it tendeth I am ignorant but sure quoth he it is the loss of a mans self Anacreon said It was a sweet mischief sith for a pinte of pleasure we receive a gallon of sorrow and pain Callimachus called it a Court without Sergeants because they who love obey without constraint and are captive without conquest Propertius saith Love is a sweet tyranny because the Lover endureth his torments willingly Natural love is an inward good will which we bear to Parents Husbands Wives Children or Kindred moved thereunto not onely by nature thinking that we should love them as our selves but also by a likeness of mind whence generally we love all because all be in some things like unto us but yet we love them most who both in body and mind do most resemble us Love is a passion or affection in the concupiscible anpetite that it may enjoy the thing which is esteemed to be good as near as it can Or Love is the purest rightest and best affection of the soul whereby we love God for his own sake and our neighbor for Gods Or Love is Complacentia appetibilis an appetible complacency of that which is good For the understanding of this definition given by the Schoolmen we must note That there are three things in love I. An affection to the thing or person loved II. A desire to be united or conjoyned unto or possessed of the thing or person beloved III. An extraordinary and unspeakable joy in the fruition and possession of what we love Hence we may gather How we shall love the Lord I. We must be enflamed in our affections and ravished with the love of God 2. We must then desire to be made partakers of the Lord to enjoy him by faith in our souls and to be married unto him with an everlasting covenant 3. Being once made partakers of the Lord we must reâ—oâ—ce in him as the Church did in her beloved when she had found him Cant. 5. Qu. 9. Wh ch â— true Love An. 2. Not that which is in word and tongue onely 1 Iohn 3.18 â—ut 2. That which is without dissimulation Rom. 12.9 or that love which is unfeigned 1 Pet. 1.22 that is which is indeed and in truth 1 Iohn 3.18 3. That which is fervent Cant 8 7. 1 Pet. 1.22 4. That which springs from faith unfeigned 1 Tim. 1.5 5. That which proceeds from a good conscience 1 Tim. 1.5 6. That which issues out of a pure heart 1 Tim. 1.5 1 Pet. 1.22 Qu. 10. Whereunto may Love be compared An. 1. Love is like nature in light and heavy bodies for it presseth down if it be terrene and earthly it raiseth up if it be heavenly hence Augustiwe saith Amor meus pondus meum eo feror quocunque feror my love is the lead and weight which sets all the wheels of my soul on work and guides me whethersoever I go and in whatsoever I do 2. Love is like Fire that is like a fire enclosed which straitly kept more fiercely flames at last Adverso tempore crevit Amor. Ovid. Love heightens by depression And as fire in all shops is an instrument for all or the most Artisans and workmen so nothing is well done without love and charity 3. Love is like to a Racket for as at Tenâ—â— Rackets make the ball live in a perpetual motion so do repulses in love reflecting it stronger into one anothers bosom the best temper of it is that the communication thereof be neither too forward to cool desire nor too froward left it cause despair 4. Love is like a light for as a light is not diminished by participation so love is not lessened by being divided amongst or imparted to many but rather augmented 5. Love in many things is like unto the Sun For I. As the Sun is of an uniting vertue it uniting as some Astrologers say the Planets in their effects so love doth spiritually unite and is therefore called the bond of perfection because it perfectly uniteth the soul to God and bindeth the hearts of the faithful together II. As the Sun is of a reviving nature so is love it translating from death to life and quickening the soul to every good work III. As the Sun is of an attractive power to draw vapours upwards so love ravisheth and raiseth up the affections unto God setting the heart upon those things which are above IV. As the
must beloved in truth and verity He must have the heart as well as the hands Deut 6 5. the soul as wel as the body Mat. 22.37 he searches the mind so â—oon as the man 1 Sam 16 7 and will be worshipped within as well as without 5. We must love the Lord constantly and perseverantly never falling from our first love Rom. 8.35 39. Apoc. 2.4 6. With all our heart and with all our soul Deut. 13.3 Ephes 3 17. To love with all the soul is to love wisely to love with all the strength is manfully to suffer for truth to love with all our heart is to prefer the love of God before all other things The measure to be observed in loving God is to love him without measure for our love to our God should be in the highest degree and that both I. In regard of the Object or as they say Objective that is wishing greater or more good unto him then unto any And II. In regard of estimation or as some speak Appretiativè that is by preferring him and his will before all other things yea before our own life Mâ—t. â—0 37. Luke 14.26 yea so that we had rather choose to dye and to submit our selves to death then transgress the least of his Commandments And III. Intensively i. e. in regard of our most vehement endeavour in applying all our faculties to the love of God Deut. 6. â— Thus the Prophet David saith That he will love the Lord with all that is in him which our Savior Luk. 10.27 28. expounds thus We must love the Lord with all the heart soul mind and might that is First in general that there must be no part of us void of the love fear and honour of God but that all our zeal thoughts will study of the mind and labour of the body should tend unto the love service and honour of God and there must be nothing in any part of us which is not dedicated unto God But Secondly more particularly Deut. 6.13 it is said Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart soul and strength S. Matthew 22.37 saith with all thy heart soul and mind and S. Luke hath all Heart Soul Might and Mind I. Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy heart that is Thou shalt esteem and acknowledge him thy chiefest good V sin or With all thy heart that is with thy whole understanding without any errour August de doct Christ ca. 22. or with all thy heart that is wisely Bern. ser 20. sup Cantic II. Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy soul that is with thy whole will and purpose Vrsin or With all thy whole will without contradiction August de doct Chris ca. 22. or sweetly and with joy Bern. ser 20. s Cantic III. Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy strength or might that is all thy actions both external and internal must be conâ—ormable and agreeable to the will and law of God Vrsin or With all thy strength i. e. so valiantly couragiously and constantly that we neither be subdued by deceit nor seduced by allurements nor dejected by injuries and afflictions Bern. ib. IV. Thou shalt love the Lord with all thy mind and thought that is thou shalt always intend to think and meditate of God that thou mayest both know him and love him the better Vrsin or VVith all thy mind i. e. with thy whole mind without oblivion August Qu. 76. VVhether are we to love God more for the moe benefits he bestows upon us or not Answ God is to be loved though he should give us nothing but correction as a good child loveth his father although he correct him But when it is said VVe are to love God for his benefits this word FOR denotes not the final cause here but the moving and therefore Augustin in Johan ser 3. saith It is a good thing for a man to think upon Gods benefits that he may be stirred up by them to love â—od but to love him onely for himself and not for his benefits Qu 77. Can we by nature this love God Answ No for by nature we rather hate him That we cannot by nature love God appears thus I. Nature is so wholly corrupted and depraved that we are prone unto every evil thing but averse from every thing that is good Jer. 3.12.14 II. The love of God is a spiritual work and that a hard one and consists not in word or countenance but in internal and ineffable joy Psal 42.1 63.1 Cant. 5.8 III. The love of God requires self denial which is a duty not to be performed Viribus naturae by the power of nature Eph. 2.3.5.17 Heb. 10.36 1 Pet. 41. 1 John 2.16 17. Qu. 78. VVhether is the love of God or of our neighbour one sort of love or not Answ It is one sort of love for the formal object of our love in this life is God because all things are reduced to God by love and the material object of our love is our neighbour and these two make not two sorts of love but one for as there is but one Spirit though diversity of gifts so there are two precepts and but one love 1 Corinth 13. Qu. 79. VVhat things are contrary to the true love of God Answ 1. The casting away of Gods love or the contempt and hatred of God as the avenger and punisher of sin Inordinate love of our selves or of other creatures viz. when we prefer our own lusts pleasures wills and lives before God and his will and will rather offend him then part with them 3. A feigned love of God viz. when we seem through hypocrisie to love him but indeed do not Mark 7.6 Qu. 8â— VVhat are the Impediments of the love of God or VVhat things hinder us from loving him An. 1. The love of the world James 4.4 1 John 2.15.3.17 2 The want of love to our brethren 1 John 4.8 19 20. 3. The love of sin Psalm 52.3 4. The love of our selves 2 Tim. 3.2 5. Idolatry Hosea 3.1 6. Drunkenness Hosea 3.1 7. Pleasure Hosea 3.1 Qu. 81. By what means may we attain unto this love of God or How may we be enabled to love him An. 1. The Author hereof is the Author of all good viz. God who works this love of himself in our hearts by his holy spirit Deut. 30.6 Rom. 8.28 2 Cor. 13.11 Phil. 1.9 1 Tim. 1.14 2 Tim. 1.7 1 Pet. 1.22 An 2 The means which the Lord useth for the begetting of love in us towards his Majestie is the revelation of his love towards us 1 John 4.10 whence the Saints are called Beloved Rom. 1.7 Col. 3.12 and therefore we should meditate of this infinite love of his towards us John 3.16 Rom. 5.6 7 8. An. 3. The means which we must use if we desire that the love of God may be wrought in our hearts are these I. We must learn the sweetness of God and labour to taste how good and gracious the Lord is Psalm
his bare word even with hope besides hope above hope and against hope And. 2. We must trust him for small things as well as great as we believe he will raise up our bodies from dust and save our souls so we must depend upon him for Providence and Preservation And 3. To try first and then to trust is a good rule for trusting in regard of men but not in regard of God for we must first trust his Omnipotence Wisdom Mercy and Goodness and then try him Qu. 61. VVhy must we place our Confidence and Assurance in the Lord Answ 1. Because we are commanded by him so to do Heb. 4.16.10 22. 2. Because he onely is able to preserve us from the evils which we fear Prov. 3.26 3. Because it is better to put our trust in God then in men in the King of heaven then in earthly Princes Psal 118.8 9. 4. Because they who place their trust in him shall have a place of refuge Prov. 14.26 Isa 30 15. 5. Because then we shall be of the houshold of God Heb. 3.6 6. Because then we shall be made partakers of Christ Heb. 3.14 7. Because it hath great recompence of reward Heb 10.35 Qu. 62. How many sorts of Assurance are there Answ Two Humane and Divine First there is a Humane assurance or an assurance of humane things as I. Of life Deut. 28.66 II. Of Peace Jer. 14.13 Secondly there is a Divine Assurance or an assurance of spiritual things which is either I. An assurance of charity or a charitable perswasion of other mens salvation 2 Tim. 1.5 Or II. An assurance of certainty or a perswasion of our own salvation by Christ This assurance is either I. VVeak Prov. 3.26 Or II. Strong Rom. 4.21 Colos 2.1 Hebr. 6.11 10.22 Qu. 63. VVhereupon is the Assurance of faith built Answ 1. In answer hereunto observe That the certainty and assurance of faith is twofold according to a double faith viz. First there is a Miraculous faith whose assurance is absolute And Secondly there is a saving faith whose assurance is conditional Observe here that these two agree In genero That Christ will give grant and do what is desired but they differ In individuis because the Miraculous faith doth absolutely believe that Christ will do this or that but the Saving faith believes conditionally viz. if it may be for Gods glory and our good then we are assured that God will give or do it as Mat. 26.39 1 John 5.15 Ans 2. This being premised I answer two things viz. I. The assurance of the miraculous faith is built upon the internal strength of the Spirit which moves the mind of the party to believe that he shall be able to do such or such a thing or that at least it shall be done and thus the Spirit of the Lord was upon Balaam Saul Elias Elisha and the Apostles II. The assurance of the Saving faith is built upon the Word the promises being therein explicated and given And therefore seeing Miracles are now ceased let us not look after or seek for the miraculous assurance but for the certainty of saving faith labouring to encrease in that assurance more and more Qu. 64. How may we be assured that our confidence and assurance of salvation is true and neither carnal nor hypocritical Answ We must prove and try our selves by these Signs I. Have we made the Lord our God both by receiving from him the seal and earnest of his love the evidence of his Spirit and by giving our selves wholly up unto him and his service John 8.34 1 Cor. 6.20 II. Doth the Lord dwell and inhabit in our hearts that is 1. â—s his love there do we love him unfeignedly desir ng and longing for him above all other things Psal 27.4.42.1.63.1 2. Is his fear there do we tremble before him are we fearful to offend him are we ashamed and affected with blushing for our former sins are we smit with an awful reverence of Gods presence 3. Is his comfort there do the comforts of the Lord refresh our hearts If these things be in us then doubtless God is with us III. Whether are these things perpetually in us or not If they be in us by fits and starts onely it argues against us but if we labor to serve the Lord in a constant course of Religion all our days then we may be confidently perswaded that our confidence and assurance is real Fidei certitudo importat firmitatem ad haesionis non semper quietationem intellectûs Parisius Thus much for the first Theological Grace Faith CHAP. II. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Of Hope Qu. WHat is Hope Answ Plato saith Spes est vigilantium somnium Hope is a waking mans dream And Aristotle being asked Quidnam esset Spes what Hope was answered Vigilantis somnium and gave this reason Multa enim sibi promittunt inania qui spe rerum futurarum ducuntur Laert l. 5. c. 1. As many a man feeds himself with dreams and delights to build castles in the ayr so those promise many vain and idle things unto themselves who are lead and live onely upon future hopes Or Hope as one saith is a pleasant passion of the mind which doth not onely promise us those things which we most desire but those things also which we utterly despair of Christian Hope is a certain and undoubted expectation or looking for of all promised good things which be to come especially of heavenly blessedness being freely given us of God and grounded upon his infinite mercies and Christs merits alone or Hope is a vertue whereby we are enclined to the expectation of those things which God hath promised unto us Rom. 8.25 or Hope is a patient expectation of those things which we believe to obtain or Hope as it is a passion of the irascible part of the soul may be thus defined It is a passion of the soul that we have of the impression of future good which presents it self to our imagination as difficult to obtain whereby we endeavour to pursue it conceiving that we are able to attain unto it and in the end to get the possession thereof Qu. 2. How many sorts and kinds of hope are there Answ Hope is either 1. Vncreate viz. in Christ Hebr. 12.1 2. or 2. Create which is either I. Analogical and is in unreasonable creatures or beasts as Job 41.9 Rom. 8.20 or II. Real in reasonable creatures or men Now this hope which is in men is twofold Humane and Divine First there is a Humane hope which is twofold viz. Good and Evil. I. There is a Humane hope which is good and warrantable which is twofold 1. A courteous hope 1 Tim. 3.14 2. A natural hope Ruth 1.12 Job 6.11.20 Rom. 4.18 II. There is a Humane hope which is Evil and wicked which is fourfold 1. A curious hope Luke 23.8 And 2. A covetous hope Luke 6.35 Acts 10.19.24.26 Some hope for the death of those by whose death they may be enriched
