1Beloved] In this word is lodged the third Motive, which is taken from Gods love, as if the Apostle would affirm that if Christians did seriously consider what it is to be loved of God, they would find full encouragement to all grace and duty: now this may be better opened, if we consider but the properties of Gods love, wherein it wonderfully excels. As first, if God love thee it is with a free love, ohe stands not upon thy desert or worthiness. Again, he loves first, he loves before he be loved, he loved us when we hated him, he chose us when we did not choose him. 3. Gods love is wonderful tender, which will appear if we consider that he is not only gracious, but merciful, slow to anger, of much kindness, and repenteth him of the evilq. 4. Gods love is natural, not forced, and therefore he is said to quiet himself in his lover, and himself loveth mercys. Lastly, his love is an everlasting lovet, where he loveth, he loveth to the endu. And therefore we should labour to know the love of God to our selves, even to be particularly assured that we are Gods beloved or else this could not be a motive to holiness, as here it is. And besides the meditation of Gods love to us should encourage us against all crosses, for God will give his beloved rest*. They shall be blessed, and it shall be well with them. They shall be delivered, for he will help with his right handx. But especially it should hearten us against the scorns of the world, and the hate of wicked men: if God love us, it mattereth not greatly who hate us: And in special, the meditation of this love of God should teach us to tyre our selves with these worthy graces, as so many ornaments; for thus should the beloved of God be decked. And doth the Lord love us, and shall not we strive to show our love to him again? Even by loving his word, glory, children, presence and commandments. Lastly; we may here learn how to love: for God loves, First those that are holy. Secondly, those whom he had chosen: so it should be with us; first we should choose for holiness, and then love for our choice. This may teach the people how to love their Magistrates and Ministers, and so wives and servants. And contrariwise.
1Beloued] In this word is lodged the third Motiue, which is taken from Gods loue, as if the Apostle would affirme that if Christians did seriously consider what it is to be loued of God, they would finde full incouragement to all grace and dutie: now this may be better opened, if wee consider but the properties of Gods loue, wherein it wonderfully excels. As first, if God loue thee it is with a free loue, ohe stands not vpon thy desert or worthinesse. Againe, he loues first, hee loues before he be loued, he loued vs when wee hated him, he chose vs when we did not chuse him. 3. Gods loue is wonderfull tender, which will appeare if wee consider that he is not onely gracious, but mercifull, slow to anger, of much kindnesse, and repenteth him of the euillq. 4. Gods loue is naturall, not forced, and therefore he is said to quiet himselfe in his louer, and himselfe loueth mercys. Lastly, his loue is an euerlasting louet, where hee loueth, he loueth to the endu. And therefore we should labour to know the loue of God to our selues, euen to be particularly assured that we are Gods beloued or else this could not be a motiue to holinesse, as here it is. And besides the meditation of Gods loue to vs should incourage vs against all crosses, for God will giue his beloued rest*. They shall be blessed, and it shall be well with them. They shall be deliuered, for he will helpe with his right handx. But especially it should hearten vs against the scornes of the world, and the hate of wicked men: if God loue vs, it mattereth not greatly who hate vs: And in speciall, the meditation of this loue of God should teach vs to tyre our selues with these worthy graces, as so many ornaments; for thus should the beloued of God be decked. And doth the Lord loue vs, and shall not we striue to shew our loue to him againe? Euen by louing his word, glory, children, presence and commandements. Lastly; we may here learne how to loue: for God loues, First those that are holy. Secondly, those whom he had chosen: so it should bee with vs; first we should chuse for holinesse, and then loue for our choice. This may teach the people how to loue their Magistrates and Ministers, and so wiues and seruants. And contrariwise.
- 1Five properties of Gods love.Fiue properties of Gods loue.
- oHos. 14.5.
- qJoel. 2.13.Ioel. 2.13.
- rZeph. 3.17.
- sMich. 7.18.
- tJer. 31.3.Ier. 31.3.
- uJoh. 13.1. Uses.Ioh. 13.1. Ʋses.
- *Psal. 127.2.
- xPsal. 60.5.
