to do good and to shew mercy at all seasones a breaker of the Sabbaths Ioh. 5 16 and 9 16. For his zeale to have a devil and his miracles to be done by the devill Ioh. 7 20 and 8 48. Mat. 9.34 and 12 24. For his doctrine to be a deceiver Mat. 27.63 Ioh. 7.12 And for his holy and plaine confession of the truth to be a blasphemer of God Ioh. 10.36 Mat. 26 65. And an adversarie to Cesar Ioh. 19 12. And as for liberty and pleasures among men he was often conspired against continually persecuted and at last buffetted nailed on the crosse between two theeves and there derided and scoffed at and so died Mat. 12 14 and 26 and 27. In a word he was so far from being glorious or great in the world that in such respects he was as a worme and no man a reproach of men and despised of the people without forme or bewtie rejected of men c. Psal 22.6.7 So that the love wherewith the Father loved Iesus Christ was not a worldly love nor testified by filling him with worldly things the abundance whereof he very often giveth to his enimies sometimes as rewards for some services he hath done by them though they knew him not Ezek. 29.18.19 Sometimes in judgement to their farther snaring and hardening and overthrow Psal 73.18 and 92 6 7. So as this love is not worldly but heavenly and though heavenly yet Not only a love of compassion which may be towards such as one is angry with and counts sinners for their evils and is constrained to afflict them though with bowels of compassion yearning over them so as in returning they may be saved and in rebelling given up Hose 11.4.9 Luk. 19 41 42. For so God loved the world Ioh. 3.16 17 18 19. But his love to his son was a greater love then this Coll. 1.18 19 and Heb. 1. to the end Yet though it were a greater and more peculiar love It was not from the first appearance to the accomplishment of full perfection in the glorious harvest a constant appearing and brightly shining love admitting no clouds darknesses nor eclipses but such love it was as had its degrees of appearing and some intermixtures of clouds and darknesse in respect of the visible appearance and a great eclipse on the crosse before all clouds were passed and the fulnesse of the glorious appearance and enjoyment came into its perfection Luk. 2. to the end Mat. 3.17 and 4 to the end and 17 5 and 26 8 42 and 27 46. II. Affirmatively the Father hath loved his son our saviour Iesus Christ with a devine heavenly pure Fatherly and Spirituall love beyond all our conceptiones only wee may veiw it in the properties of it I. It is a most free and righteous love it is a free love which with out any fore-desert did fasten upon the man Christ Iesus and chose him into union of person with the son of God and so to be one and his only son and also to be the saviour of the world and also to be the mediator and the high priest prophet and King and head and husband of the church and that all fulnesse should dwell in him and that in all things he might have the preheminence Psal 89.19.20.27 28. Isa 42 1 and 49 6 7 8. Heb. 1 2 8 and 7. Coll. 1.19 And all this freely because it so pleased him and such his love yet it is also a righteously love slowing upon him accepting and preferring him in and for and according to all that he hath done in the work of redemption for men and that he doth in spiritual application to and in and advocation for and government of his called and chosen ones Isa 53.11 Rom. 14 9 12. Ioh. 10.17 Heb. 2 9. Phill. 2.8 9 10. Psal 20 3 4 5 and 45 6 7 8. II. It is a most well-pleased delightfull and satisfying love taking up all well-pleased in the beloved and affording all well-pleasednesse to the beloved the Father having so set all his delight in his son that he delighteth in him and in all that is in his son and in nothing out of his son that he taketh all fulnesse of content and well-pleasednesse in his son and in that which his son hath done in his ministration sufferings sacrifice and victorie and in that which his son doth by his spirituall opperationes and communicationes of privilledges and in all that are in his son and presented by him so as in that his well-pleasednesse he affords well-pleasednesse to his son and to all that are in and one with his son Pro. 8 22 23 30. Isa 42.1 Mat. 12 18 and 3 17 and 17 5. Heb. 10 7 12 13 14. Psal 20 3 6. Ioh. 16 27. Gall. 3.16 29 1 Cor. 1 30. III. It is a most abundant and flowing love resting not till the beloved be partaker of and silled with all his owne things and with union and fellowship with himself so hath the Father loved Iesus Christ as he hath him ever with him an I before him as the seale on his hart and the seale upon his â—â—me in all his counsels and works preferring him and shewing him all that he doth yea so as he doth it by him and maketh him the doore thereof Pro. 8 30. Cant. 8 6. Ioh. 1.1.2.3.8 and 5.21.25 26. Yea so as hee is one in and with the Son and the Son one in and with him Ioh. 10.30 and 14.10 11. and 17 21. Yea so as hee consereth on his Son and maketh him partaker and owner of al his own things his devine nature his Holy Spirit his attributes of wisedome power goodnesse c. His speciall people and all the works of his hands so as all that is the Fathers is the Sons Ioh. 16.15 and 17 6.10 Heb. 1.2.3 IV. It is a most glorious honourable and honouring love the Father hath so loved his Son Jesus Christ our Saviour that he hath honoured or glorified him with his own selfe with infinit glory yea and with such apearing honour also Ioh. 17.1.5 That he wil not be known or acknowledged loved or honoured in any thing by any man by any way or meanes but in and by his son and as the man knoweth acknowledgeth loveth and honoureth his Son Christ Ioh 5.23 and 14.6 7. 1 Ioh. 2.23 Whom he will have honoured as himself yea he hath honoured his Son by giving an honourable testimony of him Psal 89.20.21.28 Ioh. 1.33 Mat. 3.17 and 17.5 Heb. 1. to the end And sending forth the Holy Ghost to beare testimony of him Ioh. 14.26.15 26. 1 Ioh. 5.6 Yea he hath glorisied and honoured him by exalting him at his right hand Giving all authority unto him and making him the Lord and judge of all Heb. 2.9 and 8.1 Mat. 28.18 Jeh 5.27 Yea he hath giver him the Kingdome and the enheritance and made him the King and he shall rayn for evermore Psal 45. to the end Heb. 1. to the end Yea he so
and what I should speake and I know that his commandment is life everlasting whatsoever I spake therefore even as the Father said unto mee soe I speake and so he saith The Lord God hath given mee the toung of the learned that I should know how to minister a word in due season to him that is weary Isa 50.4 In respect of these commands put on Christ and undertaken to bee performed by him hee is in generall called The Saviour of the world Ioh. 4.42 And Gods salvation to the ends of the earth Isa 49.6 And in speciall the Saviour of his Body his people Eph. 5.23 Mat. 1.21 And hence also hee is said to be created for the glory of God and bidden by God to bring forth the blind people that have eyes and the deafe that have eares Isa 42.6 7. and 43.7.8 And because hee undertooke and went on in these commandements by the will and apointment of the Father hee is said to enter in the performance of both by the doore Ioh. 10.1 2 3.17 18. So that by our Saviours own testimony it apeares what the Fathers commands concerning him were III. It farther apeares by the furniture wherewith hee was fitted to keepe these commands and so to perform both parts of his Fathers will in effecting salvation for the world and eternall salvation in his peculiar people the Scriptures Assirming I. That for the first Hee was sent into the world to bee the Saviour of the world 1 Ioh. 4.14 Ioh. 3.17 1 Tim. 1.15 And had a body given him that was sit to suffer Psal 40. Heb. 10.7 And was made under the law Gall. 4.4.5 That soe hee might beare the sinnes of men and suffer and offer up himselfe in sacrifice for them 2 Cor. 5.19 21. II. That for the second hee was exalted at Gods right hand and imeasurably silled with the Holy Ghost to send forth in the Gospell to make known the saluation wrought by his death and in his owne body and to aply the vertue of his bloud and so to give repentance and remission of sins and so to heale and save Isa 50.4 10 and 61 1 2 3 4 and 42 1 8. Psal 68.18 20. Act. 2.31 33 and 5 31 32. By which furniture it appeares what the commands to him were IV. It is yet farther manifest in that these commands appeare to be peculiar too and for Jesus Christ our Lord who is the Lord from heaven a quickening Spirit 1 Cor. 15.45.47 These commands being such as not only are but ever were beyond the powre of all creatures or any meere man to performe Iob. 28.1.23 The law which God at first put in mans hart and to which by the grace of creation he was bound with all the commands encluded in that law for loving God with all the hart soul and strength and ones neighbour as himself were suitable and fit for a living soule as the first Adam was made and might have beene kept by him if he had abode in his integritie and so sin might have been kept from entring into the world Eccles 7.29 1 Cor. 15.45 But to take away transgression when it is come into the world and to doe it by dying and rising againe and so to ransome and work a redemption with God for transgressors this is and alwayes was beyond the powre of any meere man to doe Psal 49.7.8 And so likewise to enlive these ransomed ones lying dead in trespasses and sins and to enlighten them and give in the Holy Spirit to renew and save them and fill them with eternal life is beyond the powre of all creatures or any meere man though converted Ioh. 1.13 and 3 3 5 6 and 6 44 45. 2 Cor. 3.4.5.6 These things are peculiar to him that is the son of God God man the saviour and their is none besides Heb. 1. and 2. to the end Tit. 2.10 Isa 45.21 Who had a body given him to suffer and was manifested in this world to take away transgressions Heb. 10. 