1The second Motive is, from Commandment: it is not a thing arbitrary for us to love our brethren as is before expressed. Courtesy, peaceableness, liberality, society and clemency, are not things we may show, or not show, at our ⟨p. 39⟩pleasures, but they are necessary; such as if they be wanting, a sin is committed, nay grievous sins, even against the commandment of Christ, Joh. 13.2 As I said to the Jews, whither I go can ye not come, so to you also I say now, a new commandment give I you, that ye love one another, even as I loved you. He shows here, that whereas they might be grieved that they should loose Christs bodily presence, he had appointed them a course for their solace, and that was instead of Christ, as fellow-members in Christs absence in the world, to strive by all means to delight themselves in loving society one with another. And this Commandment he calls a new Commandment, not in respect of the matter of the duty; for that was always required, but in respect of the form of observing it; for the old general rule was, That thou shouldest love thy neighbour as thy self: but now that form (as I have loved you) hath in it something that is more express, and for the incomparable sufficiency of the president, is matchless, and more full of incitations to fire affection. Again, the person that gives it, and the time, is to be considered: I now give this commandment. Men are used, that have any sparks of good nature in them, to remember, and carefully to observe the last words of their dying friends, especially if they charge not many things. Why, these are the last words of Christ, the night before his death; even this one thing he doth especially charge upon us: Namely, while we abide in this flesh, and are hated of this world, and want those glorious refreshings would come by the presence of Christ, to unite our serves in a holy bond of peace and love, to be kept and strengthened by mutual endeavours in the performance of all the duties of holy affection,3 & that till Christ shall gather us unto the glory that he hath with the Father.
1The second Motiue is, from Commandement: it is not a thing arbitrarie for vs to loue our brethren as is before expressed. Curtesie, peaceablenes, liberalitie, society and clemency, are not things we may shew, or not shew, at our ⟨p. 39⟩pleasures, but they are necessarie; such as if they be wanting, a sin is committed, nay grieuous sins, euen against the commandement of Christ, Ioh. 13.2 As I said to the Iewes, whither I go can ye not come, so to you also I say now, a new commandement giue I you, that ye loue one another, euen as I loued you. Hee shewes here, that whereas they might be grieued that they should loose Christs bodily presence, he had appointed them a course for their solace, and that was instead of Christ, as fellow-members in Christs absence in the world, to striue by all meanes to delight themselues in louing society one with another. And this Commandement he calls a new Commandement, not in respect of the matter of the duty; for that was alwaies required, but in respect of the forme of obseruing it; for the old generall rule was, That thou shouldest loue thy neighbour as thy selfe: but now that forme (as I haue loued you) hath in it somthing that is more expresse, and for the incomparable sufficiencie of the president, is matchlesse, and more full of incitations to fire affection. Againe, the person that giues it, and the time, is to be considered: I now giue this commandement. Men are vsed, that haue any sparks of good nature in them, to remember, and carefully to obserue the last words of their dying friends, especially if they charge not many things. Why, these are the last words of Christ, the night before his death; euen this one thing hee doth especially charge vpon vs: Namely, while we abide in this flesh, and are hated of this world, and want those glorious refreshings would come by the presence of Christ, to vnite our serues in a holy bond of peace and loue, to be kept and strengthned by mutuall indeauors in the performance of all the duties of holy affection,3 & that till Christ shall gather vs vnto the glory that he hath with the Father.
- 1From Commandment.From Commandement.
- 2John 13.34.Iohn 13.34.
- 3John 16.12.Iohn 16.12.