counterfeit as was the love of Cresida to Treilus having tears at command as the Crocodile to betray and smiles at will to bewitch And III. Immoderate inordinate and lustful as the love of Josephs mistris unto him Gen. 39 9. Thus much for the eighth sort or kind of love Ninthly man loves sin and the world 1 John 2.15 James 4.4 Hic amor est odio majus scelus This love is worse then hatred I wave these till I come to treat of the World and Sin Tenthly man loves things viz. both I. Natural things as Xerxes all his great exploits both by sea and land being laid aside for a time he fell so far in love in Lydia with a Plane-tree which hapned to his sight that he tarried a whole day by it and caused the boughs to be adorned with chains of gold bracelets and spangles yielding thereto great reverence And II. Artificial things as a Senators son in Rome loved extreamly the Ivory picture of Vesta which wrought him such discredit as that he was exempted from bearing office in the City Pigmalion doted on an Ivory image that he had made with his own hands Ovid. Two young men of Athens were in love with the picture of Fortune Prillius Pilatus was in love with the images of Helena and Atalanta and Demetrius having strongly begirt the city of Rhodes for the love he bare to Protogenes painted table raised his siege Eleventhly Men love beasts as the Emperour Adrian caused a tomb to be made and a pillar to be set up with an Epitaph in praise of his horse Boristhenes which he exceedingly loved Julius Capitolinus witnesseth that the Emperour Verus ordained that there should be a tomb erected in the Va iâ—aâ— for his horse Volucer which he loved so much that he used him more like a man then a beast and made for him a statue of gold Dioâ—in vita Ver. The Persians for the affections they bare to their horses when they dyed buried them Alexander the great made a tomb for Bucephalus The Emperor Augustus buried his Parrot and Heliogabalus made a grave for his Sparrow out of their love to them Twelfthly beasts or living creatures love men At Assus a Babylonian City a Dolphin so loved a boy that following too far after him he stuck fast in the sand Solinus c. 18. Aelian tells of one Sophocles an Athenian who seeing himself to be so well beloved of his horse that he would exceedingly faun upon him he fearing some shame thereby sold his horse away which the horse took so heavily that he would never eat after but pined himself to death Thirteenthly beasts love beasts as Marcus Aurelius saith as one bird loveth another one bruit another one wiseman another so one fool loveth another Thus much for the sorts and kinds of love Qu. 12. What difference is there between the love of a childe and the love of a servant Answ They differ not in the subject matter of their obedience but in the mâ—nner thereof for the child ex amore obeys the law for the love of vertue but the servant ex timore obeys rather for fear of punishment The childe who conforms himself to the Law rather for love hath respect especially to the Affirmatiâ—e precepts but the servant who conforms for fear hath respect chiefly to the Negative commandments Qu. 13. What difference is there between Love and Charity Answ 1. All charity is love but all love is not charity 2. There are three words which signifie Love Dilectio Amor. Charitas Peter Martyr loc com fol. 379. calce distinguisheth them thus Dilectio est lenior affectus Amor vehementior charitas vero ibi statuitur ubi conjunctio necessitudo quadam intercesserit Dilection signifies a lower degree of affection and love a higher but charity rather imports a necessary duty unto Parents Countrey Kindred and the like Qu 14. Wherein do Nature Reason and Religion differ in regard of Love An. 1. Nature bids me love my self and hate all who hurt me 2. Reason bids me love my friends and hate those who hate me 3. Religion bids me love all and hate none Nature sheweth care Reason wit and Religion love and therefore Nature may induce us and Reason perswade us but Religion must rule us Qu. 15. What difference is there between Love and the most if not all things Answ Of all things the newest is best save of love and friendship which the elder it waxeth is ever the better Qu 16 What difference is there between Love and Friendship Answ The difference between femine love and true friendship is Love is but an eye-worm which tickleth the head with hopes and wishes Friendship is the image of eternity in which there is nothing moveable nothing mischeivous As much difference as is between beauty and vertue bodies and shadows colours and life so great oddes is there between Love and Friendship A friend loveth always a Lover but for a time Qu. 17. What difference is there between the love of men and women Answ Some Poets and Painters representing the love of men bring in Cupid with a pair of wings discyphering the love of women a Tortuse under the feet of Venus shewing that as the love of men is moveable and unconstant as a bird so the fancy of women is as firm and fixed as a stedfast Tortuse This is not generally nor universally true for from what was shewed before Qust 11. it appears that 1. Sometimes men are more constant in their love then women 2. Sometimes women are more constant then men 3. Sometimes both are constant And 4. Sometimes neither Qu. 18. What difference is there between the love of heavenly things and earthly Answ The love of heavenly things is better then the knowledge of them the knowledge of inferiour things is better then the love of them Qu. 19. How doth our love differ from the love of God Answ Our love is caused from the goodness of a thing the love of God is the cause of the goodness of a thing Qu. 20. What difference is there between our love to God and to our neighbour in regard of the time Answ 1. We should chiefly and principally love the Lord in prosperity because otherwise he will not love us Xenophon saith We should always honour and love God but much more in prosperity because we may then more confidently call upon and seek unto him for succour in adversity Themistocles in his lower fortunes was in love with a young Gentleman who scorned him when he grew to his greatness which was soon after he sought to him but Themistocles answered We are both grown wise but too late Thus if we will not love the Lord in prosperity we may expect that he will not love us in adversity 2. We must approve our love to our neighbour or brother principally in adversity for as the Chrysolite is proved in the fire and the Diamond by the Anvil so love is tryed not by favour of
fortune but by the adversity of time Jacob Almansor King of the Moors going one day on hunting found by chance a poor travelling man who being taken with some sudden sickness was fallen on the ground which he seeing alighted set him upon his horse and with one hand led the horse and with the other upheld him and when his Alcaydes came unto him he refused to ride on another Steed or to let any other conduct him until he had brought him home and then gave him a great sum of money that he might live in good fashion afterwards for which the poor man thanking him when he was recovered he answered there belongs no thanks to me but to God onely who brought me to that place where you was Thus in misery and distress our love to our brother is chiefly to be manifested Qu. 21. What is the Nature and Excellency of Love Answ 1. It is of that nature that many waters cannot quench it Cant. 8.7 and 2. â—t is of that nature that the more it is expressed the more it is enflamed For as fire suppressed doth often flame forth with more violence so doth Love according to the French Proverb Vne amour par contraire est plus chaude rendue Love doth encrease when it is withstood it is like fire which the more it is dammed up the more it burns or like the water which being stopped overflows all and bears all before it 3. Love makes men couragious Castillo in his Courtier lib. 3. thinks and affirms that an Army of Lovers were invincible except by another Army in love and he instanceth in Troy and in Ferdinand and Isabel of Spain in their war against the King of Granada that all notable exploits performed in battel hath still been by Lovers Leander being in love with Hero the fair Sestian Nun ventured for her love to swim over Hellespont but was drowned therein One asking Why Cupid is pictured with wings was answered Because the desires of lovers for the most part tend to high things 4. Love thinks a great deal of labour and pains taken and undergone for the party beloved to be easie and as nothing Gen. 29.20 5. Love descends as appeared by Pythius Bythinius a Persian who feasted all Xerxes Army and gave him four hundred Miriads of gold and onely because of five sons he had Xerxes would leave one of them at home to comfort him in his old age We ordinarily do say Love doth descend more then ascend whence we see that one father doth with less labour and trouble maintain ten children then ten children can one father A certain man and his son being both condemned to dye for a hainous offence the Earl of Flanders promised to save his life who would cut off the others head which after much debate was done by the son Among the Ancients it was a common proverb That the taste of all tastes is bread the savour of savous is salt and the greatest love of all loves is from the fathers to the children 6. Love is of that nature that all is well taken that comes from love Si diligis fac quicquid vis si tacueris dilectione tace si locutus fueris dilectione loquere si precaris dilectione precare c. Aug. in Joh. 1. epist If thou lovest do what thou wilt speak or be silent exhort or rebuke call or cry so it be in love all is well 7. Love is strong as death Cant. 8.6 Reward hath an attractive and punishment an impulsive but love hath a compulsive faculty reward draws punishment drives but love hales a man forward to the discharge of his duty and therefore if God write a Law of Love in our hearts and shed abroad his own love to joyn therewith it will work so strongly that one grain thereof will have more force to purge out sin and to constrain and strengthen to obedience then a whole pound of terrors Chrysostome saith Love iâ— a pleasing tyrant the power whereof is above all power and reigns over all impediments in heaven and earth prevailing both with God and man As men allure Doves by the beauty of the house and reclaim Hawks by the fairness of the lure so love joyned with virtue is able to recal the most stragling Aeneas to make sails again to Carthage As there is no cloth so fine but Moaths will eat it no iron so hard but rust will fret it no wood so sound but worms will putrifie it no mettal so course but fire will purifie it so there is neither man nor woman so resolute or constant but love will bring them into thraldom and bondage 8. Love will shew it self As bashful Suiters seeing strangers by Parly in silence with their hand or eye The French say to this purpose Vne parfaite amour ne se peut desguiser A perfect love cannot be disguised for as fire cannot be hidden in the flax without smoak nor Musk in the bosom without smell so neither can love be hidden in the breast without some suspicion or manifestation 9. It is free or there is no affection freer then love for as there is nothing more forcible so nothing that can be less forced Marcus Aurelius in his oration to Fulvius the Senator saith There is never true love where there is any particular interest and if so then love is free and then no wonder if love be so rare every one as the Dutch say having their back-door or by end and self-respects in whatsoever they do 10. Love desires love again the party loving desires to be beloved as Hellen saith to Paris Bella gerant alii tu Pari semper ama Whilst others follow Mars do thou follow Venus Pythagoras saith Love is not satisfied with gold but onely payed with love again Hence Sophocles being asked What harm he would wish to his enemy answered That he might love where he was not liked and that such misfortune might last long There is no herb will make lovers sleep but hearts-ease and there is no hearts-ease vvhere love is not mutual and reciprocal 11. It is the cause of all action and motion Parisius saith Omnis animae motus radix est amor Love is the root and principal of all the motions of the soul Quodlibet agens propter amorem agit quodcunque agit Aquin. Every vvise and free agent doth for love vvhatsoever he doth 12. Love is Lord of all Love of old vvas pictured vvith flowers in the one hand and a fish in the other to shevv that he is Lord both of Sea and Land And 13. It is svveet profitable and comfortable Love is like honey in bitter broth and sugar in sour vvine It is a rule to direct us a light to shevv us and a vvay to vvalk unto salvation and therefore full of profit comfort and sweetness 14. Love is the preserver of mankind for as a ship would perish without a Pilot as a City is in danger without a Magistrate as the world is nothing but
blinds judgement according to the French Adâ—â—e Amour fait trouver bâ—â—u ce qu de soy n' est beâ—u Love makes us judge a thing fair though it be soul Quisquis amat ranam 〈◊〉 puâ—â— esse Dianam And 5. It is sometimes the cause of irreconcileable jars and strife The cause of civil dissention between Themâ—stocles and Aristides was the love of Stesilâ—a an harlot whose beauty being decayed their hatred did so continue that they could never be reconciled but continued enemies even to death The like hatred was between Cato and Caesar about the love of the harlot Servilia 6. It iâ— hurtful both to the party loving and beloved the dart of Love being like a stroke with a clod of earth which being thrown amongst a company doth hurt one and blindes another 7. It makes men like beasts the Poets tell us that Jupiter transformed himself into the form of a Swan to enjoy Laeâ—a and into a Bull to beguil Jo and that Neptune changed himself into a Heâ—fer a Ram and a Dolphâ—n onely for the love of those he lusted after By these fictions I think the Poets mean that lustful love makes men more like beasts then men 8 Another fruit is loss of peace quiet vertue and all sweet content Marcus Aurelius writing to his Empress Faustina about the careful education of their daughter Lucilla saith Love in young blood and springing and flourishing youth is a poyson that spreadeth into every vein it is an herb that enrreth into the entrails a fainting which incontinently mortifieth all the members a pestilence that infecteth the heart and finally it putteth an end to all vertues For as the precious stone Antracites being thrown into the fire looketh black and tawny but being cast into the water glistereth like the Sun-beams so the precious mind of man once put into the flame of love is ugly and loseth her vertue but sprinkled with the water of wisdom and detestation of such fond delights it shineth like the glorious rays of Phoebus 9. This loose lewd love makes men effeminate low-spirited and base in their courses and carriage The Ambassadors of Lydia coming suddenly into Hercules chamber to speak with him found him attired like a woman lying on Joles lap Dionysius the Tyrant was so devoted to the love of his Curtezan Mirta that he onely ordained and she took care for the execution and administration of all the weighty affairs of the Weal-publique Antenaricus the famous King of the Gothes after many great victories in Italy was so deeply enamoured with one Pincia that whilst she combed his head he made clean her slippers Themistocles that famous Grecian Captain in the wars of Epirus took a woman captive whom he so doted on that if she were sick he would feign himself not to be well if she were appointed to purge he would purge if to be let blood he also would bleed carrying himself towards her not as if she were his prisoner but as if he were her slave King Demetrius having taken â—hodes a beautiful Gentlewoman of the City was presented unto him whom by little he did so immoderately affect that once she seeming angry with him and refuâ—ing to sit near him he forgetting all majestie and dignity fell before her on his knees entreating her pardon and the Kings of Assyria of old never answered any Ambassadors themselves but by Messengers they wasting their time wholly in their Concubines company Pausamus 10. Another fruit and effect of inordinate love is the ruine and destruction both of soul and body for as fainting and swounding mortifieth every member as pestilence infecteth every part and as poyson pierceth every vein so love if not timely prevented and looked unto will in time bring body and soul to utter confusion Qu. â—0 What are the Remedies against inordinate lâ—ve Answ To labour that our heart may be taken up with another love for as Rubarb by a certain peculiar vertue doth purge choler although by nature it be cholerick so one love often times doth drive out another as one nail doth another one re another or one grief another And indeed as a â—â—ll vessel will receive no more so where the love of God hath taken possession lascivious love will not be entertained 2. Another remedy is speedy resistance for as fire is to be quenched in the spark weeds to be rooted up in the tender blade Tetters and Ring-worms to be cured in the beginning lest they spread over the whole body so the assaults of love are to be beaten back at the first siege lest they undermine at the second 3. Another remedy is to avoid occasions He who hath sore eyes must not behold the candle and he who would not be entrapped or entangled in the meshes of love must not look upon beauty but with Job make a covenant with his eyes If the Flye will flutter about the candle she muâ—t expect to be burnt if the Quâ—il will seed on the Hemlock she must look to be poysoned and if lascivious dispositions will frequent the society of lewd women they may look to be seduced and led aside and therefore Guevara in his letter to Sir Lewes Brave fol. 186. saith Let Hermogenes Tesiphontes Dorcatius and Ovid write what they please concerning the remedies of love yet I say There is no better remedy for love then to avoid the occasions of love or never to begin to lovâ— for love is so evil a beast that with a thread he suffereth himself to be taken but he will not depart w th the thrusts of a lance and therefore Fly fly betimes for onely they Do conquer love who run away Thus much for the Evil and inordinate love at present till we come to treat of Fornication and the kinds thereof according to the prescribed order I now proceed unto the Good love and the several sorts thereof Qu. 51. How is love attributed unto God Answ Both in the Abstract and Concret for I. In the Abstract he is said to be love 1 John 4. 8 16. And II. In the Concrete he is said to be loving Qu. 52. What doth the Lord and his Christ love Answ 1. Righteousness Psalm 11.7.33.5 Hebr. 1.9 2. Judgement Psalm 37.28.99.4 Isaiah 61.8 3. The gates of Sion Psalm 87.2 Qu. 53. How manifold is Gods love towards us Answ The love of God is twofold viz. I. Amor benevolentiae the love of Gods good will or the love of Election And. II. Amor complacentiae the love of Gods being well pleased with us and delighted in us Ephes 1.4 5 6 7. Rom. 11 6 7 â—8 God loves us before we are sanctified and called God is pleased with us when we walk worthy of our vocation and according to the rule of sanctification Qu. 54. What is the love of God Answ Love is a will whereby God wils that is approves that which is good and rests therein Psalm 45.8 11. Matth. 3.17 or love is the essence of God whereby he loves his creatures
