is to be shewed them that it might be as a powerful Argument to beget faith and affection to God and Christ in them and to make them that duly consider it willing to come and which if rejected leaves them without excuse and aggravates their sin and makes evident the equity of their condemnation with a witness Indeed in Promises and Threatnings which alwaies respect the future there is an If or condition understood where not expressed often as appears 1 Sam. 2.30 Jer. 18.7 8. Jonas 3.4 but not in declarations in matters done Now I say this love and salvation so generally expressed is not that to be sought to be obtained or that we may be under it we being all preventingly under it and too many content themselves with being under the enjoyments of its streams in having the patience and bounty of God exercised toward them and in hearing that God hath loved them while sinners and Christ hath died for them sitting down content with this or some more common gifts vouchsafed in or through such means as upon the account thereof are afforded not minding that though those things be true without condition and so ought to be proposed yet they were not done without an end which ought to be pursued Though it s not said Christ died for all if they will live to him yet it s said He died for all that they who live might live to him Though it s not right to say God is patient towards men and doth them good if they repent as if not otherwise yet it s right to say that he is patient towards them and do 〈◊〉 them good that they might repent It 's not handsome to say The Gospel is sent to men if they will believe yet it is to say It is sent to men that they might believe and in believing be justified sanctified washed renewed and be made new creatures having on them the Wedding garment without which they may not partake of the feast nor be the Subjects of Gods choice love in which true bliss and happiness are to be enjoyed nor be made partakers of the special salvation in which Christ is the especial Saviour of them that believe the Author of Eternal salvation unto which things as to our being the Subjects enjoying them there is an If or condition And therefore that these ends of what Christ hath done and doth might be obtained by us it 's needful both that the Gospel be declared clearly and plainly to men by those who are thereto called and that where declared men set their hearts to it to mind it that they might in another sort or sense find this general love and salvation that is to say as to the knowledge belief and efficacy of it upon them it being as is shewed in the Treatise the way by which men are and may be begotten and brought to Repentance Faith and the New Birth and â—o become the objects of the special love aâ— salvation The Word in the Gospel is the seed of Regeneration 1 Pet. 1.23 25. The Gospel of Christ even the preaching of the Cross that Christ died for our sins and was buried and rose again according to the Scriptures is the power of God to salvation to every one that believes Rom. 1.16 1 Cor. 1.22.24 15.1 2 3. the preaching that Christ died for all and to what end and that God was in Christ reconciling the world and is the Word of Reconciliation 2 Cor. 5.14 15 19. The Grace of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saving to all men teacheth that denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly That Teacher is to be attended to and that teaching learned and they are greatly faulty that slight or darken it or overly hear it or rest in a notion of it without being brought under the special love by it Though yet neither is this all that men should attend to in hearing and receiving it to be made in Christ by it and so objects of special love All the business is not done and over in that it 's needful also to abide and go on therein for we have adversaries will endeavour to pull us back or pervert us from it Pharaoh who hindred Israels going out of Egypt endeavoured when gone to fetch them back again So deals Satan and as all that were brought into the way to Canaan attained not to Canaan because some turned back in their hearts and some such as had believed and sung his praises afterward through unbelief perished So there is a danger here too And therefore as Moses his work was not all over when he had brought them over the Red Sea and led them to Mount Sinai so neither was the Apostles when by their Ministry and Gods blessing thereon they had brought any to Christ and so to Mount Sion now they were jealous with a godly jealousie for such as they had espoused to Christ lest by any means as the Serpent beguiled Eve any of them might be corrupted from the simplicity in him 2 Cor. 11.23 Least by any means they might be moved and the Tempter should tempt them and render their labour frustrate 1 Thess 3.5 Therefore they wrote Epistles to them wherein they instructed reproved warned them provoked them to watchfulness and stedfastness in the faith So run that they might obtain so to hold fast and abide in Christ as not to lose their reward nor fail of the Grace of God directing them how to behave themselves so as to be preserved in Christ unto eternal life And that 's the main scope and drift of the Treatise here presented that being in the special love of God thou mayest be kept in it But I am sensible that some things might have been spoken to that I over looked in it for some perhaps by the love of God spoken of in the Text understand not that love whereof he is the Subject and we the Object Gods love to and of us but that whereof we are the Subjects and God the Object our love to and of God And indeed upon consideration I had thought of inserting some things in that sense also Not because I think I have taken it amiss but because I think that also might not have been unprofitably spoken to as one sense of the phrase though the matter comes much what to the same for the lover of God is the choicely beloved of God as it is said I love namely with an approving delightful love them that love me Prov. 8.17 Psal 147.11 and my Father hath loved you because ye have loved me John 16.27 they are the called according to his purpose and all things work together for their good Rom. 8.28 to them God hath promised the Crown of life and a glorious Kingdom James 1.12 2.5 Onely to supply that defect I shall here briefly note that in those words Keep your selves in the love of God so taken there is signified Note 1. That the real and hearty
Believers of the Grace of God love God for his love believed by them so in 1 John 4.19 We love God because he first loved us First loved us namely in sending his Son into the world while we were sinners and ungodly for that 's it in which he not onely hath commended but still and always commendeth his love to us Rom. 5.8 not onely to be our Teacher but also to be the propitiation for our sins that we might live through him Vers 9 10 14. This love rightly perceived and heartily received turns the heart to love God 1. So as letting go or rejecting all other Gods or Objects of trust and worship for the sake of God and of our Lord Jesus Christ beloved also as the Son of God and our Saviour to chuse him for its God and to say of him He is my rock my fortress my God in him will I trust Psal 91.2 2. So as for the sake of Christ and God in him to count all things loss and dung where this love is indeed hearty and strong for there be degrees of loving God yea to forsake father mother lands life all things for the knowledge and enjoyment of him panting and longing after fellowship with him Phil. 3.7.8 9. Luke 14.26.33 Psal 42.1 2. 27.4 Yea 3. So as though with the loss of all things where this love is vehement to desire and endeavour the promoting of his glory yielding up its power and members thereto 1 Cor. 10.33 Phil. 1.20 Act. 20.24 4. So as it loves observes and keeps his words and sayings and doth his commands John 14.21 23. 1 John 5.3 5. So as it loves and waits for his salvation willingly tarrying for it Psal 40.19 6. Yea and so as it loves his name and his people delights and cleaves to them Isa 56.6 1 John 3.23 5.1 By which tryal may be made how we have received and believed the Grace of God whether in vain or not examining and proving our selves whether we be in the faith and Christ by his Spirit and its efficacies be in us or not 2 Cor. 13.5 that being the way by which the rightness and effectualness of our receit of the Grace of God or its ineffectualness may be discerned as these Scriptures signifie 1 John 1.6 7. 2.3 4 5.6 9 10 11 29. 3.7 8 10 14 19 20 21 c. that where it 's otherwise we might not question the reality of Gods love of compassion and well-willing to us but believing that give the more earnest heed to the things heard in the Gospel so as to receive them more heartily turn at his reproofs therein and yield up to the power therein working that we may be renewed thereby lest we be rejected of him Heb. 2.1 6.7 8. and where we find his Grace effectual in any measure we may be more encouraged to mind it still that we may both be preserved therein and be perfected thereby and this the rather because as is here implied too Note 2. Such as are in the love of God in this sense also may possibly not abide therein but be corrupted from it if not careful to preserve themselves in it yea there is danger hereof especially in evil times That this is so may be evidenced partly 1. In what is said to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus viz. That he had left his first love Rev. 2.4 and of the Angel of the Church of Sardis viz. That he was dead and what remained in him was ready to dye whereas he had more rightly received and heard Rev. 3.1 2 3. and to the Angel of the Church of Laodicea viz. That he was lukewarm and neither hot nor cold Vers 15. implying nothing as if he had never been otherwise nay surely his boasting rather was an effect of his reflecting upon himself and what he had found there so as to grow secure and careless there through as judging he had got such a stock of Grace as could never be spent and come to nothing as Israel so kind in her youth as to follow God in a Wilderness being enriched by him fell off from her affection to him so as to have no love at all for him saying We are Lords we will come no more at thee Jer. 2.23.31 Partly also and more fully 2. In what our Saviour saith Matth. 24.12 Because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold yea so as to miss of salvation as the next Verse implies wherein he addes But in opposition to those former he that continues to the end as implying that the others had love but continued not to the end in it shall be saved implying that those others should not and yet saying their love should wax cold he implies it was sometime hot And therefore there is need of the exercise here commended by the Apostle Jude for keeping our hearts in a warm temper towards God But here it may be objected Object That the Apostle John saith He that is born of God sinneth not because his seed abideth in him neither can he sin because he is born of God how then can a lover of God fall therefrom Answ To this because not spoken to in the Treatise I shall say the more And so 1. That by born of God is either meant one framed to the mind of God through the knowledge of and acquaintance with him so as he is made in a high degree like him a spiritual one as opposed to the carnal and babes in Christ 1 Cor. 2.14 with 3 12. the perfect 1 Cor. 2.7 as distinguished from such as are yet short one that discerns all things rightly God and Christ and his excellencies so as highly to love and fear him emptiness and vanity in all things else so as not to be taken with them imperfection and mutableness in himself so as he durst not trust himself from him or out of his way one into whose heart wisdom is so entred as that knowledge is become most pleasant to his soul and the feaâ— of the Lord most prevalent so as discretion preserves him and understanding keeps him Prov. 2.10 11 12. in such fear of God and love to him that he cannot sin because he cannot find in his heart or be perswaded to neglect Christ and his counsels and ways or be withdrawn from them And no doubt but in following on to know the Lord and abiding in Christ he will so teach us of all things write his Law and put his love into our hearts subdue and mortifie our corrupt affections and passions and make us so wise as it will be quite contrary to our natures our new natures to sin willingly against him however strongly provoked or tempted thereto as in Joseph that said How can I do such wickedness and sin against God Gen. 39.9 Yea and we attain such height and strength of love to him as that many waters cannot quench it nor the floods drown it Cant. 8.6 7. and as to be perswaded on good
it is never to have known the way of truth than after the knowledge of it to turn away again from the holy Commandement 2 Pet. 2.21 Their root is rottenness and their blossom goeth up as dust because they have cast away the Law and Doctrine of the Lord of Hosts and despised the Word of the Holy One of Israel Isai 5.24 Though they may profess that they know God yet in deed they deny him being abominable and disobedient and unto every good work reprobates bunglers at the best and void of judgment Tit. 1.16 Now as there is such difference between them so it is the part and practice of Christs Apostles and Servants to separate and put difference between them in their ministration as Jude here doth To say to the Righteous It shall be well with him for they shall eat the fruit of their doings and to pronounce wo to the wicked for he shall in going on to be so surely dye the reward of his hands shall be given him Isai 3.10 11. and so to separate the precious from the vile incouraging confirming and strengthening the one in the Lord and so in the way of righteousness and reproving discouraging and fighting against the other in the way of his wickedness that he might be filled with shame and either be turned from his wicked way or be weakened and confounded however in it that he may not be able to do hurt to others and hinder them in the way of righteousness and salvation Jerem. 15.19 But as I said before I shall not inlarge further upon these things but proceed to consider the Councel and Exhortation here given for the direction and preservation of Believers But ye beloved building up your selves on your most holy faith c. In speaking to and considering of which I shall God willing observe the order above propounded first speak to the main thing directly exhorted to and then to the means and manner thereto and thereof prescribed as God shall afford his assistance and help to me And so I shall consider 1. The matter mainly or directly exhorted to and see what it implyes and signifies unto us that is Keep your selves in the love of God In which is signified Obser 3 4. 1. That unfeigned Believers in Christ are in the love of God 2. That it greatly behooves them and it is required of them that they keep themselves therein Indeed those words In the love of God may be so construed as to signifie either the way in which we are directed to keep our selves namely from the error of the wicked and the dangers and woes attending it and then the sense might be Keep your selves from those persons and evils forementioned by taking heed to the love of God or else which I judge the righter as to the intent of the Apostle here the way state or condition in which the Believers at that present were this I say I judge the righter for the other sense representing those words in the love of God as if they signified in minding the love of God or the like is included in the words Building up your selves on your most holy faith as we may see in considering that phrase and therefore I conceive the Apostle would not speak the same thing twice in the same breath as it were besides that his sentence should be somewhat defective in omitting the word minding or the like whereas in the other sense all things are plain And the former Observation from these words evidently appears to be implyed namely That unfeigned Believers are in the love of God Obser 3. where we shall mind 1. What is meant by the love of God here and then 2. Shew that and how the Believer is in it 1. By the love of God is sometime meant and signified his loving merciful pitiful and compassionate affection in which he willeth and desireth the good of the party loved and doth that that he sees needful and conducible thereto yet so as not in the mean while liking or approving or taking into fellowship with himself the party loved because of the unfitness and incapacity in the present condition for it A Love of pity commiseration and well-willing but not of owning and delight and so it is said John 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life which is only meant of such a pitying and well-willing love not of owning and approving love For it is not said That God so loved the world as that he approved its state and way or owned it to be his peculiar people his portion and the heirs of his Kingdom or admitted it into fellowship with himself No the world being there plainly persons not as yet believing in him or in his Son but in such a condition as needed his Sons being given to do that for it and receive that power and fiâ—ness thereupon to help it as might render him an object to be believed in by it were in such a sinful wretched ungodly State as in which it was liable to perish in its wickedness or sinfulness and therefore God could not as in that state in which he is yet said so to love it as to give his Son approve of it or admit it into his presence to the injoyment of fellowship with him and life therein And that is evident for could God as then and in that state have delighted in owned and approved of it and so admitted it into fellowship with himself and had God accordingly so have loved it as so to do then was it in no danger of perishing much less in no such danger as that it needed the coming forth and death and sacrifice of Christ to save it therefrom unless we could imagine that God sent Christ only to preserve the world in his owning approving love and not to procure that it might be so loved or have a way to be brought into it which is contrary to the Scripture which both tell us that the world was in a state of enmity to God and therefore not in an approved state and that Christ was sent forth for its reconciling to him 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself c. and every where implies a need for his doing so that it or any man in it might come into such a state by him as that it might be owned and accepted which needed not if it was accepted before For if it was owned of God and approved notwithstanding the sin of Adam that sinfulness which thereby entred upon it defiled it then why might it not stil have been always accepted and approved whatever it might sin in by the power or virtue of that its corrupted state that its sinning notwithstanding for if the root hindred it not of God's favour to it why should any fruit springing from that root and so Christ's coming had or should have been in vain or