1 Joh. 3.5 And was exalted at his Fathers right hand and filled with Spirit to enlighten his ransomed to preach the Gospell to the poore to heale the broken harted and bring his people to life and glorie sa 42.1 8 and 50 61 1 4. Whence God in putting these commands upon his owne son Jesus Christ and on him onlie is said to have laid help upon one that is mightie Psal 89.19 V. The state and condition wee were in whom he came to save doth also evidence these foremencioned to be the commandments that were given to Christ by him that sent him forth to be our saviour our needs requiring the same that he should fulsill these commandments for though his being righteous in fulfilling the law to which by the grace of creation wee were all bound was both needfull and profitable for us in that thereby no need of any part of his ransome or sacrifice for himself but all for us Heb. 7.26.27 Yet could not all that righteousnesse of his have made satisfaction for our sins and overcome our death and procured life for us it he had not done this for us by dying for our sins and rising for our justification and so fulfilled that commandment Mat. 26.39 Gall. 2.21 Rom. 4.25 Ioh. 10.18 Neither by all that his personall righteousnesse joyned with the fulfilling of this command if he had not been filled with Spirit to send forth and should not by that Spirit in the Gospell be fulfilling the other command in teaching and renewing us applying that salvation wrought to us and working salvation in us could wee be eternally saved Isa 42.1.8 and 61 1 4 and 54 3.11 Ioh. 6.44 45 and 15 1 8. And thus it appeares what the Fathers commandments concerning Christ are II. The second thing to be enquired is How or in what manner Jesus Christ kept his Fathers commandments and that the Scripture shewes I. That he kept and performed the same in and through an union with his Father in mind will and purpose and so in love to his Father and to his chosen and to mankind Ioh. 10.27.30 Heb. 10.7 9 10. Psal 40.7.8 Ioh. 4.34 And so from the law writ in his hart with delight to doe his will II. That hee so kept and performed them in the midst of a gain-saying people and against many temptationes from the devill and from the world both Jewes and Gentiles and notwithstanding many illrequitealls from his called ones Isa 53.1 2 3 4. and 65.2 Mat. 4.1.12 Heb. 12.3 III. Hee so kept and performed them constantly goeing through and enduring all the labour payne and suffering set before him till hee entred his rest where hee abideth faithfull Isa 50.5 6. and 53.7 Heb. 12.2 and 4.10.16 Phill. 27.11 IV. He kept and performed them by the very powre of the devine nature in and by the stirring and motion of the Holy Ghost Luk. 4.1 14. Heb. 9.14 Rom. 1.4 and 6.4 Isa 11.1 2. And thus and in this manner did Jesus keepe his
Fathers commands Secondly For the things expressed they are fully and plainly affirmed which should bee to us proofe sufficient yet for better usefulnesse wee may veiw them that wee may the more profitably believe them I. The first of them is that Jesus Christ hath kept his Fathers commands not only those that apertained to his own person as hee had taken our nature and had a soule and body like us and was made under the law for us which law hee also perfectly kept and fulfilled and so in that respect was altogether without sin and perfectly righteous Which is greatly for our benefit 2 Cor. 5.21 1 Pet. 2.22 and 3.18 Heb. 7.26.27 But also as that heere specially ment and which wee are heere especially to heed he hath kept those commands which the Father gave him in respect of his office and mediatorship for which hee so fitted him and which were so peculiar to him and needfull for us that hee should performe 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Heb. 10.7.19 In respect whereof hee is also the just one and faithfull and perfectly righteous in fulfilling them 1 Ioh. 2.1.2 and 1.9 And that hee hath kept these commands is evident I. By the plain affirmation of Scripture In respect of the first command that he gave himself a ransome for all men by the grace of God tasted death for every man 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9 Hee humbled himself and became obedient to the death even the death of the crosse Phill. 2.8 Died for our sins and was buried and rose againe the third day according to the scriptures 1 Cor. 15 3.4 In respect of the other command a testimony in due time 1 Tim. 2.6 Hee is the true light which lighteth every man that commeth into the world Ioh. 1.9 He taught in their sinagogues c. Luk. 4.14 15 22. He taught and advocated for his disciples and gave his Fathers words to them and sent and sendeth forth Spirit from his Fathers right hand Act. 2.33 Eph. 4.7 8 12. And was and is faithful to him that appointed him as a son over his owne house to edify preserve consolate and glorify them Heb. 3.1 6. Isa 61.1.4 II. By his own testimonie both by words and deedes by word he said I will give my flesh for the life of the world I lay downe my life that I might take it againe this commandment have I received c. The Father gave mee a commandment what I should fay and what I should speake therefore even as the Father said unto mee so I speake I have saith hee to his Father sinished the work which thou gavest mee to doe I have manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest mee Ioh. 6.51 and 10.17 and 12 49.50 and 17 4 6. By deed lie went out of the house and over the brooke and into the garden and offered himself to those that came to apprehended him and died and rose and ascended and sent forth of the Holy Ghost c. Ioh. 14.31 and 18 1 4 c. Act. 1 and 2. III. By the testimony of his Father that Jesus is his son in and with whom hee is well-pleased bidding all to looke to him and heare him and assureth that hee is full of Spirit and will not faile in whatever appertaineth to him to doe Mat. 3.17 and 17 5. Isa 42.1.8 IV. By the evidence and witnesse of the Holy Ghost of whom it is said the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father hee shall testifie of mee Ioh. 15.26 And so is the Holy Ghost a witnesse of these things whom God hath given to them that obey him Act. 5.32 God also bearing witnesse with signes and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his owne will Heb. 2.4 Yea the Holy Ghost will so evidence the righteousnesse of Christ in his perfect keeping of these commands that he will reprove the world of sin because they believed not on Christ that had ransomed them and received Spirit and sent forth light to bring them to believe And he will enable such as are turned in his reproofes to believe on Christ 1 Pet. 1.21.22 And will farther glorify Christ in the harts of believers and guide them into all truth Ioh. 16.13.15 That they may know him in respect of his faithfulnesse in these commands to be all wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption for and to them an all life and good in them 1 Cor. 1.30 Coll. 1.27 and 2 3 9 10 and 3.11 V. By the experiments of those that are taught of God who in the knowledge and beliefe of this grace met with in Christ his keeping these commands for us have seene and experimented that through his obedience and faithfulnesse in the first command having offered himselfe in sacrifice for the sin of the world It is that the earth is preferved that life is reprived that Gods patience and long-suffering is extended and that mercies and bownty are dayly renewed and the foundation of repentance laid and the doore of hope and life opened to them Psal 75.3 Act. 17.28 Rom. 1.16 With. 2.4 Lam. 3.22.23 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Tim. 4.10 And that through his faithfulnesse in the other command making known and aplying by his Spirit the vertue of his bloud to them and working by his Spirit in them it is that they believe in him and love him that they enjoy remission of sins peace with God joye in the Holy Ghost knowledge of their sonship support in tryalls refreshing in ordinances fellowship with God and brethren hope of glory c. Rom. 4.24 25. and 5.1 11. Phill. 1.29 1 Pet. 1.21.22 Rom. 14.17 18. 1 Ioh. 1.1 2.3 4 7. Psal 36.8 65.4 So that from their experments they can set too their seale that hee is true Ioh. 3 32.33 Rom. 8.1 2 3 4. VI. By the witnesse of all those faithfull ministers of the word that have this gracious testimony inspired to their hart who beare record of this Gospel that declareth this which Christ hath done and is at his Fathers right hand ready to do knowing they declare no fable and that where this is faithfully declared they are witnesses and in such witnesse bearing Christ sends forth the Holy Ghost to enlighten and beare witnesse to others that they may believe 2 Cor. 5.18.19 Act. 5.31 32 and 10 44. 1 Pet. 1.12 Mat. 28.20 1 Ioh. 1.4.6 So that it clearly and many wayes appeares that Iesus Christ hath kept his Fathers commandments this being encluded in that great misterie 1 Tim. 3.16 II. The second thing expressed is that Iesus Christ in keeping his Fathers commandments did abide in his Fathers love So that I. In keeping these commandments even while he was made low and under law for our sakes and did humble himself to be made pore and to die for us yea in all his sufferings he went through whose love soever he lost and of whatsoever he was deprived and whosoever hated and persecuted him yet in all his Fathers love and
him and unfeyned faith and love so measuring themselves by themselves and trusting to their own harts for their testimony which is folly 2 Cor. 10.7.12.18 and 11.3.4 13. Luk. 18.11.12 Ier. 17.5 10. Pro. 28.26 Whereas Those that in the beliefe of the Gospel are emptyed of themselves and all relyance on any righteousnesse wisedome or strength of their owne or that is humane and through the beliefe of the grace reported in the Gospell brought to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for beeing saved by his life and through that believing to love the Brethren shall in abiding in his faith and love and walking therein find the motiones to all that is contained in particular precepts in fit seasons stirring in them Ioh. 7.37.38 Hose 14.8 Gall. 5.22.23 Rom. 8.2 14. 2 Cor. 5.14 As is before shewne in the second consideration and so yeilding up theretoo and walking therein I. They serve God acceptably and in newnesse of Spirit Rom. 12 1 2 3 and 7.6 II. They are ceasing from their own works and so accepting and entring into his rest Heb. 4 3 11. 2 Pet. 1 5 11. III. They yeild forth a justification and testimony of the truth and livelynesse of their faith in Christ and love of brethren Iam. 2 to the end In which believers are not under the law but under grace and so walke after the Spirit and keepe the ommandements of Christ in Faith and love which are the commandements heere ment Gall. 5.6 16 18 23. Proofe IV. Walking in this faith and love put in the hart is before shewne in all the former considerationes to leade to the right fulfilling of all righteous affectiones and services required both in the law and the Gospell so as whosoever hath these commandements in his hart and keepeth and walketh in them both receiveth all good from God and yeeldeth forth all exceptable service to him and to brethren Ioh. 14.21.23 Rom. 5.1.5 and 12 1 3 and 13 8 9 10. So at this also evidenceth these to be the commandements heere ment Proofe V. Those that through beliefe of the grace reported in the Gospell do believe in the name of Christ and in that beliefe love their brethren and so walke in this faith and love have their faith imputed to them for righteousnesse and their love accepted as that which shall be visited with more loves and through both experiments of grace met with Rom. 4.22 25 and 5 1 5 and 8 1 2. 