affirmation As the Father hath loved mee so have I loved you In which are two thingss observable One that our Saviour loveth his disciples that believe on him and love him and this put downe inclusively as a thing so known to them that it needed no affirmation The other that our Saviour soe loves them as the Father loves him so that heere are two things affirmed I. Christ his love to believers II. The peculiarity and manner of his love to them whence spring two observation to veiw Obs 1. That Iesus Christ hath loved and doth love all that in the Heavenly call are brought in to believe on him and love him and that with such an apearing and manifested love that they may know hee loves them whence the affirmation is heere about the kind and manner of his love and not simply of his love as knowing they did not question that For that is soe abundantly testified that unlesse they close their eyes and harden their harts they cannot but know and believe that he loves them and that he loves them much I. In that he tooke our very nature upon him and was made flesh yea for our sakes tooke such flesh and bloud as wee have subject to weaknesse paines and death and so not only being God became man but being in the forme of God equall with his father in glory and majestie hee our case requiring it became not only man but in fashion as a man in forme of a servant in the likenesse of sinful flesh as a worme and no man a reproach of men and despised of the people for our sakes and was not this great love Ioh. 1.14 Heb. 2.14 Phill. 2.7.8.9 Rom. 8.3 Psal 22.6 II. In that hee also in this meane shape in our nature and stead became under the law for us and so in the same bond with us and took upon him our dept and had all our sins imputed to him and was made sin for us and so though he was innocent yet he bare the imputation and the shame and ignominy of all our sins and who can deny but this great love Rom. 3.19 Gall. 4.4 Isa 53.6.12 2. Cor. 5.19.21 Psal 40.11 Heb. 12.2 III. In that he also bare the strokes suffered the punishment and curse and died the death that was due to us and so rose againe acquit of all our sins and a victorer over curse and death and presented himself to his father as the ransome and propitiation for our sins and heerin appeares great and true love endeed Isa 53.4.5.7.8 1. Pet. 2.24 and 3.18 1. Tim. 2.6 Gall. 1.20 IV. In that he hath left his Gospell and received spirit to send forth to make knowne this grace that men might come in and receive it and procure mercy and patience waighting and leading to repentance that wee might repent and believe and so partake of this grace and this is love endeed Rom. 10.18 Psal 68.18 Rom. 2.4 V. In that he hath done all this for us freely while wee not only did not deserve it but were even sinners ungodly and his enimies yet so great his love that far lesse then this is hardly to be found among friends and no greater can be required in us to a friend then he shewed to us when wee were enimies to him Oh love without comparison 1. Pet. 3.18 Isa 53.2.3.4 Ioh. 15.13 Rom. 5.6.7.8.10 Coll. 1.20.21 In all which the believer may see love abundantly manifested to him and this knowne and believed there needed no such particular affirmation that he loved them for they see and believed it in his becoming the propitiation for their sins so as there is no cause to doubt of his love 1. Ioh. 3.16 and 4.10.16 Gal. 2.20 Object Iesus Christ hath so loved all men as to take their nature beare their sins and die their death and give himself a ransome for them and become the propitiation for their sins and procureth patience and mercie with some light at some time to lead them to repentance 1. Tim. 2.5.6 1. Ioh. 2.2 Ioh. 1.9 Therefore all men may know themselves so loved of Christ as well as believers Ans The proposition is True but the inference false for though it be True that he hath so loved all men Ioh. 3.16.17 And hath beene witnessing this his love to them in some measure Act. 14.17 More clearly where the sound of the Gospell comes 2. Cor. 4.13.14 Yet all men have not faith 2. Thess 3.2 The men of the world harkening to the enchantments and delusiones of Satan believe not the goodnesse of God no not where the Gospell comes and so have wrong thoughts of God and either regard him not at all but go one in serving their lusts Psal 14.1.2 and 50.21 and 10. Or else if they thinke of his wrath they suppose to apase him by some other satisfaction and righteousnesse Rom. 9.30.31 and 10.1.2.3 And so they lie in wickednesse 1. Joh. 5.19 And so though love of compassion be towards them as it is to all not given over to Satan yet they not believing it is not manifest to them and so they lying in unbeliefe they are under wrath and condemnation because of their unbeliefe Ioh. 3.18.36 And therefore cannot in their unbeliefe know themselves so beloved of Christ But such as through grace believe they have seene and knowne and believed this love of Christ in all the before-said five respects whence it s rightly said to be manifested to them and through this knowledge and faith they come to receive and have a tast of his first loving them 1. Ioh. 4.10.16.19 and 5.20 And are therthrough brought to depend on him and love him and desue to be conformed to him Rom. 5.5.11 Tit. 3.4.7 1. Pet. 2.3.9 And thus though such love hath shewed it self in Christ for all men yet it is not so manifested to nor knowne and believed of such as lie in unbelieve and so they have it not but the believers know this great love in believing and so have it and yet this is not all but it is farther evidenced to them VI. In that when God by his Spirit did through the Gospell evidence Christ and this his love and the fulnesse of grace and truth in him to them and so made him to appeare so glorious to them that it made all other excellencies as drosse to them and drew their desires after him and so caused them to come in and submit to him and desire to be found in him and enjoye him Isa 55.5 Ioh. 1.14.17 and 6.44.45 Phill. 3.7.8.9 Though then they were found in their owne bloud and filth so as they could not endure the stinch of their owne filth nor the sight of their owne blacknesse and bloudinesse Ezek. 16.1.9 Isa 64.6 Yet then did not he cast them away but washed them with his bloud spake peace to their hart Ioh. 6.37.45 Rev. 1.5 Heb. 12.24 And though they wore found some thing stubborne untoward and gainsaying yet did not he faint nor give over but
15 16. 1 Ioh. 2.20 27. Yea even so that all his sufferings death resurrection ascension his victory wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption is become theires as if they had done all Ioh. 14.12 1 Cor. 1.30 2 Cor. 5 14. Yea hee conferreth on them and maketh them owners and partakers of all that is his even of his devine nature in union interest usefulnesse and comformity and soe of all things pertayning to life and godlinesse 2 Pet. 1 2 3 4. Yea soe that his Father himself his Spirit his covenant his privilidges his inheritance his people are all theirs And this so operative that they and all that is theirs is gained to bee and made his 1 Cor. 3.22 IV. With a most honourable and honouring love the Lord Jesus so loving those that believe on him and love him that hee will not accept to be loved received and acknowledged of any that doe not in with and for him in a measure love receive and acknowledge them but counts all that is done to them as done to himself whether in love or hatred and will not otherwise reckon of it but in some measure will have them in and for him loved as himselfe Mat. 18 5 6. and 45 40 44. Luk 10.16 Act. 9.4 5. 1 Ioh. 4 17 21. He putteth his name upon them and his Spirit in them and so beareth testimony in to and through them 2 Cron. 7 14 16. Isa 59.21 Rom. 8.16 Heb. 11 3. Rev. 2 17. Hee giveth to them the Kingdome and enheritance the Father hath given him Luk. 22 29. Heb. 12 28 and hee will have them to raine with himselfe and make them rule over the nations and judge the world Rev. 2.26 27. 1 Cor. 6.2 Yea hee blesseth and honoureth with blessings such as blesse love esteem them Gen. 12 3. Psal 15.1.4 And this so operative that they so honour him V. With an everlasting love hee hath loved them from eternity in the roote and nature Pro. 8.30 31. And doth soe love them to eternity in roote and branches as they can never drop out of this love of his Ier. 31 3. Ioh. 13 1. He loved them before they were 2 Tim. 1.9 And when they were his enemies Rom. 5 6.10 And when he called them Tit. 3 4.7 And hee loves them even when he speakes hardly to them and chastiseth them Ier. 31.20 Heb. 12.6 And when they are in tribulationes and sufferings for his sake Psal 116.15 And when they bring forth the fruites of his Spirit and approach to him Cant. 4.9 15. Yea he will love them for ever and it shall shine forth upon them without any darknesse or interuption when they shal be with him and see his glory seeing as they are seene and being made like him and so rejoycing in his love for ever and ever Ioh. 17 24. 1 Ioh. 3.1.2 Rev. 21. and 22. And this so opperative as it unites them in love to him for ever and thus as the father hath loved his son Iesus Christ so hath and doth Iesus Christ love those that believe on him and love him only in this wee are to heed this caution to keep us sober in the beliefe of so great love viz. That as Iesus Christ made the propitiation himself for us in and by himself without us so hee and hee only is the fountaine and cause in and through himself of all this love and fruites thereof to us so that in this respect he hath no partners 1 Ioh. 2.2 Psal 36.9 Hose 14 8. And for the communication of this his delightful love and fruites thereof he doth it according to his Fathers mind who in al things will have his son Iesus to have the preheminence his portion with out bounds or measure immeasurable but to every one that believeth on him a measure according to the measure of Christ Coll. 1 19. Ioh. 3 33. Eph. 1.7 And this observed wee may safely affirme and verily believe that as God the Father hath loved all men with a love of compassion so hath Iesus Christ so also loved them that he hath given himself a ransome for all men to be testified in due time Ioh. 3.16 17. 1 Ioh. 4 14. 1 Tim. 2.6 Even so as the Father hath loved and loveth his son Iesus Christ with a higher degree of love and a more peculiar love then he loved the world for whose redemption he sent him forth Ioh. 5 20. Rom. 14 9 12. Even so the Lord Iesus Christ hath loved and doth love all those that by his grace and Spirit are in the heavenly call brought into believe in him and love him even with the same devine Spirituall free righteous delightfull well-pleased abundant flowing honourable honouring and everlasting love in which the Father hath loved and loveth him himself having assirmed it And to make a little use of this point before we enter on the next Vse I. This may be an Information to us both of the greatnesse of the love of God and Iesus Christ our Lord to all that believe in Iesus Christ and love him and also of the happy and blessed condition of such believers I. For the love of God to these his people wee may better expresse it by admiration then description For how great is his goodnesse which hee hath laid up for them that feare him and wrought for them that trust in him before the sons of men Psal 31.19 That neither know or love him or them it was love endeed and that great also to ransome and redeeme them with his owne bloud from that great misery into which they were fallen and then to make knowne this love to them and therthrough to extend the choise fruites of his compassionate love to them as before but as if all this were but a little in the account of so gracious a God to do for them his love stayes not in this but floweth farther in loving them as he loves his son to make them like his son and sons in his son who loveth them also as the Father loveth him so that in this love God maketh them his sons his treasure and delight and hee is become their God and Father their refuge rock-portion guide and protector and hath intressed them in and made them owners of all his owne things and will bring them to raine together with Iesus Christ his son and preserve them till he bring them to that inheritance with Iesus Christ and make them like him to be ever with him Oh consider and behold what manner of love is this Ioh. 17 23 2 Cor. 6 18. Psal 18 1.2 Rom. 8 32. 1 Cor. 3.22 1 Pet. 1.3 4 5 1 Ioh. 3.1.2 II. For the happinesse of the condition of such as believe in Iesus Christ and love him enough is said where such love is assured to them and in such love to have forgivenesse of all their sins acceptation of their persons and accesse to the throne of grace Act. 10 43. Rom. 3 1 2. To have the Lord for their
24. Coll. 3.1 12. Gall. 5.22 23. Phill. 2.1 6 12 13 14 15 16. 1 Thes 5.11 14 23. And so to hasten to the comming of Christ waiting for him to perfect and fit them for it Tit. 2.11 12 14. 2 Tim. 4.8 2 Pet. 3.11 And because they know the love of Iesus Christ their life to be so great to them they esteeme highly of his word and Spirit and the ordinances which in his word he hath apointed them and wherein they may testify submission to him and considence in and love to him Psal 119.138 139 140. and 143.10 and 84. to the end And soe waite through the Spirit to receive all help for all things needful to perfect them from him through his word and Spirit and in fellowship with him and his chosen ones in use of his apointments Isa 26.7.12 Gall. 5.5.6 1 Ioh. 1.3 4. Psal 100.4 5. And therefore will not turne aside for helpfulnesse to dead images or devices and traditiones of men knowing that in so doeing they should sit loose from him their head and dishonour him as wanting love or Spirit and procure to themselves blasting and witherdnesse in their life and love and darkenings in perceiption of his love which is their life Psal 115.1 14. Coll. 2.6 8. 9 10 16 23. 1 Ioh. 5.20.21 Psal 30.5 12. Gall. 6.8 II. This manifested love of Christ doth Admonish those that believe in Christ and love him I. In all conditiones and how-ever things apeare to sence yet to acknowledge him to have loved us and to be loving and gracious to us to be good and to doe good and praise him for his kindnesse and wonderfull works waiting on him for his goodnesse to be shewne us in due time Psal 73.1 and 145. to the end Phill. 4.4.7 Psal 107. to the end 1 Thes 5.18 Lam. 3.26 31. Let hoe affliction cause us to murmur against him or be jealous of his love for that is great wee have cause to be jealous of our own love and he might say to us wherein have you loved mee and wee might be silent but yet he accepts and remembers the small fruites of his Spirit in us and forgets not the love of our espousealls though it were but the fruites of his own first discovered love Cant. 5.1 Jer. 2.2 Heb. 6.10 1 Ioh. 4.19 And shall wee for a little hideing and silence of his or a few afflictions from him call in question al his love and in beholding the fulnesse of others say to him wherein hast thou loved us far bee it from us hee can not but behold it as an evill in us that he hath so loved us as to take our nature beare out sins suffer our curse and give himselfe a ransome for us and become the propitiation for our sins and al this for us while we were his enemies and yet we to say wherein hast thou loved us If thou say hee hath so loved al men yet I pray the consider he hath not so made it known to al men and sweetned the knowledge thereof to their harts as he hath done to thee they are thy Brethren created by the same God purchased by the same Lord and of as good nature parts and other naturall qualificationes and performances as thou and no worse then thou wert yet he suffers them to lye in darknesse and to rest upon such mountaines of worldly riches friends fleshly wisedome or self wrought righteousnesse as he hath blasted and will bring downe and as will fayle them But he hath discovered to the the mountain of Israel and brought thee out of darknesse into light and gained thee to himselfe with the knowledge of his love soe manifested that himselfe might be thy mountaine thy peace thy righteousnesse thy life and hath often made thee tast his goodnesse and is now but confirming thee to him in his crosse and death that thou mayest partake of his resurrection and life and wilt thou so forget all his goodnesse as to say wherein hast thou loved mee Oh doe not so let us not so ill-requite him as for any thing to be offended in him Mall 1.1 6. Rom. 6 3 5. 2 Cor. 4.10 11. Phill. 3.10 14. II. To learne of Christ to love others as wee have been and are loved of Christ Jesus to love such as are yet enimies to us and know not Christ with the love of compassiones as Christ did us when we were enimies to him without partaking of their sins or delightfull fellowship with them in their wayes to use meekenesse patience and long-suffering to them and pray for them and seeke to overcome their evill with goodnesse Mat. 5.44 45. Rom. 12.17 21. Tit. 3.2.3 4. 1 Pet. 2.22 23 24. To love believers with love of delight exercising bowels of mercies to them bearing their infirmities and burthens having fellowship with them continuing in Brotherly love Coll. 3.12 16. Rom. 14 and 15. 1 Pet. 4.10 11. Heb. 10. and 13 1. But this with other uses do more fully flow from the next observation joyned to this III. This love of Jesus Christ so manifested may bee a ground of exortation to us to mind and heed wel this his love that we may be more abundantly firmed in the beliefe heeroff it beeing the ground of our believing and that which believed doth facillitate our beliefe of that more abundant love that followeth to be spoken of Rom. 5.1 5 10 11. and 8.31 36. Gall. 2.20 And while there remayneth doubtfulnesse in this there can be no stabillity in the beliefe of that which followeth now to be spoken of in the next observation Joh. 3.12 and 6.61 62 63. II. Obse That Iesus Christ loveth those that believe in him and love him even as the Father hath loved him In which observation there is something closely intimated namely That the love of Jesus Christ and so of God the Father in and through him to such as believe in Jesus Christ and love him is a speciall and peculiar love above all that love in which he loveth any other of the sous of men Deut. 7.6.7 Truth it is he loveth all the sons of men till they become of the seed of the Serpent with the love of compassion and willingnesse to have them come in to him Psal 145.8 9. Pro. 8.4 5 31. Joh. 3.16 17. 1 Tim. 1.15 Yea even while they are sinners and know him not and while he is angry with them for not believing on him Rom. 5.6 8 10. 1 Joh. 2.2 and 4 10. Joh. 3.18.36 And this their not knowing and not believing this his love and goodnesse is that which holds them in impenitency and under sin and in wickednesse still Psal 9 10. Rom. 2.4.5 Joh. 16.8 11. 1 Joh. 5.19 20. 2 Thess 2.8 But such cleare and powerfull discovery of his love and goodnesse as doth cause the hart so to know believe and acknowledge the same that one is overcome thereby to believe on him and love him is a speciall and peculiar in his love
