Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	child_n	love_v	natural_a	3,021	5	7.0514	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A15369	The debt book: or, A treatise vpon Romans 13. ver. 8 Wherein is handled: the ciuill debt of money or goods, and vnder it the mixt debt, as occasion is offered. Also, the sacred debt of loue. By Henry Wilkinson, Bachelor in Diuinity, and pastor of Wadesdon in Buckinghamshire.	Wilkinson, Henry, 1566-1647.	1625 (1625)	STC 25646; ESTC S114431	56,271	156

in euery commandement It is the * Col. 3. 14. bond of perfection quo omnia hominum inter se officia continentur coherent wherein all the duties which passe betweene men are comprehended and combined As faith is the bond of our vnion with Christ so is loue of our communion with our brethren the members of Christ in which two consists the perfection of the mysticall bodie It is called here the fulfilling of the Lawe both in this verse and in the tenth because qui diligit non vnum aliquod praeceptum obijt sed in genere praestitit quod lex iubet he that loueth obserueth not some one precept but performeth in generall what the Law inioineth but of this in the next place 4. Fourthly where loue is not the life of man is like a perpetuall tempest here rushing and there blustering here beating and there bearing downe all before it without this wee still doe liue in the gall of bitternesse and bond of iniquitie where this failes mischief comes in place thereof dissentions discords and such curses as accompany them Non euenissent Cyprian Ep. 8. fratribus haec mala si in vnum fraternitas fuisset animata Such euills had not befallen the brethren if the brotherhood had held together in one mind Let vs therefore nourish this precious charity in our hearts in obedience and true conformity vnto Christ as also for the worthinesse of the grace it selfe and for our owne refreshing and consolation in our pilgrimage here on earth CHAP. 13. Of the diuersities of loue and of the nature of Christian religious loue towards one another BVT that ye loue one another We haue a rule euen in moral discipline that the prayse of vertue consisteth in action This is as true of loue as of any other whatsoeuer * 1. Cor. 13. 13. in this preferred before faith and hope not simply but because it is diffusiue of it selfe to the vse of others whereas these are confined to the person of the beleeuer Wee haue also another rule that whatsoeuer wee would that men should doe vnto vs euen so should we do to them for this is the Law and the Prophets Mat. 7. 12. But wee desire that men should loue vs and accommodate themselues to our seruice therefore it is a naturall and a perpetuall debt to do the like vnto them Now that loue may be diffusiue of it selfe in precious streams and operatiue with approbation of God and of man let vs choose out among the seuerall kinds of loue 1. the most excellent in nature 2. the best esteem'd in quality 3. the most beneficial in the operations fruits of it For the first wee must obserue that there are diuerse kinds of loue as naturall affection whereby wee loue our Parents Children and Kindred Hee that hath not this is worse then brutish euen beasts cherish and suckle their young ones This though a Christian cannot want yet a reprobate may haue There is a ciuil loue the obligation whereof is domesticall or politicall societie Meere naturall men yeeld this for mutuall commodity and consolation There is a morall loue consisting in an exact compensation of affection with affection of benefite with benefite which falls short indeed of that loue which here we seeke as our Sauiour shewes Mat. 5. 46. 47. It may be in vnregenerate men yet it is a great furtherance to the producing and preseruing of the charity whereof we speake 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. Nazian Nothing so auaileable vnto loue as compensation of affection which is expressed by mutuall offices Vis vt ameris ama Wilt thou be beloued then do thou loue Lastly there is a christian religious loue which is a sanctified affection wherby our hearts are ioyned either to our brethren in the faith in contemplation of Gods image in them shining in an eminency of Graces or in respect of the common hope of our calling declared by outward profession or else whereby we wish and doe good to our enemies in obedience to him who hath commanded vs so to doe There is not any kinde of these loues aboue mentioned but it is a debt and so is this christian religious loue also and must be duely paied First in respect of the communion of Saints there is one body one spirit one hope of our calling one lord one faith one baptisme one God and father of all Eph. 4. 4 5 6. If a * Eccle. 4. 12 three-fold cord bee not easily broken how much lesse this of loue in such a concurrence of inuincible obligations It must also be paied as an homage to God who will take no notice of our loue to him vnlesse we loue our neighbour Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe I am the Lord Leuit. 19. 18. as also 1 Ioh. 4. 