A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

2. Because they do not receive mutual edification, except all be done in love, for all edification is wrought by love. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth, therefore let all things be done in love; mutual love is both profitable and comfortable.

2. Because they doe not receive mutuall edification, except all be done in love, for all edification is wrought by love. Knowledge puffeth up, but love edifieth, therefore let all things be done in love; mutuall love is both profitable and comfortable.

3. Want of love, is the souring of a Ministers spirit, 2 Cor. 12.20. it saddens him when he sees the people envying one another; when the body is full of swellings and inflammations, the medicines and plasters laid on do not heal, a man must first allay the inflammations; so when a Minister sees swelling amongst his people, what he preacheth is spilt upon the ground.

3. Want of love, is the sowring of a Ministers spirit, 2 Cor. 12.20. it saddens him when he sees the people envying one another; when the body is full of swellings and inflammations, the medicines and plaisters laid on doe not heal, a man must first allay the inflamations; so when a Minister sees swelling amongst his people, what he preacheth is spilt upon the ground.

4. If people walk not in mutual love, the Minister shall lose his portion 1 Thes. 5.13, from them, he shall lose his estimation among them, for they will not profit by any Ordinance of God, but wax cold.

4. If people walk not in mutuall love, the Minister shall lose his portion 1 Thes. 5.13, from them, he shall lose his estimation among them, for they will not profi• by any Ordinance of God, but wax cold.

2 To exhort the people of God to receive this exhortation of love, not to suffer any dissension to be found among them, Heb. 13.17. you cannot be inflamed with hatred, but your Minister shall lose his portion of love.

2 To exhort the people of God to receive this exhortation of love, not to suffer any dissention to be found among them, Heb. 13.17. you cannot be inflamed with hatred, but your Minister shall lose his portion of love.

Doct. That the springing of our love from God, should move Ministers and people to mutual love.

Love is the chief lesson Christ gave to his Disciples, when he went out of the world, John 13.35, 36. 2 Tim. 1.13. a man may as soon lose his inheritance in the Lord Jesus, as lose his love to his brethren, if God set love in my soul, and man unset it, I shall destroy the work of God in my soul.

Love is the chiefe lesson Christ gave to his Disciples, when he went out of the world, John 13.35, 36. 2 Tim. 1.13. a man may assoon lose his inheritance in the Lord Jesus, as lose his love to his brethren, if God set love in my soule, and man unset it, I shall destroy the work of God in my soule.

Use 1. Take heed of wrath; if love be of God, whence then is hatred? that is from the enemy of God, Eph. 4.26, 27. if we keep leaven long, it will sour, so this anger will degenerate into hatred.

Ʋse 1. Take heed of wrath; if love be of God, whence then is hatred? that is from the enemy of God, Eph. 4.26, 27. if we keep leaven long, it will sowre, so this anger will degenerate into hatred.

Obj. You will say, You will not hate your brother, but yet you will have nothing to do with him.

Obj. You will say, You will not hate your brother, but yet you will have nothing to doe with him.

Answ. When a man affects not Communion with his brother, nor communication of good to him, such a man doth hate his brother.

2. If we would have any comfort in our hearts, we must have a care, that nothing that befalls betwixt us and our brethren should take away our love from them; if we suffer a fire of wrath to kindle in us, we do as much as in us lies to destroy our own souls, Cant. 7.7, 8. Much water cannot quench love, therefore love is an heavenly fire, hatred a fire from hell. Majus lumen extinguet minus.

2. If we would have any comfort in our hearts, we must have a care, that nothing that befalls betwixt us and our brethren should take away our love from them; if we suffer a fire of wrath to kindle in us, we doe as much as in us lies to destroy our own souls, Cant. 7.7, 8. Much water cannot quench love, therefore love is an heavenly fire, hatred a fire from hell. Majus lumen extinguet minus.

Doct. That the love to our brethren, is a pledge of our birth-right, John 13.34.

Reas. 1. It is the nature of God, and by this means thou partakest of the Divine Nature, Rom. 5.5.

Reas. 1. It is the nature of God, and by this means thou partakest of the D•vine Nature, Rom. 5.5.

2. Love is a fruit of faith, by which we receive Christ, Gal. 5.6.

Use 1. This condemns such of deep prodigality as suffer love to decay; so much you lose of your love to your brethren, so much you lose of your love to God, and so much you lose of the evidence of your inheritance.

Ʋse 1. This condemns such of deep prodigality as suffer love to decay; so much you lose of your love to your brethren, so much you lose of your love to God, and so much you lose of the evidence of your inheritance.

2. Preserve your love to your brethren, and you preserve your inheritance; your brotherly love is a pledge of your inheritance.