“Yet He gathers us with everlasting kindness” by John Owen

“God ‘sheds abroad His love in our hearts by the Holy Ghost,’ (Rom. 5:5). God gives us a sense of His love, He manifests it unto us.

Now, this is various and changeable, sometimes more, sometimes less. Now He shines, then He hides His face, as it may be for our profit.

Our Father will not always chide, lest we be cast down.

He does not always smile, lest we be full and neglect Him.

But yet, still His love in itself is the same.

When for a little moment He hides His face, yet He gathers us with everlasting kindness.

Objection: But you will say, ‘This comes nigh to that blasphemy, that God loves His people in their sinning as well as in their strictest obedience; and, if so, who will care to serve Him more, or to walk with Him unto well-pleasing?‘

Answer: The love of God in itself is the eternal purpose and act of His will.

This is no more changeable than God Himself: if it were, no flesh could be saved.

But it changeth not, and we are not consumed. (Malachi 3:6)

What then? Does God love His people in their sinning? Yes; God loves His people, but not their sinning.

Doesn’t God alter His love towards them? Not the purpose of His will, but the dispensations of His grace.

He rebukes them, He chastens them, He hides His face from them, He smites them, He fills them with a sense of His indignation.

But woe, woe would it be to us, should He change in His love, or take away His kindness from us!

Those very things which seem to be demonstrations of the change of His affections towards His, do as clearly proceed from love as those which seem to be the most genuine issues thereof.

Objection: ‘But will not this encourage to sin?‘

Answer: He never tasted of the love of God that can seriously make this objection. The doctrine of grace may be turned into wantonness; the principle of grace cannot.”

–John Owen, “Communion with God,” The Works of John Owen, Volume 2 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1684/2000), 2: 30-31.