A peculiar love
But it is sure: there is a peculiar love which we owe to those who love God. So David: All my delight is upon the saints who are in the earth, and upon those who excel in virtue (Psalm 16:3). And so one greater than he: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35). This is that love on which the apostle John so frequently and strongly insists. This, says he, is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another (1 John 3:11). Hereby we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought, if love should call us to it, to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:16). And again: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God. He who loves not, knows not God, for God is love (1 John 4:7-8). Not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another (1 John 4:10-11).
1771 text
2. But it is sure, there is a peculiar love which we owe to those that love God. So David, all my delight is upon the saints that are in the earth and upon such as excel in virtue. And so a greater than he, a new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another: as I have loved you, that ye also love another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another: John xiii. 34, 35. This is that love on which the apostle John so frequently and strongly insists. This, saith he, is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 1 John c. iii. 11. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought, if love should call us thereto, to lay down our lives for the brethren, v. 16. And again, Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God. He that loveth not, knoweth not God: for God is love, c. iv. 7, 8. Not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another, v. 10, 11.