not only love and grace with generall effects but a special favour and speciall gift of grace Mat. 16.16.17.18 1 Pet. 1.21 1 Joh. 4.16 19. and 5.20 Tit. 2.11 12. and 3.3 4 5. Eph. 2 8. Above that which apertaines to al men 2 Thess 3.2 And this peculiar love is heere closely intimated of which is already spoken in the former observation And something in this observation is fully and plainly expressed namely such a peculiar love as is not peculiar only in respect of the manifestation and discovery thereof as before mencioned but it is peculiar also in it selfe such as never was is or shall be to any but them and such as they are Psal 132.13.14.15 and 148.14 and 149.4 Deut. 33.26.29 And soe it is peculiar both in the love it self and also in the manifestation of it Ioh. 14.17.21.22.23 16.27 The fruites whereof come through his advocation joyned with his propitiation which advocation is peculiar for them that believe in him and love him Ioh. 17.9 10 20 27. 1 Ioh. 2.1 And this peculiar love with such peculiar manifestation is significantly called the favour to his people the good of his chosen and the enjoyment of it the gladnesse of his nation Psal 106.4 5. And this is a peculiar love above all the love he beareth to any other of the sons of men in which also he makes them a peculiar people to himself 2 Pet. 2 9. And of this love is the observation now in hand which cannot be better expressed then in the words of our saviour himself which also is the proof thereof As the Father hach loved mee so have I loved you In which for our better understanding and usefulnesse there are three things contained to be viewed and heeded of us I. The first intimated as denied by none viz. the Father hath loved Iesus Christ his son II. The second to be inquired into in other his sayings which giveth light to that affirmed viz. how the Father hath loved Iesus Christ his son III. The third expresse viz. the affirmation it self as the Father hath loved mee so have I loved you I. For the first that the Father hath loved Iesus Christ his son and so loveth him is expresly affirmed Ioh. 5 20. The Father loveth the Son but an explication is to many more needfull in this then a proofe least the conceptiones of some bee too scant in this matter in which wee are not to consider Iesus Christ only as the second person of the three and so the son in respect of the devine nature without consideration of the flesh that once was to be and now is taken and so of the love only in which the three persons in one God delight in each other and so God hath all fulnesse of delight in himself but wee are to consider the second person the son of God as once he was to take and now hath taken flesh and so as he was found in our nature and stood as the publick person in the roome of all and became the propitiation for the sins of the whole world and the Advocate for believers the king priest and prophet and the head and Husband of the church as he was vile and dispised in the account of men and yet a lover of men and so approved of the father and so hath the father loved him as hee is such a one Pro. 8.22 23 30. Mat. 12.18 Mat. 3.17 and 17 5. Yea he loved him in his laying downe his life and making the propitiation Ioh. 10 17. Phill. 2 7 11. As also in his ministration Mat. 17 5. And in receit and approbation of those given him in the heavenly call Isa 42.1 2 8. Ioh. 16 27. And Iesus Christ thus considered as he tooke our nature and wrought for us the father hath loved him Isa 53 1 2 6 11.12 II. For the second thing how the father hath loved Iesus Christ his son and our saviour it is beyond conception and expression of mortals though some what thereof may be conceived and expressed as the scripture declares Eph. 3.18.19 And so according to the measure of light given wee may consider it two wayes I. Negatively Not with a worldly and humane love such as is in the men of the world and as the men of the world testify their love who desire for and wish unto and to their abillity confer upon those whom they most love most of the honours riches authority powre liberty pleasures and good report among men that is in this world and the things thereof Hest 6.6 9. Dan. 6.1 2 3. Gen. 41.39.44 Of this love is not heere-ment but of the love heere-ment it may be said as of the peace Christ giveth it is not such us the world hath and giveth nor so given Ioh. 14.27 For in these things the father did not set forth his love to lesus Christ his son and our saviour but abased him in all such things for worldly honours he was not sild with but abused in the meanenesse and contemptiblenesse of his birth in respect of parentage and place Luk. 2.4 7. In his exile after his birth into a strange countrie Mat. 12 13 15. In the place of his longest aboad and bringing up not in the famous city of Ierusalem but in Galilee out of which they used to say there ariseth no prophet Ioh. 7.52 In the manner of his life before his ministration a carpenter Mark 6.3 In the places of his ministration not alwayes in the temple and Sinagogues or houses of the rulers and Pharisees but often in other houses and in the houses of the Publicanes and in the wildernesse and on the mountaines and by the sea-side and in sishers ships Mat. 9 10 and 5 and 15 32 33. In his disciples and attendants on his ministration unlettered fisher-men a Publican a Canaanite c. Mat. 4.18 and 9 9 and 10 1 10. And his hearers and followers a despised people Ioh. 7.48 49. As for worldly riches hee was not furnished but in that respect very pore Mat 8.20 and 17 27. As for humane and outward authority offices and powre from and among men he had none Mar. 11 28. Luk. 12.13 14. Ioh. 18 36. As for humane repute and good report among men of most credit and esteeme in the world and their followers he was by them defamed reproached and slandered and that many wayes they defamed him by his parentage and kinred this the carpenters son c. Mat. 13 55 56 57. And by his trade he had used before his ministration Mar. 6.3 This the carpenter and by his not having beene trayned up at scooles whence hath this man these things c. Mat. 13 54 57. Mar. 6 2 3. And by his want of outward and pompous authority among men this fellow Ioh. 9.29 And not only defamed but also slandered him for his conversation with men to be a gluttonous person and a wine bibber and a friend of Publicanes and sinners Mat. 11.19 For his readinesse
preferreth his son in honour that he honoureth all those that in the day of grace do honour him Ioh. 14 21 23 and 16 27. And will repay those that persist in hating him Psal 68. V. It is an eternall and everlasting love hee loved him from all eternity and to eternity hee is the prime elect Isa 42 1. Hee loved him before he tooke flesh and when he tooke flesh yea alwayes while he was heere on earth in all his temptationes poverties sufferings ministration death and resm rection and now at his right hand and so for ever Pro. 8 22 30. Luk. 1.30 32. Ioh. 5 20 27. Psal 2.6 and 16 6 7 c. And with such devine Fatherly love so free righteous delightfull satisfying abundant flowing hononrable and honouring and everlasting love hath the Father ever loved the son though it was not in all times so visible when he was heere on earth and ever doth and will thus love him and thus wee have some small discovery of that which in the excellency and perfection thereof is beyond all our conception much more beyond our expression his love being infeint and in comprehensible passing knowledge III. For the third thing viz. the affirmation it self as the Father hath loved mee so have I loved you this is the profession and explanation of his great love with the peculiar manner of his loving as the Father hath loved him viz. I. Not with a humane and worldly love to be testified after the manner of the world in advancing them and freeing them from sufferings in such glory fame good report honour riches authority friend-ship liberty among men as is in and of this world wherein they shall be falsely accused hated persecuted and have many tribulationes as hee had but in him they shall have peace and comfort as he had in his Father Mat. 10 17 25. Ioh. 14 27 and 15 18 21 and 16 32 33. II. Nor only with a love of compassion and extention of some fruites thereof for so he hath loved all men Psal 136 26 and 145 8 9. And so he loved them when they were his enemies Rom. 5 7 10. Nor yet only with such a peculiarity in this loving as to make them to know and enjoy the comfort of this his compassionate love in the giving himself a ransome for them and the peace the patience the bownty the supports and supplies there through vouchsafed them in all their needs and trials so as they may experiment his love and tender mercy in the same Psal 116 1.2.8 Rom. 5 2 4 1 Cor. 3 10 Wherein he tenders them in some sort because of their weaknesse more then himself on earth was Psal 22 6 7. And though this love of compassion made knowne and enjoyed be sweete gracious and opperative love yet this love is higher and more peculiar Tit. 3 4 5 6 7. Yet III. Not such a love or so loving as admits no cloud darkenings or eclipses from the knowledge or perception of the beloved after the first appearance till the harvest or fulnesse of enjoyment but such as betweene the first appearance and the full comming in of the harvest may admit some clouds hidings and eclipses for a season 1 Pet. 1.6 7. Heb. 12 6 7. Isa 8.17 18. Cant. 3.1 4 and 5 8 21. But with such a devine spirituall and peculiar love as in which his Father loveth him his son he loveth those that believe on him and love him I. With a most free and righteous love hee hath loved and doth love them most freely not for any worth or desert or any excellency found in them or those from whom they received their first birth for they were so far from having any thing deserving love that they were full of such filth as deserved hatred yea such as could not bee taken of without his dieing for them which he did even while they were his enemies Ezek. 16 1 9. Rom. 5 8 10. And notwithstanding he still found them sinfull and rebellious to the day of his call 1 Tim. 1 12 13 14 15. Coll. 1.13 21 22. Yea even when he set his eye on them to take them to himself and for his owne he found them in their filth and bloud and in onenesse and fellowship with the world and yet did hee freely set his love on them and by his Spirit washed them from their sins in his owne bloud and graciously chose them out of the world Ezek. 16 6. Rec. 1 5. Ioh. 15 16 19. Tit. 3.3 4 5 6. So that his love is altogether free and as it is free so it is righteous hee having offered the sacrifice and presented his bloud to his Father so as mercy and truth are met and by vew of his bloud purged their consciences and presenting them in himself to the Father who counts them righteous it him hee loving them with a righteous love Psal 85.10.11 Heb. 9.12 14. And also Hee in this freenesse of his love having given his promise hee is righteous to perform hee is also so righteous in loveing that he will treasure up and not forget but both make prosperous and also recompense every fruite and worke of his own Spirit in them and that according as his grace prevailes in them and leads them to yeild up themselves and their members therein and thereto in the services and sufferings of love for him and their brethren and this also hee doth freely and for his own sake Cant. 5.1 Heb. 6.10 2 Cor. 9.6 Gall. 6.8 Mat. 10 41 42. Psal 19.11 1 Cor. 2.9 II. With a most delightfull and well-pleased love he hath set his delight and taketh pleasure in them Psal 16.3 33 18. and 149.4 And is well-pleased with them as they are in him and have him living in them Ioh. 15.1.9 Gall. 2 20. And soe with all that which by his Spirit hee worketh in them and which through that Spirit hee causeth them to doe in prayers prayses and services of love Jer. 9 24. Prov. 15.8 Yea so delightful is he in this his love and so well-pleased that he hath set his desire and placed his rest for an habitation in and with them Cant. 4.9 10. Psal 132 13 14. Yea so as hee affords them satisfying and well-pleasednesse in this his well-pleasednesse with them Psal 23. and 30 3 4 5. and 116.1.2 10. III. With a most abundant and flowing love his love so flowing on them that he hath them ever before him and his gracious eye upon them Psal 34 15. So that hee sets them as the seale upon his hart and as the seale on his arm Cant. 8.6 And hath graven them upon the palmes of his hands Isa 49 16 So that hee worketh al their works in them and doth all his works for them and causeth all to work together for good to them Isa 26 12. Psal 138 8 Rom. 8 28 Yea so as in due season he imparteth all his counsells and maketh them to know his mind and all his works Ioh. 15
