by faith shall many also be made righteous in Gods account Thirdly he is made vnto vs Sanctification not onely because hee doth mortifie the â—leâ—â— by the vertue of his death and quiâ—â—en vâ— to holines by the vertue of his resâ—rrection but also because his sanctification or holinesse is imputed to vs and serues as a vayle to couer the 〈…〉 ption of our natures And lastly Redemption to redeeme and deliuer vs by his most meritorious passioâ—s by the effusion of his sacred blood and by the dignity of his death Ephe. 1. 7. from all our sins and from all punishments due vnto vs for them Therfore the Apostle may well and truely say that Christ loued them Hath loued Saint Iohn vseth the time past hath to shew that the loue of Christ is not new and that it was the â—ountaine and foundation of those two benefits which are set downe in the words immediatly ensuing Neither would it haue beene seemly to expresse the effects in words of the time past and to set forth their cause in a word of the time present especially in one continued sentence wherin also it hath prioritie of place as well as of nature Wherfore we may not from heÌ„ce imagiâ—e that Christ doth not now or will not herafter loue his Church because the Apostle saith he hath loued For the lâ—â—â— of Christ is â—â—nstant eternal vnto all his memberâ— in which respect he is called an euerlasting Father His Isa 9. 6. a hole life was loue and his death was an infallible token of his loue For by hâ—s death we are deliuered from eternall death And as by his death he hath sanctified our death so by the vertue of his death he doth slay our sin within vs the cause of death vnto vs. In his resurrection he hath giuen vs a sufficieÌ„t testimonie of his loue For as he was deliuered to death for our sins so he rose again for our iustification that is that wee Rom. 4. 25. might be assured and assuredly persuaded that he did ouercome our sins by his death and made vs acceptable vnto his father And finally since his ascension into heauen his loue was neuer wanting But as he entred into heauen to appeare now in the sight of God his Heb. 5. 24. father for vs so also he euer liueth to make intercession for vs. And as by his grace Heb. 7. 25. he hath called vs out of the world and made vs partakers of his grace and heires apparent of his glory so by grace hee conserueth vs in the state of grace that albeit we liue in the world yet we are now no loÌ„ger of the world but his who hath redeemed vs out of the world As in his loue he hath founded vs vpon himselfe as vpon a firme Math. 16. 18. and stable rock so de doth and will in loue confirme keep vs that the gates of hell the strength of the Diuell and the kingdome of darknesse shall neuer preuayle against vs. They may batter vs but they shall not beat vs downe they may come against vs but they shall not conquer vs they may war Bellare non debellare but they shall not win For Christ who is both strength and wisdome it selfe will defend and guard vs he will not fayle vs nor forsake vs but will giue all his sheep all his seruants eternall life mangre the malice and malicious Ioh. 10. 28. attempts wily stratagems of all their enemies how powerfull politique or pestiferous soeuer they may be It followeth Loued Vs that is you seuen Churches and me his Apostle Embassadour Hee loued them yet so as he loued all those also besides them that did beleeue in his name and do in all Eph. 5. 25. humility of heart wayte for his saluation Therfore Paul saith that Christ Loueth the Church and gaue himselfe for it euen the whole Church and all the faythfull and true members of it and her alone with this speciall loue Iohn 17. 9. for he would not vouchsafe to pray for the Reprobates It is good therfore for men to labour ere it be too late to be assuerd that their names are written in the booke of life that they are in albo siâ—orum Dei in the ranke and register of Gods children This shall suffice for the opening of the words the instructions are now to be propounded CHAP. III. Christes loue 〈◊〉 anatomized and our duâ—â— to him for it is described FIrst seeing Christ hath loued vs we may see how deepe we are in his debt For if hee had not loued vs we should haue bene but abuâ—â—s forlorne Cast-awaies had he hated vs we should haue perished in our sinnes Hâ—s loue is our life and his mercie is the medicine of our maladies Christ as God with his Father and his Holy Spirit did in loue elect vs vnto life And in Christ as Gâ—d-man and Mediatour Eph. 1. 