Christ is a Gospel-Love which now falleth under discussion But what is this Gospel Love Qu. Gâ—spel-Love Sol. is a supernatural Grace and expansion of the Soul towards the personal excellency of Christ Deserâ—tio as its proper object There are four things indispensably necessary in order to the constituting of a Gospel-Love the Nature of it the Original of it the Soil of it the Object of it To these distinctly The Nature of it Gospel-Love is a Grace As Faith and Hope so Love is a Grace a chief one a choice one That Love is a Grace if not the chiefest and the choicest one is evident for 't is in conjunction with Faith and Hope bearing the Garland from them both When those three Goddesses say the Poets strove for the Golden Ball Paris adjudged it to the Queen of Love There are if I may so write three celestial Graces three theological Virtues in an holy emulation striving for the Chiefdom and the great Doctor of the Gentiles gives it to Love There abideth Faith Hope 1 Cor. 13.13 and Love these three but the greatest of these is love That Love is greater than Faith or Hope will appear beyond all modest contradiction by an induction and reflection of these following particulars Love is greatest as to Title Reflect the Titles of Love and so it appears greatest Love For 1. 1 Jo. 2.8 9 10. that 's called the new Commandment A new commandment write I unto you Where is Faith or Hope so called 'T is called a new commandment Because it was an excellent commandment Because imposed upon such as are renewed Because renewed by the Lord after it had been as it were antiquated and almost extinguished Love that 's called the bond of perfection Above all things put on charity Love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Greek-Text which is the bond of perfectness Above all things put on love for this is as a garment put upon all others 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and this is the bond Not such a bond as tyes one thing to another but properly such a bond as doth couple and conjoyn bind and unite many things together which is the bond of perfection Col. 3.14 or integrity Now where hath Faith or Hope such a Title Love that 's called the fulfilling of the Law Gal. 5.14 All the Law is fulfilled in one word even in this thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thy self Where is Faith or Hope so called This seemeth to be opposed to the doctrine of the false Apostles which urged Ceremonies alone Some restrain the law to the second table others take it absolutely for the whole law because none can love his Neighbour as himself but he must needs love God now the love of God and our Neighbour contains in it the whole Law Love is greatest as to Dignity Love seems to be more noble than Faith or Hope the reason is obvious because 't is more blessed to give than to receive Acts 20.35 Faith and Hope are on the taking hand but Love gives The property of Faith and Hope is to receive into themselves but the property of Love is to lay out it self for others Love is greatest as to manifestation Faith and Hope are unseen Rev. 2.19 and may be dissembled but Love appears visibly upon the Stage I know thy works and thy charity that is thy love Love is greatest as to Similitude Faith and Hope do not make a man like unto God but Love doth God can never be said to believe or to Hope but we know that he loves yea we know that he is Love God is love 1 Joh. 4.16 and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him Love is greatest as to Latitude Faith and Hope are under restriction but Love is not Faith and Hope are restrained within the Limits of our particular persons The just shall live by his Faith Hab. 2.4 Rejoycing in Hope Rom. 12.12 but Love is like the Firmamental Sun which shines upon all good and bad and throws his beams upon all not forbearing to warm the Earth which beareth weeds Love is greatest as to Longitude Faith and Hope are shorter lifed than Love Love outlives Faith and Hope Love is the longest lifed Grace Beatus qui amat te amicos in te inimicos propter te Our Love shall not end with our Life but our Faith and our Hope shall As Love transcends Faith and Hope under the notion of Latitude for Faith and Hope are within the bounds of a mans person but Love is to God himself and from him to our Friends yea our enemies so love transcends Faith and Hope under the notion of Longitude Mat. 5.8 for Faith shall go into Vision Heb. 12.23 and Hope shall go into Fruition when Time goeth into Eternity but Love shall go with the Soul and be with the Soul in an Eternity There is no need of Faith in Heaven for that is a place of Vision nor of Hope for that is a place of Fruition If ever I be graciously arrived at this Harbour at this Haven at this Heaven if ever I be graciously passed thorough the gates into this city which hath foundations the builder and maker whereof is God I shall not find Faith there for that is gone into Vision nor Hope there for that is gone into possession but I shall find Love there yea there I shall find nothing but Love The Original of it Gospel-Love is a supernatural Grace As Faith and Hope so Love is an outlandish Plant and of a divine extract As Faith and Hope so Love is not a Slip growing in our own garden it is born above it comes down from Heaven into the Soul The Affection of Love is natural Gal. 5.22 but the Grace of Love is supernatural It is the Fruit of the Spirit But the fruit of the Spirit is love The Soil of it The Soil for this Seed is the Soul Can. 1.7 Tell me oh thou whom my Soul loveth where thou feedest where thou makest thy flocks to rest at noon This grace of Love is a Seed cast into the Soul it is an expansion or going out of the Heart Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth Can. 3.3 The Object of it This is the personal excellency of Christ That is counterfeit but not currant love false but not true love to follow Christ for loaves Love that is true is rather taken with the Fountain than with the Stream with the Hand than with the Token with the Jewel than with the Cabinet I will love thee Psal 18.1 Jehovah my strength Love that is true is rather taken with the Giver than with the Gift with what Christ is rather than with what Christ gives with the God of Mercy than with the mercy of God The personal excellency of Christ the Beauty of Christ the purity of Christ the perfection of Christ c. they are
and length and height and depth The Apostle here sets out the love of Christ with Depth and Height with Length and Bredth the four Dimensions of the Cross to indicate intimate and insinuate unto us that upon the extent of the Tree was the most exact love that ever was with all the dimensions in this Kind represented Is it loyal then 't is real True love is not so much set upon what Christ hath as upon what Christ is not so much set upon his as it is set upon him Christ is sweet without any thing but nothing is sweet without Christ. Psal 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee or on earth that I desire besides thee True love desires no wages it is wages enough to it self it pays it self in seeing and serving the beloved In keeping of them there is great reward Psal 19.11 Grace shews us wages in the work God saith one will reward his people according to their work Secundum laborem Bern. The Nurse doth much for the Child so doth the Mother the Nurse doth it for the love of wages but the Mother doth it for the wages of love A wise man may look for his Advantage in the end of his work though he be not to make Advantage the end of his work Though Christians are not mercenary to work as Hirelings for pay yet in the Issue they shall have better than pay for all their works Though Christ will not be served for wages yet Christ will not be served without wages yea such wages as will weigh down all our works and all our woes We can never want pay or reward for that work which is a reward and can pay it self Is it expansive then 't is of the right Stamp If love be true 't is extensive it extends it self to all the Saints Since we heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus Col. 1.4 and of the love which ye have to all the Saints Is this text antiquated Opinion must not byass our Affection If love hath the Stamp of a Christ upon it then Mephibosheth is loved for the sake