though unworthy of his love Malac. 1.2 3. Titus 3.4 Qu. 55. Whereunto may Gods love towards us be compared Answ 1. To the rod of Moses for as this turned into a Serpent before Pharaoh devoured all the Magicians rods turned into serpents so the assurance that God loves us doth beget such a love in us unto him that it devoureth the love of all worldly things Bern. ser de Ascens And 2. To light for as the visible light of the morning when day is plainly broke is the Hench-man of the Suns brightness so the beneâ—its of God daily received are heralds of his divine Love And 3. To the love of Hens to their Chickens as Matth. 23 37. And 4. To the love of Parents to their children or to the care of fathers and the pity of mother Omnis in Ascanio chari stat cura parentis Virg. As the Father loveth his child so God his creature Qu. 56. Whom doth the Lord love Answ 1. Those whom men and the world contemn and despise There is a Countrey in Asia called Mysia who were so despised of all their neighbours that they were as a by-word unto them for so often as a man would denote a thing of no estimation they would proverbially say Vltimum esse Mysiorum they are worse then the Mysians as we see in Cicero's Oration for Flaccus and yet Paul the Apostle and Iohn the Evangelist preached the doctrine and light of the Gospel to this poor and despised people so that these Mysians who were such a despicable people unto others were more highly esteemed of â—od who out of his love to them converted many of them by the preaching of John and Paul and some think that Paul alludes to these Mysians when he saith 1 Cor. 1.26 Not many wise according to the flesh not many mighty not many noble but God hath chosen the foolish things of this world that they might confound the wise Answ 2. The Lord loves the poor and strangers Psalm 146.9 Answ 3. The Lord loves the fatherless and widows Psalm 58.5 6.140 9. Answ 4. The Lord loves a chearful giver 2 Cor. 9 7. Answ 5. The Lord loves the seed of the righteous 2 Sam. 12 24. Answ 6. The Lord loves his people whom he hath chosen and amongst or by whom his name is called upon Note here wherein the love of God towards his people doth appear First in remembring his promises towards them Nehem. 1.8 9 11. Secondly in his mindfulness of them Psalm 115.9 12 13. Thirdly by his taking vengeance of all their enemies Deut. 32.35 36 43. Fourthly by his taking notice of all their troubles and afflictions and his care to succour them Exod. 2.25 Judges 15.19 Psalm 25.15.40.17 Fifthly by his separating them unto himself or gathering them unto him as Lev. 24. Ezek. 36.24 29 30. Sixthly by his delight in them Isa 58.14 Seventhly by his curbing restraining and withholding of their enemies from harming of them This he doth three manner of ways I. Sometimes by forbiding them to speak any evil unto them or to harm them as Genes 31.24.29 II. Sometimes by striking a terrour in them and making them afraid of his people Genes 35.5 III. Sometimes by revealing his judgements from heaven against their enemies as he did upon Pharaoh and others Exod. â— 8 9 10. Chapters 14.27 Deut. 32 43. Answ 7. The Lord loves his Church The picture of Diana was framed with that art that if those who were without the Temple looked upon her she seemed to frown upon them but upon those who were within she smiled so the Lord loves and smiles upon those who are within the Church but frowns upon those who are without Isa 61.10 11. Note here that the Lords love unto his Church appears three manners of ways viz. 1. By his beautifying and adorning of her as a Bride with jewels i. e. divine and spiritual graces and vertues Isa 61.11 And II. By his subduing Nations unto her or by causing them to flock and submit unto her Isa 60.4 6 7. And III. By making righteousness grow and Religion flourish in her Isa 61.11 Answ 8. The Lord loves his elect and faithful children John 13.1 that is both his eldest son by creation and the children of that son First the Lord loved the first man Adam or the first of his children who were meer men expressing and shewing his love to him in or by these things I. By creating of him in his own image Genes 1.26 27. II. By blessing of him Gen. 1.28 III. By giving him dominion over the creatures Gen. 1.26 28. IV. By providing food for him Gen. 1.29 30.2.9 16. V. By appointing Paradise for him to dwell in and placing him there Gen 28 15. VI. By making unto him an Helper meet for him Gen. 2.18.23 VII By forbiding him to meddle with that which was evil or by forewarning him of what was evil Gen. 2.17 VIII By enduing him with admirable and eminent knowledge Gen. 2.19 20. IX By preparing garments for them after the fall Gen. 3 21. Secondly the Lord expresseth his love unto his children who sprung from the loyns oâ— the first man Adam Two things are here to be taken notice of viz. I. Who they are whom the Lord loves II. How or wherein he expresseth his love unto these I. Note who they are whom the Lord loves 1. Righteous men Psalm 146.8 2. Good men At pauci quos aequus amavit Jupiter aut ardens evexit ad aethera virtus Virg. The Lord being just loves not many but onely those who are good And 3. Those who love him Vespasian commanded a liberal reward should be given to a woman who came unto him and professed she was in love with him His Steward demanding what â—â—em he should put to it in his accounts He answered teâ— to ber who loved Vespasian so much Thus God gives much and forgives much as a token of his love to those who love him Amor currit per desâ—â—erium quiescit per gâ—uâ— um all things and so love amongst others loves vicissitude 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bred it saith Plato and the same seed it heats and cools are the best diet for it In love there must be a desire of enjoying a delight in enjoying and a sorrow for lack of enjoying and those who are thus affected to God he will love 4. The Lord loves those who obey him in love Luther said God loves â—urristas not Quaeristas runners nor reasoners and it is not possible for us to be prompt and diligent in obeying except we love II. Note wherein the love of God appears unto these his faithful ones 1. In his covering and hiding of their iniquities Numb 23.21 Jeâ— 31.34 and 2 In making them instrumental for the preservation of others Gen. 45.5 3. â—n his presence with them in their labours and prospering whatsoever they do Gen. 39.23 4. In his giving of them favour in the eyes of strangers or those under whose charge and
34.8 II. We must pray unto God to work in our hearts an unfeigned love to his sacred Majestie Psalm 51.11 Phil. 1.9 III. We must be careful to preserve the seeds of grace in our hearts Jude v. 21. 1 John 15.18 19. IV. We must fear and reverence the Lord for where there is no reverence there is no love Deut. 10.12 V. We must be careful to avoid those impediments mentioned before yea separate our selves from whatsoever might hinder us from this holy duty Qu. 82. How many vertues hath divine and spiritual love Answ Four whereof The first is communicative for love is of some good and good is of a diffusive nature hence because God is exceeding good or the best of all he doth especially communicate himself Hence Dion saith Amor divinus est bonus boni propter bonum that is spiritual or divine love is good essentially of that which is good causally and for good finally The second vertue is motive or inclinative to the producing of every good thing The third is ordinative for it ordains and appoints all things to the good of the party beloved The fourth is elevative for love doth so extol the party loving and raise him to such a height that now the lover is not his own man but rather his who is beloved Gal. 2.20 Qu. 83. VVhat are the fruits and effects of our love unto God An. 1. Gods love in the heart kills and casts out sin Rom 6.2 2 Cor. 13.5 until the heart be enflamed with this love it is infected with some other novo vincitur omnis amor But when this new love enters the old departs for Non bene conveniunt nec in una sede morantur The love of God and of sin will not lodge together An. 2. Another fruit and effect of our love to God is joy or love is the cause of joy and that I. Propter benevolentiam for goodwil for to love is to will well Hence because we love any we rejoyce at their prosperity and preferment II. Propter boni praesentiam for the presence of the good loved for when we love that which is good we rejoyce in the enjoyment thereof III. Propter boni inhaerentiam for the inherence of good Hence when vertue and grace is lodged in those whom we love we rejoyce thereat Answ 3. The Schoolmen say Amor divinus quatuor bona in homine operatur I. Inclinat superiora inferioribus per humilitatem contemptum sui II. Superioribus inferiora per desiderium supernorum III. Ordinat aqualia aequalibus IV. Transformat amantem in amatum secundum affectum Answ 4. Others say Amoris effectus quatuor sunt Primò deformatum reformare convertit enim à falso objecto amoris ad Deum Secundò reformatum conformare viz. Per effecta unionis ad Deum Vnio autem triplex I. Substantialis sui nimirum ad seipsum talis Vnio 1. Identitatis est causa qua quis amat seipsum c. 2. Similitudinis qua quis amat alium II. Realis est unto amantis ad amatum quae fruitio est III. Essentialis seu mentalis quae nihil aliud est quam ipse amor Tertio conformatum confirmare est enim inseparabilis I. Ratione spiritus custodientis nos II. Ratione nostri non deserentis spiritum Quartò conformatum transformare amantem in amatum transformat amor The sum of all is I. Love changeth us from evil to good II. Love maketh us endeavour to be like unto God III. Love confirmeth us in this endeavour and likeness because 1. The Spirit taketh care of us And 2. We are careful to be directed by the Spirit IV. Love maketh us to go out of our selves and to devote our selves wholly up unto God Qu. 84. How may we know whether we love God or not or what are the signs thereof Answ In answer hereunto two things are seriously to be considered viz. 1. The necessity of examination 2. The rules of exploration First all think that they love God but the most are deceived for none can love him indeed but those to whom it is given For. I. There is an innate hatred in us towards God as is clear from these two particulars 1. We love not naturally the works of vertue And 2. The things which we desire in God or from him we desire for our selves onely out of self-love and otherwise nothing pleaseth our nature And II. This hatred of God which is in us is called An aversion of the mind from God and is not changed until our hearts be converted by the Spirit unto â—od 2 Cor. 3.16 And therefore it concerns us nearly to examine and try diligently by certain undoubted and infallible signs whether we love the Lord or not Secondly we may know whether we love the Lord truly and indeed or not if we seriously examine our selves by these clear and plain Signs viz. .1 He who loves God will adhere and cleave unto him Deut. 30.20 Matth. 6.24 2. He who loves God will keep his word 1 John 2.5 that is will obey him both I. â—ffirmatively doing what he requires And II. Negatively eschewing what he forbids 3. He who loves God the Father will and doth love God the Son 1 John 5.1 5. He who loves God will love his brethren 1 Joh. 4.20 21. 4. He who loves God will relieve and succour the necessities of his brethren 1 John 3.17 And 6. Will esteem the Lord as his chiefest good and giver of every good thing Deut. 6.13.10 20. And 7. Will withdraw all trust and confidence from all creatures placing his whole assurance upon the Lord and believing onely in him And 8. He will fear and stand in awe of him with a filial fear Deut. 6.13.10.20 Psalm 38.8 Prov. 24.21 1 Pet. 2.18 And 9. He will humble himself before the Lord and be lowly in his sight James 4.7 1 Pet. 5 6. And 10. He will patiently bear all adversity and affliction which is sent by God James 1.21.2.20 And 11. He will worship and serve the Lord as himself hath prescribed in his word And 12. He will meditate continually of God and his word and that with delight Psalm 1.2.119.172 13. In all things he will seek the praise and glory of God as his chiefest scope and aim 1 Corinth 10.31 And 14. For benefits favours and mercies received he will give thanks that is I. With his mind and spirit And II. With his tongue And III. VVith his gesture and countenance And IV. VVith his life by willingly doing whatsoever he commands and shuning whatsoever he forbids Psalm 50.15 Colos 3.17 And 15. He will continue stedfastly in all these unto his lives end Qu. 85. By what means may the love of God be augmented and encreased in us Answ 1. By knowledge we can neither desire nor love him whom we do not know since Affectus motus est cordis a notitia cognitione objecti exercitatus affection is the motion of the heart arising from the
knowledge of the object or thing loved As those who know God will love him so the greater our knowledge of God is the greater will our love unto him be 2. There are four meditations very helpful to encrease in us the love of God viz. I. We should love him because he is the Supream good Invenito si potes aliquid pretiosius Deo dabitur tibi Bern. Seek heaven and earth quite through and if in either thou canst find any thing more excellent then God thou shalt have it And II. We should love God because he hath first loved us Invenimus eum sed non prevenimus Aug. we may find God but we cannot prevent him he seeking us ere we seek him Dilexit non existentes imò resistentes Bern. God loved us before we were creatures yea when we were traytors III. We should love him because he hath declared his love already by innumerable gifts given unto us And IV. Because he hath yet greater things which he hath prepared for to give unto us Non de his quae condidit sed de scipso August For he will give himself unto us which is better then all the enjoyments of earth and heaven Qu. 86. Who are too blame in regard of Gods love Answ 1. Those who will not acknowledge Gods love unto them Mal. 1.2 2. Those who have not the love of God in them John 5.42 3. Those who love those things which hinder them from the love of God 1 John 2.15 4. Those who are inconstant in their love unto God Apoc. 2 4. Qu. 87. What is required of those who love the Lord Answ 1. To hate evil Psalm 97.10 2. To labour to keep themselves in the love of God Jude v. 21. 3. To be joyful in the Lord Psalm 5.11 4. To bless and praise the Lord Psalm 40.16.70.4 5. To do whatsoever they do in love We read of one â—â—â—nundus who would answer all questions with this one word LOVE e.g. If he were asked Whence came you he answered From love whether go you to love with whom dwell you with love What aim you at love Why do you this or that for love so all we do should be done in love and for love and come from a heart filled with love 6. To love the Lord alone we say Love and lordship brook no fellowship and the French say Amour et Royaultè ne neulent point d'esgal Love and royalty can suffer no equal and therefore the Lord will have no Rivals in his love Simbaldo Flischo of Geneva perceiving that a Lady whom he entirely loved suspected that he loved others besides her in regard of his free courteous and chearful behaviour in the company of others he devised this Impress A Needle touched with an Adamant applyed to a sea Card with a Compass thereunto and above was the clear Azure sky with stars with this Mot Aspicit unam to shew that although in the heavens were very many fair and bright stars yet there was but one regarded of the Adamant viz. The Pole-star This should be the Christians Motto for although we are compassed about with many things which seem amiable and lovely yet the eye of our affection must be fixed onely upon God Qu. 88. What is our love unto Christ Answ Love unto Christ is an holy affection of the soul carrying of us with ful desire to the enjoying of him and making us prefer our communion with him before all things in the world that may challenge our dearest respect Qu. 89. Who love Christ Answ 1. The Church Cant. 1.3 2. The righteous Cant. 1.4 Qu. 90. Why must we love the Lord Christ Answ 1. Because if we do not love him we are worse then infidels for Christ hath loved us and they will love those who love them Matth. 5.46 47. 2. Because If we love not him we shall be accursed 1 Cor. 16.22 3. Because if we love him the Father will love us John 16.27 4. Because if we love him he will love us John 14.21 5. Because if we love him he will know and take notice of it Iohn 21.17 6. Because if we love him all things shall work together for our good Rom. 8.28 7. Because his love towards us was extraordinary that is I. It was a perfect love viz. As his father loved him so loved hâ— us John 15.9 II. It was an unparallelled love John 15.13 Rom. 5.6 c. III. It was a perpetual love John 13.1 IV. It was an inexpressible love Ephes 3.19 Qu. 91. How may we know whether we love Christ or not Answ 1. If God be our father we will love Christ John 8.42 2. If we love him we shall rejoyce that he is ascended unto the Father Iohn 14.28 3. If we love him we will obey him and keep his commandments Iohn 14.15 21 23.15.9 2 Iohn 6. Qu. 92. How must we approve our love unto Christ Answ 1. By forsaking all things that is our beloved sins yea if it be required our life and all Matth. 19. for his sake Quomodo amas Christum cum adhuc amas quod in te odit Christus August And 2. By taking up his cross and following him Mat. 16.24 and 3. By denying our own wisdom and righteousness that we may be found in him 1 Corinth 3.18 and 4. By loving the brethren for his sake 1 John 2.3 4 5. Chapters Qu. 93 What is required of us in regard of Christs love Answ 1. To desire and prize his love above all things When Alexander came to Diogenes and asked him if he wanted any thing or would request any thing of him he answered He desired nothing of him but that he would stand out of the Sun Thus our hearts should be set on fire with a love to Christ that we might covet nothing more then to see the beauty of his face and the ravishing beams of his favour 2. We should so long meditate of the love of Christ to us Donec totus fixus in corde qui totus fixus in cruce till he were as fast fixed in our hearts as he was upon the cross Qu. 94. How or how many ways doth a man love himself Answ 1. Some answer that a man loves himself three manner of ways I. Diligit se ut se this is not good love II. Diligit se ut principalem finem this is not right love III. Dil git se in ordine ad Deum this is to love a mans self truly Answ 2. There is the love of a mans self which is proper to the wicked for they esteeming their bodies and sensitive nature to be the principal thing in them love them better then their souls and so are more careful to pamper feed and satisfie them then to cherish nourish or provide for their souls This self-love is wicked and not to be imitated Answ 3. There is the love of a mans self which is proper to the good for such esteeming their souls to be the principal thing in them do love
