Sermons preached

4. Proposition, That all which is done by virtue of this Rule, must be done not only out of Love to Man, but out of Love to God, and as an act of Obedience. For when Christ gives us this Direction, Whatsoever ye would, &c. he doth not give it as a Politic Course, to establish Peace in the World, but as a Compendious Rule, to guide us in the Duties of the second Table. Self-Love is the Measure, but 'tis not the Reason, Ground, or Principle of our Actions: a Measure it is, for we will certainly do right to our selves, but to make it an act of Obedience, so it is accepted of God. It is a common Rule, All Moral Duties must be done as in and to the Lord; out of the Love of God, Fear of God, and Obedience to his Blessed Majesty. Therefore it is said, Eph. 5. 21. Submitting your selves one to another in the fear of God: That must be the great Principle which swayeth us; not Policy, or respect to our own Interest, but Conscience: there must be a right Principle of Motion, as well as a just Action, if we will do exactly and according to the Law of Christ. Therefore here is the great difference between a Christian and an other Man in the Duties of the second Table, in his Moralities; he turns second-Table-Duties into first-Table-Duties, ⟨p. 353⟩it is a thing carried on throughout the whole Scripture. Thus if he gives Alms, his Alms is a Sacrifice; Sacrifice is a Duty of the first Table; but Alms is clearly a Duty of the second Table: So all his Commerce, (I do but instance in one for all) what he doth to Men must be done in and to the Lord. So here in this very Case, Love to Man, it is but a Stream which comes from a higher Fountain, and that is Love to God. A Christian loves God first, and indeed he loves nothing but God, for he loves God in all his Creatures. In Men we love his Natural Image: but in the Saints, his Spiritual Image. 1 Joh. 4. 21. This Commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God, love his Brother also. Our Love to our ordinary Brother must be excited and measured by our Love to God; and our Love to our Christian Brother, our Fellow-Saints, must be from the Love of God. 1 Joh. 5. 1. Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him also that is begotten of him. So much for the Negative part.