2 Cor. 3 3.18 Ioh. 14.21.23 And by the testimonie of God and Christ himself they do righteousnesse and fulfill the law and al righteousnesse 1 Ioh. 2.29 and 3 7 9. Rom. 13.8 9 10. I. They fullfill the end of the law in accepting Christ for righteousnesse and loving their brother Rom. 10.3 4. Mat. 22.39 40. II. They obey the Gospell and word and doctrine of God and Iesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6.17.18 2 Thess 1.8.10 III. They honour obey and follow God Eph. 5.1.2 Even the Father and the son Ioh. 5.23 37 46 and 14 23 and 16 27. And the Holy Ghost that commeth from the Father and the son and witnesseth of Christ and teacheth Ioh. 14.26 and 15 26. 1 Ioh. 5.6 12. Rom. 8.14 IV. They have eternall life 1 Ioh. 5.11 12. Gall. 6.8 And so keepe the commandements that they find them not grievous but delightfull 1 Ioh. 2.3 10. So that it every way appeareth that faith and love put in the hart are the commands ment II. For the second thing in this point what it is to keepe his commandements it may be answered briefly in two words namelie first to keepe or retaine them in the very hart in the mind will and affectiones Pro. 3.1 and 4.21 And Secondly to observe them in the life in giving up all the members as servants to walke according thereunto Pro. 4.25 26 27. Rom. 12.1 2. 1 Cor. 6.20 But to give a more full and ample answer it might be said the keeping his commandements is I. To retaine and hold fast the Gospell or word of grace that hee hath enlightened our harts with and so put in our harts that he hath begotten faith and love in our harts thereby let this word dwell in our harts in the beliefe and apprehention of the goodnesse of the report and of all the reproofes requirings and promises of it let it be kept in the love desire estimate wherein it was first received and there through Christ in it exalt it and tye it about thy hart and bow the neck too it and this will watch for us teach lead and counsell and be a light to us Rev. 3.3 Coll. 3.16 Pro. 4.8 9 and 6 20 21 22 23. Joh. 15 5.7 II. To hold fast and nourish in our harts that confidence in Christ for life sanctification preservation and guidance and protextion through all sufferings and services of love to the enheritance Gall. 5 5 6. Heb. 3.6 14 and 10 35. And that love member like to brethren and compassionate to the sons of men which in putting in his gracious word hee by his Spirit discovering his grace begot in our hart Heb. 13 1 Ioh. 3 18 and 4 10 12. III. To suffer the word of grace and the faith and love begot thereby to have its perfect worke in us to putt no stoppage by carnall reasonnings too it but yeild up all our members theretoo and to all the motiones of the Spirit that spring there-from and there-through and according theretoo Rom. 12.1 2 3. Phill. 2.1 2. Iam. 1 4. To the denying of all fleshly affectiones and lusts and the obeying all the fruites of the Spirit Gall. 5.16 17 18 22 25. 1 Thess 5.19 IV. To doe all wee have to doe in all the sufferings and services of love in the remembrance of and according to the word of grace and in and with the exercise of the faith and love begot thereby Psal 1 2. Heb. 11 and 12. 1 2. 1 Ioh. 4. to the end And so as is before amplyfied in opening what it is to continue in his love that and this meeting in one V. Seeing it was peculiar to Christ that in all his walking in this world hee never sinned yea if wee consider his humane nature he had no sin if we consider his life he did no sin if wee looke on the law of nature or works under which wee were borne and under which hee became for us hee kept and fulfilled it all to the ful if wee look on those commands and that worke the Father gave him to doe in respect of us he fully finished it yea one may say if wee looke on the commands of faith and love hee left for us to walke in hee also hath given us example and gone before us and walked without failing in both and if besides his nature personall conversation and example and besides his propitiation wee looke on his ministration of the Gospell and care for the continuance thereof after his departure lo he was perfectly faithful
In which is one-nesse Eph. 2.19.22 And that of a body hee the head and the believers the members united to him al filled with and knit together and led by one Spirit of life in him the head immeasureably in them according to the measure of his dispensation flowing from him into and through each member by which they grow up in him and are compact together and soe among them one Spirit and one body Eph. 4.15.16.4 and 5.30 And soe of a green olive-tree c. And thus heere of the true vine and the branches which ar but one tree and so they were and all unfeyned believers are one in and with Christ by a devine faith begot by a deviue testimony in their hart fastening in Christ and by the operation of his devine love in their hart springing up spiritual and devine love closeing with and cleaveing to him and by the operation of his inspired word of life which they having received are by it subdued to his teachings leading into fellowship with him and such union and one-nesse have they as is before shewne in which they are one Spirit with the Lordâ— one body of the Lord one Temple or house for the Lord to dwell in one tree or vine-tree hee the roote and mayne Body they the bowes and branches and soe not only in him but still entering into farther union and growth for farther fruitfulnesse Heb. 4.3 Not only in confidence in him love to him and receite of teaching from him but both in al this and through this into farther one-nesse with him and soe with God the Father in and through him into I. One-nesse with God in his great desighne of glorifying Iesus Christ and shewning forth all his goodnesse in and through him the great designe purpose and businesse of almighty God is hath beene and wil be to glorify himselfe in glorifying his Son that himselfe may be glorified in and through his Son Ioh. 12.28 Pro. 8.22.31 Ioh. 5.20.23 The maine designe of Christ is the same in all the glory he receiveth from the Father Ioh. 17.1.6 and 7.18 And the beleevers abiding in him grow into union with him in this desighne to glorefy Christ that God may be glorified in and by him Phill 1.20 II. One-nesse with God in spiritual habitation in delightfull love and well-pleasednesse his delightfull love and well-pleasednesse being in his son and through him in al those made one with and sons in his son Mat. 3.17 and 17.5 Pro. 8.31 Psal 132.13.17 and 148.14 and 149.4 And so their delight and well-pleasednesse in Christ and through him in all that by grace ar made one in him Phill. 3.3.8.9.10 and 4.4 Psal 73.25 and 16.2 III. One-nesse with God in his will and love of compassion towards them that are yet ignorant and through ignorance unbeleeving willing their preservation repentance waiteing with patience for them and useing meanes towards them that they might repent and come to life 1. Tim. 2.4 Psal 145.8.9.2 Pet. 3.9 Mat. 5.44.45 Tit. 3.2 Act. 26.18 IIII. One-nesse with Christ in yeilding the flesh or old man to be crucified to have the new revived and soe to live in the Spirit to God Rom. 6.3.6 Eph. 4.21.24 1. Pet. 3.18 and 4.1.2 And soe one-nesse with Christ in all his interests and privillidges next mensioned II. These sayings you in mee I in you I the Vine yea the Branches as also the other simmilies of one-nesse betweene husband and wife in marriage foundation and building in a temple or house head and members in a body doe set forth their interest and right to participation and spirituall participation in a first fruites now and fulnesse in the harvest of all the interests privillidges and riches of Iesus Christ Ioh. 1.12 1. Cor. 3.22.23 Soe that verily His Father is their Father Ioh. 20.17 Psal 89.26 Rom. 8.15 His Spirit is their Spirit to dwell in and comfort and lead them Gall. 4.6.7 His Brethren their Brethron Ioh. 20.17 Mat. 23.8 His Promises their Promises That God hath made stable in him for them 2. Cor. 1.20.21 2. Pet. 1.4 And not only his death is their death and his resurrection their resurrection but his wisedom righteousnes holinesse redemption and life is their wisedom righteousnes holinesse redemption and life 1. Cor. â— 30 Ioh. 14.19 Rom. 8.2 Yea his people is their people his inheritance their inheritance Gall 3.29 Rom. 8.17 And soe his kingdome and glorie their kingdome and glory Luk. 12.32 and 22.29 Coll. 3.4 Yea in a word his servants for attendance and service be their servants for attendance and service Heb. 1.6.7.14 Yea not only such but his servants for use and advantage besides their wil are so their servants also 1. Cor. 3.22 Soe are they interessed in all the privillidges of this True Vine in the glorious husbandman the living sap the vineyard and the fruites III. This sayeing you in mee I in you I the Vine yea the Branches doth set forth a great deale of honour that God doth put upon them according to that Ioh. 12.26 and 5.23 with 1. Sam. 2.30 In that as he doth all things by Christ and sheweth forth his righteousnesse through Christ who is the righteousnesse of God in whom God dwells and through whom the devine nature shewes forth its vertues and opperationes Ioh. 1. Heb. 1. Ioh. 5.1 Tim. 3.16 Soe now as Christ is the fuitefull vine even soe the grapes his vertues shall be brought forth through them 1. Pet. 2.9 He not only cloathes them with his son for their righteousnesse Phill. 3.8.9 But also makes them the righteousnesse of God in him 2. Cor. 5.21 Soe as even his devine power in Christ for convencement alureing to Christ comforting edifying by Spirit shall be effected in their ministration by word and conversation Ioh. 16.7.15.1 Cor. 3.5.2 Cor. 13.1.2.3.1 Thes 1.8 Yea his love and mercies shall apeare through their love and mercy 2. Cor. 5.14.19.20 Yea his righteousnesse shall apeare through them and they shall be his witnesses Psal 92.15 Isa 43.10.12 Soe now in a measure and after in fulnesse wil he be seen and admired in them c. A great honour 2. Thes 1.10 Psal 149.4.9 IV. This their being Branches in Christ doth father import that al their life comfort and fruitfulnesse dependeth not on the first Adam themselves or any wisdome strength industrie or creature at all but him and on him onelie soe that being and abiding in him they receive life from him who is full of powre love and faithfulnesse and none can overturn him In whom all fulnesse dwells and flowes Ioh. 1.14.16 Coll 1.19 Ioh. 11.25.26 and 14.19 And as he instructed them about himselfe and themselves so he instructed them likewise about his father the great Almighty God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ and in him the father of al that by faith are one him Vers 1. As he saith And my father is the Husband-man which holds forth I. That he hath made and prepared this vine as his owne
