not thereby made worthy of our loue As nothing doth more become a sort of beggers children whom some rich and noble person should so loue as to adopt them his sonnes and fellow-heires then to loue dearely and intirely among themselues so is it a most seemely thing that we should follow God in this loue and imbrace them with true and feruent loue whom he hath made fellow-heires with vs yea and in our loue we must keepe the same order which the Lord obserueth Be yee mercifull as your Father is mercifull Our loue ought to resemble Gods for kinde and order Luke 6.36 saith our Sauiour As the same mercy is to be shewed by vs not for measure degree but for kinde which God sheweth so must wee tread the same steps for order wherein our heauenly Father doth goe before vs. There is no creature specially of those that are seruiceable to vs but we must be louing and kinde thereto Shewing kindnesse to beasts more to men most 〈◊〉 the godly A righteous man doth regard the life of his beast Prou. 12.10 Next all men must be loued but as God doth embrace his elect with a singular loue aboue other men so must wee be more especially affectioned toward the godly as Paul doth direct vs Gal. 6.10 Doe good to all men but especially vnto them which are of the hous-hold of faith 2 Our loue to God aâ—â— our 〈◊〉 neighbour â—pâ— getâ—â—rom Gods loue to vs. Secondly this point touching Gods loue toward vs doth shew whence it is that our loue to God our neighbour is engendred euen hence doth it proceed from Gods louing of vs. Saint Iohn 1. Iohn 4.12.16 doth proue and conclude that wee are in God and haue the knowledge and faith of Gods loue to vs euen from our loue to God and our Brethren For God is loue yea that maine and vast sea of loue from whom all those streames and riuelets of loue that are in men do issue and flowe If vvater bee vvarme and doe heate We are this way key cold vnlesse God warme vs. it is not of it selfe for it is an extreame cold element but by vertue of fire in some sort dwelling in it which the Philosopher cals the excesse of heate So the holy loue of God and our brethren cannot kindle of it selfe in our hearts which are most auerse there from but must come from God who is loue himselfe dwelling and residing in vs and our taste of this infinit fauour vnto vs. As Saint Iohn saith plainely 1. Ioh. 4.19 that we loue God and so our neighbours because he loued vs first The cold and frozen earth cannot cherish the trees and plants with any kindly heate and iuice except it first bee thawed and warmed with the aspect of the sunne shining on it and approaching to it And so the loue of God looking out vpon vs in Iesus Christ must first melt our frozen and warme our cold hearts before we can shew and put forth any affection or worke of loue to God and our brethren Nor is this point needlesse to be knowne A point needfull to bee knowne For if we know it not we shall neither giue praise to God vvhen this affection sparkleth in vs nor know when it is frozen whither to repaire that it may bee reuiued and inflamed in vs. 3. The folly of the world which hateth most whom God loueth Thirdly from this loue of God to his we may take notice of the folly of the world For they hate there most where the Lord loueth most I saith our Sauiour Iohn 17.14 haue giuen them thy word and the world hath hated them because they are not of the world c. The more loue God doth manifest vnto any in giuing them his word and grace to obey and imbrace it the more the hatred of the world doth boyle and breake out against them Water for the contrarietie that it hath with fire A note of their comitie against God and the godly doth hisse spet and sputter not onely vvhen fire falleth into it but if any thing throughly heated with the fire catch it And whence is this in worldly men but from their aduerse disposition to and hatred of God that they hate the dearest people of the Lord and those in whom his grace is most apparant In Princes Courts are not they rebellious spirits and foolish men And the next way that professe open and mortall hatred to the greatest Fauorites of the King Doe they not take the right way to ruinate themselues and their estates Such as are politiquely wise and intend to rise to any matters or estate in the Court will rather obserue the Kings speciall fauourites loue them and insinuate into their acquaintance So is it a most sottish folly in men of the world to hate the Lords holy and deare children For be they sure that the Lord vvill hold them as they are enemies to him to kâ—ep th mselues from all blessings that they shaâ—l want many a bleâ—sing from the King of Heauen which the prayers of the godly vvould obtaine for them Yea Nâ—y to ruinate themselues many plagues will light vpon them in this respect If they will be wise for their soules and bodies too it is their best vvay to loue and embrace with all