4. betwixt God and Man we were by God elected vnto glorie His pittie procureth our pardon and his grace our glorie For had not he liued like a man euen a true man we which are mere men had all died and perished eternally And had not he died for vs we should neuer haue liued with him and but that he did entierly loue vs he would haue neither liued nor died for vs. Yea finally his grace is our goodnesse for his loue and louing â—â—ndnes to vs made him make vs to be accounted good and glorious in the sight of God And as we are now iustified by him preserued and in part saâ—â—â—ified so we shal be hereafter also honoured of him and adorned with perfect Holines perpetuall happines Loe then Beloued as in a mirrour the wonderfull loue of Christ vnto vs be-behold the infinite riches of his grace the inestimable tokens of his loue What wilt thou render vnto him for his loue How canst thou requite his kindnes and recompence him for his goodnes All that thou canst doe which indeed thou shouldest do is to beleeue in his name to commend his loue to acknowledge his grace to laâ—d his benignitie to repent of thy sinnes to loue him againe and to demonstrate thy loue by Angelicall that is by sincere voluntarie constant alacrious and diligent obedience performed in all humilitie and integâ—itie of faith and loue vnto all his precepts For Christ himselfe saith If ye loue me keepe my commandements He that hath my commandements Iohn 14. 15 21 and keepeth them is he that loueth me and hee that loueth me shal be loued of my father and I will loue him and will shew my selfe vnto him If any man 23. 24. loue me he will keepe my word he that loueth mee not keepeth not my wordes By which it plainly appeareth that those onely loue Christ that are carefull to keepe his commandements Those therefore do not loue him but shew themselues disloyal Rebells that plucke vp the quick-set of his lawes that breake
much as ye haue done it giuen â—â—ate drinke lodging clothing vnto 〈◊〉 of the leaft of thâ—se my brethren ye haue done it vnto me Fiftly the loue of men is an argument of our loue toward God himself 1. Iohn 5. 1 For euery one that loueth him that did begâ—t loueth him also which is begotten of â—im Therefore if we doe not loue the child of God who is begotteÌ„ of God it argueth that wee doe not indeede loue God that did beget him Hee that hateth the child doth not loue the father and he that respecteth the maister will not neglect the seruant Sixtly the loue of our brethren is a signe that we are the temples of the holie Ghost and that God doth inhabite in vs. If we loue one another saith 1. Iohn 4. 12. 16. Iohn God dwelleth in vs and his loue is perfest in vs. God is loue he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and God in him Now what an honour is it and what a singular comfort should it be to vs poore wormes to haue the God Iob. 25. 6. of heauen and earth to dwell within vs and to make his mansion in our sinfull soules in these loamie houses and dustie cottages We cannot set forth his praise enough we cannot rceompence his loue Seuenthly our loue which we beare to the children of God is an vndoubted token that we are out of the way of 1. Ioh. 3. 14 death and in the state of life Therefore the Apostle saith We knowe that we are translated from death to life because we loue the brethren Loue is not the cause of life nor of the change froÌ„ Rom. 6 23. death to life for euerlasting life is the free gift of God but it is a signe thereof And as fire doth discouer it selfe by his light so may this change be discerned Lumine qui seÌ„per proditur ipse suo Ouid. by loue Eightly Loue is the ende of the commaundement Loue is the fulfilling of the Lawe and the bond of perfection The 1. Tim. 1. 5. more perfect our loue is the more Rom. 13. 10 perfect is our obedience Yea loue is the onely debt which we ought to owe Col. 3. 14. to our neighbour It is a debt which we must alwaies be in paying off and must neuer haue done paying Therefore Paul saith Owe nothing to any man but to loue one another for he that loueth Rom. 13. 8. another hath fulfilled the law Ninthly knowledge learning the faith of miracles yea and those works that glister outwardly neuer so gloriously and are commended neuer so much of men yet are they worth nothing if they bee not accompanied with true loue This the Apostle teacheth when he saith Though I speake 1 Cor. 13. 