and courage and bewty is gone Psal 125 5.8 Ezek. 19.10.13 Iud. 12. As heere Vers 6. V. That when they are withered men gather them while they retained his word and till the light sweetnesse and savour of it was dried up they could not be so easily drawne by Satan or lusts or men to other doctrine or to idolatrie or oppression persecution or the like but being withered they are driven with every wind and men gather them to any superstition oppression c. they turne into Egypt or the world againe and their sin growes ripe and they become of the seed of the Serpent the worst of men Iam. 1.14.15 Inâ— 4.5.12 Mat. 5.13 As heere Vers 6. VI. Men thus throw them into the fire and they fall under the wrath of God and his angels shall bind them in bundles and they shall be throwne into everlasting fire Pro. 7.7.27 Mat. 13.30.41.42 As heer Vers 6. A faire and whole some warning with might terrify any that receive gospell from remaining as high-way or stonie or thorny ground or harbouring such a secret evill disposition as ludas and Simon Magus did or from dispising the word and quenching the spirit and it is a wholesome admonition to al believers to shun all degrees of withdrawing and backssliding from faith love or any opperationes of the grace and spirit of Christ and now farther our saviour with this admonition joynes and gives to his disciples for quickening up their spirits a sweet and foreceible exhortation and encouragement to abide in him and that hee and his word may abide in them and this from manifold sure grounds and strong motives that will meete in one Viz. I. The experience they had already found of the goodnesse of him in and by the word he had spoken to them Vers 3. He had spoken and given to them the word gospel or glad tidings of peace remission of sinns and everlasting life which the father hath prepared in him which word of gospel the father gave him to spake Mar. 1.14.15 Ioh. 12.49.50 and 17.6.7 In which word or gospell is declared The peace or atonement Christ by death resurrection and sacrifice hath wrought and the fulnesse of grace and truth iâ— him and the greatnesse of Gods love in giving him and hâ—â— readinesse to accept all that believe on him Luk. 24 46.4â— Ioh. 1.4.9.12.14.16 and 3.16.17 And the father sending forth spirit in this declaration did so enlighten their harts anâ— prevaile with them that he therein brought them to beleeve Mat. 16.16 In which repentance was wrought in them anâ— they received remission of sins and life and so were turned from darknesse to light begotten to Christ made cleane and righteous in him and so sanctified to God and had interest iâ— the things of Christ Act. 11.18 and 10.43 Rom. 5.1.5.8.10.11 Tit. 3.4.5.6 Ioh. 3.5 In which they expetimented his word to be the words of eternall life Ioh. 6.68.69 So that as in him through that he hath done in himselfe life was prepared for men even so through him by his word and spirit bringing the word to their hart they had received of the life in him and so experimented the goodnesse of him in his word and to them and such as they this must needs be a strong and forceible motive to abide in the faith and love of him and to have his word abiding and opperating in them Psal 119.93.1 Pet. 1.21.22.23 and 2.2.3 Whence that 2. Pet. 1.9 II. The powre effecacy and fruitfulnesse of the same grace that will operate and shew forth it selfe in fruitfulnesse in those that abide in him and have his word abiding in them Vers 5. So that such as abide in mindfulnesse of his word and so in their beliefe estimate love of and submission to him and his teachings and so suffer his word to abide in them in its opperationes it will be profitable and fruitfull in them and make them fruitfull also Heb. 4.12 Isa 55.3.10.12 I. It will free them not only from that casting of withering and burning foremencioned Ioh. 11.25.26 But also from those out-goings falls snares hart condemnationes and sore correctiones that others by inconstancie and forgetfulnesse of him fal into Rom. 8.1.2 Isa 4.2 Psal 119.9.92 1. Cor. 15.1.4 II. It will bring forth plenty of fruites in them of love joy peace patience meeknesse heavenly desires and motiones that will spring forth to spirituall prayers confession conversation c. Coll. 3.16 Ioh. 7.38.39 III. It will leade too and bring forth blessed fruites in their word and conversation for convincing unbelievers aluring the convinced to Christ and edifying believers Isa 61.3.7 2. Pet. 1.7.8 2. Cor. 13.18 And this also is a strong and forceible motive to abide in Christ and that his word may abide in us III. The abundant love of the Father to Christ his Son soe that al that are brought to and abides in this his Son and have him in his Word and Spirit abiding in them he loveth them as he loveth his Son with the same delightful love Ioh. 12.26 14.23 17.23 And giveth them eternall life Ioh. 3.35.36 And whatsoever they aske of him they abiding in Christ and his words in them it shall be done to them vers 7. Ch. 16.23.24.27 Which also is a strong motive to abide in him and that his words may abide in us Pfall 66.18.19.20 IV. The assured comfortable issue of all namely That in his word abiding in them and they abiding in him and so bringing forth fruites their mayn desighne and buysinesse even that in which they are one with God and Christ shall be accomplised to the satisfying and joying of their harts that is God shall be glorified and so they shall be disciples and followers of Christ like him endeed vers 8. Phill. 1.20 Which is a sweet prevayling motive And how much more all these in one the fore-experiments and present operation of his grace the Fathers love and answer of prayers and glorifying himself in their fruitfulnesse is it a strong motive to exort and encourage to abide in Christ and to have his word abiding in us And our saviour having thus already instructed admonished and encouraged his disciples proceedeth in the 9. and 10. Verses To a father encouragement direction and instruction of them to this Abiding that their joy might be full From which practise of our saviour might be observed I. That the work of the ministration of the Gospell is a continual worke to be followed not only for bringing in men still to Christ but even also for building up and encouraging those that are in Christ while they are in these clay tabernacles so was the ministration of the Gospel by Iesus Christ from the beginning of it from the baptisme of Iohn till the day that he left the world Act. 1.21.22 Ioh. 16.28 and 17.4.12.13 And so was the ministration of his servant till the time of their departure 2. Tim. 4.6.7.8 2. Pet. 1.13.14 And such is the ministration
24. Coll. 3.1 12. Gall. 5.22 23. Phill. 2.1 6 12 13 14 15 16. 1 Thes 5.11 14 23. And so to hasten to the comming of Christ waiting for him to perfect and fit them for it Tit. 2.11 12 14. 2 Tim. 4.8 2 Pet. 3.11 And because they know the love of Iesus Christ their life to be so great to them they esteeme highly of his word and Spirit and the ordinances which in his word he hath apointed them and wherein they may testify submission to him and considence in and love to him Psal 119.138 139 140. and 143.10 and 84. to the end And soe waite through the Spirit to receive all help for all things needful to perfect them from him through his word and Spirit and in fellowship with him and his chosen ones in use of his apointments Isa 26.7.12 Gall. 5.5.6 1 Ioh. 1.3 4. Psal 100.4 5. And therefore will not turne aside for helpfulnesse to dead images or devices and traditiones of men knowing that in so doeing they should sit loose from him their head and dishonour him as wanting love or Spirit and procure to themselves blasting and witherdnesse in their life and love and darkenings in perceiption of his love which is their life Psal 115.1 14. Coll. 2.6 8. 9 10 16 23. 1 Ioh. 5.20.21 Psal 30.5 12. Gall. 6.8 II. This manifested love of Christ doth Admonish those that believe in Christ and love him I. In all conditiones and how-ever things apeare to sence yet to acknowledge him to have loved us and to be loving and gracious to us to be good and to doe good and praise him for his kindnesse and wonderfull works waiting on him for his goodnesse to be shewne us in due time Psal 73.1 and 145. to the end Phill. 4.4.7 Psal 107. to the end 1 Thes 5.18 Lam. 3.26 31. Let hoe affliction cause us to murmur against him or be jealous of his love for that is great wee have cause to be jealous of our own love and he might say to us wherein have you loved mee and wee might be silent but yet he accepts and remembers the small fruites of his Spirit in us and forgets not the love of our espousealls though it were but the fruites of his own first discovered love Cant. 5.1 Jer. 2.2 Heb. 6.10 1 Ioh. 4.19 And shall wee for a little hideing and silence of his or a few afflictions from him call in question al his love and in beholding the fulnesse of others say to him wherein hast thou loved us far bee it from us hee can not but behold it as an evill in us that he hath so loved us as to take our nature beare out sins suffer our curse and give himselfe a ransome for us and become the propitiation for our sins and al this for us while we were his enemies and yet we to say wherein hast thou loved us If thou say hee hath so loved al men yet I pray the consider he hath not so made it known to al men and sweetned the knowledge thereof to their harts as he hath done to thee they are thy Brethren created by the same God purchased by the same Lord and of as good nature parts and other naturall qualificationes and performances as thou and no worse then thou wert yet he suffers them to lye in darknesse and to rest upon such mountaines of worldly riches friends fleshly wisedome or self wrought righteousnesse as he hath blasted and will bring downe and as will fayle them But he hath discovered to the the mountain of Israel and brought thee out of darknesse into light and gained thee to himselfe with the knowledge of his love soe manifested that himselfe might be thy mountaine thy peace thy righteousnesse thy life and hath often made thee tast his goodnesse and is now but confirming thee to him in his crosse and death that thou mayest partake of his resurrection and life and wilt thou so forget all his goodnesse as to say wherein hast thou loved mee Oh doe not so let us not so ill-requite him as for any thing to be offended in him Mall 1.1 6. Rom. 6 3 5. 