kindnesse the people of God which God vvould take as a token of loue to himselfe and they should haue the benefit of their prayers vvhich can obtaine great things from God It followeth that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne Doct. 3. Gods dearest loue is manifest not in outward things but in Christ giuen vs. OBserue heere wherein the speciall loue of God consisteth not in health wealth honours countenance libertie and such like but in the gift of Christ As his loue towards his was exceeding great yea infinite so hee had no better way to euidence this loue but by the gift of his Sonne By this therefore doth the word of God in sundry places commend to vs the loue of God God setteth out his loue vnto vs saith Paul Rom. 5.8 that while we were sinners Christ died for vs. So 1. Iohn 4.9 In this appeared the loue of God toward vs because God sent his onely begotten Son into the world c. God did manifest and magnifie his loue in nothing so as in the gift of his Sonne vnto vs All his other loue in distributing vnto vs wealth No other loue at he last comfortable without it libertie honour and pleasures is more then we are worthy of but it hâ—d beene poore and cold loue in respect of any good and comfort to vs-ward without Christ giuen vs. Wherin therfore doth Paul place Ephes 2.7 the exceeding riches of Gods grace and kindnesse but in Iesus Christ that is in this that he hath giuen vs Christ without whom notwithstanding all the worlds good and glory Bâ—â— we most miserable there is no brute beast nay there is
not to abolish but to fulfill the law and the Prophets And therefore Paul doubteth not to say that the righteousnesse of the Law is still fulfilled in vs. Rom. 8.4 Namely Euangelicè and applicatiuè according to the tenour of the Gospell by application but in Christ legaliter and inhaesiuè according to the Law inhaesiuely in himselfe 3 Causeâ— wâ—y in Scripâ—â—râ—â—â— so small mention of Câ—â—â—stâ— actâ—ue obâ—dâ—eâ—ce Why then will some say doth the Scripture speake so little of this kinde of obedience and so much of his passion There are sundry causes of it First because That of his Passion was most sensible and exposed to the eyes of all Secondly because that the Ceremoniall types had in that their accomplishment Thirdly because his Passion hath in it the chiefe actuall obedience See Chrysostom in the second homily on the Acts. The third degree of the giuing of Christ 3. In his death to suff r for 〈◊〉 which standeth more agreeably with this place is the giuing of him to be lifted vp vpon the tree that there in his bodie hee might beare our sinnes 1. Pet. 2.24 For in his lifting vp which phrase noteth the manner of his death hee answereth to the type of the brazen Serpent Iohn 3.14 Which as whoso looked on had cure for the stings of the fierie serpents so wee looking on Christ by faith are cured of the sting of that old serpent sinne and death Of this giuing Paul speaketh Rom. 8.32 He hath giuen his own Sonne for vs all Which iâ— the height â—f Godâ— louâ— And the Epitasis and height of Gods loue is made manifest in it that our hearts should burne within vs. Yea with the Spouse in the Canticles Cant. 2.5 we should swoone to consider it For what vnspeakeable loue is it that Almightie God a father so glorious and full of Maiestie should giue his onely Sonne a sonne like and equall to himselfe for his enemies to be made vnder the Law yea the curse of the Law and to be deliuered vp to the powers of darknesse This doctrine hath foure vses Vses 1. To make vs mourne for our â—â—nnes First it serueth to shew vs how horrible sinne is to engender in vs godly griefe and to make vs studiously auoide it Such Epicurisme is in vs that wee count sinne a light hurt which any thing will salue But whoso duely weigheth this that sinne ere it could bee done away and satisfied hath made the Lord of glory to empty himselfe of his Maiestie the Son of God to walke as a seruant God himselfe to shed his bloud this will make his heart to melt bleed within him for his sinnes and to water his cheekes with teares no lesse aboundantly then he hath before laughed merrily and blithely I will poure saith the Lord Zachary 12.10 vpon the house Dauid and vpon the inhabitants of Ierusalem the spirit of grace and compassion and they shall looke vpon mee whom they haue pearced and they shall lament for him as one mourneth for his onely sonne and be sorry for him as one is sorry for his first borne c. If once the Lord make vs turne our eyes to Christ and to regard what he hath suffered for our sinnes nothing will more then that humble vs with godly sorrow and bruise our hearts for them For what sorrow can we thinke deepe enough what teares sufficient for our sinnes which haue pearced the Sonne of God vvith extreame sorrowes and put him to most base vile and painefull sufferings And this grace also will