9. When is our love of God 'sovereign'?
Our love of God is sovereign when we love Him more than all other things, so that we are willing to lose all rather than separate ourselves from Him by sin.
'I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor things present, nor things to come, . . . nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God' (Rom. viii. 38, 39). This degree of love, by which we are ready to lose all, rather than commit a grievous sin, is absolutely necessary to salvation; but this is not the highest degree. For a higher degree is this, when we are not only determined not to commit any grievous sin, but not even the least sin; and there is a higher degree still, when we are resolved always to do what is most perfect, or most pleasing to God.
10. When is our love 'active'?
Our love is active when we do what is acceptable to God; that is, when we keep His Commandments.
'He that hath my Commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me' (John xiv. 21). 'This is the charity of God, that we keep His Commandments' (1 John v. 3).
11. Why must we love God?
"We must love God, 1. Because He is the sovereign and^ most perfect Good; 2. Because He has loved us first, and has bestowed innumerable blessings upon us in soul and body; and 3. Because He commands us to love Him, and promises us eternal salvation as a reward for it.
12. When is our love of God 'perfect'?
Our love is perfect when we love God on account of His Infinite goodness; that is, when we love Him above all things, because He is both infinitely good in Himself, and infinitely good to us.
'Let us therefore love God, because God first hath loved us' (1 John iv. 19). Of this perfect love it is said: *He that abideth in charity, abideth in God, and God in him '; and, ' Every one that loveth is born of God' (1 John iv. 16, 7).—Example: Mary Magdalen: ' Many sins are forgiven her, because she hath loved much' (Luke vii. 47).