2 Cor. 4.10 11. Phill. 3.10 14. II. To learne of Christ to love others as wee have been and are loved of Christ Jesus to love such as are yet enimies to us and know not Christ with the love of compassiones as Christ did us when we were enimies to him without partaking of their sins or delightfull fellowship with them in their wayes to use meekenesse patience and long-suffering to them and pray for them and seeke to overcome their evill with goodnesse Mat. 5.44 45. Rom. 12.17 21. Tit. 3.2.3 4. 1 Pet. 2.22 23 24. To love believers with love of delight exercising bowels of mercies to them bearing their infirmities and burthens having fellowship with them continuing in Brotherly love Coll. 3.12 16. Rom. 14 and 15. 1 Pet. 4.10 11. Heb. 10. and 13 1. But this with other uses do more fully flow from the next observation joyned to this III. This love of Jesus Christ so manifested may bee a ground of exortation to us to mind and heed wel this his love that we may be more abundantly firmed in the beliefe heeroff it beeing the ground of our believing and that which believed doth facillitate our beliefe of that more abundant love that followeth to be spoken of Rom. 5.1 5 10 11. and 8.31 36. Gall. 2.20 And while there remayneth doubtfulnesse in this there can be no stabillity in the beliefe of that which followeth now to be spoken of in the next observation Joh. 3.12 and 6.61 62 63. II. Obse That Iesus Christ loveth those that believe in him and love him even as the Father hath loved him In which observation there is something closely intimated namely That the love of Jesus Christ and so of God the Father in and through him to such as believe in Jesus Christ and love him is a speciall and peculiar love above all that love in which he loveth any other of the sous of men Deut. 7.6.7 Truth it is he loveth all the sons of men till they become of the seed of the Serpent with the love of compassion and willingnesse to have them come in to him Psal 145.8 9. Pro. 8.4 5 31. Joh. 3.16 17. 1 Tim. 1.15 Yea even while they are sinners and know him not and while he is angry with them for not believing on him Rom. 5.6 8 10. 1 Joh. 2.2 and 4 10. Joh. 3.18.36 And this their not knowing and not believing this his love and goodnesse is that which holds them in impenitency and under sin and in wickednesse still Psal 9 10. Rom. 2.4.5 Joh. 16.8 11. 1 Joh. 5.19 20. 2 Thess 2.8 But such cleare and powerfull discovery of his love and goodnesse as doth cause the hart so to know believe and acknowledge the same that one is overcome thereby to believe on him and love him is a speciall and peculiar in his love
not only love and grace with generall effects but a special favour and speciall gift of grace Mat. 16.16.17.18 1 Pet. 1.21 1 Joh. 4.16 19. and 5.20 Tit. 2.11 12. and 3.3 4 5. Eph. 2 8. Above that which apertaines to al men 2 Thess 3.2 And this peculiar love is heere closely intimated of which is already spoken in the former observation And something in this observation is fully and plainly expressed namely such a peculiar love as is not peculiar only in respect of the manifestation and discovery thereof as before mencioned but it is peculiar also in it selfe such as never was is or shall be to any but them and such as they are Psal 132.13.14.15 and 148.14 and 149.4 Deut. 33.26.29 And soe it is peculiar both in the love it self and also in the manifestation of it Ioh. 14.17.21.22.23 16.27 The fruites whereof come through his advocation joyned with his propitiation which advocation is peculiar for them that believe in him and love him Ioh. 17.9 10 20 27. 1 Ioh. 2.1 And this peculiar love with such peculiar manifestation is significantly called the favour to his people the good of his chosen and the enjoyment of it the gladnesse of his nation Psal 106.4 5. And this is a peculiar love above all the love he beareth to any other of the sons of men in which also he makes them a peculiar people to himself 2 Pet. 2 9. And of this love is the observation now in hand which cannot be better expressed then in the words of our saviour himself which also is the proof thereof As the Father hach loved mee so have I loved you In which for our better understanding and usefulnesse there are three things contained to be viewed and heeded of us I. The first intimated as denied by none viz. the Father hath loved Iesus Christ his son II. The second to be inquired into in other his sayings which giveth light to that affirmed viz. how the Father hath loved Iesus Christ his son III. The third expresse viz. the affirmation it self as the Father hath loved mee so have I loved you I. For the first that the Father hath loved Iesus Christ his son and so loveth him is expresly affirmed Ioh. 5 20. The Father loveth the Son but an explication is to many more needfull in this then a proofe least the conceptiones of some bee too scant in this matter in which wee are not to consider Iesus Christ only as the second person of the three and so the son in respect of the devine nature without consideration of the flesh that once was to be and now is taken and so of the love only in which the three persons in one God delight in each other and so God hath all fulnesse of delight in himself but wee are to consider the second person the son of God as once he was to take and now hath taken flesh and so as he was found in our nature and stood as the publick person in the roome of all and became the propitiation for the sins of the whole world and the Advocate for believers the king priest and prophet and the head and Husband of the church as he was vile and dispised in the account of men and yet a lover of men and so approved of the father and so hath the father loved him as hee is such a one Pro. 8.22 23 30. Mat. 12.18 Mat. 3.17 and 17 5. Yea he loved him in his laying downe his life and making the propitiation Ioh. 10 17. Phill. 2 7 11. As also in his ministration Mat. 17 5. And in receit and approbation of those given him in the heavenly call Isa 42.1 2 8. Ioh. 16 27. And Iesus Christ thus considered as he tooke our nature and wrought for us the father hath loved him Isa 53 1 2 6 11.12 II. For the second thing how the father hath loved Iesus Christ his son and our saviour it is beyond conception and expression of mortals though some what thereof may be conceived and expressed as the scripture declares Eph. 3.18.19 And so according to the measure of light given wee may consider it two wayes I. Negatively Not with a worldly and humane love such as is in the men of the world and as the men of the world testify their love who desire for and wish unto and to their abillity confer upon those whom they most love most of the honours riches authority powre liberty pleasures and good report among men that is in this world and the things thereof Hest 6.6 9. Dan. 6.1 2 3. Gen. 41.39.44 Of this love is not heere-ment but of the love heere-ment it may be said as of the peace Christ giveth it is not such us the world hath and giveth nor so given Ioh. 14.27 For in these things the father did not set forth his love to lesus Christ his son and our saviour but abased him in all such things for worldly honours he was not sild with but abused in the meanenesse and contemptiblenesse of his birth in respect of parentage and place Luk. 2.4 7. In his exile after his birth into a strange countrie Mat. 12 13 15. In the place of his longest aboad and bringing up not in the famous city of Ierusalem but in Galilee out of which they used to say there ariseth no prophet Ioh. 7.52 In the manner of his life before his ministration a carpenter Mark 6.3 In the places of his ministration not alwayes in the temple and Sinagogues or houses of the rulers and Pharisees but often in other houses and in the houses of the Publicanes and in the wildernesse and on the mountaines and by the sea-side and in sishers ships Mat. 9 10 and 5 and 15 32 33. In his disciples and attendants on his ministration unlettered fisher-men a Publican a Canaanite c. Mat. 4.18 and 9 9 and 10 1 10. And his hearers and followers a despised people Ioh. 7.48 49. As for worldly riches hee was not furnished but in that respect very pore Mat 8.20 and 17 27. As for humane and outward authority offices and powre from and among men he had none Mar. 11 28. Luk. 12.13 14. Ioh. 18 36. As for humane repute and good report among men of most credit and esteeme in the world and their followers he was by them defamed reproached and slandered and that many wayes they defamed him by his parentage and kinred this the carpenters son c. Mat. 13 55 56 57. And by his trade he had used before his ministration Mar. 6.3 This the carpenter and by his not having beene trayned up at scooles whence hath this man these things c. Mat. 13 54 57. Mar. 6 2 3. And by his want of outward and pompous authority among men this fellow Ioh. 9.29 And not only defamed but also slandered him for his conversation with men to be a gluttonous person and a wine bibber and a friend of Publicanes and sinners Mat. 11.19 For his readinesse
