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
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
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
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
also an unfeyned love of our brother 2 Cor. 5.14 1 Ioh. 4.21 1 Pet. 1.22 From both which commands writ in the hart aptly springs up all contained in the particular precepts of the Gospell as is before shewne Ioh. 4.13 and 7 38 39. And walking in this faith and love in minding the precepts and veiw of the opportunities the motiones to go according to the mind of Christ will aptly spring up so as one may go one serving in newnesse of Spirit and not in oldnesse of letter Pro. 6.20 21 22 23. Ioh. 3.16 17. Rom. 12.2 and 7 6 25 and 8 1 2. So that from this whole consideration that the commands of Christ to his disciples are such commands as are contained and expressed in the Gospell and put with the Gospell by Christ into the hart of the believer and do naturally and aptly spring up in the believe of the Gospell it appeares that believing in Iesus Christ and loving our brother are the commands of Christ heere ment Consider III. The commandments of Ghrist to his disciples are such as are suitable to the commendements himselfe hath performed for them Pro. 3.1.13 Heb. 3.8.9 1 Cor. 6.20 Now hee in fulfilling the commandements hee received of the Father for us having taken away our sinnes and dyed our death and soe purchased us and wrought salvation for us and by his Gospell and Spirit sent forth having made knowne this salvation to us and in aplying it evidenced himselfe to bee our righteousnesse and life and ready and able eternally to save us 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Ioh. 3.5 Heb. 5.9 Suitable heerto it is that wee abhoring our sinnes and denying our selves our wisedome righteousnesse strength with all that is ours and all fleshly delights and considences to accept of him for all and so to believe in trust too and depend on him for all grace righteousnesse life and safety 1 Cor. 1.30 31. Phil. 3.3.4.7 8 9.10 1 Pet. 1.13.14 Gall 1.20 And hee having so loved us suitable it is that wee should so love one another 1 Ioh. 3.16 Eph. 5.2 So that in this consideration it also apeares That believing in Iesus Christ and loving our Brother are the commandments of Christ heere ment Consider IV. The commandements of Christ to his disciples are such commandements as he hath given into their harts and cannot nor are otherwise required to bee kept then as they are in the hart whence believers confesse that they have received the command from him 1 Ioh. 4.21 And hee is said to write them in their harts Heb. 8.10 And the commandement is true in him and in them 1 Ioh. 2.8 The law without was engraven in tables of stone and writ in leaves but the Epistle of Christ is writ by his Spirit in the hart 2 Cor. 3.3.7 The law without leaves under sinno and death but Christs law within affords life 2 Cor. 3.6.7.8 9 10. Whence Christ saith hee that hath my command ments and keepeth them hee it is that loveth mee Ioh. 14.21 In which consideration it apeareth that faith and love Which all Christs disciples have Coll. 1 4. and are to keepe and walke in Heb. 3.14 Are the commandments heere ment And yet that this may bee moore evident some proofes heerof may be considered Proofe I. These two commandements of faith and love as they are contained in the Gospell and spring from the Gospel believed so they contayne the whole summe of the patterne or forme of healthfull and sound words which the Gospel requireth of us 2 Tim. 1.14 And of all that which the Gospell believed springeth up in the hart 1 Ioh. 5.13 Ioh. 20.31 1 Ioh. 3.1.3 and 4 19 21. Whence the commandment is called the word of the Gospell it selfe believed 1 Ioh. 2 7. And the Gospell is called the commandment which in hart believed that which is said before of Christ his keeping his Fathers commandements is by believers found true in him and that which is said in consideration the second of faith and love springing up in the hart the believers find true in them because the darknesse is past and the true light now shineth 1 Ioh. 2.8 And so in respect of the Gospell put in the hart it is called the old command and that which was at first heard and received from Christ and which quickeneth and in respect of its Spirituall entrance receipte and abiding and the faith and love springing up therefrom it is called the new commandement being allwayes greene and flourishing so that the believer may thereby bring out of the good treasurie of his hart things new and old Mat. 13.52 Which according to all the considerationes proveth faith and love to bee the commandements heere ment Proofe II. These two commandements of faith and love are the commendements which God giveth unto and putteth in the hart of his children Ier. 31.33 Phill. 