portion wisedome rightcousnesse sanctisication redemption treasure riches Psal 16.5 1 Cor. 1.30 To have him for their Father and captaine to acquaint them with the misteries of God to fight their battels answer their enemies subdue their lusts tread downe Satan under their feet Isa 55 4 and 42 1 8. Mich. 7 18. Rom. 16 20. To sanctify them throughout and preserve them to his Kingdome 1 Thes 5 24. 1 Pet. 1 4 5. To be blessed with all Spirituall blessings and compleate in him Eph. 1.3 Coll. 2.9 To have him loving them as the Father hath loved him and so estating them in all his owne things so as they who because of the excellencie of his loving kindnesse do put their trust under the shadow of his wings shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of his house and he wil make them drink of the river of his pleasures and fill them with fulnesse of joy in his presence and pleasures at his right hand for evermore Psal 36 7 8 and 16 11. So that wee may well say of them happy art thou Oh Israel who is like unto thee Oh people saved by the Lord the shield of thy help and who is the sword of thine excellencie and thy enemies shall be found lyars unto thee and thou shalt dwell in safety alone Deut. 33.29.28 Psal 31.20 Mich. 7.9.10 Vse II This may also be a motive to presse forward and alure all men to looke to Iesus Christ and come in and submit to him in repenting and forsaking their sins with all their former delights and hopes and believing the Gospell in its report of the great love of God in giving his son to die for their sins and rise for their Iustification and suffering this tidings to prevaile to the breaking of their harts in sight of and sorrow for their sins against so gracious a God and so loving a saviour and for which the Lord Iesus suffered so much and to cause them to renounce reliance on any wisedome strength righteousnesse or works of their owne endavourings seeing nothing lesse then the bloud-shading of Iesus Christ could make peace for them nor any thing but the Spirituall application of that bloud can effect peace in them Mar. 1.15 Act. 2.37 Zach. 12 10. Phill. 3 3 4 7 8. Gall. 2 21. 1 Pet. 1.2 Therefore to looke and submit to Iesus Christ and to waite for Spirit and teaching from him and not to rest but be attending the Gospell and yeelding to all the Gospell requires till he by his Spirit applying the vertue of his death and resurrection to them do overcome them to believe and so effect peace and newnesse in their hart Isa 42 1 8 and 45 21 23. Ioh. 8.30 31 36. Tit. 3.4.5 And the rather and the more are they to be vehement for this and presse heertoo because in the attainement of this so great and peculiar love is to be met with all Ioh. 1.12 and 3 16. and 7 37.39 Therefore whatever thou bee that hast not yet attained let the hearsay of this great and peculiar love to such as believe in him and love him now prevaile with thee and perswade thee to open thy eare and attend with thy hart to the Gospell and suffer it to prevaile with thee to bring thee to repentance and faith in Iesus Christ and to the love of him Oh consider Metives I. Iesus Christ hath loved thee his compassiones have been great towards thee he gave himself a ransome for thee and died a grievous and ignominions death for thy sins and rose for thy justification and is become thy Lord to whom thou owest thy self thy life and all that thou hast and hee hath powre to absolve thee and powre to judge and condemne thee and yet waites for thee and stands ready to send forth Spirit to thee to make knowne his grace in thy hart and bring thee into him 1 Tim. 2 6. Heb. 2.9 Rom. 14.9.10 11 12. 1 Cor. 6.20 Psal 68.18 And shall not all this goodnesse melt and breake thy hart in pieces for thy sins for which his bloud was shead and for thy long enstrangment from and oft rebelliones against him that hath so loved thee and died for thee and to renounce reliance on thy owne wisedome righteousnesse and strength to fall downe before him and turne to him and seeke for life and Spirit from him and the rather seeing he might justly condemne thee and yet in his so great love and compassion still calleth thee saying seeke mee and live Oh turne thee horne thee that iniquity may not be thy destruction Ezek. 33.11 and 18 30 31. Isa 55 6.7 Pro. 8.31.35 II. If thou obey this his heavenly call soe as thou be overcome thereby to deny thy self and renounce thy owne former lusts hopes and to believe his love and goodnes soe as thou depend on him for life love him thou shalt not only receive remission of sins and a new hart with peace therein accesse in grace which yet is better then all the things of this world Rom. 4.23.25 5.1.2 Act. 10.43 Psal 32.1.2 But thou shalt therewith also partake of the same peculiar love of Iesus Christ in which himself is beloved and shal not this alure move thee to seeke him Ioh. 7.37.38.39 14.21.23 III. And the more to move encourage thee to this repentance and faith in him he hath caused this his speciall love that he beareth to those that believe on him and love him to be written and spoken off That thou mayest know what love thou shalt partake off in believing in him and loving him Ioh. 20.31 Rom. 15.4 Ioh. 1.7 5.34 1. Ioh. 1.3 And for a paterne and farther encouragement to thee he hath all ready communicated of his speciall love to such as before they believed were as great sinners and as far off as thou to encourage thee to repent and believe that thou mightest partake of the same love also 1 Tim. 1.15 16. And will not this prevaile with thee IV. And to remove all stumble because thou caust not come to Iesus Christ unlesse God by his Spirit draw thee this also he hath declared that at one time or other he will be tendering to thee yea and it s not to be doubted when by his servants hee is teaching the Gospell to thee Pro. 8.31.32.35 Ioh. 1.4 5 9. Mat. 28.20 But thy imbessellity ought rather to stir thee up to pray him to draw thee then to stumble and discourage thee from turning in to him Cant. 1.4 And I pray thee answer in thy hart this question the Gospel having been preached to thee hast thou not at one time or other felt or discerned some spiritual motiones abont the death of Christ for sinners hinted into thy hart with suck light as hath given thee to see much sinfulnesse and miserie in thy self and much mercy and hope in Christ and this with such force as it hath strooke at thy hart and stirred and moved with
in thee to encline thee to repentance of thy sins and to believe in Christ how sayest thou didst thou never meete with his Spirit thus moving to have drawne thee to Christ yea doth he not now stir when these things are put to thy remembrance sure in these seasons hee is calling thee and striving with thee to draw thee hee is taking the yoke from of thy jawes and laying meate before thee wherefore though thou be blind and deafe and lame yet now looke and heare and rise and do not refuse or withdraw from his Spirits opperationes for he hath powre to bring thee in and if thou do turne in at his reproofes and turnings he will powre forth Spirit on thee and make known his gracious words unto thee Ier. 2 5 6 30. Mich. 2 7. Rev. 3.20 Gen. 6.3 Hos 11.3.4 Mat. 23.37 Isa 42.18 Pro. 1.23 2 Cor. 6.1.2 It is thy refusall and withdrawing in these seasons that endangers thee to the great condemnation Oh therefore turne not from him that first speakes from heaven deprive not thy self of such precious mercy and life Ioh. 3.19 1 Cor. 2.3 and 12.25 But if others will by following lying vanities forsake their owne mercies and in such seasons for worldly causes hang back and loose their owne soules Iona. 2.8 Mat. 16.24.25 Yet thou that art pinched with and troubled for thy sins and afraid of wrath and death and hast assayed many wayes in workings of thy owne to find peace and life and not attamed but art weary and heavy laden Oh let the tidings of this grace and love of Christ and all these motives therefrom prevaile with thee to let go all thy other hopes and desires and repent and believe the Gospell acknowledge the grace of Christ and submit and harken to him and yeild to his gracious call and opperationes who calleth thee by name and he will give the rest and life Mat. 11 27 28. Isa 55.1 3 and 61 1 2 3. Psal 34.8 Tast and see hee is gracious Vse III. This also may be an admonition to all men believers and others to beware of udging of Gods hatred or love towards any man or of the miserablenesse or happinesse of any mans Spirituall and eternall condition by a mans having or wanting being rich or pore in the honour riches friendship powre or good report among men seeing this love of God that makes happy is not like that of the world nor so testified and knowne all things of that nature comming alike to all good and bad Eccless 9.1 2 3. Such as are very dear to God may in all these outward things be very pore Iam. 2.5 As Iob and such may be very rich as David Salomon c. And such as live in ignorance unbeliefe and impenitencie may be very pore and such may bee very rich Iam. 5.1.6 Ier. 5.4.5 And so may men given up of God be also very pore Iud. 1.6.7 And such also may be very rich in these outward things Ier. 12.1.2 Iob. 21.22 So that by these things love or hatred cannot be knowne only correctiones by afflictiones meeting with a man to prevent his sinning or humbling and turning from sin are found most often on those God most loves Heb. 12.7 Hose 4.14 Wherefore to judge a mans self or others simply by such outward povertie or riches fulnesse or want prosperity or adversity is very unsafe and the way to justify the wicked and condemne the generation of the just Psal 73.1.15 And therefore to be shunned of us Ioh. 7.24 Yet doth not this hinder but that the receite of such outward favours as they are fruites of Gods tender compassiones and his love and faith-fulnesse to his redeemed one 's procured and sanctified through the bloud and grace of Christ and the receiver in beholding that grace made more humble in himself and enlarged thereby to give thanks to God and shew forth his love to brethren and compassiones to men more abundantly are testimonies of favour from God and of grace in the receivers Psal 145.8 9 and 136.24 25 and 111.5 and 75 3. 1 Tim. 4.4 5. 2 Sam. 7 18 19. 2 Cor. 9.8.15 And also correctiones for offences received as from the hand of a gracious God and as sanctified through the bloud of Christ in which the receiver is humbled to the acknowledgement of his owne sinfulnesse and Gods righteousnesse and so more submitted to the teachings of grace corruption more mortified and he more conformed to Christ are arguments of favour to the receiver Pro. 3.11 12. Heb. 12.5.11 Iam. 1.12 Whereas when a man prospers in outward things growing proud and persisting in evil more abundantly thereby It is an argument of displeasure from God and wickednesse in man Psal 73.5 6 7 8 9 18. and 92.6 7. And so likewise is it for men to be followed with judgements therein to grow hard and desperate in persisting in evil wayes Exod. 7. c. Isa 26.10 11. Though still outward prosperity or adversity bee of themselves neither prooses of love nor of hatred in God Vse IV. This likewise may bee both an admonition and motive to such as are babes and yet but weake in the saith of Christ who through some spiritual discoveries of the grace of Christ in the Gospell have been helped in some measure to deny and goe out of themselves and to receive the Gospell so as in some measure they believe in Christ and love him and yet are but weake and lyable to many insirmities as the disciples at the time of this love affirmed were To you I say seeing this is recorded and spoken for your sakes that you may know what portion you have in Christ Jesus and with what love you are beloved of him as is before shewne Oh be warned and moved to looke for this love Oh do not sit downe and rest in this that you have seene his love to man-ward and experimented his compassiones to you and found some peace in your consciences in receipt of remission of sins and some accesse to the throne of grace though this be sweet and precious but waite through the Spirit in dependance on him and in this considence seeke ernestly in supplication and use of his appointed meanes in attending to the Gospell to have your faith established in his peculiar love of delight and well-pleasednesse Rom. 5.1 5. Heb. 6. 1. Gall. 5.5 Psal 105.1 8 and 106 4 5. Eph. 1.17.20 And give all diligence by excercising and walking in faith and love and yeelding too and bringing forth the fruites of the Spirit and waiting at his posts that you may have this speciall love of Christ more cleared and assured to you 2 Pet. 1.5 11. Heb. 6.11 Isa 55.1.5 Pro. 8.34.35 And to that end suffer not your hart by any meanes to fall back to the love of the world and the things thereof 1 Ioh. 2.15.16 Neither desire to be loved of Iesus Christ as the world loveth her friends Ioh. 14.27 and 15 19 20. Nor to
that loves us so dearly who is the Lord of all and all are his servants Eccles 3.14 Psal 119.89 90 92. It is the appointed way to passe through before we can come to enjoy the harvest and fulnesse of his peculiar love and choise fruites thereof Act. 14.22 And that in due season as wee suffer with him wee shall raine with him 2 Tim. 2.12 III. To love one another as Jesus Christ hath loved us even so freely delightfully flowingly c. And to walk in such love and fellowship together c. Eph. 5.1.2 To all which by this love of Christ we may be exorted but the speciall use in which wee may come to see and ataine to all set forth in these uses is that which followes in the next point The Second thing to bee veiwed is Our Saviours gracious invitation or charge Viz. Continue yea in my love This sentence by the whole drift scope of our Saviours instruction in the simily from Vers 1. to this 9 Vers apeares to be ment in as large a sence as Vers 4. Abide in me and I in you and as Vers 7. If yee abide in mee and my words in you Soc as the sence appeares to bee twofold First Continue yea in my love That is Depend and rest upon it and rest your selves satisfied with it and turne not aside from this my love to seeke or desire any other loves beside mine Psal 36.7 8. and 73.23 26. and 23. and 27. 1. Isa 28.12 16. and 30.15.16 Secondly Continue yea in my love That is let it bee ever with you in you and before you and have its perfect working in you in all its operationes and doe not smoother it or shrinck from it in any of its workings and motiones Rev. 3.3 Jam. 1â— 25. 1 Thess 5.19 So that the meaning of the words apeare to bee as much as if our Saviour had said in more words to his disciples and to us in them I. Continue yea in my love take up all your satisfying and well-pleasednesse therein Psal 16.5 6 7 and 18 1 2 3. Phill. 3.3 7 8 9. Drink in all your delight and resreshing therefrom Joh. 7.37 38 39. Psal 36.7 8 9. Cant. 1.2 3 and 5 1. And take up all your consolation and glorying in this my love Jer. 9.23 24. 1 Cor. 1.30.31 II. Continue ye in my love walk in it and yeild up your selves to go forth in all the opperationes of it doing all you do in the remembrance beliefe of and confidence in this my love and in submission too and walking in the same Coll. 3.16 17 and 2 6. Gall. 2.20 Rom. 6.17 and 12 1.2 Phil. 2.2.6 So that to take the sence both in a briefe summe and in an amplified explication it comes both into the same sence As. I. To take it in a briefe summe it appeares to have this sence continue yea in my love that is as much as to say so cleave to me and demane your selves to mee-ward in accepting of and yeelding to my love in taking all your satisfying in it and yeelding all your service to it that you neither turne aside and wind out your selves from it nor cause mee to hide or withdraw it from you suitable to this are such prayers and exhortations as Coll. 1.9 10 11 and 3 9 10 16 Eph. 3 16 19 and 4 1 7 22 24. Eph. 5.2 For such as so continue in his love that by his love they be enflamed with and led out in the love of him shall partake of more abundant testimonies of love from him Pro. 8.27 Jeh 14.21 23. But such as withdraw from resting and delighting in his love and yeelding up in love to the requirings and opperationes thereof hee will not flow in upon them with appearance and testimonies of his delightfull love but rather hide the same from them Heb. 10.38 Therefore for our profit he said continue yea in my love viz. in resting in and yeelding to my love II. To take the sence in an amplified explication in some particular branches to continue in this love of Christ containeth in it these particulars I. To remember his love with all the fruites thereof so as wee never forget nor be unmindfull of the same but keepe it in our mind and hart as it hath beene by the word of grace and his Spirit therein made knowne to us Cant. 1.4 Psal 103.1 5 As to say His redeeming us by his bloud even when wee were his enemies Rom. 5.5.6 10. 1 Cor. 15.1.4 His accepting and receiving us when in the heavenly call wee were presented to him though wee were then in our bloud hee washing and speaking peace to us and in us even by his bloud that was before shead for us Ezek. 16.4.6 9. Rev. 5.5 His becoming all things for us and to us even wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Father Brother Prince teacher c. 1 Cor. 1.30 Jsa 9.6 His oft supporting relieving and visitting us and assuring his gracious presence with us and giving us some experiment thereof in his gracious opperations Psal 34.4 and 116 1 10. Isa 43.1 2 3. Rom. 5.2.3.4 His making us sons and therein partakers of all his son like privilledges and therein filling us with peace and assurance of raining and so the first fruites of eternall life and the hope of the inheritance and Kingdome Joh. 1.12 1 Ioh. 3.1.2 Rev. 1.6 and 5 10. Rom. 5.2.3 His making an everlasting and free covenant with us engaging himself to us for all these high privilledges 2 Sam. 23.5 1 Cron. 16 15 18. Psal 105.8.9.10 Of which himself is ever mindfull And of all these things to be mindfull is one step of continuing in his love II. To abide in and keepe fast and constantly at all times that judgement esteeme and prizing of his love and the fruites thereof and the goodnesse and equity of all it requireth and worketh which was begotten and quickened up in us upon the first discovery and communication of his love to us by his Spirit in and through the word of grace in which wee were enabled to beliefe and this is another step of continuance in his love Pro. 31.21 22 and 4 20 21. Rev. 3.3 Ier. 2.1.5 Deut. 32.15.18 III. To abide in and hold fast our considence in his love and goodnesse which by his grace he hath begotten trusting perfectly to his grace and this is to stand and stay in his love Heb. 3.6.14 and 10 35. 1 Pet. 1.13 IV. To account this love of his with the fruites thereof riches enough without desire or regard of any other love or fruite to enrich us and this is to take up our content and lie downe in his love Psal 73.23 Phil. 3.7.9 V. To suffer this love of his thus remembred esteemed trusted to with content taking therein to have its perfect worke in and with us 1 Ioh. 4.10.11.12.17.18.21 In making the world with all the glory riches and goodlinesse thereof as contemptible to us as it will Phill.
