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I. THE DUTY.

1. Mutual love. There is a love which all men owe to all men. "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: but the love which is the subject of our Lord's precept, is obviously much more comprehensive in its elements, and much less extensive in its range, than this. It is the love of which none but a disciple can be either the object or the subject. Its component elements are esteem, complacency, benevolence, and its appropriate manifestations, — highly valuing each others' Christian gifts and graces, — delighting in such association with each other as naturally calls forth into exercise all that is peculiarly Christian in the character, — defending each other's Christian reputation when attacked, — sympathising with each other's Christian joys and sorrows, — promoting each other's personal Christian holiness and comfort. — and cordially cooperating with each other in enterprises calculated to promote the common Christian cause, the cause of God's glory, and man's improve ment and happiness.

2. Love like that of our Lord. "As I have loved you."

(1)  Discriminative.

(2)  Sincere.

(3)  Spontaneous.

(4)  Fervent and copious.

(5)  Disinterested.

(6)  Active.

(7)  Self-sacrificing.

(8)  Considerate and wise.

(9)  Generously confiding and kindly forbearing.

(10)  Constant.

(11)  Enduring.

(12)  Holy and spiritual.

(13)  Universal.

II. THE MOTIVES.

1. The commandment of Christ. There is no duty which the apostles, more frequently, or more authoritively, enjoin. To enable us to form some estimate of the force of this motive we have only to propose and answer the question, Who is this who speaketh? This is a commandment which Christ claims as His own, in a peculiar sense; and it is addressed to a class who stand in a peculiar relation to Him.

2. The example of Christ. How did Christ love —

(1) He was just about to give them the greatest proof of friendship which can be given. "Greater love hath no man than this," etc.

(2) He had made them the objects of His peculiar complacent regard, as persons who were really desirous of doing whatever He commanded them. "Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."(3) He had treated them as "friends," by unfolding to them, so far as they were capable of apprehending it, the whole truth respecting the wonderful communication He had come from heaven to earth to make, and the wonderful work He had come from heaven to earth to perform — the economy of salvation. "Henceforth I call you not servants," etc.

(4) He had selected them, and appointed them to a great, important, salutary work, their success in which was assured by all necessary assistance in it being secured in answer to believing prayer. "Ye have not chosen Me," etc.

(J. Brown, D. D.)

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KJV: This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

WEB: "This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.