of Jonathan then the Child is loved for the sake of the Father then the Christian is loved for the sake of Christ Are there not some men that cannot love others because they are not altogether so broad and long as themselves Whosoever is right or wrong in point of Opinion I dare write he is wrong that is not right in point of Affection It 's reported of the Primitive Christians Behold how the Christians love Ecce quà m diligunt Christiani Love is called an old commandment and a new commandment but we are now making it no commandment Doth not a difference in Opinion beget a difference in Affection Many men have a good Opinion of their own Opinions though their Opinions be not good 'T is said of Bucer Aliquid Christi and Calvin that they loved all in whom they could espie any thing of Christ. It is not indispensably necessary concerning mens going to Heaven and entring thorough the gates into the city that they are of this judgment or of that perswasion holding the head holding the foundation but their living in love is necessary Divide impera Divide and rule divide and rage divide and ruine is the sophistry of the prince of darkness Division is an unhappy weed and it grows apace 'T is pity that Abraham and Lot should fall out by the way 'T is pity that Man should make Two whom God hath made One 'T is pity that one Christian should now say to another Dic aliquid ut duo simus as one Man formerly spake to another Speak something that we may be Two Division of Tongues hindred the building of Babel division of Hands Heads and Hearts hinders the building of Beth-el Is it expensive then 't is real He that most loves a Christ will most lay out himself for Christ A true lover of Christ is willing to be at cost for Christ. Verbal love is like painted fire and a golden loaf but real love with David will not have that which cost it nothing The woman thought not her ointment though precious too good for Christ Mat. 26.6 7. When Jesus was in Bethany in the house of Simon the Leper there came unto him a woman having an Alabaster box of very precious ointment and poured it on his head as he sat at meat Is it expressive then it hath the image of a Christ upon it A lover of Christ is not a mute but hath a mouth for Christ Lovers will speak one of another and for another when they cannot speak one with another The Husband is at Sea or beyond Sea but the Wife speaks of him and speaks for him As he is a lover of Christ that delights in seeking a Christ in serving a Christ in suffering for a Christ as well as in seeing a Christ so he is a lover of Christ that delights in speaking of a Christ in speaking for a Christ in speaking to a Christ as well as in speaking with a Christ. A lover of Christ is big with expression must give vent to its Soul it cannot but speak the things which it hath seen and heard A lover of Christ will give his Vote for Christ whatever the danger be and the difficulty be and the death be Thus Peter did Ye denied the holy one Act. 3.14 15. and the just and desired a murderer to be granted unto you and killed the prince of life whom God raised from the dead whereof we are witnesses Is it sociable then 't is right and real My God Dr. Sibbs and I saith one are good company Man is a sociable creature and he loves Company but 't is the Company that he loves Is acquaintance with Christ thy ambition is enjoyment of Christ thy Center is converse with Christ thy Element then thou art a lover of Christ It is said of Ignatius that being opened Ainor meus crucifixus est there was found in his heart written in letters of Gold My Love is crucified One also in a tract of his speaks of a woman Dell. who meditating the torments of Hell together with the hatred of the damned there prayed that though she were damned yet she might love God Was not enjoyment of God and Christ the ambition of the Psalmist My soul thirsteth Psa 63.1 2. my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and weary land without water to see thy power and thy glory so as I have seen thee in the Sanctuary Is it submissive then 't is real Art thou graciously willing to be killed all the day long for a Christ art graciously willing to bleed or burn for a Christ art graciously willing to bear the indignation of the Lord because thou hast sinned against him art graciously willing to dye a Sacrifice for Christ if thou mayst no longer live a Servant of Christ art graciously willing to suffer the loss
hast faith Have there been no Pains nor Pangs and yet hast faith This faith may have the stamp of a Caesar but it hath not the stamp of a Christ upon it A true Faith is hardly come by it cost many Prayers and many Tears this spiritual Infant is not born without Pains Pangs When Peter had told the House of Israel that God had made that same Jesus whom they Crucified Acts 2.36 37. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leigh both Lord and Christ the Text saith They were pricked in their Heart The word signifieth to Rent Vex and Wound punctually even the least part and point of the Heart as if the sharpest points of many empoysoned Daggers in the severest manner had been fastned in their Hearts Now Soul hath thy faith a Train of good Works Hath it Christ for Object Did it cost thee dear Then 't is a true Faith though a little Faith A true Faith hath two Hands A false Faith hath but one Hand An Hypocrite would take Christ but not give up himself to Christ An Hypocrite would take Christ by way of Surety but not give up himself to Christ by way of Surrender but now a true Faith though it be but a little Faith takes Christ as a Saviour and submits unto Christ as a Soveraign True faith can say to Christ Rule thou in the midst of thine Enemies Psal 110.2 Not only in the midst of thine Enemies without but also in the midst of thine Enemies within Now Soul art as willing to be sanctified by Christ as to be saved by Christ As willing to be crucified with Christ as to be crowned with Christ Then thy faith though a little Faith is a true Faith A true Faith dreads not Trial. An honest Man is not afraid of the Bar. A false Faith dreads a coming to the Test to the Trial to the Touchstone An Hypocrite is like a Man that hath stoln Goods in his House the Man is unwilling that his House should be searched the Hypocrite is unwilling that his Heart should be searched but true Faith will come to the Trial. Psal 26.2 Examine me O Lord and prove me try my Reins and my Heart A true Faith will live in a Storm A false Faith will die in a Storm an Hypocrite is like those Hearers that had no Root Luk. 8.13 which for a time believed but in time of Temptation fell away When a Storm or Showr of Blood came their Faith died but true Faith will live in a Storm Col. 2.6 7. for as it hath Christ for Object so it hath Christ for Root Now Soul doth not thy Faith dread the Test and will it live in a Storm Then though a little 't is a true Faith But to conclude this first Section suffer the words of Exhortation Art not in Christ Come then to Christ. Art not in Christ Come then to Christ Joh. 8.24 or go to Hell If ye believe not that I am he ye shall die in your sins If ye die in your Sins ye will be Damned for your Sins Art out of Christ 'T is a wonder to me and may be to Thee that thou art out of Hell Art in Christ Welcome then two words Multiply Cries through Christ unto Christ for more Faith Luk 17.5 The Apostles said unto the Lord increase our faith Drink of the Brook by the way and lift up thy Head He that believeth Acts 13.39 is justified from all things from which he could not be justified by the Law of Moses The Compendium Versified PRose into Poem comes to welcome Those In Poem that no welcom found in Prose Faith subject is this leads the Van of Grace This goeth first within the Churches Race Faith subject is But what 's a Gospel-faith 'T is Heaven's Gift as one most truly saith The Spirit 's Fruit the Essence of it lies In taking Christ as sacred Truth complies On Gospel-terms which Terms are freely free In all his Offices now these are three Christ Jesus Lord who first and ever since Hath been the Churches Prophet Priest and Prince Thus taking there must be there also must Be resting solely by this mortal Dust On Jesus Christ the Lord for Grace and Glory This sweetly doth comport with Sacred Story If Faith then Love tho