2.29 Eph. 2.8.10 They are the commandements of God the Father when he calleth and uniteth men to his son Jesus Christ causing them to beliefe on the name of his son Jesus Christ and to love one another as his son hath given commandement 1 Ioh. 3.23 and 4 21. And they are the commandements expresly given by Iesus Christ to all his disciples when he makes knowne his Father to them to believe on him for eternall life Ioh. 12.36 and 14 1. And to love one an other as hee hath loved us Ioh. 13.34 and 15 12. And these are also the very commandements which the Holy Ghost putteth into the harts of believers 1 Pet. 1.21.22 1 Ioh. 3.21.24 So that these two commandements of faïth and love are evident to be the commandements heere ment Proofe III. All labouring to attaine and fulfill in performance any or all other particular preceipts of law or Gospell which flowes not from and is not acted through this believing in the name of Iesus and love of the brethren whatsoever endeavours and services they bee and how and to what end soever otherwise done whether To please God and get boldnesse with him or to get therethrough the righteousnesse of God and so Christ and faith in him and love to brethren or to assure themselves by such attainments and observances of a peculiar interest in Christ even all whatsoever so done to comfort themselves therewith all of it I say as the scripture shewes I. It is but a serving of God according to the oldnesse of the letter and so leaves the doores thereof under sin and curse and the feare of both Rom. 7.6 25 and 8 2 7. Gall. 3.10 Tit. 1.9.10.15 Ioh. 3.5.6 II. The doers thereof do therein and thereby deprive themselves of and hold themselves out from enjoyment of Christ and unfeyned faith in him and love of brethren Rom. 9 32. and 10.3.4.1 Sam. 2 9. Zach. 4.6 Psal 107.11.12 Ecclez 15.16 and 16.15 III. They deceive themselves and are deceived in all that which by such observances and ataynments they judge themselves by to bee in Christ and to have peculiar interest in
In which is one-nesse Eph. 2.19.22 And that of a body hee the head and the believers the members united to him al filled with and knit together and led by one Spirit of life in him the head immeasureably in them according to the measure of his dispensation flowing from him into and through each member by which they grow up in him and are compact together and soe among them one Spirit and one body Eph. 4.15.16.4 and 5.30 And soe of a green olive-tree c. And thus heere of the true vine and the branches which ar but one tree and so they were and all unfeyned believers are one in and with Christ by a devine faith begot by a deviue testimony in their hart fastening in Christ and by the operation of his devine love in their hart springing up spiritual and devine love closeing with and cleaveing to him and by the operation of his inspired word of life which they having received are by it subdued to his teachings leading into fellowship with him and such union and one-nesse have they as is before shewne in which they are one Spirit with the Lordâ— one body of the Lord one Temple or house for the Lord to dwell in one tree or vine-tree hee the roote and mayne Body they the bowes and branches and soe not only in him but still entering into farther union and growth for farther fruitfulnesse Heb. 4.3 Not only in confidence in him love to him and receite of teaching from him but both in al this and through this into farther one-nesse with him and soe with God the Father in and through him into I. One-nesse with God in his great desighne of glorifying Iesus Christ and shewning forth all his goodnesse in and through him the great designe purpose and businesse of almighty God is hath beene and wil be to glorify himselfe in glorifying his Son that himselfe may be glorified in and through his Son Ioh. 12.28 Pro. 8.22.31 Ioh. 5.20.23 The maine designe of Christ is the same in all the glory he receiveth from the Father Ioh. 17.1.6 and 7.18 And the beleevers abiding in him grow into union with him in this desighne to glorefy Christ that God may be glorified in and by him Phill 1.20 II. One-nesse with God in spiritual habitation in delightfull love and well-pleasednesse his delightfull love and well-pleasednesse being in his son and through him in al those made one with and sons in his son Mat. 3.17 and 17.5 Pro. 8.31 Psal 132.13.17 and 148.14 and 149.4 And so their delight and well-pleasednesse in Christ and through him in all that by grace ar made one in him Phill. 