1 with the toongs of men and Angels and haue not Loue I am as sounding brasse or a tinkling cimball And though I had the gift of prophesie and knewe all secrets and all knowledge yea if I had all faith so that I could remoue moun 〈…〉 s and had not loue I were nothing And though I feede the poore with all my goods and though I giue my bodie that I be burâ—â—d and haue not Loue iâ— prosâ—â—â—th nothing Tenthly Loue is the 〈◊〉 which letteth out to the benefit of our brethreÌ„ the waters of Gods graces which are in the cisterne of our owne hearts It is a knife whereby faith carueth out those duties which we owe to God Man It is a much to giue fire to our hearts and to kindle them to all good works It is a fountaine yea and a pipe also from which and in which many sweet and wholesome waters do slowe and run to water and refresh many It is the verie hand of faith whereby it worketh Which thing Paul plainely testifieth when he saith that in Christ neither Circumcision aâ—â—â—lâ—th any thng nor vncircumcision but saith which worketh by loue Gal. 5. 6. Eleauenthly Loue saith Chrysostome is the Charaâ—â—er and badge of Christianity What can better beseem them then loue that professe that God who is Loue that Spirit which worketh 1. Ioh. 4. 16. Gal. 5. 22. loue and that Christ who in loue â—ide downe his life that they might attaine to life Yea it is an infallible tâ—ken of a true disciple of Christ and of one of his best proficients therefore he saith by this shall all men know that Ioh. 13. 35. ye are my disciples if ye loue one another Twelfly loue is more excellent and commodious in some respect then either saith by which we are iustâ—fied or 〈◊〉 by which we are sâ—â—ed This the Gal. 〈◊〉 16 Rom. 8. 24 Apostle teacheth when he saith now aâ—â—â—deth Faith Hope and Loue but the 〈◊〉 Cor. 13. 31. 〈…〉 st of these â—s loue to wit as concerning vse towards oâ—r neighbour As loue is the best liuerie that a Christian man can weare for it doth expresse his profession liuely and makes it liuely it sets forth the nature and commends the name so it is the best affection that he can harbour in his heart and entertaine within him for it makes him spend himselfe like a â—ampe in Gods house and to powre out and put forth himselfe to the practise and performance of those things which concerne Gods glory his owne happinesse and his neighbours welfare Moreouer Loue is very powerfull and plentifull in rare and admirable effects Paul reckeneth sixteene 〈◊〉 It suffereth long being voyd of that hastinesse 1. Cor. 13. 4 that is easily offended and ready to reuenge and also of that disposition which thogh it haue no great inclination to reuenge yet being displeased is readie to let fall the former affection ceasing any longer indeede to declare the same But loue leapeth ouer a wall of offences and bursteth through a hedge of impediments to testifie good will to the person loued 2. Loue is bountifull readie to pleasure and benefit the partie loued hauing as it were a grace and facilitie therein and therefore plentifull and abounding in loue-tokens 3. Loue enuieth not for the man that loueth taketh himselfe to be as it were one and the same with the partie loued and therefore after a manner entitâ—led to praises So that he doth wish his estate to be better then it is so far is he from enuying of the same 4. Loue doth not boast it selfe 5. It is not puffed vp 6. It doeth no vncomely 1. Cor. 13. 5. thing For loue conceiueth so highly of the thing loued that it thinketh no seruice to be humble and dutifull inough to such deserts And therefore it cannot deale proudly nor peruersly with the partie loued neither yet vnseemly but so as the state therof requireth that is tenderly seemely with the afflicted condition not disdaining him in it thogh neuer so perplex ed and miserable neither dealing so roughly carelesly as doth litle be seem so pitifull an estate to be dealt withall 7. Loue seeketh not her
his loue who is goodnesse it selfe and to be perswaded of his grace that is the fountaine of grace and the author of al true glorie Fiftly this assurance is an vndoubted token of true faith yea indeed the verie forme and sap thereof For what else is sauing faith but a particular certain perswasion and assurance of Christ his loue and of those benefits which are deriued from it Now he that hath true faith may assure himselfe that he is a faithfull man a Gal. 3. 26. Ioh. 10. 