Nathaniel Vincent

“Maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.”—Ephesians 4:16

How can one who loves the Lord Jesus in sincerity choose but to love all saints, though of different persuasions, since, notwithstanding that difference, they are all so dear to Him that He gave His life as a ransom for them all? The blood of God was shed for every one of them that there might be a price paid sufficient for their redemption…The Apostle Peter gives this charge in 1 Peter 4:8: “Above all things have fervent charity among yourselves.” Gifts, though excellent, may be abused and perversely employed to instill error and rend the Church of God. Knowledge, if it is alone, will not profit, but will puff up him who has it. But “charity edifieth” (1Co 8:1). Love is greatly beneficial. Its acts are pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy and good fruits. [It is] against the very nature of it to work ill to any…The grounds and attractions of this love are spiritual; and this is the kind of love of which our primary text speaks. Christian hearts should be filled with it. The more this is expressed, the more the Church must be edified. The nature of this love I shall explain in these particulars.

(1) Love is a grace wrought by the God of all grace. “Let us love one another; for love is of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (1Jo 4:7). [The] Spirit that brings a man to the knowledge of God regenerates him, makes him a new creature, [and] works in him this grace of love. Therefore, we read that the fruit of the Spirit is love (Gal 5:22). Though good nature is an excellent thing, and the dispositions of many incline them to be full of lovingkindness, yet this natural sweetness of temper greatly differs from Christian charity…True love to others is of a heavenly origin.

(2) Love is in obedience to the divine command. Christians love one another because their Lord and Savior has commanded them to do so. “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you” (Joh 15:12). Both Law and Gospel insist upon this. The sum of the Second Table of the Law is this: “Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” And by the Gospel, this law is established. Faith in Christ therefore and love are joined. “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment” (1Jo 3:23). Obedience to the command sanctifies our love for our neighbor and renders it not only more profitable to him, but also acceptable to God Himself. When we love others that God’s will may be fulfilled and He may be pleased and because of the image of God and Christ that we see in them, then we love truly. And this is the meaning of 1 John 5:2: “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments,” that is, when love for God and a care to keep His laws induce us to love His children…

(3) Love implies a mortification of contrary passions. The poet says, “Virtue is to fly from vice.” So may I say [that] love is to fly from anger, wrath, malice, bitterness, envy, and revenge, which are sins of such a nature that they carry their punishment in their bowels and make a hell as well as deserve one. The darkness of the night is chased away when the day returns and the sun rises. Sickness is removed when health is restored. In like manner, those sinful and corrupt passions, which benight¹ the soul and are the diseases of it, are purged out where this grace of love is indeed infused. The Apostle plainly shows this in Ephesians 4:31 and 5:2. In the former verse, he says, “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour,² and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” In the latter, he says, “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us.” Compare also Colossians 3:8 with verse 14; and you may perceive that we must put off anger, wrath, and malice when we “put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.”

(4) Love implies an inclination to union. The nature of it is to unite and knit things together. Thus, by the love of friendship, the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David (1Sa 18:1); and the hearts of Christians are knit together by this excellent grace of love (Col 2:2). Union is of God and is indeed the Church’s strength…So far as the Church is divided, so far [it is] certainly and dangerously weakened. There is an admirable union in the Godhead. Three distinct persons are in one incomprehensibly glorious nature. There is a wonderful union also in Christ Himself: two distinct natures in one Person and Mediator.³ And these two natures differ infinitely more than earth and heaven, than the sun and a molehill, and yet behold them inseparably united! The Church’s union is mystical. There are many members, but love makes them one body; it makes them of one heart and of one soul. Love alters the contentious and cruel nature and inclines to union and peace…So far as love prevails, there is no hurting or destroying one another in all God’s holy mountain (Isa 11:6- 9). Christ prayed for this union, as that which would be for the Church’s benefit and the world’s conviction that He came forth from God. “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me” (Joh 17:21). How needful is love to unite Christians and make them one, since divisions strike at Christ Himself and harden the world in its infidelity!

(5) Love enlarges the heart, frees it from the bonds of selfishness, and makes us desire others’ welfare as well as our own. Love for our neighbor breathes forth in fervent wishes that it may be well with him, both in time and to eternity. We are in every respect to consider our brethren. True love will make us long that in every way they may be benefited; that they may not want any needful secular comfort⁴ and encouragement; especially that they may be blessed with all spiritual blessings; and, above all, that they may attain eternal happiness and salvation. The Apostle’s love vents itself in a prayer for the Corinthians’ temporal prosperity and increase. “Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness” (2Co 9:10). So John, writing to his beloved Gaius, wishes him health and prosperity in 3 John 2: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” But the Apostle’s wishes that souls might be sanctified and saved were most vehemently and pathetically⁵ expressed in Romans 10:1: “Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.” “For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all…” (Phi 1:8). “My little children, of whom I travail in birth⁶ again until Christ be formed in you” (Gal 4:19). Behold how the Apostle loved souls! I do not wonder that he offers his love as a blessing to the church in 1 Corinthians 16:24: “My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.”