not about Romances To Christ and Christ's the Christless Ordinances A Gospel-faith 't is great 't is strong I see Its Symptoms also may appear to Thee No Famine fears this Faith but Christ doth take Without a l'awn and Earnings of him make In Famine Christ to great Faith is a Feast A Fragment is with Christ a Dish at least It s Logick also doth Conclusions make Of Light in Darkness Life in Death awake 'T is steady stedfast too let none controul Not shaken out though shaken in the Soul This swims ' gainst Wind and Tide it progress makes Bears great Delays and no Denial takes Great Act'on Pass'on Promises and all Great Providences Tempting Sinning call For Gospel-faith timely to take the Wall Which cannot stoop unto a final Fall Lend both Ears now and hear for Jesus saith Oh Woman great is thy Prophetick Faith THough Faith be little may it not be true A Spark and Drop the Fire and Water shew He teacheth well that doth distinguish well Now real Faith from false may Mortals tell True Faith of good Works hath a lovely Train Its Object 's true it costeth dear again It hath two Hands it dreadeth not a Test It liveth in a Storm that 's better best Art not in Christ Go then to him or go To Tophet dying unto endless Wo. But art in Christ beg down more of this Grace Be joyous also running of thy Race From all things hath a Surety freed Thee That Moses Law could not a Sinner free As there 's a great so there 's a little Faith In sacred Scripture this Jehovah saith SECTION II. Of HOPE CHAP. I. Whether there be a Gospel-Hope and what this Gospel-Hope is AS there is a Gospel-Faith so there is a Gospel-Hope Faith is the Christians Logick Hope is the Christians Rhetorick Faith is compared to a Doctor in the Schools Hope is compared to a Captain in the Wars Though there may be a difference between Faith and Hope in respect of Subject in respect of Object in respect of Office and in respect of Order yet as there is a Gospel-Faith so there is a Gospel-Hope Now as a Gospel-Faith so a Gospel-Hope hath a various acception and acceptation in the sacred Scripture By Hope sometimes understand Faith Be ready always to give an answer to every Man that asketh you a reason of the Hope that is in you with meekness 1 Pet. 3.15 and fear By Hope here understand Faith Faith as to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Gospel If the Glory of God and the good of those that ask a reason of Faith as to the Doctrine and Discipline of the Gospel be concerned otherwise we are not to cast
3. A love to the World Page 107. 2 Moral Reduced to four heads Page 113. 1. Magisterial 2. Parental 3. Conjugal 4. Spiritual Page 116. Qu. But what is this Gospel-Love Page 118. Sol. A Description of it in its 1. Nature 2. Original 3. Soil Page 119 c. 4 Object Chap. 2. How this personal Excellency of Christ appears that is the proper Object of this Gospel-Love Page 126. Christ is excellent in Page 129 c. 1. Name 2. Nature 3. Love 4. Light 5. Wisdom 6. Wealth 7. Counsel 8. Comfort 9. Conduct 10. Power Page 134 c. Chap. 3. Inferences from a Gospel-Love Inf 1. The Lover of Christ hath much in Reversion Page 138. Qu. 1. But what is this Crown under promise for the Lovers of Christ Page 140. Sol This Crown is called 1. An Inheritance 2. The joy of the Lord. 3. The Kingdom 4. The Crown of Life 5. The Crown of Righteousness Page 143. Thus under a two fold notion 1. Ex parte Dei 3. Ex parte Rei 6. A Crown of Glory Qu. 2. But why shall those have a Crown with a Christ hereafter that have a Cross for a Christ here Page 144. In a four fold respect 1. The Father 2. The Son Because he hath 1. Prepared this 2. Prayed for this Page 145 c. 3. Promised this 3. In respect of the Saint Page 148. Ob. 1 Ah but my Temptations are many Sol. More loved by Christ than hated by Satan Page 149 c. Ob. 2. Ah but my Tribulations are many Sol. 1. All things shall work together for thy good 2. Suffer but a while thou hast but a while to suffer 3. The last Dish will be the best Ob. 3. Ah but my Corruptions are many Sol. Sorrow not as one without hope Ob. 4. Ah but I question whether Christ loves me Sol. Dost thou love Christ then Christ loveth Thee Page 151. Ob. 5. Ah but I question whether I love Christ The Symbols of a Love that is right and real 'T is Page 152 c. 1. Jealous 2. Cordial 3. Uncessant 4. Loyal 5. Expansive 6. Expensive 7. Expressive 8. Sociable 9. Submissive 10. Superlative Inf. 2. Thy Vote must be given for Christ and his Church Page 161. Inf. 3. Christ must be loved or the Soul must be damned Page 164. There are three things indispensably necessary in order to a living well doing well dying well Page 165 c. 1. Repentance 2. Faith 3. Love Page 172 173. The Marrow of the Prose in Poem The Author to the Reader AH little Tract what will become of thee From City thou mayst unto Countrey flee But if for Sea thou settest sail this craves That Heaven saves thee from the Winds Waves Alexius the man was such an Ass More than a Monster doth a Looking-Glass A Book did hate On Caesar therefore look Who lost a Robe that he might save a Book For Money solely Aristippus looks But solely Plato looked after Books Books Blessings are and blessed are the Books To blessed Man that for a Blessing looks The Bible is the Book of Books 't is true Consisting of old Testament and new This firstly read and mostly also look In order sometimes in this little Book Well may I say when under Heavens Gale What Parity between a Shrimp and Whale No Parity between a single Sand And all the rest that are upon the Land What is a Spark unto the Furnace yea What is a Drop to a tremendous Sea But obvi'us 't is unto a seeing Eye That there 's a far greater Disparity Between a sinless God and sinful Man Who is a Wink of Life his Dayes a Span Man finite is but infinite is God Who into Solace turns a smarting Rod VVHo Comforts Crosses make but also can Make Crosses Comforts unto saved Man Faith Hope and Love the Subjects are too high For him that hath a Film upon his eye Ah what 's a Muscle-shell can lapsed Man With this exhaust the bounded Ocean His Line 's too short this Bottom for to sound He lets it down but cannot find the ground Come Reader now and prospect take of mine Then take thine own for longer may be thine Faith Hope and Love grand Graces are all three But longest-lifed is the last I see Faith Hope and Love are lovely Graces which A Moment-Man so rarely do enrich A Beggar yea a Bankrupt is a Man Worth nothing worse than nothing if he can Be without Faith Hope Love grand Graces all Whose Objects have been ever since the Fall Christ Heaven Saints these of all Sizes and Of Sexes also all at Sea at Land Ah little Babe it may be thou wilt find Some Friends though many Foes that are unkind My prayer is Friends care of thee will take Both for thine own and for thy Fathers sake Now Reader come take taste and also eat Here is much Broath but here 's a little meat Go little Book and with thee also go The greatest God and Good to Friend and Foe Halelu-jah THE Grace of Faith Section I. Of Faith CHAP. I. Whether there be such a thing as a Gospel-Faith 'T IS said if a man hath lost his Religion he may seek it in Poland and be sure to find it or conclude that it is banished yea vanished out of the world The Father of Lights hath made England the Region of Religion the Land of Goshen the Valley of Vision yet if we go to many places and converse many persons we shall not find a Gospel-Faith as if it had taken the wing and sought another Climate Ens Entium Deus est colendus Some Philosophers could hit upon a Being of Beings somewhat like the first Commandment Upon a God to be worshipped somewhat like the second Commandment They accounted Vows and Oaths sacred somewhat like the third Commandment They had some superstitious Feasts in resemblance of the fourth Commandment And as for the second Table Honour Parents Steal not Whore not Kill not Lye not Covet not they could with open mouth declaim against these though the spiritual part of these was too sublime for them Now Faith is the grand Commandment of the Gospel 1 Joh. 3.23 This is his Commandment that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ But they were so far from finding out this that they contemptuously called the Christians Credentes Believing Ones as if their Faith had been their Absurdity whereas God calleth all such absurd that have not Faith That we may be delivered from unreasonable absurd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Greek and wicked men for all men have not Faith I would now assert beyond all modest contradiction that there is such a thing as the Faith of the Gospel Mark 1.15 Repent and believe the Gospel Faith and Repentance they are Twins of Grace they lay in the same womb of Free-Grace And as they lay in the womb together so they come into the world together But as Esau got
