Another property of love is this,8 that it doth not play the huckster with the Lord (as we say) it doth not bring things to an exact account, but when a man loveth, he is willing to do what offices of love and friendship he can, and he doth not stand to look for an exact recompense; (for that is to play the huckster, to make a bargain with God) but the nature of love and true friendship, wheresoever it is found, is this, to be free in doing that it doth, and not to stand to examine how much they shall do, and how much they shall receive for doing of it; but to do it with liberty and with freedom. And so it will be if your love be right to the Lord, you will not stand halfpenny-worthing, you will not stand considering what you are bound to do of necessity, whether you are bound to pray in your families or no, whether you are bound to keep the Sabbath so exactly and precisely as is commanded; whether you are bound from giving ⟨p. 96⟩so much liberty to your selves in vain speeches, &c. but love will rather say, what shall I do to recompense the Lord? It will be devising what to do, it will be glad of any occasion of doing any thing that may be acceptable to God. When you set limits to your selves, and are afraid of going too far, and doing too much, it is a sign that what you do cometh not from love to the Lord, but from some natural principle, it comes from your selves, and not from the spirit. For if you love the Lord Jesus aright, why do you not labour to exceed in the duties of obedience? why do you blame those that go further than your selves are willing to do? why do you quarrel with that exactness and preciseness, and strictness which is required in walking in the ways of God? Love is abundant in the work it doth, and if you love the Lord, you will not set limits to your selves, you will not have such thoughts as these, I will do as much as may bring me to heaven, and no more, I will take so much pains as that I may not be damned, but to exceed, and do more than needs, this I hope may be spared, and I may go to heaven notwithstanding well enough, though I go not so fast as other men. No, Beloved, if there be love in you, you will strive to do the utmost of your power, it is the nature of love so to do.
Another property of love is this,8 that it doth not play the huckster with the Lord (as wee say) it doth not bring things to an exact account, but when a man loveth, hee is willling to doe what offices of love and friendship he can, and he doth not stand to looke for an exact recompence; (for that is to play the huckster, to make a bargaine with God) but the nature of love and true friendship, wheresoever it is found, is this, to be free in doing that it doth, and not to stand to examine how much they shall doe, and how much they shall receive for doing of it; but to doe it with liberty and with freedome. And so it will be if your love be right to the Lord, you will not stand halfepeny-worthing, you will not stand considering what you are bound to doe of necessitie, whether you are bound to pray in your families or no, whether you are bound to keepe the Sabboth so exactly and precisely as is commanded; whether you are bound from giving ⟨p. 96⟩so much liberty to your selves in vaine speeches, &c. but love will rather say, what shall I doe to recompence the Lord? It will be devising what to doe, it will be glad of any occasion of doing any thing that may be acceptable to God. When you set limits to your selves, and are afraid of going too farre, and doing too much, it is a signe that what you doe commeth not from love to the Lord, but from some naturall principle, it comes from your selves, and not from the spirit. For if you love the Lord Iesus aright, why doe you not labour to exceed in the duties of obedience? why doe you blame those that goe further than your selves are willing to doe? why doe you quarrell with that exactnesse and precisenesse, and strictnesse which is required in walking in the wayes of God? Love is abundant in the worke it doth, and if you love the Lord, you will not set limits to your selves, you will not have such thoughts as these, I will doe as much as may bring mee to heaven, and no more, I will take so much paines as that I may not be damned, but to exceede, and doe more than needes, this I hope may be spared, and I may goe to heaven notwithstanding well enough, though I goe not so fast as other men. No, Beloved, if there be love in you, you will strive to doe the utmost of your power, it is the nature of love so to doe.
- 8Property of love, it doth things freely.