preferreth his son in honour that he honoureth all those that in the day of grace do honour him Ioh. 14 21 23 and 16 27. And will repay those that persist in hating him Psal 68. V. It is an eternall and everlasting love hee loved him from all eternity and to eternity hee is the prime elect Isa 42 1. Hee loved him before he tooke flesh and when he tooke flesh yea alwayes while he was heere on earth in all his temptationes poverties sufferings ministration death and resm rection and now at his right hand and so for ever Pro. 8 22 30. Luk. 1.30 32. Ioh. 5 20 27. Psal 2.6 and 16 6 7 c. And with such devine Fatherly love so free righteous delightfull satisfying abundant flowing hononrable and honouring and everlasting love hath the Father ever loved the son though it was not in all times so visible when he was heere on earth and ever doth and will thus love him and thus wee have some small discovery of that which in the excellency and perfection thereof is beyond all our conception much more beyond our expression his love being infeint and in comprehensible passing knowledge III. For the third thing viz. the affirmation it self as the Father hath loved mee so have I loved you this is the profession and explanation of his great love with the peculiar manner of his loving as the Father hath loved him viz. I. Not with a humane and worldly love to be testified after the manner of the world in advancing them and freeing them from sufferings in such glory fame good report honour riches authority friend-ship liberty among men as is in and of this world wherein they shall be falsely accused hated persecuted and have many tribulationes as hee had but in him they shall have peace and comfort as he had in his Father Mat. 10 17 25. Ioh. 14 27 and 15 18 21 and 16 32 33. II. Nor only with a love of compassion and extention of some fruites thereof for so he hath loved all men Psal 136 26 and 145 8 9. And so he loved them when they were his enemies Rom. 5 7 10. Nor yet only with such a peculiarity in this loving as to make them to know and enjoy the comfort of this his compassionate love in the giving himself a ransome for them and the peace the patience the bownty the supports and supplies there through vouchsafed them in all their needs and trials so as they may experiment his love and tender mercy in the same Psal 116 1.2.8 Rom. 5 2 4 1 Cor. 3 10 Wherein he tenders them in some sort because of their weaknesse more then himself on earth was Psal 22 6 7. And though this love of compassion made knowne and enjoyed be sweete gracious and opperative love yet this love is higher and more peculiar Tit. 3 4 5 6 7. Yet III. Not such a love or so loving as admits no cloud darkenings or eclipses from the knowledge or perception of the beloved after the first appearance till the harvest or fulnesse of enjoyment but such as betweene the first appearance and the full comming in of the harvest may admit some clouds hidings and eclipses for a season 1 Pet. 1.6 7. Heb. 12 6 7. Isa 8.17 18. Cant. 3.1 4 and 5 8 21. But with such a devine spirituall and peculiar love as in which his Father loveth him his son he loveth those that believe on him and love him I. With a most free and righteous love hee hath loved and doth love them most freely not for any worth or desert or any excellency found in them or those from whom they received their first birth for they were so far from having any thing deserving love that they were full of such filth as deserved hatred yea such as could not bee taken of without his dieing for them which he did even while they were his enemies Ezek. 16 1 9. Rom. 5 8 10. And notwithstanding he still found them sinfull and rebellious to the day of his call 1 Tim. 1 12 13 14 15. Coll. 1.13 21 22. Yea even when he set his eye on them to take them to himself and for his owne he found them in their filth and bloud and in onenesse and fellowship with the world and yet did hee freely set his love on them and by his Spirit washed them from their sins in his owne bloud and graciously chose them out of the world Ezek. 16 6. Rec. 1 5. Ioh. 15 16 19. Tit. 3.3 4 5 6. So that his love is altogether free and as it is free so it is righteous hee having offered the sacrifice and presented his bloud to his Father so as mercy and truth are met and by vew of his bloud purged their consciences and presenting them in himself to the Father who counts them righteous it him hee loving them with a righteous love Psal 85.10.11 Heb. 9.12 14. And also Hee in this freenesse of his love having given his promise hee is righteous to perform hee is also so righteous in loveing that he will treasure up and not forget but both make prosperous and also recompense every fruite and worke of his own Spirit in them and that according as his grace prevailes in them and leads them to yeild up themselves and their members therein and thereto in the services and sufferings of love for him and their brethren and this also hee doth freely and for his own sake Cant. 5.1 Heb. 6.10 2 Cor. 9.6 Gall. 6.8 Mat. 10 41 42. Psal 19.11 1 Cor. 2.9 II. With a most delightfull and well-pleased love he hath set his delight and taketh pleasure in them Psal 16.3 33 18. and 149.4 And is well-pleased with them as they are in him and have him living in them Ioh. 15.1.9 Gall. 2 20. And soe with all that which by his Spirit hee worketh in them and which through that Spirit hee causeth them to doe in prayers prayses and services of love Jer. 9 24. Prov. 15.8 Yea so delightful is he in this his love and so well-pleased that he hath set his desire and placed his rest for an habitation in and with them Cant. 4.9 10. Psal 132 13 14. Yea so as hee affords them satisfying and well-pleasednesse in this his well-pleasednesse with them Psal 23. and 30 3 4 5. and 116.1.2 10. III. With a most abundant and flowing love his love so flowing on them that he hath them ever before him and his gracious eye upon them Psal 34 15. So that hee sets them as the seale upon his hart and as the seale on his arm Cant. 8.6 And hath graven them upon the palmes of his hands Isa 49 16 So that hee worketh al their works in them and doth all his works for them and causeth all to work together for good to them Isa 26 12. Psal 138 8 Rom. 8 28 Yea so as in due season he imparteth all his counsells and maketh them to know his mind and all his works Ioh. 15
15 16. 1 Ioh. 2.20 27. Yea even so that all his sufferings death resurrection ascension his victory wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption is become theires as if they had done all Ioh. 14.12 1 Cor. 1.30 2 Cor. 5 14. Yea hee conferreth on them and maketh them owners and partakers of all that is his even of his devine nature in union interest usefulnesse and comformity and soe of all things pertayning to life and godlinesse 2 Pet. 1 2 3 4. Yea soe that his Father himself his Spirit his covenant his privilidges his inheritance his people are all theirs And this so operative that they and all that is theirs is gained to bee and made his 1 Cor. 3.22 IV. With a most honourable and honouring love the Lord Jesus so loving those that believe on him and love him that hee will not accept to be loved received and acknowledged of any that doe not in with and for him in a measure love receive and acknowledge them but counts all that is done to them as done to himself whether in love or hatred and will not otherwise reckon of it but in some measure will have them in and for him loved as himselfe Mat. 18 5 6. and 45 40 44. Luk 10.16 Act. 9.4 5. 1 Ioh. 4 17 21. He putteth his name upon them and his Spirit in them and so beareth testimony in to and through them 2 Cron. 7 14 16. Isa 59.21 Rom. 8.16 Heb. 11 3. Rev. 2 17. Hee giveth to them the Kingdome and enheritance the Father hath given him Luk. 22 29. Heb. 12 28 and hee will have them to raine with himselfe and make them rule over the nations and judge the world Rev. 2.26 27. 1 Cor. 6.2 Yea hee blesseth and honoureth with blessings such as blesse love esteem them Gen. 12 3. Psal 15.1.4 And this so operative that they so honour him V. With an everlasting love hee hath loved them from eternity in the roote and nature Pro. 8.30 31. And doth soe love them to eternity in roote and branches as they can never drop out of this love of his Ier. 31 3. Ioh. 13 1. He loved them before they were 2 Tim. 1.9 And when they were his enemies Rom. 5 6.10 And when he called them Tit. 3 4.7 And hee loves them even when he speakes hardly to them and chastiseth them Ier. 31.20 Heb. 12.6 And when they are in tribulationes and sufferings for his sake Psal 116.15 And when they bring forth the fruites of his Spirit and approach to him Cant. 4.9 15. Yea he will love them for ever and it shall shine forth upon them without any darknesse or interuption when they shal be with him and see his glory seeing as they are seene and being made like him and so rejoycing in his love for ever and ever Ioh. 17 24. 1 Ioh. 3.1.2 Rev. 21. and 22. And this so opperative as it unites them in love to him for ever and thus as the father hath loved his son Iesus Christ so hath and doth Iesus Christ love those that believe on him and love him only in this wee are to heed this caution to keep us sober in the beliefe of so great love viz. That as Iesus Christ made the propitiation himself for us in and by himself without us so hee and hee only is the fountaine and cause in and through himself of all this love and fruites thereof to us so that in this respect he hath no partners 1 Ioh. 2.2 Psal 36.9 Hose 14 8. And for the communication of this his delightful love and fruites thereof he doth it according to his Fathers mind who in al things will have his son Iesus to have the preheminence his portion with out bounds or measure immeasurable but to every one that believeth on him a measure according to the measure of Christ Coll. 1 19. Ioh. 3 33. Eph. 1.7 And this observed wee may safely affirme and verily believe that as God the Father hath loved all men with a love of compassion so hath Iesus Christ so also loved them that he hath given himself a ransome for all men to be testified in due time Ioh. 3.16 17. 1 Ioh. 4 14. 1 Tim. 2.6 Even so as the Father hath loved and loveth his son Iesus Christ with a higher degree of love and a more peculiar love then he loved the world for whose redemption he sent him forth Ioh. 5 20. Rom. 14 9 12. Even so the Lord Iesus Christ hath loved and doth love all those that by his grace and Spirit are in the heavenly call brought into believe in him and love him even with the same devine Spirituall free righteous delightfull well-pleased abundant flowing honourable honouring and everlasting love in which the Father hath loved and loveth him himself having assirmed it And to make a little use of this point before we enter on the next Vse I. This may be an Information to us both of the greatnesse of the love of God and Iesus Christ our Lord to all that believe in Iesus Christ and love him and also of the happy and blessed condition of such believers I. For the love of God to these his people wee may better expresse it by admiration then description For how great is his goodnesse which hee hath laid up for them that feare him and wrought for them that trust in him before the sons of men Psal 31.19 That neither know or love him or them it was love endeed and that great also to ransome and redeeme them with his owne bloud from that great misery into which they were fallen and then to make knowne this love to them and therthrough to extend the choise fruites of his compassionate love to them as before but as if all this were but a little in the account of so gracious a God to do for them his love stayes not in this but floweth farther in loving them as he loves his son to make them like his son and sons in his son who loveth them also as the Father loveth him so that in this love God maketh them his sons his treasure and delight and hee is become their God and Father their refuge rock-portion guide and protector and hath intressed them in and made them owners of all his owne things and will bring them to raine together with Iesus Christ his son and preserve them till he bring them to that inheritance with Iesus Christ and make them like him to be ever with him Oh consider and behold what manner of love is this Ioh. 17 23 2 Cor. 6 18. Psal 18 1.2 Rom. 8 32. 1 Cor. 3.22 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5 1 Ioh. 3.1.2 II. For the happinesse of the condition of such as believe in Iesus Christ and love him enough is said where such love is assured to them and in such love to have forgivenesse of all their sins acceptation of their persons and accesse to the throne of grace Act. 10 43. Rom. 3 1 2. To have the Lord for their