curbe a man most effectually from breaking forth into euill and â—o curbe vs from sinne As Tit. 2.11 12. The grace of God which bringeth saluation vnto all men hath appeared and teacheth vs that wee should deny vngodlinesse and worldly lusts What is this grace of God but that fauour and loue vvhich God hath shewed vs in the sufferings of Christ then the vvhich there is no better master to teach vs and to presse vpon vs this lesson of vsing all endeauour to shunne sinne For therein as in a cleere glasse may we contemplate and behold what Christ hath endured to free vs from it what fearefull torments it deserueth how odious and hatefull it is to God which he would so seuerely punish in his owne Sonne And lastly into vvhat horrible misery it will eternally plunge vs if we doe not shake it off and abstaine therefrom 2. To comfort in temptation Secondly it is comfortable in temptation For when Sathan shall trouble our mindes and charge vs with our sinnes and vvant of righteousnesse there is nothing in the world that can quiet our mindes and stop his mouth but this that Christs righteousnesse and satisfaction is ours Shewing Christ to be ours and that by his death we are acquitted from our sinnes and by his righteousnesse made righteous before God But how is Christs righteousnesse and satisfaction made ours Euen by the gift and donation of God For as wee haue heard By Gods gift God hath giuen vs his Sonne and if Christ himselfe be giuen vs doubtlesse vvith Christ wee haue all the merits of his obedience conferred on vs by the same gift And what better right and title can we haue to him and his righteousnesse then this that God who is the sole owner possessour of him hath bestowed him on vs 3. To make 〈◊〉 trust to God â—or all other good things Rom. 8 3â— Thirdly it is a ground of hope in all our vvants that God vvill supply vnto vs all things good and needfull For hath God giuen vs Christ his Sonne How shall hee not with him giue vs all things also No man vvhose kindnesse and loue to vs hath beene so great as to bestow on vs the best and dearest thing he hath vvill hold backe any thing that should make that gift sure and behoouefull to vs or see vs in distresse for want of smaller matters Loe God hath giuen vs his Sonne the most excellent deere and precious thing he had And can wee thinke that his loue is so cold as that hee vvill sticke to bestow vpon vs earthly things that are toyes and trifles to this great gift if he see them fit for vs or that he will not giue vs faith and other graces whereby this gift should be made certaine and of vse vnto vs 4. To â—ssuâ—e vs of the continuance of â—oâ—s loue herâ—a â—er Fourthly it doth assure vs of Gods loue for the time to come If when we were enemies vvee were reconciled to God by the death of his Sonne much more being reconciled shall wee bee saued by his life Rom. 5.10 If a man out of loue haue sought the friendship of his enemie and vsed meanes to be reconciled to him is it not likely that he will be constant in this loue and take all waies to maintaine it vnto the end But howsoeuer it fall out with man who is variable most sure it is that GOD
we reioice therein Wherein we should reioice And what should wee more long and labour to enioy then this Reioice not in this saith our Sauiour to his Disciples Luke 10.20 that spirits are subdued vnto you but if you reioice in any thing reioice that your names are written in heauen and that you are appointed to liue in glory there And truely blessed Paul did so prize this hope laid vp in heauen for him that for it he neglected and forgate all things behinde and did onely looke and endeauour himselfe vnto this happinesse which hee saw before him following hard toward the marke for the price of the high calling in Christ Iesus Phil. 3.13 14. Yea the desire of it was so vehement that it made him sigh and groane longing to bee clothed with this Tabernacle which is from heauen And long to enioy it in heauen 2. Cor. 5.2 Would not a poore begger if he should vnderstand of some great and goodly liuing fallen to him in a farre countrey much reioice therein long to goe to see it and take possession of it And if any man should offer to detaine it would he not striue with all might and sue for it at the law in forma pauperis as wee say rather then goe without it Doubtlesse wee haue dead and dull hearts if wee doe not reioice in this life and glory which by faith in Christ wee obtaine if wee doe not long to take our iourney vnto heauen to haue the full fruition of it and doe not striue for it with praiers to God struggle with all our power against the world and Satan that would defeat vs of it Children for want of vnderstanding Which wee doâ— not or want of vnderstanding mind not those goodly possessions they are born to content if they haue a hobby-horse to ride a painted rattle or couÌ„ters to play with