Rogation Tuesday — On Acts of divine Love

Consider, first, tha,); the love of God is like a fire; its nature is to be always in motion, and always tending upwards, towards its heavenly element; it quickly expires, and dies, if it lies idle. Wherefore, if we would keep it alive, we must nourish it, and blow it up, by frequent acts of love; and those not mere verbed acts, by telling G that we love him, whilst our heart perhaps is far from him; but by the real exercise of loving God, both in our heart, and in our works. We exercise the love of God in our heart, by affection; we exercise the love of God in our works, by effects. We love God with a love of chaste concupiscence, when, in heart and %work, we tend to him as our sovereign good, and aspire after the eternal enjoyment of him. We love him with a love of benevolence, that is, of sincere and perfect friendship and charity, when, both in heart and work, we give our whole selves, with all our thoughts, words, and deeds, and all things else to him, as being infinitely good in himself It is just we should exercise ourselves in acts of the love of God in both these ways, as in both these ways he is infinitely amiable; but more especially that we should tend to love him with the love (f 6snevolence, by giving ourselves and all things to him.

Consider, secondly, that benevolence is a love, by which we wish all manner of good to the person beloved; a love, by which we earnestly seek and procure whatever may be for his honour, interest, or pleasure; by which we delight in all his advantages, and are concerned at all his losses, &c. Wherefore, if we would make proper acts of the love of benevolence towards God, we must desire, seek, and procure, as much as lies in us, the greater honour and glory of his name, and the propagation of his kingdom, both in our own hearts, and throughout the whole world, and pray that all men may know him, love him, and serve him: we must rejoice at every thing that is agreeable to his holy will, and be concerned at every thing that offends him. This is the proper exercise of the love of benevolence; these are far better acts of divine charity, than merely telling God that we love him. My soul, what are thy dispositions? Dost thon sincerely desire, and heartily pray, that all the world may know, love, and serve thy God; that all his creatures, in heaven and earth, may give perpetual glory to him; that the reign of sin may be allished, and that the kingdom of God may take possession of all hearts; that none may resist or rebel against his orders, but that all may embrace, and bow down, and adore his divine will? If so, there is no doubt but thou lovest God. Such as these are perfect acts of the love of God.

Consider, thirdly, that the exercise of the love of God, which, above all others, is recommended in holy Scripture, is the loving of his divine law, and the keeping of his commandments. This is the charity (that is, the love) of God, that we keep his comr mandnients, 1 John v. 3. He that keepeth his word, in him, in very deed, the charity of God is perfected, chap. ii. ver. 5. The beloved disciple continually recommends the acts of this kind of divine love; and the Psalms are full of aspirations or breathings of a soul, that is in love with the holy law and commandments of God. This devotion to the commandments of God is loving God indeed, with a true and effectual love; because it is giving up, for his sake, what is most dear to us, namely, our own will and liberty, and making a present of it to him; it is giving him what he chiefly calls for at our hands; whatsoever else we give him can never content him. He always preferred the sacrifice of obedience before all other sacrifices; because here we sacrifice to him our own dear will, and immolate it, as t were, to his honour and glory. This kind of love is the safest from illusions; for whosoever loves the commandments of God, and his divine will, and makes all that is in him submit thereunto, most certainly loves God, and is in the right way that will bring him safe to God. No other devotion, without this, can secure any man.

Conclude to exercise thyself daily in all these ways of loving God; and ever remember, that loving God and keeping his commandments go always hand in hand; because we cannot love God without loving his will, notified to us by his commandments.