needless yea and all calls to believe in him and acting of faith toward him which so pulls up all the Gospel by the roots and abrogates the Grace of God that it may by no means be endured And therefore it may in no wise be understood of an approving owning and as some are pleased to speak a tantamount justifying love from eternity but only as we said of a love of pity and well-willing in which God beholding its wretchedness by reason of its sins against him and his curse against it did mercifully devise and find out a way to help it and where through any of it might if not obstinately chusing their own ruine be actually saved and brought â—o happiness Such a love as this may be in a Father toward an ungracious childe who hath provoked him to cast him into prison where he yet remains in his crooked conditions and in danger there to perish he may out of pity use means to set him free and reclaim him to a beter demeanour of himself while yet he cannot like of his present either demeanour or concondition or own and delight in him as such And as David loved Absalom greatly even while he was in open arms and rebellion against him so as that he was not willing he should perish or be slain therein yea so as he could have found in his heart to have died for him so he might have lived and come to good when as yet he could not own approve or delight in him or like to have his company in that his condition Such a love God loves sinners and ungodly men with while yet they be such But 2. By the love of God is sometime meant and signified his owning approving tenderly affecting delightfully favouring or embracing a person or party loved as when it is said The Father loveth the Son and gave all things to him John 3.36 and again Therefore my Father loveth me because I lay down my life that I may take it again John 10.17 that is he owns approves and delights in the Son as in Matth. 3.17 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased and as Mat. 12.18 Behold my servant whom I have chosen my beloved in whom my Soul is well-pleased or as Isaiah hath it Isa 42.1 in whom my soul delighteth He so loved loveth Christ not only as his eternal word as brought forth before the mountains and hills rejoycing always before him and his dayly delight as Pro. 8.29.30 but also as man of the seed of Abraham and David after the flesh and â—s because he was obedient to him did his will and kept his Commandement in laying down his life a ransome for us and taking it again as John 15.9 10. with 10.17 18. that he hath in all cases stood by him upheld and helped him owned and approved his doings and performances accepted him into his presence given him honour and glory and taken up his delight and well-pleasedness in him for ever After that manner loved he not the world he owned it not nor approves its works nor takes it into his favour acceptance because it and its works are all evil But with such a love God and Christ loved his Disciples as in John 15.9 10. As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you so that after such a sort with such an owning accepting approving love continue ye in my love and John 16.27 The Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God Surely God loved them before they loved Christ but that was with a pitying well-willing love desiring their good and affording that to them that might conduce to their good both as to the making them good and bringing them to be capable subjects of his special goodness while they were yet of the world he loved them as he loved the world and with such a manner of loving them and so gave Christ for them and to them as an object fit to be believed in by them that they might believe in him and be saved out of the condition of the world in which he found them and in which they lay before their believing in him but now there he speaks of an higher and other manner of love or streaming forth his love upon them as persons in Christ loving him and believing him to be the Son of God sent forth into the world by him Such a likement of them as a result of the greatnes of his love to Christ as not only on the accomptâ— of Christ's intercession praying for them I say not says Christ that I wil pray for you but in approvement of their faith in and love to Christ out of his respect upon that account to them he would hear and help them yea as our Saviour himself says in his prayer for them in the next Chapt. John 17.23 the Father loved them even as he loved Christ for so are the words That the world may know that thou hast sent me and that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me Loved them not the world for he did not love the world as he loved Christ though he so loved it as to give Christ for it to be the Saviour of it but by them its evident he means the Disciples and believers on Christ who are said to be loved as Christ not in immediateness heighth of testimony and fulness as Christ but in respect of the account upon which he loves them Not as Adam or as branches only of him and so with a love issuing out of his love to him as he may be said to have loved the world that is to have pityed them and desired their good as his Creatures but as Christ as branches of him the true Vine and with a love centered upon him reflecting from his love to him and with respect to him as loved for his obedience to him in laying down his life and taking it up again and so as he loved Christ even with a love answerable to or after such a manner as his loving him that is reckoning them in and after him approving owning taking pleasure in them c. 2. Now the hearty believers on Christ and retainers of his Truth and walkers therein may be truly said to be in the love of God in both these senses significations or manners of the acting of the love of God that is 1. In the love of pity and well wishing and that both 1. As they were in Adam not only standing and as there owned and approved as his innocent Creatures for of his loving men there we have nothing here to say the object of his so loving men as such being long since ceased in Adam's sinning but as fallen and yet pittied of God and not left destitute of his care of him to help and rescue him for so they were parts and members of the World or of that lump of mankind fallen in him whom he sent his Son for and
love of and goodness of God to all even to sinners and enemies that overcomes any whiles sinners and enemies to turn to God trust and hope in him and in his mercy for their salvation The sight and perception of the goodness of God to believers as such may make a man to wish himself to be such and more diligently to listen to what may make him such that he may partake of that choice goodness and it is very useful also to be propounded in the hearing of others as our Saviour did propound the blessed state of his Disciples to them in the hearing of the multitude Matth. 5.1 2. with Luk 6.20 21 but it is the sight knowledge or perception of God's graciousness to sinners in his being upon the account of Christ and his sacrifice and mediation ready and willing to accept any poor sinner turning to him forgiving his sins and not retaining his trespasses against him to barr him out from his favour that draws and perswades a sinner and ungodly one to turn unto him and hope and believe in him yea and it is the flesh of Christ given for the life of the world that the believer also feeds on Now all men are not in this sense in the General love goodness and gratiousness of God they do not see perceive and believe it much less are their hearts taken with it and living in it sucking in vertue and power from it to trust in God and to renew them into his image and unto his obedience But the believers are in this sense in it too in the words and Doctrine of Christ John 8.31 32. feeding upon it even upon the flesh of Christ given for the life of the world John 6.51 Christ given to be the ransome for all and there-through the Saviour of the world is the root spring and foundation of their hope and faith towards God and then 2. They are also there-through in the special love of God The love wherewith he loves Christ comes upon them and they are in it included in it and inclosed with it because through the discovery of Christ and the Grace of God in him for all men they are brought into Christ Being baptized into him they have put him on as Gal. 3.26 27. and are lookt upon of God as in him as his Branches John 15.1 4 5 his Members Ephes 5.30 and so they are reckoned after him according to their new-Birth of and into him 2 Cor. 5.16 17 Being in Christ they are no more known after the flesh After what they were in Adam and derived from him to be disowned of God by reason thereof but they are new Creatures old things are passed away and all things are become new they are now in another a new State and condition from what other men are in out of Christ that from what themselves were in before they were in Christ or believed in him they were amongst others in the state and fellowship of the world Branches of the same Wild-Olive as it were with them ungodly sinners children of wrath such as deserved wrath and were obnoxious to it as well as the rest but now through the blood of Christ and by faith in him they are made partakers of Christ the second Adam the root of righteousness the plant of renown the Son of God and his dearly beloved One and so they are 1. Justified acquitted from all their former sins and trespasses none of them remain upon them as imputed to them there is not only righteousness in Christ for them as for all Rom. 3.22 but it is also come upon them so as they are in it By Christ all that believe are justified acquitted and set free from the charge and imputation of all things wherefrom they could not be justified by the Law of Moses Act. 13.38 39. even from such sins as the Law of Moses provided or allowed no Sacrifices for as Murther Adultery c. what ever they were before they are now justified sanctified washed or made clean therefrom in the sight of God in the Name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. and they are now reputed and reckoned righteous in Christ and so stiled and spoken of by the Spirit of God in the Scriptures 2. They are now also owned and accepted of God into a nearer relation and station to him they are now in Christ become his not only his in a common sense as all the earth are but his in a more special and peculiar sense not only his because his Creatures in Adam and so he their Soveraign Lord to rule over and dispose of them as he pleases but also his because his new Creatures Created as his workmanship in Christ Jesus unto good works which he hath ordained for them to walk in his people his Subjects his purchased ones not only as generally ransomed from under the power and tyrannous jurisdiction of Sathan and Sentence of curse to be under Christs Lordship and dispose as all are but also as through his love therein testified and made known they are purchased and procured to a voluntary subjection of themselves to his Government to own him for their Lord and themselves to be his Subjects and and Servants and so are translated out of the Kingdom and jurisdiction of Sathan and the power of darkness as to their living therein and obeying thereofi nto the Kingdome and gracious Government of his Dear Son Exod. 19.5 6. Eph. 2.10 1 Pet. 2 9. Col. 1.11 12 13. Yea they are made of his family and houshold in the choice sense Fellow Citizens with the Saints of the Heavenly Jerusalem the City of God c. 3. Yea God so loves these that he adopts them to himself for Sons being in Christ his Son and made members of him whereas before were they others Servants servants of sin and heirs of death To them that received him he that is Christ gave this liberty freedome or dignity to become the Sons of God even to them that believe in his Name being begotten and born thereto not of bloods or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man but of God whose work it is to bring a man to and make him in Christ by and through the word of truth declared to men and listened to by them John 1.12 13. Jam. 1.18 thence that also ye are all the Sons of God by faith in Jesus Christ for as many as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ Gal. 3.26 27. It is a fruit and consequent of mens being in Christ a priviledge resulting from Christ the Son of God by nature and generation that any obtain this Grace and favour to be reputed and owned of God as his Children and therefore also it is common to all believers that are truly such without difference or respect of persons it is nothing that the carnal parentage or natural blood or birth of better or worse parents or that the desires
in the presence of God and of the Lamb for ever see Revel 21. and 22.1 5. Yea in a word the love of God in Christ Jesus is unspeakable towards them and passeth all understanding and conception But I shall say no more here of it but pass to the use of what is already said Vse This Truth thus opened and considered may be of good use to us divers ways as 1. To such as are yet unbelievers and unacquainted with Christ it serves to provoke them to give diligence to know and believe in him to let go all their Idols and lying refuges their false hopes and confidences that they are and shall be well enough because of some good birth of good Parents or priviledges works and worth of theirs that they think well of themselves for and all taking content in or earnest pursuit after the injoyments of the world and learn the knowledge of Christ and close with and submit to him that so they may be by him brought into the love and favour of God as to the special actings of it towards them that they would hear and mind the Gospel and therein the love of God testified towards them as and while yet sinners in having no pleasure in or desire to their destruction but providing in Christ for their escape from misery obtaining mercy to which also in his Gospel he is exhorting and inviting of them that so through the knowledge and belief of his general love toward them and all men in the ransome given for them they may be perswaded and overcome to believe in Christ and in God through him and submit themselves to his Heavenly Doctrine and Government that so they may receive the life in him the forgiveness of their sins and the inheritance with those that are sanctified by faith in him Who is also given for a Covenant to the people for a light to the Gentiles that he might be Gods salvation to the ends of the Earth That so whosoever listens to and obeys him might be by him made at one with God and be in Covenant with him To every one while yet the day of Grace lasteth it affords motive and incouragement to seek the Lord while he may be found and to call upon him while nigh at hand to let go their evil ways and false thoughts and imaginations as of being well enough without the hearty knowledge of and faith in Christ or as if they might not certainly obtain favour by closing with Christ or the like and to turn to God to hear believe what he saith to them by Christ in the Gospel and tells them there that he hath done for them in and by him that so they being in the mindfulness and belief of that his love and grace may be begotten ther through to trust in him and depend on him and so may find everlasting life Repent and believe the Gospel Hear instruction and refuse it not for blessed is he that hears the instructions of Wisdom watching at her gates and waiting at the posts of her doors using all he can appointed of God for seeking her for they that find her as all that heartily seek her attending to God in his ways shall find life and shall obtain favour of the Lord namely the choice mercy and love of the Lord which is the portion of the unfeigned believers the inheritance of the Saints and holy ones But who so sin against her wrong their own Souls all they that hate her and so slight and put away her instructions and refuse to turn at her reproofs love Death Prov. 8.32 33 34 35. Isa 55.6 7. Surely the favour of God is worth the most earnest seeking after for what like it can make us happy What else can so satisfie the Soul and make it safe If the light of the Kings countenance is so beneficial and comfortable that it 's compared to a Cloud of the latter rain sweetly refreshing and bringing forward the fruts of the earth and if in his favour is life as Prov. 16.11 12. Oh then how much more advantageous and comfortable and inriching is the favour of God if he be for us who is he that can be against us or that can harm us if he be our Shepheard what good thing that he sees good for us can be wanting to us in whose presence is fulness of joy and the delight of whose countenance is better than light it self Verily in what he hath done for All men in the death and resurrection of Christ he hath opened a way for us to look up to him and hope in him notwithstanding the guilt of that sin that excluded us from his presence the death curse therby sentenc'd upon us And in the glory given him at his right hand the power and Lordship over all things in Heaven Earth and power to mediate for us and obtain for us and obtain to give to us in the vertues of his Sacrifice the forgiveness of our sins yea even of sins committed by us in our persons against his Grace and goodness upon our hearty Repentance and turning to him there is great incouragement to betake our selves to his teaching and Government especially considering his great mercifulness unto sinners and promises to receive them that come him and faithfulness in his promises and to rely upon him for what ever may be for our welfare and happiness Who so desires then to be in the love and favour of God and to have him a sure defence and shelter from all evil and mischief and from everlasting destruction yea and a gracious Father to him to take care of him and afford his blessing to him for here and for hereafter let him let go all other ways of seeking rest or good to himself and betake himself to Christ to learn and embrace his heavenly Doctrine and walk therein So shall he be at peace with God and good shall assuredly be his portion 2. It is also very useful for reproof to those that slight the Doctrine of Christ and take no heed thereto or rest in an empty formall profession thereof not heartily embracing it and submitting themselves to it Surely it discovers them guilty of great folly and madness for what do they deprive themselves of how inestimable a treasure what unspeakable advantages and blessings even of no less than the special savour and love of God and so of his protection promises presence and of eternal life which stands in the knowledge and injoyment of him and of the light of his countenance And what is there that a man can set his heart upon and desire and endeavour after that is worthy to be compared with so great benefits much less to be preferred are not all other things infinitely below the favour of God either as to our safety or satisfaction Can we be any where so safe as in his custody and protectionâ— Or any where so well provided for as in his blessing The life and happiness of
