Verí. 8,9,io. tbe'Epiffle to the Romans. fulfilling of the Law,then which there is nothing, except faith in Chriff,either of more honour and beauty, or of more profit and benefit then to be keepers of the Law : by which firft we have con- formity with God , whole image of holineffe and righteoufneffe is moll ab- -folutely"and lively portrayed in the Law ;the neerer therefore we come to the Law, the liker we are CO God. Again, our Rudy to walke in the Law, is both a figneofablefled man, and the way to bleffedneffe, Pfal. 119. 1. and I 1 a. I. If the keeping of the law be fo beautiful) and beneficiall, judge how behovefull it is to imbrace live : which.enable§ us to keep the Law here in fome meafure, and in heaven perfe &ly. As Paul faith of love; if we had all graces, without it they were nothing ; fo may I fay, if w e could keep all theCommandements,and not do them in love, it were nothing. Wherefore let all men have their hearts endued with love, thinke they have a great biding, and thanke God for it : and as the Apoftles prayed, Lord increafe our faith, fo let every good Chriflian pray, Lord increafe my love; for the more we love, the more we fulfill the Law; and the more we fulfill the Law, the more we refemble God the giver of the Law; and the liker we are to God in holineffe, the more we are to be like him in happineffe. Betides all this, though love be not the forme of faith, yet it is a neceffary effea of juftifyingfaithwhich works by love, Gal.5.6.and a fruit of the Spirit,Gal.5.2 a -The bond of perfe& ion, Cel. 3. 14. The badge of a Chriflian, Job. 13. 35. Touching the properties and workes of love, alto for the excel- lency and continuance, read I Cor. 13.4. to the end. T i M. But whereas many pretend love and have it not, how (hall we know when we have indeed the gift of Chriflian cha- rity ? S I L. Firft, by the objeeet of our love (if it be right) that is, if we love every one that is [our neighbour] loving one man as well as another, without parti- ality, though fome men more then o- thers: being well affe&ed unto all, how- Doubt. Solution. The tryall of Love. foever others be affe &ed unto us, as Chuff loved his enemies, fo muff we. This is one and the belt tryall of our love. Secondly, by the meafure or man- ner rather of our love, that we love our neighbour asour (elves, that is, as con. flantly without fainting , as fincerely without diffembling, being as careful' through love to be helpefull to the bo- dies and foules of others and to every thing that is deare unto them., as we would have it done to our felves.Third- ly, by the quality and nature of love, which ftirs us up to refpe& one man as well as another ( though not £o tench) fo to tender him in one thing as well as inanother: for what God joynes, no man may feparate, and that God which commanded love to our Neighbours perlons, hath enjoyned charity towards all the things of our neighbours, not to hurt him in any of them,no not fo much as by a thought, much 'elk by dilgrace, or cruelty, or uncleanneffe, or opprefli- on, or flander. For if we do keep that Law of not ftealing, and doing wrong, and breake the other which totbids a- dultery or incontinency, or keep this, and trefpaffe by falfe witneffe, being full of lies,and evill reports, or falle accu- fers'ofothers: or untouched in all thefe, yet be cruel), unmercifull, and fierce, of- fending again ft that Law which prohi- bits murthers : or at a word, caring fomewhat to obferve one, and being loofeand licentious in tranfgreffion of fome other, not doing any evils a- gainft our neighbours, yet ftiffely and obiinately culpable in fome one, or few; certainly, our love is not that Chriftian godly love which looketh to every precept, and preventeth the evil) and -harme of our brethren in every thing, as much as lyeth in us : for love doth none evil) unto our neighbour. Touching thefe fingular and particular precepts, note, that that of honour - ing parents is omitted, becaufe they might be Contained under powers al- fò, in an other ommandement the Commandement of adultery is prefixed unto the Commandement of nmrther. B b b Laftly, 555
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