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LOVE OF THE BRETHREN
LOVE is said to be “the fulfilling of the law:” and it certainly is also the great end of the Gospel. But love is of different kinds: there is a love of benevolence, a love of beneficence, and a love of complacency. The two former are due to all mankind: the latter is due to the saints alone; because they alone possess that character in which God delights, or in which it becomes us to feel delight. It is of this last kind of love that the Apostle speaks in my text, a “love of the brethren:” and of it he speaks in the highest terms imaginable. To illustrate his views of it, I will shew,
I. What is that change which every true Christian has experienced—
It is not a change of opinions merely, or a transition from one Church to another; but a change,
1. In his state before God—
[The unregenerate man is “dead in trespasses and sins.” Even “by nature he is a child of wrath [Note: Eph_2:3.];” and, by practice, he has involved himself in the deepest guilt and condemnation — — — But in conversion, a marvellous transition takes place: “he passes from death unto life.” By believing in Christ, he obtains a remission of all his sins; they are blotted out of the book of God’s remembrance; and there “no longer remains any condemnation to him on account of them [Note: Rom_8:1.].” From being a child of Satan, and an heir of wrath, he is made a child of God, and an heir of glory — — —]
2. In the entire habit of his soul—
[During his unconverted state, he lived to self alone: he had no thought or desires beyond this present world: he was altogether “alienated from the life of God,” “an atheist in the world [Note: Eph_2:12. the Greek.].” As the body, when separated from the soul, is dead, and performs not any one function of the animal life; so his soul, being separated from God, is dead, and never once performs any spiritual act whatever. But in his conversion, a similar change is wrought. His powers are quickened: his understanding, his will, his affections, are all called forth into act and exercise on spiritual subjects: so that “old things pass away, and all things become new.” This change is not unlike that of a river which, by an invisible agency, is turned so as to flow in a direction opposite to its natural course, even upward, towards its source and head. Being thus “renewed in the spirit of his mind,” “he lives no longer to himself, but unto Him who died for him, and rose again” — — —]
It will now be proper to inquire,
II. How far the test, here proposed for the ascertaining of this change, may be depended on—
Beyond a doubt, this change may be ascertained to the satisfaction both of ourselves and others—
[It is not to be supposed that so great a change should be effected both in the state and habits of a man, and he himself be unconscious of it. It is a matter of the deepest interest with him; and he will never be satisfied, till he “knows” that he has attained this great object of his desires. There are many marks by which it may be discovered, even as a tree by its fruits. The test here proposed is amply sufficient for this end. The only danger is, of mistaking the test itself, and putting something else in the place of it.]
“The love of the brethren,” duly understood, will serve as an unerring test—
[Two things must be borne in mind, as distinguishing the true test from all its counterfeits. The “love of the brethren” is a love to them purely for Christ’s sake, and a love displaying itself towards them in all its proper offices. It is not a love to them on account of their having embraced our sentiments, or their belonging to our party; nor will it shew itself merely in speaking well of them, and in espousing their cause: it is called forth by the single circumstance of their being the friends and servants of the Lord Jesus Christ: and it will shew itself in such a deportment towards them, as we would maintain towards the Lord Jesus Christ himself, if he were circumstanced as they are. The description given of love in the 13th chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians, is precisely that which the Christian will realize in his conduct towards Christians of every denomination: and then only is it a proper test of our conversion to God, when it so operates. But, supposing it to be of this kind, then may we “know” from it, without a shadow of doubt, that “we have passed from death unto life:” for such love can proceed from God alone: it springs from no root whatever but faith in Christ: and, consequently, its existence and operation in the soul proves us to be true believers, children of God, and heirs of glory.]
Address—
1. Those who are strangers to this peculiar regard—
[If the existence of it in the soul prove that we have passed from death unto life, the non-existence of it may well lead you to fear that this change has never been wrought in you. Examine yourselves, therefore, and try your own selves. In truth, this test is of peculiar importance to you: for, if you will look within, you will find that, by nature, you are rather alienated from persons on account of their relation to Christ, than drawn to them: the want of congeniality of taste and sentiment sets you at a distance from them; and a consciousness of this may well lead you to conclude that you are yet dead before God. The Apostle tells us this, in the very words following my text; “He that loveth not his brother, abideth in death.” O consider this, ere it be too late: and seek that change, without which you must for ever perish!]
2. Those who think themselves under its influence—
[It must be confessed that persons are very prone to deceive themselves on this point; and to imagine that they love the brethren, when their regard is merely partial towards their own party, and when it is associated with many dispositions contrary to love. Remember then, I pray you, that your love, in order to be genuine, must be heavenly in its origin, holy in its exercise, and uniform in its operations — — — See, I pray you, whether your love be of this kind, before you venture to build upon it such a confident persuasion as that mentioned in my text — — —]
3. Those who are truly alive to God—
[Shew, in your whole spirit and temper, what the effect of the Gospel is. It was said of the primitive Church, Behold how these Christians love one another! Let the same mark be visible in you, and the same confession be extorted from all your adversaries: bear in mind all the offices of love, that it “beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.” You must not expect your brethren to be perfect: for you yourselves are not perfect: and therefore the allowances which you need from others, you must make for them: and you must take care, in thought, word, and deed, that nothing be done by you contrary to love. Be sure, therefore, that “your love be without dissimulation;” and that it shew itself “not in word and in tongue, but in deed and in truth.”]