ungodly. And why should it be hard to thee, O my soul, to be persuaded of the love of God? Is it strange that he should love thee who is Essential Infinite Love: any more than the sun should shine upon thee, which shineth upon all capable, recipient objects, though not upon the incapable, which through interposing things cannot receive it? To believe that Satan or wicked men, or deadly enemies should love me, is hard but to believe that the God of Love doth love me, should in reason be much easier than to believe that my father or mother, or dearest friend in the world doth love me: if I do not make and continue myself incapable of his complacence by my wilful continued refusing of his grace, it is not possible that I should be deprived of it. (Prov. viii. 17.) "I love them that love me." (Psal. cxlvi. 8.) "The Lord loveth the righteous." (John xvi. 27.) The 2. Why should it be hard to thee to believe that He loveth thee, who doth good so universally to the world, and by his love doth preserve the whole creation, and give all creatures all the good which they possess? When his mercy is over all his works, and his goodness is equal to his wisdom and his power, and all the world is beautified by it, shall I not easily believe that it will extend to me? Lord is good to all." (Psal. cxlv. 9; Luke xviii. 19.) is good (essentially, absolutely, and transcendently,) but he alone. "The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord." (Psal. xxxiii. 5.) "The goodness of God endureth continually.” (Psal. lii. 1.) "He is good and doth good." (Psal. cxix. 68.) And shall I not expect good from so good a God, the cause of all the good that is in the world? None 3. Why should I not believe that He will love me, who so far loved the world, yea, his enemies, as to give his only begotten Son," that whosoever believeth in him, should not perish, but have everlasting life?" (John iii. 16.) Having given me so precious a gift as his Son, will he think any thing too good to give me? (Rom. viii. 32.) Yea, still he followeth his enemies with his mercies, not leaving himself without witness to them; but filling their hearts with food and gladness, and causing his sun to shine on them, and his rain to fall on them, and by his goodness leading them to repentance. 4. Why should I not easily believe his love, which he hath sealed by that certain gift of love, the Spirit of Christ, which he hath given? "The giving of the Holy Ghost, is the shedding abroad of his love upon the heart," (Rom. 5.) I had never known, desired, loved, or served him sincerely, but by that Spirit: and will he deny his name, his mark, his seal, his pledge, and earnest of eternal life? Could I ever have truly loved him, his word, his ways and servants, but by the reflection of his love? Shall I question whether he love those whom he hath caused to love him? When our love is the surest gift and token of his love; shall I think that I can love him more than he loveth me; or be more willing to serve him than he is willing and ready to reward his servants?" (Heb. xi. 6; 1 John iii. 24; iv. 13.) 5. Shall I not easily hope for good from Him, who hath made such a covenant of grace with me in Christ? Who giveth me what his Son hath purchased, who accepteth me in his most beloved, as a member of his Son? Who hath bid me ask, and I shall have? And hath made to godliness, the promise of this life, and that to come; and will withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly? Will not such a Gospel, such a covenant, such promises of love, secure me that he loveth me, while I consent unto his covenant terms? 6. Shall I not easily believe that he will love me, who hath loved me while I was his enemy, and called me home when I went astray, and mercifully received me when I returned? Who hath given me a life full of precious mercies, and so many experiences of his love as I have had. Who hath so often signified his love to my conscience; so often heard my prayers in distress, and hath made all my life, notwithstanding my sins, a continual wonder of his mercies. O unthankful soul, if all this will not persuade thee of the love of him that gave it! I that can do little good to any one, yet have abundance of friends and hearers, who very easily believe that I would do them good, were it in my power; and never fear that I should do them harm. And shall it be harder to me to think well of Infinite Love and Goodness, than for my neighbours to trust me, and think well of such a wretch as I? What abundance of love-tokens have I yet to show, which were sent me from heaven, to persuade me of my Father's love and care! 7. Shall I not easily believe and trust His love, who hath promised me eternal glory with his Son, and with all his holy ones in heaven! Who hath given me there a great Intercessor, to prepare heaven for me, and me for it; and there appeareth for me before God. Who hath already brought many millions of blessed souls to that glory, who were once as bad and low as I am. And who hath given me already the seal, the pledge, the earnest and the firstfruits of that felicity! Therefore, O my soul, if men will not know thee, if thou were hated of all men for the cause of Christ and righteousness; if thine uprightness be imputed to thee as an odious crime; if thou be judged by the blind malignant world, according to its gall and interest; if friends misunderstand thee; if faction, and every evil cause which thou disownest, do revile thee, and rise up against thee; it is enough, it is absolutely enough, that thou art known of God. God is all; and all is nothing that is against him, or without him. If God be for thee, who shall be against thee? How long hath he kept thee safe in the midst of dangers; and given thee peace in the midst of furious rage and wars? He hath known how to bring thee out of trouble, and to give thee tolerable ease; while thou hast carried about thee night and day the usual causes of continual torment! "His lovingkindness is better than life," (Psal. lxiii. 3.) but thou hast had a long unexpected life, through his loving kindness. "In his favour is life," (Psal. xxx,) and life thou hast had by and with his favour. Notwithstanding thy sin, while thou canst truly say thou lovest him; he hath promised, "that all shall work together for thy good," (Rom. viii. 28,) and he hath long made good that promise. Only ask thyself again and again, as Christ did Peter, whether indeed thou love him? And then take his love as thy full, and sure, and everlasting portion, which will never fail thee, though flesh and heart do fail: "For thou shalt dwell in God, and God in thee for evermore." Amen. (1 John iv. 12. 15, 16.) END OF KNOWLEDGE AND LOVE. |