2. We have seen now in what things we do and may show love to our selves: we come now to speak of the manner of loving our selves, and to show that after the same manner we ought to love others also. 1. We do, or should love our selves holily, i. e. in and for God: we may not have a divided interest from God; though God allows us to love our selves, it must be in order to him, and to his Glory. Our love to our selves, as it must be regulated by the will of God, and extended or restrained according to that; So God must be our utmost end in it, whether it be exercised about the obtaining things temporal or spiritual, for body or soul: Salvation it self, although it be our end, must not be our last or utmost end: but that God by it, as by all things else may be glorified. Therefore in this manner we must love others, as God hath an interest in them, and is, or may be glorified by them: and there is no man in the world, but God is or may be glorified by him. Every man is a creature, upon whose Soul there is, in a sort, the Image of God, and doth him some service in the place wherein he stands.1 God calleth Cyrus a heathen, his Shepherd, and his Anointed, and he did him eminent service in his generation. The same may be said of every other man, in some degree and proportion: God hath given him some gifts, whereby he is and may be serviceable to him, at least in the affairs of his providential kingdom. Besides; all men, having immortal souls within them, are capable of blessedness with God for ever in the kingdom of Glory: they who are at present enemies to God may be reconciled and made friends: what was the most glorious Saint now in heaven, but an enemy to God once, when here on earth? We our selves (saith the Apostle) were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, 2serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another: but after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared; not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
2. We have seen now in what things we do and may shew love to our selves: we come now to speak of the manner of loving our selves, and to shew that after the same manner we ought to love others also. 1. We do, or should love our selves holily, i. e. in and for God: we may not have a divided interest from God; though God allows us to love our selves, it must be in order to him, and to his Glory. Our love to our selves, as it must be regulated by the will of God, and extended or restrained according to that; So God must be our utmost end in it, whether it be exercised about the obtaining things temporal or spiritual, for body or soul: Salvation it self, although it be our end, must not be our last or utmost end: but that God by it, as by all things else may be glorified. Therefore in this manner we must love others, as God hath an interest in them, and is, or may be glorified by them: and there is no man in the world, but God is or may be glorified by him. Every man is a creature, upon whose Soul there is, in a sort, the Image of God, and doth him some service in the place wherein he stands.1 God calleth Cyrus a heathen, his Shepherd, and his Anointed, and he did him eminent service in his generation. The same may be said of every other man, in some degree and proportion: God hath given him some gifts, whereby he is and may be serviceable to him, at least in the affairs of his providential kingdom. Besides; all men, having immortal souls within them, are capable of blessedness with God for ever in the kingdom of Glory: they who are at present enemies to God may be reconciled and made friends: what was the most glorious Saint now in heaven, but an enemy to God once, when here on earth? We our selves (saith the Apostle) were sometime foolish, disobedient, deceived, 2serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another: but after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared; not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
- 1Isa. 44.28. and 45.1.
- 2Tit. 33.4.