3.7.8 Jsa 40.7.8 In mortifying all the affections and lusts of the flesh and lustes after any thing besides this love of Christ and the fruites thereof Coll. 3.1.4 Gall. 5 23. In carrying us forth to the acknowledgment of our owne nothingnesse and confession of the great love of God and seeking the enjoyment of it more and more abundantly Psal 103. Rom. 1 16. Cant. 1.2.3.4 In enflaming our desires and commanding all our powres for all services of love through all labours and sufferings laid before us Rom. 12.12 Phill. 2.1.2.6 Rev. 12.11 2 Cor. 5.14 And this is to yeild up too and to eate and drink in and digest his love Ioh. 4.32.34 VI. To exercise our selves and walke in this love of his with this remembrance and estimate of and considence in and yeelding to the opperation of this his love and to do all wee have to do in performances or sufferings in and through this remembrance beliefe and acknowledgment of the love of Christ which is to walke in his love 1 Cor. 13 1 13 and 16 14. VII To rejoyce evermore in the Lord and in this his love and to give him thanks waighting for the enjoyment of the fulnesse thereof Phill. 4.4 1 Thess 5.18 1 Joh. 3.1 2 And thus also we shall be cloathed with his love All these particulars joyned together are encluded in continuing in his love soe that the sence whether briefly propounded or largly set forth with explication meete in one to continue in his love in performance of which abideing in his love what freedome from sinne in respect of accusation or tirannicall commands what freedom from the bondage of the law and from terrors and feares of wrath and death What enjoyment of peace and joye What heavenly operationes in purifying the hart and silling with childlike love desires and sweet content What experiments of strength and goodnesse is found none know but those that experiment it Rom. 5.1 5. 1 Cor. 2.14 But al they that continue thus in his love doe both know and experiment it such and soe good that is better then life 1 Ioh. 3.1 2 3. Psal 63.1 2 3. And they have their experiments for the proofe and can set their scale to the same witnessing him to be true Rom. 8.1 2. Ioh. 7.37.38.39 3.33 And from this gracious charge and invitation of our Saviour to his disciples to continue in his love arise two observationes clearly Obs I. The insinit love and good will of Jesus Christ to those that believe in him and love him farther shewing it selfe in this that he is not content only to love them and so peculiarly to love them yea and to make known such love to them also but that hee would have them also alwayes to continue and abide in this his peculiar love and receive al refreshing and satisfying in it and to be ever with him and before him eateing and drincking loves in his presence Psal 36.8 and 65.4 Cant. 5.1 A favour greater then that of David to Mephibosheth 2 Sam. 9.7 Even as much as that desired by the church Cant. 8 6. Well may his love be said to passe knowledge for height breadth depth length Eph. 3.18 19. Obs II. The infinit obligation in which believers are to Jesus Christ and soc their duty and way that is safe and seemly for them and well-pleasing to him namely To continue and abide in this his love Allwayes to remember and prize it to rest on and yeild too it to dwell and walke in it as is before-shewne Eph 5.1 2. and 4.1 7 20 24. Psal 23. to the end To which his great love obligeth and his charge from both which there are good grounds and strong motives of much usefulnesse to us as to instance a little It serveth I. To reprove such believers and professors of the Gospel of much faultinesse and ingratitude as having made some beginnings in the Spirit and in receite of some spirituall light in the Gospel helping them to believe have experimented not only peace in conscience in beliefe of the atonement made by Christ but also in dependance on Christ have met with some discoveries insights and tast of his peculiar love and lovelinesse and the sweet movings and operationes thereof 2 Cor. 3 3 18. Heb. 10. Gall. 3.1 2. and 4 15. Who notwithstanding are againe withdrawne and turned aside either to delight themselves with or to heape up to themselves or adorne themselves with or seeke satisfying in the glory riches and things of this world 2 Tim. 4 10. Or to please themselves or others in any idollatrous or superstitious service or to perfect themselves in becomming under the bondage of the law to help themselves with fleshly observances and performances to make up their assurance or faith Gall. 3.1 13. and 5.1 5 6. and 4. Yea or that have in any sort left their first love met with in Jesus Christ Rev. 2.4.5 To which what need more be said then Behold and remember this his so great love And what hart will it not wound to think that it should bee so bewitched after the tast therof to commit so great folly to preferre vanity to charge the all mightie with iniquity to requite him so evill that is so gracious Oh great solly Gall. 3.1 2 3 4. Ier. 2.5 6 13 41 46. Deut. 32.2.6 7. II. To admonish all that have believed in Jesus Christ and loved him to acknowledge the cause of all their weaknesse and in temptationes readinesse to start aside for gain or feare all their murmurings discontents all their follies through envy wrath or any worldly or fleshly lusts to proceed from a forgetfulnesse of this great love of Jesus Christ and of God in him and want of resting thereon and yeilding up to and walking in the motiones thereof which would have preserved them Iam. 1.12 Deut. 32.4.5.6.15 III. To exort us to love the Lord Jesus Psal 31.23 And to set forth the praises of his love Psal 145. to the end And to continue and abide in his love accepting it and yeilding to it as is before shewne the directiones whereto followeth The third thing to bee veiwed is the sweet and safe direction our Saviour giveth his disciples how to continue in his love in which direction a gracious promise is encluded If yee keep my commandments yea shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commandments and abide in his love FOR our better understanding of this direction and promise First wee have two things to bee enquired into Viz. I. What were the Fathers commandments concerning Jesus Christ which he kept II. How or in what manner Jesus Christ kept his Fathers commandments secondly wee have two things expressed to be veiwed and believed of us Viz. I. That Iesus Christ did keepe his Fathers commandments II. That in keeping them he did abide in his Fathers love Thirdly wee have our saviours assirmation containing both I. The direction how and II. The promise
be under his teachings and in fellowship with him and his people Psal 73.24 Ioh. 6.68.69 Gall. 2.20 And thus were they in Christ by faith and love and delight in him and submission to his teachings in spiritual fellowship with him and his people in his ordinances Pro. 8.34.35 Psal 27.1.4.5 And thus were they branches in this spiritual and True Vine IV. The degrees considerable about being in Christ as branches in the vine are threefold I. Preparing and drawing to him II. Establishing and firmeing in him III. Farther rootednesse in knowne and growne establishment and fruitfulnesse I. In Some sence or degree or preparation and drawing to a nighnesse with Christ into the outward court of his temple and under his shadow and teachings into fellowship with his people in his ordinances to beare his name and soe into the way in which waiteing they shall be fastened in him as that Psal 78.5.8 and Hose 1 1 3.4 And this is when in the heavenly call or in the declaration of the Gospell soe much light and powre of the spirit goeth forth that they are brought to diserne and believe the truth of the report Gall. 3 1 So far as to admire the excellencies of Christ and his doctrine Gall 4.14 To desire after him Ioh 6.34 To yeeld to be his disciples to attend among his people in his ordinances and to make profession of his name soe far those of whom Paule was yet afraid Gall 4.11 Yea so far those 1. Ioh. 2.19 Yea soe far Iudas and Simon Magus Act. 8.13 But yet these are not so prevailed with by the grace extended as to yeild up soe far to its opperationes as to deny themselves and let al their owne interests goe for Christ and soe to be drawne out from the love and fellowship of the world in the estimate of reliance one and desire of retaining the repute and advantages of humane wisdome righteousnesse honour riches c. to have all their delighs satisfying in Christ who is not yet formed in them nor they yet come to keep sabboth in him Gall. 4.9.19 Heb 4.1.4 These also are of those that are called but not yet chosen and soe though with such chosen ones as 1. Pet 2.9 Yet not of them 1. Ioh. 2.19 Though while they abide they are reckoned brethren and together with the rest branches in the vine and in abiding there is hope fulnesse that they in due season shall be ingrated and firmed Gall 4 7 11 12 13 and 5.4.10 Yet of these their be two sorts one sort that are humbled and gained through the grace believed to take heed to the word as to a light shineing in a dark place 2 Pet. 1 19. And in waiteing to yeild themselves to obey the doctrine and grace of Christ and of these little feare but great hope Heb. 3 7 14. 2 Ioh 9. The other sort such as doe secretly allow themselves to satisfie some pardominat lust of coveteousnes pride c. and as Iudas and Simon Magus and of such though while abideing some hope they may be prevailed with yet it s but smal and doubtfull and the feare great 1 Ioh 2.19 Whence that destinction Iud 22 23 And that exortation to one of these latter Act 8 22 23. II. There is a farther degree when through the grace believed in the heavenly call they are pervailed with to suffer the losse of all for Christ and by the powre of the grace believed enablied to take satisfying in Christ and hartily to rest on god in Christ for eternall life and all that apertaines thertoo and soe given up to be the Lords Act 26 18 Rom 4 23 25. And heerin receiveing in believeing remission of sins and the spirit of adoption to inhabit comfort and lead them Rom 5 1 5. and 8 2 14 15. They are soe knit to Christ and to his chosen ones that their delight is in him and fellowship with him and them so as they cannot depart from him Ioh 6 68 69 Ioh 1 2 3 4 and 2 19 20. Psal 16 1 2 c. And thus are they by grace chosen out of the world the state love and fellowship of the world into Christ and love and fellowship with him and his Ioh 15 16 19 1 Pet 2 9. And soe though weaknesse be found in them and they may yet be wanting in the fulnesse of joye in respect of cleare knowledge and usefulnesse of their establishment yet are they not of the world but in a stable condition and such as shall never be forsaken Heb 8 Ier 31 And thus were these spoken too branches in the vine in Christ the True Vine III. Yet is there a farther degree of rootednesse and growth in onenesse in this vine such as was prayed for these that were already one in him Ioh 17 20 21 Which is in a more abundant and bright discoverie of the excellencies of Christ in the hope of his call and glorious riches of his inheritance in the saints and the powre of the resurrection giveing more full testimony and knowledge of establishment and soe full assurance more conforming to Christ Eph. 1.14.17.20 Rom. 8.16.17.32.33 c. Which these also had after Christ his assencion and giveing of the Holy Ghost 2. Cor. 3.18 and 4.6 To those of the first degree is hopefulnesse in abiding and the greatnesse of the danger mencioned in unfruitfulnesse and departure to those of the second degree safety though not alwayes the knowledge comfort and usefulnesse of it and to losse of much may they come by unfruitfulnesse and want of constancy in abideing in drincking in and yeilding to the opperationes off his grace To those off the third degree is assurance and knowledge and usefulnesse of their safety with more growth in rootednesse and fruitfulnesse Now this saying in this place Yea are the branches is soe ordered that though it bee immediatly and directly spoken to those at that time of the second degree yet it hath its usefulnesse to both the other as is hinted in this already sayd of them IV. That which is intimated and set forth in their being affirmed to bee in him and hee in them Hee the vine they the Branches and soe branches in him is more then I can reach in my understanding much lesse can I expresse it but according to what I am helped to understand I will briefly mencion as according to Scripture I may I. Their union that they are one in and with Christ and as this in other simillies is shewne as that of a marriage in which is a donation by God of Christ to the hart and of the hart to Christ an acceptation consent and covenant between Christ and the hart and a fellowship for fruite in which they become one Spirit Rom. 7.4.5 1. Cor. 6.17 And that of a building a temple or house hee the foundation the beleevers together builded on him his temple or house for an habitation of God through the Spirit 1. Pet. 2.4.5 2. Cor. 6.16
of his servants still to be a continued worke and that not only that they may continue being the salt of the earth and the light of the world and by their light shining to win in men to glorify God Mat. 5.13.16 But olso for such as God hath blessed their ministration unto and made them instruments by which the spirit hath brought them to Christ enabled them to believe on him and writ his mind in their hart they are not then to cease their ministration towards them but then to follow one and more abundantly to care for watch over pray for instruct admonish and encourage them for their father building up and preservation in the faith and provocation to love and good works 2. Cor. 3.2 to 17. and 11.2.3 Iud. 1.5 Act. 20.28 II. That those who are through grace brought into believe and so made cleane by the word of Christ applied to them and so in Christ and hee in them it is meete needful profitable and safe for them to be still attending the ministration of Christ in the Gospell and to be further instructed admonished exhorted and encouraged and that againe and againe while they are in these clay tabernacles 1. Cor. 13.10.12 Yea though they bee sinceere and fruitfull Phil. 1.7 and 2.1.13 and 3.1.2.10 And know and are established in the present truth 2. Pet. 1.12.13 Yea though their faith love and hope be stedfast and opperative and their election of God so testified as may be knowne 1. Thess 1.3.5 and 3.2 Yet stil the ministration of the Gospell is meete needful and safe even for them because of oppositiones in flesh and weaknesse and wants that yet may yet be found in the usefulnesse of their faith and love and orderly walking 1. Thess 3.2.3.10 And good ends and reasons for both these points are given in the scripture it self as to instance briefly a fewe I. To stit up and keepe mindfull and waking the harts of the believers 2. Pet. 1.13 and 3.1 That so they may not suffer that lose in opportunities which forgetfulnesse sleepinesse endangers too Cant. 5.2.3.6 II. To prevent and save from seducements by false doctrine which enstrange from God and Christ 1. Cor. 15. to the end 2. Cor. 11.1.2.3.11 1. Ioh. 2.19 III. To prevent and save from the intisements and deceitfulnesse of sinfull and worldly lusts that withdraw from God Heb. 3.1.12.13 1. Ioh. 2.16 IV. To edify in faith love hope 1 Thess 5.11 Iud. 20.21.22 V. To provoke to fruitfulnesse in love and good works Tit. 3.8 Heb. 10.24 VI. To help forward to fulnesse of joye and comfort that may abide and hold in times of tribulation 1. Ioh. 