not as 't is for a Painter to draw a Picture in the Fire Did any one in that day believe at the rate that Mordecai did If thou at this time in holding thy peace Esth 4.14 holdest thy peace then shall respiration and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place Because it doth things impossible What is impossible to other things is possible to Faith Mark 9.23 All things are possible to him that believeth Now to see things invisible to hope things incredible to do things impossible these were Luthers wonders and are mine and may be thine But lest any should make a God of Faith I shall Subjoin this I do not take the Act without the Object not the Act of believing Heb. 12.2 without Christ the Object of Faith for as he is the Author of it so he is the Actor of it and as he is the Communicator of it so he is the Consummator of it Now if this be true that there is such a thing as a Gospel-Faith and this Faith be a great Faith then wonder not at that divine imposition of that divine duty of self examination universally incumbent upon true believers Examine your selves whether ye be in the Faith 2 Cor. 13.5 Here is a Duty and a Direction A Duty Examine your selves Here ye have the Act and the Object The Act. Examine 'T is very significant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the word which is the first root signifieth to pierce thorough Now the word here to examine coming of it signifieth to make or to take Trial because by piercing thorough a thing it is tryed what it is within whether sound or no. Examine me oh Lord Psal 26.2 and prove me try my reins and my heart The Object Your selves That is your Souls Only take heed to thy self Deut. 4.9 and keep thy Soul diligently Here Self and Soul are the same in sense though not in Sound The Direction Whether ye be in the Faith or whether the Faith be in you Whether your Gold be not Dross Isa 5.24 whether your Silver be not Tin whether your Root be not Rottenness Come now to the Test to the Trial to the Touchstone examine thy Soul whether thou beest in the Faith But how shall I know whether I be in the Faith Qu. 1. how shall I know that I have Faith how shall I know that my Faith will go into vision when my time goeth into eternity Where there is Faith there is Love Sol. 1. Faith and Love do grow upon the same Tree which is the Spirit Faith and Love like Rebecca's Twins goe hand in hand Gal. 5.6 But Faith which worketh by Love Bellarmine Faith is not wrought by Charity as one perverteth this Text for then it will follow that Love by which Faith is wrought must needs be before Faith but Faith worketh by Love Though Faith be not Loves parent yet Love is Faiths partner The Soul that hath a Faith of the right Stamp hath also a Love of the same Stamp now this is a love to Christ a love to those that are Christs a love to those that are not Christs and a love to the Ordinances of Christ Those in the Faith have a Love to Christ Where there is Faith in the Person of Christ John 21.17 there is Love to the personal excellency of Christ Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee Christ having asked Peter lovest thou me more than these v. 15. Lovest thou me more than thy nets more than thy Fishes more than thy Friends that are about thee Lovest thou me more than these more than thou lovest these or more than these love me Peter being asked of the measure of his Love answered only as to the Truth of it and being asked of the Quantity of it answered only as to the Quality of it that it was of the right Stamp and had his own Superscription upon it Peter will not be his own Judge but refers it to his Lord and Master to sit in Judgment upon it Lord thou knowest all things Can. 3.3 thou knowest that I love thee This is a soul-Soul-Love Saw ye him whom my Soul loveth Those in the Faith have a Love to those that are Christs He that loveth the Father loveth also the Child 1 Jo. 5.1 for the Fathers sake He that loveth Jonathan loveth also Mephibosheth for Jonathans sake He that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him And not only this Child or that Child but also every Child Col. 1.4 must be loved for the Fathers sake Since we heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of the love which ye have to all the Saints Those in the Faith have a Love to those that are not Christs The cry of these under their retirements is Lord that not only this Husband or this Wife or this Child or this Servant but also this Neighbour who is an Enemy to Christ and the Call of Christ an Enemy to Christ and the Cause of Christ an Enemy to Christ and the Crown of Christ Mat. 5.44.46 were in Christ had Faith in the person of Christ Love your enemies If ye love them which love you what reward have ye Those in the Faith have a Love to the Ordinances of Christ There 's a Love to the Church for Christs sake a Love to the Pool for the Angels sake a Love to the Cabinet for the Jewels sake a Love to the Stream for the Fountains sake a Love to the Gallery for the Kings sake a Love to the Field for the Pearls sake Those that have met with God and Christ under Ordinances can as well tell how to be without Bread Job 23.12 as to be without Ordinances I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food That man is defective in his prudentials that thinks to keep up the Fire by withdrawing the Fewel He is under a great Temptation at least not without great Corruption that thinks to grow in Grace under the neglect of means Is Abstinence from meat the way to get Strength A man would think that none but Bedlamites should assert this 'T is the tree planted by the rivers of water Psa 1.3 that bringeth forth fruit in his season 'T is the Soul that wades in Sanctuary-waters that is a Cedar in Lebanon and a green Olive in the house of God Psa 42.1 2. May the sweet singer of Israel speak As the Heart panteth after the water brooks so panteth my soul after thee Oh God! My Soul thirsteth for God for the living God when shall I come and appear before God He that to day turneth his back upon the Ordinances of God may to morrow turn his back upon the God of Ordinances Where there is Faith there is also a train of good works A Believer is not to be a Loyterer but a Labourer
good is the Object of Hope Though God or Christ be the immediate Object of hope yet there are subordinate Objects of hope as the Word of God and the good things of God yea all the good things of God relating to this life and that which is to come But this Good which is the Object of Hope must be promised good all promised good In hope of eternal life which God that cannot lye promised before the world began Or rather Tit. 1.2 from the beginning of ages Gen. 3.15 in that famous promise of the blessed seed Non ab aeterno sed ante multa saecula Grotius Not from eternity saith one but before all ages As there is a Hope by which we lay hold which is the Grace or Act of Hope so there is a Hope upon which we lay hold which is the Good for which we hope the Object of hope God himself and all the good things which he hath promised This hope may be considered two wayes for the grace acting in us or for some promised good upon which the grace acts If therefore we take promised good to be the object of hope then it falls under a two fold Notion Hope looks at that which is good No man ever did or can hope for that which is evil of it self or to him if it appears so to be though many have hoped for that which is indeed so and hath proved so to them in the event and issue Hope hath for it's Object some good future and possible Future Hope springeth from the apprehension of some good that is to come The Object of Hope is some future good but the Act of Hope is a present good and that is present pay to bear our charges in waiting 'T is a future good that is