3.3.8.9.10 and 4.4 Psal 73.25 and 16.2 III. One-nesse with God in his will and love of compassion towards them that are yet ignorant and through ignorance unbeleeving willing their preservation repentance waiteing with patience for them and useing meanes towards them that they might repent and come to life 1. Tim. 2.4 Psal 145.8.9.2 Pet. 3.9 Mat. 5.44.45 Tit. 3.2 Act. 26.18 IIII. One-nesse with Christ in yeilding the flesh or old man to be crucified to have the new revived and soe to live in the Spirit to God Rom. 6.3.6 Eph. 4.21.24 1. Pet. 3.18 and 4.1.2 And soe one-nesse with Christ in all his interests and privillidges next mensioned II. These sayings you in mee I in you I the Vine yea the Branches as also the other simmilies of one-nesse betweene husband and wife in marriage foundation and building in a temple or house head and members in a body doe set forth their interest and right to participation and spirituall participation in a first fruites now and fulnesse in the harvest of all the interests privillidges and riches of Iesus Christ Ioh. 1.12 1. Cor. 3.22.23 Soe that verily His Father is their Father Ioh. 20.17 Psal 89.26 Rom. 8.15 His Spirit is their Spirit to dwell in and comfort and lead them Gall. 4.6.7 His Brethren their Brethron Ioh. 20.17 Mat. 23.8 His Promises their Promises That God hath made stable in him for them 2. Cor. 1.20.21 2. Pet. 1.4 And not only his death is their death and his resurrection their resurrection but his wisedom righteousnes holinesse redemption and life is their wisedom righteousnes holinesse redemption and life 1. Cor. â— 30 Ioh. 14.19 Rom. 8.2 Yea his people is their people his inheritance their inheritance Gall 3.29 Rom. 8.17 And soe his kingdome and glorie their kingdome and glory Luk. 12.32 and 22.29 Coll. 3.4 Yea in a word his servants for attendance and service be their servants for attendance and service Heb. 1.6.7.14 Yea not only such but his servants for use and advantage besides their wil are so their servants also 1. Cor. 3.22 Soe are they interessed in all the privillidges of this True Vine in the glorious husbandman the living sap the vineyard and the fruites III. This sayeing you in mee I in you I the Vine yea the Branches doth set forth a great deale of honour that God doth put upon them according to that Ioh. 12.26 and 5.23 with 1. Sam. 2.30 In that as he doth all things by Christ and sheweth forth his righteousnesse through Christ who is the righteousnesse of God in whom God dwells and through whom the devine nature shewes forth its vertues and opperationes Ioh. 1. Heb. 1. Ioh. 5.1 Tim. 3.16 Soe now as Christ is the fuitefull vine even soe the grapes his vertues shall be brought forth through them 1. Pet. 2.9 He not only cloathes them with his son for their righteousnesse Phill. 3.8.9 But also makes them the righteousnesse of God in him 2. Cor. 5.21 Soe as even his devine power in Christ for convencement alureing to Christ comforting edifying by Spirit shall be effected in their ministration by word and conversation Ioh. 16.7.15.1 Cor. 3.5.2 Cor. 13.1.2.3.1 Thes 1.8 Yea his love and mercies shall apeare through their love and mercy 2. Cor. 5.14.19.20 Yea his righteousnesse shall apeare through them and they shall be his witnesses Psal 92.15 Isa 43.10.12 Soe now in a measure and after in fulnesse wil he be seen and admired in them c. A great honour 2. Thes 1.10 Psal 149.4.9 IV. This their being Branches in Christ doth father import that al their life comfort and fruitfulnesse dependeth not on the first Adam themselves or any wisdome strength industrie or creature at all but him and on him onelie soe that being and abiding in him they receive life from him who is full of powre love and faithfulnesse and none can overturn him In whom all fulnesse dwells and flowes Ioh. 1.14.16 Coll 1.19 Ioh. 11.25.26 and 14.19 And as he instructed them about himselfe and themselves so he instructed them likewise about his father the great Almighty God the father of our Lord Iesus Christ and in him the father of al that by faith are one him Vers 1. As he saith And my father is the Husband-man which holds forth I. That he hath made and prepared this vine as his owne