And is it not of a childish ignorance concerning the glory of eternall life that we so little minde it and carelesly look after it but are well contented with these painted bables of the world spend all our thoughts and strength about them It should therefore bee our continuall praier vnto God That we are to beg of God as Eph. 1.18 that the eyes of our minde may bee lightened that wee may know what is the hope of Gods calling and what is the riches of this glorious inheritance One cleare view of this glorious condition would rauish our harts with the loue of it and excite all the powers within vs to lay holde of it 2. It teacheth vs patience in worldly losses and crosses Secondly wee may learne patience and vvith the more quiet mindes to beare afflictions and worldly losses from the contemplation of this euerlasting life which we haue by faith in Christ Abraham did leaue his friends his natiue country all his earthly hopes there which were not small and came to dwell in a strange country where he susteined many grieuances by the vncircumcised and heathnish people and was exercised with sundry troubles all which hee passed ouer with singular patience by the hope and desire of eternall life and that heauenly country to which hee was called Heb. 11.8.9.10.16 So likewise Moses that man of God did quit Pharaohs court set light by all the pleasures wealth and honours of it chusing aboue these the rebuke of Christ and to suffer affliction with Gods people And what gaue him in these and all his sufferings encouragement but the large recompence of eternall life which he saw before had respect vnto Heb 11 24 25 26. Finally the faithfull Hebrewes are highly commended by the Apostle Heb. 10 32 33 34. for their great patience which they shewed in bearing afflictions enduring reproaches being partners with Gods persecuted people and suffering with ioy the spoiling of their goods of which their patience this was the ground that they knewe in themselues Since by faith we know of better things reserued for vs. how that in heauen they had a better and an enduring substance If a man of noble birth rich reuenue trauailing homeward through a forraine land should there haue base indignities offered him nay should fall into the hands of theeues and by them be stripped of his rich apparell and robbed of all his mony all this would the lesse trouble him for that he meant to stay among these churlish people no longer then needs hee must and if hee could make shift for a season till hee came to his natiue country that he knew himself there to haue friends that would honour him and golde and siluer enough to supply this losse and fully to furnish him Why then should we fret and grieue at the base intreaty which wee receiue from worldlings at the wrongs and reproaches that are offered vs at our worldly losses and generally all the miseries of this life Which will recompence worldly discomforts For haue not we an heauenly home and an eternall life by Christ prepared for vs at the which if wee once arriue wee know by faith that there we haue friends euen God his Saints and Angels who will honour vs riches and treasures inestimable to store vs ioy and glory vnspeakeable to refresh vs. Thouâ—h wâ—rldly â—â—enâ—â— such cases whine not without câ—â—â—e whâ— leesing their worldly comforts leeâ—â— all None would thinke it strange to see a poor man that did carry al his treasure about him to whine and cry if falling into the hands of theeues hee did at once leese all for hee is cleane vndone and hath nothing left to succour him but it were extreame basenes in a wealthy man to take on for the losse of some small summes when it is well knowne that hee hath thousands at home that are safe and entire Thus for worldly men wee may well allow them to chafe and fret howle and cry at the losse of their outward peace wealth mirth honor and reputation For alas how can they doe otherwise they are become starke beggers are cleane vndone haue nothing left nor know not whence to looke for a supply but truely Gods people doe too too bad shame their profession who in outward afflictions and losses grow impatient and are out of hart whose losses are nothing to that which is left them and whose hopes which are in heauen reserued for them will abundantly recompense all the miseries of this life 3. It staieth our hart in worldly cares feares Thirdly This doth serue to establish our hearts against sundry worldly cares and feares we are in restlesse maner tossed in our selues distracted hither thither one while affecting earthly greatnes abundance another while carking for earthly necessaries and fearing the want of them But all without cause For what neede wee so admire at For we need 〈◊〉 â—â—oâ—tâ—on 〈◊〉 bâ—â—â—â—â—â—es who 〈◊〉 heauenly which are better meant vs. and aspire vnto the glory and happinesse of this life who haue an eternall