20. Hee that saith hee loueth God and hateth his brother is a lyar Who so loueth not his brother whom he hath seene how can hee loue God whom bee hath not seene Thirdly it must bee paid in regard of mutuall offices and duties as of tender affections and earnest prayers for one another the intercourse whereof cannot be stopped among Christians Maior est fraternitas Christi quàm sanguinis Brotherhood in Christ is stronger then in blood If kinne will creepe where it cannot goe christian charity cannot chuse but be diffusiue of it selfe from the highest to the lowest * Psal 133. 2. 3. As the precious ointment from the head of Aaron to his beard and to the skirts of his garment as the dew of Hermon vpon the hill of Zion so this loue imparts it selfe by a co-operation of Gods spirit to the comfort and refreshing of high and low pertaining to the couenant Moreouer as in ciuill debts so also in sacred the paiment must be currant It is not the loue of brethren in euill bee it neuer so strong that will serue the turne such concord is a conspiracy as in * Gen. 34 25. Simeon and Leui in the outrage vpon the Shechemites It is not the doting of * Iudg. 16. 4. c. Num. 25. 15. Samson vpon Dalilah or of Zimry vpon Cosby be the men neuer so great that will serue the turne this is but carnall lust The currant loue which beares the stampe of the Sanctuarie must bee deriued * 1. Tim. 1. 5. from a pure heart a good conscience an vnfaigned faith this is the right myne out of which it must be taken And in this respect the christian loue doth as much surmount all carnall loues as gold or siluer doth copper or lead which makes mee wonder why we should bee so ambitious of the friendship and countenance of men notoriously sinfull seeing how much soeuer they are beloued of vs yet they can but giue vs drosse for gold chaffe for wheat True christian loue indeed as it is a noble heroicall grace so can it not proceed but from a sanctified originall CHAP. 14. The qualities of religious Loue. AS is

the nature of religious Loue so are the qualities holy and heauenly These are three Patience Constancy and Feruency Loue is patient Charity suffereth long and is kinde it is not easily prouoked it beareth all things it endureth all things 1 Cor. 13. 4 5. 7. The Israelits depose Samuel from his gouernment as great an indignity as could bee deuised yet God forbid said hee that I should cease to pray for you or to shew you the right way 1. Sam. 12. This was the patience of his loue to recompence good for euill Saul persecutes Dauid bitterly 1. Sam. 24. 5 26. 11. c. Dauid hauing his life in his power twice takes not the opportunity of priuate reuenge but dismisseth him safe this was the patience of his loue to the Lords annointed ȣ Greg. hom 7 in Ezech. Patientia vera est quae ipsum amat quem portat It is true patience to loue him whose weight we feele Thus the nurse beares the vnquietnesse of her child that breakes her sleepe the Minister the ignorance and wilfulnesse of the opposite the husband and the wife suffer the infirmities of each other without grudging or repyning because there is true loue in the flesh and in the Lord. As is the measure of Loue so of Patience much loue much patience Loue is strong as death being supported with patience Whereupon also doth depend the next property which is Constancy The Apostle hauing said that Charity Aquin. in hunc locum beareth all and endureth all things inferreth in the next words Charity neuer faileth 1. Cor. 13. 8. Charitas in diligendo non deficit sed proficit Charity in louing goes not backward but forward as appeares in the Philippians whose loue abounded more and more The loue of Ruth to Naomi makes her cleaue vnto her constantly though shee had perswasions and example and discouragements to the contrary yet the resolution was That nought but death should make a separation Ruth 1. 16 17. The like stedfastnesse is in the loue of Paul towards the Corinthians though the more he loued them the lesse he was beloued Yet will I spend most willingly saith he and will bee spent for your sakes 2. Cor. 12. 15. True loue is not apprehensiue of offences nor alienated vpon sleight occurrents though the seruices of loue bee sometimes costly as in relieuing the poore and the labour of loue sometimes painfull as of * Ierem. 38. Ebedmelecke in drawing Ieremy out of the dungeon of Malchiah hazarding thereby the displeasure of Prince and State Yet loue armed with constancy persisteth in good purposes against all difficulties oppositions whatsoeuer yea when many other eminent gifts doe cease yet shall loue continue 1. Cor. 13. 8. 9. The third quality of this loue is Feruency Aboue all things haue feruent loue among your selues 1. Pet. 4. 8. This sets an edge on loue it keepes it from languishing it suffers not so gracious an affection to settle vpon the lees of sluggishnesse but will quicken it as a taskemaster exacting daily the seruice of the day it will make vs restlesse til some good be done and sensible in case we faile as is noted of * Hieron in Epist ad Gal. cap. 6. Titus the Emperour when he had not done some memorable good he would lament the losse of such a day Feruency will make vs sow our seed in the morning and not suffer our hand to Eccle. 11. 6. cease in the euening Want of feruency in our loue makes vs vnprofitable in time of need like the Priest and Leuite to the Luk. 10. 