[December 23d, 1855.]
I. Nature of love in God.
Everything in the nature of God is incomprehensible. He is, on the one hand, like us, because we are like him. But, on the other hand he is infinite, eternal, without succession, and therefore not in time. We can not understand the Almighty unto perfection.
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If God be conceived of as mere law or power, it is impossible that we can predicate love of him.
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If God be conceived of as intelligent and personal, and yet as acting only by law, establishing general principles in his moral government, analogous to the laws of nature, he may be benevolent, but cannot love. If he simply ordains that virtue shall produce happiness, or that certain external things shall minister enjoyment, this is benevolence but not love. It has no regard to individuals. He includes in it nothing more than a desire to promote happiness. It has no more respect to one class of beings than to another. It has no more regard to one person than to another. We know that love in us is something more than a desire that creatures or that man should be happy.
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It is only on the assumption that God is not only a person, but as such can have and has intercourse with persons, that we can attribute love to him. Love has regard, a. To individuals. b. It is complacency and delight in them. c. It is desire of possession and fellowship. d. It is desire to render good and happy, and a desire to be loved.
a. Being to individuals it is not indiscriminate. It is not equal. We see in Christ, benevolence to all, love to his people. He loved John more than any other of his disciples. b. It is a complacent delight in them. c. It is expressed in intercourse. God communes with his creatures. His love is shed abroad in our hearts. d. It is manifested in making its objects perfectly blessed.
It is objected to such views that they are inconsistent with the nature of God. We can learn, however, what God is only by his word and by what he does. Men think, because God is infinite, that nothing minute is worthy of his notice. But the Bible teaches that because he is infinite, nothing is so minute as to require any effort of attention. Everywhere, deep in the sea and in the stars, God’s intelligence is at work. As he intelligently operates everywhere, in the least as in the greatest, so he can consciously love everywhere.
II. The love of God is infinite, eternal, immutable, sovereign.
III. It is the source of all holiness. We can love him because he loved us. It produces gratitude, delight, zeal, filial reverence, obedience. It elevates the soul above the creature. It purifies all the affections. This is its legitimate effect. Where God is understood, and where his love is really enjoyed, these effects follow. When it is assumed that he loves where he does not, and love is regarded as mere respect of persons, then it produces, as it did in the Jews, spiritual pride, bigotry, malignity, contempt and arrogance. So it is among the Romanists, who hate all out of their church. If it is the source of holiness, the assurance of it should be cherished.
- It is the source of happiness.
Love is the great source of blessedness. All the happiness of life depends upon it. Its power depends much on the character and dignity of those who exercise it. Love in the infinite God is an infinite source of blessedness. It fills and satisfies the whole soul.
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It sustains and strengthens us under all trials and for all duties.
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It exalts the full perfection of our nature.
God’s benevolence is manifested in his works of creation and providence. God’s love is shown to his people as a whole, by the gift of his Son, and by all the provisions of his grace. God’s love to each individual is manifested by the work of his Spirit in him.
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