53. Would they resolve more than others? then they should love more than others
By the illumination of God the Spirit, the understanding conceives holiness; the will resolves on holiness; and the life produces holiness.
I am determined to know nothing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. Till we attain to strong resolutions, we shall not be conquerors of satan's strong temptations. As diseases resort most to that part of the body which is weakest, so the devil's attacks will be most frequent where he is likely to be most prevalent. The law's curse is only the press-money of a servile spirit, but the love of God is the bias of a volunteer.
The resolutions of a Christian are like the water of a fountain that flows of itself; but the resolutions of a sinner resemble the water of a pit which must be forced up by artificial engines. Some never form resolutions, but under heavy afflictions: such are like goats, which never yield any milk till they are stung; or like children under the rod, full of promises, but empty of performances.
The sinner's determinations are like ice, which thaws in the sun, but freezes again in the shade. What, shall we vow against our sins, and then sin against our vows? This were to take the wages from one master, and do the work for another; to make our promises to God, and our performances to the devil.
Sacred vows bind us to obedience, and sinful vows to repentance. Reader, say not that you have noble blood running in your veins, except you can prove it by heroic actions.
4. Would you resolve more than others? then you should love more than others.
There is no sin so sweet, but the love of Christ will restrain you from it; nor service so great, but his love can constrain you to it. Should this affection once take fire, then the room will be too hot for sin to reign there.
The Christian's heart is not a harbour for lust, but a chamber for Christ. Love never shakes the boughs, but for Christ to eat the fruits. Many pay the performance of duty as oppressed subjects do their taxes, with heavy complaints: but the spouse of Jesus looks upon herself as not worthy of his remembrance, and upon her service, as unworthy of his acceptance. Had she any thing a thousand times better than herself, she would willingly dispose of it for him.
When Achilles was asked, what enterprizes he found the most easy; he answered, 'Those which I undertake for my friends.' Jacob's seven years' service seemed as nothing, because it was for a woman he loved so much. St. Austin says, 'All things are easy to love.'
If ye love me, keep my commandments. The mortal streams of divine actions flow only from the pure springs of divine affections. Though there be many things for which we should not love man, yet there is not any thing for which we should not love God.
In Christ Jesus, neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith that worketh by love. As the heat of the day keeps pace with the shining of the sun, so does faith with love. Faith, like Mary, sits at the feet of Christ, to hear his sermons; while love, like Martha, encompasses him with service. Faith is the great receiver, and love the great disburser. We take all in by believing, and lay all out by loving. Faith first works love, and then works by love.
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart; and thy neighbour as thyself. Christ brings ten commandments into two, and Paul reduces them into one word; For all the law is fulfilled in one word; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.—Love is called an old and a new commandment: it is as old as the law of Moses, and as new as the gospel of Christ.
Faith first seals the conveyance, and love then claims the inheritance. As hatred increases, love decreases. It were well if the child of dissension were never born, or that it died as soon as born.—When the ship of Christian society springs a leak, love will use her best endeavours to stop it immediately. The nearer the union, the more dangerous the breach of it. Bodies glued together, might, if severed, be as strongly and beautifully joined as before: but wounded members cannot be healed without leaving a scar.
The love of an hypocrite, like the Israelitish bush, is not burning while it is blazing. He not only admits the world into the suburbs of his senses, but into the city of his soul. The love of Jesus, in a believer, resembles oil with water, which, however shaken together, is always uppermost. When this sun of religious affection arises, it immediately overpowers all other lights.
The expression of Absalom is also the language of God's people: 'Now, therefore, let me see the king's face.' It is heaven on earth, for his children to see him; and it is heaven in heaven, for his children to dwell with him.