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I. WHAT IS THE AFFECTION THAT A GOOD CHRISTIAN BEARS TO CHRIST? It is love; yes, that is the Christian virtue, that is the Evangelical grace. It is the main difference betwixt the law and the gospel, timor and amor. Not that a Christian ought to be free from all kind of fear. There is a three-fold fear to which we are liable.

1. As we were in our primitive state of subjection, so we owe to God a fear of loyalty as good subjects to their Prince and Sovereign.

2. Our state of rebellion, that brought upon us the fear of slavery.

3. Our state of adoption, that begets in us a filial and son-like fear.Fear, then, is not wholly excluded from the state of a Christian; but yet the grace that the gospel aims at is the grace of love (1 Timothy 1:5).

1. This love of God gives a chief title and denomination to Christians; it is their badge and cognizance (1 Corinthians 8:3). He sets much by such, and owns them, and highly accounts of them.

2. This love is the title and assurance of all His promises.

3. Love is the ingratiating quality of all our services; it is that which commends us and our services to God's acceptation. It is love that is the fulfilling of the law (Romans 13:10). Thus Christ shows what kind of obedience He expects at our hands (Job 14). "If ye love Me, keep My commandments."The language of the gospel is not, if ye will avoid wrath, vengeance, escape damnation, then perform obedience to me; but, If ye love Me.

1. All other motives are base and servile without this willing and loving affection.

2. The service of love is only accepted because it alone is an ingenuous service, and of a right intention.

3. This service out of love is most acceptable to God because this kind of service is most honourable to God. God is a gracious sovereign, not a cruel tyrant, and so desires to be served as good subjects serve their king — out of love.

4. The service of love is the only service that God sets much by, because that service which arises from love is the only constant and lasting service. Love is long breathed and will hold out and persevere; whereas fear is a flincher and will soon tire and start aside.

II. THE FRUIT OF THIS LOVING AFFECTION, the action that flows from it, that is obedience. Herein is love, that we keep His commandments — that is the kindly proof of our love.

1. It shows our love to God must be an active, and operative, and working love. Indeed, love is seated in the will, the fountain of action; it rests not in our understanding, the knowing faculty. It is not a mere notion or speculation, swimming in the brain, but a devout affection rooted in the heart.

2. It puts another qualification on our love; it is not a love of equality, but a love of subjection and inferiority; such a love as the inferior bears to his superior that hath a power to command him.

3. It shows that our love to God must be a love regulated and restrained to what God commands us. Offer to Him not thine inventions, but His own prescriptions.

4. This shows our love to God must be entire and universal, of as large extent, as all God's commandments. As before ye heard of a restriction, so here we meet with an extension. Love must be the fulfilling of the law.

III. WHAT IS THE DISPOSITION AND INCLINATION THAT HE WHICH LOVES GOD FINDS IN HIMSELF TO GOD'S COMMANDMENTS?

1. Indeed, in some respects, it is most true, God's commandments are exceeding heavy.

(1) Take the law of God at its full height and pitch of perfection, so it hath a great difficulty in it; yea, in a manner, an impossibility in it to all men since Adam.

(2) Take the law in the lowest pitch of righteousness, yet an unregenerate man cannot obey it. He is so far from fulfilling all the law that he cannot perform the least part of it. If the root be not good, which is faith working by love, the fruit, though outwardly specious, is inwardly vicious.

(3) Consider the law in the evangelical mitigation and abatement of it, yet still the saints of God find difficulty in it. A regenerate man is two men. That which is spiritual and renewed in him, that readily conforms to the law of God. "The Spirit is willing," saith our Saviour. Aye, but the flesh is weak; nay, oftentimes wilful, stubborn, and resisting.

2. But yet it is most true what the text affirms, God's commandments are not grievous. His service is no such hard service as the world accounts it. It is a hard service indeed (for why should we be left to a lawless liberty?), but it is an ingenuous service. God's servants find no grievances in this employment.

(1) Look upon their state and condition. God's people are not in any base, servile condition; but(a) they are called unto a state of liberty, and liberty is sweet in itself and sweetens all our employments.

(b) As it is a free so it is an honourable service. As we know, the greatness of the Master dignifies and ennobles the service that is done unto Him.

(2) Look upon their task and employment, you shall find the service of God is no such wearisome service.

(a) The work which God enjoins them is possible to them. God's commandments are made possible to a regenerate man (Philippians 4:13). Flesh and blood sees nothing in the law of God but impossibility; like the unbelieving spies — oh, we cannot conquer the land. But faith and love, like Caleb and Joshua, conceive it may be done, and undertake it readily.

(b) This work is easy; I said it even now.

(c) This work is not only possible and easy, but pleasant and delightful, a good Christian finds exceeding great pleasure and sweetness in it.

(3) Look upon the encouragements that Christians find in the service of God; they will make it appear that the service of God is no such irksome service.

(a) God helps and assists His servants in all their works. This He doth by putting their souls into a right frame of holiness.

(b) God's merciful connivance. When His servants that desire to serve Him, yet fail, and fall short of what is their duty, God winks at their failings, and passes by them. See this graciously promised to us (Malachi 3:17).

(c) The many heartenings and secret cheerings that God vouchsafes to His servants in the course of their obedience. He is no churlish Nabal, sour and harsh to His poor servants, but puts life and heart into them.

(i) He vouchsafes His presence to them, as Boaz to his reapers. The Master's eye, the cheerfulness of His countenance, is the man's encouragement.(ii) He speaks cheerfully to their hearts. "Well done, faithful servant" (Acts 18:9)(iii) His loving acceptance of our poor services. Our faithful endeavours, our honest desires, our sincere intentions, are graciously accepted.

(d) His bountiful rewarding of us, besides the grand payment, the weight of glory, the reward of the inheritance. How many encouraging blessings and favours doth He bestow upon His servants, over and above? Besides their wages they have their avails out of their Master's bounty. David found it and acknowledgeth it. Thou hast dealt bountifully with Thy servant.

(Bp. Brownrigg.)

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KJV: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

WEB: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.