May 1

Let love be without dissimulation.—Rom. xli. 9.

In the divine law, next to piety to God, charity to our neighbor is commanded, to signify how pleasing it is to him. The gospel eclipses all other institutions by the precept of universal love, and inspiring a delightful disposition in Christians to exercise it. This adorns the gospel, and recommends it to the esteem and affections of men. A person innocent and pure, but of a severe and harsh temper, condemns by his holy conversation the profane and scandalous; but a good man charms and captivates the hearts of others, that one should dare to die for him. Now this love, while, for its extent, should be universal, for its character, among other things, it should be sincere. Let love be without dissimulation.

Love is essentially sincere; it is seated in the heart, and expressed in real actions; it is cordial and operative. There is an empty noise of love and respects, that proceeds from a double heart, not entire and ingenuous. Some by fair promises, work and wind men to obtain their ends, and then slip through them. How often are the sincere deceived by the liberal expressions of love untried and untrue, mistaking a shining counterfeit for a real ruby? But though the human eye can not see through the disguise, he that commands sincere love, pierces into the heart, and if it be wanting there, his anger burns against the vain pretenders to it.

Some will seem to grace others with a flourish of words, that they may tax them more freely, and without suspicion. To praise without a ground of real worth, is sordid flattery; but to commend with a mischievous intent, is the worst treachery.

Some will assist the sick day and night, and seem to sympathize with them in their pains and sorrows; but their design is to obtain a rich legacy. They appear like mourning doves, but are real vultures, that smell a carcass to feed on.

There are others guilty, who esteem empty compliments to be courtly decencies; and though it is not their design to be injurious to those whom they caress, yet their love is only from the tongue, which, in the apostle's expression, is but a tinkling cymbal. Their pretended friendship is like leaf-gold, very extensive, but soon worn off for want of depth.

Others are mercenaries, that, like the heathens, do good to those from whom they receive good: their love degenerates into traffic, and does not proceed from a divine principle. Ingenuous and Christian spirits have not such crooked inclinations, always reflecting upon their own interest. It is true, Christian love declares itself in alternate acts of kindness, but is also exercised where there are no such inducements. This is to imitate our Heavenly Father, who does good to all, without any desert in the receivers, and beyond all requital.

Affliction is the furnace where sincere friends are tried, and discerned from the deceitful; their afflictions are common; their compassions and cordial assistance are common. This is the most certain and significant character of unfeigned love, not to fail in a calamitous season. Job aggravates his sorrows by this reflection, that his friends dealt deceitfully: as brooks, that run in a full stream in winter, when snow falls, and there is no want of refreshing waters; but when it is hot, they dry up, and vanish. We may securely rely on their friendship, who afford us undesired supplies in time of trouble.

The observation of the wise philosopher is verified in every age; that Men in a flourishing condition are surrounded with friends, but in an afflicted, are forsaken. This consideration should inflame us with a holy ambition of the friendship of God; for his sincere love is most tenderly expressed in our distress. The Psalmist enforces his request by this motive: Be not far off, for trouble is near. It is often seen, that men fly from their acquaintance, when the clearest trial is to be made of their afflictions; but then the blessed God draws nearest to us, and affords relief and comfort.

"So shall the world believe and know That God hath sent thee from above, When thou art seen in us below, And every soul displays thy love."