Hopes Object not something had but something to have not something in Hand but something in Heaven yea especially Heaven it self for as Christ is the Object of Faith and Christians the Objects of Love so Heaven is the Object of Hope For the hope which is laid up for you in Heaven The Object of Hope is a future good for that which a man hath already in his possession or doth already enjoy he cannot be said to hope for Enjoyment swallows up hope or rather perfects it Thus the Apostle argues Rom. 8.24.25 Not saved Ro but Spe. we are saved by hope Not by the Grace or Act of Hope but we look for salvation promised and for salvation to be performed What follows but hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why doth he yet hope for but if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it Possible As future so possible good is the Object of Hope 'T is some possible good or such a good as we have good grounds to attain for impossibilities are rather the Object of Despair than of Hope Now that is a possible good which is a promised good for the Apostle having asserted a hope laid up in Heaven connecteth and connexeth this Col. 1.5 whereof ye have heard before in the word of the truth of the Gospel Whatsoever God hath laid under promise is possible and attainable now what good is it that is for the good of those actually his that is not laid and left under promise That Heaven into which all will run as all the rivers run into the Ocean is under promise Fear not little-little flock so the Greek for it is your fathers good pleasure to give the Kingdom Luke 12.32 True faith is rooted in the promise and fruited with peace A believer hath something in hope though little in hand much in the promise though little in his purse The Cause of it The mercy of the Father and the merit of the Son Free-grace is the moving cause the Action and Passion of Christ the meritorious cause Free-grace is the moving cause of this Gospel-Hope Free-grace is the wheel that sets all a going in the Heart Primum mobile yea the wheel that sets all a going in Heaven All good is from God and is an Act of his Free-grace May the Apostle speak Every good gift the temporal and smaller and every perfect gift spiritual and greater is from above and cometh down from the father of lights Jam. 1.7 with whom is no variableness nor shadow of turning The active and passive obedience of Christ is the meritorious cause of this Gospel-hope As all this promised good is grounded upon the mercy of the Father so upon the merit of the Son The Socinians say that Christ dyed only as an Example that he did not satisfie divine Justice by his active and passive obedience Are not many not only breathing the Veins but also letting out the Vitals and bleeding to death this blessed and sacred truth that Christ by his active and passive obedience hath given satisfaction to the Father for all given unto him by the Father If God be reconciled certainly then he is satisfied but God is reconciled Reconciled to God but how Rom. 5.10 thorough the death of his Son There was a concurrence of Christs active and passive obedience in order to Satisfaction and Salvation There must be the Action of Christ A Christ must do Man would be doing though it was to his undoing for he sinned against a negative precept and did that which was prohibited The Woman gave unto me and I did eat Now as Man would do so Christ must do as Man did that which was prohibited so Christ must do that which is imposed I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do John 17.4 Christ for His hath exactly answered what the Law perfectly required Christ hath fulfilled the righteousness of the Law for his and Christ is fulfilling the righteousness of the Gospel in his It is written that when Christ had upon the Cross received the Vinegar John 19.30 he said It is finished Now the Prophesies of him were finished saith one Aug. Now his pilgrimage and the wrath of God were finished saith another Chrysist Now the Jewish Law and Sacrifice was at an end saith a third Jansenius Here is the Action of a Christ There must be the passion of Christ A Christ must dye As there must be his active so there must be his passive obedience As Christ did so Christ dyed and so satisfyed Is not Redemption a Good a great Good a Soul Good This is by Christ Eph. 1.7 In whom we have redemption thorough his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace Man had sinned God was offended and would be satisfied the same way that he was offended that is by the Sinner or by the Surety by the Person or by the Proxie by the Creature or by Christ Now 1 Pet. 3.18 Christ hath suffered for sins the just for the unjust that he might bring us to God That he might bring God down to
pessimi that a close Enemy is far worse than an open The Psalmist had his Enemies without and against them he prayeth upon the account of his hope Deliver me Psal 71.4 5. oh my God out of the hand of the wicked of the unrighteous and cruel man for thou art my hope oh Lord God thou art my trust from my youth Would ye have a formal Plea against enemies within at the Throne of Grace Live then and dye in the Act and exercise of Hope As those who have a Gospel-Hope have enemies without so within and these are the worst Ah Soul they are the Sauls within the Achans within the Goliah's within the Sons of Zerviah within that are the greatest and the worst enemies Against these also doth the Psalmist pray upon the account of making God the Object of his Hope And now Lord what wait I for my hope is in thee Deliver me from all my transgressions Psal 39.7 8. make me not the reproach of the foolish AS Gospel-Faith so Gospel-Hope appears In sacred Writ now greatly this endears That Holy-Place should Death arrest to morrow Where Tunes of Joy admit no Tones of Sorrow A Gospel-Faith goes first but follows then A Gospel-Hope which decketh lapsed Men. Though Gospel-Hope hath various Acceptations In Gospel-Lines all worthy Contemplations In silence pass I them This little Tract Of Gospel-Hope suggests the Grace or Act. A Gospel-Faith is Logick unto Man And Gospel-Hope his Rhetorick but can Man Hoping be and not believing then May Pictures in the Fire be drawn by Men. Faith 's cried up as Doctor in the Schools Yet cried down by many graceless Fools Hope 's cried up as Captain in the Wars In Consort yet are these detesting Jars This Gospel-Hope appears a lovely Grace The Spirits Fruit in running of our Race 'T is an assured Hope with Approbation 'T is also an abiding Expectation For Object this hath God all Promise-Good Both Possible and future understood 'T is on the Mercy of the Father founded And on the Merit of the Son 't is grounded DEscribed thus the Seeing may espy Its Nature Object Cause and Quality The Duty and the Mercy of a Soul Are herein found and that without Controul As there 's a true so there 's a Hope that 's vain All Hopeless ones are Christless ones Again We thorough Hope must on its Object live If to the Object we would Glory give Hope calleth for a Life in Print I 'le hasten That Envy now may not know where to fasten All hoping ones are happy ones and 't is From mount Gerizim Jesus speaks to His. False Hope false Objects hath but Hope that 's true Christ Jesus hath for Object truth doth shew False Hope doth go alone a blessed Train Of Graces hath true Hope and these remain False Hope short-lifed is and transient True Hope is living lasting permanent Would ye that God in you should take a pleasure Not stumbling others taking a right measure Would ye from others differ under Crosses And would ye sweeten all your bitter Losses Would ye have formal Pleas this is the Scope Live then and dye in Acts of Gospel-Hope But drawing to a Close I cannot grave it A Heaven 't is to hope it what to have it SECT III. CHAP. I. Whether there be a Gospel-Love and what this Gospel-Love is AS there is a Gospel-Faith and a Gospel-Hope so there is a Gospel-Love These three divine graces Faith Hope and Love are as it were a created Trinity and have as it were some glimering Parility of a Trinity uncreate Both Moralists and Divines say that Love is the Weight of the Soul it inclines us to this or that thing which way soeever the Affection goeth the Mind also goeth and the Action followeth This was the Definition of Plato concerning