30 31 32 33. man that was wounded and halfe dead they looked on and perhaps pitied him but passed by the other way without vouchsafing any reliefe at all So is the common temper of mens loue they thinke themselues in charity else God forbid they hate no body they hurt no body they are no quarrellers or otherwise iniurious thus they make faire weather with all but let a man fall into some extremity and then they will not ease his burden with the least of their fingers It is Feruency must make our loue actiue vsefull and which must make vs like the good Samaritane ministring to the distressed as wee are able and they haue need Neuer turning our eyes from our owne flesh Esay 58. 7. CHAP. 15. The effect of loue with rules to dispense the fruits thereof and a complaint for the neglect of it THe religious loue thus qualified will quickly shew it selfe in the fruits and effects it will sweeten and season all our actions making vs full of mercie and as * Rom. 15. 14 Paul speaks of the Romans full of goodnesse If you would know wherein this loue must and may bee discerned I answere euen in all things Let all things be done in loue is the Apostles direction 1. Cor. 16. 14. Because without this the best things degenerate and turn the edge * 1. Cor 8. 1 Knowledge without loue puffeth vp * 1. Cor. 13. 1 2. The gift of tongues and prophecie without loue is as a vanishing sound Almes without loue is ostentation Martyrdome without loue is fruitlesse and vnprofitable Let mee speake it as it is as faith without workes is dead so works without loue are counterfeit and hypocriticall * Rom. 12. 9. Let loue be then without aissimulation in all our doing which will make them passe more sweetly then all the springs of Lebanon ●f we further inquire when and to whom this loue must be shewed that also is set downe Gal. 6. 10. While we haue time let vs doe good vnto all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Theophilact the time of working is the time of liuing and though there may bee difference in the opportunities yet shall we neuer want such as will want vs. Which burden for all that where loue is will not seeme tedious Charitas facit iugum leue Loue makes the yoake easie * Gen. 29. 20 Iacob indured a hard seruice vnder Laban of seuen yeares for his daughter Rachel yet they seemed in his eyes but a very few dayes because be loued her If yet we further aske in what manner this loue must be declared That also is set downe 1. Ioh. 3. 18. Little Children let vs not loue in word and in tongue hee meanes not in bare verball complement only for words otherwise must bee the Interpreters of the heart but in deed and in truth our loue must be reall and beneficiall if it be barren it is certainly counterfeit If this precious treasure be in our hearts wee ought not to hide it concealed loue is like concealed learning vnprofitable We must professe it then to the comfort of our brethren as * Ruth 2. 13. Booz spake to the heart of Ruth yea and expresse it too as hee did * Ruth 3. 18. he rested not till he had done her good in the highest degree Thus Mordocai procured the wealth of

his people and spake peaceably to all his seed Esther 10. 3. Hee was beneficiall in word and in worke Besides these generall directions for the better dispensing the fruites of our loue there are certaine speciall rules to be obserued First wee must consider our owne ability and our brethrens necessitie accommodating the one to the reliefe of the other as the plaister to the sore If our ability be great then * 2. Cor. 9. 6. by sowing plentifully we shall reape plentifully and * 1. Tim. 6. 17. lay vp a good foundation against the time to come This sheweth want of loue in those who hauing great ability doe little or no good therewith like Nabal and the rich Glutton who had great abundance euen a * Prou. 17. 16 price in the hand but wanted a heart to vse it They feared to lose their wealth by giuing but feared not to lose themselues by keeping it If on the other side our wealth be small yet if our good will bee great it is accepted as were the Widowes two mites Luk. 21. 3. He that is faithfull in a little enters into his Masters ioy Mat. 25. 23. God crowneth the inward will where he finds not the outward wealth saies Austin If 2. Cor. 8. 12 there be a willing mind it is accepted by him who iudgeth not after the outward appearance but beholdeth the heart Yea though some must say with * Iob. 42. 8 9. Peter Siluer Acts 3. 6. and gold haue I none yet loue is as effectuall in dispensing the spirituall talent as the temporall Those who haue not the worldly goods may be helpfull and beneficiall by powring out faithfull prayers as Iob did for his three friends or by ministring a word of counsaile admonition or exhortation at our need He that doth so may turne a sinner from going astray hee may saue a soule from death and couer a multitude of sinnes Iam. 5. 20. Abilitie must bee improued according to the condition of it which that it may be with successe we must also consider the necessities of those with whom wee haue to deale Loue trauailes in paine with some till Christ be formed in them as Paul did Gal. 4. 19. with the Galathians with others it is weake to some it stoops it raiseth it selfe to others * August de catechiz rudib cap. 15. alijs blanda alijs seuera nulli inimica omnibus mater gentle to some seuere to others an enemy to none a mother to all Some haue more need of our prayers then of our purse of our counsaile then of our commodities of our good example then of our goods Paul * Act. 20 33. craues neither siluer nor gold nor raiment but * Eph. 6. 