John 13:34

The third point propounded by Christ, containeth a direction concerning their behaviour in his absence, that they should love one another: Which he presseth upon several grounds, whereof the first is, that the command enjoining it is a new commandment given by him: and the second (in this verse also) is taken from his own example, which might both perswade them unto, and regulate them in, the performance of that duty. While he calleth this commandment new, the meaning is not that it was not enjoyned before: for, we finde it enjoyned in the law it selfe. And this same Apostle doth recommend the whole doctrine of following Christ, as being so new, as yet it was old, 1 Joh. 2.6, 7, 8 and particularly, he recommendeth love as an old commandment, and not new only, 2 Joh. 5. Nor doth it fully exhaust the meaning, that he made it new, by renewing of that commandment and vindicating it from the corrupt glosses of the time, as he did also the test of the law: Nor yet sufficeth it to say, that as it is a commandment which can only be performed by the new man: so it is enjoyned in a new way by Christ, in conferring power and grace with the command, and writing it on our heart, that it may be obeyed, which no man had under the law, by the law it selfe. For this is true also of other commands, and beleevers also under the law had it, though by another covenant, then that of the law, as it was a covenant of works. Therefore I conceive that by calling this commandment in special, new, is pointed out (beside the former considerations) partly, that the thing commanded is excellent, and so a new song, seemeth to be understood for an excellent song, Psal. 33.3. And therefore Christ pitcheth on it, as a chief and singular duty above many, to be recommended to his disciples. And so, if we look to this command, it is not only new, or renewed, in the enjoying thereof; Christs recommending it anew, adding a new obligation to what was lying on by the authority of the law; But the very matter of the command is new, and declared excellent, in that Christ doth so much and so specially recommend it above others, and addes his authority and credite with his disciples to the former injunction of the law, to make it to be studyed. And partly, hereby is pointed out that it is new, in respect that it is urged upon a new ground, and after a new pattern and example; Our love to others not being now to be regulated only according to our love to our selves, as the tenour of the law runs, but a new ground and pattern being laid in Christs loving of us, which makes the whole complexe commandment, be a new commandment. And upon all these considerations it followeth, that this commandment should still be new to us, our obligation to such a commander still sweetly binding, the subject matter so recommended by him, still new and fresh, and sweetly alluring to obedience, and such a pattern still drawing our hearts to imitate it. Doctrine 1. The doctrine of the Gospel contains not only sweet comforts, but necessary commands and directions also, for our attaining, emproving, and clearing our right in these comforts; for, here is a commandment given, and pressed by Christ in his sweet farewel Sermon. 2. Christ is true God, and soveraigne Lord over, and law-giver unto his people, having authority to give a law unto them, binding their conscience; for, a commandment I give unto you, saith he. 3. Sad lots may be made up and compensed, not only by sweet comforts from Christ, but may be made easie, and much sweetned also, by our cleaving to duty in such a lot; for, here, mutual love is recommended, as a mean to sweeten that sad lot of his removal; So our love to him is left us to make up his being not seen, 1 Pet. 1.8. And indeed, they are never sadly deserted, (however they want comfort) who are not driven from duty; Nor is comfort allowed on any, but these who cleave to duty. 4. While Saints are absent from Christ, in respect of his bodily presence, it is especially required of them, that they entertain mutual love; That so they may be mutually useful and comfortable one to another in such a languishing time, and while they are hated in the world; That they may not fall in emulation and quarrels, during their Masters absence, and so marre his work, and their own peace, and expose his wayes to reproach and obloquie: And, That they may be fitted to partake of the sweetnesse, blessing, and consolations, which God hath commanded upon his people in their being united, Psal. 133.1, 2. 3. For these causes (among others) doth Christ in his absence enjoyne, that they love one another, and so may partake of the consolations left in his Testament. 5. Albeit, oft-times, we look on love as an indifferent and arbitrary thing, which we may practice or forbear at our pleasure, and according as we judge our selves obliged or disobliged; Yet Christ hath not left it arbitrary to us, but enjoyned it as a debt and duty by his command; for, saith he, A commandment I give you, that ye love one another. See Rom. 13.8. 6. Whatever Christ commands, his enjoyning of it puts a new obligation upon his children, and commends the thing enjoyned, as excellent for his sake, which therefore should not be entertained with formal and dead dispositions; for, it is a new commandment, as hath been cleared. 7. Christ hath loved his disciples and followers, and so loved them, as may well be a copy and pattern of all love; for, saith he, I have loved you, and so loved, that he makes it their copy, to love one another as I have loved you. As Jonathans love surpassed the love of women. 2 Sam. 1.26. So doth his love infinitely surpasse Jonathans. And this is the reason why he presseth love so much, even because it was so much in his own heart. 8. Christs love to us is a new obligation, pressing on us to love one another; Whosoever believe his love, cannot but love him againe, and will account themselves obliged to obey what he commands and recommends by his own example; And particularly; to love them who have obtained like mercy with themselves, and do beare his image, and are begotten of him, who hath loved them; And they will be sensible of so much tendernesse in him toward them, as will oblige them to be tender and condescending toward their brethren; for this is an argument, and makes it a new commandment, in a special manner, that ye love one another as I have loved you. And that so much the rather, as the one is the evidence of the other. See Matth. 18.23 — 35. 9. Christs love is not only an argument obliging, but a patterne directing Saints in their mutual love, and albeit none can imitate him in the nature and kinde of some acts evidencing his love, (as being acts peculiar to his office of mediatour:) Nor yet can any come up to his measure, in what is imitable: yet his love to us is a copy after which we should strive to write in this matter; By being willing, ingenuous, and free, in our love, as he was; By loving sincerely, and not for by ends; By loving the Saints as such, and because of their interest in him, as he loved his own, John 13.1. (and so love them all as he did, John 13.1. not as James 2.2, 3, 4. and specially them that are most gracious, as John 13.1. with John 21.20.) By loving them, however they may hate us, as he loved them when enemies; By loving them not in word or tongue only, but in deed and real truth, as he gave his life for them he loved, by bearing their infirmities, and not pleasing our selves, but them for their good to edification; as he also did, Rom. 15.1, 2, 3. And, by loving them constantly, as he loveth his own, John 13.1. so much is imported in this: A commandment I give you, that as I have loved you, ye also love one another.