Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	call_v	heart_n	spirit_n	2,759	5	4.7175	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A96661	Mount Ebal levell'd or Redemption from the curse. Wherein are discovered, 1. The wofull condition of sinners under the curse of the law. 2. The nature of the curse, what it is, with the symptomes of it, in its properties, and effects. 3. That wonderful dispensation of Christs becoming a curse for us. 4. The grace of redemption, wherein it stands, in opposition to some gross errors of the times, which darken the truth of it. 5. The excellent benefits, priviledges, comforts, and engagements to duty, which flow from it. By Elkanah Wales, M.A. preacher of the Gospel at Pudsey in York-shire.	Wales, Elkanah, 1588-1669.	1658 (1658)	Wing W294; Thomason E1923_1; ESTC R209971	189,248	382

have a very foule nasty heart my soule is a very stie of all uncleanness I am carnal fold under sin Rom. 7.14.23.34 I can do no good thing Oh miserable man who shall deliver mee why Christ thy Redeemer hath made thee a new creature he hath put into thee a principle of holiness and he is still at work in thee weakning sin by degrees so that though it will dwell in thee yet it shall not over-master thee nor bring thee under its feet Corruption shall go down and grace shall get up more and more The Lord Jesus will not spare either pains or cost in prosecuting this business he will wear of that filthy slough of the old nature and the image of hell and make thee partaker of the divine nature that thou mayest be conformed to his own image Sigh and breath after it 6. Final Redemption Which stands in the total removal and absence of all miserie and imperfection begun at death to be perfected at the resurrection The Apostle calls it the Redemption of our bodies Rom. 8.23 as I conceive for these reasons 1. To distinguish it from the first and great act wrought by Christ on the Cross to wit Redemption by way of merit whereon the main stress of the business lay which was not intended so much for the body as the soul to deliver it from guilt and curse 2. To intimate that part of Redemption which we shall be partakers of by death whereby we shall be set free from manifold evils and annoyances which compass us about and molest us while we are in the bodie 3. Because the accomplishment of this benefit at the last day shall be more visible in the bodie The soules of righteous men even before the resurrection are fully delivered from all bondage wanting onely that perfection which stands in their union to their bodies These lying in their graves as in prison under misery shall then be united again to their souls and so both shall be equally sharers according to their several capacities in this final Redemption So then this is a certain effect or consequent of the great work wrought by Jesus Christ the price is paid for the whole and full deliverance shall come in the day of Resurrection which is therefore called the day of Redemption Eph. 4.30 and Christ is made of God to us Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 At that day oh most desirable day there shall be a clear riddance from all those unwelcome guests which sin hath brought into the world As 1. from the evils of the bodie or outward man all crosses incident to our imperfect condition here whether attendants on mortality or corrections for our wandrings and miscarriages or sufferings for righteousness 2. from the evils of the soul or inward man from sin with all the rags and tatters of it which being fast on us here from the temptations of Sathan and the inticements of an evil world wherewith we are encompassed and also from the second death the wrath to come in the damnation of hell Glad●us mort●s retusus vulnerat adhu●● sed c●●●a p●●●cu●um Calv. in 〈◊〉 The first death indeed will hold us under a long time but at length it shall be destroyed 1 Cor. 15.26 and in the mean time it is but as a sword without edg which may wound a little yet without danger it shall do us no hurt but be as a wicked door to let our souls into immortalitie and the grave with the corruption of it shall be as a bed of spices to perfume our bodies and to prepare them for the resurrection Briefly whatsoever there is in all the world that can be called evil we shall be set free from it all forever all imperfection both of parts and degrees shall be done away Matt. 22.30 1 Cor. 13.10 yea Gods own ordinances as marriage preaching and sacraments which are given as remedies of weakness here shall take their leave as things whereof we shall have no further need or use Let the Lords redeemed lift up their heads and see this part of their happiness afarr off Your soules and bodies both lie under a thousand wearisome vanities in this pilgrimage but your redemption draweth nigh when there shall be no more sorrow nor crying but all tears shall be wiped away from your eyes Rev. 21.7 never to know or taste of misery any more 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 7. Full