19 Col. 4. 3. 2. Thes 3. 1. prayers often and with importunitie Dauid on the other side craues not Nabals counsaile * 1. Sam. 25. 8. but a supply of things necessarie when hee might haue spared it As one member serues another according to the necessity of it so should we Because by how much more fitly wee apply our selues to one another by so much more feelingly is God glorified by the party that is succoured Iob. 31. 20. After ability in the author and necessitie in the obiect of beneuolence obserued the next rule pertaineth vnto order All things are comely in their order and loue is orderly and discreet non agit indecorè it deales not vnseemely 1. Cor. 13. 5. The orderly course in disposing the fruits of loue is that where present occasion imposeth not a necessitie the speciall duties of loue should be conferred where there are the principall bonds of nature or grace or other respects of societie or vicinitie specially where there is an eminencie of desert at our hands The case may so be put that a beast must be relieued before a man yet other things being like wee must specially doe good to Gal. 6. 10. the house-hold of faith A cup of cold water thus bestowed is not forgotten Mat. 10. 42. but shall bee remembred in the day of accounts Matth. 25. 40. Euen among these loue ordered by discretion leads to our speciall charge Integer rerum aestimator est qui Aug. de doc Chr. lib. 1. cap. 27 28. ordinatam habet dilectionem nam quum omnibus prodesse non possis his potissimum consulendum est qui constrictius tibi quasi quadam sorte coniunguntur He is an vpright esteemer of things that hath an orderly charitie for seeing thou canst not doe all men good prouision must chiefly be made for those who are as it were by a certaine lot most nearely ioined vnto vs. Dauid prouides for his Parents in the midst of his persecution Our Sauiour for 1. Sam. 22. 3. his * Ioh. 19. 26 27. mother in the midst of his passion But the bowels of compassion are for the most part chiefly moued when the state of the Church is vnder the eye of tender-hearted men as Psal 122. Amos 7. 2. 5. Ieremie 9. 1 2 c. But such men are very rare the most euen of professors pleasing themselues abundantly if their personall state be good and if there bee plenty within their priuate walles neuer looke further at the distressed abroad nor at well deseruing men of Church and Common-Wealth thinking because charity beginnes at home they neede not straine themselues with supporting such as fall not within the domesticall verge But these men are much deceiued For though it be true that charity beginnes at home Yet it must not also end at home and neuer goe further For as parents and children claime their portion in vs so doth the Church and Common-Wealth also specially such as haue deserued our loue to whom perhaps we owe euen our selues * Phil. ver 19 as Philemon did to Paul Can that loue be religious which is so straitned in the bowels of compassion as that it will not inlarge it selfe to the afflicted Or is that loue religious which can be vnthankfull to men of speciall merit for temporall or spirituall seruice Let charity beginne where it ought but let it not both beginne and end in one Period If it be naturally diffusiue confine it not to one point or center which ought to liue and moue and worke in the circumference round about The third rule in the exercise of loue concerneth those who are without or at least farther off * Rom. 12. Wee must haue peace and concord with all so far as is possible our God is the God of peace not of dissention 1. Cor. 14. 33. or confusion and when he exhibited himselfe to Eliah he was not in the 1. King 19. 11. mighty wind nor in the Earth-quake nor in the fire but in the still and quiet voice to shew that hee is not among tumults and quarrells but where peace and vnitie and amity is imbraced Yet he that must endeuour to haue peace with all is not bound to haue

societie nor ordinarie intercourse of consultations and familiarity with all nor peace neither further then may stand with holinesse and godly wisedome For what if there be ineuitable occasion of a breach What if a man will needs become an enemy and prouoke vs with heauy iniuries Here now is loue put to the greatest tryall yet will it bee fruitfull and that in season For Christian loue may as truly be exercised to an enemy as to a friend and in forgiuing iniuries as in giuing gifts Did not Steuens charity shine as cleerely * Acts 7. 60. Acts 6. 6 in praying for the forgiuenesse of his persecutors when he suffered as a Martyr as in ministring to the necessities of the Saints as a Deacon Forgiuenesse is like a blossome in March that shrinkes not at a nipping blast this will proue the forwardest and goodliest fruit in Autume But what if forgiuenesse be not sought by him that doth the wrong yet must thou daily aske forgiuenesse at Gods hands vnder condition of forgiuing What if the iniurie be daily multiplyed and renewed Heauen is open to thy complaints and the Law is open to restraine intollerable persons onely in suits at Law when they are ineuitable Loue first retaineth an vnfeined desire of peace though it be prouoked Secondly it abstaineth from priuate reuenge though it haue opportunitie Thirdly true loue prayeth for the enemies conuersion though continuing refractary But here may I iustly take vp a complaint Charitatem in terris peregrinam agere As one speakes of Truth so may I of Charitie that it liues as a stranger here on earth little religious loue is to bee found in the world Some men loue no body but for some carnall respects Others can loue any but the seruants of God as Achab could like well of all Prophets but of Michaiah and Eliah and 1 King 22. 