Love fulfills the law
And by faith, taken in its more particular meaning, as confidence in a pardoning God, we establish his law in our own hearts in a still more effective manner. For there is no motive which so powerfully inclines us to love God as the sense of the love of God in Christ. Nothing enables us like a piercing conviction of this to give our hearts to him who was given for us. And from this principle of grateful love to God arises love to our brother also. Nor can we avoid loving our neighbor if we truly believe the love with which God has loved us (1 John 4:16). Now this love for man, grounded on faith and love toward God, works no ill to our neighbor. Consequently it is (as the apostle observes) the fulfilling of the whole negative law: for this — You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet (Exodus 20:13-17) — and if there is any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying: You shall love your neighbor as yourself (Romans 13:9). Nor is love content with merely working no evil to our neighbor. It continually incites us to do good, as we have time and opportunity, to do good in every possible kind and in every possible degree to all men (Galatians 6:10). It is therefore the fulfilling of the positive likewise, as well as of the negative law of God.
1771 text
3. And by faith, taken in its more particular meaning, for a confidence in a pardoning God, we establish his law in our own hearts, in a still more effectual manner. For there is no motive which so powerfully inclines us to love God, as the sense of the love of God in Christ. Nothing enables us like a piercing conviction of this, to give our hearts to him who was given for us. And from this principle of grateful love to God, arises love to our brother also. Neither can we avoid loving our neighbour, if we truly believe the love wherewith God hath loved us. Now this love to man grounded on faith and love to God, worketh no ill to our neighbour. Consequently, it is (as the Apostle observes) the fulfilling of the whole negative law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet: and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Neither is love content with barely working no evil to our neighbour. It continually incites us to do good: as we have time, and opportunity, to do good in every possible kind and in every possible degree to all men. It is therefore the fulfilling of the positive likewise, as well as of the negative law of God.
About this text
Rendered in modern English, to be read and heard. Open the 1771 text under each part to check the claims and the scripture.
Rendered in modern English. The 1771 panel is his own Pine printing of the Works. It is public domain.
Catalogue & scope
Sermon 36 in the 1771 Works. Romans 3:31.
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