Glorification We have some foretasts of it in this life therfore the Apostle speaketh of it as a thing done in those that are justified Rom. 8.30 when God gives poor believing souls assurance of his love sence of his favour and fills the heart with joy and peace then he begins to glorifie them Therefore this joy is called unspeakable and full of glory 1 Pet. 1.8 these are a choice portion of the first fruits of the spirit Rom. 8.23 we shall reap the whole harvest of glory in heaven It s called by way of Eminency the salvation of our souls 1 Pet. 1.9 Redemption and the former benefits flowing from it are salvation begun and continued for we are saved here Eph. 2.8 2 Timoth 1.9 but this shall bee salvation consummate The Scripture sets forth this benefit by variety of appellations as Eternal life Matth. 25.46 Everlasting habitations Luke 16.9 Paradise Luke 23.43 The recompence of reward Heb. 11.26 A Crown of Righteousness 2 Tim. 4.8 A Crown of glory that fades not away 1 Pet. 5.4 The glory which is to be revealed in us or into us Rom. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ●●to us N●n n●m ast●b●mus q as●inanes vacui Spectateres nec g●oria quasi extriae s●cus revelab●tur n●b● sed in nobis Bernard 8.18 For we shall not stand as idle spectators looking upon it as a thing without us but we shall be possessours of it within us the everlasting Kingdome of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ 2. Pet. 1.11 The inheritance of the Saints in light Col. 1.12 and the riches of the glory of it Eph. 1.18 Yea an inheritance incorruptible undefiled and which withereth not away 1 Pet. 1.4 And on this account the Apostle calls it the Adoption Rom. 8.23 because that shall be the time of our entring into the full possession of the Kingdome which is prepared for us and unto which we are intituled by adoption It was a main end of Christs giving himself for the Church that at length he might present it to himself a glorious Church without spot or wrinkle Eph. 5.25 27. And the Apostle reasoning from reconciliation by Christs death to salvation by his life Rom. 5.10 intimates that this is a necessary consequent of that This estate shall be the perfection of all created contentments Here shall be riches which cannot be plundered treasures which corrupt not pleasures which vanish not whatsoever is truly desirable which men enjoy severally some this some that in this world heaven hath all these and infinitly much more in a far more

come into that place of torment Luke 16.27 28. as if he should say While I lived on earth I was a very slave to my sinful pleasures and utterly neglected all means of freedome Vide Jansenium in Comment ad haec verba Whether he speak from natural love to them or self-love lest his punishment should be increased by their ●ollowing his bad example I shall neither dispute nor determine and therefore here I lye under the wrath of God burning in this flame And I have some kinsmen still living who are posting on in the wayes of their own hearts and in great danger ere long to be cast into this prison Oh! that some good pitiful body would take a little pains to convince them of their sin to set before their eyes the curse under which they lye and to discover unto them the way of recovery that they may escape that woe which I feel So it may be some of your predecessors that are gone to their long home and are now lying in the chains of the pit have sad thoughts of heart for you that are left behinde when they consider that you are following their steps intent on the service and pursuit of your lusts and do wish that some effectual means were used whereby you might be reclaimed and saved from hell And now may we not hence safely conclude that it is a shameful thing and sadly to be lamented if the damned in hell do express more affectionate care of the eternal happiness of their kindred than those which pretend to be their best friends on earth you who either by advised choice or by long acquaintance are grown into intimate familiarity may make use of this help to put one another into the possession of the grace of Redemption Amicus est alter idem A friend is another the same Two persons joyned in a league of friendship are one soul in two bodies Your inward society and dear esteem of one another may both afford you more frequent opportunities may qualifie you with greater freedom in carrying on the work for mutual benefit Thou sayest such a one is to me even as mine own soul Why then dost thou not endeavour that it may go as prosperously with his soul as with thine own And you that are neighbours what do you Oh further one another in this way Do ye not see some that dwell about you fallen among the Theeves of hell left wounded and half dead Be you Samaritans do what you can to deliver and to heal them Your cohabitation and sundry occasions of conversing together give you these advantages of doing good which others cannot have Thou art commanded to love thy neighbour as thy self but if thou dost not labour to bring him