Because they are Disciples and thus we must love them for their spiritual society and bond of charity as fellow-travellers in a long journey love one another or as Countrey-men love one another in a strange place or remote Countrey And therefore three sorts of men are here too blame First hypocrites and dissemblers who as Bernard saith have Mel in ore verba lactis fel in corde fraus in factis peace in their words but war in their hearts towards the Saints loving them with their lips but hating them in their hearts Pro. 23.7 James 2.13 Our love unto the faithful must be sincere and cordial not sinister and counterfeit Secondly those are too blame who love the Saints onely for some second causes either I. Because they are their neighbours and their good neighbours from whom they receive no evil but upon every occasion all neighbourly offices Or II. Because they are of their kindred and alliance Or III. Because they are of meek affable and gentle natures and loving dispositions or IV. Because they love them and theirs Or V. Through vain-glory that they may be praised for their loving of those who are good Thirdly those are faulty who love the faithful onely with a mercenary love or for reward Aliud est sperare aliud est hoc agere Hier. A man may hope that God will bless him if he love his children because this God hath promised but a man must not therefore love them that God may bless him this being but self-self-love Ans 2. In general besides the Lord we are commanded to love our neighbour and our enemies Luk. 10.27.28 Qu. 100. VVhat is the nature of the love of the faithful one to another Answ 1. It is a growing and encreasing love 2 Thess 1.3 2. It is a continuing and abiding love Hebr. 13.1 Qu. 101. VVhether are we to love all the Saints and faithful alike or not Answ I might for the resolution and satisfaction of this Quaere refer my Reader to Camara quaest concil exposit qu. 97. p. 98. But I will to him adde two things First in respect of the different degrees of men there must be different degrees of love e.g. Magistrates and Ministers being publique Persons and religious are to be loved above other private persons they bearing in them a double image of God I. Inward in sanctification And II. Outward in authority and place Secondly in equal comparison when men are equal in degree then we must first and principally love parents children affinity and consanguinity we being bound to love them by a double bond I. Of nature And II. Of grace for grace doth not abolish natural affection but onely orders and disposeth it aright Qu. 102. How may we know whether we truly love the children of God or not Answ 1. He who loves the Father will love the children 1 John 5.2 2. He who obeys the Father loves the hildren 1 Iohn 5.2 3. He who loves those whom he hears to be religious and zealous though he knows them not is a lover of Gods children 4. He who delights in the company and society of godly men when he hath no other relation unto them then as they are good men is a true lover of the faithful Psalm 16.3.126.5 Rom. 1.12 5. He who hath a fel ow-feeling of the Saints miseries as if himself were in misery is a lover of them 6. He who is always willing to distribute to the necessities of the Saints according to his ability must needs be a lover of them 7. â—e who can bear with reproaches and reproachful words at the hands of truly righteous men â— a true lover of the Saints When Luther had wofully wronged and reviled Calvin the good man said Etiamsi Lutherus millies me Diabolum vocet ego tamen illum insignem Domini servum agnosco c. Let Luther hate me and in his wrath call me Devil a thousand times yet I will love him and acknowledge him a most precious servant of God To answer the wrath of the Saints with love is a good sign of a Saint-lover As the members of the same body albeit having divers duties and functions and differing also in form do tenderly and mutually love one another because they live by one and the self-same reasonable soul so faithful Christians love one another being made alive by the Divine Spirit of God who by how much he is more good or excellent by so much also he is more Powerful to knit and unite those together in whom he dwelleth Lodov. Granat As in a material building one stone is knit unto another by lime and morter so in the spiritual building one Christian is joyned to another by love and hence though one member be casually or causlessly injured by another it doth not seek revenge upon the other Qu. 103. Who must principally abound in Christian Love and Charity towards their neighbours Answ 1. Old men Tit. 2.2 2. Ministers 1 Tim. 4.12 2 Tim. 3.10 Qu. 104. Wherein or how ought Ministers to express and show their Love unto their People Answ 1. By speaking friendly unto them and beseeching them to be reconciled unto God 2 Cor. 5.20 2. By testifying their inward affection unto them by their outward works 3. By serving them in Christ not desiring so much to be ministred unto as to minister 4. By being ready to lay down their lives for them John 15.13 Qu. 105. From whence springs true Christian Love and Charity towards our brethren Answ 1. Originally from God true Love being his gift Eph. 1.15.16.6.23 Phil. 19. Col. 1.3.4 1 Thes 1.2 3.3.12 2. It proceeds out of a pure heart 1 Tim. 1.5 1 Pet. 1.22 3. It issues out of a good conscience 1 Tim. 1.5 4. It flows from Faith unfained 1 Tim. 1.5 Qu. 106. Whether are wicked men to be Loved Answ As the Physitian hateth the disease yet loveth the person diseased so we must love that in our neighbour which is good and made of God and abhor that which the Devil and man hath made evil i. e. we must Love the wicked mans person though we hate his vice For 1. God hath commanded us to love our enemies and those are truly evil who are enemies to good men And 2. Those who are wicked for the present may belong unto God in regard of divine election and therefore such are to be loved And 3. We ought to pray for all wicked ones who have not sinned against the Holy-â—host and therefore we must love them 4 This is confirmed from Christ who for our example loved us when we were wicked Rom. 5 6 7 Qu. 107. What is the Love of our neighbour Answ To love our neighbour is for the love which we owe unto God to wish well and do good unto our neighbour and to do all things unto him which we would in equity and according to Law should be done unto us Or The love of our neighbour is a true and sincere good will both in will mind and
The Chiefest DIVINE VERTUES EPITOMIZED OR A compendious Treatise of the three Theological Graces Faith Hope and Charity By Richard Ward Preacher of the Gospel at Bushy in Hartfordshire Now abideth Faith Hope and Charity these three but the greatest of these is Charity 1 Cor. 13.13 Fides dicit Aeterna bona reposita sunt Spes dicit Mihi reposita sunt Charitas dicit Ego curro post ea Bernard LONDON Printed for Francis Tyton at the three Daggers in Fleetstreet neer the Inner-Temple-gate 1655. To the Worshipful and my truly Loving Friends and Parishoners Dr. Walker John Gale Esq Thomas Nichols Esq Mr. Thomas Gee Mr. William Baâ—ly Mr. Henry Hickman Mr. George Blackwell Mr. Thomas Hobson and his truly vertuous Mother Mrs. Barbara Hobson Mr. Robert Blackwell with the rest of my charge and Christian Congregation MUch Honoured and Kind Gentlemen and friends revolving many times with my self the unanimous entrance I had among you my peaceable continuance to this hour with you the experience of your love generally towards me when being disturbed by an unworthy person who endeavoured to sequester me not one inhaibitant in the whole Parish assisting him or giving his hand against me and your in these daies rare and singular freedom from division and distraction in point of opinion not so much as one in judgement declining the good old way of sound and solid Doctrine Pondering I say these things with my self I considered both How by way of thankfulness I might make them known unto others and also How I might testifie to the world my desire to recompence your love and for this double end I have presented this small Tractate unto you entreating you and all those who shâ—ll peruse it to consider seriously these five things First That the great aime and scope of a faithful Minister is the salvation of his people Rom. 10.1 Heb 13.17 whence they are said To save 1 Tâ—m 4.16 Secondly That a cordial and real love ought to be between Minister and People 2 Cor. 1.14 Those being as Fathers these as Children Judges 18.19 Gal. 4 19. Those being as Guardians these as Orphans thâ—se as Captains these as Souldiers those as Shepherds th se as their Flocks The inhabitants of Dalmatia in Sclavonia as they were by the Romans often subdued so they as often revolted and the last rebellion was raised at the instigation of one Batto a man very poâ—eâ—t with the People who having ten years together maintained the liberty of his Countrey at last broken and wearied by and with the forces of Germanicus and Tiberius he submitted himself unto the two Captains who asking the reason of his revolt was answered Becâ—use the Romans send no Shepherds to keep but Wolve to devoure their flocks Some souâ—diers once mutinying in their Captains tent and offering to go forth into the open field to fight it out their Captain laid him down upon the thresh ld with these words If you go forth it shall be by treading on your Geâ—erâ—l Thus such is the love of a good Minister to hâ—s people that he will expose his life to hazard and himself to death for their good and a religious Flock will not stick to do the same for a faithful Pastour Thirdly The Gospel hath the more free passage where such reciprocal affection is for love makes all things light and the pains undertaken for those whom we love is though great the better undergone Lâ—ve takes all things with the right hand and receives in good part what coâ—â—s from and is spoken in love Fourthly The true love of a Minister to his People is to their persons not to their sins Exod. 32.33 Rom. 9.3 2 Cor. 6.11 and that both in regard I. Of his Duty which is care of for and over them Acts 20.28 to reconcile fathers to their children Mal. 4. and God to man 2 Cor. 5.19 And II. Of Gods glory which will be advanced by their peoples conversion and holy conversation And III. Of their peâ—ples good who being â—â—â—verted reconciled unto God and devoted unto his service are happy here and shall be eternally blessed hereafter Fifthly Observe that a Ministers love to his people is best known and shown by these waies and means I. By preaching the mysterie of the Gospel unto them Rom. 16.25 II. By preaching rather profitable things then pleasant for as he is an ill Cook who rather dresseth such meat as will please the pallat then help the stomach and provides for hungry hearts rather Spice-cakes then wholsom food so he is no good Minister of Christ who in his Preaching seeketh rather to tickle mens phansies and please itching ears then to build them up unto a holy building III. By preaching according to the capacity of their Auditory Solomon saith concerning children Prov. 22.6 Hanoch lanagnar gnal Pi Instrue vel initiare puerum ad os Teach the child according to his capacity even as we feed children with such meat as they are able to disgest seting down before them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a plain form of Doctrine Rom. 2.20 IV. By praying publikely and privately for them as Moses did Exod. 32. as the Priests were commanded to do Levit. and as the practise of the Apostles is frequently in their Epistles Hence Ministers are Types of Christ 1 John 2.2 V. By endeavoring that faith may be wrought in them not only an Historical saith as Caâ—dinal Ascanius Parrot could praâ—â— the Creed all over but a true and lively faith testified to be such by its works VI. By desiâ—ing and endeavouring that Religion may be propagated and the truth of the Gospel preserved to posterity this is done 1. By planting the Gospel by instruction and Doctrine 2. By perswading to the practise of the things â—aught and learnt 3. By commâ—tting to writing or publike view what is most necessary to be known and dâ—nâ— â—â—is the principal scâ—pe of our labour that our people should remember what we teach and hereunto writing or printing avails much Rom. 15.15 1 Cor. 4.17 2 Pet. 1.15 Wherefore seeing I can no way better express my love unto you then by endeavouring to the utmost that your souls may be saved in the day of the Lord and nothing being more absolutely necessary unto eternal life then these three amiable superexcellent and divine graces Pallas Juno and Venus or Faith Hope and Charity I have taken off the Veil and drawn aside the Curtain and exposed them to publique view that by a serious animadversion of the Doctrine thereof your judgements might be informed your affections enflamed and your conversations so religiously regulated that the end of your daies may bring you to the end of your hope the salvation of your immortal souls which is the earnest desire and shall be the hearty prayer of Gentlemen Your weak and unworthy Pastour R. Ward THE EPISTLE TO THE READER Christian Reader I Know a little door sutes best to a poor Cottage and as the French say Aun petit mercier
20.20 or II. Particular persons these benefits effects and fruits are either Negative or Affirmative I. The Negative Benefits of faith are I. If we believe we shall never die Iohn 11.26 And 2. We shall abide no longer in darkness and ignorance Iohn 12.46 There is no darkness so desolate no cross so cutting but the splendor of a sound faith and clear conscience is able to enlighten and mollifie Faith helps unto knowledge and understanding and thereby expels blindness As we cannot live without the elements so we cannot attain unto knowledge without faith Clem. Alex. As a child who learneth his first elements ought to believe what his Master teacheth him and not to ask the reason why this letter is called A and that B so in the mysteries of Faith we must not ask the reason how this may be or that may be but we must give absolute credit to the Scriptures believing them to be infallibly true without any errrour falshood or contradiction for if we thus believe it will make us more diligent in the study of the word and consequently will be beneficial unto us for the expelling of ignorance and gaining of knowledge Noli intelligere ut credas sed crede ut intelligas intellectus merces fidei est August in Johan Although there be nothing true in Religion which is contrary to reason yet because there are many things to be believed which are above reasons reach therefore the word is first to be believed and then to be learnt 3. Faith expels fear or if we believe we need not fear enemies or evils as Mark 5.36 Luke 8.50 And 4. We shall not finally or totally be subdued or overcome by Sathan or our spiritual enemies faith being the best armour against Sathan and all his temptations Eph. 6.16 1 Pet. 5.9 In India there is a little beast called Quil or Quirpele which by nature is so great an enemy to Snakes that whensoever or wheresoever she finds any she fights with them and being stung or poysoned by them she presently eats some Palo de Cebra or Snake-wood whereby she is instantly cured and healed Faith is like this herb for when we are soiled or wounded by Sathan we are cured and recovered by faith in the merits of Christ Fide armatus difficilia quaeque potest Tindal hearing of a Conjurer in the Low-Countries who could by his conjurations fetch any dainty dishes from any Princes table in the world and therewith would welcome his friends whom he invited to feast with him Tindal resolved to go to see him do this act and coming unto him set himself to believe the contrary and by faithful inward supplication besought the Lord to restrain the devils Power for the convincing confounding and amazing of his servant the Conjurer who was notwithstanding all his endeavours so hindred by the faith and prayer of Mr. Tindal in his conjurations that he cryed out and said I cannot do it there sits the man who hinders me and holds my hands thus powerful and prevalant is faith against Sathan and all his devices And 5. Faith makes us that we need not be ashamed Rom. 9.33.10.11 1 Pet. 2.6 Thus we see the Negative Benefits c. of faith II. There are Affirmative fruits Benefits and Effects of faith which are of four sorts either Mixtly temporal and spiritual or meerly Temporal or meerly Spiritual or Eternal First Some Fruits Benefits c. of faith are Mixtly temporal and spiritual I. If we believe our prayers shall be heard and our requests granted whether they be for temporal or spiritual mercies Math. 21.22 And II. Faith preserves us from persecution or from the evil thereof For as a garment touched with the stone Amiathon doth resist fire and if it be hung over the fire will not burn but become brighter as Isidor reports so the soul being endued with faith doth so resist