and courage and bewty is gone Psal 125 5.8 Ezek. 19.10.13 Iud. 12. As heere Vers 6. V. That when they are withered men gather them while they retained his word and till the light sweetnesse and savour of it was dried up they could not be so easily drawne by Satan or lusts or men to other doctrine or to idolatrie or oppression persecution or the like but being withered they are driven with every wind and men gather them to any superstition oppression c. they turne into Egypt or the world againe and their sin growes ripe and they become of the seed of the Serpent the worst of men Iam. 1.14.15 Inâ— 4.5.12 Mat. 5.13 As heere Vers 6. VI. Men thus throw them into the fire and they fall under the wrath of God and his angels shall bind them in bundles and they shall be throwne into everlasting fire Pro. 7.7.27 Mat. 13.30.41.42 As heer Vers 6. A faire and whole some warning with might terrify any that receive gospell from remaining as high-way or stonie or thorny ground or harbouring such a secret evill disposition as ludas and Simon Magus did or from dispising the word and quenching the spirit and it is a wholesome admonition to al believers to shun all degrees of withdrawing and backssliding from faith love or any opperationes of the grace and spirit of Christ and now farther our saviour with this admonition joynes and gives to his disciples for quickening up their spirits a sweet and foreceible exhortation and encouragement to abide in him and that hee and his word may abide in them and this from manifold sure grounds and strong motives that will meete in one Viz. I. The experience they had already found of the goodnesse of him in and by the word he had spoken to them Vers 3. He had spoken and given to them the word gospel or glad tidings of peace remission of sinns and everlasting life which the father hath prepared in him which word of gospel the father gave him to spake Mar. 1.14.15 Ioh. 12.49.50 and 17.6.7 In which word or gospell is declared The peace or atonement Christ by death resurrection and sacrifice hath wrought and the fulnesse of grace and truth iâ— him and the greatnesse of Gods love in giving him and hâ—â— readinesse to accept all that believe on him Luk. 24 46.4â— Ioh. 1.4.9.12.14.16 and 3.16.17 And the father sending forth spirit in this declaration did so enlighten their harts anâ— prevaile with them that he therein brought them to beleeve Mat. 16.16 In which repentance was wrought in them anâ— they received remission of sins and life and so were turned from darknesse to light begotten to Christ made cleane and righteous in him and so sanctified to God and had interest iâ— the things of Christ Act. 11.18 and 10.43 Rom. 5.1.5.8.10.11 Tit. 3.4.5.6 Ioh. 3.5 In which they expetimented his word to be the words of eternall life Ioh. 6.68.69 So that as in him through that he hath done in himselfe life was prepared for men even so through him by his word and spirit bringing the word to their hart they had received of the life in him and so experimented the goodnesse of him in his word and to them and such as they this must needs be a strong and forceible motive to abide in the faith and love of him and to have his word abiding and opperating in them Psal 119.93.1 Pet. 1.21.22.23 and 2.2.3 Whence that 2. Pet. 1.9 II. The powre effecacy and fruitfulnesse of the same grace that will operate and shew forth it selfe in fruitfulnesse in those that abide in him and have his word abiding in them Vers 5. So that such as abide in mindfulnesse of his word and so in their beliefe estimate love of and submission to him and his teachings and so suffer his word to abide in them in its opperationes it will be profitable and fruitfull in them and make them fruitfull also Heb. 4.12 Isa 55.3.10.12 I. It will free them not only from that casting of withering and burning foremencioned Ioh. 11.25.26 But also from those out-goings falls snares hart condemnationes and sore correctiones that others by inconstancie and forgetfulnesse of him fal into Rom. 8.1.2 Isa 4.2 Psal 119.9.92 1. Cor. 15.1.4 II. It will bring forth plenty of fruites in them of love joy peace patience meeknesse heavenly desires and motiones that will spring forth to spirituall prayers confession conversation c. Coll. 3.16 Ioh. 7.38.39 III. It will leade too and bring forth blessed fruites in their word and conversation for convincing unbelievers aluring the convinced to Christ and edifying believers Isa 61.3.7 2. Pet. 1.7.8 2. Cor. 