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

1 When there is Perfectio partium, a perfection of all parts, none wanting, Gen. 2.1.

2 A man is called perfect, that is ready, and skilful, and nimble at any business.

2 A man is called perfect, that is ready, and skilful, and nimble at any businesse.

3 A thing is said to be perfect that will hold, that is constant, as we call ⟨p. 68⟩them perfect colours that will hold their hue in every weather, now such a true perfection of love to God is in all keepers of Gods Commandments.

3 A thing is said to be perfect that will hold, that is constant, as wee call ⟨p. 68⟩them perfect colours that will hold their hue in every weather, now such a true perfection of love to God is in all keepers of Gods Commandments.

1 An affection unto fellowship with Christ.

2 An affection to be doing good to him.

What we love completely, First, We desire communion with it.

What we love compleatly, First, We desire communion with it.

Secondly, We desire communication of good thereunto; if we have it we rejoice in it, if we want it we earnestly desire it; how doth a man know his love to his friend, but by desire of communion with him, and communication of good to him, now such a man as keeps Christs Commandments thus loves Christ.

Secondly, We desire communication of good thereunto; if we have it we rejoyce in it, if we want it we earnestly desire it; how doth a man know his love to his friend, but by desire of communion with him, and communication of good to him, now such a man as keeps Christs Commandments thus loves Christ.

1 He is broken off from the love of all other things, and he hath an unfeigned affection to have fellowship with him, and to get that, he keeps his Commandments, and so dwells in him, and he in him, Joh. 14.21, 22.

2 For communication of good to him, our works cannot profit God, yet if we be willing to do God any service, to be at his command at any time, then the love of God is perfect in us, when we desire fellowship with him, and desire to do him the best service we can.

2 Again in perfection there is a readiness to a work; so such a man as keeps Gods Commandments, his love is ready, he is forward to every good duty, because it is a Commandment of God. He is a willing person, Psal. 110.3. 2 Cor. 8.12. you need not stand urging him, he is willing to do Gods Will, His tongue is the pen of a ready writer, Psal. 46.1.

2 Again in perfection there is a readinesse to a work; so such a man as keeps Gods Commandments, his love is ready, he is forward to every good duty, because it is a Commandment of God. He is a willing person, Psal. 110.3. 2 Cor. 8.12. you need not stand urging him, he is willing to do Gods Will, His tongue is the pen of a ready writer, Psal. 46.1.

3 There is perfect love in him, because it is constant and durable, and will not change, such a mans love is the same in health and sickness, in the Church and at home, in prosperity and adversity, and if it be any way disturbed at any time, yet it will return again to its former constant course.

3 There is perfect love in him, because it is constant and durable, and will not change, such a mans love is the same in health and sicknesse, in the Church and at home, in prosperity and adversity, and if it be any way disturbed at any time, yet it will return again to its former constant course.

Q. But how may I know, wherein doth it appear, that if I keep Gods Commandment, my love is perfect?

A. 1. From the contrariety of our tempers naturally to any Commandment, so thnt if you see any one willing and ready to be at Gods command, you may say, certainly the love of God hath overcome him, the Commandments of God do cross his will, cross his affections, cross h•s profit and pleasure, so that if you see any one give himself up to keep Gods Commandments and cross himself, it is an undoubted sign that there is the love of God in him, which constrains him to do what Nature would not do.

A. 1. From the contrariety of our tempers naturally to any Commandment, so thnt if you see any one willing and ready to be at Gods command, you may say, certainly the love of God hath overcome him, the Commandments of God do crosse his will, crosse his affections, crosse h•s profit and pleasure, so that if you see any one give himself up to keep Gods Commandments and crosse himself, it is an undoubted sign that there is the love of God in him, which constrains him to do what Nature would not do.

2 You may know such a mans love to be perfect that keeps his Commandments, because whatsoever weak beginnings of love you find in such as keep Gods Commandments, that mans love grows perfecter every day, such a man still grows in fruitfulness, he grows ready to every good work, Joh. 15.2. so that the love of God is perfected in him by obedience; As a fruitful Tree, the more it sticks his root downward into the ground, the faster it grows, so a Christian, the more he sticks his root on Christ, the faster it grows. And so the Husbandman will have more care of a fruitful Tree to prune it, he hath no such care of a sower barren Tree, but if a Tree be fruitful, he cuts off all superfluous Boughs that hinder the increase of such a Tree, so a man that is fruitful in Gods Commandments, he doth not only stick his root, his faith and hope deeper in Christ, but the Lord himself is willing to cut down all those noisome Lusts that suck away the sap of grace; if God see a man set himself fully to follow God, and keep his Commandments, the Lord will cut off all cumberances, all corruptions, all things that hinder the growth of grace.

2 You may know such a mans love to be perfect that keeps his Commandments, because whatsoever weak beginnings of love you finde in such as keep Gods Commandments, that mans love grows perfecter every day, such a man still grows in fruitfulnesse, he grows ready to every good work, Joh. 15.2. so that the love of God is perfected in him by obedience; As a fruitfull Tree, the more it sticks his root downward into the ground, the faster it grows, so a Christian, the more he sticks his root on Christ, the faster it grows. And so the Husbandman will have more care of a fruitful Tree to prune it, he hath no such care of a sower barren Tree, but if a Tree be fruitful, he cuts off all superfluous Boughs that hinder the increase of such a Tree, so a man that is fruitful in Gods Commandments, he doth not only stick his root, his faith and hope deeper in Christ, but the Lord himself is willing to cut down all those noysome Lusts that suck away the sap of grace; if God see a man set himself fully to follow God, and keep his Commandments, the Lord will cut off all cumberances, all corruptions, all things that hinder the growth of grace.

Use 1. For trial of our love to God, whether it be perfect or no, whether sincere or counterfeit; how dost thou find thy heart affected to Gods Commandments? Dost thou look at them as thy way? it grieves thee to be out, ⟨p. 69⟩dost thou look at them as thy treasure, as most profitable to thee? Dost thou look at them as thy ornaments, as most honourable to thee? Dost thou look at them as the apple of thine eye, as thy life, most near, and dear, and precious to thee? If thou dost, thou hast that love in thee that is perfect without guile, perfect in every part of love, and in regard of readiness and constancy; but if a man looks at Gods Commandments as a by-path, as if he were out of the way; if he looks at them as unprofitable, and dishonourable, if he can break them without any scruple, if he would rather part with them all than his life, verily the love of God is not perfect in such.

Ʋse 1. For trial of our love to God, whether it be perfect or no, whether sincere or counterfeit; how dost thou finde thy heart affected to Gods Commandments? Dost thou look at them as thy way? it grieves thee to be out, ⟨p. 69⟩dost thou look at them as thy treasure, as most profitable to theee? Dost thou look at them as thy ornaments, as most honourable to thee? Dost thou look at them as the apple of thine eye, as thy life, most near, and dear, and precious to thee? If thou dost, thou hast that love in thee that is perfect without guile, perfect in every part of love, and in regard of readinesse and constancie; but if a man looks at Gods Commandments as a by-path, as if he were out of the way; if he looks at them as unprofitable, and dishonourable, if he can break them without any scruple, if he would rather part with them all than his life, verily the love of God is not perfect in such.