A Divine Cordial

1. The growth of love evidenceth the truth.§1 If I see the Almond tree bud and flourish, I know there is life in the root. Paint will not grow; an hypocrite, who is but a picture, will not grow; but where we see love to God increasing and growing bigger (as Elisha's cloud) we may conclude, it is true and genuine.

1. The growth of love evidenceth the truth.§1 If I see the Almond tree bud and flourish, I know there is life in the root. Paint will not grow; an hypocrite, who is but a picture, will not grow; but where we see love to God encreasing and growing bigger (as Elisha's cloud) we may conclude, it is true and genuine.

2. By the growth of love we imitate ⟨p. 140⟩§2the Saints in the Bible: Their love to God, like the waters of the Sanctuary did rise higher. The Disciples love to Christ at first was weak, they fled from Christ, but after Christs death it grew more vigorous, and they made an open profession of him. Peters love at first was more infirm and languid, he denied Christ, but afterwards how boldly did he preach him! Acts 4.10. yea, when Christ put him to a trial of his love, John 21.16. Simon, lovest thou me? Peter could make his humble, yet confident appeal to Christ, Lord thou knowest that I love thee. Thus that tender plant which before was blown down with the wind of a temptation, now is grown into a Cedar, which all the powers of hell could not shake.

2. By the growth of love we imi•ate ⟨p. 140⟩