the heat of persecution that the body is so insensible of pain that they can sing in thâ— midst of the flames and the soul thereby becomes sooner more glorious and more happy III. Faith apprehends applies and lays hold upon all the Promises of the word whether they concern this life or the life to come 1 Tim. 4.8 Secondly Some Benefits Fruits c. of faith are meerly Temporal for by faith we lay hold upon all the Promises which concern Protection and Providence yea the blessedness of us and ours both in regard of our bodies estates and good names Levit. â—6 Deut. 28. Note here that faith in temporal things is not litterally certain and sure for it doth not assure us that that very individual and numerical blessing which we want and desire shall be bestowed upon us but that whatsoever blessing may be for our good and for Gods glory he will not in his due time with-hold from us A most full and clear testimony of faith in temporal things is laid down Dan. 3 17. We know that our God is able to deliver us but if not we are ready to suffer for him Where they express and imply four things I. That God is able to deliver them II. That whether he will or not they know not because neither love nor hatred is known by any external deliverance or mercy III. That if the Lord did not deliver them from the fire he would enable them to endure the heat thereof And IV. That howsoever the Lord dealt with them in temporal things yet they would not deny him nor turn aside from him to worship an Idol And thus faith doth assure every true Believer 1. That the Lord is able to deliver him from all evil and to give him any good thing But 2. Faith doth not assure him that God will answer his desires or necessities in outward things But 3. That what the Lords sees to be fit and necessary for him he will give him in his appointed time And 4. That the Lord will either give him what he desires and wants or give him a heart to rest contented without it And 5. That howsoever the Lord deals with him or whatsoever his lot and portion be in outward things yet he will cleave close unto God in confidence dependance adherence and holy obedience Thirdly Some Benefits Fruits c. of faith are meerly Spiritual as I. If we believe in Christ we shall be beloved of him 1 Tim. 6.2 And II. We shall be added unto the Lord Act. 5.14 And III. We shall be abundantly endued with all spiritual graces John 7.38 And IV. We shall receive remission of our sins Acts 10 43. And V. If we believe the preaching of the Gospel will be the mighty power of God unto salvation unto us Rom. 1.16 Heb. 4.2 And VI. We shall be sealed by the Spirit of promise Eph. 1.13 And. VII We shall be justified by Christ Rom. 3.26 And VIII Christ will be the end of the Law for righteousness unto us Rom. 10.4 And IX By faith we overcome the world 1 Joh. 5.5 And X. Thereby our
but according to the proverb He who hopes for dead mens shooes may go long bare-foot Some hope to gain by their kindness to others but to hope for requital of benefits bestowed may rather be accounted usury then vertue And 3. There is an ambitious hope but high hopes have oftentimes hard haps and such as reach at the tree often stumble at the root 4. There is a cruel hope Hest 9.1 Secondly there is a Divine hope which is twofold viz. I. False opinionative deceitful and deceivable as Job 6.20 Prov. 11.7 And II. True and good and is either 1. Charitable 1 Corinth 13.7 2 Corinth 1.7.10.15 or 2. Spiritual Ezra 10.2 Job 5.16 Hebr. 11.1 To hope above and against hope is the excellency of a mighty resolution Qu 3. How do Hope and Desire differ Answ Thus Desire extends it self to all kind of good things without any apprehension of difficulty and therefore belongeth to the concupiscible appetite but Hope is subject to the irascible and respecteth the future good gotten with difficulty for no wiseman ever hoped for things which he holdeth impossible to attain unto Qu. 4. VVherein doth the Hope and expectation of the faithful in earth and of the Saints in heaven differ Answ 1. Negatively the hope and expectation of those and these doth not differ herein that the Hâ—pe of these is certain but of those uncertain for both are sure and certain of the salvation both of souls and bodies at the last day Answ 2. The hope and expellation of the Saints in heaven and faithful on earth differ in these things I. That the hope of the Saints on earth adheres unto faith which looks upon God in his promises as in a glass or dark speaking 1 Cor. 13.12 but the expectation of the Saints in heaven adheres unto an open and manifest vision of â—od And II. Our hope is with labour pains and strife but the expectation of the Saints in heaven is without any difficulty And III. Our hope is an imperfect expectation their 's a perfect hope â—nd IV. Our hope is for the possession theirs for the perpetuity of heavenly glory And V. Our hope is for the glorifying both of our souls and bodies theirs onely of their bodies their souls being already glorified Qu. 5. How do Faith Hope and Charity differ Answ Bernard in Psalm 91. sai h Dicit sides parata suâ—t maâ—na inexcogitabilia bova à Deo sidelibus suis dicit spes mihi illa servantur tertia quidem charitas curro ego ait ad illa Faith saith God hath prepared many good and great mercies for his children Hope saith I am one of Gods dear ones and therefore have a right unto and an interest in those inestimable and inexpressible blessings And Love saith seeing they are mine I w ll hasten to the enjoyment of them desiring to be dissolved and to be with Christ which is best of all Qu. 6. What difference is there between Hope and Heaviness Answ Crates answers Sadness is the punishment of the heart but Hope is the medicine of distress Qu. 7. Wherein doth true Hope consist Answ Bernard in Psalm 91. saith Tria considero in quibus tota spes mea consistit charitatem adoptionis veritatem promissionis potestatem redditionis Three things I constantly and continually consider wherein my whole hope stands the love of adoption the truth of promission and the power of reddition When I call to mind that God so loves me in Christ that in him he hath made me a son and remember the truth of the promises made unto sons and withal how abundantly able the Lord is to perform all his promises made to his children then doth my soul chearfully hope in God Qu. 8. What is the Nature of spiritual Hope Answ 1. It is of that nature that nothing can destroy it for though fortune as one saith maâ— take away our goods yet death cannot deprive us of hope 2. It is a better hope then we had by the Law Hebr. 7.19 3. It speedily desires and earnestly longs for the enjoyment of the thing hoped for Prov. 13.12 4. It makes us not ashamed Rom. 5 5. And 5. It is a remedy against all evils temporal and spiritual Si insurgant adversum me praeâ—ia si saeviat mundus si fremat malignus si itsa caro adversus spiritum concupiscat in te ego sperâ—bo Bern. ser 9. sup Qui habitat Hope in God is a soveraign Antidote against the poison and perils of Satan the world wicked men and our own corrupt nature Si tribulatio infertur per te sperabo tu es speâ— mea si insurgat hostis non nisi in te sperabo Bern. in Psal 91. 6. It comforts us in spiritual dejections and languishments Psalm 42.5 11. Why art thou cast down O my soul and why art thou disquieted within me hope in the Lord c. As without food the body would fail so as the proverb is If it were not for hope the heart would break Futurorum spes laborantibus requiem parit sicut in agone positis dolorem vulnerum mitigat spes coronae Orig. hom 9. sup Exod. Sola spes hominem in miseriis consolari solet Cicer in Catalin 7. It is always of things not seen and to come Rom. 8.24 Spes non nisi bonarum rerum est nec nisi futurarum August Enchir. c. 8. 8. It is a lively hope 1 Pet. 1.3 9. It is one of the three chiefest Theological vertues 1 Cor. 13.13 10. It is the hope of righteousness Galat. 5.5 11. It is a refuge in the time of need Hebr. 6.18 19. 12. It rejoyceth in adversity as follows afterwards 13. It is a good hope Lament 3.26 2 Thess 2.16 14. I is a blessed hope Tit. 2.13 15. It is the hope of salvation 1 Thess 5.8 Tit. 3.7 or it is a hope that saves our souls Rom. 8.24 Spes praemii solatium sit laboris the hope of the reward is the comfort of the work Hier. in ep Spes in aeternitatem animum erigit Greg. in moral Spes est ultimum adversarum rerum solatium Senec. in ep Qu. 9. VVhat are the Fruits Effects Benefits and Excellencies of true Hope Answ 1. This question might be fully answered from the former but I will add a word or two 2. Hope keeps us from sin for as it did not hurt Rahab to dwell with the people of Jericho but her faith kept her safe so sin doth not harm those who by faith and a lively hope do expect their redeemer And 3. It causeth us to approach unto Christ for as by the Cable a man may draw his vessel to the Anchor so the soul being fixed by the anchor of hope to Christ doth hale and draw it self nearer and nearer unto him And 3. It animates and emboldens a man to undertake great things adding as it were wings to his attempts Cum alâ—qua spes subâ—st vehementioâ—es vires apparere assolent Aug. de quant anim c. 22.
Spes ad mâ—jora audenda sese erigit Greg. in Job 4. l. 5. c. 29. and 4. Hope upholds in all labours troubles adversities and disasters Spes commodi furatur labores metum ab condâ—t Periculi Ambros in Psal 12. An Italian suffering many cross adventures and troubles painted in his study a Pinnace or small Bark tossed with tempestuous storms and in the sail was written Expectanda dâ—es meaning that he hoped for one Sun-shine day to recompence all his glowry and winter moneths Hippolito Cardinal de Medicâ— to the same purpose figured the Moon in the Eclipse which happeneth by reason of the interposition of the earth between the Sun and it with this Motto Hinc al quando eluctabor Thus Lewes of Luxemberg a French Captain coming to the wars in Italy had for his Impress A Sun Or in a field Azure invironed with thick clouds with this Mot Obstantia nubila solvet to infer that he having endured divers adversities after the beheading of his father the high Constable of â—râ—nce hoped notwithstanding by his valour and vertue that even as the Sun with his scalding beams dissolves the clouds so he hoped to vanquish all who were averse to his shining vertues Maximian an Italian Earl being enamoured with a Lady named Anna Moronna who afterward was his wife had for his Impresâ— a Silkworm which onely liveth with the leaves of the Mulberry-tree which tree in Lombardy is called Moronnna with this Mot Quol di cio vivo Onely of thâ—â— I live disdaining other food to shew that as that little beast doth onely live of those leaves so he onely contented himself to feed on the leaves of his love in hope one day to enjoy the fruit of legitimate marriage 5. Hope doth not onely uphold in labour but comforts in misery hence Bernard calls it the god of the wretched The evenings hope may comfort the mornings misery The apprehension of hope derideth grief and fulness of hope consumeth it Hope of all passions is the sweetest and most pleasant whence it is said that hope onely comforteth the miserable Qu. 10. How many sorts of men are there in regard of Hope Answ 1. I might answer three for I. Some hope for that which they may hope for II. Some hope for that which they should hope for III. Some hope for that which they should not hope for Or An. 2. I may answer four for I. Some men neither hope in God nor fear him these neither regard his wrath nor his mercy II. Some fear but hope not these regard his wrath but not his mercy Iâ—I Some hope but fear not these regard his mercy but not his wrath IV. Some hope and fear these regard both his mercy and his wrath Qu. 11. Who is the Hope of the Elect An. 1. God Psal 71.5 Jer. 14.8.17.13 Joel 3.16 2. Christ 1 Tim. 1.1 Qu. 12. In whom or what may we hope An. 1. In the Lord Job 5.16 Psalm 31.24.38.15 As a son in all his necessities and straits trusteth unto and dependeth upon his father especially if he be great and rich that he will help him and not suffer him to want nor permit him to suffer so should we hope in the Lord and depend upon our heavenly father who is abundantly able and most affectionately willing to relieve help save and succour us 2. We may hope in the word of the Lord Psal 119.74.147 and 3. In the judgements of the Lord Psalm 119.43 Qu. 13. Whence comes our Hope in God An. 1. From God Psalm 22.9 Rom. 15.13 â— Thess 2 16. and 2. From spiritual experience Rom. 5.4 3. From the consolation of the Word Rom. 15.4 Qu 14. Why must we hope in the Lord Answ 1. Because the eyes of the Lord are upon those that hope in him Psal 33.18 2. Because sometimes the Lord proportions his mercy towards us according to our hope in him Psalm 33.22 3. Because the Lord will hear those who hope in him Psalm 38.15 4. Because hope is a soveraign antidote against spiritual dejection Psalm 42.5 11. 5. Because such are happy as hope in him Psalm 146.5 Jer. 17.7 and 6. Because the Lord taketh pleasure in such Psalm 147.11 7. Because he is our Portion Lam 3.24 8. Because we are saved by hope Rom. 8.24 Qu. 15. How doth Hope respect God Answ 1. Divine hope respects God as the object which is expected for God himself is the principal object of hope 1 Pet. 1.21 the less principal objects are all those things whereby as by degrees and means we come unto God 1 Pet. 1.13 Hence God himself is called The hope of Israel Jer. 14.8 and Rom. 15.3 the God of hope not so much because he is the Author and giver of hope as because it is he in whom we hope 2. Hope respects God as the Author and giver of every good thing which it expects Psal 37.5 6. Jer. 17.7 Qu. 16. Who must hope in the Lord Answ 1. The people of the Lord Psal 130.7.131.3 2. The particular servants of the Lord Jerem. 17.17 Qu. 17. What is the duty of those who hope in the Lord Answ 1. To be of good courage when they are in any want distress or danger Psalm 31.24 2. To wait patiently for that which they hope for Rom 8.25 3. To rejoyce in their hope Rom. 12 12. 4. To remember that their hope is not for temporal things or the things of this life but for eternal after this life and therefore the want of temporal things must not shake their hope 1 Cor. 15.19 5. To purge themselves even as Christ is pure 1 John 3.3 6. To continue in their hope unto the end Col. 1.23 Heb. 3.6.6.11 1 Pet. 1.13 Qu 18. VVhen hath the righteous hope Answ 1. In this life Psalm 71.5 Joel 3.16 and therefore while there is life there is hope A Rhodian being cast into a cave by a Tyrant and fed there after the manner of a wilde beast some of his friends perswaded him to abstain from eating that so he might dye to whom he answered Dum spiro spero I will hope while I have life Thus though we in our journey unto Canaan through the Straits meet with many cross winds and storms yet we must labour skilfully to steer and keep on our course by the Cape of good hope till we arrive at the haven of eternal happiness 2. The righteous have hope in their death Prov. 14.32 Qu. 19. VVhen must we hope in the Lord Answ 1. When we are in any misery or distress as was shewed before And 2. When humane help fails De divina miseratione tunc sperandum amplius est cum Praesidia humana defecerint Ambros in Hexam Qu. 20. VVho can have no hope in God or Christ Answ 1. Not those who go down into the pit Isa 38.18 Nor 2. Those who are without Christ Ephes 2.12 Nor 3. Those who are strangers from the Common-wealth of Israel Ephes 2.12 Nor 4. Those who are aliens from the Covenant
