Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	lord_n	love_v	saint_n	5,636	5	6.4232	4	true

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

is not hee entreated for his assistance in this difficulty of debt as well as in other things When Amaziah 2. Chr. 25. 9 asked the man of God who forbad him to take the Ephraimits into the battle against the Edomits because God was not with them what then should become of the hundreth talents which he had giuen them for their helpe cannot God said the Prophet giue thee more then this So say I to him that trembles at the inundation of debt vpon him Cannot God if he were sought vnto giue an issue out of this Cannot God if the stumbling blocke of thine iniquity which makes the separation and hinders good things from thee were remoued giue euen more then this If it bee replied That God worketh men out of debt by meanes which thou hast neither in thy power nor in thy view To this I say that prayer it selfe is a means wherby all other helps practises receiue their force vertue successe which haue failed hitherto for want of this Faithfull praier puts a man vpon the cheerefull vse of subordinate meanes and binds to such pertinent courses and serious endeauours as are most likely to remoue or at least to mitigate this languishing consumption of our estate All our policies without this are but Arena sine calce Sand without Lime They will not hold together when wee haue most need of them but like vntempered morter will fall asunder Let earnest praier be ioyned with frugality skill and diligence and payment so far as our ability will extend and then expect with comfort the end that God will giue Suppose when all is done that is directed or deuised that we cannot for all this satisfie the Creditour yet this shewes a mans repentance for his former indiscretion and his true desire to make satisfaction when hee seriously sets himselfe to make such payment as to him is any way possible which though it come short of contenting the Creditour may notwithstanding serue to pacifie the cōscience of the Debtor which will bee surely clamorous where iustice is not done to a mans power by yeelding euery man his owne I know some cruell Lenders will bee bitter violent in exacting which makes the clamours great of oppressed Borrowers Nehem. 5. yea secessions of the poore and separations from the rich as appeares in the * Liuius D●c 1. lib. 2. Roman story but no cry is so intollerable as of a tender conscience if debts and duties be not faithfully performed Let vs therefore not remaine indebted any thing to any man but pay euery man his due not out of constraint onely but euen for conscience sake I end with Aquinas his words vpon this place It a plené omnibus omnia debita persoluatis vt nihil remaneat quod soluere debeatis Pay all your debts so fully vnto all that so farre as is possible nothing rest behind which ought to be paid the debt of loue onely excepted which followes in the next place Hitherto of civill and mixt debts CHAP. 12. Of the sacred Debt of Loue that we ought to loue one another and why BVT that yee loue one another As is the Obligation such is the Debt ciuill obligations cease when the pecuniary debt is paid but the bond of loue among Christians is perpetuall so that as wee say of thankes in case of benefits receiued Gratiae agendae habendae Thankes must be giuen and held as still due so of loue it is Debitum semper reddendum semper habendum A debt which alwaies is to be paid and yet alwaies continues payable I am saith Paul a debtor both to the Grecian Rom. L 14 and Barbarian both to the wise and to the vnwise hee meanes the debt of loue and of seruice The instruction is this That Loue and Charity is a due debt perpetually to be performed by one Christian to another Let brotherly loue continue Heb. 13. 1. Thou shalt loue thy neighbour as thy selfe I am the Lord Leuit. 19. 18. Beloued let vs loue one another for loue is of God and euery one that loueth is born of God and knoweth God 1. Ioh. 4. 7. * Ioh. 13. 34 A new Commandement giue I vnto you that yee loue one another How a new commandent Austine answeres quia exuto veteri induit nos nouum hominem Because the old man being put off it puts on vs the new man Whereunto I adde this that when the Scribes and Pharises by false glosses and corrupt interpretations had put it out of date * Mat 5. 43 44 45 46 c. Christ restored it by a true interpretation and reuiued and illustrated it by his owne practise and example as Paul also doth obserue Eph. 5. 2. Walke in loue as Christ hath loued vs and Phil. 1. 9. This I pray that your loue may abound more and more in knowledge and in all iudgement To walke in loue intendeth a proceeding and going forward till wee come to an eminencie and this we should indeuour Reason 1 First because it is a good thing and a pleasant Psal 133. 1. that brethren should dwell together in vnitie and amitie Some things are pleasant that are not good as vnlawfull gaines to a couetous man * 2. Pet 2. 15. Balaam loues the wages of iniquitie to his hurt some things are good that are nor pleasant as to suffer affliction so * Heb. 11. 25. Moses did with the people of God But the loue of the brethren is both good and pleasant Good because agreeable to Gods will Pleasant because comfortable to the heart of man to inioy the societie and communion of Saints both good and pleasant * Psal 133. 3. because God hath commanded his blessing to rest vpon the vnitie of brethren in that which is good Secondly Christ hath loued vs being his * Rom. 5. 2. 10. enemies therefore we ought to loue one another If Christ haue taught vs this not only by precept but also by example and by illustration of the precept in his owne person should we not herein conforme our selues vnto him Should not euerie one accommodate himselfe to that which is the proper end and vse of his calling Should not the Shepheard feed his flocke the Pilot at Sea guide his Ship the Captaine in warre exercise militarie discipline Should not the watchman keepe his watch Now brotherly loue is as proper and peculiar to Christians as any of these seruices to the vndertaker of them By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples if ye loue one another Ioh. 13. 35. Thirdly many excellent things are spoken of loue it is * 1. Tim. 1. 5. the end and scope of the Lawe Vt est in medicina sanitas as health is the end of Physicke It is the summe of the Lawe sayth Christ Mat. 22. 40. Where hee speakes of the loue of God and of the loue of man iointly In which sense it is noted to bee a transcendent vertue required

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