the creatures begins in himself and ends in himself,
1 John iii. 17. Is it not a high thing to know God aright? "This is life
eternal to know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast
sent," John xvii. 3. That is a high note of excellency put on it, this
makes the face of the soul to shine, now brotherly love evinceth this,
that we know God, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God,
and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth
not, knoweth not God, for God is love," 1 John iv. 7, 8. Love is real
light, light and life, light and heat both. "When your fathers did execute
judgment, and relieve the oppressed, &c. was not this to know me? saith
the Lord," Jer. xxii. 15, 16. The practice of the most common things, out
of the love of God, and respect to his commands, is more real and true
religion than the most profound and abstracted speculations of knowledge.
Then only is God known, when knowledge stamps the heart with fear and
reverence of his Majesty and love to his name, because then he is only
known as he is a true and living God.

Love is real light and life. Is it not "a pleasant thing for the eye to
behold the sun?" Light is sweet, and life is precious. These are two of
the rarest jewels given to men. "He that saith he is in the light, and
hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now, and knoweth not whither
he goeth; because darkness hath blinded his eyes, but he that loveth his
brother abideth in the light, and there is none occasion of stumbling in
him," 1 John ii. 9-11. "We know that we have passed from death unto life,
because we love the brethren; he that loveth not his brother, abideth in
death," 1 John iii. 14. The light of Jesus Christ cannot shine into the
heart, but it begets(417) love, even as intense light begets heat, and
where this impression is not made on the heart, it is an evidence that the
beams of that Sun of righteousness have not pierced it. O how suitable is
it for a child of light to walk in love! And wherefore is it made day
light to the soul, but that it may rise up and go forth to labour, and
exercise itself in the works of the day, duties of love to God and men?
Now in such a soul there is no cause of stumbling, no scandal, no offence
in its way to fall over. When the light and knowledge of Christ possesses
the heart in love, there is no stumbling block of transgression in its
way. It doth not fall and stumble at the commandment