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§. 68. Of labour of Love.
THe aforesaid grace of love is much amplified by this Epithite * 1.1 labour; which the Apostle thus expresseth, labour of Love.
The Greek noun is derived from a 1.2 a verb which signifieth to be pressed, namely, with paines. b 1.3 The verb which in the New Testament is ordinarily translated to labour, and commeth from the same root, is frequently applyed to such as 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great paines: as to Fisher-men, and thus translated, we have toyled, Luk. 5. 5. And to husbandmen, 2 Tim. 2. 6. And to such as labour in harvest, Ioh. 4. 38. And 〈◊〉〈◊〉 travellers, wearied in their journey, Ioh. 4. 6. And to Handicrafts-men, Eph. 4▪ 〈◊〉〈◊〉 All these shew that the word implyeth a diligent, and hard labour, so as it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 intendeth, that love is industrious. It is not slothfull or idle. It will make a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 take any pains, endure any toyle, be at any cost. Thus is this phrase, labour of loue, used, 1 Thes. 1. 3. And love is said to endure all things, 1 Cor. 13. 7. Lo•…•… makes men strive to overcome evill with goodness: it makes men to bear much. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was love that moved Christ to travell till he was weary, and to forbear to re•…•… himself, Ioh. 4. 6, 32. It made him to watch all night in prayer, Luk. 6. 1•…•…. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 made him endure the greatest burden, that could be laid upon any, witness 〈◊〉〈◊〉 agony, Luk. 22. 44. It was love that moved the Apostles to take the great paines they did. Of Saint Pauls pains, labours, travels, and sufferings, read, 2 Cor. 11. 23 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
It was love that put him upon all, 2 Cor. 12. 15.
Love works upon the heart of men within: it moves the bowels: it puts li•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their soul: it addes feet and wings to their body: it makes them readily run to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 good to those whom they love. If they cannot run or go, yet it will make them creep, as we say in the Proverb: it makes them willing, yea, and desirous to do wh•…•… they can: it makes them spare nor paines nor cost: it will not suffer them easily to be hindered.
This is a matter of tryal whether true love possesse our souls or no. If all ou•…•… love consist in pittifull affections, and kinde words, but fail in deeds (especially i•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 be to be taken, and cost laid out thereabout) surely the love that we pretend, i•…•… 〈◊〉〈◊〉 a meer shew of love. If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily f•…•…d, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 one of you say unto them depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled: notwithstanding, ye give them not those things which are needfull to the body, what doth it profit? James 1. 15, 16. 1 John 3. 18. Nay, if pains or difficulties keep us from exercising love, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 love is not well rooted in our soul. Why do men take so much paines as they do 〈◊〉〈◊〉 themselves? surely love of themselves doth abound. It is aboundance of love 〈◊〉〈◊〉 makes parents so carefull and diligent for the love of their children as they are. The like may be said of diligent, faithfull, and painfull Ministers, Magistrates, Ser•…•… and all others: love abounds in them. On the otherside, where Magistrates, •…•…∣nisters, Neighbours, or any others are kept from doing good by the paines and l•…•…∣bour that is to be taken about that good, they do hereby declare, that they w•…•… true Christian love. Let us therefore in what place, of what rank or degree 〈◊〉〈◊〉 we are, testifie the truth of our love: let not paines, travell, cost, or any like th•…•… hinder us from doing of good, which we might and ought to do. We here 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that God will not forget labour of love: why should any thing hinder us from th•…•… which God will not forget?