devour yet God who loves us is stronger than he and none can pluck the sheep or followers of Christ out of his hand Yea Christ our Shepherd is the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah and he hath spoiled Principallities and Powers and triumphed over them openly in his Cross He is stronger to defend us than Sathan to devour us and he was manifested on purpose to destroy his cursed works 1 Pet. 5.8 John 10.29 30. Col. 2.14.15 1 John 3.8 hold we fast by him and Sathan cannot harm us however much he malice us Christ both can and will surely defend and save us from his rage and malice Doth the world frown upon us hate reproach threaten and abuse us Be of good courage saith our Lord I have overcome the world and stronger is he that is in or amongst us than he that is in the world John 16.33.1 John 4.4 5. Nor can any hardship that may here befal us tribulation or distres persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword cause God and Christ to cease to love us Rom. 8.35 He is a sheild and sure defence against all these enemies His truth abides that in us shall be shield and Buckler to us so that what is therein Earth or Hell that may discourage or affright us Psal 91.3 He is such a place of defence to every one that uprightly cleaveth to him that nothing can pierce through him to annoy or harm him as in Isa 33 6â— He shall dwel on high so high as none can overtop him to storm him his place of defence shall be the munition of Rocks so that no undermining him or blowing him up oh but perhaps we may be starved or famished out for wants No not so for it follows bread shall be given him his waters shall not fail Ah but perhaps such a strong Castle and well victualled may be so close and scant of air or other delightful accommodations as to force a man to yeild to get breath or air No it follows that there is both pleasant sight fair prospects to delight for v. 17. thine eyes shall behold the King in his beauty and thou shalt see the Land that is very far off So then neither need we fear evil will befal us to harm us oâ— that good will be wanting to us to supply and satisfie us For if the Lord be our Shepheard how can we want any good thing He is a Sun sheild and will give Grace glory and no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly with him Psal 84.11 and 23.1 He will supply our inward wants Give his Holy Spirit to them that ask him Luk 11.13 to lead them into his truth fill them with hope and peace and comfort them in all their troubles and afflictions teach them also to pray and therein and otherwise help their infirmities subdue their corruptions and sanctifie them throughout in Body Soul and Spirit c. John 16.13 Rom. 8.26 27. and 15.13 1 Thess 5.23 24. And he will supply all our outward wants so far as is good and needful for us Seeking first the Kingdom of God and his Righteousness all those things shall be added to us The Lyons shall lack and suffer hunger but they that fear the Lord are sure to want no good thing Matth. 6.33 Psal 34.9 10. He giveth food to them that fear him he will ever be mindful of his Covenant Psal 111.5 And he will every way do what is good for us till he have fitted us for and bring us to the eternal inheritance So that here we have everlasting consolation and good hope through Grace 2 Thes 2.16 2. It 's useful also by way of instruction and exhortation to diverse duties that this great grace and love of God towards us doth challenge of us and afford good ground for as 1. To love him again that hath so loved us and yet so loves us as Psal 31.23 Oh Love the Lord ye his Saintsâ— for he preserveth the faithful those that believe in him and are constant in cleaving to and serving him It is but a meet return to him love for love that we love him because he loved us first 1 John 4.19 to delight our selves in him whose delight is in his people and accepts us in his Beloved One and will give unto us in so doing the desire or satisfaction of our Souls Psal 37.4 we cannot set our loves and affections upon either a more deserving or a more lovely object None there is to whom we are so much ingaged or hath so much in it to content satisfie and save us we may be sure not to loose our loves by loving him for he is not only infinitely before hand with us but also keeps mercy and Covenant for ever to them that love him and keep his Commandments we may loose our loves in loving any thing else besides him but not in loving him 2. To hope and trust in him for seeing he loves us so who is so strong and mighty to save us a Great King above all Gods in whose hands are all the corners of the Earth and the strength of the hills is his also The Sea is his and so all troubles and afflictions and he hath made it and his hands have prepared the dry land a stable port and safe haven of refuge we may be confident that he will not suffer any harm to befal us if we stay upon him and his Grace to save us yea though he may correct and nurture us yet he will take care of us to support and save us Oh trust in him then at all times ye people especially ye his people and inheritance pour out your hearts to him he is a refuge for us Psal 62.8 Yea trust in him at all times for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength Isa 26.4 especially too seeing in his great love he hath made great and precious promises to us both for this life the life that is to come hath confirmed them in the blood of the Lord Jesus his only begotten Son and appointed him to be the Mediator of them for us to take away the sin and unworthiness that might hinder us of them and to obtain a dispensation of them to us Surely we have in Christ great ground and cause of hopeing and trusting in God seeing God did therefore raise him from the dead and give him glory that our faith and hope might be in God 1 Pet. 1.21 and seeing through him his favour doth compass about the righteous as a shield from what might harm them Psalm 5.12 as it is also a Sun to give light and all refreshing influences to us even Grace and Glory and all good things to those that walk uprightly with him Psal 84.11 whence also that Counsel Philip. 4.6 7. In nothing be careful but in all things make known your requests to God by prayer and supplications with thanksgiving and the peace of God that passeth all understanding shall guard
your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus 3. To rejoyce in God and give thanks and praise unto him continually for his great love favour to us may they not well joy that are in so good a plight as to have so great a Friend so mighty a Father and Saviour as God is That have such a fountain to supply them with living water â— such a Castle and Fortress to defend them Yea upon this account it is that it is said Let them that love thy Name be joyful in thee for thou Lord wilt bless the Righteous with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield Psal 5.11 12. and that exhortation of the Apostle is to the same purpose Phil. 4.4 Rejoyce in the Lord always and again I say rejoyce and so for thanksgiving they are put together Psal 97.11 Rejoyce in the Lord ye righteous and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness And so in 1 Thess 5.16 17 18. Rejoyce evermore pray without ceasing in all things give thanks for so is the will of God concerning you in Christ Jesus Joy in his love and bless him for it 4. To moderation in griefs fears cares and to contentation with what God gives us here and submission to what he lays upon us I put them together for brevity sake his love to us might perswade us also thereto For as Elkanah said to Hanna too eagerly desiring desiring after and too sadly bearing the want of Children Am not I better to thee than ten Sons 1 Sam. 1.8 So may God say to his servants and people Am not I better to you than all those things that you are so careful and sollicitous about so mournful after or covetous for Should they be covetous for the world that have God to inrich them Is not God a portion sufficient to content and satisfie our Souls Should we be covetous of the honors riches pleasures injoyments of the world if we have God at hand to give us better things than the world can and who loving us will not withhold from us any thing that is good for us in the world or delay us of any thing that he hath promised to us and is needful for us beyond the due season wherein it may be best for us to this purpose are those sayings Let your moderation be known to all men the Lord is at hand In nothing be careful c. Philip. 4.5.6 And Let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things either for maintenance or protection as ye have for he hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say The Lord is on my side I will not fear what man can do unto me Hebr. 13 5 6. As also the contrary to these sayings be reprovable hence as upon this ground David reproves checks his distrustful immoderately sorrowing thoughts Psal 42.5 Why art thou so cast down O my Soul and why art thou so disquieted within me hope still in God c. So our Saviour upon like ground checks the fears and distrusts of his Disciples about food and rayment Mat. 6.25 26 28 30 32. Take no thought for your life what ye shall eat or drink or for your body what ye shall put on Consider the fowls are ye not much better than they Consider the Lillies c. If God so cloath the grass will he not much more cloath you being your Heavenly Father O ye of little faith c. 5. To obedience to God for his love and favour to them and to a chearful yielding up themselves to serve him with all their Talents and abilities received from him as persons that owe themselves and utmost service to him so Rom. 12.1 I beseech you Brethren by the mercies of God in which namely he hath given his Son for you called you to his Son and justifies and owns you in his Son as the former Chapters had shewed Offer up your body a living Sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service See the like Rom. 6.11 12 c. and 1 Cor. 6.18 19 20. Your bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost which ye have of God and ye are not your own for ye are bought with a price therefore Glorifie God with your bodies and with your Spirits which are God's peculiarly owned and possessed by him as also in order to their retaining and abiding in the love of God and Christ towards them as in John 15.9.10 As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love If ye keep my Commandments ye shall continue in my love as I have kept my Fathers Commandments and continue in his love which is another thing it instructs too namely 6. To abide in Christ and so keep our selves in the love of God both in the views and injoyments of it seeing his love is so precious inriching and every way advantageous to the Soul seeing it is the portion of the believers in and cleavers to Christ it is folly to turn away from believing in and obeying Christ to forfeit God's love and favour and a point of greatest wisdome to abide in Christ that we may abide also in the love of God yea and as that was one great engine and trick of the Devil and his messengers for drawing men out of Christ or from the simplicity of him into some corruptions from the faith preached and urged by the true Apostles to insinuate to them that they were not in a justified estate with God not owned loved and approved of him by their believing in Christ but that to obtain that they must be circumcised and keep the Law of Moses or receive some Traditions and Commandments of men worshipping of Angels or the like So it was the great motive and argument used by the true Apostles with them for preserving them in Christ and perswading them to abide in him namely that in him they were compleat were justified loved known and accepted of God and had everlasting life and that out of him or in departing adulterously from him in joyning some other ground of hope and trust in him they deprived themselves thereof as in Col. 2.2 3 8 9 10. Gal. 3.7 9 29. with 4.6 7 8 9 11 30. and 5.2 3 4. John 2.24 and 5.11.12 13. In Christ are bid all the treasures of wisdome and knowledge this I say least any man should beguile you with inticing words And Let no man spoil you with Philosophy vain deceit for in Christ dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily and in him ye are compleat They they that are of the faith are blessed with faithful Abraham They that are baptized into Christ have put on Christ and are the Sons of God by faith in Jesus Christ and so heirs according to promise known of God c. But turning aside to the Law to be or seek to be justified thereby they are abolished from Christ and fallen from Grace that is
God But now in this Observation that follows fairly from the words as the main thing here directly exhorted to by the Apostle there are divers things implied that we shall take distinct notice of as to say 1. That possibly believers may go out of or from the love of God they may not abide in it Yea 2. That there is no necessity that he must do so he may keep himself therein and then 3. There is great danger if care be not taken of and in turning out of it or from it 4. That it is expected from him and in some sense lies upon him as his work to keep themselves and each believer his Brother therein 1. Point 1. That such as do believe may possibly go out from the love of God This will on every hand be granted concerning such as are fained false-hearted believers counterfeit Christians and hypocrites if it might be granted as it may not that such are in the love of God in that choice sense of the word Love here understood and meant but indeed such as and while such are not nor can be in his love He cannot own justifie and approve of such and therefore to say such may fall from it is to speak absurdly and inconsistently with the Truth They were not such that the Apostle here wrote to but such as were sanctified of God the Father preserved in Jesus Christ and called and therefore were wholly of another stamp from those hypocrites false pretenders and Deceivers of whom and of whose ways they were warned and admonished and from all such as men commonly say may fall from the Grace of God which they must be in before they can fall from These were beloved of God and his Apostles and yet to such he writes to keep themselves in the love of God which would have been a needless labour for him to have taken in hand a needless exhortation to be given them if they could not but be in it could not turn aside from it or go out of it It is to be understood then of true and right believers such as God doth own and approve that such may possibly go out of or fâ—ll 〈◊〉 favour of God And that this is true also of such as his anger or wrath is or may be opposed to his love and favour that they may so demean themselves as instead of his approving them and their ways he may reprove and fault them and instead of smiling upon them he may frown upon them and chide them yea be very much displeased with smite them it will easily be granted too seeing many instances thereof are found in the Scriptures As that God was angry with Moses Aaron and Miriam David and Solomon and other holy men so as that he inflicted great punishments upon them as appears in these Scriptures Numb 120 12â— and 27 14. Deut. 1.37 and 3.26 2 Sam. 11.27 and 12.1 9 10. Psal 32.3 4 and 38.3 4. 1 King 11.9 c. Moses and Aaron amongst his Priests and Samuel amongst those that called upon his Name they called upon the Lord and he answered them He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar they kept his Testimonies and the Ordinances he gave them Thou answeredst them O Lord our God thou wast a God that forgavest them though thou tookest Vengeance on their inventions Psal 99.7.8 Yea how often doth the Scripture tell us of God's wrath and anger against his people even his Zion and Israel as Psal 80.4 Oh Lord how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people thou feedest them with the bread of tears and givest them tears to drink in great measure c. and Psal 85.5 Wilt thou draw out thine anger for ever or be angry to all generations So Lam. 3.1 I am the man that have seen affliction by the rod of his anger c. Yea the Fathers in the Wilderness whom God highly favoured and brought in love and mercy out of Egpyt were highly priviledged by him yet how did they provoke him to displeasure by their unbelief and murmurings so as they most of them were destroyed in his judgments and their carkases fell in the wilderness and they are propounded as admonitions and warnings to us even to such as were justified sanctified and washed from their sins in the Name of the Lord Jesus Yea the Apostle Paul himself looked upon their falls and the disfavour that they procured to themselves as warnings to him See 1 Cor. 9.16 24 25 26 27. with chap. 10.1 2 3 4 5. and 6.11 and from the consideration of what befel them he lays down this general caution Wherefore he that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall c. 10.12 And if it were only possible for believers in this sense to go or fall out of God's love into his wrath and anger considering the dreadfulness of his wrath and the sad consequents thereof upon the objects of it that might be a sufficient motive to move us to take heed to our selves that we sin not against him but keep our selves in his love and favour considering also on the other side how sweet and advantageous his Love is But that seems not to be all that believers may possibly fall into out of the love of God Nay indeed love in a high sense may consist with anger so far at least as still to own and acknowledge for his the person with whom he is angry yea and his in near relation too though there be not an approving of the way and action that causeth the anger As a man may be angry and greatly displeased with his Son or wife whom yet he doth not disinherit or cut off So God is angry with his Children and people often yet he owns for his Children and people So Psal 78.59 60 61 62. When God heard this the the unfaithfulness and Idolatry of his people he was wroth and greatly abhorred Israel so that be forsook the Tabernacle of Shiloh the Tent which he placed amongst men and delivered his strength into Captivity that is the Ark and his Glory into the enemies hands He gave his people over also unto the sword and was wroth with his inheritance c. they were still his people though given over to the sword and his inheritance though he was wroth with them There is somthing worse than all this yet implied as possible namely an utter rejection disowning if men be not careful to keep themselves in his love as is implied in Ezek. 33 13. When I say to a righteous man thou shalt surely live note by the way that God doth not say so to any seemingly outwardly righteous man onely that is not so indeed he promises not life to the hypocrite or meer moral man but only to those that are righteous in and through Christ if he that righteous man trust to his own righteousness to his being righteous and commit iniquity all his righteousness shall not be remembred but for his iniquity which
in a safe state the Sons of God and sure in respect of their state of eternal life Sure that cannot be in vain the main desired end of which is obtained and accomplished And that was the main desire of the Apostles for those they preacht to that they might obtain eternal life through Jesus Christ of which if they that are once in the favour of God can never possibly fail they must have been sure in the issue whatever for a time might be acted by them or come upon them Object But it might be said How can the love of God wherewith he loves the Believer then be said to be such as wherewith he loves Christ seeing he loves him certainly with an unchangeable eternal or everlasting love even as in the nature of man but this love toward Believers may cease to be toward them Answ To this I say God in Christ never fails or ceases to love him that believes on him with an owning approving love and so as to stand by and help him but when any turns out from the faith he ceaseth to be a Believer and if God should still love him in that sense then he should not love a Believer but a Runnagade and Apostate from the Faith Let men then keep the Faith and cleave to Christ and they shall be sure to find Gods love cleaving to them The difference then between Gods loving Christ and loving the Believer is nothing except as to priority and degree which Christ is certainly alwayes preferred in because in all things he hath the preheminence but there may be difference between Christ and other Believers as to their abiding the subjects of Gods love personally considered that is there may be difference in their abiding in the Truth Christ was loved of the Father alwayes and ever shall be because he alwayes abode in the Truth and did the Fathers will verily had not Christ done so as man could he or should he have disobeyed his Fathers will and not laid down his life at his appointing the Father would not nor could so have loved him for Therefâ—â—e doth my Father love me saith he because I lay down my life that I should take it up again John 10.17 which implyes that his Father had not so loved him if he had not so done for that cannot in any good sense be said to be done because of another thing which had been equally done without that other thing alledged as its cause Let the Believer then abide in his faith in Christ as Christ abode in his obedience to his Fatâ—er and he shall abide as everlastingly in the love of the Father as Christ doth There is no difference in the Fathers love if there be none in the Believers faith and obedience from Christs as to its point of continuance To this purpose is that of our Saviour himself John 15.9 10. As the Father hath loved me so have I loved you continue ye in my love If ye keep my Commandements ye shall continue in my love as I have kept my Fathers Commandements and continue in his love Where Christs continuing in his Fathers love is made the consequent of his keeping his Fathers Commandements and upon those terms also he assures his Disciples of a continuance in his love which is also undivided from his Fathers love the Father loving whomsoever the Son loves and è contra therefore in 