"God is love" (1 John 4:16). His children please Him only so
far as they are like Him, and "walk in love" (Eph. 5:2).
True heavenly love has its life and root in the cross of Christ;
it has the single eye, and is its own recompense; endures ingratitude,
and survives indifference and contempt; has quick sense of wrongs,
but is ready to forgive; and covers a multitude of sins. The
love we speak of is meek and lowly; behaves itself wisely and
edifies; bearing with the foolish and self-conceited, while it
shuns their folly. This holy love is the durable work of the
Spirit of God: it proves faithful in wintry days; and, ever ready
to "rejoice with them that do rejoice," adds gladness to their
days of sunshine.
If we would so love all saints as to please God, we must bear
in mind that their names are written in heaven and on Christ's
heart; otherwise we shall love some because they are lovely,
and dislike others because of their blemishes.
We only know the heart and thoughts of others by proof of word
or deed. If a brother wound us, we should first hear him, and
hear him thoroughly, before we judge him to be in fault; but
in many cases we may find ourselves not less to blame than our
brother.
The "more excellent way" is love, which beareth all things, hopeth
all things, imputeth no evil. Nevertheless, if love see a fault,
love will reprove in faithfulness the fault it _sees_. I say
_sees_, for love is discerning, and love is faithful. I cannot
but deal in such faithfulness with all my brethren, and entreat
them to smite me in like manner, which, indeed, is to anoint
my head with "excellent oil." (Ps. 141:5.)
If we delight in God's glory, we shall delight to honour those
whom God honours, and shall ourselves be no losers thereby.