men and that either with an evil or a good love First sometimes men love men with an evil love this love is fourfold I. Inconstant when for the smallest offence committed or but supposed to be done extream love is changed into extream hate Eusenides talking privately with the Philosopher Cuspides asked him If he were not so happy as that nothing could be added to his felicity seeing he was above all others most favoured and honoured by Ptolomy the King To whom Cuspides answered How soon can Fortune tumble thee down and then how miserable a thing will it be to have been happy Shortly after this discourse Ptolomy found Eusenides his great Favorite and one of his Concubines whom most dearly he loved talking privately together whereat he was so incensed that he made her straâ—ght drink a cup of poyson and caused him to be hanged before his own gates And II. This evil love is immoderate inordinate and most lewd Adrian the Emperor so doted on the love of Antinous a beautiful young man that he dedicated a Temple to him at Mantinea and a City at Nilus Pausanius Too too many with a Sodomitical affection have loved and lusted after some Gen. 19. and III. This evil love of men to men is Sensual called Amor concupiscentiae which is this when we love our neighbour for our own profit and commodity onely as Laban loved Jacob onely for his own ends and as subjects sometimes love their Princes for their own advantage and advancement And IV. This evil love is most wicked and diabolical when men love such as themselves because they are wicked Psal 50 18. Suetonius tells us that Caligula the Emperour did deeply love Marcus Lepidus and Marcus Nestor the Buffoon onely for the commerce of mutual alternate brothelry or because they would accompany him to the stews Secondly sometimes men love men with a good lawful and laudable love this love is sixfold viz. I. Natural that is of Parents to children of children to Parents and of kinsmen to kinsmen Gen. 22. â— 25.28.37.3 And II. Oeconomical viz. of husbands to wives of wives to husbands of masters to servants and of servants to masters Genes 29.18.20.30 2 Chon 11.21 Prov. 5.19 Eccles 9 9. and III. Political when a man lives peaceably and quietly in a Commonwealth not having suits contentions or jars with any And IV. Reciprocal when one neighbour or friend loves another because he is beloved of him Exod. 21.6 1 Kings 5 1. It was said of Socrates that all who knew him loved him and the reason why any loved him not was onely because they did not know him he was so loving to all he knew And V. Moral which is an intimate entire and cordial love and is for the most part between two as Jonathan and David 1 Sam. 18.1 2 Sam. 1.26 Pyladeâ— and Orestes Damon and Pythias Scipio and Laelius and Severus and Pertinax for such was the love of Severus the Emperor to Pertinax whom Iulianus slew that he commanded that all should call him Pertinax Entropius And VI. Spiritual and Supernatural vvhich is called Amor amicitiae love of friendship and is this When vve love either our neighbour chiefly for his ovvn good or our neighbour or our enemy for Gods sake This love I call spiritual because although the object of this love be our neighbour yet the reason why we love him is God THIRDLY men love women and that either with an evil or a good love First sometimes men love women with an evil love This is twofold I. Inconstant thus Demaphon was false to Phillis Aeneas to Dido Jason to Medaea Paris to Oenone And II. Immoderate inordinate lascivious and lustful Gen. 34.12 Colos 3.5 Militat omnis amans habet sua castra Cupido This love is a wanton war under Cupids colours Turinge had so many lovers that she could not reckon them upon her fingers ends but called for a bushel of pease to tell them by Aurelius Alexander for the love he bare to that famous for beauty infamous for lewdness harlot Thais caused that most renowned and rich City Persepolis to be burned Cataline for the love of Orestista killed his own son because she would not joyn in marriage with him while his son lived Salust From this lascivious and inordinate love came that proverb Wisdom and love never go together Secondly sometimes men love women with a good love this is I. Moral when 1. He who marries is as though he married not in regard of the moderation of his affection 1 Cor. 7.30 31. and. 2. When the husband is constant in his love to his loyal wife And II. Natural or Conjugal when men love women in the way of marriage Two things are here observable the kinds and causes of this love First this love s threefold for 1. Some love for vertue 2. Some for beauty And 3. Some for both loving dainty meat in a neat dish Secondly the causes of this Natural or Conjugal love are Sight and Suitableness I. Sight for looking is the cause of loving and a curious observation the rice of affection Etrasco the Roman and Verona being both born dumb by beholding one another were so taken with one anothers love that it continued full thirty years before they were joyned in marriage and of them descended the noble linage of the Scipio's Aurelius II. Suitableness of disposition Likeness is the cause of liking For as between the similitude of manners there is a friendship in every respect absolute so in the composition of the body or likeness of disposition there is a certain love engen dred both the bodies resembling each other as woven both in one loom FOURTHLY women love women and that sometimes with an evil and inconstant love and sometimes with a good and constant affection FIFTHLY women love men and that either with an evil or good love First sometimes women love men with a good and constant love as Charites loved her husband Expolemus Cornelia Gracchus Julia Pompey Artimesia Mausolus Panthea Abradatus Portia Brutus Alceste Admetus Penelope Vlysses Sulpitia Lentulus Hipparchia Crates and Macrina Torquatus Secondly sometimes women love men with an evil love this love is either I. Inconstant when women like to the Polipe stone change colour every hour or like the Weather-cock waver with every wind or like the Marigold change with the Sun This inconstant love proceedeth often from sudden choice for we account those Damoselâ— too light of love who betroath themselves upon the first sight and motion because as the ratling thunderbolt hath but his clap the lightning but his flash the baven but his blaze so hot love begun in a moment endeth in a minute Scalding water if it stand a while turneth almost to ice and Pepper though it be hot in the mouth is cold in the maw so hot love is soon cold and that affection which frieth in words commonly freezeth in works And II. The evil love of women to men is sometimes meerly feigned and
darkness without the Sun so the life of man is not vital or a living life without love And. 15. It is the best of Vertues Irenaeus calleth love l. 4. c. 63. Eminentissimum charismatum the most eminent of all the gifts of God Geminianus saith As gold excelleth all other mettals so love excelleth all other virtues whether theological or moral God is love what is then more precious He who dwelleth in love dwelleth in God what is more secure and God in him what is more delectable As the whole life of the body proceedeth from the soul so the whole dignity and worth of all external vertues proceed from the internal but especially from Love 16. Love is constant and perpetual Prov. 17.17 17. The nature of Love is to communicate and impart the secrets of our hearts to those whom we love Judg. 16.15 To conclude this question concerning the Nature and Excellency of Love and Charity Love in adversity is patient in prosperity temperate in passions strong in good works quick in temptations secure in hospitality bountiful amongst her true children joyful amongst her false friends forbearing Love in the midst of injuries is secure in heart bountiful in displeasures meek in concealing evils innocent in truth quiet at others misfortunes sad in vertues joyful Love in adversity fainteth not because it is patient and revengeth not injuries because it is bountiful Qu. 22. Whether is desire or love stronger Answ Love is stronger then desire because quiet and rest in the end or in the enjoyment of the good willed or wished is more and greater then the motion to the end for the motion to the end is not but for the quiet in the end and Propter quod unumquodque est tale id ipsum est magis tale he who loves the master for his childs sake doth love the child more then the master Because this Maxime or Axiom is often made use of I will therefore shew how it is to be understood viz. that four conditions be kept carefully in memory for the truth thereof I. That the praedicate or attribute be common both to the cause and to the effect and therefore it follows not Men are drunk for wine therefore wine is more drunk II. That the praedicate or attribute be capable of Magis and Minus more and less therefore it follows not The son is a man for the father therefore the father is the more man III. That the attribute be divers in number both in cause and effect wherefore it follows not Man sees for the eye therefore the eye sees more then man or Man is learned for man therefore the mind of man is more learned then man IV. That the attribute do agree with the effect by a dependance from the cause insomuch as if it be not in the cause it will not be in the effect wherefore it follâ—ws not The schollar is learned for his master therefore the master is more learned and the greater schollar Qu â—3 Whether is Love or Hatred stronger Answ Love because love is of that which is good hatred of that which is evil and good is stronger then evil because evil acts not but under the notion or in the power of good or something which seems to be such yea hatred comes from some kind of love Qu. 24. Whether is Dilectio or Amor stronger Answ Because we want words in our English Tongue to express these two I must be forced to answer the question thus Amor dilectione fortior ista enim in judicio solo ille in appetitu Qu. 25. Whether is Love or Knowledge better Answ Love is more excellent then Knowledge I. Because knowledge cannot effect that good and evil which love doth effect II. Because to love is of more worth then to know III. Because we enjoy God more by love then by knowledge And IV. Because we depend more upon God by love then by knowledge Qu. 26. What things do men love sometimes which they should not love at all Answ 1. Some love preheminence over their brethren 3 John 9. and highest places Mat. 23.6 Mark 12.38 And 2. Some negligence in those places wherein God hath set them Isa 56.10 3. Some idolatry and idols Isa 57.8 Jer. 3.1.8.2 Ezek. 16.37 4. Some love cursing Psalm 109.12 And 5. Some adultery and whoredom Prov. 7.18 And 6. Some transgression and strife Prov. 17.19 7. Some evil more then good Psalm 52. 8. Some lying more then truth Psal 52 5. Apoc. 22.15 9. Some love bribery Isa 1.23 Hosea 4.18 9.1 10. Some cruel and crafty words Psalm 52.4 11. Some pleasure more then God 2. Tim. 3.4 12. Some oppression Hosea 12.7 13. Some to have the Prophets prophesie falsely Jer. 5.31 14. Some love vanity Psalm 4.2 and 15. Some simplicity and folly Prov. 1.22 16. Some sleepiness and idleness Prov. 20.13 17. Some pleasure and wine Prov. 21.17 18. Some to wander Jer. 14.10 19. Some darkness more then light John 3.19 And 20. Some hypocrisie Mat. 6.5 21. Some perjury Zach. 8.17 and 22. Some love the world and the things therein Mat. 6.24 Eccles 5.10 1 John 2.15 Now the reasons why we should not love the world are I. Because the love thereof cannot satisfie our souls or the desires of our hearts Eccles 5.10 II. Because it hinders us from loving of God 1 John 2.15 16. III. Because it makes us the enemies of God Mat. 6.24 James 4.4 IV. Because it makes men apostatize from Christ 2 Tim. 4.10 V. Because it is the root of all evil 1 Tim. 6.10 Qu. 27. What do men love which they may as a natural or moral duty Answ 1. Some love some sort of meat Genes 27.4 And 2. Some long life Psalm 34.12 1 Pet. 3.10 And 3. Some hospitality Tit. 1.8 Qu. 28. What is required of us in regard of those things which naturally we do and may love Answ Not to love them inordinately that is I. Not to love fathers mothers husbands wives or children more then Christ Matth. 10.37 II. Not to love our lives more then Christ John 12.25 Apoc. 12.11 Qu. 29. What things do men love which they ought to love as a Theological duty Answ 1. Heavenly things that is both spiritual graces which come down from heaven and heavenly glory which abides in heaven Colos 3.1 2. 2. The statutes commandments and word of God Psalm 119.119 127 140 167. 3. The appearing of the Lord in his second coming 2 Tim. 4.8 4. The house of God 1 Chron. 29.3 5. Every thing which is good Amos 5.15 Galat. 4.18 6. Instruction and knowledge Prov. 12.1 7. Their own souls Prov. 19.8 8. Purity of heart Prov. 22.11 9. Truth and peace Zach. 8.19 10. Wisdom Prov. 4.6.8.17.29.3 Now we must love wisdom for these reasons I. Because then Wisdom will love us Prov. 8.17 II. Because then we shall be blessed in outward things Prov. 8.21 III. Because otherwise we love death Prov. 8.36 Qu. 30. Whom do not wicked men love Answ 1. Not the Lord Iob
21.14 2. Not the righteous Iohn 15.16 3. Not those who rebuke them Prov. 15.12 Qu 31. Whom do men love which they should not Answ 1. Some love their enemies more then their friends 2 Sam. 19.6 2. Some inordinately love themselves 2 Tim. 3.2 3. Some love women lustfully whom they will not marry lawfully 2 Sam. 13.4 although this marriage had not been truly lawful 4. Some love those whom God hath forbidden them to love 1 Kings 11.2 2 Chron. 19.2 5. Some love strangers i e. idolaters Ierem. 2.25 Qu. 32. Whom do men love which they may out of a natural or with a moral love Answ 1. Some love strangers Deuter. 10.18 19. 2. Some love those who are under their charge 2 Cor. 7.3 Phil. 4.1 3. Some love their neighbours and acquaintance 1 Kings 5.1 4. Some men love their wives 1 Sam. 1.5 Hest 2 17. Prov. 5.19 Ephes 4.26 Colos 3.19 Note here two things viz. First why husbands must love their wives viz. I. Because wives should be as dear unto their husbands as the Church is unto Christ Ephes 5.25 II. Because in loving their wives they love themselves Ephes 5.28 c. Secondly observe how conjugal love is encreased viz. by bearing of children as Genes 29.32 whence they are called Pignora amoris the pledges of love 5. Some wives love their husbands Titus 2.4 6. Some parents love their children Gen. 22.2 44.20 and do truly shew their love by chastizing of them betimes Prov. 13.24 7. Some children love their parents Note here what is required of children in regard of their love unto their parents or their parents love unto them viz. I. It is required of them not to love their parents above or more then Christ Matth. 10.37 And II. Not to hate any of their fathers children because their fathers loves them more Gen. 37.4 And III. To love wisdom that so they may rejoyce their Parents Prov. 29.3 8. Some Magistrates love their people Agesilaus was fined by the Ephories because he had stoln away the hearts and won the love of all the Citizens to himself 9. Some subjects love their Rulers and this is of no small moment or consequence seeing as the French say L'amour des subjects est la ferme colomne d'un Prince The love of the subjects is the strongest pillar of a Prince 10. Some brothers love one another and some brothers love their sisters and some sisters their brethren A Persian woman being asked why she had rather save the life of her brother then of her own son answered Because I may well have more children but never more brothers seeing my father and mother are dead 11. Some masters love their servants and some servants their masters 12 Some Schoolmasters love their schollars and some schollars their School-masters Qu. 33. Whom do some love which they ought to love as a Theological duty or Whom ought we to Love Answ 1. We ought to love God the Father Deut. 11.1 Psalm 91.14 Rom. 5.5 and 2. God the Son Cant. 1.7.7.12 John 21.15 16. 1 Pet 1.8 and 3. God the Holy Ghost Rom. 15.30 4. The Church of Christ Isaiah 66.10 And men 5. Their enemies Exod. 23.4 1 Sam. 24.5 7. 26.5 30.11 and 6. Kings should love those who speak truth and right Prov. 16.13 and who are pure in heart Prov. 22.11 and 7. Ministers should love their flocks 2 Cor. 7.3 15.9.14.12.14 15. Philip. 1.7 8. 1 Thes 2.7 And 8. People must love their Pastors Gal. 4.14 15. 1 Thess 5.13 And 9. We must love the children of God 1 Pet. 1.22.2.17 that is I. All good men or all faithful ones in general 2 Cor. 7.15 Tit. 1.8 1 Sam. 18.1.20.17 18 22. Ephes 1.15 Col. 2.2 1 Iohn 4.7 and II. Those who have been converted unto God by us Phil. 12. III. Those in whom we see the sparks of grace shine and shew forth themselves 1 Sam. 2.26.18.5 Qu. 34. VVhat rules are worth observation in regard of Love Answ 1. As there must be in every triangle three lines whereof the first beginneth the second encreaseth and the third concludeth or perfecteth the Figure and without any of these lines there can be no Triangle so in Love there are three vertues I. Affection which draweth the heart II. Action and expression which encreaseth the hope III. Constancy which finisheth the work and without any of these vertues there can be no love Answ 2. Ovid de arte amandi gives three rules not much differing from the former Principio quod amare velis reperire labora Proximus huic labor est placidam exorare puellam Tertius ut longo tempore duret amor First find out one whom dearly thou canst love Then with entreaties seek thy love to move Lastly see constant thou in love do prove I. Make God and good the object of our love II. Labour to be good and by all diligent service and industrious endeavour to be assured of Gods love towards us in Christ And III. To be constant and immoveable in our love to God and good Qu. 35. How long doth true love last Answ Till death yea ater death Some Painters of old did draw on the borders of Cupids Robe Life and Death to shew that love remains both in life and after death God hath ordained that we who love shall have an end and that or those whom we love shall have an end and therefore our love must then and not till then have an end when both we and our friends are dead Vne parfaite amour dure eternellement say the French A perfect love doth last eternally and Le neud que l'amour joinct la mort ne peut deffaire the knot that love doth knit death cannot untie Scipio Affricanus esteemed so much the Poet Ennius alive that being dead he caused his picture to be set before his eyes as a memorial of his great love Plutar. When Cyrus went to overcome Babylon and was hindred by the river Euphrates a Knight whom the King entirely loved venturing into the water was drowned whereupon the King made a vow that he would make that great river passable on foot and accordingly parted it into 460 channels and so took the City For the most part that love which lasteth after death is begun betimes whence one saith Wouldst thou have love last even unto the tomb Then let it take beginning at the womb Qu. â—6 How many way doth Love cease Answ 1. Sometimes naturally when men dye Eccles 9.6 2. Sometimes impiously and enviously when men cease to love those who are become good whom they loved when they were evil 1 Pet. 4.4 3. Sometimes piously and religiously when men cast off the familiarity and acquaintance of Apostates and those who become wicked and enemies to the Church although they were intimate and familiar with them when they were professors and seemed outwardly religious 2 Tim. 3.5 Heb. 10 38. 1 John 2 19. Qu. 37. What or where is the Seat of Love Answ Love hath three
