Love is the fountain of all duties, the substance of all ⟨p. 29⟩rules, that concern the Saints; the endless bond of communion; the fulfilling of the Law; the advancement of the honour of the Lord Jesus, and the glory of the Gospel. The primitive Christians had a proverbial speech, received, as they said, from Christ; never rejoice but when thou seest thy brother in love; and it was common among the Heathens concerning them; see how they love one another, from their readiness for the accomplishment of that royal precept of laying down their lives for the brethren; its the fountain-rule, scope, aim, and fruit of Gospel-communion: and of no one thing of present performance, is the doctrine of the Lord Jesus more eximious, ⟨p. 30⟩and eminent above all other directions then in this, of mutual, intense, affectionate love amongst his followers, for which he gives them innumerable precepts, exhortations, and motives, but above all his own heavenly example: to treat of love in its causes, nature, subject, fruits, effects, tendency, eminency, and exaltation, would not suit with present intention; only it may be plainly affirmed, that if there were no cause besides, of reformation and walking in fellowship, but this one, that thereby the possession and practice of this grace, shamefully to the dishonour of Christ and his Gospel lost amongst those who call themselves Christians; it were abundantly ⟨p. 31⟩enough to give encouragement for the undertaking of it, notwithstanding any oppositions; now this love is a spiritual grace▪ wrought by the Holy Ghost, Gal▪ 5. 22. in the hearts of believers, 1▪ Pet. 1. 22. whereby their souls are carried out: 1 Thess. 2. 8. to the good of the children of God, as such, Phil. 5. Eph. 1. 15. Heb. 13. 11. uniting the heart unto the object so beloved, attended with joy, delight and complacency in their good: Motives unto love are proposed from,
LOve is the fountain of all duties, the substance of all ⟨p. 29⟩rules, that concern the Saints; the endless bond of communion; the fulfilling of the Law; the advancement of the honor of the Lord Jesus, and the glory of the Gospel. The primitive Christians had a proverbiall speech, received, as they said, from Christ; never rejoyce but when thou seest thy brother in love; and it was common among the Heathens concerning them; see how they love one another, from their readiness for the accomplishment of that royall precept of laying down their lives for the brethren; its the fountain-rule, scope, ayme, and fruit of Gospel-communion: and of no one thing of present performance, is the doctrine of the Lord Jesus more eximious, ⟨p. 30⟩and eminent above all other directions then in this, of mutuall, intense, affectionate love amongst his followers, for which he gives them innumerable precepts, exhortations, and motives, but above all his own heavenly example: to treat of love in its causes, nature, subject, fruits, effects, tendency, eminency, and exaltation, would not suit with present intention; only it may be plainly affirmed, that if there were no cause besides, of reformation and walking in fellowship, but this one, that thereby the possession and practice of this grace, shamefully to the dishonor of Christ and his Gospel lost amongst those who call themselves Christians; it were abundantly ⟨p. 31⟩enough to give encouragement for the undertaking of it, notwithstanding any oppositions; now this love is a spirituall grace▪ wrought by the Holy Ghost, Gal▪ 5. 22. in the hearts of believers, 1▪ Pet. 1. 22. whereby their soules are carried out: 1 Thess. 2. 8. to the good of the children of God, as such, Phil. 5. Eph. 1. 15. Heb. 13. 11. uniting the heart unto the object so beloved, attended with joy, delight and complacency in their good: Motives unto love are proposed from,