1.4 1. Thess 3.2.3 So that in the truth of these two observationes in Christ practise and teaching it appeares that it comes not from the spirit of Christ for any dispensour of the Gospell to think that when any are by their ministration brought to Christ that they may then leave their care over them and cease their ministration towards them all the scriptures of the Apostles shew the contrarie Nor is it from the spirit of Christ for any that in believing know themselves in Christ and hee in them to conceite they now need no more to attend the ministration of the Gospell the whole scripture sheweth the contrarie and this might also be an exhortation to us both to the use of and attendance to the continual ministration of the Gospell 2. Tim. 4.2 Heb. 13.7.8 c. Now in the 9. and 10. Verses For the better and more full understanding of that which is therein held forth to us it is meete first to consider some circumstances about the words and then that which is set forth in the words themselves First For the Circumstances these three are considerable I. Who it is that assirmeth soe great Love II. To and off whom so great love is affirmed III. To what end the saying is recorded I. For the first whose affirmation this is of so great and peculiar love It is evident from the chapters before and vers 1. of this chapter that it is the affirmation of Iesus Christ who is the Son of God Rom. 1.4 Joh. 11.27 And the Saviour of the world Ioh. 4.42 1. Ioh. 4.14 And head and husband of his Church Eph. 5.25.32 Who is the truth it selfe Ioh. 14.6 All whose words are truth and nothing false or wreathed in them Pro. 8.7 8. Hee of whom the Father hath born testimony Mat. 3.17 Ioh. 5.37 He of and to whom the Holy Spirit of truth hath bo ne and doth beare testimony Ioh. 15.26 1. Ioh. 5.6 Hee whose lips are full of grace Psal 45.2 And in whose mouth was never any guile found 1. Pet. 2.22 So that of the truth and verity of this affirmation how great soever it were great sin to doubt at all and needfull it is that wee be firme in beliefe of this greatnesse power love and truth of our saviour his one-nesse with God and his onenesse with us his love to mankind and his peculiar love to the church that so wee may firmely believe the truth of this affirmation of so great love c. Ioh. 3.31.32.33 and 11.25 II. For the second who they are to and of whom so great and peculiar love is affirmed and invitation and direction for abiding therein given it is evident to be the disciples of Christ Ioh. 13. And though they were the eleven Apostles Iudas Iscariot being gone out and their could be no more at that time because it would have beene above a competent number for eating the passeover together yet this affirmation was to them as they were his disciples and did beleeve on him and love him and so concerned all that did believe on him and love him as well as it did themselves that were present to heare and this appeares by the tearmes and titles by which they were called as His owne which were in the world Ch. 13.1 Which also were al given and brought to him by the heavenly call Ioh. 6.39.44.45 and 17.2.8 And disciples Ch. 13.5.22.35 As all were that did believe on him and love him Mat. 5.1.13.14.15.16 And little children chap. 13.33 appliable to all that believe on him and love him Ioh. 14.1 1. Ioh. 2.12.13 And it appeares likewise by the new commandment given them chap. 13.34 Which is given to all that unfeinedly believe on him 1. Ioh. 3.23.24 and 4.21 And it also appeares by the promise of the spirit to them Ioh. 14.16.17 Which promise belongs also to all that believe on him Ioh. 7.38.39 Act. 2.38.39 And it appeares also by the metaphor and expressiones used in this 15. chap. In which al that it said of being Branches in him Vers 2.4.5 Of being cleane through the redemption and propitiation in him by his preaching the Gospell spiritually applied to them Vers 3. Of abiding in him Vers 4. Of impossibillity of bringing forth any spirituall and acceptable fruite without abiding in him Vers 4.5 Of the withering
of such as abide not in him Vers 6. Of the acceptation and answering the prayers of such as abide in him Vers 7. Of the glorifying God by bringing forth much fruite by those that abide in him and his wordin them Vers 2.7.8 Every of which and all of them applyable to every believer Hose 14.5.8 And nothing in all that is spoken which is so peculiar to the Apostles But that it appertaines also to all believers yea and to the Apostles themselves rather as they were believers then as they were Apostles like that Mat. 16.16.17.18 So that the affirmation of this so great love is to and of his disciples that did believe on him and love him in whom wee have for our better understanding and use-fulnesse two things to be noted one that they were endeed believers in and lovers of him the other that at that time they were but babes and cumbered with many infirmities I. They were such as by the spirit of grace enlightening the Gospell or word of grace to their haat were brought to believe in Iesus Christ and in that believing to love him and so were also beloved of the Father Mat. 16.16.17 Ioh. 16.27 They were not such as did challenge an interest in him and his grace from any changes or righteous works or frames of their owne like the old Pharisees Luk 18.9 11. Or new followers of them that by such changes and works trusted in themselves that they were Christs 2. Cor. 10.7.12.18 Nor were they such as were brought to believe only through an ignorant admiration and good perswasion of Christ occasioned by some reports and sight of some great rare and wonderful works done by Christ as Nichodemus before he was borne againe Ioh. 3.2.3.5 Nor were they such as were brought to believe his doctrine and admire him only through the beholding some excellency in his doctrine and the heavenly powerfull and majesticall manner of his teaching as those who were yet far from being borne againe Ioh. 7.46 and 8.30 Nor gained only to some fleeting desires after good from him as those Ioh. 6.28.34 Who yet tooke offence at his doctrine but they were such as were brought to this their believing I. By a spirituall illumination revelation or secret spirituall evidence and testimony given by God through the Gospell to their harts evidencing to them and enlightening them in the great love of God in the gift of his son and in the fulnesse of grace and truth in Iesus Christ and that hee is endeed the Christ the son of the living God the saviour of the world who hath made the atonement and in whom is life in which discovery and evidence their harts were drawne to him and enabled to believe on him and love him Ioh. 1.14.15.16 and 14 1. 1. Ioh. 4.14 Mat. 16.16.17 Isa 55.4.5 Rom. 5.1.11 1. Pet. 1.21.22 II. By a spiritual communication and infusion of grace by Christ into their hart Rom. 5.5 Tit. 2.4.5.6.7 Christ revealing his father and his fathers love to them and so giving in his fathers words or the Gospell he received to minister into their harts in receite whereof they experimented love and found life even eternall life and were thereby knit both in love and considence to him Ioh. 17.6.8 and 1.16 and 6.68.69 1. Pet. 1.21.22 and 2.3.4.5 Thus through the Gospell with spiritual illumination and communication of grace they did both believe in Iesus Christ and love him unfeinedly And such they were II. They were such as notwithstanding this their faith in Christ and love of him were yet but babes and subject to like infirmities as we now are and that not only so far as those who were farther grown then these yet were Act. 14.14.15 Iam. 5.17 But as then weaker and more lyable to bee foyled with infirmities and passiones in some measure then such grown men were I. They were as yet to that time of this affimation but babes and weake in the knowledge of heavenly misteries not yet able to understand parables though they were not of the most misterious parables Mat. 15.16.17 Nor yet apt to understand the sayings of their own master and teacher Mar. 16.6 9. Nor yet able to bear the sayings that Jesus Christ had to make known to them Joh. 16.12 Nor did yet understand the scriptures that spake of the sufferings resurrection and Kingdome of Christ Luk. 24.25.26.27 II. They were as yet when this love was affirmed to them but babes and weake in respect of the rule and opperation of grace and their content taking therein and being formed to the likensse of Christ thereby being at some time ready to dislike and take offence at their masters plaine speaking of his crosse and sufferings and to fault him Mat. 16.21.23 Mar. 8.3.32 Some times ready to wish vengeance on such as dealt discourteously with their master and them Luk. 9.53.56 One some occasion ready to envie one another Mat. 20.20.24.25 Sometimes to envie such as wrought miracles in the name of Christ and did not follow them and to forbid them Mar. 9.38.39 Sometimes to he striving and reasoning who should be the greatest among them Mat. 18.1.3 Mar. 9.33.34 III. They were as yet but babes and weake for spirituall strength for standing and walking either in approving things most excellent or giving excellent testimonies of love when tried being sometimes ready to misjudge of and take offence at the excellent works and fruites of love both in lesus Christ their Lord and master Mar. 3.20.21 Ioh. 13.8 And in such as greatly loved him Mat 26.8.16 And at one time of trial not able to watch with him one howre Mat. 26.37.40.41 And againe in trial ready to withdraw though not from their faith and love yet from the walking in acknowledgement and testifying of their faith and love Mat. 26.56.70 These and such like infirmities were they yet acumbred with which when they were better growne they were more freed from Act. 4.8.12 and 5.29.41 Though in some tryals liable to be overtaken with some infirmities still Gall 2.11.12 So that they were believers and as yet but wake believers such as were yet subject to many infirmities and yet notwithstanding those infirmities were unfeyned believers and lovers of Christ to whom our saviour did affirme so great love with invitation and direction to continue in that his love For the third to what end and for what use this affirmation invitation charge direction with promise of such peculiat love is written and lift upon record to be read preached heard meditated and this appeares to bee I. More Generall and common for all that come to heare or reade the same that in hearing and reading they might believe the truth of this so great and peculiar love of Christ to those that are come into him and believe on him and love him that in beliefe thereof they might desire after him and come in and submit to him and receive his gracious words that they also might there-through be brought to believe
on him and love him that so they might come to partake of this peculiar love Ioh. 11.42 and 17.21.22.23 and 20.31 As Iesus Christ set forth the privilledges of his disciples in the hearing of the multitude Mat. 5.3.8 That the multitude hearing the same might bee alured to become his disciples that so they might also come to partake of such priviledges II. More speciall and peculiar for such as by the spirit of grace are enabled through the Gospell in the knowledge of the propitiation made by Christ and the eternall life that is in him and the love of God in the gift of his son to believe the truth and goodnesse of the report of the Gospell so as there through they are convinced and emptied of their former delight and considences and alured and overcome to submit and come into Christ Rom. 6.17 Isa 55.4.5 Ioh. 6.44.45 And in believing receive from God through Christ remission of sins peace in conscience and accesse to God Act. 10.43 Rom. 5.1.2 Eph. 2.17.18 So as heerby they are enabled to believe both the redemption and reconciliation wrought in and by Christ with God which is in him and hee is and that reconciliation that by his spirit he worketh in men to God and the eternall life that is in him to bestow and in this believing to depend on him for the same and in that dependance to love both him and their brethren Rom. 5.6.7.8.11 and 4.22.25 1. Pet. 1.8.21.22.23 These though yet accumbred with such like infirmities as these disciples were are yet true believers in end lovers of Christ and built upon him and in the same condition and so loved even as they were as is evident by comparing our saviours profession to Peter and Peters aplication of the same to all unfeyned believers and lovers of Christ Mat. 16.16.17.18 With 1. Pet. 2.3.4.5.9 And our saviours promise to all so believing in and loving of him Ioh. 14.21.23 And this affirmation charge and direction is recorded for their learning that through patience and comfort of the scriptures they may have hope Rom. 15.4 And so not only know they are beloved but even so beloved of Iesus Christ even as the Apostle writ to those that believed and knew they had life that they might farther know this eternall life and their having of it and so believe more and more and have their joy full 1. Ioh. 5.10.11.12.13 and 1.4 with Ioh. 15.11 Object It seemes as if believers now could not have like assurance of such peculiar love and so such consolation in it as the e had to whom Christ spake it because they had it from Christ his owne mouth which none now can have because he is in heaven Ans This is a great mistake and wrong conception confuted by our saviour himself who before he lift the world did testifie that he would send another advocate and comforter even the Holy Spirit of truth in his stead and place to be with the believers for ever and that his Spirit should bring his words to their remembrance and teach them al things Ioh. 14.16.17.18.21.23.26 Yea soe as it should be noe dammage to them that he left the world and went to his Father but more gainfull to them then if he had not gone in bodily presence from them Joh. 16.7.8.15 And this Holy Spirit gives to believers a twofold knowledge of this peculiar love though not both alwayes at once and this he doth I. By making a man a believer glorifying Christ so in his hart as hee not only brings him to believe the propitiation made by him but in believing that love and goodnesse to depend on God in Christ for farther saving and for that eternall life that is in him 1. Pet. 1.21 Rom. 3.24 25. and 4.23 25. and 5.8 9 11. And therein effects love and a Christ-like disposition 2 Cor. 3.3 In which believing he gives them interest in Christ and in al that is Christ 1 Cor. 1.30 and 3.22 23. And such in their believing veiw of this affimation and invitation may know themselves so beloved and envited of Christ and have the same assurance and consolation thereof that these had to whom Christ spake If not somthing more then they had till after his assencion that they received the promise of the more abundant portion of the Holy Ghost compare Rom. 15.4.5 1 Joh. 5.10.13 with Joh. 16.7 15. and 30.31 II. By a more peculiar witnessing such love as this into their believing hart Rom. 8.15 16 17. By a supernaturall illumination and inspiration of his gracious word and promise into the hart in which hee cleares up and sheads abroad even this peculiar love more abundantly therein Ioh. 14.26 Rom. 5.5 Tit. 3.5 6. By which Spirit Christ doth manifest his presence with them acquaint them with the things of the Father and himselfe which gives more abundant consolation to the beleevers as it did to these when they received the same Joh. 14.21 23. and 16 13 14 15.7 Act. 2. Cant. 1.2 And to this end was this recorded that believers might know certainly their interest in this peculiar love and have the consolation of it waite therein for the more full peculiar testimony therof so great their consolation thereby From these three things thus observed Viz. That it is Jesus Christ that hath affirmed so great love c. And that it was affirmed to believers and that it is recorded for believers that they may know how they are beloved I. Al that reade and heare the same should be stirred up to obey and embrace the Gospell of Christ in which not only deliverance from sin and death is declared and tendered but also for such as doe believe such peculiar love and eternall life to be farther found in Christ and the greater grace it tenders the greater the sin and the more woful the condition of al that doe slight and disobey the cal thereof Act. 8.38.39.41 Hose 11 7. Heb. 2.3 and 12.25 2 Thes 1 8. Oh that men would believe and turne II. Believers have good cause to praise and glorify God for recording the affirmationes of and invitationes to such grace in the Gospell Rev. 22.16 17. And also to give the more ernest heed to this great love and to the invitation and direction for continuance therein seeing it is from Christ to them Heb. 2.1 4. And according to this threefold consideration vew the words themselves now in the words themselves are three things considerable I. Our Saviour serious affirmation of his love and the manner of it to his disciples As the Father hath loved me soe have I loved you II. His gracious exortation invitation or charge Continue yee in my love III. His sweet and safe direction how to continue in his love including a promise in it If yee keepe my commandments yee shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commands and abide in his love I. The first thing to be vewed in our Saviour serious