custody they are Gen. 39 21. 5. In his care to deliver and save them from and out of all evils Isa 63.9 Gen. 15.5 6 7. Psalm 37.39 6 In his raising up â—hrist to be a Shepherd unto them â—z k â—4 â—3 26 27 2â— 7. In his revealing of his will unto them Gen. 18.18 8. By his subduing of all their enemies Apoc. 3.9 9. By defending them against their enemies Isa 43.4.48.14 10. By giving them wise and prudent Princes 2 Chron. 2.11 9.8 11. By taking the wrongs done unto them as done unto himself Zach. 28. 12. By giving them favour in the eyes of their enemies Isa 66.12 13. By extending his own favour unto them Isa 44 3. Hosea 11.4 14. By his delight in them Numb 14 8. 15. By dignifying of them with the title of sons 1 John 3.1 16. By his sending his son into the world for them or by giving Christ unto them 1 John 4.8 9 10. Rom. 5.6 c. O Lord what is man that thou so regardest him Mittis unigenitum tuum immittis Spiritum tuum promittis vultum tuum Bern. in Cantie So God loved the world as he gave his onely begotten Son the Son sends the Spirit and the Spirit teacheth truth Qu. 57. Why doth the Lord thus love his children and people Answ 1. Because they are his people Nehem. 1.8 9.11 and 2. For his promise sake Nehem. 1.8 9 11. Qu. 58. Wherefore doth the Lord love or express his love to some people more then others Answ 1. Not for their multitude and greatness Deut 7.7 Nor 2. For their merit or goodness Hosea 14.4 Rom. 9 13. but 3. For his own Name and mercy sake Deut. 7.8 and 4. For his promise sake unto his servants Deut. 7.8.10.15 Qu. 59. What is the Nature of Gods love and loving-kindness unto his people and children Answ 1. It is an acceptable love unto them and more welcome then the former and latter rain unto the earth Hos 6.3 yea then the morning dew Hos 14.5 2. His loving-kindnesses towards them are many Psalm 25.6 Isa 63.7 3. His love towards them is good Psalm 6.9.16 And 4. It is towards them perpetual and everlasting Psalm 42.8.89.33 Isa 54.8 10. Jer. 31.3 or it hath been of old Psalm 25.6 or it is an eternal and immutable love Numb 23.20 John 13.1 5. It is a free love Hosea 14.4 5. Rom. 9.13 6. It is marvellous Psalm 17.7 Ephes 2.7 Tit. 3.4 7. It is extraordinary excellent Psalm 36.7 8. It is a perfect love he loving them as he loves his onely begotten Son John 17.23 9. It is better then life Psalm 63.3 10. It is an immense profound and infinite love Ephes 3 18 19. or It is a great love Joel 2.13 Jonah 4.2 Ephes 2.4 i. e. I. It is greater then the love of a friend to his friend for he gave his Son to dye for us out of his love unto us John 3.16 II. It is greater then the love of a mother towards her child Isa 49.14 15.66.13 III. It is like the love of a husband to his wise Isa 54.4 5. Qu. â—0 What are the Degrees of Gods love towards his children Answ These five I. He decreed before all times to save them II. In the fulness of time he gave Christ to be a Saviour unto them III. In his appointed time he justifies them reconciles them unto himself and pardons their sins before he reveals it unto them or assures them thereof IV. He then gives them a glimpse of his love when from or by the signs manifested in the Gospel they perceive that they are regenerated Then V. He gives them an open and clear vision 2 Cor. 3.18 that is he immediately speaks unto their hearts by an internal revelation his Spirit witnessing unto their spirits that he loves them as sons in Christ and will love them unto the end Qu. 61. What consolation may the faithful reap from Gods love towards them Answ 1. They may be comforted with this that none can curse them Numb 23.8 2. They need neither fear want nor enemies nor dangers Gen. 26.24 Iosh 10.8.8.1 10. Deut. 1.21 3. They may know to their comfort that they are blessed whom the Lord loves Psalm 145.5 7 9. And 4. That God will encrease his graces in them Psalm 115.12 14. â—nd 5. That he will give the earth unto them and prosper them Psalm 115.12.16 And 6. That he will heal their sins and backslidings Psalm 1â—3 2 3. Hosea 14.4 5. This Question may be much enlarged from Quest 56. Qu. 62. What means must we use if we desire that God may love or shew kindness either to us or ours Answ 1. We must pray unto God to do so Gen. 24.12 14. Psalm 119.76 2. We must labour to be of the number of his servants and children and not of the world Ioh 17. 3. We must pray unto him to enflame our hearts with his love 2 Thess 3 5. 4. We must be obedient to his law and commandments Deut. 7.12 13.11.1.13 Qu. 63. What may we learn from the Lords love and loving kindness towards his people or children An. 1. That it is a great judgement to have it taken away from us Jer. 16.5 2. That it cannot be made known in the grave Psalm 88.11 3. That it is shewed unto thousands Jerem. 32.18 4. That the mercies and graces we receive from God are not bestowed upon us for any merit of ours but for his own loving-kindness sake Psalm 119.88.149.159 Jer. 31 3. Hos 2.19 Amat Deus non aliunde hoc habet sed ipse est unde amet ideo vehementius amat quia non amorem tam habet quam hoc est ipse August Qu. 64. What is required of us in regard of Gods love and loving kindness towards us Answ 1. To love the brethren 1 Iohn 4.8 2. To love strangers Deut. 10.18 19. 3. To cast our care upon God 1 Pet. 5.7 4. To praise him and set forth his glory Deut. 26.5 10. 2 Sam. 1.27 28. Ruth 4.14 Psalm 13.4 13.22.24.115.12 18.103.1 4.138 5. To follow him Numb 14.24 Joshua 14.6 14. 6. To seek to know him and his love unto us and that with joy Deut. 12.7 Hos 6.2 3. Ephes 3 8. 7. To admire his love Isa 5.18 Rom. 5.6 7 8 11.33 8. To obey and serve him Gen. 12.1 2. Exod. 23.26 Iosh 24.2 4. 9 To hear him Deut. 15.5.6 10. To rejoyce in the Lord who thus loveth us Pâ—alm 5.12 11. To trust in him for his love and depend upon him Psalm 36 7.61.4 5.115 â— 12. 12. We must labour and pray for true wisdom that we may understand the loving kindness of the Lord Psalm 107.43.143.8 13. We must not conceal but make known unto others the Lords loving-kindness towards us Psalm 40.10.48.9.92.2 Isa 63.7 14. We must pray unto God to continue it both to us ours and all his Psalm 25.6.36.10 51.1 89 49.119.88.149 159. 15. We must always remember it and ruminate of it Psalm 26.3 16 We
must take heed that we lose not the love of God as the birds Ibes lose their sweetness when they lose their sight so we lose all peace and happ ness when we lose the sense and apprehension of Gods love towards us in Christ The Lizard hath this peculiar property that he is never in love which all other beasts are subject unto whereupon S. Fedâ—rico Duke of Manto made him this Impress The Lizard figured with this Motto Quod huic deest me torquet thus it should be the anguish of our souls to lack the assurance of Gods love it being a misery herein to be like the Lizard without this love Qu. 65. How may we know whether the Lord love us or not Answ 1. We cannot know it by any outward thing Eccles 9.1 2. We may ghess at his love by his correcting of us Prov. 3.12 Heb 12.6 3. If we be righteous in our lives and conversations and obedient to his commandments we may then be assured that he loves us Deu. 7.12 13.11.1 13. Psalm 146.8 4. If we be the members of Christ by faith and regeneration then we may be assured that the Lord will love us Iohn 17. This question may be abundantly amplified from Qustion 56. and 64. Qu. 66. Wherein or how doth the love of Christ express and shew itself toward his Church or children Answ 1. By that impression which they make upon his heart they being there deeply engraven Cant. 8.16 2. By his desire unto or towards them Cant. 7.10 3. By his dying for them Gal. 2.20 Ephes 5.25 1 Iohn 3.16 4. By his washing of them clean by his blood Apoc. 1.5 Qu. 67. What is the Nature of Christs love towards hâ—s Answ 1. It is a perfect love John 15.9 2. It is a love which passeth knowledge Ephes 3.19 3. It it an unparallelled love Rom. 5.6 7 8. 4. It is an eternal love John 13.1 Qu. 68. What is here required of us in regard of Christ and 〈◊〉 love towards us An. 1. To continue in his love John 15.9 2. To remember his love Cantic 1.4 and 3. To be obedient unto him for it Iohn 15.10 4. Not to love our lives in regard of him Apâ—c 2.11 Qu. â—9 By what means may we be assured that we shall continue in Christs love Answ 1. If we keep his Commandments Iohn 15.10 If my diligent and observing Reader admire at my brevity concernâ—ng Christs love towards us or his let him know that the reason hereof is because I shall fully God willing handle it when I come to treat of God the Son which will be a little â—olio by it self Qu. 70. What is predicated in the Word of our love unto God Answ 1. That it is the sum of the law it being taken for our whole obedience as being the cause of our obedience Mat. 22.40 2. That it is the first Commandment it being the spring and fountain of the rest Matth. 22.38 3. That it is the greatest commandment Mat. 22.38 Qu. 71. VVhat is the love of God Answ It is a vertue whereby we love God as the chiefest good Psalm 106.1.118.2.136.1 or to love God is to acknowledge him to be the chiefest good in himself and so to us and so to love him that we will rather forgo all things then part with him or not be joyned unto him Qu. 72. VVho must love the Lord Answ 1. In general all are commanded to love him Exod. 20. 2. More particularly all the Saints ought to love him Psalm 31.23 Qu. 73. How many ways do the children of God love God Answ Three manner of ways I. Secundum actum actually and always and thus the glorified Saints in Heaven Love God II. Secundum studium in regard of their endeavours because their care desire and study is to love the Lord. And this is the greatest perfection of love the children of God can attain unto in this life III. Secundum habitum in regard of the habit of love and thus although many of the children of God fall into some great sins yet they lose not the habit of the love of God but may be said even then habitually to love him Qu. 74. VVhy must we love the Lord An. 1. In regard of himself viz. I. Because he requires this at our hands Deut. 10.12.11.1 13. II. Because he loved us first 1 Iohn 4.10 III. Because he sent his Son into the world to reconcile us unto himself 1 Iohn 4.10 IV. Because he is our rock and fortress Psal 18.1 Answ 2. In regard of our selves because a threefold benefit will redound unto us thereby whereof The first is Temporal for if we love him I. He will preserve us Psalm 31.23 and II. He will deliver us Psalm 91.14 and III. He will fight for us against our enemies Josh 23.10 11. The second is Spiritual for if we love him I. â—e will hear our prayers when we call upon or unto him Psalm 116.1 Iâ— He will know and take notice of us 1 Cor. 8.3 Iâ—I He will be merciful unto us and keep covenant with us Exod. 20.6 Deut. 5.10.7.9 Nehem. 1.5 Psalm 119.132 Dan. 9.4 IV. He will give us a place in his Church Psal 69 36. The Third is Eternal for if we love him I. He will cloth us with glory â—udges 5.31 II. He will give a crown of life unto us Cor. 2.9 〈◊〉 1.2.2.5 Qu. 75. How must we love God Answ 1. Above all friends Amandus est generator sed praeponendus Creator Aug. we must love all but God above all but God above all Ordo charitatis est ama post Deum patrom Hier. Loves method is first love God then our kindred and if the case happen that there be a difference between them and God then Odium in suos pietas in Deum est hatred to kindred is piety to God 2. We must love God above all things It was an ancient custom among the Romans that the things they most entirely loved they offered up to their gods nature teaching them that nothing should be too dear for God but that he should be preferred and loved more then and above all 3. We must love the Lord for himself The Ploughman loves his Ox for his profit and the enemy a traytor for commodity but God must be loved for himself Alexander would say That He hestion loved Alexander and Craterus loved the King Plutar. And some Christians love Jesus others love Christ there are many of the first rank who desire to rule and reign in heaven with Christ few of the second who desire that Christ may rule and bear sway in their hearts Vix dâ—ligitur Iesus propter Iesum August Jesus is scarce loved for his own sake There is a Spanish Pâ—overb Love without end hath no end meaning that if it were begun not upon particular ends it would last 4. We must love the Lord in sincerity Ephes 6.24 Religion is no vizard for impiety God must not be served in hypocrisie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plato But
them better then their bodies this is the best love and this self-love is peculiar to the righteous and is grounded upon a truth and fixed with wisdom and pious prudence Thus we are commanded to love our neighbour as our self that is we must love him cordially and truly and express our love unto him in the best kind loving his soul more then his body Answ 4. There is the love of a mans self which is common to all both good and bad For the confirming and understanding whereof observe That â— man is said to be something two manner of waâ—s I. According to his substance and nature and thus all men know what they are that is that they consist of a body and a soul and according to this knowledge of themselves they love themselves in desiring the conservation of themselves and their own being Thus both good and bad naturally love themselves and that without sin for Omne appetit praeservationem sui And II. A man is said to be somewhat according to the principal thing in him and thus men do neither always know themselves to be what theâ— are nor love themselves as they ought The principal thing in man is the reasonable soul and the next thing thereunto is the sensitive and corporeal nature the first is called the inward the second the outward man 2 Cor. 4 16. Qu. 95. Because our Saviour saith Luke 10.27 28. We must love our neighbour as our self it may be demanded How doth a man love himself Answ 1. Not feignedly or with the tongue onely but truely heartily and in work as well as word 2. Not frigidly nor coldly but zealously and fervently 3. As a man seeks diligently for that which may be for his own good or gain but carefully avoids that which is evil or which may turn to his hurt so should we do for our neighbour 4. As we love our selves constantly and are not weary of doing good unto our selves although we see many vices and evil habits in oor selves so we must not cease to love our brethren although there be in them something which deserves hatred rather then love 5. As we wish well unto our selves for our own sake and not for the sake of others so should we love our neighbour not for our benefit or profit but for his own 6. As we would be done unto by others so should we do unto others e. g. I. Would we that others should supply our wants when we are in need then let us do so unto our neighbour when he is in want and we able to supply him II. Would we have others candidly to interpret all our actions and words then let us do so unto our neighbour III. Would we have others to pardon us when we have injured or offended them then let us do so unto our neighbour IV. Would we be helped by the prayers of others then let us help our neighbour with our prayers Qu. 96. Because it was said before Quest 94. That men oftentimes love themselves so as they should not it may therefore he demanded Whether the love of God and of our selves be contrary one to the other or not Answ Man is considered in a fourfold estate I. In his innocent estate and so to love God and himself were the same For when man loved God in his innocent estate and then loved himself it was but a reflex of the love of God and but one love with it II. In his corrupt estate and so to love God and to love himself are contrary Rom. 1.30 2 Tim. 3.2 III. In his regenerate estate and thus to love God and to hate our selves are not directly contrary but sub-contrary for by this hatred is onely understood self-self-love hatred not being properly taken here which maketh the subcontrariety As the Lord in regeneration doth not extinguish but well order the affections so he doth not in those who are regenerated take away the love of themselves but onely moderateth that love and so to hate themselves signifies onely to love themselves less then God as Gen. 29.31 it is said Jacob hated Leah that is he loved her less then Rachel IV. In his glorified estate and so to love God and to love himself shall be one love again Qu. 97. What is the nature of self-love Answ 1. To wish better to a mans self then to others or to desire and endeavour to raise themselves above others though by an indirect way Titus Livius saith That the Romans were offended because Appius Claudius had chosen himself of the Decemviri and Lucius Furius Camillus to be Consul and so the Cardinals disagreeing about the choice of a Pope gave way to John 24. to appoint whom he pleased who chose himself this is the natural property of self-love 2. The nature of self-love is to like themselves best The people of Chinâ— having thin beards short nâ—â—es little black eyes and wearing long garments when they would describe a deformed man they paint him with a short habit great eyes a broad beard and a long lose Thus as there is no creature that more fervently loveth her young ones then an Ass and an Ape so many unlearned Ideots tainted with this vice of self-love do more esteem their own vanities and scurrilous pamphlets then the grave learned and elaborate Works of others Qu 98. VVhat evils proceed from self-love Answ These two great ones I. It makes a man hate God And II. Good men It is a rule in the School that Amor est odio prior odium ex amore oritur Thom. Aq. sum part 1. 2. qu. â—9 art 2. Love ever goeth before hatred and all hatred springs from love Therefore do wicked men hate God and his law because they love themselves and their corruptions which God by his Law doth cross controul and endeavour to curb and Plutarch de irac colub well observes that men are many times eager against some whom they either deem or would have deemed delinquents 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 rather out of self-self-love then any hatred of evil because they stand in their way or in their light in regard of their ends and interests or because they oppose and thwart them in some corrupt courses that they are strangely addicted unto Qu. 99. Whom should we love besides the Lord and his Christ Answ 1. Particularly all those who are our brethren in the Lord or who are truly religious 1 John 2.9.3.10.4.20 Note here which is the true respect of love or for what respect chiefly we must love our brethren First in general we must love the faithful for Gods sake or love of the Lord in them Secondly more particularly from Mat. 10.41 we are taught to love them for a threefold respect I. Because they are Prophets and thus we must love them for the words sake which they bring or at least which they profess II. Because they are righteous and thus we must love them for that sanctity purity and integrity which we see in them III.
