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  THE LOVE OF GOD AND OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDS, THE PRODUCT OF IT.

1. The love of God has its rise from the consideration of His amiable excellences, that render Him infinitely worthy of the highest affection; and from the blessed benefits of creation, preservation, redemption, and glorification, that we expect from His pure goodness and mercy.

2. The obedience that springs from love is —(1) Uniform and universal.(2) This is a natural consequence of the former. The Divine law is a rule, not only for our outward conversation, but of our thoughts and affections, of all the interior workings of the soul that are open before God.(3) Chosen and pleasant (1 John 5:3). The sharpest sufferings for religion are sweetened to a saint from the love of God, that is then most sincerely, strongly, and purely acted (2 Corinthians 12:10).(4) The love of God produces persevering obedience. Servile compliance is inconstant.

IV. FROM THE LOVE OF GOD, AND WILLING OBEDIENCE TO HIS COMMANDS, WE MAY CONVINCINGLY KNOW THE SINCERITY OF OUR LOVE TO HIS CHILDREN.

1. The Divine command requires this love.

2. Spiritual love to the saints arises from the sight of the Divine image appearing in their conversation. As affectionate expressions to the children of God, without the real supply of their wants, are but the shadows of love, so words of esteem and respect to the law of God, without unfeigned and universal obedience, are but an empty pretence.

3. The Divine relation of the saints to God as their Father is the motive of spiritual love to them.

(W. Bates, D. D.)

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