A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Fifthly, The Nature of the Saints showeth it; the new ¹nature hath new affections; it bewrayeth it self by the new heart, as well as by the renewed mind, Rom. 12. 2. There are not only new thoughts, but new desires and new delights; desires after God, and a delight in God, as the fountain of Holiness. When we come to God at first, we love him out of spiritual interest, for ease and comfort, and the benefit we gain by him; Christ alloweth it, Come to me and I will give you ease, Mat. 11. 28. When fire is first kindled, there is as much sink as flame, but afterwards it burneth brighter and brighter by degrees: A fountain as soon as digged runneth muddy at first, but afterwards the stream groweth more pure and clear. So doth the love of the Saints; at first 'tis but a love of interest, but by acquaintance we love him out of a principle of the new nature, for his Holiness and Excellency, because that which is in us in part, is in God by way of eminency and perfection. Certainly likeness must needs beget love, and the Saints being conformed to God, delight in him; so that then their love floweth not so much from profit and interest, as grace: yea at length out of a vehement complacency of the new nature they love holiness above happiness or spiritual interest; and ^*Hell is not so bad as sin in their account: there cannot be a worse Hell to them then unkindness to God, or grieving his Spirit; and Heaven is amiable for Gods sake, because he is loved there and enjoyed there; there are none of Gods enemies in Heaven, and there they shall serve him and cleave to him without weariness and wandering. Well then, There is such a disposition ^*in the Saints to love God, which ariseth not only from hope, because of the great benefit which we expect from him; nor only from gratitude, or the sense of his love already ⟨p. 115⟩showed; but from an inclination of the now nature, and that sympathy and ^*