gnity, that it dwells in God and God in it. 1 John
iv. 16. This is the highest point of conformity with God, and the nearest
resemblance of our Father. To be like him in wisdom, that wretched aim,
did cast men as low as hell, but to aspire unto a likeness in love, lifts
up the soul as high as heaven, even to a mutual inhabitation.

II. It should add an exceeding weight unto it, that we have not only so
high a pattern, but so excellent a motive, "God so loved," and "herein is
love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be
the propitiation for our sins," therefore, "If God so loved us, we ought
also to love one another," 1 John iv. 9, 10, 11. "Walk in love, as Christ
also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us," Eph. v. 2. Here are
the topics of the most vehement persuasion. There is no invention can
afford so constraining a motive, God so loving us, sinful and miserable
us, that he gave his only begotten Son, that we might live through him,
and Christ so loving us, that he gave himself a sacrifice for sin. O then!
who should live to himself, when Christ died for others? And who should
not love, when "God spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us
all?" "God commendeth his love to us, in that while we were yet sinners,
Christ died for us," Rom. viii. 32, and v. 8 and xiv. 7, 8.

III. Join to this so earnest and pressing a command, even the latter will
of him to whom we owe that we are, and are redeemed. That is the burden he
lays on us. This is all the recompence he seeks for his unparalleled love,
"This is my command, that as I have loved you, ye love one another," John
xiii. 34. Your goodness cannot extend to me, therefore I assign all the
beneficence and bounty ye owe to me, I give it over to these whom I have
loved, and have not loved my life for them. Now, says he, whatsoever ye
would count yourself obliged to do to me, if I were on the earth among
you, do it to these poor ones whom I have left behind me, and this is all
the testimony of gratitude I crave. Matth. xxv. 34 to 40: "Then shall the
King say unto them on his right hand, Come ye blessed of my Father,
inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For
I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat; I was thirsty and ye gave me
drink; I was a stranger, and ye took me in; naked, and ye clothed me; I
was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then
shall the righteous answer him, sa