“Rest, delight, reverence, and obedience” by John Owen

“The love of God is a love of bounty, our love unto Him is a love of duty.

The love of the Father is a love of bounty,—a descending love; such a love as carries Him out to do good things to us, great things for us.

His love lies at the bottom of all dispensations towards us; and we scarce anywhere find any mention of it, but it is held out as the cause and fountain of some free gift flowing from it.

He loves us, and sends His Son to die for us. (1 John 4:10)

He loves us, and blesseth us with all spiritual blessings. (Eph. 1:3ff)

Loving is choosing. (Rom. 10:11-12)

He loves us and chastiseth us. (Heb. 12:6)

It is a love like that of the heavens to the earth, when, being full of rain, they pour forth showers to make it fruitful; as the sea communicates its waters to the rivers by the way of bounty, out of its own fulness,—they return unto it only what they receive from it.

It is the love of a spring, of a fountain,—always communicating;— a love from whence proceeds everything that is lovely in its object.

It infuseth into, and creates goodness in, the persons beloved.

Our love unto God is a love of duty, the love of a child.

His love descends upon us in bounty and fruitfulness; our love ascends unto Him in duty and thankfulness.

He adds to us by His love; we add nothing to Him by ours.

Our goodness extends not unto Him.

Though our love be fixed on Him immediately, yet no fruit of our love reacheth Him immediately.

Though He requires our love, He is not benefited by it. (Job 35:5–8, Rom. 11:35, Job 22:2-3)

Our love to Him is indeed made up of these four things:

1. Rest
2. Delight
3. Reverence
4. Obedience

By these do we hold communion with the Father in His love.”

–John Owen, “Communion with God,” The Works of John Owen, Volume 2 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1684/2000), 2: 28-29.