into the fellowship of this grace with thy self then where is thy love It is sad to observe that at the meetings of neighbours one shall scarcely hear three wise words in a whole year tending to the good of souls To make short the desire of our Redeemers glory and zeal of the salvation of captive souls should constrain us to lay hold upon all advantages which Gods providence shall offer for doing good even to meer strangers if by any means we may be serviceable in furthering their eternal happiness by the enjoyment of this rich benefit See Psal 119.45 46. Sect. 4. The fifth Dutie 5. LOve the appearing of thy Redeemer which shall be at his second coming Believers are described by this propertie 2 Tim. 4.8 His first coming was to pay the price of Redemption and then to apply it to all those whom the Father hath given him in due season He will come again to fill up all empty Places to perfect the work and to save them to the uttermost Heb. 7.25 He was once offered to bear the sinnes of many and he shall come the second time in the end of the world without sinne unto salvation Heb. 9.28 He came at first burthened with the curse of the Law he shall come then in the fulness of the blessing of his Gospel Then shalt thou reap the full harvest of Redemption and all the fruits of it shall be laid in thy lap at once Oh then stirre up thy self thou redeemed soul to salute this happie day afarre off and to embrace it with an affectionate love and let this love discover it self by threatnings of 1. Vehement Desires Let thy heart be every like breathing after it and longing to enjoy it The godly which have the first fruits of the Spirit do sigh and groan within themselves Rom. 8.23 and the Apostle Peter call's upon us to look for and hasten unto the coming of the day of God 2 Pet. 3.12 These expressions note the earnest desires of the soule The traveller would fain come to the lodging place where he may rest at night The Day-taile-labourer breathes after the evening that he may be dismissed from his work and receive his wages Iob 7.2 They that journey from day to day in hot and drie countries and they that sweat and broil at harvest-work in the heat of Summer do gape after the cooling and refreshing shadow That shall be the time of thy rest thy refreshing thy reward after all the labours of thine obedience in doing and suffering the will of God here below If thou hast entred upon the possession of this grace by an unfained faith in the Redeemer and hast truly tasted the goodness of it in the first fruits how canst thou forbear to sigh and pant in the strength of thy desires for the enjoyment of the whole crop which is reserved for that day 2. Lively Hope Let those desires be attended with a patient expectation of that happy day of thy compleat deliverance Rom. 8.23 waiting is joyned with groaning The Apostle mentions it as a propertie of believers both there and elsewhere often 1 Cor. 1.7 they look for him as it were afarre off 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be their Saviour Phil. 3.20 and to them that thus look for him he will appear for their salvation Heb. 9.28 and the grace of God as it teacheth us to abandon sinne and to live godly so it inables us to look for that blessed hope and glorious appea●ing of Christ Tit. 2.11 12 13. How vigorously think you did the Inhabitants of Jabesh-Gilead wait for the coming of Saul to their timely aid according to his solemne promise that they might be rid out of the hands of Nahash and delivered from the fear of that slaverie which he had threatened 1 Sam. 11.1 9 c. And how vigorously should we wait for the coming of Christ to set us absolutely free from that Nahash Serpens Augur Incantator that Serpent and conjurer of Hell and to tread him under our feet that he may never whisper more As Ruth was advised by her mother to sit still till she should see the issue of the business betwixt her and her kinsman concerning the Redemption and

not fail of her desires Thus it is with a poor son of Adam now made partaker of Redemption by Christ he is greatly in love with his Redeemer but considering the great inequality betwixt them and his proneness to offend he is jealous over his own base heart least some unworthy walking should give his love the lie and Christ the dearly beloved of his soul should turn him over to Sathan again and leave him to be a slave to sin and the curse or lest his love should decay or cool and Christ his onely one should be displeased at him and frown upon him The Gentiles grafted into the Olive-tree must not be high-minded but fear Rom. 11.20 Such are pronounced blessed Prov. 28.14 If Paul was jealous over the Corinthians much more might they themselves 2 Cor. 11.2 3. If this jealousie be a stranger to thee thy love may well be suspected By these signes thou mayest trie the truth of thy love to Christ and if thou findest this frame of spirit thou mayest conclude that thou art redeemed A love thus qualified is a sure evidence of thy Redemption For none can possibly