26. childe of God a sheepe of Christ possessed with the kingdome of grace and entituled to the kingdome of glorie Sixtly this assurance is the more to be respected because it is appropriated to the Elect. For it is not possible that any of the Reprobates who are forsaken of God not beloued of Christ should in their consciences be truely assured of the loue of Christ Indeed as he that is in a dreame may thinke he hath cloathes on his backe and mony in his purse though he haue not any so the Reprobate may be so held with a dreame or possessed with a spirituall phrenzie that he may imagine himselfe to be in the fauour of God and to partake of Christs loue albeit indeed he be not so but is a verie vasâ—all of Satan and a vessell of wrath ordained to eternall damnation Q. How then may some man say shall I come to this assurance A. I answer he that loueth Christ as Christ hath taught him may know for certen that Christ loueth him And a man shall neuer truly loue Christ till he be persuaded in some measure that Christ doth loue him We loue him because he loued vs. Secondly he that is carefull to serue and honour him may assure himselfe that he is beloued of him For Christ himselfe saith that both hee and his Father do loue those Ioh. 14. 21. that keep his commandements Therfore be thou sure that thou doest obey him and then thou mayest assure thy selfe of his loue Thirdly a man may know that Christ loued him of he find in him selfe the fruites of the Spirit which are found in none but in those whom Christ doth loue These fruits are peace of conscience ioy long suffering Gal. 5. 22. gentlenes goodnes meeknes temperancy and brotherly loue And albeit the Reprobate may haue these fruits in shew yet he hath them not indeede as the Godly haue All is not the Sun which shineth neither is all that Gold which glisters For if they should be tryed by the touchstone of the word it would appeare that their mettall were not good golde but guilded copper and that their vertues were Laruae aâ— simulacra virtutum NaÌ„ vt Hieron ait â—ine Christo omnis virtus vi tium est but masked vices couered only with the vaile of sanctity like many apples which haue red cheekes but rotten cores For they come not from Christ they are not framed vpoÌ„ the stithy of an honest heart with the haÌ„mer of Gods word by the finger of his holy Spirit Et August Virtutes nisi ad Deum referantur non sunt virtutes neither are they vsed in that manner to that end which God coÌ„mandeth which God liketh They be rather natures gifts then Gods graces naturall moralities and not morall graces Finally if thou woldest yet know further how thou maist attaine to this assuraÌ„ce then obserue diligently Gods dealing with thee from time to time and flie vnto Christ in heauen with the wings of thy soule by earnest and incessant supplication bow downe the knees of thy soule before him and desire him of his loue to send his holy Spirit into thee that may teach thee to crie Abba father and may assure thee of his loue vnto thee Whatsoeuer thing we aske of him with confideÌ„ce to be heard for his names sake if it like him he will without faile bestowe it on vs. CHAP. VII The sins of the faithfull do not put out the eye of Christs loue and extinguish the fire of his grace SIxtly seeing that the Apostle saith that Christ loued those Churches in which notwithstanding there were sundry defects many wrinkles many moles many diseases we may see that those are too blind and too vncharitable who censure all those as quite â—alleÌ„ from grace and vtterly out of Gods fauour who do fall into any greeuous sin or haue the plauge-sores of sin as it were running vpon them A man may haue the Leprosy and yet liue the life of nature so a man may through naturall â—raâ—ltie haue the leprosie of sin in his soule yet liue the life of grace A man may be a liue yea and liue thogh he haue the plague in his body so may he liue though he be sick of the plague of sin for no sin shall quite put out the life of grace in him that is regenerate Noah Lot Dauid and Peter fell greeâ—ously but yet their falls were not vnto death though in themselues they were deadly Paul was not afrayd to call the back-sliding Galathians Brethren Gal. 1. 4. 11 and to say according to his iudgement of charity that Christ did giue himselfe for their sinnes A man may fall though he fall not quite away And as Augustine saith The righteousnes Iustitia sanctoruÌ„ in hoc mundo magis peccatorum remissione coÌ„stat quam perâ—ectione virtutum of saints in this world consisteth rather in the remission of sins then in the perfection of vertues Our best perfection is to confesse and labour to correct our imperfection A Father may suffer his child to stumble fall in his presence and yet loue him dearly and so Christ whose children and sâ—ed we are may Heb. 2. 13. Is 53. 