Chap. 19. AnExpotation upon the BcokofJ OB. Verf. .19 279 we never loved. The diff'entiont ofbrethren, are hotteft, becaufe Proxírnorum they are neerefiz : and the diffençion of friends is hotter then chat od'a [ant ace,- ofbrethren, becaufe the love of brethren ( aridly confidered ) rima. is founded onely in nature, but the love offriends is founded in courtefies and profeflions, which, though not in themfelves, yet to us,becaufe we have been afiive or receptive in them, are the clofefi obligations to love. Now the doter any obligati- on is, the wider is the breach, whenonce that obligation is broken, or mif-improved : if they whom we have loved begin to tall from us, they ufually fall out with us. We have had fad experiences of this. And 'cis an argument whereever it falls, that fuch did never love thofe who loved tl em upon Gofpel- principtes, or in obedience to the command ofGod. For as they who turne againfi the truth of God, never received the love ofit, fo they neverreceived the love of men in truth, who turneagainíi them. Spirituals love cannot turne to hatred, 'cis meere naturali love which Both fo. Holy love feldome turnes from, but it never turnes againi1 a freind. When grace is the cement ofaffâions, what can divide them.? The.fpeci- all love ofGod overcomes thole that are loved ofhim to Jove him ; and though the Lord may fay of all the Saints onearth ,. that theyhave not anfweredhis love, with a due proportion, of love, and ofmany that they are fallen from their firfi love, yet fopowerfuli is his love, that theynever fall either out of his love,, or from their owne ; but the love ofmm.n hack no fuch power over man. And therefore what lob oncefaìd, others may have caufe to fay ,They whomwe lovedare Turnedagain'? ei Thus lob's af37iciionran through all his relations ; he was not onely loaded with trouble in his Rare and perfc>n, but in- his kindred, freinds, fervants, wire, children. Coonfellors,, . and cheife familiars. All denied him duty, and therefore he cryesout-for pittie in the next Verfe. O B 19,
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