Reas. 1. From the nature of God both in his attributes and works, both express in abundance, that those that know God, cannot but love their brethren; for no attribute doth so much express the nature of God, as this of love.

Reas. 1. From the nature of God both in his attributes and works, both expresse in abundance, that those that know God, cannot but love their brethren; for no attribute doth so much expresse the nature of God, as this of love.

2 If we know God, and be acquainted with God, there will be some likeness between God and us; if we see God loving godly Ministers and hearers, so will we, Gal. 6.10.

2 If we know God, and be acquainted with God, there will be some likenesse between God and us; if we see God loving godly Ministers and hearers, so will we, Gal. 6.10.

3. From the impression which the love of God makes in our hearts, Rom. 5.5. our hearts are like to a stone-wall in a cold day, the wall is cold always, but warmed on a Sun-shine day.

Use 1. This may be a ground of trial of our love and fellowship with God; if you find in your hearts an unfeigned love to godly Ministers; if you make Gods servants the men of your delight, you need no better evidence from Heaven, that you are beloved of God.

Ʋse 1. This may be a ground of tryall of our love and fellowship with God; if you find in your hearts an unfeigned love to godly Ministers; if you make Gods serv•nts the men of your delight, you need no better evidence from Heaven, that you are beloved of God.

Obj. I am acquainted with many godly Ministers and good men.

Answ. Consider, whether thou lovest them for thy own sake, because they may be helpful to thee, this is from self-love; but dost thou love a Minister or a Christian for his goodness sake, for his likeness to God, for his graces and virtues? this is a sign thou lovest him not for thy sake, but Gods.

Answ. Consider, whether thou lovest them for thy own sake, because they may be helpfull to thee, this is from self-love; but dost thou love a Minister or a Christian for his goodnesse sake, for his likenesse to God, for his graces and vertues? this is a signe thou lovest him not for thy sake, but Gods.

2. This exhorts every such soul as desires fellowship with God, to be acquainted with God, to love their brethren; you come to the Ordinances of God, and you find not Christ; you come into Christian Communion, ⟨p. 297⟩and find little comfort; know this, that according to your love to your brethren, such is Gods love to you; if there be any strangeness in you to any brethren, this will make God strange to you, all the affections we find in prayer, in reading, preaching, or any Ordinance of God, they will prove but delusions, if we love not our brethren.

2. This exhorts every such soule as desires fellowship with God, to be acquainted with God, to love their brethren; you come to the Ordinances of God, and you finde not Christ; you come into Christian Communion, ⟨p. 297⟩and find little comfort; know this, that according to your love to your brethren, such is Gods love to you; if there be any strangenesse in you to any brethren, this will make God strange to you, all the affections we find in prayer, in reading, preaching, or any Ordinance of God, they will prove but delusions, if we love not our brethren.

1 JOHN 4.9. In this was manifested the love of God towards us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

The second Argument to move us to brotherly love, is taken from the example of God the Fathers love to us ward.

THe second Argument to move us to brotherly love, is taken from the example of God the Fathers love to us ward.

A third argument is taken from the benefit which such receive, which walk in love among themselves.

A third argument is taken from the benefit which such receive, which walke in love among themselves.

The benefit is twofold:

1 They have fellowship with God, they see the face of God, and find God dwelling within them, to verse 16.

The second benefit is, they grow up to perfection, without love there is no growth of grace.

These words then contain an argument to move us to love our Brethren, and it's taken from Gods love; Wherein we have

1 The manifestation of Gods love.