10. suffer vs to fall into sin and yet continue firme in loue For he doth it to make vs to distaste our pride to despaire These vses men should make of their falls of our owne strength to depend vpon him to ascribe our standing vnto him to cling the closer about him to seeke and sue vnto him for his aide to blush at our selues to thinke more charitably of other men that fall to renounce Sathan their natiue corruptions to wax wise and warie of falling and to teach other men to looke the better to ther feet and to shew his grace by helping of them vp againe Yet neuerthelesse we must be verie vigilant and take heed that we giue not the reignes to sinne For though Christ may loue a man that sinneth so it be of weakenesse yet he hateth his sinne perhaps he wil correct him sharply for it and carrie himselfe for a time like an enemie But as for him that walketh in sinne and weltereth in his wickednes sinning with full consent of will without remorse of conscience Christ doth either actually haâ—e him as if he be a Reprobate or at the least he doth not actually reueale his loue vnto him thogh he be one of Gods Elect
downe the pales of his precepts and trample vnder their feete his commandements following the swinge of their owne fansies and going a whoring after their owne lusts liuing in Atheisme and Epicurisme profanenesâ—e sensualitie haâ—ing euen the outward appearance of true pietie and ouer whelmed in the floods of wickednes But we Beloued must practise better things Let vs neuer Lord Luke 6. 4 6. him nor say we loue him vnles we labour seriously to obey him For his sheepe heare his voice and follow him Iohn 10. and those which are his faithfull and louing friends are obedient to him and striue to please him Therefore he saith Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoeuer I commaÌ„d you Moreouer loue doth Iohn 15. 14. not onely make a man in heart affect the thing loued labour in all things to please it and to auoid the doing of those things at all times which do displease and offend it but it doth also make a man to desire presence and fellowship with it to rest and content himselfe with it That we may therefore declare our loue effectuâ—â—â— to him and gather infallible assuranâ—â—â—n our soules that we doe indeed affect him we must not onely indeuour to obey him and feare by sinning to displease him but we must also coueâ— his presence desire his communion â—ffect his companie expect hiâ— coÌ„ming content our selues with his merits and rest in his loue not â—elling our soules not betroathing our selues not wedding our wills not applying our hearts nor lending our affections to any other whatsoeuer besides him His loue to vs is worthy of our whole loue to be returned to him doth deserue that all creatures in heauen and in earth whatsoeuer should come so far behind him in our affections as that they should scarce come to be named with him Vndoubtedly vnlesse we do very singularly loue Christ who hath and yet doth so singularly loue vâ— and hath declared his loue vnto vs when we were the slaues of Sathan the seruants of sin and the enemies of God hauing nothing in vs which might moue him to affect vs we should shew our selues exceeding vnkind and thanklesâ—e Seeing therfore he loued and loueth vs let vs loue him also and remonstrate our loue vnto him through the whole course of our liues by thinking speaking and dooing all things which may Miserum est ngratuÌ„ esse hominem Plaut Ingrato homine terra peius nil creat Auson expresse our loue and set forth his praise our thankfulnes For the tree must shew it selfe by the fruits Iâ—gratitude is a misery and an vnthankfull person is the worst weed that the earth doth beare a very hogge that swalloweth vp the mâ—st but lookes not to the tree from whence it falls CHAP. IIII. An eleuen reasons are vsed to moue men to brotherlie loue SEcondly seeing Christ hath loued vs we are taught by his ensample Omnis Christii actio est nostra instructio 1. Pet. 2. 27. to loue one anotâ—er His paterne must be our practise his actions must be our instructions As Peter saith concerning patience so it may be as truely said of loue that Christ hath left vs an example that we should follow his steps and therfore Paul exhorting vs to lead our liues in loue saith Walke in loue euen as Christ hath loued vs. Imitation Eph. 5. 2. is one of the diseases of the English nation wherefore seeing we will needes imitate let vs imitate the best Now we can follow none better then Christ. His patterne is most perfect and his foot-steps are most euen therefore let vs re 〈…〉 ble the one and walke in the other When Saint Iohn would win the faithfull to mutuall amitie he reasoneth after this sort Beloued 2. Iohn 4. 