Love That it is an Ardor a Flame of a Soul dead in his own Body and living in another As there is a Love of Compassion with which an Enemy is to be loved Love your enemies So Mat. 5.44 there is a Love of Complacency by which a Friend is to be loved The Spouse loved to lean as well as leaned where she loved Who is this that commeth up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved Cant. 8.5 Love is referrible to God and Man To God As 't is referred to God so it signifieth His divine Essence God infinitely delights himself in his Son who is his wisdom in his Spirit which is his power in his Creatures 1 Jo 4.16 and in his Children God is Love He is Love in the Abstract he is as it were a Compound of Love His divine purpose Jacob have I loved Rom. 9.13 This is the foreknowledg of God and the good pleasure of his will To Man As Love is referrible to God so to Man and thus 't is reducible to three heads carnal moral spiritual Carnal There is a carnal Love which falls under a three fold notion and is reducible to three heads Sin Self World Sin There is a love to Sin and that 's the worst Love Though Sin be an evil yet there is a love to Sin Though it may be said of Sin as it is said of War Malum Complexum to be a complex evil yet there is a love to Sin Though the Name and the Nature of Sin be Evil yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin be a burdening and a breaking of God yet there is a love to Sin Jer. 5.31 The Prophets prophesie falsly and the people bear rule by their means and my people love to have it so but what will ye do in the end thereof Though Sin be a darkning of the Glory of God and a defacing of the Image of God yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin be a crucifying of the Son of God a grieving of the Spirit of God and the greatest injury to the Soul of Man yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin maketh Angels Devils Din vixi diu peccavi Aug. Beza and irritates a God to cast them out of Heaven into Hell yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin the plague of plagues did provoke that God who is infinite in Attribute as well as in Essence to turn Adam the Emperor of the Universe and his captivating Consort the Emperess of the Universe out of Eden into the wide World yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin be a cursed Inmate and a cursed Make-bate between God and Man between Man and Man between Man and Himself yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin hath been the unhappy Womb of all the penal and prodigious Judgments that have been in the World yet there is a Love to Sin Though Sin hath been daring of an angry Deity to rain as it were Hell out of Heaven upon Sodom and Gomorrah ' yet there is a love to Sin Though Sin hath made that work in Countries in Cities in Churches in Families in Souls yet there is
and of Sodom too Rev. 7.17 The Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them and shall lead them to living fountains of water Those actually Christs are under the Conduct of Christ from the Wilderness to Canaan from Earth to Heaven from Grace to Glory Christ leadeth out of a state of Sin into a slate of Grace and thorough a state of Grace into a state of Glory Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel Psa 73.24 and afterward receive me to glory Christ is excellent in power All power in Heaven is devolved upon Christ He is the Object of the Angels adoration He hath the Angels at his command and can send them forth as an heavenly Host to assist his people Peter Mat. 26.53 saith Christ thinkest thou not that I can now pray to the Father and he shall give me more than 12 legions of Angels And as he hath power over Heaven so over the Earth as he is the Object of the Angels adoration so of the Saints admiration 2 Thes 1.10 When he shall come to be glorified in his Saints and admired in all them that bleieve And as Christ hath power over Heaven and over Earth so over Hell As he is the Object of the Angels adoration and of the Saints admiration so of the Devils consternation Phi. 2.10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow things in Heaven Angels and the spirits of just men made perfect Things on Earth Saints and Sinners Things under the Earth infernal Spirits CHAP. III. Inferences from a Gospel Love THe Lover of Christ Infer 1. hath much in Reversion Though the lover of Christ hath much in possession yet more in reversion The Apostle hath a lovely 1 Cor. 2.9 and a lofty strain Eye hath not seen nor ear heard neither hath it entred into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared But for whom for them that love him Vespatian the Emperor I have read of one that commanded a liberal sum of money should be given to one that fell in love with him The Steward asked under what Item he should put it The Emperor answered Vespatiano adamaco Item to the Woman that loved Vespatian But now Soul when Christ gives he doth not put it under an Item of Money but of Mercy not under an Item of Gold but of Glory Item Heaven with the Sinlessness thereof Heaven with the Sorrowlessness thereof Heaven with the Temptationlessness thereof Heaven with the Timelessness thereof to the Soul that loves me Item the things which are invisible and inaudible and inconceivable to he Man that loves me to the Woman that loves me Art a lover of Christ Drink then of the brook by the way and lift up thy head for man sees not hears not conceives not the things that Christ hath prepared for them that love him Art a lover of Christ then though thou didst come unto this work mourning like a Dove and hast been at this work groaning like a Turtle yet go away from this work singing like a Lark for man hath not seen nor heard nor conceived the things that Christ hath prepared for them that love him 'T is true every lover of Christ may as one did mourn over his want of love to Christ A Minister weeping at the Table as he sat at meat was asked wherefore he wept who answered I weep because I can love Christ no more Do ye see the tears of repentance stand in mine eyes 'T is because I can love Christ no more Do ye see Tears run down my Cheeks 't is because I can love Christ no more Do ye see my Tears fall upon my Plate 'T is because I can love Christ no more But Soul though to love Christ no more be a ground of Sorrow yet the promise to the lover of Christ is a ground of Joy The promise is made to the lover of Christ Jam. 1.12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life which the Lord hath promised to them that love him But what is this Crown under promise for the lovers of Christ Qu. 1. This word Crown passeth thorough various expressions in the sacred Scripture but all amount unto and meet in one Sol. and the same thing 'T is called an Inheritance Are inheritances nothing Naboth had an inheritance and he valued it Shall I give away the inheritance of my fathers unto thee This was but a vineyard and he might have had a better for it or the worth of it in money but what manner of inheritance is this inheritance To an inheritance incorruptible 1 Pet. 1.4 undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in Heaven for you It is incorruptible not perishing with the things of the world 'T is undefiled not defiled with abuse It fadeth not away with Antiquity And 't is reserved in Heaven 'T is safe 't is sure 't is secure and will be thy security that art a lover of Christ 'T is called the Joy of the Lord. Well done good and faithful servant Mat. 25.21 enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. For the joy of the Lord to enter into us is for Heaven to enter into us for us to enter into the joy of the Lord is for us to enter into Heaven On Earth there are Tones of Sorrow with Tunes of Joy but in Heaven there are Tunes of Joy without Tones of Sorrow Heaven is not a Baca a valley of tears not a Bochim a house of mourning but a Shushan a City of joyfulness 'T is called the Kingdom Come ye blessed of my Father Mat. 25.34 inherit the Kingdom prepared for you Are not Kingdoms great things with great Men This was the flagitious position of a flagitious Machiavel That breach of faith for Kingdoms is no sin Will not men swim as it were through a Sea of blood to a Kingdom Here is a Kingdom and 't is the Kingdom of Heaven the third Heaven the Heaven of Heavens 'T is called the Crown of Life Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer What none No Rev. 2.10 What not binding and banishing No What not Poverty and Prison No What not Fire and Massacre No What not Rack and Stake No Behold the Devil in his Seconds and Servants shall take some of you not all of you and cast into prison not into Hell and ye shall have tribulation ten days not for ever Be thou faithful unto death there 's the precept and I will give thee a crown of life there 's the promise A Crown represents unto us Dignity plenty and perpetuity A Crown is round as if it had neither beginging nor ending 'T is called a Crown of Righteousness I have fought a good fight 2 Tim. 4.7 8. I have finished my course I have kept the faith Here are three Metaphors the first is taken from wrestling I have fought a good fight