1 John 2.24 they are joyntly mentioned Let that which ye have heard from the beginning abide in you and then ye shall continue in the Father and in the Son that is in the love and favour of them both so also 2 John 9. And this truth here implyed and supposed viz. That the Believer may possibly not keep himself in the love of God or possibly may go or turn out of it so as to the depriving himself thereof may be looked upon both as one reason or ground of the Apostles exhorting them to keep themselves therein and as one motive to incite and provoke the Believer to care and diligence thereabout so as to make it his business of greatest concernment or importance were there no possibility to fail or deprive himself thereof it were altogether needless for any to exhort him to keep himself therein or for him to regard such an exhortation or do any thing with an eye to such a business for what wise man will be sollicitous to avoid what he judges impossible to happen This then is a fundamental suppose all couched in all such cautions and exhortations that those that are in the love of God at present may possibly if they keep not themselves therein fall out of it that is to say true and right Believers there being no others in the love of God in the sense of it before spoken to and opened may if not watchful loose Gods favour towards them It were a senseless thing to think the Apostles would counsel or perswade any to keep themselves in the love of God that were never in it nor are at the present in it and as senseless it is to think that they writ to them to keep themselves in the love of God who they supposed cannot fall out of it only because some others fall out of it that weâ—e never in truth in it as they that hold the contrary Assertion are often out upon it to say while they seek to evade the force of these Scripture intimations But again this saying implyes Point 2. That there is or may be great danger of and in turning out from the love of God I say danger of and in turning out â— That there is not only possibility of turning out from the love of God but also great danger of it that such a thing may be It is not only possible but many do attempt and seek to reduce that possibility into act in the Believers many that are potent and subtle in their attempts so that unless Believers do use diligence and vigilance in standing upon their guard and using the means of their preservation which God hath propounded to them they may be soon turned aside And then 2. There is great danger in turning aside the danger that a person incurrs in turning aside is wondrous great or the evils and mischiefs that attend upon a mans so doing are very grievous Something we may note as to either of these they being both of them intimately here signified For 1. Though there were a possibility of loosing the love and favour of God yet if there were no great danger of it no great likelihood by any means there would be the less need of admonishing of it or of taking heed to such admonitions when afforded As it is possible for a man to poyson himself or to cast himself down a steep place it is possible for any sober man so to do yet there is no great danger ordinarily of it and therefore no great need to give serious cautions ordinarily to such men against it But when there are
improbable to the eye of flesh and blood or carnal reason that ever it should be performed Psal 105.19 So God exercised and tried Abraham's faith concerning a childe making him wait 25 years after his coming into Canaan before he performed the promise thereof to him and so he tried David as pertaining to the Kingdom c. for that 's an evidence of the Souls believing God and trusting in him when it yet holds fast its confidence though he seems to forget his word and makes no haste to perform it to it 2. To try and exercise the love of the Creature to God and to the mercy promised whether it will yet wait upon him and stay for his promise or imbrace some other more present injoyment that is more at hand and in its power to attain it men love not God nor the mercy promised at some high rate they will let it go and not stay or tarry for it they will with Demas imbrace this present world but if they love him and his mercy they will wait and tarry for it how ever long it be that he delay it as Jacob that loved Rachel was willing to wait and tarry for her seven years rather than not enjoy her and counted it but a small time for the love he had to her Gen. 29.20 3. To draw out the desire and affection of the Soul more after him and his mercy that it might long for it and pray and be earnest with God for it that so it might not come before it be heartily welcome and acceptable to the Soul that so also the Soul may be more thankful for mercy and better prizesâ— use it when it comes what men come easily and suddenly by they often as little value or regard but what they long for and earnestly desire and seek after and yet do not presently finde that they more prize when they doe obtain Abraham and Sarah being long delayed before they obtained a childe when at length God gave one to them they called him Isaac because of the joy and laughter that then they had in him Gen. 21.6 And Hannah having obtained a Son after long seeking and waiting dedicated him to God in thankfulness to him 1 Sam. 1. and 2. 4. To humble and meeken them in their hearts and spirits that so they might not lift up themselves in the mercy injoyed as if they had it either by themselves or for some worthiness in themselves but know that they receive it of the Grace of God in his time and at his pleasure that so he might therein and therefore be glorified Should God give men favours and mercies so soon as they desire them they might be apt to be lifted up in and for them as if their worthiness was such that God gave them with respect thereto or as if their desires did fetch them down and so after a sort by their power they had obtained them but when God withholds his mercies for some time he gives his people in that time to see and prove the many weaknesses of their endeavours and the many distempers and frowardnesses in their hearts the murmurings and faintings that they are apt to fall into and how soon they are apt to tire and be weary if God did not in mercy pardon and quicken them by which means they prove that it is not for their own worthiness that they are at last supplied satisfied but out of the great goodness of God toward them Or also that it is not by the power of their endeavors or desires but by the power and good will of God that they are saved Thus Moses tells Israel from God that he had led them forty years in the wilderness to humble them and prove them that he might do them good in the later end that they might not attribute the Lords giving them the good land to their worthiness but to his goodness Deut. 8.2.3.16 and in Chapter 9. minds them of their many failings and great iniquities committed by them in that time of tryal that so they might not say when brought into the Land of Canaan that for their righteousness he had brought them into that Land Yea he goeth over it twice or thrice that not for their righteousness or the uprightness of their hearts they did go in to possess that Land but for the wickedness of that people God drave them out and to perform his words sworn to their Fathers c. which he demonstrates from the many proofs of their stubborness which they had given in that time of exercise and trial ordered to them Deut. 9.4 5 6 7 c. 5. In a word God doth thus to prepare his people for mercies and make them more meet and fit for the injoyment of them and more thankful for them while they see they are at his pleasure and in fittest time bestowed on them that patience having its perfect work in them they might be intire wanting no good thing James 1.3 4. for 2. There is also in this tarrying a patient bearing that delay or deferring of comforts and a still retaining their confidence that they shall be granted and a keeping the way in which they are directed to expect them even as he that waits for a man both goeth to the place in which he hath promised to meet with him and in the time of his not coming stays there for him till he come not turning and going again though at his first coming and for some time after he there finds him not yea and though he sustain some troubles by so staying He that believes makes not haste Isa 25.16 He casts not away his confidence as they that draw back to perdition but exercises patience till he have done the will of God therein and so through faith and patience inherits the promises Heb. 6.12 with 10.35 36 37 38. and both those things are joyned together in the Lamentations as answering to waiting for the Lord Lam. 3.25 26. for having said ver 25. The Lord is good to the man that waiteth for him to the Soul that seeketh him it follows by way of inference It is good for a man both to hope and quietly to wait or tarry for Gods Salvation v. 26. yea in waiting is further implied 3. An earnest desire and seeking after the mercy and salvation of God as from that â—ference now mentioned as the consequent from the assertion of Gods goodness to the soul that seeks him is implied And indeed the heart cannot tarry and wait in hope and expectation of any thing that it hath no desire to injoy or see However the outward man might be forced and constrainedly made to stay in a place till such a thing come yet the heart is gone from it in case it hath no desire after it An earnest desire then for and a seeking after this mercy and Grace of God is here also commended to us in this waiting posture exhorted to that our affections should be after and upon that eternal life
in Christ and that mercy of Christ that is needful to bring us thereunto and so that we be not slothful nor take up content and satisfaction in what 's already attained as if we had enough and needed no more Laodicea-like but with our Souls be desiring after God and with our very spirits longing for him till he satisfie our souls with his goodness as was Davids posture of waiting for God expressed Psal 130.5 6. I wait for the Lord yea my Soul doth wait and in his word doe I hope My Soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning I say more than they that watch for the morning a waiting in which is also a watching for what is waited for yea a most diligent and desirous watching such as that is of those that being benighted and bewildred for want of light do long for the morning light And indeed such a waiting for Gods mercy becomes those that are building up themselves on their most holy faith and praying in the holy Ghost for men may pray formally or put their life and Religion in saying over prayers and yet have their hearts dead and void of any living desires of Gods presence and favour but the praying in the Holy Ghost cannot stand without it as may appear in what we have said thereabout yea this waiting may have in it further 4. A waiting upon God in Christ as well as a waiting for him or for something from him a patient attending to him and following after him whithersoever he goes and to be ordered and directed by him in what ever he requires as Psal 123.1 2. Vnto thee lift I up my eyes O thou that dwellest in the Heavens Behold as the eyes of servants are upon the hands of their Masters and the eye of the maiden unto the hand of her Mistress namely to be at their appointment and see and mind which way they direct them to run as well as to minde what they will give them so our eyes wait or are upon the Lord our God till he have mercy upon us in such a sense as that phrase in Prov. 27.18 He that waiteth upon his Master shall be honoured He that attends upon him to know his pleasure and to doe him service and this may be included also in this waiting for his mercy and in that seeking is therein implied though the other things seem to be more properly and directly signified 2. Now the Object to be waited for is expressed to be the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto Eternal life Eternal life is the end but necessary thereto as the way to bring us to it is the Mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ Mercy But not any or every kind of mercy There are the tender mercies of the wicked that are cruel Prov. 12.10 and there is the mercy or kindness of men that are not wicked but the best of men are but servants to this Lord whose mercy is to be expected It is the mercy of the Lord whose mercy will reach to more profit than those of a servant but yet it s not the mercy of every Lord neither but of him who is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings the Lord Jesus Christ the anointed Saviour the only begotten Son of God whom he sent into the world for us made of a woman made under the Law that he might redeem us who were under the Law that we by the faith of him might receive the adoption of Sons who being anointed with the Holy Ghost and power went about doing good and obeyed his Father to the death the death of the Cross and therefore is again highly exalted and hath a Name an Authority and power given him far above every Name or power that at his Name every knee should bow both of things in Heaven and things in Earth c. and that every tongue should confess that he is Lord to the Glory of God the Father Philip 2.10 11. The Lord of all Act. 10 36. The Lord of men even of the dead and of the living by vertue of his Death Resurrection and living again Rom. 14.9 and the Lord of Angels for Angels and Principallities are made subject to him 1 Pet. 3.22 the Lord of Life and Glory Act. 3.15 1 Cor. 2.8 as having the Soveraign Power in and with his Father to quicken and give life to whom and as he pleases John 5.20 21 22. being upon the right hand of Majesty in the Highest filled with all the fulness of the Godhead bodily Col. 2.9 the fulness the immeasurable fulness of the Holy Ghost being resting and dwelling upon him and so anointing him and furnishing him with power and sufficiencie of wisdom understanding counsel strength c. for the managing the Government and Kingdom of God over men and over all Creatures so as in a way of saving mankinde from sin death devil and destruction being the Saviour of all men able willing and ready to save all of them upon submission to him yea and actually so saving them from manifold evils both within and without so that they are ingaged to and might submit to him but especially the Saviour of them that believe It is the mercy of this great Lord and our Saviour Jesus Christ who being one with the Father and glorified with the Fathers own self upon the account of his obedience to his Father and love to and sufferings for us men is often joyned with the Father in the Object of the Apostles prayers foâ— and so in the dispensations of Grace and Mercy unto men as may be seen in the Salutations of the Churches in their Epistles to them Grace be to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Rom. 1.7 1 Cor. 1.3 2 Cor. 1.2 Gal. 1.3 Ephes 1.2 Philip. 1.2 Coll. 1.2 1 Thes 1.1 2 Thes 1.2 Philem. 1.3 or Grace mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord 1 Tim. 1.2 or Christ Iesus our Lord 2 Tim. 1.2 or the Lord Iesus Christ our Saviour Tit. 1.4 and surely his mercy must needs be of exceeding great concernement unto us above all things for it is the mercy of God so as that where he hath and exerciseth mercy God also even the Father exercises mercy in and by him And where he shews not mercy neither doth God the Father shew mercy nor can the pity and mercy of men be they never so great or mighty or many advantage a man any thing in comparison hereof the Sovereign power of life and death yea of everlasting life or death being in and with him So that whom he saves and blesses they are and shall be saved and blessed and whom he destroys or rejects from his mercy they shall perish everlastingly for his judgment is true and righteous and takes place and stands fast for ever His Mercy therefore is worthy the waiting for and most earnestly to be sought after as without which there is no salvation or happiness
deserts but as the fruit of the mercy of Jesus Christ in what he hath done for them in his death and in what he further doth to and for them in his life pitying pleading for and succouring them all along as the Captain of their salvation a merciful and faithful Priest bearing them in his bosom making reconciliation for their sins and sending them relief and comfort in their temptations till having led them through and fed them in the wilderness the state of exercise and living by faith here he bring them safely in the taking them hence as to their spirits and in the Resurrection of the just as to their bodies reunited with their spirits to the enjoyment of this eternal life and happiness which is so great and so glorious a condition and enjoyment as passes and exceeds all expressions and conception For no man knows nor can enter into the heart to conceive the things that God hath prepared for them that love him onely they are in some measure made understandable by the Revelation of the Holy Spirit 1 Cor. 2 9 10 11 12. Vse Now both the love of God and the abiding in it and this which is the great issue and advantage of it being all the fruit and profit of the most holy faith built upon and abidden in It doth exceedingly commend that most holy faith to us even the Son of God that loved us and gave himself for us as he is in the Gospel preached and declared to us And therefore it may serve to move and provoke all persons to love and imbrace and close with it repenting of their neglects and slightings of it and of their running in their hearts and ways after vain and empty words and things to believe and take heed unto the Gospel and Christ crucified as therein displayed that so they may therein discern and be found in the love of God and be made heirs and enjoyers of this unfathomable endless happiness eternal life Ho every one that thirsteth come to these waters of the knowledge and doctrine of Christ and he that hath no money let him come and buy wine and milk without money and without price Why do you lay out your money for that that is not bread and labour for that that will not satisfie you when in enclining the ear and coming hither to the most holy faith and so to Jesus Christ you may eat that which is good and let your souls delight themselves in fatness Isa 55.1 2. The Spirit and the Bride say Come and let every one that heareth say Come and let him that is a thirst Come and whosoever will let him take of the waters of life freely Rev. 22.17 even of the words of Christ whose words are the words of eternal life John 6.68 2. It shews the marvellous faultiness and wretched wickedness as of those that neglect so great a salvation such a most holy faith such a precious jewel and pearl of great price as the Gospel is such a feast as therein is declared and set before us to run after their Farms and Merchandize So much more of those that having embraced the Gospel and Christ as therein declared and having come to him and tasted of him and of his sweetness and graciousness do afterward turn away and fall off from him to some other way or doctrine or to some other object for delight stay or satisfaction crucifying him to themselves and making him and the grace in him of none effect They do most foolishly and madly for themselves putting away from them both the love and favour of God and that which is the product of it everlasting life and all that mercy and pity of Christ that leadeth thereunto and is necessary and was ready to be extended to them for their attainment thereof Oh foolish people and unwise that do not onely so badly requite God for all his love and mercy in Christ and grace extended to them by him but also reward evil to their own souls losing them for very vanities and trifles depriving them of such infinite mercy and happiness and plunging them into everlasting wo and miseries Who can express their folly and wretchedness to sell everlasting life and that after some good progress towards it for a mess of pottage It was a great folly in Esau so to â—ell his birth-right and in the Israelites when they