68. 1 King 21. 20. them he hated and counted them as enemies Others that can find no fault in Gods children yet hold off their loue in suspence and they must know them better before they will ioyne with them in amitie and societie and so perhaps they neuer meete Others confine their loue to societie in reuelling lasciuiousnesse or some other rudenesse in which there is at last but a bond of iniquitie So little entertainement finds loue vpon earth yet it is the bond of perfection both in heauen and in earth and hath the most noble testimonie and stile to be called in this place the fulfilling of the Law CHAP. 16. That loue is a fulfilling of the Law according to the measure of it and that yet hence it doth not follow either that the perfect fulfilling of the Law is possible in this life or that any can be iustified by the workes of the Law in this state of corruption FOr hee that loueth another hath fulfilled the Law These words are a reason of the former exhortation The argument is thus The mutuall loue of Christians is the fulfilling of the Law therefore wee ought to loue one another When loue is said Cantic 8. 6. to bee strong as death non potuit saith Austin Charitatis fortitudo magnificentiùs exprimi quàm quòd morti comparatur The strength of loue could not be more magnifically expressed then when it is compared vnto death As he saith of the strength of loue that it could not be expressed in more loftie termes so may I say of the supereminent excellencie of loue it could not be set downe in higher termes then in calling it the fulfilling of the Law Concerning which words sundry things may be enquired both for the meaning and certaintie of them As first the thing in hand being mutuall charitie and brotherly loue which is limited and confined to the second table of the Law and is no further extended how the performance of it can bee said to fulfill the Law seeing in this dutie supposed as good as can bee in this life a man onely fulfilleth the second table of the Law The answer herein is this that though he that loueth his neighbour intirely do but fulfill the second table expresly yet he performes the first also by necessarie consequence For all religious loue to men floweth originally from our loue to God and our loue to God dependeth wholly on his loue to vs. * 1 Ioh. 4. 19 We loue him because he loued vs first As therefore a great brightnesse of the ayre at midnight argueth the shining of the Moone and that presumeth an illumination from the Sunne because these depend one on another so the diffusing of our charitie on our neighbours proueth our loue to God and our loue to God presumeth his loue to vs first for the inseparable dependance which they haue on each other We may also briefly answer that our brotherly loue fulfilleth the Law that is that part of the Law which doth punctually require it The other questions arise from the ambiguitie of the speech Hath fulfilled the Law Out of which our aduersaries draw two conclusions First that the fulfilling of the Law is possible in this life Secondly that a Christian may be iustified by the workes of the Law For the first the Rhemists in their marginall notes vpon these words say this Here we learne that the Law may bee and is fulfilled by loue in this life against our aduersaries who say it is impossible to keepe the Commandements The argument may thus be framed He that loueth another or that loueth his neighbour fulfilleth the Law But euery true Christian can and must and doth loue his neighbour therefore euery true Christian can and must fulfill the Law First to the proposition I say that he that loueth another fulfilleth the Law according to the qualitie and measure of his loue Qualis quanta dilectio talis tanta est legis impletio so farre as he loueth so farre he fulfilleth the Law But say they in the assumption euery good Christian can and may and doth loue his neighbour To this I answer that loue is either perfect and full in the affections and offices of it without any errour or defect at all this is that which fulfilleth the Law according to the seueritie of it to the vttermost but it is impossible in this life through the weakenesse of the flesh There is another loue which is true sincere and heartie yet not without imperfection for in many things we all fall short in affections in actions * Gal 5. 17 The flesh lusteth against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh so that we cannot do as wee would * Phil. 3. 12 13. I haue not saith Paul attained vnto perfection This loue is possible but not perfect the other is perfect but not possible to vs compassed as we are with imperfections and consequently the perfect impletion of the Law in this life is not possible The second argument depends on this framed by those who by building iustification vpon the workes of the Law put