to do good and to shew mercy at all seasones a breaker of the Sabbaths Ioh. 5 16 and 9 16. For his zeale to have a devil and his miracles to be done by the devill Ioh. 7 20 and 8 48. Mat. 9.34 and 12 24. For his doctrine to be a deceiver Mat. 27.63 Ioh. 7.12 And for his holy and plaine confession of the truth to be a blasphemer of God Ioh. 10.36 Mat. 26 65. And an adversarie to Cesar Ioh. 19 12. And as for liberty and pleasures among men he was often conspired against continually persecuted and at last buffetted nailed on the crosse between two theeves and there derided and scoffed at and so died Mat. 12 14 and 26 and 27. In a word he was so far from being glorious or great in the world that in such respects he was as a worme and no man a reproach of men and despised of the people without forme or bewtie rejected of men c. Psal 22.6.7 So that the love wherewith the Father loved Iesus Christ was not a worldly love nor testified by filling him with worldly things the abundance whereof he very often giveth to his enimies sometimes as rewards for some services he hath done by them though they knew him not Ezek. 29.18.19 Sometimes in judgement to their farther snaring and hardening and overthrow Psal 73.18 and 92 6 7. So as this love is not worldly but heavenly and though heavenly yet Not only a love of compassion which may be towards such as one is angry with and counts sinners for their evils and is constrained to afflict them though with bowels of compassion yearning over them so as in returning they may be saved and in rebelling given up Hose 11.4.9 Luk. 19 41 42. For so God loved the world Ioh. 3.16 17 18 19. But his love to his son was a greater love then this Coll. 1.18 19 and Heb. 1. to the end Yet though it were a greater and more peculiar love It was not from the first appearance to the accomplishment of full perfection in the glorious harvest a constant appearing and brightly shining love admitting no clouds darknesses nor eclipses but such love it was as had its degrees of appearing and some intermixtures of clouds and darknesse in respect of the visible appearance and a great eclipse on the crosse before all clouds were passed and the fulnesse of the glorious appearance and enjoyment came into its perfection Luk. 2. to the end Mat. 3.17 and 4 to the end and 17 5 and 26 8 42 and 27 46. II. Affirmatively the Father hath loved his son our saviour Iesus Christ with a devine heavenly pure Fatherly and Spirituall love beyond all our conceptiones only wee may veiw it in the properties of it I. It is a most free and righteous love it is a free love which with out any fore-desert did fasten upon the man Christ Iesus and chose him into union of person with the son of God and so to be one and his only son and also to be the saviour of the world and also to be the mediator and the high priest prophet and King and head and husband of the church and that all fulnesse should dwell in him and that in all things he might have the preheminence Psal 89.19.20.27 28. Isa 42 1 and 49 6 7 8. Heb. 1 2 8 and 7. Coll. 1.19 And all this freely because it so pleased him and such his love yet it is also a righteously love slowing upon him accepting and preferring him in and for and according to all that he hath done in the work of redemption for men and that he doth in spiritual application to and in and advocation for and government of his called and chosen ones Isa 53.11 Rom. 14 9 12. Ioh. 10.17 Heb. 2 9. Phill. 2.8 9 10. Psal 20 3 4 5 and 45 6 7 8. II. It is a most well-pleased delightfull and satisfying love taking up all well-pleased in the beloved and affording all well-pleasednesse to the beloved the Father having so set all his delight in his son that he delighteth in him and in all that is in his son and in nothing out of his son that he taketh all fulnesse of content and well-pleasednesse in his son and in that which his son hath done in his ministration sufferings sacrifice and victorie and in that which his son doth by his spirituall opperationes and communicationes of privilledges and in all that are in his son and presented by him so as in that his well-pleasednesse he affords well-pleasednesse to his son and to all that are in and one with his son Pro. 8 22 23 30. Isa 42.1 Mat. 12 18 and 3 17 and 17 5. Heb. 10 7 12 13 14. Psal 20 3 6. Ioh. 16 27. Gall. 3.16 29 1 Cor. 1 30. III. It is a most abundant and flowing love resting not till the beloved be partaker of and silled with all his owne things and with union and fellowship with himself so hath the Father loved Iesus Christ as he hath him ever with him an I before him as the seale on his hart and the seale upon his â—â—me in all his counsels and works preferring him and shewing him all that he doth yea so as he doth it by him and maketh him the doore thereof Pro. 8 30. Cant. 8 6. Ioh. 1.1.2.3.8 and 5.21.25 26. Yea so as hee is one in and with the Son and the Son one in and with him Ioh. 10.30 and 14.10 11. and 17 21. Yea so as hee consereth on his Son and maketh him partaker and owner of al his own things his devine nature his Holy Spirit his attributes of wisedome power goodnesse c. His speciall people and all the works of his hands so as all that is the Fathers is the Sons Ioh. 16.15 and 17 6.10 Heb. 1.2.3 IV. It is a most glorious honourable and honouring love the Father hath so loved his Son Jesus Christ our Saviour that he hath honoured or glorified him with his own selfe with infinit glory yea and with such apearing honour also Ioh. 17.1.5 That he wil not be known or acknowledged loved or honoured in any thing by any man by any way or meanes but in and by his son and as the man knoweth acknowledgeth loveth and honoureth his Son Christ Ioh 5.23 and 14.6 7. 1 Ioh. 2.23 Whom he will have honoured as himself yea he hath honoured his Son by giving an honourable testimony of him Psal 89.20.21.28 Ioh. 1.33 Mat. 3.17 and 17.5 Heb. 1. to the end And sending forth the Holy Ghost to beare testimony of him Ioh. 14.26.15 26. 1 Ioh. 5.6 Yea he hath glorisied and honoured him by exalting him at his right hand Giving all authority unto him and making him the Lord and judge of all Heb. 2.9 and 8.1 Mat. 28.18 Jeh 5.27 Yea he hath giver him the Kingdome and the enheritance and made him the King and he shall rayn for evermore Psal 45. to the end Heb. 1. to the end Yea he so
of continuing in his love First For the things to be enquired into that wee may know them the first is what were the Fathers commandments concerning Jesus Christ and in the scripture they appeare to bee these two commandments I. That he should save all men by giving himself a ransome and offering up himself a sacrifice for them to make propitiation for their sins so as to make them saveable and to open the door for a speciall and eternal saluation for al those that submit to him and believe on him 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Heb. 10.7 And this command encludes in it his taking the nature of mankind subject to humane infirmities Rom. 6.3 His being made under the law for them that were under the law Gall. 4.4.5 His bearing the sins of the world Ioh. 1.29 2 Cor. 5.19 His dying the death for every man 2 Cor. 5.14 Heb. 2.9 His rising againe acquit of all the sins imputed to him and a victorer over all the curse and death imposed on him and over all the enemies he conflicted with 1 Cor. 15.4 1 Pet. 3.22 And so by the eternall Spirit offering himself with out spot to God sealing the new Testament with his precious bloud and with the vertue thereof entred the holy of holies to make reconciliation for the sins of the people and appeares in heaven before God for them Heb. 9.11.12.14 15 16 17 23.24 All this is in the first commandment II. That he should bring all men to the knowledge of the truth and so enlighten and convince them that the Lord may dwell among them and how ever that they may be brought to acknowledge Jesus the Lord to the glory of God 1 Tim. 2.4.6 Rom. 14.9.11.12 And more especially such as are in the day of grace submitted to the acknowledgment of the truth to guide them into all truth and to unite and conforme them to himself making them meete for and in due season partakers of the inheritance with himself Ioh. 16.13 14 15. Isa 55.4 5 2 Cor. 3.3 18. Coll. 1.12.13 1 Pet. 2.3.9 And this commandment containes in it His declaration of the Gospell His communication of Spirit His enliving the dead His opening the eyes of the blind and the eares of the deaf his bringing the prisoners out of prison his comforting cloathing and bewtifying them with grace and glory Isa 61.1.2 3. Luk. 4.18 21. Isa 42.1 8 and 49 6 9. And that these two commandments the one to work and accomplish in himself as the publick person in the roome and place a perfect salvation for mankind with God by giving himself a ransome for them and so purchasing them into his owne dispose as their Lord and so making them saveable Rom. 14.9.10.11.12 The other to offer the knowledge and tenders of this grace to them that they may come to the knowledge of the truth Ioh. 1.9 And that such as are submitted to the acknowledgment of the truth in the day of grace and abide therein hee to confer upon them and work in them eternall saluation Ioh. 8.31.36 That these bee the commandments of the Father concerning Jesus Christ our Lord is evident I. By the expresse and plaine affirmation of the scriptures speaking of the mind and will of God concerning the Man Jesus Christ the mediator betweene God and men what God willeth concerning him that he would have done by him It saith of the first God will have all men to be saved And of the second And come to the knowledge of the truth And speaking of the answerable performance by Christ it saith of the first hee gave himself a ransome for all and of the second a testimony or to be testified in due time 1 Tim. 2.4.5.6 Both which are expresly said in other places also to bee his will to be done by Christ and which he came and undertooke to doc and having sinished the one part that respecteth the one commandment and beene performing and stil is performing the other part of his wil which respecteth the other commandment Psal 40.7 8 9 10 Heb. 10.7 9 10 12 15 16. Isa 61.1.2.3 II. By the plaine testimony and confession of Jesus Christ himself who as he was abased and died for our sins and rose for our justification and so offered himself as the ransome to God and became the propitiation for the sins of the world so he comprehendeth his humilation death and resurrection under the first part of the will of his Father and calleth it his commandment saying I have powre to lay downe my life and I have powre to take it again this commandment have I received of my Father Ioh. 10.18 And of this part of Gods will its most probable he spake Ioh. 6.38.39 I came down from heaven not to doe mine owne will but the will of him that sent mee and this is the Fathers will which hath sent mee that of all that he hath given mee I should loose none but should raise it up againe at the last day Agreeable to that is said els-where As in Adam all die so in Christ shall all be made alive 1 Cor. 15.22 Agreeable to that which he after saith The bread which I will give is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world Ioh. 6.51 And this to be heere-ment appeares I. In that this said Vers 38.39 Is made the ground of his faithfulnesse and powre for that he said before Vers 37. and after Vers 40. II. In that the phrase is altered Heere is said hath given as intimating to purchase but in Vers 37. It is said giveth as intimating by the heavenly call III. And in that the other part of his will is exprest as distinct and in other tearmes Vers 40. And to manifest his love and obedience to his Father in this command in laying downe his life and offering himself as the sacrifice for the sin of the world Ioh. 1.29 That the world might know it when he was in the house where those that sought to apprehend him could not have come to take him he said that the world may know that I love the Father and as the Father gave mee commandment even so I doe arise let us go hence Joh. 14.31 And thus have wee the first commandment given to Christ set forth by his owne testimony And for the other commandements hee saith expresly This is the will of him that sent mee that every one that seeth the Son and believeth on him may have everlasting life and I will raise him up at the last daye Ioh. 6.40 intimating To glory for all shall rise and speaking of the Gospel and the ministration thereof through which he sendeth forth Spirit to enlighten and convince and to bring the convinced to believe and the believer to partake of eternall life in which respect the Gospell is a light and a judge Ioh. 12.46 47 48 49.50 He said I have not spoken of my selfe but the Father which sent mee hee gave mee a commandement what I should say
