III. 1. A third scriptural mark of those who are born of God, and the greatest of all, is love: even [20]_the love of_ God _shed abroad in their hearts, by the Holy Ghost which is given unto them_. [21]_Because they are sons_, God _hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts, crying Abba, Father_! by this Spirit, continually looking up to God, as their reconciled and loving Father, they cry to him for their daily bread, for all things needful whether for their souls or bodies. They continually pour out their hearts before him, knowing [22]_they have the petitions which they ask of him_. Their delight is in him. He is the joy of their heart; their _shield_, and their _exceeding great reward_. The desire of their soul is toward Him: it is their _meat and drink to do his will_: And they are [23]_satisfied as with marrow and fatness, while their mouth praiseth him with joyful lips_.
2. And, in this sense also, [24]_every one who loveth him that begat, loveth him that is begotten of him_. His spirit rejoiceth in God his Saviour. He _loveth the_ Lord Jesus Christ _in sincerity_: he is so _joined unto the_ Lord, as to be _one spirit_. His soul hangeth upon him, and chuseth him as altogether lovely, _the chiefest among ten thousand_. He knoweth, he feeleth what that means, [25]_My beloved is mine, and I am his_, [26]_Thou art fairer than the children of men; full of grace are thy lips, because_ God _hath anointed thee for ever_!
3. The necessary fruit of this love of God, is the love of our neighbour, of every soul which God hath made; not excepting our enemies, not excepting those who are now _despitefully using and ♦persecuting us_: a love, whereby we love every man _as ourselves_, as we love our own souls. Nay, our Lord has expressed it still more strongly, teaching us to _love one another even as he hath loved us_. Accordingly the commandment written in the hearts of all those that love God, is no other than this, _As I have loved you, so love ye one another_. Now [27]_herein perceive we the love of_ God, _in that he laid down his life for us. We ought_ then, as the apostle justly infers, _to lay down our lives for our brethren_. If we feel ourselves ready to do this, then do we truly love our neighbour. Then [28]_we know that we have passed from death unto life, because we_ thus _love our brethren_. [29]_Hereby know we_ that we are born of God, that we _dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his_ loving _Spirit_. For [30]_love is of_ God, _and every one that_ thus _loveth, is born of_ God _and knoweth_ God.