were well on their way toward Canaan and in a great likelihood nay certainty of enjoying it in following Gods conduct yet then for a little meat to satisfie their lusts for leeks and cucumers c. for a little pleasure with the Moabitish daughters when arrived at the borders of it to forfeit their inheritance in and perish in the wilderness But no folly and madness like this of withdrawing from God and Christ to perdition after the tastes of his goodness and experience in some measure of the the powers of the world to come as Heb. 6.4 5 6. O therefore that we may receive admonition while it is yet called to day and avoid or break off from such practises as tend to such a loss and utter undoing for He that transgresses and abides not in the doctrine of Christ the most holy faith hath not God and he that hath not the Son hath not life 2 Jo. 9 11. Jo 5.12 3. It shews the infinite happiness of those that be and abide in Christ in the faith and obedience of Christ edifying themselves and one another on him praying in the Holy Ghost and so doe keep themselves in the love of God and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life they have the love and favour of God now as a Sun and Shield unto them and they shall have in the world to come everlasting life they are in a happy and blessed state and condition whatever tryals and afflictions doe or may befal them Blessed are the people that are in such a case yea blessed and happy is he whose God is the Lord Psalm 33.12 and 144. last And therefore also 4. It may incourage and provoke all that do believe in Christ and are upon that precious and most excellent foundation to abide in him and beware of all those things that may indanger their falling and departure therefrom Looking diligently least they or any of them fail of the Grace of God and least any root of bitterness spring up and thereby many be defiled least there be any fornicator or prophane person as Esau Heb. 12.15 16 17. least there be found an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God least any false Prophet or Antichrist deceive any of us or the love of this world or of the things of it stealing in upon us withdraw us from Christ and from the love of the Father which cannot consist with it and so we be choked and all the Grace of God bestowed upon us prove ineffectual to us But on the contrary Exhort we one another while it is called to day least any be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin Considering one another to provoke to love and to good works so running that we may obtain Laying hold on eternal life and suffering no man or corruption or evil spirit to deceive us deprive us thereof But let that which we heard from the 〈…〉 in us and then we shall 〈…〉 â—â— the Father and in the Son and not fail of the promise of eternal life seeing he is faithful that hath promised and will perform it and perfect what concerns us Let us not be slothful then but followers of them that through faith and patience have inherited the promises Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering and not cast away our confidence in God by Jesus Christ which hath so great a recompence of reward only remember we have need of patience that we may bear and suffer injuries and temptations and not faint but yet hope in the Lord and quietly wait for his Salvation waiting for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ unto eternal life that so when we have done the will of God we may receive the promise which yet for a little while is deferred but will not fail to be performed to those that keep Gods waâ— â—nd therein wait for it He that shall come wâ—ll come and will not tarry Now the good Lord the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Iesus that Great Shepheard of the Sheep through the blood of the everlasting Covenant make us perfect with him in every good work to doe his will working in â—s that which is well-pleasing in his sight 〈…〉 Iesus Christ To whom be Glory for ever and ever Amen Amen March 26. 1664. FINIS
grounds with the Apostle that nothing shall be able to separate us from the love of God even from loving God in Christ Jesus Rom. 8.37 38. but then all right Believers and Lovers of God are not so spiritual as appears 1 Cor. 1.12 with 3.1 2. nor have attained such wisdom and knowledge of him Thence the Apostle saith not I am perswaded nothing shall be able to separate you as speaking to the Romans as in Vers 13. If ye walk after the flesh ye shall dye but us as speaking of himself and the other Apostles and such as they in perfectness and growth 2. Or else by born of God rather may be meant the same with the abider in Christ as in Vers 6. He that abideth in him sinneth not and so Chap. 2 29. He that doth righteousness that constantly and perseveringly doth it is born of God and 1 John 5.1 He that believeth that is goeth on believing perseveringly for words of the present tense it s observed usually or often imply continuance that Jesus is the Christ is born of God and so its like that in Psal 119.23 They that keep his testimonies and seek him with the whole heart they do no iniquity c. 3. Or He that is born of God that is that is led by the Spirit of God as Rom. 8.14 he sins not nor can sin namely as while so led no such fruit can be of him in opposition to Gnosticks or others that impute their sinnings to Gods Spirit say they are tempted or led of God to it 4. And then the word Cannot is taken in a compound sense as when it 's said An evil tree cannot bring forth good fruit nor good tree bad fruit Mat. 7 18. that is abiding such but a bad tree may be made a good tree and a bad man a good and a good tree a right noble Vine may degenerate into a strange plant Jer. 2.21 and so a good man into a bad a lover of God to leave his love of him and that by entertaining 1. The love of the world For if any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him and of that even Fathers and young men such as had overcome the wicked one it seems needs to be admonished also 1 John 2.12 13 14 15 16. as the Apostles themselves were by Christ Matth. 6.24 Luke 21.34 35 36. 2. Corrupt Doctrines such as lead to high-mindedness pride carelesnes or corrupt any ways from the Faith and Gospel Therefore the Apostle warns the Fathers and young men also of the Antichrists 1 John 2.18.26 2 John 8. as Christ did also his Apostles Matth. 24.45.23.24 25. Principles of Atheism Infidelity rejecting the Scriptures and the Hope and Judgement to come Thence the Apostle Peter warning of the Mockers in the last days that would say Where is the promise of his coming bids the Believers take heed lest being led away with their error they should fall from their own stedfastness 2 Pet. 3.4 5 17. By such means men may be withdrawn from their love of God Or 3. By thinking themselves to have abtained and so growing remiss So men heated with their labour and thinking they have wrought enough sitting down may grow cold or catch cold and He that deals with a slack hand becomes poor Prov. 10.4 Or 4. Through the same conceit withdrawing from the Assemblies and Societies of Brethren Thence the Apostle opposes these to those that separate themselves Jud. 19. and forsaking the Assemblies is opposed to holding fast the profession and ushers in wilful sinning Heb. 10.23 25 26. for how can one be hot alone Eccl. 4.11 Need therefore of this Exhortation now especially when Atheism and evil principles so abound And we may be encouraged to take the Apostles Exhortation because he further implies that Note 3. Believers may in a diligent minding the Grace of God and using the means appointed of him through his promised presence and assistance keep themselves in a warm temper in the love of God So our Saviour implies in Matth. 24.13 in that having said The love of many shall wax cold he addes but he that continues to the end shall be saved Men may continue warm in their love then to the end and why not A man in a good way may easily keep himself in it though he meet with Cheats or Robbers if having good directions a skilful faithful guide using strong perswasions to follow him and his directions and a strong Guard to secure him from violences he will but adhere to and follow them and nothing but amazing wilfulness Jer. 2.12 13. may endanger him being brought into the love of God The same that brought us into it will keep us in it namely the love and grace of God in Christ if minded kept in view and obeyed by us whereto we have good directions in his Word and Doctrine and the Holy Spirit of Wisdom is given from Christ to be our Guide and Director therein And taking heed thereto and making use of those Gifts and Ordinances appointed by him to that purpose God and Christ will guard and secure us from Satan and his instruments Thence it s said Forsake not wisdom and she will preserve thee love her and she will keep thee Prov. 4.6 and He that abideth in the Doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son to secure him from miscarrying 2 John 9. 1 John 2.24 25. The same exercise or perpetuated fire that will warm a man when cold will easily preserve a man in his heat when heated by it if not forsaken and both the Word and Love of God are compared to fire and hot burning coals Jer. 23.29 Cant. 8.6 7. Keep we but to them and they will keep us warm and as for exercise to keep us warm It s further implied Note 4. That it 's a good and useful exercise that we are here directed to viz. To edifie our selves on our most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost For 1. Therein we are put upon minding Gods and Christs love to us that being the great matter held forth in the Faith whence it 's called The Gospel of the Grace of God Acts 20.24 and that minded will nourish as well as beget love and warmth thereof in us toward him 2. Thence we shall gather strength against our enemies and what would prejudice us against God and cool our love to him for a little to adde to what is somewhat too barely mentioned p. 177. l. 25 26 27. there through we may grow in wisdom for he that cleaves more firmly to Christ the Wisdom of God shall receive more of the Spirit of Wisdom from him and He that walks with wise men shall be wise Prov. 13.20 for in the mystery of Christ held forth by and among them amd in Christ himself are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Col. 2.3 and the wise man is strong and the man of understanding encreaseth strength Prov. 24. â— for wisdom
strengthens the wise more than weapons of war Eccles 7.19 Thence the being rooted and built up in Christ and his mystery is the way to be preserved from such as would intice us Coloss 2.2 3 4 7. As also thence we shall be more filled with love to God and Christ and Love is strong as death Cant. 8.6 yea and therein we may warn one another of and arm one another against our enemies and coolers and instruct and encourage one another and provoke to love and good works and so strengthen one another 1 Thess 5.11 14. Heb. 10.23 24. Two are better than one to keep from falling or help up again Cant. 4.10 3. In the fellowship of holy men also is spiritual heat Thence also Solomon tells us Two is better than one for if two lie together they will be hot fervent in spirit and in love to God and one another Cant. 4.11 For there God commands the blâ—ssing and life for ever Psal 133.4 4. And then praying in the Holy Ghost the Spirit of Faith and Love is the way to obtain more Spirit and Grace from God Matth. 7.7 11. Luke 11.13 and thereby we may have more experience of him answering our prayers which engages to love him the more and so tends to encrease in us and keep us in the love to him infused by him Psal 18.1.3.4 116.2 I love the Lord because he hath heard my prayer c. But though these things might have been more largely handled in the Treatise yet it being sent up to the press before I thought of doing so and in the Press before I thought it was And what is there said about keeping our selves in the love of God in the other sense of it which I look upon as the more proper and genuine sense including and leading to this it shall suffice to have given these hints of them here Which having done I shall detain thee no longer from the Treatise it self But wishing and praying for Gods blessing on and with both it and thee that my cost and pains therein be not lost and with desire of thy prayers for meâ—â— and thanks to God if thou meetest with blessing in and benefit by it I leave thee to God and rest Lyn March 17. 1670 1 Thy Friend and Servant in the Gospel of Christ John Horne Books sold by Thomas Passenger at the Three Bibles on London-Bridge ROyal and Practical Chymistry by Oswaldus Crollius and John Hartman faithfully rendred into English folio price 10 s Gods Revenge against Murther by John Reynolds containing Thirty Tragical stories digested into six Books newly reprinted folio price 10 s. Lord Bacons Natural History folio price 8 s. Sandy's Travels containing a description of the Turkish Empire of Egypt and the Holy Land of the remote parts of Italy and Islands adjoyning folio price 8 s. Markbams Master-piece Roman Antiquities by Tho. Godwin quarto price 2 s. 6 d. Dod upon the Commandments quarto price 2 s. 6 d. The famous History of the Destruction of Troy in three Books quarto price 3 s. Valentine and Orson price 18 d. Etymologicum Parvum by Francis Gregory octavo price 3 s. Chymical Essays by John Begumis price 18 s. Spiritual Antidotes against sinful Contagion by Tho. Dolittle price 18 d. Pools Dialogue betwixt a Papist and a Protestant twelves price bound 1 s. Monasticon Fevershamiense or A description of the Abby of Feversham octavo price bound 18 d. The Christians Crown of glory or Holiness the way to happiness octavo price bound 8 d. The Path way to Health price bound 18 d. The Compleat Academy or Nursery of Complements bound 1 s. THE CONTENTS 1. THe Epistle of Jude analized and paraphrased to Verse 20. which is the Text page 1. The Text propounds a serious counsel to unfeigned Believers page 10. Wherein is I. The title or compellation of them Beloved Whence is observed Observ 1. That they that abide in the faith when others turn aside or endeavour to corrupt it are more worthy than others p. 11. II. The note of distinction But ye Whence it is observed Observ 2. That there is a great difference between hearty Believers and others especially between them and Backsliders or Corrupters and that difference is to be noted by Christs Ministers p. 13. III. The mattâ—â— mainly exhorted to To keep themselves in the love of God Observ 3. That Believers are in Gods love p. 16. Which is 1. General or a love of pity p. 17. 2. Special A love of owning and delight p. 20. Believers are in the general love both as all others p. 23. Believers are in the general love both and so as others are not p. 26 And they are in the special love p. 24. The streams fruits thereof in 12 particulars p. 25 to p. 39. Which is applied by way of use 1. To unbelievers by way of Exhortation p. 40 Reproof p. 43 Instruction p. 45. 2. To believers by way of 1. Comfort p. 46 2. Exhortation and that to Love and hope in God p. 50 To rejoyce in and give thanks to God p. 51 To moderation in griefs fears c. p. 52 To obedience to him p. 53 To abide in him p. 54 Which leads to Observ 4. That it 's the believers greatest concernment to keep themselves and one another in the love of God p. 56 Whence four points and noted as included Point 1. That possibly â—ey may go out of Gods love which is explicated and proved p. 60 to 68 An Objection is there answered Point 2. That there is not onely possibility but danger also p. 71 Danger 1. Of it from 1. The many enemies endeavouring it p. 73 1 Satan ib. 2. The flesh p. 44 3. The world p. 75 4. False Teachers p. 76 2. The believers weakness to defend himself p. 81. Or rather aptness to conceit himself strong p. 85 3. The holiness and severity of God against withdrawers p. 87 2. In it shewed in four particulars p. 92 93. Point 3. That there is no necessity of it Believers may keep themselves in Gods love p. 94 Not of themselves p. 95 But by the Grace of God p. 96 Which is considered in seven particulars p. 97 The Armour of defence given them briefly explicated p. 106 Point 4. That it 's expected from the believer and is put upon him in some sort as his work to keep himself in the love of God p. 111 Which is considered 1. As to its act what is implied in it p. 112 2. As to its reaâ—â—ns p. 115 The fourth Observation with its several points applied 1. By way of Reproof several ways p. 120 2. By way of Exhortation to care and watchfulness p. 124 IV. The way and means of this preservation Edifying your selves c. Thence Observe That the way for believers to keep themselves in the love of God is to edifie themselves in their most holy faith praying in the Holy Ghost p. 128 In which are two branches viz. I. To edifie themselves
who stood in need of his Sons coming and saving of them In that love as we noted in one sense all men are till any of them slighting it and rebelling against God as exercising his love to them are therefore blotted out of the Book of Life and reprobated and reckoned after Satan as incorporated into him that is all men as fallen were and are till then the objects of that love God would not that any man should perish but that all might come to repentance and be saved 2 Pet. 3.9 He would that all men be saved and come to the knowledge or acknowledgment of the truth for there is one God and one Mediator of God and men the Man Christ Jesus who gave himself a ransom for all a testimony in due time 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Such Grace or Good will was in the heart of God toward the whole World or every one that there through Christ was sent forth for them and tasted death for every one Heb. 2.9 by which bearing upon himself the sin of the World therein he took it away John 1.29 obtained such a release of that judgment that was upon all for one offence to condemnation that there is justification to life and righteousness in him for all Rom. 3.22 and 5.18 He being risen again a Conquerour over sin and death for our justification and being as a reward and recompence of his services and sufferings taken up to the right hand of God He is by him made Lord and Christ Phil. 2.10 11. Acts 2.36 Lord of all both of the dead and living Acts 10.36 Rom. 14 9. And anointed and filled with the Holy Ghost and power that he might be the light to lighten the Gentiles and Gods salvation to the ends of the earth Isai 61.1 and 42.1 7 8. and 49.8 9. The great Prophet and Teacher of the Truth of God to men the Great High Priest who having offered up himself an acceptable Sacrifice to God is in the vertues thereof the Mediator of God and men the propitiation for the sins of the whole World 1 John 2.1 2. 1 Tim. 2.5 So as that mercy and goodness patience and forbearance is by him extended from God to the whole World in the day of his grace and patience to lead them to repentance Rom. 2.4 5. Psal 145.8 9 10. and there is in and through him a way of access for any of them to God and of acceptance with God in their repenting and coming to God by him Heb. 7.25 and 10.19 20. John 14.6 and 3.16 17. Who is also the Great King over all the Earth who are given him for his inheritance and possession Psal 47.7 Jer. 10.7 Psal 2.8 And in the exercise of these his glorious Offices He is the Saviour of all men and especially of them that believe and through him God his Father is so also 1 Tim. 4.10 All things are ready in him for men even a feast of fat things for all people Mat. 22 4. Isai 25.6 And both he and the Father in him is ready to entertain thereto all that come to him in the strength and vertue of his grace and gracious call preventing them which is therefore also extended to them generally by God and Christ in his works about them or words to them with his Spirit there through working to convince reprove and move them to seek after and turn to him Isai 55.1 2 3 6 7 8. and 45.22 Prov. 1.20 21 22 23 24. Psal 50.1 2. Prov. 8.1 5. and 9.1 6. John 6.37 Such love hath God to all generally and to those that believe he testified the same to draw them to believe and come to him they also being before their believing Children that is fit for and worthy of wrath even as others Ephes 2.3 Tit. 3.3 4 5. Yea and now that they believe having nor wholly put off the fruits of the sin of the first Adam but being as men still defiled with sin dwelling in them and mortallity and death upon them as such they are objects still of that love of pitty to mankind and stand in need of the exercise of it to their salvation they are not by believing passed out of that love much less blotted out but are yet continued in it though also advanced higher and so not only as all other men the objects of that love but also 2. As brought unto Christ they are in a further sense in that love too so as other men are not that is to say they are in the understanding belief and knowledge of that love of God to man that is they in some measure understand believe know it yea have it in their hearts so as they are also begotten to God and Christ thereby are born of it and have the foundation ground or beginning of their faith and hope in God in it for it is in the discovery and perception of that love of God to man that the heart is overcome and framed to trust in God and brought out of it self and out of its former false confidences into Christ not the sight of special love to it self above others but the sight and knowledge of Gods love to the World Therefore when our Saviour had preached to Nicodemus the necessity of regeneration to the entring into the Kingdom of God or seeing and injoying it he did not afterward for effecting that regeneration in him tell him of some peculiar electing love of God towards him in particular but of Gods love to the World in general John 3.3 5 15 16. Even as it was not the lifting up the Brazen-Serpent in some special fashion for this or that particular person of the Israelites stung with the fiery Serpents and their beholding it as in some such special fashion lifted up for them by vertue whereof this or that person of them was healed but by its being lifted up for all of them in general this or that man beholding it as so lifted up as a common Medicine for their healing received healing by it and perished not And as Moses lifted up that Serpent in the wilderness the only common Medicine for all that were stung so must the Son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life So the Apostle Paul saith Tit. 3.3 4. that it was the effect and product of the love and pity of God our Saviour towards man and not as towards themselves only or in some special manner that they were pull'd out of the state of the world saved While any man knows or takes heed to and minds the Name fame or Doctrine of God that sets him forth in his greatness power love mercy faithfulness c he will trust in him That Name known and minded though it be but one and the same in it self for and to all men as considered alike will beget and frame the hearts of such as know it to trust in him It is the sight understanding or perception of the General