well-pleasednesse was with him his delight was in him his presence with him and his purpose of glorifying him firme unmoveable and inseparable yea even when the shines and appearances of his love and delightfull fellowship were withdrawne and hidden from him and he for our sakes so far left as to feele the punishment of our sins which he suffered yet even then did the Father love him yea and also therefore love him Heb. 29. Phill. 2.6 7 9 10. Ioh. 16.32 end 10.17 And in his ministration of the Gospell and communication of Spirit and all the opperationes thereof in the harts of his people the Father is well-pleased with him and as he hath accepted his sacrifice and ransome for the sons of men so he accepteth all his Spirituall offerings and opperationes in the harts of believers acquainting them with and drawing and presenting them before his Father Isa 42.1.2.8 Psal 20.3 Ioh. 17.1 8 and 5 19 37. In all loving him II. In keeping these his Fathers commandments hee himself tooke delight in and was well-pleased in and with his Fathers love not desiring other loves favour riches pomp or Kingdome nor being troubled for being deprived of them or any of them having all his satisfying and content in the love and well-pleasednesse of his Father alwayes being well-pleased with him Ioh. 4.32 34 and 5 43 44 and 10.30 Psal 40.8 Ioh. 14.31 and 16 32. III. In all trials that befell him on earth in keeping these commandments this his Fathers love and well-pleasednesse with him and his delight and satisfying therein found had its perfect working with him carrying him through all labours and sufferings so as he neither drew back from any part of the first command Heb. 12.2 Isa 50.5.6.7 Nor did nor will faile in the other command to fulfill all righteousnesse Isa 42.1.2.8 IV. In all this his so keeping these commands through all he met on earth he retained the beliefe and held fast the confidence he had in his Fathers love with assurance of being upheld and in due season to see the travell of his soul and to be glorified with the glory he had with his Father before the world was Isa 50.5 6 7 and 53 8 11. Ioh. 17.1.2.3 And now being glorified at his Fathers right hand remaineth there Advocating for and sending forth Spirit to his people waiting till all his enemies be made his footstoole when he will take his great powre and raigne being the well-beloved of his Father Psal 110. 1 Ioh. 2.1.2 Eph. 4.7.12 Rev. 11.17 Thus hath Iesus Christ kept these his Fathers great commandments and abode in his love which might be of much use to us I. To informe us of the great love of Christ to us that hath undertaken and performed these so great needfull and fit commands to be done by him for us and of the great love of God in the gift of his son to fulfill such commandments for us and so loving and accepting him in the keeping of them Gall. 2.20 1 Ioh. 4.9 10 and 3 16. Rom. 8.32 and 5 6 11. 2 Cor. 3.18 and 4.6 And of the full and perfect saluation that is to be found in Jesus Christ that great saluation hee hath wrought in his owne body for men and that healthfull and eternall saluation which by his Spirit applying the former hee worketh in those that believe on him and love him 1 Ioh. 4.14 1 Pet. 2.24 Heb. 5.8 9 and 7 24 25. II. To exort us to looke to him and to that hee hath done and that which apertaines to him to doe to believe both and to accept and receive the one and to depend one and submit to him for and in the other Isa 42.1.8 and 45.22.23 and 55.1.6 Rom. 4.24 25. and 5.1.6 11. and 6. to the end And soc to love him and it love to receive and highly prize this his direction and promise to follow and walke in the one and to depend one and wayte for the other And so wee come to the third thing in this point which is that heer also affirmed by our Saviour that As he hath kept his Fathers commands and abode in his love so if wee keepe his commandements wee shal abide in his love In which are contained two things clearly set forth Viz. FIrst A sweet and healthfull direction how to continue in his love namely I. In keeping his commandments II. In keeping them as hee kept his Fathers commandements Secondly A comfortable promise that so keeping his commands they shall abide in his love First the healthfull direction hath three things in it to be opened and understood for our better use-fulnesse I. The commands of Jesus Christ to believers heere-ment what they are II. The keeping of them of which hee heere speaketh what that is III. The manner of keeping as he kept his Fathers commands what that is I. For the first of these to know rightly what the commandements of Jesus Christ to believers heere-ment are livers things may be considered Consider I. That there bee commandements of divorts sorts mencioned in the Scripture as to instance the chiefe of them There are I. Such commands as by the grace of creation by Christ and by the grace of redemption wrought in and by Christ in his own body and the common frultes thereof all men are bound with all their powers and in and by that strength that at any time hath beene given into their naturall powres by God to perform to the utmost in performance of which if noe fayling bee found they shall have life but the least fayling therein if but once in any part of any one command doth alwayes leave a man in and of himself under sinne and death the wages thereof and by these commandements are all men found under the guilt of sinne and under the powre of curse and death even al those that sight against and run crosse to these commands al those also who doe their utmost to make themselves righteous in and by the keeping of them Rom. 2.12.14 and 3.10 20. and 6.23 and 10.5 Gall. 3.10 Ieb 9.22 30 33. And the trespasses which these commandments doe charge mankind withall and which through the fall they were necessitated to commit and left without devine powre to help themselves were all laid on Jesus Christ who mas manifested to take them away and to make propitiation for the sins of the world Isa 53.2 6. 2 Cor. 5.19.21 1 Ioh. 3 4 5. and 2.2 Ioh. 1.29 And under this law of commandments was Jesus Christ made for those that were under it Gall. 4.4 And hee himselfe and hee only did altogether and alwayes fulfille it so as it could charge him with no sinne of his own commission but only with our sins against it in that hee was made under that law for us so as al his whole suffering and sacrifice was for us 1 Pet. 2.22.24 and 3 18. 2 Cor. 5.21 And to this law hath he perfectly satisfied in respect of himselfe in fulfiling it
10.4.5 Believing Jesus to bee the Christ and the truth of Gods report concerning Christ and his love in giving him and his promises to him and all believing in him Ioh. 4.10 12. and 8 24. and 20.31 Inward a probation of Jesus Christ and that discovered in him and done and to bee done by him with rest and quietnesse of hart therein as in that which is enough Phill. 3.3.8 and Psal 16.6.7 Harkening to Christ in attending to his sayings and waiting for and yeilding to his teachings Psal 85 8. and 119.33 Looking to him for the beginning and finishing of all that belongs to life and Godlinesse Isa 8.16.17 Mich. 7.7 Inward and harty love to the Lord Jesus Christ and to God in him Isa 6.4 With 1 Cor. 2.9 1 Pet. 1.8 Which love springing from the love of God shead abroad in the hart doth encline the hart with childlike affectiones to God 1 Ioh. 4.14 Ier. 3.19 Psal 116. 1. And with unfeined delight in and love of brethren 1 Pet. 1.22 And love of compassion and mercy to men 2 Cor. 5.14 And soe hath Christ put in the hart of the believer the love of our brother 1 Ioh. 4.21 Which is his second commandment and like the first in that as the first receiveth soe this worketh forth all righteousnesse So as I. This faith and love doth quallify the hart faith working by love Gall. 5.6 And so make the hart of the believer sit for all inclinationes labours and services of love in that it makes it strong to endure and go through all the sufferings of it Cant. 8.6.7 Patient to endure that which is to be undergone and for gone for it 1 Cor. 13.4.8 Sinceere in seeking none of a mans owne ends but only the beloved and so preserves from stumbling Phill. 1.9.10.11 Fervent to accomplish that wherein it may testify love to the beloved Psal 116.12 Constant in all things that love leadeth too orthrough 1 Ioh. 2.10 Yea and likewise II. This love through or by which faith worketh doth move and spring up freely in the hart inclinationes and motiones to as much as the law of works of it were in its force could compell or enjoyne too as to have God for our God for ever Zach. 13.9 To worship him in Spirit and truth Psal 95.6 To glorify his great name Phill. 1.20 To delight in keeping sabboth with him and his Psal 27.1.4 To give our neighbour that preheminence God hath given him in our service and care and so to seeke to preserve his life dignity chastity estate and name and to fly the lust of having any thing from him that is his Rom. 12.10 and 13 8 9 10. Yea farther III. This love flowing in this faith doth move and leade to things higher and more excellent then the law could have led too as namely To long after and delight and have all our well-pleasednesse in Iesus Christ in whom God hath his and so to be beholding his glory and drinking in of the fulnesse that is in him Psal 73.25 26 and 84 1 2 and 27 1 4. Cant. 1 2 3 and 2 3 5. To love our bretheren as Christ hath loved us 1 Ioh. 3.16 and 5.1 And in this faith and love to glorify Christ and the word of his grace Phill. 1.17 20 21 27. To edify our brethren in faith and love 1 Cor. 8.1 and 13 to the end To hold forth the word of life Eph. 6.19 And all in faithfulnesse without loving our lives unto death Rev. 12.11.17 Yea and to say farther IIII. This love by which faith worketh stirreth and worketh effectually in these motions for fulfilling the same in yeelding up ones self to the Lord as his and al the members as his servants to walk in and according to this love Psal 119.125 and 106 9 10 19. And this also in love of longing and waiting for the appearing and comming of our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Tim. 4.8 Rev. 22.17.20 And thus in scripture it appeares that all particular precepts are found and performed in believing in Christ and loving one another and so how Christ hath put with the Gospell his commands in the hart of believers and though the degree or measure heerof be different and in some very small yet in some degree or other may every believer that hath attained to walk in faith and love seale this truth by experience Ioh. 7.37 38 39 and 3.33 Rom. 8.1 2. 1 Ioh. 2.8 And yet that there be no mistake the next expression is to be added III. That the commandements of Christ to his disciples are such as do naturally and aptly spring up in the beliefe of the Gospell Ioh. 6.28 29 40 47 and 5 37 38. Eph. 1.19 1 Thess 2.13 The Gospell declares Iesus Christ to be the son of God and saviour of the world the head husband high-priest Prophet and King of his church Act 2. 37. and 8 37 and 9 22. Ioh. 4.42 Eph. 5.25 Heb. 5. and 7. Rom. 1.3.4 And that he hath come in the flesh and died for our sins and rose for our justification and so wrought reconciliation and saluation for mankind with God Rom. 4.25 1 Cor. 15.3.4 2 Cor. 5.19 1. Tim. 2.4.6 And that he is exalted at Gods right hand and filled with grace powre authority and Spirit to offer salvation to men Act. 5.31 32. 2 Cor. 5.20 And to work it in such as believe Ioh. 1.12.16 And to condemne such as refuse and rebell against him Rom. 14.9.11 And in this declaration the Gospell also declareth the intence love of God to mankind in the gift of his son to be the saviour of the world that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life 1 Ioh. 4.14 Ioh. 3.16.17 The well-pleasednesse God hath taken in and with his son and that he hath done is and doth Mat. 3.17 and 17.5 The propitiation hee is for the sins of the world and the advocation he maketh for believers Ioh. 1.29 1 Ioh. 2.1.2 Heb. 9.24 The peculiar love of God to Christ and to all those that believe in Christ Ioh. 5.20 Psal 33.13.19 And what Christ is to and for them and what he will work in them and bestow on them 1 Cor. 1.30 Ioh. 1.12 16 and 6 27. And all this is in the Gospell and by the ministers thereof and by the Spirit set forth as the foundation and ground of the heavenly call enviting to Christ Isa 55.1.6 And whosoever is by the Holy Spirit enlightened to understand and enabled to believe al this with his hart being convinced and drawne thereby to Christ Joh. 3.37 42 and 6 44 45. Pro. 1.23 Isa 61.1.2.3 The Spirit doth farther enter the hart sheading abroad this so great and rich love of God therein so as there doth from this grace naturally and aptly spring up in the thus believing hart from this grace believed A beliefe and dependance on Jesus Christ for eternall life and all that appertaines thereto Rom. 5.1 5 6 10 11. 1 Ioh. 2.24.25 And
him and unfeyned faith and love so measuring themselves by themselves and trusting to their own harts for their testimony which is folly 2 Cor. 10.7.12.18 and 11.3.4 13. Luk. 18.11.12 Ier. 17.5 10. Pro. 28.26 Whereas Those that in the beliefe of the Gospel are emptyed of themselves and all relyance on any righteousnesse wisedome or strength of their owne or that is humane and through the beliefe of the grace reported in the Gospell brought to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for beeing saved by his life and through that believing to love the Brethren shall in abiding in his faith and love and walking therein find the motiones to all that is contained in particular precepts in fit seasons stirring in them Ioh. 7.37.38 Hose 14.8 Gall. 5.22.23 Rom. 8.2 14. 2 Cor. 5.14 As is before shewne in the second consideration and so yeilding up theretoo and walking therein I. They serve God acceptably and in newnesse of Spirit Rom. 12 1 2 3 and 7.6 II. They are ceasing from their own works and so accepting and entring into his rest Heb. 4 3 11. 2 Pet. 1 5 11. III. They yeild forth a justification and testimony of the truth and livelynesse of their faith in Christ and love of brethren Iam. 2 to the end In which believers are not under the law but under grace and so walke after the Spirit and keepe the ommandements of Christ in Faith and love which are the commandements heere ment Gall. 5.6 16 18 23. Proofe IV. Walking in this faith and love put in the hart is before shewne in all the former considerationes to leade to the right fulfilling of all righteous affectiones and services required both in the law and the Gospell so as whosoever hath these commandements in his hart and keepeth and walketh in them both receiveth all good from God and yeeldeth forth all exceptable service to him and to brethren Ioh. 14.21.23 Rom. 5.1.5 and 12 1 3 and 13 8 9 10. So at this also evidenceth these to be the commandements heere ment Proofe V. Those that through beliefe of the grace reported in the Gospell do believe in the name of Christ and in that beliefe love their brethren and so walke in this faith and love have their faith imputed to them for righteousnesse and their love accepted as that which shall be visited with more loves and through both experiments of grace met with Rom. 4.22 25 and 5 1 5 and 8 1 2. 2 Cor. 3 3.18 Ioh. 14.21.23 And by the testimonie of God and Christ himself they do righteousnesse and fulfill the law and al righteousnesse 1 Ioh. 2.29 and 3 7 9. Rom. 13.8 9 10. I. They fullfill the end of the law in accepting Christ for righteousnesse and loving their brother Rom. 10.3 4. Mat. 22.39 40. II. They obey the Gospell and word and doctrine of God and Iesus Christ our Lord Rom. 6.17.18 2 Thess 1.8.10 III. They honour obey and follow God Eph. 5.1.2 Even the Father and the son Ioh. 5.23 37 46 and 14 23 and 16 27. And the Holy Ghost that commeth from the Father and the son and witnesseth of Christ and teacheth Ioh. 14.26 and 15 26. 1 Ioh. 5.6 12. Rom. 8.14 IV. They have eternall life 1 Ioh. 5.11 12. Gall. 6.8 And so keepe the commandements that they find them not grievous but delightfull 1 Ioh. 2.3 10. So that it every way appeareth that faith and love put in the hart are the commands ment II. For the second thing in this point what it is to keepe his commandements it may be answered briefly in two words namelie first to keepe or retaine them in the very hart in the mind will and affectiones Pro. 3.1 and 4.21 And Secondly to observe them in the life in giving up all the members as servants to walke according thereunto Pro. 4.25 26 27. Rom. 12.1 2. 