love the Redeemer at this height but those which are actually partakers of the benefit By nature we do not we cannot love him onely the banner of his love in the work of Redemption displayed to the sinner by the spirit of God drawes his heart to love him It may be thou hast no assurance of any interest in this benefit but if thou findest in thy soul such an high estimation of Christ and grace and such an advised complacency of spirit in him as inclines thee to fix the dearest love of thy heart upon him notwithstanding the contrary struglings of the flesh within thee though it certainly draw after it the loss of all worldly interests whatsoever I say if this be thy frame thou hast no cause to fear thy condition Sect. 2. The second and third mark of interest in Redemption 2. WEariness under the bondage of sinne both that which is past and present 1. The remembrance of his late wofull thraldome under the guilt and power of sin doth sometimes sadden his spirit he cannot think of it without some degree of regret and sorrow The misery of his former slavery under sinne is his wormwood and gall when he hath it in remembrance his soul is humbled in him Yea although he hath good hope through grace that he hath escaped the danger of it yet that doth not damme or drie up the spring of sorrow in his soul but rather renders it now spiritual and kindly Now he saith in the language of the Prophet Oh let me never return into the house of this prison again lest I die there Trie thy self Iere. 37.20 It 's no sure signe of a good estate if upon supposal of thy interest in this benefit thy soule be lifted up to such an height of joy as drownes all thoughts of thy old sinfull condition and leaves thee altogether unaffected If the Apostle had judged this a commendable disposition he would never have exhorted the saints of Ephesus to remember in what a pitifull condition they had formerly been while they were farre off and in the flesh Ephes 2.11 12. 2. The sence of that heavie clogg which lies upon him the bodie of death with the lusts thereof which as fetters on his leggs are continually pinching him makes him to sigh and crie out Oh wretched man who shall deliver me and that not onely when he is in the dark about his spiritual estate but also in the day of his choisest assurance when he can heartily thank God in the view of his full deliverance to come Rom. 7.24 25. I conceive S. Paul doth there represent the temper of every right Christian as to this particular in his own example Suppose the armes leggs and other parcels of a dead carkass were chained to the body of a living man although the trunk of that carkass were taken quite away yet Oh how noisome would it be It would make a man wearie of himself Thus it is with the ransomed soul The bulk of the flesh as I may call it is destroyed by the cross of Christ the life of it is in a great measure laid in the dust when he is set free from the Law that is the commanding over-ruling masterfull power of sin yet still the members of this carkass the affections and lusts of the flesh are sprawling and stirring and working in him and these are as troublesome to a gracious heart as the stinking members of a dead body would be to a living body if they were coupled to it Consider thy self now and see how it is with thee Art thou as Rebekah weary of thy life Gen. 27.46 because of those daughters of Heth Canst thou say with all thine heart Oh that I were altogether freed from them oh that this vexatious Inmate with all her unwelcome train might be once pack'd out of doors that I might see it no more When shall it once be This is a sweet signe that thou art actually redeemed But now Art thou a stranger to this frame Is the bodie of sin no burthen nor grief of heart to thee Canst thou go under it without stooping Dost thou not rather bless thy self in thy civil carriage before men or at the best in thy religious outside profession and performances before God wondering at the preciseness of some persons which make so much adoe in sighing and lamenting under that pressing bondage of corruption which thou art not acquainted with nor knowest what it means This is a clear evidence that thou art still a wretched slave a meer stranger to the grace of Redemption 3 A sincere consolation and real endeavour to abandon all iniquity and for ever to relinquish a vain conversation Hee that hath laid a long time in iron fetters for his misdemeanours if he be wise for himself will utterly renounce those courses which hath brought him into that misery and he that hath felt the iron curse of the Law pinching his soul and is set free by the Lord Jesus the grace of God will effectually teach him to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2.12 When the Lord hath found a ransome for an humbled soul whose life was drawing near to the destroyers and hath sent his Commission to the Minister of the Gospel to deliver him the poor soul forthwith reflects upon himself and saith I have sinned and perverted that which is right and it profited me not that is I have gotten nothing by the trade of sin but woe and sorrow therefore I will follow it no longer Job 33 23.-27 I will not offend I will do no more Job 34.31 32. The Apostle Peter writing to the dispersed Jews tells them that they are redeemed from their vain conversation which they had received by tradition from their Fathers 1 Pet. 1.18 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They had sundry idle needless unprofitable customes both