of the flesh to be honoured of God or will of this or that man hath any thing to do in or makes any difference in All that are in Christ being born thereto and therein of God and reckoned after Christ in whom they are as Gal. 3.28 29. with John 1 13. signifies and then from and as a consequent to this 4. God so loves them as to give them the Spirit of the Son both his Spirit to open the knowledge of Christ his Son to them and the disposition liberty boldness towards and affection to and affiance in him in some measure The same Spirit that dwelt in and yet dwells in Christ and led him as man in the dayes of his flesh to have confidence in and boldness towards his Father and so to go to him upon all occasions as to his Father he gives also to the believer in him to let him know Gods Fatherly love to and care of him upon the account of Christ and to lead him in hope and confidence to depend on and call upon him as also to guide instruct comfort strengthen and help him on all occasions To this purpose is that in Gal. 4.5 6. Because ye are Sons God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts crying Abba Father and so many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God and the Spirit it self helps our infirmities c. Rom. 8.15 16 26 27. and this he gives both as a pledge of his love and acceptance and as an earnest of the Inheritance Ephes 1.13 14. 2 Cor. 1.22 5. Yea and as he gives them the priviledge of Sons and the Spirit of his Son so also the respect of Sons so as that as he heard and helped Christ his only begotten Son in the dayes of his flesh in all that he called upon him for and took care of him to provide for and protect him so doth he also to those that believe in his Son The eyes of the Lord are open upon the righteous and his ears are open unto their cryes and his face is set against the wicked that hate and oppress them 1 Peter 3.12 13. He is nigh unto his people in all that they call upon him for as our Saviour also promises John 15.7 Abide in me and let my words abide in you and ask what ye will it shall be given you and that as a testimony of his great love to them in which he imbraceth them in Christ his beloved one in whom they are accepted Ephes 1.16 See also John 14.13 14. Psal 145.17 18 19. as our Saviour testifies John 16.27 saying In that day ye shall ask the Father in my Name namely when they had received the promise of the holy Spirit to be a Spirit of grace and supplication in them and I do not say that I will pray the Father for you for the Father himself loveth you because ye have loved me and have believed that I came out from God Yea 6. In his love he teacheth them by his holy Spirit and leads them into all truth as is good and needful for them John 14.17 26. Prov. 1.23 teacheth them how to walk and how to pray guides and leads them in the way that they should go makes known his words shews them his mind the Mysteries of his Kingdom c. So Psal 25 8 9 12 14. Good and upright is the Lord therefore will he teach sinners the way the meek will he guide in judgment the meek will he teach his way i. e. those that being convinced of their own poverty and emptiness do meekly receive his words The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them his Covenant And Matth. 13.11 To you sayes Christ to his Disciples it is given to know the Mysteries of the Kingdom of God and I have called you not Servants but Friends for all things that I have heard of my Father have I made known to you He takes care of them that they may not wander out of the way of life and righteousness yea he shews them those delights and pleasures of his wayes and gives them a glimpse too of the glory of the end of it even of the glory of his Kingdom so as that they are thereby made to love his way and walk in it comfortably and with great delight Prov. 3.17 Psal 119 32 165. 7. In love also he nurtures them as his Children giving them chastisement as he sees needful and good for them not leaving them to their own counsels wayes and wills as he doth those that coutemn his counsels and submit not to him He is faithfully reproving and warning them and timely châ—stening them with his afflictions that he might teach them his Law and they might keep his Statutes Psal 94 12. and 119 67 71. as a Father that loves his Child and therefore spares not his Rod Prov. 13.24 for he knows that a Child left to himself comes to misery and shame nor yet doth he in afflicting smite them as he smites these that smite them and are his and their enemies but as a Father chastens the Son in whom he delighteth Prov. 3.11 12 Isai 27.7 8. that is he doth it in measure and judgment not in fury so as he sees they may bear and as may be for their profit Isai 27.8 9. Heb. 12.10 He is faithful and will not suffer them to be tempted above what they are able but with the temptation or tryal will give an issue that they may be able to bear it 1 Cor. 10 12. For he pities them as a Father pities his Child knowing their mold and temper and that they are but dust and therefore doth not deal with them after their sins nor reward them according to their iniquities but punisheth them less than they deserve is slow to wrath toward them and abundant in goodness and truth and doth not chide them alwayes nor retain his anger for ever Psal 103.9 10 11 12 13. yea and with his chastisements affords his supports and consolations to refresh their hearts Psal 94.18 19 yea and turns again and hath compassion according to the multitude of his tender mercies Lam. 3.32 Yea 8. He takes pleasure in them in them that fear him and in them that hope in his mercy Psal â—47 11 The Lord takes pleasure in his people Psal 49.4 It 's his design and delight to make them happy and to beautifie them with his Salvation to make them as a Crown of Glory and as a royal Diadem in his hand therefore he calls them Hepâ—zibah that is my delight or pleasure is in her owning them together in Christ as his royal Spouse and Consort as Isai 54 5. with 62 2 3 4. it rejoyceth his heart to see them thrive and prosper for he hath pleasure in the prosperity of his Servants Psal 35.27 Yea and though they have their failings weaknesses and spots that might render them unlovely yet having given Christ to
the Soul stands in its having his love and favour towards it and its injoyment of his blessing therefore without that the Soul is without life and happiness and if that be lost the Soul is lost and what is that in the world whereabout men busie themselves so as therefore to neglect God and Christ and excuse themselves from their coming to and closing with or living up to Christ and his Doctrine that can give them any valuable compensation for the loss of the Soul Matth. 16.26 what a folly is it for a man to feed on husks or ashes when he might have good and wholesome bread and other chear to feed on or what a madness for a man to take a deal of pains and cost to hew out a Cistern to keep him some water in for his use which when it is hewed too will hold none because it is broken when as he might take as much as he will and that exceeding good for any use for which he needs it and at all times freely without cost or expence at a spring or fountain that is so hard at hand to him and yet such or rather far worse is our folly and madness when neglecting Christ and turning our back upon him and his Doctrine and refusing to walk in the faith and direction thereof we yet multiply either works and services of our own or other mens invention or prescription for attaining righteousness and peace otherwise or desire and endeavour after the riches honours and pleasures of the world or whatever we conceive may satisfie our lusts seeking peace and rest and content in them To such the Holy Ghost directs his Councel with reproof after this wise in Isa 55.1 Ho every one that thirsteth that lacketh desireth peace content and happines Come ye to the waters the Son of God and his Heavenly Doctrine John 7.37 38. yea he that hath no mony come and buy yea buy wine and milk without money and without price God requires nothing of gain profit or worth to be given to him by us as in exchange but only let go and part with what we have that harms us our evil thoughts and ways as ver 7. Why will ye lay out your money for that that is not bread and your labour for that that satisfieth not hearken unto me and eat that that is good that which Christ sets before us in his word and Doctrine even himself his flesh and blood his abasement sufferings for us as therein commended to our faith and as the great evidences of God's gratiousness to us procurers of our happiness and ingagements to obedience and let your Souls delight themselves in fatness See also reproofs of this nature in Psal 4.2 Jer. 2.13 John 5.40 c. Yea also 3. Hence we might note the equitableness of Gods wrath against judgments upon men that neglect to know and believe in Christ that it is a just thing with God to separate them from his presence and blessing unto everlasting curse and misery because they both slight and reject the good he hath done for them and Grace shewed them in Christ trample him the great gift and evidence of good will under their feet and do set at naught his love and favour toward them even himself in Christ who would be their portion protection matter not his promise nor the sweetness safety satisfaction that they might have his presence and in the light of his countenance preferring lying vanities before so great mercies as God tenders to them and despite that gracious Spirit that invites and allures them after him He that values not his favour how can he think himself injured if he feel his wrath and he that regards not his presence and blessing but rather chuses to listen to and walk after Sathan how can he complain of injustice if he therefore bid him depart from him and his presence to be tormented and destroyed with Sathan so that God will be justified in his sayings and be found just in his judging them that despise and set light by him and rebel against him But 4. It is also of great use to such as are in Christ that have fled for refuge to him embraced his Doctrine and yeilded up themselves to be Governed by him it affords singular matter of use to them and that 1. By way of comfort and incouragement against all that doth exercise afflict them for what are all things that stand against them or are grievous to them in comparison of the love and favour of God towards them If God be for us if he love and favour us if he accept and own us if he be our friend and Father and set himself to help us have who or what are they that are against us Is it the sins we have committed in times past which we are turned to God from and have repented of why they are pardoned and forgiven through Jesus Christ believed in by us For to him give all the Prophets witness that through his Name whoever believe in him shall receive remission of their sins and by him all that believe are justified from which we could not be justified by the Law of Moses Act. 10.43 and 13.38 39. Is it sin yet remaining in us and warring against us and hindring us that we cannot serve God and live to him so as we would Why There is now no condemnation to them are in Christ Jesus no not from the fleshes or sins being in them to them that do not walk after the flesh but after the Spirit If wee walk in the light as he God is in the light is in his truth affording his presence and strength unto us then have we fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin Rom. 8.1 1 John 1.7 And if God justifie as he doth them that are his Elect that is those that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the Flesh but after the Spirit Who then is he that condemneth or who shall lay any thing to their charge Doth the Law of God find us in many things faulty and failing so that according to its righteousness or rule for justifying which is to justifie all those that continue in it in all things to do it but otherwise upon any failing or sin to curse them Gal. 3.10 we are not able to stand in judgment but it condemns us Why but It is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again and is on the right hand of God also maketh intercession for us and if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousnes Rom. 8.33.34 1 John 1.9 Doth the Devil rage against us and roar upon us tempting us and assaying by his fiery darts to destroy us Why he is a conquered enemy and though he be for strength eagernes to harm us as a roaring Lion going about daily seeking whom to
persons that set themselves to poyson mens meats and drinks that so while men think only to feed themselves with wholesome food they might instead of wholesome meat take down poyson then there may be greater need to admonish men to take heed what they eat or drink and for men to be cautelous what they eat or drink and from whom they receive their meat because then there is not only possibility but danger of it too it may too too easily happen else that they poyson themselves and so when of divers meats propounded to them and lying in their way divers of them are mixt with poyson The like may be said when there are crafty and naughty persons that set themselves on work to intoxicate men and make them drunk at unawares and then to lead them amongst Rocks and Precipices whence they may break their necks Now if it appears that there is danger of mens loosing or turning out from the love of God unless they be careful to keep themselves in it then it appears more dearly yet to be a principal business or work that men that are therein should bend themselves to to keep themselves therein otherwise not they need not set themselves to keep themselves from those things which are barely possible and of which though they be careless there is no great danger that they should befall them or come to pass I say though they be careless for indeed there is no danger of any Believers loosing or falling from the love of God if he be diligent and careful to take heed to the means and way of safety provided of God for his preservation therein The danger asserted is only in case of carelesness or presumption and so there is danger 1. In respect of the many enemies that lye in wait to subvert and withdraw us from Christ As First Satan who indeavours it what he can and Goes about as a roaring Lyon seeking whom he may devour And although he be a conquered enemy and Christ that is with the Believer is stronger to preserve the Believer from his wiles and assaults than he is to assault and hurt and Christ also is as well faithful as able yet his faithfulness is ingaged for the helpfulness of the Believer and for overcoming for him in the diligent use of the means the Believers putting on and exercising himself in the armour of God provided and afforded of which if he be careless and neglective and slothful in the use of means and so grow from slothfulness to deep sleep as Slothfulness doth cast into a deep sleep Prov. 19.15 then is not Christ in point of faithfulness ingaged to save him but as the Apostle implies in Eâ—â—s 6.13 14. 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Satan may prevail upon the unsober unwatchful sleepy and unarmed Soul to overthrow and devour it And that the Soul may very possibly be unsoâ— secure careless or presumptuous and so through slothfulness fall into a deep sleep of sencelesness either of the Grace and Goodness of God brought to it in Christ and the excellent advantages thereby afforded for its attainment of happiness or of the dangers that either others or it self is in of being led away by the deceitfulness of sin and so lye open to Satans malice and malicious enterprises the many exhortations to watchfulness and cautions against slothfulness and negligence propounded in the Scriptures to the Believers as well as the experience of the sleepy decaying tempers that have oft befallen Believers sufficiently testifie See the exhortations and warnings in these Scriptures Matth. 24.42 43 44 c. and 25.13 and 26.41 Mark 13.33 35 36.37 where it is said by our Saviour that what he there said was both to the Disciples who were generally real Believers and to all besides viz. Watch. So also in Luke 21.34 35 36. Ephes 6.11 12 13 14. 1 Cor. 16.13 1 Pet. 5.8 9. Heb. 3.12 13. and 6.12 and 12.15 16. Revel 3.2 3. and 16.15 Instances of sore decayes by heedlesness and thereby of great danger signified See in Revel 2 4â— 5. and 3.1 2 13 14 15 16. and the reason of it is partly from other enemies As 2. The flesh with its affections and lusts warring against the Soul and lusting against the â—pirit that endeavours the good of the Soul 1 Pet. 2.11 Galat. 5.17 18 19. it lusts after ease and pleasures riches honours and the injoyment of this present world the love of which cannot consist with the love of the Father but will by degrees choak it and eat it out of the heart No man being able to serve two Masters but that he must either love the one and hate the other or lean to the one and forsake the other and that it is very possible and easie for a Believer to walk after and mind the flesh as well as to mind and walk after the Spirit or at least if not so easie to the conscience and renewed mind yet easie enough in respect of the natural affections and desires is sufficiently proved by every one 's own experience and by all those serious watch-words counsels and provocations to watchfulness there against it and to deny it and not walk after it Not to love the world and the things of it the many falls of the Servants of God as David Peter c. and reproofs for their walking after it seeking to make themselves friends of the world c. as partly appears in the Scriptures before quoted under the former Head and further in these Scriptures Rom. 6.11 12 13 14 15 c. and 8 12.13 14. and 13.12 13 14. Galat. 5.13 14 25 26. Ephes 4.17 18 c. 1 Cor. 5. and 6. and 10. and 11.17 18 20 21 22. James 2. and 3. and 4.4 5 6 c. Revel 2.4 5 c. to which also add 3. The World both in the seeming good and desirable injoyments of it and in the persons of it pretending piety knowledge of God and friendship to Believers persons as also the examples and customs of it and of many Professors of the Gospel in it prove oftentimes very great baits and inticements to their lusts and put vigour and force into them while wistly lookt upon and considered by them with a carnal eye as appears in Prov. 2.12 13 15 16. and 5.3 4. c. and 6.25 26. and 7.10 11 18 21 22 23 26 27. and 23.20 21 26 27 28 31 c. Luk. 8.14 and 12.15 and 21.34 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16. Jam. 4.4 5. c. and also in the threats and frowns of the great and mighty persons of it the harsh and biâ—ter afflictions and sufferings they are oft exposed to in and from it which being viewed do affright and scare from the stedfastness of the faith and of the profession of it by believers as it is intimated in Thes 3.1 2 3 4. Matth. 13.20 21. Heb. 12.2 3 4. and therefore in both these cases we are exhorted by our Saviour to pluck out the right eye where