of all things for Christ then thy love is real 'T is recorded of the Hebrews and transmitted to posterity that they took joyfully spoiling Heb. 10.34 knowing in themselves that they had in heaven a better and an enduring substance They were glad they had any thing to lose for a Christ knowing they should lose nothing by a Christ They were glad of an opportunity to put off their worldly goods at so great a rate as a proof of the sincerity of their graces Our goods never go off at so high a price nor come to so good a market as when they are spoiled in a good cause These were not concerned for their Goods as Micah was for his Gods for they knew they were gracious here and that they should be glorious hereafter True love flies not like Chaff in the face of him that fans it Though I cannot dispute for a Christ yet I can dye for a Christ said the Martyr Is it superlative then 't is real Hath Christ no Competitor no Corrival then thy love is of the right Stamp As Christ bestoweth himself wholly upon a Christian so a Christian bestoweth himself wholly upon Christ True love keeps back nothing from Christ Illi non Christum amant qui aliquid plus amant for whom all is too little He loveth not Christ sincerely that loveth not Christ singularly that loveth not Christ superlatively Lovest thou me more than these John 21.15 17. was the question of Christ to Peter Lovest thou me more than thy Nets more than thy Fish more than thy Friends that are about thee Or lovest thou me more than these love me Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest that I love thee was the answer of Peter unto Christ Peter was asked of the Degree of his Love but he answered as to the Truth of it he was asked as to the measure of it but he answered as to the manner of it he was asked as to the quantity of it but he answered as to the quality of it Canst thou say without a Check as one did Lord Jesus Ambrose plus quam mea meos me Substance Seed Self I love thee more than my possessions more than my Relations more than my self then thy love is right and real None to Christ saith the Psalmist none but Christ said the Martyr all in Christ saith the Apostle A lover of Christ must love nothing much but that Christ whom he can never love too much Ambrose on the Funeral of Theodosius observes that he died with these words in his mouth I have loved Dilexi dilexi I have loved which he conceived to be the Answer of the Emperor to the Angels asking him how he had behaved himself in the Empire I have loved I have loved That was enough to him and this will be enough to thee in a dying hour that the personal excellency of Christ hath been the Object of thy Love Thy Vote must be given for Christ Inf. 2. and his Church Art thou a lover of Christ give then thy suffrage for this Truth that the personal excellency of Christ is the object of the Churches love Be not afraid nor ashamed to own this though thou dwellest where Satans seat is Amnon was Lust-sick the man keeps his Chamber until he hath defloured his Sister Tamar Micah was Idol-sick if ye take away his Gods and the Priest though not worth the keeping he looks upon himself as a Beggar if not as a Bankrupt Ahab was Vineyardsick he must have the Vineyard of Naboth though he hath a kingdom to walk in he will set his foot there though he goes thorough the Blood of the Owner Judas was World-sick this Caitiff will betray a Christ though he hath but thirty seven shillings and six pence for this damnable act he undertook it for thirty pieces of silver each piece being one shilling and three pence But the Spouse is Love-sick Can. 2.5 Stay me with flagons comfort me with apples for I am sick of love I charge you Chap. 5.8 ye daughters of Jerusalem if ye see my beloved that ye tell him I am sick of love As if the Church had said ah my head-ake my heart-ake yea my heart-strings are ready to break for a sight of Christ for a smile from Christ Ah! whatever ye forget to tell him remember to tell him this that I am sick of love for him that I know not how to live another Day another Duty without a Sight of him without a Smile from him for his personal excellency is the Object of my love Had not Mary Magdalen a great love for Christ Much was forgiven her Luke 7.47 for she loved much Not that her much loving was the cause of her much forgiving but her much forgiving was the cause of her much loving and her much loving the consequent of her much forgiving 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Particula non causativa sed allativa vel rationalis Not Causa praecedens but Signum subsequens This word for doth not signifie here a cause as if her Love was the cause of the forgiveness of her sins but a reason drawn from the Sign many sins are forgiven her and hereby you shall know it because or in that she loved much The particle for in our common Dialect is used as a note of the effect or Sign there is Fire for I see smoak this Tree liveth for it sprouteth Much was forgiven her therefore she hath loved much The whole scope of the Parable is to shew that he loves most unto whom most is forgiven and not contrarily that most is forgiven unto him that loveth most The Antithesis in the same verse necessitates this Comment Those words but to whom little is forgiven the same loveth little supposeth this Thesis because much was forgiven her she loved much Christ must be loved Inf. 3. or the Soul must be damned There are many things without which we may be and yet live well and do well and dye well but if we be without love to the personal excellency of Christ we cannot live well nor do well nor dye well Love to the personal excellency of Christ is indispensably necessary unto Salvation That God who hath appointed the end hath also appointed the Means that shall lead unto that end We may be without possessions and without Relations we may be without an Affluence and a Confluence of these lesser and lower things and yet live well and do well and dye well yea we may be without such Degrees and pitches of Grace and yet live well and do well and dye well but there are other things without which if we be we cannot live well nor do well nor dye well now they are these Repentance There must be Repentance towards God If persons live and dye without Repentance they cannot live well nor doe well nor dye well As there is sorrow which worketh wrath so there is a sorrowing according to God
