A treatise of the divine promises in five bookes : in the first, a generall description of their nature, kinds, excellency, right use, properties, and the persons to whom they belong : in the foure last, a declaration of the covenant it selfe .../ by Edvvard Legh ...

6. Love, of

• 1. GOD.
• 2. CHRIST.
• 3. Our Brethren.
• 4. Our Enemies.

A Promise. 1. Of the Love of GOD.

And the LORD thy GOD will circumcise thine heart and the heart of thy seed, to love the LORD thy GOD with all thy heart and with all thy soule, that thou maist live, Deut. 30.6. As if the LORD had said, I will ingraft the true love of my selfe in your hearts, which you will increase in, and constantly proceed in the same;* 1.1 and then I will account and ac∣cept of it, for the full measure of love that my law requireth.

Promises. 2. To the Love of GOD.

Many things are promised to those that love GOD.

1. Preservation, The LORD preserveth all them that love him, Psal. 145.20.

2. Plenty, GOD will cause them to inherit substance, and will fill their treasures, Proverbs 8.21.

3. Deliverance, Because hee hath set his love upon mee, there∣fore will I deliver him, Psal. 91.14.

4. Joy, unspeakeable and glo∣rious, 1 Cor. 2.9, 10. That Text is chiefly meant of the Gospels joy, of the wine and fatlings, re∣vealed to the Beleever by the Spirit.

5. GOD knowes them, loves them, will keepe his Covenant with them, sheweth mercy to them and their posterity, and

hath promised them a crowne of life.

If any man love GOD, the same is knowne of him, 1 Cor. 8.3. I love them that love mee, Pro. 8.17. Hee is the faithfull GOD which keepeth Covenant, and mer∣cy with them that love him, Deut. 7.9.* 1.2 Which sentence is repea∣ted twice in the very same words, Nehem. 1.5. Dan. 9.4. He sheweth mercy to them, and thou∣sands of their generations that love him, Exod. 20.6. Hee shall receive the crowne of life, which the LORD hath promised to them that love him, James 1.12. & 2.5.

6. All things shall worke toge∣ther for their good, Rom. 8.28.

Promises. To the Love of CHRIST.

If any man serve mee, him will my Father honour, John 12.26.

He that loveth mee shall be lo∣ved of my Father, and I will love him and will manifest my selfe unto him, Iohn 14.21, 23.

Promises to the love of our Brethren.

It is the cognizance of a Disciple, and a signe of spirituall life.

* 1.3By this shall all men know that ye are my Disciples, if yee love one another, John 13.35. He that lo∣veth his brother, abideth in the light, 1 John 2.10. And is translated from death to life, 1 John 3.14. If we love one another, GOD dwelleth in us, 1 Iohn 4.12.

* 1.4Promises to the love of our Enemies.

It is a matter of great credit to forgive, for thereby we are de∣clared to be The children of our heavenly Father, Matth. 5.44, 45. Love your enemies, and doe good,

and your reward shall be great, Luke 6.35. If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eate, and if he be thirsty, give him water to drinke: For thou shalt heape coales of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee, Pro. 25.21, 22. Thine enemy] that is, hee that hates thee, not hee whom thou hatest, for thou must hate none: give him bread] that is,* 1.5 all things necessary in time of his neede, if occasion bee offered; for by thy beneficence thou shalt overcome his evill, and pro∣voke him to love; or if not, GOD will certainely reward thee.

It is also matter of Comfort for us; for if wee forgive, so shall we also be forgiven, If yee forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, Matth. 6.14. the same is Marke 11.25. and Luke 6.37.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The upright love thee. Cant. 1 4.
• * 1.2

  Deut. 7.9.
• * 1.3

  Iam 2 8.
• * 1.4

  Pr••mises to forg••v•• of 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.5

  Saul was for the time moll••••••••d, when hee saw that Da∣vid spared his life. 1 Sam. 2••.••6 17.