well-pleasednesse was with him his delight was in him his presence with him and his purpose of glorifying him firme unmoveable and inseparable yea even when the shines and appearances of his love and delightfull fellowship were withdrawne and hidden from him and he for our sakes so far left as to feele the punishment of our sins which he suffered yet even then did the Father love him yea and also therefore love him Heb. 29. Phill. 2.6 7 9 10. Ioh. 16.32 end 10.17 And in his ministration of the Gospell and communication of Spirit and all the opperationes thereof in the harts of his people the Father is well-pleased with him and as he hath accepted his sacrifice and ransome for the sons of men so he accepteth all his Spirituall offerings and opperationes in the harts of believers acquainting them with and drawing and presenting them before his Father Isa 42.1.2.8 Psal 20.3 Ioh. 17.1 8 and 5 19 37. In all loving him II. In keeping these his Fathers commandments hee himself tooke delight in and was well-pleased in and with his Fathers love not desiring other loves favour riches pomp or Kingdome nor being troubled for being deprived of them or any of them having all his satisfying and content in the love and well-pleasednesse of his Father alwayes being well-pleased with him Ioh. 4.32 34 and 5 43 44 and 10.30 Psal 40.8 Ioh. 14.31 and 16 32. III. In all trials that befell him on earth in keeping these commandments this his Fathers love and well-pleasednesse with him and his delight and satisfying therein found had its perfect working with him carrying him through all labours and sufferings so as he neither drew back from any part of the first command Heb. 12.2 Isa 50.5.6.7 Nor did nor will faile in the other command to fulfill all righteousnesse Isa 42.1.2.8 IV. In all this his so keeping these commands through all he met on earth he retained the beliefe and held fast the confidence he had in his Fathers love with assurance of being upheld and in due season to see the travell of his soul and to be glorified with the glory he had with his Father before the world was Isa 50.5 6 7 and 53 8 11. Ioh. 17.1.2.3 And now being glorified at his Fathers right hand remaineth there Advocating for and sending forth Spirit to his people waiting till all his enemies be made his footstoole when he will take his great powre and raigne being the well-beloved of his Father Psal 110. 1 Ioh. 2.1.2 Eph. 4.7.12 Rev. 11.17 Thus hath Iesus Christ kept these his Fathers great commandments and abode in his love which might be of much use to us I. To informe us of the great love of Christ to us that hath undertaken and performed these so great needfull and fit commands to be done by him for us and of the great love of God in the gift of his son to fulfill such commandments for us and so loving and accepting him in the keeping of them Gall. 2.20 1 Ioh. 4.9 10 and 3 16. Rom. 8.32 and 5 6 11. 2 Cor. 3.18 and 4.6 And of the full and perfect saluation that is to be found in Jesus Christ that great saluation hee hath wrought in his owne body for men and that healthfull and eternall saluation which by his Spirit applying the former hee worketh in those that believe on him and love him 1 Ioh. 4.14 1 Pet. 2.24 Heb. 5.8 9 and 7 24 25. II. To exort us to looke to him and to that hee hath done and that which apertaines to him to doe to believe both and to accept and receive the one and to depend one and submit to him for and in the other Isa 42.1.8 and 45.22.23 and 55.1.6 Rom. 4.24 25. and 5.1.6 11. and 6. to the end And soc to love him and it love to receive and highly prize this his direction and promise to follow and walke in the one and to depend one and wayte for the other And so wee come to the third thing in this point which is that heer also affirmed by our Saviour that As he hath kept his Fathers commands and abode in his love so if wee keepe his commandements wee shal abide in his love In which are contained two things clearly set forth Viz. FIrst A sweet and healthfull direction how to continue in his love namely I. In keeping his commandments II. In keeping them as hee kept his Fathers commandements Secondly A comfortable promise that so keeping his commands they shall abide in his love First the healthfull direction hath three things in it to be opened and understood for our better use-fulnesse I. The commands of Jesus Christ to believers heere-ment what they are II. The keeping of them of which hee heere speaketh what that is III. The manner of keeping as he kept his Fathers commands what that is I. For the first of these to know rightly what the commandements of Jesus Christ to believers heere-ment are livers things may be considered Consider I. That there bee commandements of divorts sorts mencioned in the Scripture as to instance the chiefe of them There are I. Such commands as by the grace of creation by Christ and by the grace of redemption wrought in and by Christ in his own body and the common frultes thereof all men are bound with all their powers and in and by that strength that at any time hath beene given into their naturall powres by God to perform to the utmost in performance of which if noe fayling bee found they shall have life but the least fayling therein if but once in any part of any one command doth alwayes leave a man in and of himself under sinne and death the wages thereof and by these commandements are all men found under the guilt of sinne and under the powre of curse and death even al those that sight against and run crosse to these commands al those also who doe their utmost to make themselves righteous in and by the keeping of them Rom. 2.12.14 and 3.10 20. and 6.23 and 10.5 Gall. 3.10 Ieb 9.22 30 33. And the trespasses which these commandments doe charge mankind withall and which through the fall they were necessitated to commit and left without devine powre to help themselves were all laid on Jesus Christ who mas manifested to take them away and to make propitiation for the sins of the world Isa 53.2 6. 2 Cor. 5.19.21 1 Ioh. 3 4 5. and 2.2 Ioh. 1.29 And under this law of commandments was Jesus Christ made for those that were under it Gall. 4.4 And hee himselfe and hee only did altogether and alwayes fulfille it so as it could charge him with no sinne of his own commission but only with our sins against it in that hee was made under that law for us so as al his whole suffering and sacrifice was for us 1 Pet. 2.22.24 and 3 18. 2 Cor. 5.21 And to this law hath he perfectly satisfied in respect of himselfe in fulfiling it
also an unfeyned love of our brother 2 Cor. 5.14 1 Ioh. 4.21 1 Pet. 1.22 From both which commands writ in the hart aptly springs up all contained in the particular precepts of the Gospell as is before shewne Ioh. 4.13 and 7 38 39. And walking in this faith and love in minding the precepts and veiw of the opportunities the motiones to go according to the mind of Christ will aptly spring up so as one may go one serving in newnesse of Spirit and not in oldnesse of letter Pro. 6.20 21 22 23. Ioh. 3.16 17. Rom. 12.2 and 7 6 25 and 8 1 2. So that from this whole consideration that the commands of Christ to his disciples are such commands as are contained and expressed in the Gospell and put with the Gospell by Christ into the hart of the believer and do naturally and aptly spring up in the believe of the Gospell it appeares that believing in Iesus Christ and loving our brother are the commands of Christ heere ment Consider III. The commandments of Ghrist to his disciples are such as are suitable to the commendements himselfe hath performed for them Pro. 3.1.13 Heb. 3.8.9 1 Cor. 6.20 Now hee in fulfilling the commandements hee received of the Father for us having taken away our sinnes and dyed our death and soe purchased us and wrought salvation for us and by his Gospell and Spirit sent forth having made knowne this salvation to us and in aplying it evidenced himselfe to bee our righteousnesse and life and ready and able eternally to save us 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Ioh. 3.5 Heb. 5.9 Suitable heerto it is that wee abhoring our sinnes and denying our selves our wisedome righteousnesse strength with all that is ours and all fleshly delights and considences to accept of him for all and so to believe in trust too and depend on him for all grace righteousnesse life and safety 1 Cor. 1.30 31. Phil. 3.3.4.7 8 9.10 1 Pet. 1.13.14 Gall 1.20 And hee having so loved us suitable it is that wee should so love one another 1 Ioh. 3.16 Eph. 5.2 So that in this consideration it also apeares That believing in Iesus Christ and loving our Brother are the commandments of Christ heere ment Consider IV. The commandements of Christ to his disciples are such commandements as he hath given into their harts and cannot nor are otherwise required to bee kept then as they are in the hart whence believers confesse that they have received the command from him 1 Ioh. 4.21 And hee is said to write them in their harts Heb. 8.10 And the commandement is true in him and in them 1 Ioh. 2.8 The law without was engraven in tables of stone and writ in leaves but the Epistle of Christ is writ by his Spirit in the hart 2 Cor. 3.3.7 The law without leaves