Repentance must be speedy without procrastination it must be cordial without dissimulation it must be general without exception it must be continual without interruption Repentance is so necessary yea of such necessity that a preaching it was imposed among all nations Luke 24.47 beginning at Jerusalem Though Sin for a Believer be perfectly covered yet Sin in a Believer is not perfectly cured there are the Remainders of Sin Reliquiae peccati and these must be mourned over While there is an Issue of Sin kept open there must be an Issue of Sorrow kept open while the Ship springs a Leak the Pump must be kept at work There are Turns as well as Tears in a Gospel-Repentance It was the saying of one Tertullian if thou beest backward in thoughts of Repentance be forward in thoughts of Hell 'T is best not to sin but having sinned the next best is to repent As God hath a Bag for sins so he hath a Book for Prayers and a Bottle for Tears Tears are the truest Rhetorick of a troubled Soul they are a prevailing Suada beyond the loudest and quaintest Oratory both with God and Man Dr. Donne I repent saith one all my life but that time I spent in Communion with God and in doing good There is a repentance unto salvation never to be repented of and this is the gift of God now without this repentance there will be no living well nor doing well nor dying well Luke 13.3.5 Except ye repent and this except is without exception ye shall all likewise perish That saith one which Christ here threatens to the impenitent was fulfilled after 40 years for then Titus the Emperor of the Romans on the feast of the Passeover besieged the City and having taken it slew many impenitent Jews as they were sacrificing Faith There must be Faith in the Person of Christ If persons live and dye without Faith in the Person of Christ they cannot live well nor do well nor dye well If any live and dye without Faith they cannot live well for Hab. 2.4 the just shall live by his Faith If any live and dye without Faith they cannot do well Rom. 14.23 for Whatsoever is not of Faith is sin If any live and dye without Faith they cannot dye well for if ye believe not that I am he John 8.24 ye shall dye in your sins Now if there be dying in Sin there will be damning for Sin Love As there must be Faith in the Person of Christ so there must be Love to the personal Excellency of Christ If persons be without love to the personal excellency of Christ they cannot live well nor do well nor dye well If any man loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 16.22 let him be Anathema Maran-atha Some Texts are short thus these are Pray without ceasing Rejoyce evermore Some Texts are sweet thus these are In me ye shall have peace Go in peace Some Texts are long and short thus these Depart from me all ye that work iniquity I know you not Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devils and his Angels T is thus here here is a long and a sharp Text If any man loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ let him be Anathema Maran-atha Is it not enough to amaze and amuse if the Spirit goeth with the Word the greatest Atheist and Papist the greatest Egyptian and Ethiopian the greatest Saracen and Socinian the greatest Man and Woman In this text there is something supposed and something proposed Here is A Supposition If any man loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ Herein there is the Act the Subject the Object The Act. Loveth not That is hateth for is there a medium between loving Luke 11.23 and hating He that is not with me is against me and he that gathereth not with me scattereth The Subject Man If any man If any one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Greek If any Soul if any person without exception or exemption as to Nation whither Jew or Gentile Is he the God of the Jews only Rom. 3.29 is he not the God of the Gentiles also As to Sex whether Man or Woman As to Relation Whether an Isaac or a Rebecca a Jacob or a Benjamin As to Age whether a Methuselah or a Josiah As to Estate whether a Croesus or a Codrus As to Place whether a man in his Robes or a man in his Rags If any one loveth not The Object The Lord Jesus Christ Here is a Christ emphatically presented in his triple Office as the Prophet and Priest 2 Cor. 4.4 and Prince of the Church We preach not our selves but Christ Jesus the Lord. David was a King and a Prophet Jeremiah was a Priest and a Prophet Melchizedech was a King and a Priest but these three Offices together Prophetical sacerdotal regal never met in any one but this only one Christ Jesus the Lord the Phaenix of the world If any one loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ A Proposition Let him be Anathema Maran-atha Herein there is the Subject and the Sentence The Subject Him That is Him or Her the Man or the Woman the Husband or the Wife the Father or the Child the Master or the Servant of what Nation soever of what Age soever of what Estate soever of what Place soever The Sentence Anathema Maran-atha Herein there is the Judgment and the Duration of that Judgment The Judgment Anathema 'T is a greek word which signifieth an Execration or a Curse Now this is a sad one if not the saddest one for 't is a Gospel one and Gospel curses are the saddest curses Gal. 1.8 Thâ—ugh we or an Angel from Heaven preach unto you any other Gospel then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed let him be a Curse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the greek It is thus here and 't is not said let this person be anathematized but an Anathema accursed but a Curse The Duration of the Judgment Maran-atha This consists of two Syriac words Maran our Lord atha cometh Let this person be a Curse until Christ cometh to judge both the quick and the dead John 5.22.27 for all judgment is committed to the Son because he is the Son of man Let this person be Anathema Maran-atha Reduplication in the sacred Scripture signifieth two things Vehemency of spirit in him that speaks The Certainty of the thing spoken Thus Ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear Rom. 8.15 but ye have received the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father 'T is a repetition in several languages Syriac and Greek whereby we cry Abba Father The Spirit of God is a Spirit of Supplication in Jew and Gentile And as there is a crying in two languages Abba Father so here is a cursing in two languages Anathema maran-atha to shew that both Jews and Gentiles whether men or women whether old or young whether high or low whether rich or poor if they live and dye without love to the personal Excellency of Christ are not only anathematized but also an Anathema are not only accursed but also a Curse to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ to Judgment and from that Judgment for an eternity Of those three degrees of curses saith one which the Jews used in their threefold excommunication Perkins this of Anathema Maranatha was the highest including as much as this Let the Lord come and strike this person with eternal perdition If any person loveth not the Lord Jesus Christ let that person be Anathema Maran-atha As Gospel-Faith and Gospel-Hope appear So Gospel-Love which bringeth up the Rear As there 's a carnal and a moral Love There also is a Gospel-one above Now Gospel-Love appears a Gospel-Grace The Spirits fruit within a Gospel-Race It also is the noble souls expansion To Jesus Christ within the highest mansion And for its proper Object also makes His Excellency where are no mistakes Of Gospel-Love take from a Dwarf in Stature Its Object Soil Original and Nature Christ JESUS is most excellent in Name In Nature too for sinless is the same Excelling is a Christ in Love in Light In Council Comfort Conduct also Might Most excellent in Wisdom and in Wealth Christ Jesus is who is the Churches health Man Mortal is and posting to the Grave But Lovers of a Christ a Crown shall have Inheritance it is and Heavens Joy A Kingdom 't is that cannot be a Troy A Crown of Life so 't is in sacred Story Of Right'ousness yea 't is a Crown of Glory Some Reasons also may be given why The Lovers of a Christ when they shall dye With Jesus Christ a lasting Crown shall have Who had a Cross on this side of the Grave THe moving Cause the Fathers mercy is The merit of the Son doth follow this The Earnest of the Spirit cometh next Which Ushers in according to the text The loving Saint that he may have his Sweet Who Bitter had before a winding sheet Art tempted yet a Jesus loveth more Than Satan hates though he doth greatly roar Art troubled suffer but a while and know To suffer but a while thou hast below Art sinful Ah! this calls for Lamentation Yet advocates a Christ for Consolation Christ loving is and easie 't is to try him Dost love a Christ then thou art loved by him Take Symbols also of a Gospel-Love It jealous is unto a Christ above 'T is cordial uncessant 't is and loyal In persons who appear divinely royal Expansive 't is expensive also 't is Expressive too both unto Him and His This gospel-Gospel-Love 't is love that 's sociable Submissive 'tis superlative and stable Thy suffrage give unto a gâ—â— less Dove That Christ is Object of the Churches love Christ loved must be by a Man I see Or damned must the Man for ever be Thus to divert I did attempt to scatter In Poem here the marrow of the matter FINIS