Love to God disposes men meekly to bear the injuries which they receive, because it sets persons very much above the injuries of men. It does so in two respects. It sets men above the reach of the injuries of men. None can hurt those who are true lovers of God. Their life is hid with Christ in God [Colossians 3:3]. God is their Father and Protector, and carries them on high on eagle’s wings. Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good to them that love God.” Ver. Romans 8:31, “If God be for us, who can be against us?” 1 Peter 3:13, “Who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?” And then as love to God prevails, it tends to set persons above human injuries in their own sense of things; for the more men love God, the more they will place all their happiness in God; they will look on God as their all, and this happiness and portion is what men cannot touch. The more they love God, the less they set their hearts on their worldly interest, which is all that their enemies can touch. Men can injure God’s people only with respect to worldly good things. But the more a man loves God, the more careless he is about such things, the less he looks upon the enjoyments of the world worth regarding, And so they do not look upon the injuries they receive from men as worthy of the name of injuries. Though they are intended as injuries, yet they are not borne as such, and so the calm and quietness of their minds is not disturbed. As long as they have the favor of God, they are not much concerned about the ill will of men and their injuries. Love to God and a sense of his favor dispose them to say of the injuries of men, when they would take from them worldly enjoyments, as Mephibosheth said of Ziba’s injury to him from the satisfaction he had in David’s favor. 2 Samuel 19:30, “And Mephibosheth said unto the king, Yea, let him take all, forasmuch as my lord the king is come again in peace unto his own house.”

Charity and Her Fruits

Sermon Four: Long-Suffering and Kindness