them either from Satan as an enemy suggesting fears to them even from their Fathers righteously judging them or on other accounts or from the world persecuting them the assured hope of Gods salvation or the salvation of God Gods sure protection and defence of them here and his bringing or delivering them out in his due time as set before them by way of promise in the Gospel and so an object and matter of hope to be looked for by them And then They have 6. The Sword of the Spirit the Word of God as a two-edged Weapon fit and forcible to do them service both by way of defence to themselves and by way of offence to their enemies so as that thereby they may both be preserved from the lyes of Satan and his Instruments and from all his lying and wicked suggestions and they may beat them away and drive them from them yea and cause the enemies of Christ and of their faith by their powerful convincements thereof to fall before them so Christ kept himself from the wicked one that he touched him not by any of his temptations Matth. 4. and so both he and his Servants have confounded their Adversaries and convinced and converted many of them And then lastly They have free access to God through Jesus Christ by Prayer and supplication to make known their needs and requests to him either for supplyes and help to themselves and one another or for rebuking taking off or weakening their Adversaries and Exercises And they have through Christ the Spirit of grace and supplication to instruct and help them to pray and direct their desires and petitions for them and Christ himself with God as their Mediator High-Priest and Advocate to make their Prayers acceptable to God and this is a marvellous powerful and effectual Weapon being filled with Faith to obtain any thing from Heaven needful for their defence and safety and to batter down the Forts and Strengths of their Adversaries by pulling down judgments from Heaven upon them This is as the Christians Bullets of Ordnance that he storms Heaven by as it were and takes it by force and that being shot up towards Heaven from a fervent faithful heart falls down again upon the wicked Adversaries and doth great execution and slaughter upon them so we may see how the Prayers of the Saints being offered up by the Angel who had many sweet odours to make them acceptable Revel 8.3 4 5. procured fire to be cast upon the earth with voyces thundrings lightnings and a great earthquake whereby the judgments of God upon the Adversaries were implyed and signified Now all these things being considered it will evidently appear that it is very possible for the Believer to be kept in the love of God nay that it is certain he shall be so if he be not greatly neglective of the means of his safety and preservation so many and so effectual for that purpose yea indeed a man might marvail these things for the Believers defence being well weighed how it should possibly be that he should fail of the Grace of God fall out of his love and favour and perish from his presence by any means but that we have seen the possibility and danger too thereof before asserted which also may further as to the reason of it be made manifest in the next consideration wherein it is further noted as implyed that he being so strongly and well fortified and furnished for his safe keeping in the love of God Point 4. It is expected from him and in some sense lyes upon him as his work to keep himself and each Believer to keep his Brother therein Though as he did not bring himself into Christ and so into the love and favour of God by his wisdom will power or goodness but he was called into him and made in him of God so neither is it his work in his own power wisdom and strength to keep himself there or defend himself from what would intice him or force him out Yet as it was his act in and by the Grace of God in Christ to believe and come to Christ and so into the love and favour of God So it is his act also subordinately in and by the same Grace to keep himself in Christ and so in the love of God whence our Saviour so often requires it of his Disciples Abide in me and let my words abide in you continue ye in my love Joh. 15.4.9 Hold fast what thou hast let no man take away thy Crown Rev. 3.11 with which agrees many passages of the Apostles to stand fast quit themselves like men let that they have received abide abide in Christ and the like as also that assertion in 1 John 5.18 He that is born of God keepeth himself that the wicked one toucheth him not In which keeping a mans self in the love of God is signified as to the act of it 1. That the Believer be and abide in that state and way he is already in through the Grace of God not departing voluntarily leaving or going out therefrom keep himself well while he is well being content with Christ confident and well assured of his well doing and happiness in so continuing to that purpose are those phrases of abiding continuing not departing or withdrawing from the living God as in John 8.32 and 15.4 5 6 7. Col. 1.23 1 John 2.24 28. Heb. 3.12 and 10.35 38 39. as implying that no man heartily believing in Christ can miscarry but through a voluntary neglect of or departure from him It is no violence done to him can force him but by his own consent The case of a Believer as we shewed before is like the condition of a man that though very weak and unable of himself to resist or stand against the power of his enemies yet hath a strong Castle or Tower in which he is so strongly fortified and so every way unattachable by either storming undermining or starving of him that there is certain safety for him in abiding in it and no possibility for his enemies catching of him unless he voluntarily go out of it Such is the Believers condition being in Christ and God nothing can come upon him to harm him none can pluck or take him by force out of it unless he willingly sin and depart from God and Christ after the knowledge of the Truth received against which departing and drawing back from and forsaking God and so their own mercies the Spirit of God therefore by his Servants is diligently provoking and exhorting them as Take heed Brethren least there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God and let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering for he is faithful that hath promised Cast not away your confidence c Heb. 3.12 and 10.23 35. 2. That because Satan by himself and Instruments is crafty subtle and vigilant to intice allure and tempt Believers to make a voluntary
give light to all that come into the house In a word he doth nothing he gives nothing to us in vain but for use and service And to what better use or of greater concernment can we imploy what he gives us than to keep our selves and one another in the love of God seeing therein lies our welfare and happiness and out of that nothing but wo and misery can befal us It is true that it is his work to keep us safe but in our hearing and following him and his Counsels and so in keeping to him as it 's the Castle and strong hold that keeps the man that flies to it but it is in his keeping within it and not departing out of it because of any assaults made against it or flatteries of the enemy that would intice him out of it Yea it is the goodness strength and every way commodiousness of the strong hold considered by him that is in it that arms him also against those fears or inticements from without that endeavour to make him leave it Even so it is only Christ abid in by men that every way secures the Soul against all assaults it from men or Devils and it is the diligent consideration of Christ as the great Saviour and means yea Author of safety and happiness provided for us of God and the infinite excellencies and preciousness of him as delivered up for our offences and raised again for our justification and glorified at Gods right hand as Lord and Christ that being considered by us prevails with the Soul to abide in him whence to that purpose the Apostles every where make it their business to set forth the fulness and faithfulness of Christ the infinite abiding vertues of his Sacrifice with God and for men his wonderful mercy and compassionateness the fulness and compleatness oâ— the righteousness and the abundance of the Redemption in him the infiniteness of his power and wisdome c. to move and perswade believers to abide him and not listen to the enemy or wander out of him after any other way name thing or person in whole or in part from him Col. 2.1 ver 3.4 8 9.10 Gal. 3 7 9 13 14 26 27 28 29 as also to that purpose they exhort us to consider him and the excellencies in him as Heb. 3.1 and 12.2 Consider the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession Jesus Christ who was faithful in all things to him that appointed him as Moses also was and consider him who endured such contradictions of sinners least ye be weary and faint in your mindes So Heb. 4.14 15 16. and 10 14 15 19 20 21 35 36 37 c. the want of which or slothfulness in it lays open the Soul to the power of Sathans temptations and false Teachers seducements It is his work to keep us then but in his way to be sought for and waited for by us which being our work though that also in his power and strength we may well be exhorted to keep our selves that the wicked one touch us not According to that in Prov. 4.6 Forsake her not and she shall preserve thee love her and she shall keep thee Wisdome will keep us in our cleaving to her and depending upon her to keep us she will preserve us in our loving her and observing her instructions to which also her goodness and the goodness of her instructions will allure us if considered by us and if proved and tryed by us in our listning to and obeying her Counsels It s his work in our looking to and obeying him it s our work in the strength and helpfulness afforded to us by him and in his keeping us He keeps those that trust in him as a hen that defends from the Kite the Chickens running under her wings but as there if the chickens straggle and come not not when she clocks they may be catched up and devoured so unless we come and stay under the wings in the Doctrine and obedience of Christ or at his clock or call return again to him from our strayings from him we may be devoured by the adversary of our Salvation Vse All which things being duly considered by us may both confute and admonish us of divers vain evil and false conceptions that betray mens Souls into the snares of death and may awaken and provoke us to diligence in taking heed to our standings and taking to us and making use of the whole armour of God to resist our Adversaries as 1. It reprehends and shews the falshood of that conception that if a man be once in the love and Grace of God he must of necessity abide so always no possibility of his falling therefrom Once a Son and alway so no sin can un-son him that is once a Son of God whomsoever God loves once he loves for ever and the like for which they usually quote that in John 13.1 which is but That Christ having so loved his own that were in the world loved them to the end that is he loved his Disciples to the end of the time of his being in the world with them He loved that is took all occasions to testifie also his love and accordingly even till his death testified it in his words and works to them yet so as he bids them abide in him and continue in his love Take heed least any deceive them as implying that for all this his great love toward them they were not out of all possibility of being deceived or departing from him if they should be careless as conceiting such a thing impossible they might be circumvented and not continue in his love Yea he tells Peter that except he wash him he should have no part in him John 13.8 and sure all his exhorting them to keep his Commandments and abide in him c. imply at least a possibility of their doing otherwise â— no need to have been so earnest to exhort them to such things Again we have seen before what the Apostle said to and of the Galathians whom he asserts to have been Sons and known of God what fear he had of them what warnings he gives them and what he supposes might yea and affirms would befal them if they went on to follow after the false Apostles who had begun to seduce them Indeed all the Scriptures do shew sufficiently the certain attainment of eternal life by those that are careful to wait upon God and look diligently to him by Jesus Christ for his supplying keeping and saving of them that wait upon him and keep his way that hear Christs voice and follow him and do not presume to turn away from him or sit loose from his instructions by which they may and should be kept close to him but though the just do live by faith yet if he draw back the Soul of God shall have no pleasure in him Heb. 10.39 2. Again such conceptions and sayings as import that God works so altogether and irresistibly in the believer as that he
leaves nothing upon the Believer to do in order to his preservation in his love and favour to which they alledge that in Phil. 2.12 13. That it is God that worketh in you to will and to doe of good pleasure Where the Apostle asserts that not as an evidence or argument to prove that there is nothing therefore left for the believer to doe in which he may possibly fail and to which he needs to be exhorted but as the reason and ground wherefore the believer should be careful to work out his own Salvation with fear and trembling for which there would be no room or ground if God wrought all things in the belieliever yea and his working out too irresistibly nor any need for to have exhorted them if they could not chuse but so work upon the account of God's working in them But the Apostle plainly implies that because its God that works in and through the Grace revealed to and received by the believer of good pleasure so as not bound or obliged so to work but only of his mercy and good will therefore it behooves believers to yield up themselves to and in his operations to will and do and so to work out what he is working in them and not to resist and quench his operations least so they should provoke him who is a free agent and works only of good will to be offended with them and withdraw his operations and good Spirit by which he is operating and working in them from them and then they can do nothing toward their salvation but be in danger to goe back to destruction As also the argument used ver 16. to inforce that instruction upon them seems clearly to imply in that he says That I may rejoyce in the day of Jesus Christ that I have not run in vain nor laboured in vain for to what purpose should he mention such a thing with respect to them if there had been no possibility of their failing of the Grace and happiness to which he laboured to bring them instrumentally or if there was nothing to be done by them that might conduce to their obtaining the end of his running and labouring amongst them at least that could possibly be neglected and left undone by them so as therethrough to indanger their failing thereof and so a disappointment of the Apostles desire and hope concerning them The whole Scripture as it were suspending the tenour of the continuance of believers in Gods love and favour upon their keeping his Commandments and exhorting therefore to diligence in observing and keeping them shews the vanity of such apprehensions and that there is something required on mans part to his being preserved in the Grace of God Forsake her not and she shall preserve thee love her and she shall keep thee Prov. 4.6 If ye love me keep my Commandments and I will pray the Father c. And be that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me and he that loveth me shall be loved that is continue to be loved of my Father and I will love him continue to loue him as John 15.10 and I will manifest mine own self to him John 14.21 23. Keep your selves in the love of God 3. Again it reproves and discovers the evil and naughtiness of those high and presumptuous thoughts which are the issue and fruit of the two former mentioned Deut. 29.18 19. wherein men having believed and being pronounced righteous and so being under the sentence of life as Ezek. 33.13 thereupon presume to commit iniquity and say in their hearts that though they do so and add drunkenness to their thirst satisfie their vain and sinful desires and lust never so greedily yet they are safe enough they cannot miscarry but shall have peace and favour with God still or if they may provoke God to some displeasure against them so as to chastise them yet that shall be the worst that shall or may befal them These thoughts also contrary to what is foreshewed and to many serious threats in the Scriptures as that the Lord will not spare such an one but then his wrath and his jealousie shall smoke against him and the Lord shall blot his name from under Heaven Deut. 29.20 and that he who when God hath said unto him as righteous thou shalt surely live shall thereupon trust to his own righteousness and commit iniquity shall surely die Ezek. 33.13 and therefore even believers are admonished not to be high minded but fear Rom. 11.20 21 22. 2. It also serves to exhort and provoke believers to watchfulness care and diligence in taking heed to the Grace of God and cleaving thereto and quitting themselves as men that they may continue and abide in that state of love and favor to which they are freely chosen of God in Christ making their calling 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and election thereto firm and sure as 2 Pet. 1.10 to that purpose adding to or in their faith vertue or courage for God and his truth and against Sathan sin and all that stands cross to their well-doing and in vertue knowledge to direct and guide all their zeal and courage aright and in knowledge temperance sobriety in thoughts of themselves not aspiring to pry into things above their reach or that they have not seen in the testimony of God as also temperance in use of the mercies of God in the things of this life and of their liberties thereto to which their knowledge makes way least by undue use of their liberties offend other ◠and in their temperance patience both to continue therein denying themselves and abstaining from fleshly lusts and also in induring whatsoever sufferings and adversities may befal them in their way and in patience Godliness an acknowledgement of God and his power and goodness and a depending on him and looking to him in all things and making him the Alpha and Omega of their lives and actions receiving all from him and living in all things to him by Jesus Christ and in godliness Brotherly kindness an hearty intire love of the Brethren being kind and courteous and of one minde with them loving as Brethren and Heirs together of the same Grace and inheritance and in Brotherly kindness charity a free and gracious affection and love to men not for any goodness in them rendring them worthy of love as in Brotherly kindness but because of Gods free and gracious love and affection both to us and them so loving others even all men as we are loved of God as men seeking to win by love those that are without and to doe them good even as he hath done to us though unworthy of love from him If we doe those things we shall never fall if we goe on thus adding Grace to Grace Growing in Grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ To such like purposes both our Lord himself and his Servants have given manifold exhortations and Counsels As to watch and pray
