Love: A fruit of the Spirit

Is the mind of man naturally disposed to set its affections' on things above, rather than on things below? Is that love which is essential to real religion an innate principle, that grows spontaneously in the soil of the depraved heart? Far otherwise.

 Man, through sin, is naturally alienated and estranged from God. He has a revolting and a rebellious heart. How strongly, yet justly, is this expressed by the apostle Paul; “The carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be!” (Rom. 8:7). While men are in this unhappy state, they, in effect, say unto God, “ Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways,” Job. 21:4. The consequence is, that some are to be found as absolutely devoid of all religion, as if they were professed atheists; and others, who still wear a form of piety, adopt errors which rob God of his honor and praise, to offer a more costly sacrifice to the great idol, self. 

Divine love in us, is not therefore a native, but a heaven-implanted principle, the fruit of the Spirit. It is not a spark of our own kindling, but a flame brought from above. When the sword of the Spirit cuts away that thick veil which covers the carnal heart, love enters and dwells, where before enmity rankled. From the lips which once distilled the poison of asps, the milk of charity now flows. This representation agrees with the ancient promise, recorded in Deut. 30:6, “And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart,'and with all thy soul, that thou mayest live.” That the above passage describes that inward, spiritual renovation which is the effect of free grace, is beyond a doubt. It is easy to see the precious truth, under every form of figurative words. As the uncircumcised ear cannot hear, so the uncircumcised heart cannot feel.

No sooner, however, does the hand of God remove all obstructions, than the ear receives the joyful sound of the gospel, and the heart melts by the touch of Divine love. “ I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee,” Jer. 31:3. To this sweet and gracious attraction the stubborn will bends, and the perverse, untoward passions yield. “Hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us,” Rom. 5:5. This remarkable passage deserves particular attention. It is the sole prerogative of Him who hath the key of David to open the heart, as appears from what is spoken of Lydia, Acts 16:14. 

When he hath opened the heart, he empties and cleanses it, casting out the idols and abominations, as he once cast the buyers and sellers out of the temple, Matt. 21:12. And that grace may reign, through righteousness, unto eternal life, he plentifully pours his love into the heart, where it is diffused, through the whole course and conduct of the saint.