heart towards others declaring it in words behaviour and duties convenient and requisite Or It is the work of the Spirit in our hearts whereby we are moved to wish well and to do good unto our neighbours to the utmost of our power when they stand in need of our help in the name of God and Christ or according to Aristotle it may be defined thus To love our neighbour is to will all that which in our judgement we esteem good unto him and to the uttermost of our power to procure it for and unto him Qu. 108. Why must we Love our neighbour or brethren or be charitably affected towards them Answ The reasons hereof are many whereof the first is taken from God I. Because we are so commanded by him from the beginning 2 John 5 II. Because God takes notice of it Apoc. 2.10 III. Because this lesson is taught us by God 1 Thes 4.9 IV. Because Love is of God 1 John 4.7 V. Because God our Father hath Loved us 1 John 4 11. VI. Because we provoke God to leave us if we will not love our brother Memorable to this purpose is that story which is recorded of Nicephorus Metaphrast in Niceph. Mer. who being brought to the place where he was to receive the Crown of Martyrdom and seeing Sapritius between whom and him there had before some bitternesses and enmity broke forth fall down before him and beg a Pardon and reconcilement was so much elated with this glory of Martyrdom and his heart did so rise against him for former injuries that uncharitably he disdained to admit of any reconciliation In punishment of which uncharitableness he lost his whole hope and victory for the Spirit of God forsook him and he apostated from the faith so that it appears that Love and Charity is justly esteemed the form of Martyrdom The second reason is taken from Christ First Because Christ hath commanded it John 13.34 Secondly Because Christ hath Loved us Eph. 5.2 Thirdly Because Love to the brethren is the chiefest office of a Christian or of him who by covenant is engaged to the profession and service of Christ for I. This is a note of a disciple of Christ as follows afterwards II. It is a sign of the Lords paternal Love unto us III. It is a sign that we Love God 1 John 4.10 IV. It is a sign that we are sensible of our communion and concorporation with the faithful V. Because we are a people separated and set apart for the service of God and therefore must Love our brethren either in or for God VI. Because we are hated of the world and therefore had need do that which is acceptable unto God VII Because we are united unto Christ and therefore we should be one in Love with all his The third reason is taken from the excellency of Love because Love is the fulfilling of the Law and the end of the Commandments Rom. 13.7 8. Gal. 5.14 1 Tim. 1.5 The fourth is taken from others because thereby we shall give a good example unto them 1 Tim 4.12 2. Tim. 3 10. The fifth is taken from our brethren themselves because this is the principal debt we owe unto them Romans 13.8 The last reason is taken A signo and that both Negatively or Privately and Affirmatively First Negatively if we do note Love our brethren it argues these things I. That we yet abide in death 1 John 3.14 II. That we do not love God 1 John 4.20 21. III. That iniquity abounds in us when love waxeth cold Math. 24.12 IV. That we know not God 1 John 4.8 And V. That we are not of â—od 1 John 3.10 Secondly Affirmatively if we do truly love our brethren then I. It will be an argument unto us that God dwelleth in us and that his Love is perfected in us 1 John 4.12 And II. That we are the Disciples of Christ John 13.35 III. That we are of the truth 1 John 3.18 19. IV. That we are heirs of salvation not of perd tion 1 John 3.14 And V. That we are born of God and know him 1 John 4.7 Qu. 1â—9 Why do men Love men Answ 1. Some love men for their Poetry Thus Sciâ—io Affricanus loved Ennius and Augustus the Emperour Virgâ—l 2. Some love men for their Oratory thus Pomponius Atticus loved Tully thinking himself happy when either he was in his sight or his books in his bosom 3. Some love men for their skill in painting engraving carving c. Thus Alexander loved Apelles and Lysippus forbidding all to draw his picture save Apelles and to cut it in brass except Lysippus Curtius 4. Some love men for their careful tuition of them and diligence in their good education thus Alexander loved Aristotle many Schollars their Masters and many good hearers their Ministers 5. Some love men for their former care love and kindness unto them Valerius servant to Panopion hearing that certain souldiers were come unto the City of Rheatina of purpoose to kill his master he changed apparel with his master and conveyed him away suffering himself to be slain in his masters bed for the great love he bare him his master having formerly used him more like a son then a slave 6. Some love men for their grace and goodness or because they see as it were the image of God in their face thus men love the Lords faithful ones as such 7. Some Love men for their strength courage magnanimity and resolution thus Alexander crowned the tomb of Achilles and Hephestion that of Patroclus for their valour 8. Some love men for revenge and cruelty Timon of Athens called M santhropus a hater of men loved none but only Alcibiades and him he loved and once kissed because he saw in his face the destruction of Athens Plutar. 9. Some love men for their filthy lust and lascivious life Caelius cap. 30. li. 8. reports that Bagoas the Eunuch was much endeared unto and highly beloved of Alexander the great for no othâ—r cause but that there was some brutsh and unnatural congress betwixt them Qu. 11â— How many waies do men Love others Answ An Auâ—hor which I have read answers There be five waies of loâ—ing one another whereof one is praised three dispraised and one neither prâ—ised nor dispraised I. Some love their neighbour for Gods sake and thus good men love all men II. Some love their neighbour for natural affection because he is his son brother or k nsman III. Some love their neighbour for vain-glory that they may be commended and esteemed for so doing IV. Some love their neighbour for covetousness aâ— when men flatter some and pretend a great deal of love unto them hoping to be enriched or promoted by them V. Some love for sensual lust and appetite as some men love women and some men for their bellies or gluttony and drunkenness Of these The first is spiritual therefore praise-worthy The second natural therefore deserves no praise The third fourth and fifth sensual and carnal and
therefore merit dispraise Qu. 111. How must Christians love their neighbours and brethren Answ 1. Not better then the Lord Matth. 10.37 for they who love father or mother son or daughter better then God are not worthy of him 2. Not better then themselves it is observed in the nature of the Brocardor Hart that whereas it is the nature of the vulgar Harts to lurk in ditches at the hearing of the hounds this beast never seeketh any such place to hide or cover himself but runs still in the sight of the dogs to draw the hunters and hounds from the other Dear in covert whereupon the dogs leave the other which hid themselves and seek not for them having the Brocardor in sight and chase and so the hunters being passed by the lurking Harts return back being safe from the danger of nets and dogs whilst the poor Brocardâ— are hunted and chased to death We are not bound thus to love our brother or neighbour that is of set purpose to expose our selves to death for the preservation of a private neighbors life 3. We must love them as brethren 1 Pet. 3.8 And 4. We must love them in the Spirit Col. 1.8 5. We must love them sincerely and in truth Rom. 12.9 2 Cor. 8.8 2 Joh. 1.3 Joh. 1. 6. We must love them as Christ loved us Joh. 13.34.15.12 Eph. 5.2 1 Ioh. 3.11 16. 7. We must not love them inconstantly 2 Sam. 13.4 15. Iob 19.19 But 8. We must love them daily more and more 1 Thes 4.10 And 9. We must love them as we love our selves Lev. 19 18 34. Gal. 5.14 Iam. 2 18 Iohn Gonsalve Bishop of Tarracon and one of the Inquisitors of Sivil when any were brought before him for the profession of the â—ospel would say that it was wonderfull to observe how these Heretiques had this Commandment engraven in their hearts Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thy self because they would for no threats or torments accuse or discover one another Qâ— 112. How or wherein is our true love and charity towards our brethren to be expressed and shewn Ans 1. By labouring to build them up and to instruct them in the most holy Faith Lev. 19.17 Acts 18.26 1 Thes 5.14 Hebrews 3.13.4 24. Jude â— 2. By praying for them Psal 122.6 Rom. 10.1 Eph 6.18 2 Thes 3.1 Hebr. 13.18 3. By administring to their necessities according to the uttermost of our abilities Rom. 12.20 Gal. 6.10 4. By preserving them in what we can from all manner of damage in their estates Exod. 23.5 6. 5. By being kindly affectioned towards them in our hearts Rom. 12.10 6. By performing offices of love one unto another Gal. 5.13 7. By speaking friendly unto them 8. By forbearing one another Eph 4.2 9. By Christian Love feasts Jude 12. Qu. 113. What are the properties nature and qualities of love and charity Ans 1. It covers a multitude of sins Prov. 10.12 1 Pet. 4 8. 2. It edifieth 1 Cor. 8.1 3. It suffereth long 1 Cor. 13.1 4 It is kind 1 Cor. 13.4 5. It envieth not 1 Cor. 13.4 6. It vaunteth not it self 1 Cor. 13.4 7. It never faileth 1 Cor. 13.8 8. It is the effect of faith 1 Joh. 3.18 19. 9. It is fervent Cant. 8.7 1 Pet. 4.8 10. It endureth all things 1 Cor. 13.7 11. It hopeth all things 1 Cor. 13.7 12. It believeth all things 1 Cor. 13.7 13. It works no ill to its neighbor Rom. 13.10 14. It beareth all things 1 Cor. 13.7 15. It is not puft up 1 Cor. 13.4 16. It doth not behave it self unseemly 1 Cor. 13.5 17. It seeketh not her own 1 Cor. 13.5 18. It thinketh no evil 1 Cor. 13.5 19. It is not easily provoked 1 Cor. 13.5 20. It rejoyceth not in iniquity but in the truth 1 Cor. 13.6 Qu. 114. What are the excellencies of love and charity towards our brethren Ans The excellencies thereof appear in these and the like particulars 1. That all things are nothing without Love and châ—rity Cant. 8.7 1 Cor. 13.1 2 3. 2. That poverty with love is better then riches without it Prov. 15.17 3. That it is a Theological virtue 2 Tim. 3.10 2 Pet. 1.7 Jude 2. 2 Joh. 3. 4. That it is one of the three most excellent Theological graces 1 Cor. 13.13 5. That it is a greater grace then either faith or hope because it shall abide when they shall cease 1 Cor. 13.13 6. That it is the bond of perfectness Col. 3.14 7. That it is a brest-plate to defend us 1 Thes 5.8 8. That it is a testimony of our election Rom. 8.14 Heb. 6.11 2 Pet. 1.10 9. That it is a sure sign of eternal life 1 Ioh. 3.14 10. That it casts out all fear 1 Ioh. 4.28 11. That it is the Law of Christ Ioh. 13.15 33 34. Gal. 6.2 12. That it is the exercise of the faithful 1 Cor. 16.14 Gal. 5.6 Eph. 5.2 13. That it is an argument of faith 2 Cor. 9.13 Whence I. Faith is said to work by love Gal. 5.6 And II. Faith and love are joyned together 1 Tim. 2.15 14. That it is the fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 15. That it is the sum scope and end of the Law Rom. 13.8 Gal. 5.14 1 Tim. 1 5. 16. That it is the fulfilling of the Law Rom. 13.8.10 For the understanding of this place observe that the Apostle therein doth not speak of the perfect or imperfect obedience of the Law but Love is commended as the sum of the Law which is to be understood of perfect and compleat charity which is contained in all parts and precepts of the Law as appears by Rom. 13.9 Now it will not follow as the Papists would have it in any good consequence That because perfect love is commanded in the whole Law therefore it is performed perfectly by the Saints for as our knowledge is in part so is our charity we can love no further then we know Qu. 115. How then is love the fulfilling of the Law Ans Love is said to be the fulfilling of the Law three manner of ways 1. Reductive because we fulfil all the commandments of God for the love of God And 2. Effective because he who loveth the Lord is ready to obey him And 3. Formaliter because all our actions should be referred to Gods glory 1 Cor. 10.31 Qu. 116. What Order may we observe in our love unto our brethren Ans 1. If other circumstances agree and be answerable then we may love our kindred more then strangers in those things which belong unto this outward life and amongst our kindred we may love those most who are nearest akin unto us 2. We may love some special intimate and approved friend more then a common kinsman especially in those things which belong unto the common office of this life Prov. 8.24 3. We must love our parents more then any friend because the conjunction oâ— Parents is nearer then of friends in regard of the communication of those good