Son of God himself consecrated by an Oath for ever and ever living to make intercession for us in all which respects he is infinitely better and greater than the Priests under the Law abler to make us and our prayers acceptable to God c. 7. as also having an High Priest so merciful to us and so faithful both to God and us in all that concerns us one that can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities and can succour those that be tempted because he himself suffered and was tempted as Chapter 2.17 18. and 4.15 one that can pity and have compassion on those that are ignorant and â—ut of the way Heb. 5.1 2 3. Let us therefore draw near with true sincere hearts in full assurance of faith our hearts sprinkled from an evil Conscience and our bodies washed with pure water In these incouragements the Holy Ghost moves and incourages us to draw nigh and to pray to God as also is shewed Rom. 8.34 in that Christ hath died for us yea rather is risen again who also is at Gods right hand and maketh intercession for us 3. The infinite power and alsufficiencie of God in Christ and of Christ in God to hear help save and satisfie us and to fulfil all our petitions that are according to his will power belongs unto God Psal 62.11 12. therefore trust in him at all times ye people pour out your hearts before him he is a refuge for us So in Job 5.8 9. I would seek to God to God would I commit my cause who doth great things c. I am God Almighty Gen. 17.1 this incouraged Christ in the days of his flesh to pour out strong cries and tears that his Father was able to save him all things were possible to him Heb 5.7 Mark 14.36 and this through the love he hath manifested in Christ and the greatness faithfulness and mercifulness of Christ as our High-Priest and the infinite virtuousness of his sacrifice for us for obtaining favour and acceptation for us with God is of great usefulness to incourage us also that he that so loves us and with whom we have such a Priest and Sacrifice to befriend us is able to help and save us as Psal 57.2 I will cry unto God most high unto God that performeth all things for me this incouragement the Holy Ghost propounded to and by Paul as a motive to pray to him That the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ is be of whom all the family in Heaven and earth is named and that in him are riches of Glory and that he is able to doe exceeding abundantly above all we ask and think Ephes 3.15 16 20. indeed this without the other would be little incouragement but rather terrifie us from him but with and through it it gives exceeding much incouragement to consider that he is able both in respect of wisdom and knowledge to discern our wants and in respect of Power and Authority to supply them 4. His Covenant and promises made and confirmed in Christ for hearing and helping those that come to him by Christ and for perfecting all that concerns them both as to salvation from evil and satisfaction with good It s his Covenant in Christ to write his Law in the heart and to put his fear into them and their iniquities and sins to remember no more c. and so it is to hear their prayers and to save them So Psal 50.14 15. Call upon me in the day of trouble and I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorifie me Psal 91.14 15. He shall call upon me I will be with him in trouble I will deliver him and honor him with long life will I satisfie him shew him my salvation so by our Saviour Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my Name I will give it you John 16.23 Godliness hath the promise of this life and of that that is to come 1 Tim. 4.8 to which add 5. His infinite truth and faithfulness through Christ to keep his Covenant and mercy for ever this incouragement is also propounded and was often made use of by the servants of God as the Apostle to move the Believer to draw nigh to God uses this amongst others Faithful is he that promised therefore let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering which is done as wel by our persevering in prayer and continuing to draw nigh to God Heb. 10 23. this was made use of and pleaded by Nehemiah c. 1.5 The great terrible God that keepeth Covenant and mercy for them that love him and observe his Commandments so by those good Levites mentioned in Neh. 9 4 5. in Verse 32. and by Daniel Dan. 9.4 as also it is propounded as an incouragement to call upon God and to seek him and seek his face Psal 105.1.4 8. He hath remembred his Coâ—ont for ever c. 6. The Relations that they stand in to God and God to them that the Holy Spirit also makes use of to encourage to pray and to call upon God So in Matth. 7.11 If ye that are evil know how to give good gifts unto your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give good things to them that ask him So again in Luke 11.13 and this also the holy men of God have been encouraged by to pray to him as Isa 63.16 Doubtless thou art our Father though Abraham be ignorant of us c. Thou O Lord art our Father our Redeemer thy name is from everlasting c. So Jer. 14.8 O the hope of Israel the Saviour thereof in time of trouble c. 〈◊〉 very often David makes use of this encouragement that God was his God and his King his Rock Refuge c. 7. The often proofs they have had of his Goodness and Power and Mercy in former times Call to mind says the Apostle amongst other motives and encouragements to draw nigh to God and to hold fast the Profession of the Faith the farmer days in which after ye were illuminated ye endured a great fight of afflictions And this is often made use of and found as an encouragement to the servants of God in former times as Psal 4.1 O God of my righteousness hear when I call Thou hast set me at liberty when I was in distress have mercy upon me and hear my prayer and in Psal 18 3. we have David resolving to call upon the Lord worthy to be praised and assuring himself that so he should be delivered from his enemies And see what encouraged him to that assured expectation and so to that holy resolution Verse 4 5 6. The sorrows of death compassed me c. In my distress I called upon the Lord and cryed unto my God he heard my voyce out of his Temple c. Like to which is that in Psal 116.1 2. I love the Lord because he hath heard my voyce and my supplication because he hath inclined his ear unto me therefore will I call upon him
and not those things that tend to the glory of Christ and furtherance of his Name praise and Kingdom in the world and in such an evil selfish peevish uncharitable proud passionate distemper of spirit as the wisdom or will of the flesh begets or produces in men and not in such a frame and efficacie as is of Gods spirit which kinde of praying is displeasing to God who being a Spirit will be worshipped by men in spirit and truth and cannot accept or like of that that is not of his holy spirit and therefore also is unprofitable to men and tends not to build them up in the most holy faith whence need for exhorting believers and for believers to accept the exhortation both to pray and to see that they doe it aright not in any spiritless formal way or in any carnal and unholy Spirit but in the holy Ghost 8. That this praying in the holy Ghost is a good means to edifie the believers in their most most holy Faith and so for keeping them in the love of God for therefore this clause is joyned with them and joyned with them in such a manner of speaking as clearly denotes and implies it to be a means to them For in saying Building up your selves on your most holy Faith praying in the Holy Ghost he shews that the building up themselves on their most holy faith would not goe well on if trusting to their own power and skill therein they should neglect Gods help or neglect to pray and call upon God for it in such a way as he might accept them and send them help Therefore they were to doe that with the former action as a means to it and then in coupling the counsel to both those and that absolutely by a Verb or word of command or counsel Keep your selves in the love of God and mentioning both of those by a Participle as having reference to some further end namely that expressed in that following counsel he implies that they be both of them means to that great end or that such a building themselves on their most holy Faith as is exercised with praying in the Holy Ghost will much conduce to or is the means to preserve and keep themselves in the love of God Which leads us to the next enquiry namely 4. How the praying in the Holy Ghost conduces to the keeping our selves in the love of God To which it is to be minded as was noted above that the love or peculiar favour of God and his blessing is fixed upon the foundation or most holy faith in the first place It firstly fastens upon and imbraces Christ his beloved delightful one who is the great subject of the Gospel Doctrine and for his sake it is upon or with that Doctrine also as it sets forth and contains his name and is the means to glorifie him to men and to draw in men to him so as his eye and heart is thereupon as a most holy thing to him the slighters of which he will slight and punish with more intolerable judgements than those upon Sodom and Gomorrah as in Matth. 10.15 and those that receive and embrace that are imbraced and beloved of him so as to be rewarded with life everlasting John 5.24 He that heareth my words which he gave to his Apostles and they preached in his name and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life c. and Mark 16.16 He that believeth and is baptized namely into Christ shall be saved c. Thence it follows that that which furthers mens being edified and built up on that most holy faith doth also further their being and abiding in that love and favour of God which he bears toward those that are thereupon for the sake thereof And so praying in the Holy Ghost conduces to the keeping men in the love of God as it is a means to keep them on their most holy Faith And a means thereto it is both 1. As there is no praying in the Holy Ghost but by and from the most holy Faith Jesus Christ and the Doctrineâ— of him taken heed unto and minded by men Praying in the H. Gh. then argues a being on the most holy Faith and exercises men to it even to the holding to and minding of it because the Holy Spirit is not otherwise to be met with to breath in us and frame our hearts to spiritual and right desires and prayers but on that most holy Faith for the Holy Spirit is onely that way ministred namely By the hearing of Faith and not by the works of the Law much less by any inventions and works in obedience to other Laws or in any lawless courses Gal 33.3 The Holy Spirit dwells and rests upon Christ and is sent forth in his name unto men Isa 42.1 6â— 1 11.12 John 14.26 and that to witness to Christ lead them to and unite them with him John 15.26 16.13 14. 1 Cor. 6. â—7 for he is so dwelling in Christ as not to be separated from him and therefore all that he dwells in must be one with Christ also for it is by vertue of Christ and in union with him that he that dwells and rests on Christ the head dwells in them as his members also And it is in the Name and Doctrine of Christ as Christ is therein named and set forth that the Holy Spirit breathes unto and in men therein and makes it a Ministration of Spirit or a means of conveying the light power presence and influence of the Spirit which is therefore no further abiding in men and leading and framing them than that Word and Doctrine of Christ in which he is ministred and Christ as held forth therein is received by and abides in men and they in them Whence that in 2 John 9. Whoso transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ hath not God to wit by his Holy Spirit in and with them for so God dwells in Believers namely by his Spirit as in Ephes 2.21 Whoso abideth in the doctrine of Christ hath both the Father and the Son namely in and by the influence and presence of the Spirit of both in and with them as well as in other considerations for them So then he that prayeth in the Holy Ghost being on the most holy Faith and so in Christ in whom and for whose sake God so loveth and favoureth men as we have shewed must needs be in the love of God and the praying in the Holy Ghost a means to keep men in the love of God because it is a way to keep men in Christ and a fruit of their keeping in him 2. Again it must needs be a means to preserve Believers in the love of God as it is a means to obtain further grace from God for more building up themselves on their most holy Faith where the love of God runs and is certainly enjoyed for what men ask of God believing in Christ and in the name of Christ as the Holy
of God and Christ and of his unspeakable glory and glorious joys and satisfactions that shall be injoyed by all that are counted worthy thereof in the world to come according to that distinction or distribution of rewards promised by Christ to those that forsake all to follow him Mark 10.30 he shall receive an hundred fold in this time houses Brethren and Sisters Mothers and Children and fields with persecution and in the world to come everlasting life that is the full and perfect injoyment of God and Christ and all happiness without persecution for ever till when they are to wait for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ therein This is the great hope of the Believers as in Tit. 1.2 In hope of eternal life which God who cannot lie hath promised and Chap. 3.7 That being justified by his Grace we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life and therefore the great things hoped for are included therein because therein is contained all the fulness of the injoyment of God and Christ and their favour and blessing and so all happiness yea it is the great thing promised in Christ as 1 Iohn 2.25 and therefore it is to be waited for by the Believer all his time till he attain the injoyment of it yea even the Souls of those that have suffered death for the testimony of Christ and that be under the Altar though they rest quiet from all further sufferings and persecutions from men or temptations and oppressions from Sathan or whatever here annoyed theâ— yet they also still wait for the full accomplishment of that great promise the full injoyment of life everlasting yea and the mercy of the Lord Iesus Christ is that that is exercised toward and over them even his free Grace goodness and compassion until that be attained by them Rev. 6.11 3. And as all his Mercy tends unto the Believer so this also being waited for shall be the certain and sure issue of his Mercy they shall not fail of it but shall have and injoy eternal life when fully built up and fiâ—ted for it As they have his love and favour toward them here in which is life so their patienâ— expectation of the utmost Salvation and full recompence of reward shall in it's time also namely in the World to come without fail be given them for 1. It was the end and design of God in giving his only begotten Son into the World that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life as also it was of his exalting and lifting him up both to the Cross in his Death and out of the Grave being dead for us unto his own right hand and in the Doctrine of the Gospel by his Holy Spirit commending and glorifying him unto the hearts and consciences of men that so he might be and be represented as a fit and compleat Object of faith and hope for them and that so many as should believe and hope in him might live for ever John 3.14 15 16. As Moses lifted up the Serpent in the wilderness so must the Son of man be lifted up that so whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world but that the World through him might be saved c. 2. It is the will and pleasure of God that Jesus Christ came down from Heaven to doe and is gone up to Heaven again to prosecute the thing to which he hath anointed and appointed him the work or pleasure of the Lord that lyes upon his hand to see done that whoso seeth and believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life John 6 40. And he is both alsufficient for accomplishing it having offered up himself a perfect and infinitely virtuous and precious Sacrifice and being filled with all the fulness of God and so able to doe all things and to subdue all things to himself and he is also faithful in all things to God who appointed him and therefore will not fail nor be discouraged till he bring forth judgment into victory and accomplish what he is ingaged in and hath undertaken to doe and accomplish Col. 2.9 10. Heb. 7.25 and 9.15 and 10.14 and 3.1 2. Isa 42.3 4. 3. It is the promise of God and his Covevenant made and ratified with mankinde in Jesus Christ that he will give eternal life to as many as do believe in and are subject to him 1 John 2.24 25 Tit. 1.2 and God that hath promised is true and faithful and cannot lye or break Covenant yea he hath also confirmed his promise and Covenant by an Oath that by two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye they might have strong consolation who flee for refuge to Christ the hope set before them Heb. 6.18 19. 4. Yea whereas we are too prone to sin and break ouâ— Covenant with God or fail in what he requires of us to the injoyment of eternal life Christ hath undertaken as the surety and Mediator of it to see it performed to us and to that purpose to fit us for the performance of it to us taking away our sins imperfections and forfeitures by the vertue of his blood and Sacrifice pleaded with his Father for us so as with reference thereto God keeps Covenant and mercy with them that fear him and Christ effects in us by his Grace and Spirit what is required of us and necessary for us Writing the Law in our heart and putting his fear in our inward parts Heb. 2.17 18. and 7.22 25 and 8.2 3 9 10 11. and 9.15 and 10.15 16 17 18. 5. Yea Christ as the great King of Saints and Nations Shepheard and Bishop of the soul hath undertaken it to lead guide protect and keep his sheep or his Disciples that hear his voice and follow him to the injoyment of everlasting life and he hath the Presence and Oneness of the Father with him therein and so power wisdom and love to guide and keep them so as none can pluck them away from him as he saith John 10.27.28 29 30. My sheep hear my voice and I know or own them and they follow me and I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand My Father that gave me them is greater than all and none can pull them ouâ— of my Fathers hand I and my Father are one So that the Believer hath the greatest certainty of eternal life that may be in believing and cleaving unto Christ and so in building up himself and being built up on that most holy faith and foundation and praying in the Holy Ghost and so keeping himself in the love of God and waiting for the mercy of our Lord Iesus Christ having God and Christ so ingaged for his having it given to him and conferred upon himâ— to which we may also yet add 6. The earnest helpfulness