1 Cor. 6.20 But to give a more full and ample answer it might be said the keeping his commandements is I. To retaine and hold fast the Gospell or word of grace that hee hath enlightened our harts with and so put in our harts that he hath begotten faith and love in our harts thereby let this word dwell in our harts in the beliefe and apprehention of the goodnesse of the report and of all the reproofes requirings and promises of it let it be kept in the love desire estimate wherein it was first received and there through Christ in it exalt it and tye it about thy hart and bow the neck too it and this will watch for us teach lead and counsell and be a light to us Rev. 3.3 Coll. 3.16 Pro. 4.8 9 and 6 20 21 22 23. Joh. 15 5.7 II. To hold fast and nourish in our harts that confidence in Christ for life sanctification preservation and guidance and protextion through all sufferings and services of love to the enheritance Gall. 5 5 6. Heb. 3.6 14 and 10 35. And that love member like to brethren and compassionate to the sons of men which in putting in his gracious word hee by his Spirit discovering his grace begot in our hart Heb. 13 1 Ioh. 3 18 and 4 10 12. III. To suffer the word of grace and the faith and love begot thereby to have its perfect worke in us to putt no stoppage by carnall reasonnings too it but yeild up all our members theretoo and to all the motiones of the Spirit that spring there-from and there-through and according theretoo Rom. 12.1 2 3. Phill. 2.1 2. Iam. 1 4. To the denying of all fleshly affectiones and lusts and the obeying all the fruites of the Spirit Gall. 5.16 17 18 22 25. 1 Thess 5.19 IV. To doe all wee have to doe in all the sufferings and services of love in the remembrance of and according to the word of grace and in and with the exercise of the faith and love begot thereby Psal 1 2. Heb. 11 and 12. 1 2. 1 Ioh. 4. to the end And so as is before amplyfied in opening what it is to continue in his love that and this meeting in one V. Seeing it was peculiar to Christ that in all his walking in this world hee never sinned yea if wee consider his humane nature he had no sin if we consider his life he did no sin if wee looke on the law of nature or works under which wee were borne and under which hee became for us hee kept and fulfilled it all to the ful if wee look on those commands and that worke the Father gave him to doe in respect of us he fully finished it yea one may say if wee looke on the commands of faith and love hee left for us to walke in hee also hath given us example and gone before us and walked without failing in both and if besides his nature personall conversation and example and besides his propitiation wee looke on his ministration of the Gospell and care for the continuance thereof after his departure lo he was perfectly faithful
noe more but according to what they have and accepteth that even soe of them Mat. 10.40 42 2 Cor. 8 11 12. But the cause of such affliction is I. Because they have not abiden and walked in faith and love Soe as by the grace made knowne and received they in remembring his gracious word and exercising faith and love and yerlding to the Spirit therein in denying fleshly affectiones and lusts and soweing to the fruites and motiones of the Spirit might have done Psal 78 5 11 41 42 and 81 6 12 and 106 12 15. Gall. 5 and 6 8. II. And because moreover when through forgetfulnesse and temptationes they are found so to have sinned and turned aside they do not speedily owne the same and in acknowledgement of the grace of Christ and their owne ill-requiteals turne to him confessing their sins and judging themselves and seeking remission and healing from God through Christ and so not judging themselves they are even therefore judged of the Lord in this world that they may not be condemned with the world 1 Ioh. 1 7 9 and 2 1. Ier. 6 15. 2 Cor. 12 20 21. 1 Cor. 11 31 32. And these two causes meeting in one are the very cause of all smarting correctiones which are not usually laid on any til both these meete unlesse in the first there be wil fulnesse and presumption and then it containes both in one as in Davids case 2 Sam. 12. Psal 19 12 13 and 32 3 4 and 33. And yet on harty confession and turning much release then also and yet in all this I limmit not the Holy one but shew what he hath declared to bee his usuall way as for Iobs tryall it was an unusual thing and so such a probation as God never excerciseth his with but when he minds to give a double blessing in the issue see Iob first and last all which agree well with the promise heere and al that is said before as the ground of this Vse III. And this also may be a hint of helpfulnesse for discerning and differenting the motiones of the Spirit of bondage from the motiones of the Spirit of grace and adoption I. The Spirit of bondage hath its law and force in and from the law of works and soe affords no hope but according to a mans conformity too and observance of the law of works under which a man was first borne and so dictates to a man and moves with this I ought and that I ought to do according to that law and leaves a man to his owne understanding and strength to strive after it without any inward living principle from any devine powre springing up the motion and free and living motion streaming with inclination thereto but only a humane motion leaving in all that is done to the trial censure and accusation of the law Rom. 2 14 15 and 3 20 and 7 1 6 23 24 25 and 8 1 2 15. Gall. 3.10 and 5 18. II. The Spirit of grace and adoption hath the Gospel or royal law of grace and liberty for its law where-through it excerciseth its force Gall. 4.21 31. Iam. 1 25. Rom. 8 2 15. And so though the believers looking about them may say this wee ought and that wee ought to beliefe and do according to the Gospel 1 Ioh. 4 10 11. Yet the Spirit of grace dictates and moves with a certaine devine powre in the new man and so springs up the motion from a living principle with in through the beliefe of the grace in Christ and the love of Christ and brethren streaming with a living and stirring motion and inclination to that is good and well-pleasing in the sight of God Eph. 4 21 24. Coll. 3 10 12. Gall. 2 20. 2 Cor. 5 6 11 14 20. Rom. 12 1 2. So preserving and guiding the believer that it leaves him not under law Gall. 5 16 18 22. As may be scene in al that is so largely said about this businesse before Vse IV. And this may also be an instruction how to keepe the commandements of Jesus Christ namely to tye them about the hart and the neck to delight in and observe them by remembrance and keeping in hart the word of grace believed and received and by holding fast confidence in Christ and continuing in brotherly love and walking in faith and love and doing al there-through and yeelding up theretoo in one mindednesse with Christ from the law within constantly and acknowledging all failings found with confession and seeking remission and healing and so giving up all the powres to walk with God as is more fully opened before twise in this discourse Pro. 6 20. Coll. 3 16. Heb. 10 35 and 13. 1 Coll. 2 6. Phill. 2 1 2 3 6. Rom. 12. to the end Vse V. And this may be an exhortation and motive to stir us up to give up our selves as those that are alive to God with all readinesse diligence and resolutenesse through the beliefe of the grace of Christ to keepe these his commandements alwayes seeing as hath beene shewne and the words beare forth I. It is the mind and will of Christ that hath so loved us and performed such commandements for us in which hee hath bought us and is become ours and wee his 1 Cor. 6.20 Gall. 2.20 II. Hee hath gone before us and calleth us after him and given us to know his voice and is present with us by his word and Spirit Joh. 10 3 4. Mat. 28 20. III. Hee hath opened this pathe and given us these commandements for our owne benefit that wee may abide in his love and have our joy full Pro. 9 12. Ioh. 16.11 IV. His commandements are not grievous but joyous and all the pathes thereof are pathes of pleasantnesse and peace and life to such as find them 1 Ioh. 5.3 Pro. 3.16 17 and 4 20.22 I. The law being a law of liberty and grace and of the Spirit of life seated in the hart and so teaching and leading the believer with peace and freedome 2 Cor. 3 3 17. Rom. 8.2 II. The walking being in an excercise of faith that receives and drinks in all good from God and an excercise of love that is strong opperative and delightfull Ioh. 7 37 38 39. Cant. 8.6 7 8. Well may they be said to be wayes of pleasantnesse and peace and an high-way and a way of Holinesse which though no unclean person nor unbeliever can passe over yet it is for these way farring ones believers and they though fooles shall not err therein Isa 35 8. Oh who would not gladly walk in it V. The gracious promise of so great happinesse heertoo might be added but that is a thing that comes next to be opened by it self Psal 19 10 11. Secondly for the next point in this last branch and so the last thing to be viewed in this affirmation of our saviour it is his comfortable promise to his disciples that so keeping his commandements they shall abide in his love
c. A gracious comfortable and large promise which that wee may the better understand it there are fowre things to be heeded about it I. What that is to which the promise is made to believers II. On what or whome the performance of the promise depends III. Who and what a one hee is that hath so promised IV. What the promise it self is and what it containes I. For the first that to and according to which the promise is made is the keeping of Christ his commandements in truth and uprightnesse according to the grace given and which wee have received of him for so are his words If yea keepe my commandements yea shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commandements and abide in his love These words even as appeare to point out the assurance and the example and the similitude to which our keeping must be comformed but not tying our keeping to that degree of perfection that was in his keeping there is a perfection of truth and parts which as it was in his keeping so it is required in ours and that is set downe before and this is the similitude and likenesse pointed out in the words Even as But as for persection of degree that was peculiar to him and his keeping the commandements as is a little before shewne and this not so imposed heere Besides Hee hath appointed meanes for those to whom this promise is made both to grow one to more fruitfulnesse and toward perfection Ioh. 15 1 8. And helps to get recovery in failings to rise againe and proceed to the enjoyment of this promise which he would not have done if the promise had beene only to perfection of degree in the keeping of his commandements 1 Ioh. 1 3 4 7 9 and 2 1 2. More-over he spakes not this to feare them or put them to a maze as it would have beene if he had tyed his promise to the perfection of degree in the keeping his commands but he expresly saith he spake this that his joy might bee in them and that their joy might be full Ioh. 15.11 And else where it is said if there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to what a man hath and this both in the endeavours and fruites 2 Cor. 9 12. Mat. 10 40 41 42. So that it is the truth and manner of keeping according to grace received too and according to which the promise is made so that the weakest believer so giving himself to walk in faith and love as a foresaid may have this consolation and looke for this promise Gall. 5.5 II. For the second upon whom the performance of this consolation and promise dependeth and that is on himself and the faithfulnesse and powre of him that hath promised yea shall abide in my love 1 Thess 5.24 Who hath engaged himself to preserve them and worke all their works for them and give life to them Ioh. 6 40 and 14 19. Isa 26.12 Psal 138.8 So as they may depend on him both to enable them to keepe his commandements and also to make good this promise to them and be disappointed in neither 1 Pet. 2.6 And this is very comfortable to the weakost believers walking in faith and love III. For the third thing who and what a one hee is that hath so promised that is Jesus Christ the Son of God Chap. 14.9 and 15 1. I have loved you and yea shall abide in my love This is hee who is the mighty God and the truth it selfe that is one in the Father and the Father in him who so loved us that he came down from Heaven and tooke our nature and bare our sins and curse and offered himself in sacrifice to God to worke redemption and salvation for us Tit. 2.13 14. Ioh. 14 6 10. 1 Pet. 2.24 and 3 18. 1 Tim. 2.6 And ascended to heaven and received Spirit to apeare in Heaven for us and sent forth Spirit to us to worke salvation in us Heb. 9 24. Psal 68.18 21. Eph. 4 7 16. Unto whom the Father hath given all powre and authority Heb. 8 1. Who is full of love to us and faithfulnesse for us Heb. 3.1.6 So as we may sasely depend on him for this promise IV. For the fourth thing What the promise it selfe is and what it containes the promise it selfe is Yea shall abide in my love if yea keepe my commandements yea shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commands and abide in his love So that the causing us to abide in his love is the promise And it contaynes three things clearly I. The having us in his peculiar love not only to love us but to love us with peculiar and choyse love surely forbearing to smite us and to cease from all his wrath towards such unworthy ones as wee were Great favour and our demeanour well considerd reason might say as much as were meete for us to aske of him Psal 85 3 4 5. But to shew forth his compassionate love in the redemption wrought for mankind and there-through to bring in to receive romission of sins what abundant grace and favour is this Act. 10.43 Rom. 3.25 Tit. 3 4 5. But to love us with such peculiar and delightfull love as the Father loveth him this is more abundant but to have us so in that choyse love of his as to compasse us with it that we should be in his bosome and as the seale in his hart in all his choyse delight will and purposes and as the seale on his arme in all his choyse workings and all for good to us Oh what hart can desire more or be able to desire so much Can. 8.6 7 9. It exeedes the desires of the hart And yet is this contained in this promise II. The abiding in this love surely one dayes enjoyment of this love were better then a thousand dayes enjoyment of all the loves and contentments this world can afford yea the deprivation of all these loves and contents a thousand dayes might befully satisfied for with one dayes enjoyment of this his peculiar love Psal 84 6 10. Yea surely a sight and tast heerof will take and ravish with sweetnesse the soule that seeth and tasteth this peculiar love 2 Sam. 7.18 19 20. Cant. 1 2 3. But to dwell and abide and have ones habitation in it who can expresse it Psal 91 1 2 c. Or be able with the eye of his hart unlesse much streng-thened by the Holy Ghost to veiw it yea even then also it will be veiwed incomprehensible Eph. 1 17 20 and 3 14 19. And yet is this the love contained in this promise III. The flowing and encreasing of this love upon us and the encreasing of strength in us to veiw and enjoy it more and more till wee come to the harvest and fulnesse of it Psal 84 7 11 12. If the first fruites be so sweere what is the harvest if a glimpse overcame Peter that it made him forget wife