There is a principle that
crowns and governs and gives character to all others:it is love. This, in its
root, is the nature of God Himself, the source and perfection of every other
quality that adorns Christian life.
The distinction between
love and brotherly love is of deep importance; the former is indeed, as we have
just said, the source whence the latter flows; but as this brotherly love
exists in mortal men, it may be mingled in its exercise with sentiments that
are merely human, with individual affection, with the effect of personal
attractions, or that of habit, or suitability in natural character. Nothing is
sweeter than brotherly affections; their maintenance is of the highest
importance in the assembly, but they may degenerate, as they may grow cool; and
if love, if God, does not hold the chief place, they may displace Him, set Him
aside, shut Him out.
Divine love, which is the
very nature of God, directs, rules, and gives character to brotherly love;
otherwise it is that which pleases us—that is, our own heart—that governs us.
If divine love governs me, I love all my brethren; I love them because they
belong to Christ; there is no partiality. I shall have greater enjoyment in a
spiritual brother; but I shall occupy myself about my weak brother with a love
that rises above his weakness and has tender consideration for it. I shall
concern myself with my brother’s sin, from love to God, in order to restore my
brother, rebuking him if needful; nor, if divine love be in exercise, can
brotherly love, or its name, be associated with disobedience. In a word, God
will have His place in all my relationships. To exact brotherly love in such a
manner as to shut out the requirements of that which God is, and of His claims
upon us, is to shut out God in the most plausible way, in order to gratify our
hearts. Divine love, then, which acts according to the nature, character, and
will of God, is that which ought to direct and characterize our whole Christian
walk, and have authority over every movement of our hearts. Without this, all
that brotherly love can do is to substitute man for God. Divine love is the bond
of perfectness, for it is God, who is love, working in us and making Himself
the governing object of all that passes in the heart.