of the thing Page 109 The Doctrine 1. Cleared by shewing what Redemption is name and thing ib. 2. Confirmed by Scripture-grounds ib. 1. The fitness of the person to undertake being true God and true man Page 114 2. The efficaciousness of his sufferings Page 116 Whereby he hath 1. given abundant satisfaction to justice ib. 2. broken the Serpents head c. Page 118 An Objection If by Ransome then not by Rescue Answered by 3 Considerations in reference to 3 persons with whom the Redeemer had to deal Page 120 1. God the soveraign Lawgiver being wronged by man's sinne the chief thing to be done was to satisfie Justice by paying of a Ransome ib. 2. Sathan into whose hands man is delivered to be his Jailour or executioner being man's deadly enemy doth oppose his deliverance and holds him captive still therefore he must be rescued by conquest Page 122 3. Man's slavery is voluntary in respect of himself and his heart is averse from deliverance therefore the Redeemer must put forth an Almighty power to subdue him and make him willing to accept of liberty Page 125 Another Objection It might have been done in an easier way answered Page 126 1. This was the good pleasure of his will ibid. 2. Most agreeable to his holy nature 1. Sutable to his soveraign ends and setting forth the glory of his 1. Justice 2. Truth 3. Wisdome 4. Goodness Page 127 CHAP. V. 1. USE Confutation of enemies to this grace Page 131 1. Papists which adde several parcels to make up the price of Redemption Page 132 2. Socinians which teach that Christ's becoming a curse for us was not for satisfaction but onely for an example of imitation Page 134. CHAP. VI. 2. INformation in sundry branches Page 143 1. The love of God and Christ is unspeakable ib. 2. The work Redemption is a very costly peice Page 144 3. The grace of the Gospel is very precious Page 145 4. God will have a Church Page 146 5. The Church is very dear to Jesus Christ Page 148 6. The condition of the invisible Church is incomparably happy discovered Page 149 1. In three excellent properties of Redemption It s 1. Free and gracious ibid. 2. Full and plenteous Page 150 3. Eternal and without period Page 151 2. In rare spiritual benefits which flow from it Page 153 154 155 4. Adoption Page 160 5. Sanctification Page 162 6. Final Redemption Page 163 7. Full Glorification Page 166 3. In seven precious priviledges attending on Redemption Page 169 1. It makes us truly blessed Page 170 2. And the Lords peculiar people Page 171 3. The Redeemer is at Gods right hand carrying on the work Page 172 4. He hath purchased the gift of the Spirit to bestow on the elect Page 175 5. By personal interest in it we become the Lords free-men Page 177 6. All the promises are ours Page 179 7. We have a special interest in Gods providence Page 181 Four priviledges more common Page 186 1. Redemption opens a sluce for the waters of life to run among the Gentiles ibid. 2. It is the foundation of the general Covenant made with mankinde Page 187 3. By the merit and vertue of it the Jewes shall be called Page 189 4. It overflows to the bettering of the whole Creation Page 190 CHAP. VII 3. COnsolation against the annoyances Page 193 1. Of sin 1. In our old estate ibid. 1. The hainousness Page 196 2. Multitude ibid. 3. Long continuance Page 196 4. Advantage by neglecting the offer of grace Page 197 2. In our new condition Page 200 1. It s presence ibid. 2. It s prevalence Page 212 3. Advantage by frequent neglects and swarvings Page 214 2. Of terrors by new guilt Page 216 3. Of cursing and reproaches Page 208 4. Of temporal afflictions especially Page 209 1. Persecutions for righteousnes Page 211 2. Sufferings in innocency Page 212 3. Punishments for sin Page 213 Quest Whether the evils which the Redeemed suffer may properly bee called curses answered by a distinction Page 214 CHAP. VIII 4. EXamination Actual interest in Redemption tried by sundry evidences Page 216 1. Dear love of the Redeemer which is incorrupt if it be 1. Single Page 217 2. Superlative Page 219 3. Invincible Page 220 4. Accompanied with self-jealousie Page 222 2. Weariness under the bondage of sin past and present Page 224 3. Sincere resolution and actual endeavour to abandon all sin Page 227 4. Separation from the world c. Page 229 5. Walking after the Spirit Page 230 6. Purity of heart and life Page 233 CHAP. IX 5. EXhortation 1. To sensless sinners which lye secure under their slavery Page 235 Advice in five particulars ibid. 1 Give way to the Law to convince you ibid. 2. Resolve not to abide in this condition but take counsel from Gods Ministers Page 238 3. Fall down before the Lord in an humble and full confession Page 239 4. Still take notice of this Ransom and of the feaseableness of deliverance by it study it and bee affected with it Page 241 5. Walk in the way which God hath limited forgetting an actual share in it Page 242 Which is 1. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ 2. Repentance from dead works Page 243 Motives to set upon this way Page 245 1. No possibility of deliverance in any other way Page 247 2. Else Christ will glorifie his justice in leaving thee a prisoner to the Curse for ever Page 248 3. Now the Lord offers this mercy in the Ministry by his Spirit Page 249 4. The welfare and comfort of Gods Ministers depends much upon this ibid. CHAP. X. 2. TO sensible sinners which are burdened with the Curse Page 251 Counsel to thee in three particulars Page 252 1. Ponder the weight and strength of this great design ibid. 2. Continue instant in prayer Page 253 254 3. Learn self-denial abandoning thine own wisdome sense c. Page 255 5. Objections of an humbled soul Page 256 1. I know not whether I be redeemed or not 2. Christ never meant to redeem all Page 257 3. Onely the Elect are redeemed but I know not that I am elected Page 264 4. I have neglected so long that my day is past ibid. 5. I do not see that it is my way thus to beleeve I do not I cannot beleeve Page 267 All these answered severally Page 269 10. Encouragements to accept of Redemption Page 273 1. The name of God is most sweet ibid. 2. It is a clause in the Mediators Commission that he shall proclaim liberty ibid. 3. The termes are reasonable and easie Page 274 4. Faith engageth Christ to relieve a soul in extremity Page 275 5. This is the way to self-abasement Page 276 6. And to exalt Jesus Christ Page 277 7. It s the best part of thy thankfulness Page 278 8. And the most commendable self-love ibid. 9. A blessed thing to beleeve when all things perswade the contrary Page 279 10. Thousands of captive sinners have gone this way

and longs to be more nearly united to him He desires not to be delivered from the curse and so to be righteous and holy that he may have an interest in Christ That is not his method But contra he desires to have real interest in Christ that he may be freed from the Curse and so be clothed with his righteousness and conformed to him in holiness Bona tua non nisi tecum Domine If thy heart can say yea to this thou hast an evidence of sincere love to Christ but if thou lovest him onely for lumps for the benefits which thou gettest by him deliverance from hell and the glory of heaven thy love is mercenary 2. Superlative It transcends and overtops all the Love of the creature The redeemed soul loveth wife children friends his own life and the good things of this world according to their several degrees of goodness and he loves them not fainedly and in shew but truly and indeed within due limits and in such proportion as they are capable of but yet he loves Jesus Christ farre and farre above them all This love leaves all other loves many thousand miles behinde it so that none of them can come near it He is precious singularly precious to them that believe 1 Pet. 2.7 he is an honour to them they have a very high esteem of him His interest prevailes in their soules infinitely above all other interests in the world Christ disownes yea rejects all love tendred to him which is inferiour to the love of our dearest relations Matth. 10.37 yea we must hate these in comparison of him Luke 14.26 Ask thy soul what it can answer to this Doth thy soul set an high price on thy Redeemer Doth thy heart embrace him as incomparably excellent dost thou finde the enjoyment of him more sweet and contenting than all other enjoyments and his absence hiding of his face and restraint of his gracious influences from thy spirit more bitter and grievous then all other wants or burthens which thou mayest meet with But if thy heart set up any thing above him so that Christ and his partie when they stand in competition with some other partie which hath gotten the chair in thy soul are slighted and must sit at its footstool or be thrust out of doors Oh this is a base beggarly love which will not stand thee in stead 3. Invincible To clear this the love of Christ in an elect person actually redeemed may possibly be overcome by the prevailing of the contrary corruption It is not simply impossible being a created quality and therefore no more able to stand of it self without divine support than Adam's love to his Creatour which was so easily mastered by the suggestions of the serpent to the ruine of himself and his posterity yet notwithstanding this possibility it shall never be totally vanquished and lost in the soul It may be greatly decayed and driven into a corner so that the godly Christian may want the sence of it and may verily think that the love of Christ dwelleth not in him at all yet it is there and shall abide in him for ever This fire as that on the