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

5 A thing is then perfect, when it is durable; so is it with a mans love, it is durable if it be nourished with love to our brethren; if it make a man ready to be doing good offices to his brethren; this will make it not only grow and continue, but also to abound for ever, Ephes. 2.4, 5, 6, 7. If love continue not, the Church will not continue, that is, the whole body of Christians, the body of faithful Ministers and people; the Church will be removing, if love begin to remove.

5 A thing is then perfect, when it is durable; so is it with a mans love, it is durable if it be nourished with love to our brethren; if it make a man ready to be doing good offices to his brethren; this will make it not onely grow and continue, but also to abound for ever, Ephes. 2.4, 5, 6, 7. If love continue not, the Church will not continue, that is, the whole body of Christians, the body of faithful Ministers and people; the Church will be removing, if love begin to remove.

Use 1. A sign of the truth of our love; we must have as great a care of the truth of our love to our brethren, as of faith and repentance from dead works: How shall we know our love is perfect to God? How stands your love to the brethren? If your love be closed up from your brethren, then your love is very unsound, or very sick, so much love, so much life; and so much failing in your spiritual love, so much failing in your spiritual life, Gal. 5.6. Faith works by love, and that avails much with God: we must receive the Sacrament oft, that we may be strong in love, according as our love works, so works our faith.

Ʋse 1. A signe of the truth of our love; we must have as great a care of the truth of our love to our brethren, as of faith and repentance from dead works: How shall we know our love is perfect to God? How stands your love to the brethren? If your love be closed up from your brethren, then your love is very unsound, or very sick, so much love, so much life; and so much failing in your spiritual love, so much failing in your spiritual life, Gal. 5.6. Faith works by love, and that avails much with God: we must receive the Sacrament oft, that we may be strong in love, according as our love works, so works our faith.

2 It exhorts us all to the love one another, for by this means God dwells in us, and his love is perfected in our hearts. As you desire therefore that your love to God may be found entire, and thriving in your souls, give your selves to the unfeigned love one of another; edify one another in love.

2 It exhorts us all to the love one another, for by this means God dwels in us, and his love is perfected in our hearts. As you desire therefore that your love to God may be found entire, and thriving in your soules, give your selves to the unfaigned love one of another; edifie one another in love.

1 JOHN 4.13. Hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

They that love their Brethren they have a two-fold benefit, they have Gods Spirit dwelling in them, and they know it.

THey that love their Brethren they have a two-fold benefit, they have Gods Spirit dwelling in them, and they know it.

Doct. That such as love one another, to them God hath given of his Spirit.

What is meant by this, that God hath given us of his Spirit?

1 It implies that God hath given us that spirit of grace that accompanies salvation; this branch of that spirit that dwelleth in God, Numb. 11.25. Moses spirit was not diminished, though God did communicate it to the seventy Elders, God did cause it to be enlarged in them, that were in the place of Magistracy with him; so who so loves, dwells in God, and the same spirit of love do they communicate to their brethren, so that they walk by the ⟨p. 310⟩same rule, and aim at the same end. The fruit of the Spirit is love, Gal. 5.27. But the works of the flesh are adultery, &c. They that walk in love, have received of the Spirit; they have received of the Spirit of the holy Ghost, for the Spirit lusts against envy, Judg. 9.22, 23.

1 It implies that God hath given us that spirit of grace that accompanies salvation; this branch of that spirit that dwelleth in God, Numb. 11.25. Moses spirit was not diminished, though God did communicate it to the seventy Elders, God did cause it to be inlarged in them, that were in the place of Magistracy with him; so who so loves, dwels in God, and the same spirit of love do they communicate to their brethren, so that they walke by the ⟨p. 310⟩same rule, and aim at the same end. The fruit of the Spirit is love, Gal. 5.27. But the works of the flesh are adultery, &c. They that walk in love, have received of the Spirit; they have received of the Spirit of the holy Ghost, for the Spirit lusts against envy, Judg. 9.22, 23.

Use 1. It teacheth us, there is no love to be found towards our brethren, but amongst spiritual men; for if we love one another, there is a Spirit of God in us; where the Spirit is not, there is no love; Love is not a fruit that grows upon thorns, or on such a stock as nature brings forth, the old Olive.

Ʋse 1. It teacheth us, there is no love to be found towards our brethren, but amongst spiritual men; for if we love one another, there is a Spirit of God in us; where the Spirit is not, there is no love; Love is not a fruit that grows upon thorns, or on such a stock as nature brings forth, the old Olive.

Object. But many of Gods servants bring forth sour fruit, which will neither benefit themselves, nor others, therefore how is it said that Gods Spirit is in them?

Object. But many of Gods servants bring forth sowr fruit, which will neither benefit themselves, nor others, therefore how is it said that Gods Spirit is in them?

Answ. They have sour Oil distilling from the old stock, for there are many branches in us that suck sourness from the old stock; though there be a spirit of love in Gods children, yet many times it doth not run forth: But when you see Christian love expressing it self, it springs not from nature, but the Spirit of God.

Answ. They have sowr Oyl distilling from the old stock, for there are many branches in us that suck sowrnesse from the old stock; though there be a spirit of love in Gods children, yet many times it doth not run forth: But when you see Christian love expressing it self, it springs not from nature, but the Spirit of God.

2 A ground of much comfort to any soul that doth find his spirit suppled with any compassion; If you can find your spirits mourning for the evil case of your brother, it is a sign that Gods Spirit is in you.

2 A ground of much comfort to any soul that doth finde his spirit suppled with any compassion; If you can finde your spirits mourning for the evill case of your brother, it is a signe that Gods Spirit is in you.

3 Labour we to preserve our hearts in brotherly love, for love is a fruit of the Spirit of God; so much as a mans heart runs sour and hard, so much doth he damp the lively Spirit of God which the Lord hath shed abroad in his heart; therefore as we desire that God would for ever keep us in a good estate, and that his Spirit should not be grieved by us, we must keep this Spirit of love, that is, the Comforter; when we grieve the Spirit of God, we shall have grief enough: If the Spirit of comfort that is in us be uncomfortable, how great is that dis-comfort?

3 Labour we to preserve our hearts in brotherly love, for love is a fruit of the Spirit of God; so much as a mans heart runs sowr and hard, so much doth he damp the lively Spirit of God which the Lord hath shed abroad in his heart; therefore as we desire that God would for ever keep us in a good estate, and that his Spirit should not be grieved by us, we must keep this Spirit of love, that is, the Comforter; when we grieve the Spirit of God, we shall have grief enough: If the Spirit of comfort that is in us be uncomfortable, how great is that dis-comfort?

Doct. That such to whom God hath given of his Spirit of love, they maintain mutual, entire, and constant fellowship with God, and they know it.

God dwells in us, which is more then to have God to dwell with us: if God did but dwell with us, it would argue much happiness; but this is more, for God to dwell in us; We are not only near one another, and branches one of another, but one body with another, he abides in us as the head, we in him as the members.

God dwels in us, which is more then to have God to dwell with us: if God did but dwell with us, it would argue much happinesse; but this is more, for God to dwell in us; We are not onely near one another, and branches one of another, but one body with another, he abides in us as the head, we in him as the members.