11 if God the Father so loued vs as that he gaue his onely sonne for vs we ought also to loue one another So I say seeing Christ hath loued vs and that exceedingly we ought also to loue one another If he loued vs who was not bound to loue vs then ought we to loue one another being bound to do so by the vertue of many bonds There are many reasons to moue perswade Ioh. 15. 12. vs. First besides that example which Christ hath giuen vs we haue his expresse Ioh. 10. 27. commaundement This is my commandement that ye loue one an other as I haue loued you Now they that are hiâ— sâ—â—epe do heaâ—e and obey his voice and follow him Therefore to distingâ—ish our selues from Goates from Rebels we must giue care vnto his voice that is loue one another as he Ioh. 13. 34. hath loued vs. Secondly his Apostles and Embassadors doe command and exhort vs to performe this dutie Paul saith Be affectioned to loue one another with brotherly loue Peter saith Loue one another Rom. 12. 10 with a pure heart seruâ—tly And Iohn inculcateth nothing more then that all 1. Pet. 2. 22. the godly should loâ—e one another But 1. Ihon. 4. 7. and 3. Ihâ—n v. 5. these were the Lords Pen-men their pens were ruled by the Lâ—rds owne singer Therefore it were a point of disloyaltie to God and â—n aâ—gument of rebellious and perueâ—se disposition to reiect or resist them and to withstand the Spirit which speaketh by them Thirdly we haue the example of holy men Dauid speaking of Ionathan saith Thy loue to me was wonderfull passing 2. Sam. 1. 26 Eph. 1. 15. Coll. 1. 4. the loue of women The Ephesians and Colossians are noted for their loue to all the Saints And Paul in praying that the Philippians loue might abound doth Phil. 1. 9. plainelie shew that they were not void of loue The Thessalonians are said to haue diligent loue and to testifie the 1. Thes 1. 3. And. 4. 10. same towards all the brethreÌ„ throughout all Macedonia Philemon was a louer Phil. 5. of all the Saints Yea Paul was so possessed with the spirit of loue as that he could euen wish himselfe to be Rom. 9. 3. seuered from Christ for his brethren that are his kinsmen according to the flesh Now as that cloud directed the Israelites in their iourney to Canaan so the ensamples of these holy men should further vs in our way to celestiall Num. 9. Canaan to heauenly Ierusalem They haue traced the way before vs by loue let vs follow their footing that we may obtaine their ioyes As euill examples do open a window to wickednes occasion the wicked to coÌ„mit iniquitie so let the good ensamples of the godly yea of God himselfe prouoke and excite vs to the works of holinesse so we following the light of their lamps shall in the end be partakers of the brightnesse of their glorie Fourthly wee were all elected by one we were all created by one to the glory of one according to the image of that one we are all effectually called by one wee are all redeemed by one blood and sanctifyed
Christ but his sheepe cannot be destroyed therefore their loue shall alway last It cannot be lost it cannot be destroyed This shall suffice for the sixt motiue that should moue vs to entertaine and practise this vertue loue drawne from the consideration of the excellencie thereof and from the manifolde commodities which it doth affoord Seauenthly if a man loue that which he ought to loue he is happie Si quis amat quod amare iuuat feliciter ardet Gaudeat Vento nauiget ille suo Ouid. in his loue he may ioy therein ride along in it without striking saile or feare of foule weather But he that loues his brethren as they are the meÌ„bers of Christ doth effect that which he should affect and which it is comfortable commodious and delightfull to affect Therefore his loue is good hee is happie in his loue and may continue therein without repentance Eightly true loue is an enemie to vice and as it links many together and makes them haue as it were one soule in many bodies so it also doth oppose it selfe to those things which ingender â—atred and discord and are the verie breake-necks of societies For in true loue there is no losse no iarres no woe no paine faith and no falsehood truth and no treacherie kindenesse but no craft salues but no sores It is as water to quench the fiâ—e of discension It is as fire to eat out the rust of rancour and the drosse of spleene and enuie It is as the Sun to dispel the coldnesse of the affections to dissolue the frosts of hatred and vncharitablenes and to melt the yâ—e of churlishnes and malice It is as a South-wind