Altar shall never be wholly extinguished Because the Spirit of God which first kindled it is still present blowing it up less or more that it cannot die It 's a part of the seed of God which abides in the saints and preserves them from sinning unto death which they must needs do if the love of the Redeemer be totally routed 1 Joh. 3.9 It 's a stream flowing from the well of water which springs up in the believer unto everlasting life John 4.14 The world thrusts sore at this love that it may fall Prosperity on one side presents the beautiful and pleasing objects of riches honours eternal delights Gen. 49.24 to draw the love of the soul to themselves Adversity on the other hand will endeavour to affright the soul from the love of Christ by the sterne and unwelcome shapes of troubles afflictions persecutions and death it self yet it 's bow abides in strength by the hand of ●he mighty God as Joseph's did The Saints love not their lives to the death Rom. 12.11 because they love the Lord Jesus as Jonathan loved David not onely as their own soules 1 Sam. 20.17 but also with a wonderfull Love 2 Sam. 1.26 Jonathan's Love to David was admirable in this that it could not be taken off either by the frowns threats and violence of his Father Saul against David and against himself for adhering to David or by the consideration of his own interest which was deeply concerned in this business he being heir apparent to the Crown and David standing in his light so the love of the right Christian to Christ cannot be wholly overcomed by temptations on the right hand or the left it can envie and despise both the sweet inchanting of pleasure and the bitter affronts of danger and keeps its ground in some good measure against them all Love is strong as death the coales of this fire make a most vehement flame many waters cannot quench it nor the floods drown it Can. 8.6 7. Trie thy self if this be thy temper thy love is right bred but canst thou give way to any thing in the world to take off the edge of thy love to Christ This fire which is so soon put out came not down from heaven Yea minde it thou lovest Christ but thou feelest not a return of love from him to thy soul yet if thy love be incorrupt thou wilt still hold on in prison as well as Liberty in death as well as life it will not be quite tyred out by long delay of comfort but the hope of an answer of peace will keep it acting in thee and the dayes of thy waiting and serving him will seem to thee but a few for the love thou hast to him as Gen. 29.20 4. Accompanied with self-jealousie Although the love of the godly soul to his Redeemer be thus divinely qualified yet he hath keeps up within himself an holy suspicion concerning himself that he may work out his own salvation now actually begun with fear and trembling Phil. 2.13 Look as it is with a poor maid who is deeply in love with some young man of Eminent parts She considers the great worth and excellencie of the person and her own means and unworthiness She sees a vast distance betwixt her self and him so that she shall never be able to answer him according to his condition hence she apprehends some danger of miscarrying least he should reject her and her love should be lost yet still her affection goes out freely towards him and he hath her whole heart only she sees cause to fear least some undue or uncomely carriage of hers should displease him and provoke him to distaste her and this fear makes her the more cautelous and helps her to endeavour to give him all possible contentment that she may

shall be But then 2. Hence to infer that it is no matter what a man doth or how he walks is a wicked and dangerous conclusion for the Decreee of Predestination hath made a necessary connexion betwixt the means and the end but that godless inference breaks this golden chain all to peeces To live in ignorance security unbeleef disobedience is the ready way to hell and consequently a fearful mark of Reprobation To neglect means of saving knowledge faith repentance and new obedience is to forfeit salvation and to declare thy self to be none of Gods Elect. A learned Divine illustrates this by a similitude thus Davenant Animadversions on a Treatise called Gods love to mankinde p. 512 Put case saith he a battel were to be waged betwixt two Armies and God should reveal some way or other that the greater part of the souldiers sho●●d perish in the fight and some few escape not mentioning the particular persons which should be slain or preserved if any souldier should now either pass sentence upon himself before-hand or suffer his heart to be fore-stalled with a strong conceit that he is one of them that shall be slain and shall thereupon despairingly run upon his enemies swords or throw down his weapons and neglect himself and so perish I demand whether this despair and the effects thereof are not rather to be imputed to his own indiscretion than to the divine revelation without doubt he may justly blame himself for taking occasion where none was given The application