13.18 And this also is a strong and forceible motive to abide in Christ and that his word may abide in us III. The abundant love of the Father to Christ his Son soe that al that are brought to and abides in this his Son and have him in his Word and Spirit abiding in them he loveth them as he loveth his Son with the same delightful love Ioh. 12.26 14.23 17.23 And giveth them eternall life Ioh. 3.35.36 And whatsoever they aske of him they abiding in Christ and his words in them it shall be done to them vers 7. Ch. 16.23.24.27 Which also is a strong motive to abide in him and that his words may abide in us Pfall 66.18.19.20 IV. The assured comfortable issue of all namely That in his word abiding in them and they abiding in him and so bringing forth fruites their mayn desighne and buysinesse even that in which they are one with God and Christ shall be accomplised to the satisfying and joying of their harts that is God shall be glorified and so they shall be disciples and followers of Christ like him endeed vers 8. Phill. 1.20 Which is a sweet prevayling motive And how much more all these in one the fore-experiments and present operation of his grace the Fathers love and answer of prayers and glorifying himself in their fruitfulnesse is it a strong motive to exort and encourage to abide in Christ and to have his word abiding in us And our saviour having thus already instructed admonished and encouraged his disciples proceedeth in the 9. and 10. Verses To a father encouragement direction and instruction of them to this Abiding that their joy might be full From which practise of our saviour might be observed I. That the work of the ministration of the Gospell is a continual worke to be followed not only for bringing in men still to Christ but even also for building up and encouraging those that are in Christ while they are in these clay tabernacles so was the ministration of the Gospel by Iesus Christ from the beginning of it from the baptisme of Iohn till the day that he left the world Act. 1.21.22 Ioh. 16.28 and 17.4.12.13 And so was the ministration of his servant till the time of their departure 2. Tim. 4.6.7.8 2. Pet. 1.13.14 And such is the ministration
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
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
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
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
be adorned and filled with such praise honour riches friends powre and good report as the Lord often filleth his enemies withall and they that have their portion in this life glory in Iob. 21. Psal 17.14 And if the Lord do give you a fulnesse in such outward things beware you do not set your hart upon them nor glory of them or be delighted with them Psal 62.10 Iob. 31.24.25 Least they turne to be a snare to you and so damp your delight in good and intangle and unfit you for the service of the Lord and so deprive you of better riches Deut. 8.10.20 1 Tim. 6.9.10.11 But in jealousie of your selves and in considence in him pray him to be mercifull to you in fitting you for all he giveth you and to blesse his mercies to you in framing your hart by his grace to the acknowledgment of his goodnesse and faithfulnesse in good use making of all the things he giveth into your stewardship and that the light of his countenance may shine upon you Pro. 30.7.8.9 Psal 67.1.2 That you may take occasion more abundantly thereby to hold forth the word of life Phill. 2.16 To shew compassion and do good to all men and be ready for every good worke Tit. 3.2.8 Gall. 6.10 To testify love in the services thereof more abundantly to the houshold of faith in fathering the ministration of the Gospell reliefe of the needy bowels of the saints use of hospitallitie and so to be rich in good works Gall. 6.6.9.10 Philem. 7. Heb. 13.1.2 1 Tim. 6.18 And so shall all your outward fulnesse be no hinderance but profitable to you and others Ecclez .. 