to driue away all hard weather to make vs leaue all hard cruell and vnconscionable dealing It is as bellowes to blowe vp and increase courtesie good-will familiaritie modestie and moderation It is as a Castle to beare out and indure all aduerse batterie and to arme a man against all the boults and bullets of discord and it is also an Engine to disturbe and ouerthrowe the bulwarks of debate the muniments of malice and as a Sword to cut off the head of hatred Being therefore the pillar of true fellowship the prop of grace good will an enemie to pride a chaine of gold to tie men fast together yea and an eloquent and golden-mouthed Oratour to plead for peace and to perswade to iustice it should inamour al men with it Al men ought to price it highly and to pursue it eagerly Ninthly he that loued his brother truely that is for the sake of Christ doth plainly shewe that his loue is greater vnto Christ For he that loues the seruant for his Masters sake doth much more loue the Master For the rule is that that thing for which any thing doth exist doth it selfe much more exist Therefore if I loue my brother because I loue Christ it followeth that my loue to Christ is greater then my loue to him Tenthly we ought to loue our brethren though we had no other reason to moue vs so to do but that we know that Christ doth loue them as well as vs and that the Diuel doth hate them as he doth our selues Lastly we are commaunded to do all things in loue therefore we must loue and haue loue A Goldsmith cannot trie his gold by a touchstone except he haue a touchstone A Founder cannot cast his mettell in a mould vnlesse he both haue and vse his mould neither can we cast our workes in the mould of loue vnlesse we both haue and vse it Againe We ought to reioyce Rom. 12 15. 16. with them that reioyce to weep with them that weep and to be of like affection one to another Which we can neuer do vnlesse we be possessed with the spirit of Rom. 12. 21 loue Moreouer we must not be ouercome of euil but must ouercome euill with goodnesse And we are exhorted to giue Rom. 23. 7 all men their due Which things we can neuer well performe without loue Furthermore all bitternesse wrath and Eph. 4. 31. 32. malice must be abandoned and we must be courteous and tender-hearted freely forgiuing one another euen as God for Christ his sake did freely forgiue vs. Therefore we must of necessitie be charitably minded louing We must Eph. 5. 10. approue that which is pleasing to the Lord Therefore we must approue and esteeme of loue and ratifie our approbation by our practise answerable vnto it We ought to haue no fellowship Eph. 5. 11. with the vnfruitful workes of darknes but euen to reproue them rather But want of charitie hatred and enmitie are works of darknes yea and of the Prince of darknesse are not onely vnfruitfull but hurtful Therfore we must not follow but flie theÌ„ if we must reproue theÌ„ we must in no wise practise theÌ„ but rather giue ourselues to the coÌ„trary vertues To coÌ„clude this point we are bidden to do to thinke on those things that are honest pure vertuous of good report Col. 4. 8. and worthie praise Therefore we ought to exercise our selues in loue Loue must take vp our thoughts in wishing well and our tongues in speaking and counselling well and our handes in doing well Let vs therefore Beloued embrace one another in the armes of amitie Behold saith Dauid Psal 133. 1. how good and comely a thing it is brethren to dwell together And let vs demoÌ„strate Consule castiga solare remitte feâ— ora visito poto cibo redimo tego colligo â—oÌ„do the inward affection of the heart by the visible and apparent tokens thereof in our liues instructing the ignorant comforting the afflicted pardoning the offender bearing with the weake visiting the sicke feeding the hungâ—ie cloathing the naked in doing all those duties which may confirme and testifie our loue wherewith we do affect our brethren And because God doth not onely require that our workes be good but also that they be wel performed I will briefely shew the manner how we ought to loue First we must loue in faith that is we must beleeue that God will accepâ— of our loue and forgiue the weaknesse of it for the merites of Christ Secondly we must loue euen with a mind to performe obedience to Gods commandement who bids vs loue Thirdly we must loue truely and indeed and not in shew only Therfore Paul saith let loue be without hypocrisie Rom. 12. 9. 1. Ioh. 3. 18. And Iohn saith Let vs not loue in word nor in tongue onely but in deed and truth Fourthly we must be â—arnest vehement in our loue Therefore Peter saith Loue one another with 1. Pet. 1. 22. 1. Pet. 4. 8. a pure heart ferueÌ„tly And again Aboue all things haue feruent loue among you Fiftly wee must loue constantly without wearinesse For true loue will not end while the obiect liâ—eth and Necmodus requies nisi mors reperitur amoris Ouid. the subiect