is easie To walk in the state and wayes of sin or to avoid the way of faith and holiness out of a conceit or fear that thou art not in the number of the Elect is damnable madness 3. It is a groundless supposition to say If I be not elected all my labour of beleeving repenting and holy walking will be lost for it implies that a man may do all these and yet be damned But this is altogether inconsistent with the frame of the Gospel which holds forth the quite contrary that he that doth these things shall bee saved 2 Pet. 1.10 11. Rom. 2.7 8 c. 4. No man in the world can give thee an infallible assurance of thy election immediately neither oughtest thou to seek for such assurance Scripture and reason both will tell thee that ●ods eternall counsels are so deep as they cannot possibly be found out no man ought to conclude peremptorily of himself that he is a Reprobate rather let every one that lives in the Church and under the sound of Gods Ordinances conceive hope that he is one of the elect number provided that he improve this hope to be a spur to diligence in the use of means towards salvation But then take heed that thou suspend not this upon the certain knowledge of thine election say not I will first know that I am elected before I take pains in the way to salvation If the King should grant a pardon to a hundred Traytors whose names are inrolled in the Exchequer upon certain conditions to be performed by them expressed in a Proclamation it would be a foolish preposterous course first to search the Rolls before they look after the performance of the conditions no they must first do this and then sue out their pardon Even so thy way to heaven is not first to climbe up thither to search the Records whether thy name be there the word is near thee even in thine heart Say not who shall go up to heaven for me Rom. 10.6 8. Think not of jumping into heaven at once Begin at the bottome of the ladder and go up by steps He that will not set himself o● the way to salvation unless God will first make him of his Cabinet-councel is sure to meet with damnation as the deserved reward of his desperate folly Therefore poor soul if thou hast begun go on by the exercise of Faith Repentance and all other graces to make thy calling sure this will make thine Election sure 2 Pet. 1.10 and then thou needest not fear thy Redemption Obj. 4. But I have so long neglected to hearken to the counsel of the word calling me to believe that it may be the day of grace is past to me If the Lord had any thoughts of good towards me he would have perswaded my heart before this time but now I am grown into such a setled habit of unbelief that I may fear the Lord hath even determined to leave me under the power of it for ever Ans 1. God is the Soveraigne Lord of time he workes at all houre● of the day he calles at the Eleventh as well as the sixth or nineth houres Matth. 20.5 6. he hath his several seasons of offering grace bringing Christ home to the soul and satisfying the soul with the comfort of enjoying him according to his good pleasure 2. I confess it is a very dangerous thing for a sinner to resist the motions of the Spirit till he be even wearied out till the Lord say peremptorily my Spirit shall no longer strive with this man I will leave him to his own counsels And it is to be feared that this is the case of very many who living under quickening means yet grow old in a secure sensless state and course and it is ten to one that these persons have sitten out their day of grace Yet let no sinner no not he that is of the blackest grime or longest standing set down this absolutely against himself that this day of Grace is quite past Say not it 's now too late to Repent and believe or if I do God will not regard me This were to denie the grace of the new Covenant If now at length thou wilt open thine eares to the counsel of the Gospel and laying aside thine enmitie wilt heartily come in thou shalt finde by good experience that there is abundant grace in the Lord Jesus for thy recoverie and salvation See the example of Paul 1 Tim. 1.13 14. 3. But as for the poor afflicted soul although thou hast turned a deaf ear to the encouragements of the Spirit of God and hearkened to thine own heart too long yet thou hast no such cause of fear For thy practise doth constantly proclaim that thou fearest the Lord and obeyest the voice of his servant Isa 50.10 in departing from all known iniquity and endeavouring to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing Onely thou art in darkness as to thy right unto Jesus Christ and the grace of Redemption and although thou breathest after him in the desires of thy soul yet thou canst not reach up sensibly to close with him by faith In this condition as sad as it is to thee the Lord looks upon thee as a tender mother lookes upon her childe that will not take the breast he pities thy waywardness and will not make it an advantage against thee but still invites thee to stay thy self on his Name He can easily change thy heart of