Petrus van Mastricht (1630–1706) on the Threefold Love of God Toward His Creatures

The threefold love of God toward his creatures

IX. From this emerges a threefold love of God, that is, toward his creatures: (1) a universal love (Ps. 104:31; 145:9), through which he created, conserves, and governs all things (Ps. 36:6; 147:9). (2) A common love, extending itself particularly to men, certainly not to each and every individual, but yet indiscriminately to anyone, as much the reprobate as the elect, of which kind is also the love that dispenses the benefits that are mentioned in Hebrews 6:4–5 and 1 Corinthians 13:1–2. (3) A love proper to the elect, by which he dispenses saving benefits to them, benefits that accompany salvation (Heb. 6:9), which accordingly are different from nature and natural benefits. For it is most terrible to confuse nature and grace. This love is again on the one hand called an objective love, by which such goods are dispensed that indeed concern man and are aimed at him, but yet do not enter him: of such kind are the goods of election, redemption through the satisfaction of Christ, and calling to salvation through the proclamation of the gospel. Or on the other hand, it is a subjective love, which, so to speak, enters man himself, as regeneration, conversion, sanctification, and union and communion with Christ. Both of these are especially particular and proper to the elect (Rom. 8:29–30; John 1:12).

Petrus van Mastricht, Theoretical-Practical Theology, ed. J. R. Beeke, trans. T. M. Rester and M. T. Spangler (Grand Rapids, MI: Reformation Heritage Books, 2019), 2:351. Elsewhere, he said, “God loves the elect more than the reprobate.” Ibid., 2:118.

Note: Most likely, by the “common love” of God, van Mastricht has in view the love within the gathered assembly of the church, which is not extended to those outside of it. Within the church, in his view, there are elect and reprobate, and the benefits mentioned in Heb. 6:4–5 and 1 Cor. 13:1–2 are special benefits received by all in the assembly of the church. Nevertheless, there is a “universal love” that pertains to all of God's creatures, which does include those outside of the church. God's universal love, by implication, extends to all reprobates outside of the church, while God's common love extends "to anyone, as much the reprobate as elect" who are within the church.

Here are some related quotes:

There is in God a universal or common love by which he is inclined to do good to every creature, and so then also to man (Ps. 36:6; 1 Tim. 4:10), by external and common benefits (Ps. 17:14), and there is also a special, saving love by which he dispenses the benefits that accompany salvation, which have an unbreakable connection with salvation (Heb. 6:9).

Ibid., 2:365.

XL. Third, zeal for exploring, if we observe some propensity of God toward us, some love, grace, or mercy, whether is it only that universal propensity which is inclined to beasts as well as men (Ps. 36:6), or that common propensity which is inclined to the reprobate as well as the elect. For since (1) such great affinity is at times discerned between nature and grace, an affinity by which, in the external exercise of religion and virtues, nature frequently exceeds grace, as it is evident not only in certain of the more honorable pagans—Plato, Cato, Aristides, Scipio, Seneca, and others—but also in the church, for example, in the Pharisee and the tax collector (Luke 18:10–14); since also (2) between common and saving grace there is sometimes such great agreement, as is evident by examples (Isa. 58:2; 1 Cor. 13:1); since (3) in these things, so many and such great men have deceived themselves, and myriads of pseudo-Christians still day by day deceive themselves, taking a more agreeable and humane nature for the grace of regeneration, and common gifts for signs of saving grace (James 1:26–27; Luke 18:11; Rev. 3:17), and (4) they have not deceived themselves without danger, indeed, not without eternal destruction—for all these reasons, there is nothing more necessary than to distinguish here the things that are excellent (Phil. 1:9–10) and to make our calling and election sure, and our every saving grace (2 Peter 1:10).

Ibid., 2:378–379.

It is a distinguishing love: God loves and preserves all his works (Ps. 36:6), but in a different manner and degree (Rom. 9:13). He loves them as the works of his hands, but he does not love them as sons. And thus our love toward God should also be a distinguishing love: we should love all things on account of God, as the works of God, as the image of God, but God on account of himself, above all things (Ps. 73:25).

Ibid., 2:536.

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