under sinno and death but Christs law within affords life 2 Cor. 3.6.7.8 9 10. Whence Christ saith hee that hath my command ments and keepeth them hee it is that loveth mee Ioh. 14.21 In which consideration it apeareth that faith and love Which all Christs disciples have Coll. 1 4. and are to keepe and walke in Heb. 3.14 Are the commandments heere ment And yet that this may bee moore evident some proofes heerof may be considered Proofe I. These two commandements of faith and love as they are contained in the Gospell and spring from the Gospel believed so they contayne the whole summe of the patterne or forme of healthfull and sound words which the Gospel requireth of us 2 Tim. 1.14 And of all that which the Gospell believed springeth up in the hart 1 Ioh. 5.13 Ioh. 20.31 1 Ioh. 3.1.3 and 4 19 21. Whence the commandment is called the word of the Gospell it selfe believed 1 Ioh. 2 7. And the Gospell is called the commandment which in hart believed that which is said before of Christ his keeping his Fathers commandements is by believers found true in him and that which is said in consideration the second of faith and love springing up in the hart the believers find true in them because the darknesse is past and the true light now shineth 1 Ioh. 2.8 And so in respect of the Gospell put in the hart it is called the old command and that which was at first heard and received from Christ and which quickeneth and in respect of its Spirituall entrance receipte and abiding and the faith and love springing up therefrom it is called the new commandement being allwayes greene and flourishing so that the believer may thereby bring out of the good treasurie of his hart things new and old Mat. 13.52 Which according to all the considerationes proveth faith and love to bee the commandements heere ment Proofe II. These two commandements of faith and love are the commendements which God giveth unto and putteth in the hart of his children Ier. 31.33 Phill. 2.29 Eph. 2.8.10 They are the commandements of God the Father when he calleth and uniteth men to his son Jesus Christ causing them to beliefe on the name of his son Jesus Christ and to love one another as his son hath given commandement 1 Ioh. 3.23 and 4 21. And they are the commandements expresly given by Iesus Christ to all his disciples when he makes knowne his Father to them to believe on him for eternall life Ioh. 12.36 and 14 1. And to love one an other as hee hath loved us Ioh. 13.34 and 15 12. And these are also the very commandements which the Holy Ghost putteth into the harts of believers 1 Pet. 1.21.22 1 Ioh. 3.21.24 So that these two commandements of faïth and love are evident to be the commandements heere ment Proofe III. All labouring to attaine and fulfill in performance any or all other particular preceipts of law or Gospell which flowes not from and is not acted through this believing in the name of Iesus and love of the brethren whatsoever endeavours and services they bee and how and to what end soever otherwise done whether To please God and get boldnesse with him or to get therethrough the righteousnesse of God and so Christ and faith in him and love to brethren or to assure themselves by such attainments and observances of a peculiar interest in Christ even all whatsoever so done to comfort themselves therewith all of it I say as the scripture shewes I. It is but a serving of God according to the oldnesse of the letter and so leaves the doores thereof under sin and curse and the feare of both Rom. 7.6 25 and 8 2 7. Gall. 3.10 Tit. 1.9.10.15 Ioh. 3.5.6 II. The doers thereof do therein and thereby deprive themselves of and hold themselves out from enjoyment of Christ and unfeyned faith in him and love of brethren Rom. 9 32. and 10.3.4.1 Sam. 2 9. Zach. 4.6 Psal 107.11.12 Ecclez 15.16 and 16.15 III. They deceive themselves and are deceived in all that which by such observances and ataynments they judge themselves by to bee in Christ and to have peculiar interest in
peculiar the wine wherof himselfe wil drink and with the same refresh his choise freinds Cant 5.1 Psal 36.8.9 He found the ransome Ioh. 33.24 Hee gave his son Ioh. 3.16.1 Ioh. 4.14 Hee made him flesh Ioh. 1.14 Hee made him to be sin and curse for us 2. Cor. 5 21. Gall 3.13 Hee raised him from the dead and made him wisdome and righteousnesse for us Rom. 4.25.1 Cor. 1.30 Hee hath accepted his sacrifice and taken well-pleasednesse in him Heb. 10.1.10 Mat. 3.17 and 17.5 Hee hath filled him with spirit and eternal life for men so hath made him a quickning spirit Psal 68.18 Isa 61.1.1 Ioh. 5.10.11 1. Cor. 15.45 And so hath set him forth for a propitiation Rom. 3.25 A witnesse leader and commander Isa 55 4. The medium of dispensing spirit Isai 42 1.2 And comming into him and of fruitfulnesse Ioh. 10 9. Soe is hee the vine the True Vine which God hath made and prepared II. That from the beginning he by spirit in such meanes as he used hath beene drawing in some to his son and these are his chosen his vineyard in whom his word is put and soe hee in them that from them he may be declared to others Pro. 9.1 Isa 5. and 28.16 III. Hee stil useth meanes through Christ to make him knowne and soe to open him and call and draw into him and ingraft in him this being peculiarly in some sence the fathers worke Ioh. 1.13 Mat. 16.16 Ioh. 17 6.7.8 and 6.44.45 and 3.14.15 Rom. 5.8 10.2 Tim. 1.9 And this he doth by his gospel Rom. 1.16 And that both in his servants ministration therof Ioh. 17.20 23. Rom. 10.14 15.17.1 Cor. 3.5 And also by his spirit opperating therein and therwith Act. 11.21.2 Cor. 13.3 Whence that Act. 26.18 IV. That when God hath made knowne his son by the Gospel and vouchsafed the ministration of it by his servants with some motiones of his spirit calling to Christ and soe into his vineyard he According to his nighdrawing in the meanes and drawing them nigh to Christ and his lookes that they should bring forth fruites Isa 5.4 Luk. 13.6 Even fruites of repontance Mat. 3. Faith love joy peace c. Gall 5.22.23 And glorifying him that others therby might come to praise him Mat. 5.16 V. When he hath used such meanes and striven with them and waited for them his time and some bring forth noe fruite that is suitable to the meanes and for him Hee taketh them away either by taking gospel and church state from them Mat. 21.42.43 and 23.37.38.2 Chron. 36 16 17. Isa 5.5.6 Or by taking away his spiritual opperationes from them and so reprobating them Ier. 6.16.31 Ezek. 24 13. Mat. 3.1 Ioh. 2.19 Heb. 2.1.4 and 10.29.30 V I. Those which by the meanes and spirit therin doe bring forth fruite hee purgeth that they may bring forth more fruite I. He purgeth and cleanseth by the grace the promiseâ— the spirit given all opperating to reprove sin Ioh. 16.8.9.10 To deny ungodlinesse c. Tit. 2.11.12 To cleanse from al 〈◊〉 thinesse of flesh and spirit 2. Cor. 7.1 And soe is withering aâ—â— crucifying the flesh with the affectiones and lusts thereof Isa 40.6.7 Gall. 5.24 II. Hee purgeth by afflictiones and correctiones as often as need is to take downe pride breake them of their enterprises returne them from their strayings and hasten them to himself that they may being judged in the world not be condemned with the world but partake of his righteousnesse 1. Pet. 1.6 Ioh. 33.16.24 Heb. 12.6.11.1 Cor. 11.32 Isa 27.8.9 III. He purgeth them in nurturing with the crosse oâ— Christ enabling them to suffer shame losse hard-ship c. foâ— the name of Christ by whom the world is made as a crucified thing to them and they become as crucified to it which freed from many snares Gall. 6.14.2 Tim. 3.11.12 And al this purging is that they may partake of the vertue of 〈◊〉 resurrection of Christ bring forth more fruit Rom. 6.4.5.6 VII Hee accepteth and treasureth up those fruites that are brought forth by the opperationes of his spirit in and through those that abide in Christ and make them usefull 1. Pet. 2.3.4.5.9 Cant. 5.1 VIII Hee owneth knoweth keepeth and approveth this vine and vineyard and branches with the fruites thereof Mat. 3.17 Psal 16.2 Tim. 2.19 Cant. 6.2.3 and 7.12 He hath not only a right over them to dispose of them for so all are his Psal 119.91 The earth is the lords and the fulnesse therof the world and they that dwel therin Psal 24.1 Yea the whole field is his Mat. 13.24 But these are his garden Isa 51.3 His vineyard Psal 80.15 His pleasant portion Ier. 12.10 His peculiar above al the field his treasure Deut. 7.6 Psal 135.4 His enheritance Deut. 9.26.29 And his jewels Matt. 3.17 Soe that they are owned as his choise portion with speciall love care and portection And thus hath he instructed his disciples and us in them about his father himselfe and themselves which as it might be a motive to deter all from harmeing them and to alure men to come and suffer themselves by the doctrine of Christ to be drawne forth of the field into this vineyard and so into Christ and a strong motive to those that are in Christ have of his word and spirit in them to abide and walke in him in the faith and love of him and submission to his teachings and to have his word spirit with al its opperationes abiding in them seeing they are in such a vine and have such a Husband man Againe As our Saviour had beene instructing his disciples so hee had been admonishing them in warning them of the danger of unfruitfulnesse and not abiding in him namely I. That while they abide in the beleife of him and his word enlightened to their hart and in fellowship with his and his word abideth in their hart there is a possibillity of bringing forth fruite to God Psal 78.5.6.7.8 Act. 28.27 Heb. 4.12 And in suffering its opperationes and yeelding up thertoo assurance of bringing forth fruit Rom. 12.1 2. Goll 3.16 Isa 48.18 As heere Vers 2.4.5.6 II. That not abiding in him and his word but suffering it either to be stollen away or not to have its opperation and rooting in the hart it is unpossible to bring forth fruit that will abide or be accepted Mat. 13.19.20.21 As heere Vers 5.6 III. That those to whom hee is made knowne and his word come and they brought to the vineyard and bring forth noe fruite God taketh away in withdrawing his light and spirit from them and soe closeth their eyes and giveth them up to hardnesse Ioh. 12.38.39.40.2 Thess 2.10 And casteth them forth even from the hart and spiritual fellowship of his living people Ier. 14.11 1. Ioh. 5.11 and 2.19 and manifesteth them 2. Tim. 3.9 Psal 12.5 IV. That when they are taken away and cast forth they wither and ar soone withered their moisture light zeale