Love coming down from Heaven to Earth, and walking in flesh among the miserable, ⟨p. 206⟩seeking and saving that which was lost: Was it not Love that spoke those words of life, those comfortable promises, those necessary precepts, those gracious encouragements, which the Gospel doth abound with? Was it not Love it self, that went preaching Salvation to the Sons of death, and deliverance to the Captives, and offered to bind up the broken hearts, Luke 4. 18? Was it not Love that invited the weary and heavy laden, Matth. 11. 28? And that sent even to the high-ways, and the hedges to compel men to come in that his house might be filled, Matth. 22. 9, 10. Luke 14. 23. Was it not Love it self that went up and down healing and doing good; that suffered them, for whom he suffered to scorn him, and spit upon him, and buffet him, and condemn him? that being reviled, reviled not again: that gave his life, an offering for sin, and dyed, and prayed for them that murdered him? No wonder if the Gospel be it that teacheth us, to call God by the name of Love it self, 1 Joh. 4. 8 For it is the Gospel that hath most fully revealed him to be so. No wonder if the Gospel do so frequently, and importunately require us to ⟨p. 207⟩Love one another, and even to lay down your lives for Christ, and for one another, when it hath given us such a ground and motive, and president for our Love. He that seeth the true face of Redemption, and understandeth, and savoureth the Gospel and the Grace of Christ, must needs see most cogent Reasons for such duties, 1 Joh. 4. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Beloved, let us Love one another, for Love is of God: and every one that Loveth is born of God, and knoweth God: he that Loveth not knoweth not God; for God is Love. If God so Loved us, we ought also to Love one another.—If we Love one another, God dwelleth in us,— So 1 Joh. 3. 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18. No wonder if by this Love we know that we are translated from death to life, and if by it the Children of God be known from the Children of the Devil, 1 Joh. 3. 10, 11, 14. For Love is the very Nature and Image of our Father. No wonder if this be the New Commandment, which had newly such a powerful motive, and president: And no wonder if it be the great distinguishing Character, by which all men shall know that we are the Disciples of Christ, Joh. 13. 35.
Love coming down from Heaven to Earth, and walking in flesh among the miserable, ⟨p. 206⟩seeking and saving that which was lost: Was it not Love that spoke those words of life, those comfortable promises, those necessary precepts, those gracious encouragements, which the Gospel doth abound with? Was it not Love it self, that went preaching Salvation to the Sonnes of death, and deliverance to the Captives, and offered to bind up the broken hearts, Luke 4. 18? Was it not Love that invited the weary and heavy laden, Matth. 11. 28? And that sent even to the high-waies, and the hedges to compel men to come in that his house might be filled, Matth. 22. 9, 10. Luke 14. 23. Was it not Love it self that went up and down healing and doing good; that suffered them, for whom he suffered to scorn him, and spit upon him, and buffet him, and condemn him? that being reviled, reviled not again: that gave his life, an offering for sinne, and dyed, and prayed for them that murdered him? No wonder if the Gospel be it that teacheth us, to call God by the name of Love it self, 1 Joh. 4. 8 For it is the Gospel that hath most fully revealed him to be so. No wonder if the Gospel do so frequently, and importunatly require us to ⟨p. 207⟩Love one another, and even to lay down your lives for Christ, and for one another, when it hath given us such a ground and motive, and president for our Love. He that seeth the true face of Redemption, and understandeth, and savoureth the Gospel and the Grace of Christ, must needs see most cogent Reasons for such dutyes, 1 Joh. 4. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. Beloved, let us Love one another, for Love is of God: and every one that Loveth is born of God, and knoweth God: he that Loveth not knoweth not God; for God is Love. If God so Loved us, we ought also to Love one another.—If we Love one another, God dwelleth in us,— So 1 Joh. 3. 10, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18. No wonder if by this Love we know that we are translated from death to life, and if by it the Children of God be known from the Children of the Devil,