7.11 Againe if the Lord deprive you of such fulnesse and keepe you low and excercise you with tribulation in that respect so as you are poore and destitute of same riches friends liberty c. among men bee not offended neither murmur at his dealing with you seeing you are deprived of nothing but what Jesus Christ was deprived of in this life hee was the chiefe beloved yet hee was more emptied and afflicted heere then you are yea have not resisted against sin holding forth the faith to the bloud it is enough for the disciple to have as good use heere as his master but you are not yet brought so low Job 2.10 Mich. 7.9 Heb. 12.3.4 Joh. 13.16 and 15 19 20. Do not murmur therefore but in patience possesse your soules Luk. 21.19 Yea and the rather seeing the want of these outward things and afflictions about them is no argument of want or hinderance of having the most peculiar love Pro. 3.12 Isa 43.1 2 3. Yea when they are occasioned by the profession of the Gospell and suffered for the Gospell sake they are great testimonies of peculiar love Act. 9.15.16 Rev. 7.14 Mat. 5.11.12 Wherefore let neither fulnesse nor emptinesse withdraw thee but let they hart be one and thy desires towards such love as in which Christ Jesus is beloved and seeke to be setled and stablished therem seeing it appertaines to thee Vse V. This likewise may be an exhortation to all that believe in Jesus Christ and love him rightly to prize and estimate this peculiar love of Christ to them Soe as I. To rejoyce in the Lord evermore and let the portion you have received of him and that you have in him be well-pleasing to you and seeke and receive and take up all your satisfying content and glorious rejoycing therein Phill. 4.4 Rom. 5.11 Psal 16.5 6. If you have fulnesse of outward things and bee soe kept and carried in the use thereof that the world cannot but commend you and that many are beholding to you yet doe not you rejoyce in this Iob. 31.35 Hose 14.3 Psal 20.7 But rejoyce in the Lord that hee is your portion and hath forgiven you your sins accepted you to favour and is become your wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption and hath given you his promise that hee will bee with you your strength guide and salvation Ier. 9.23.24 1 Cor. 1.30 If the Lord hath enlarged you with many vissits and usefull spirituall gifts and great successe therein that much is done by you and you therein preferred before many others yet in this rejoyce not that you are so enlarged and preferred before others but rejoyce in the Lord that is become your portion and hath writ your names in Heaven and set his delight on you 1 Cor. 4.6 7. Luk. 10.20 If the Lord exercise you with wants in outward things many tribulationes yet be not discouraged but rejoyce in the Lord that hee is your portion and that you have in him all fullnesse of spirituall blessings and treasure that cannot be wasted and that hee hath set his love on you and giveth you all things pertaining to life and Godlinesse and will cause all things to work for the best to you and after a little tryall possesse you with the crowne of life let the beliefe heereof cause you to endure as seeing him who is invisible and suffer not temporary asslictiones to hinder your rejoycing in him Lam. 3.19.24 Psal 119.55 57. Eph. 1.3 2 Pet. 1.3 4. 2 Tim. 4.8 Heb. 11.26.27 Psal 66.6 Who will in due season fill you with joy If the Lord try you with some darknesse hidings of his face though that bee the forest of all tryals yet let not your hart sinck into discouragement nor count it a strange thing as if it could not stand with peculiar love or might not befall beloved sons but in the depth of humilliation and abasing of your selves yet rejoyce in the Lord that is yours and hath appeared to you and because he loved you with everlasting love hath drawne you with loving kindnesse and though he hide his face from you both still even now love you and is your light and protexion in him is noe change and in due season he will return againe to you and bring you forth to the light and you shall see his righteousnesse Ier. 31.3.20 Lam. 3.31 Mich. 7.7 8 9 10. Therefore rejoyce in him If divers temptationes assaults you rejoyce not in sight of many outward and sencible helps and props but rejoyce in the Lord and in the powre of his might Eph. 6.10 c. In a word when you a proach his courts and use his ordinances yea and at all times rejoyce in the Lord because of this his great and peculiar love and loveninesse Cant. 1.4 Psal 27.4 II. To be meeke and patient in all the tryals we meete withall for the profession of the Gospell and for walking in faith and love and the services thereof and to bee constant therein notwithstanding all tryalls wee must meete with for the same seeing hee loves us with such speciall and peculiar love Heb. 10.36 Rev. 2.10 and 12.11 And that also seeing It is agreable to the having of his choyse love to goe through many sufferings in the services of love Act. 9.15 16. It is from the hand of our well-beloved
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.