neither can this sinner whiles he so coÌ„tinueth without repentaÌ„ce distinguish himself from a Reprobate For when Christ declareth his loue actually and effectually to any man theÌ„ he smites his heart with the sword of his Sâ—irit and worketh such an alteration in his soule that thence-forward hee shall die to sinne and liue to righteousnes When Euilmerodach disclosed his Ier. 52. 31. 33. loue to Iehoiakim he brought him out of prison and changed his prison garments so when Christ doth actually reueale his loue vnto a man then he brings him out of the prison of the diuell he vnlooseth the bolts of sinne he changeth his rayments of wickednes and doth apparell him with the rich robes of his owne righteousnes And as that penitent â—aylour to manifest his good will to Paul and Silas did not Act. 16. 33. onely fetch them out of the prison ut also washed their sâ—â—ipes so Christ when he reuealeth his speciall loue vnto any then doth he wash the wounds of their soules with his blood and batheth them in the waters of his holy Spirit He casteth them as it were into a furnace and consumeth the drosse of â—in with the fire of his grace Therefore Paul saith that those who Gal. 5. 24. are Christs hâ—â—e crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts And saint Iohn saith that whosoeuer is borne of God sinâ—eth 1. Ioh. 3. 9. not meaning with full consent of heart he sinneth not vnto death he liueth not without repentance in his sinnes he drinketh not iniquitie as fishes do water he selleth not himselfe to worke wickednesse as Ahab did 1. King 21 25. Wherefore as wee must not account a man forsaken of Christ because he is ouertaken with some enormitie so againe we must take heed that we do not wilfully giue our selues vnto any manner of sinne because we heare that his loue is constant that sinne cannot make a diuorce betwixt him and vs and an vtter separation if once we were in his fauour and were vnited to him This were transcendent impietie and verie horrible ingratitude CHAP. VIII Christs Loue is the fountaine Primum Mobile indeede immobile of all good things that come to vs. His loue is not merited by vs. Seauenthly in that the Apostle giues the priority of place to Christs loue seating it before the benefits which we receiue by him I gather that his Loue is the scaturidge and foundation of all those works which he wrought for vs. His loue was the Anuill whervpon they were all forged it was the Spring from whence they sprang and the Pipe or Chanell through which they ran to vs who are as Cisternes to receiue them Therfore we must renouÌ„ce and abiuâ—e all opinion of our owne merits or foreâ—eene preparations Oâ—â— best merit which yet is no merit is to confesse freely that we can merit nothing nothing at all that good is For vnto vs belongeth nothing but opâ—â—â—â—ame and confusion of face for euer Dan. 9 8. It is Gods mere mercie and his pitie not our merits or pietie that we perish not in our sinnes And if we either wâ—â— well or worke well we must ascribe it solie to Gods good will who worketh in vs the will and the deed of his good pleasure Phil. 2. 13. Hiâ—vellâ— noÌ„ 〈◊〉 substaÌ„tia voluÌ„tatis sed Why did God honour the World with his onely Sonne Was it not because he loued the World So Christ de 〈◊〉 qualitate accipituÌ„r Ioh. 3. 16. saith for God so loued the world that he hath giuen his onely Sâ—nne to all that lay hold vpon him with the hand of a liuely faith Yea but was not his loue procured by our loue Did not our loue of him drawe his loue to vs as the Load-stone doth yron Verily no for herein saith Iohn is that loue not 1. Ioh. 4. 10. 19. that we loued God but that he loued vs and sent his sonne in loue to be a reconciliation for our sinnes We loue him because he loued vs first Why hath God raysed vs from the graue of sinne and quickened vs in his sonne and saued vs Was it not because he loued vs Paul teacheth vs to thinke so no otherwise and thereâ—ore saith But God who is rich in mercie through 〈◊〉 great loue wherwith he loued Eph. 2. 4. 5. 〈◊〉 when we were dead by sinnes hath quickened vs together in Christ by whoâ—â— grace ye are saued What mooued Christ besides his loue to giue himselfe to death for vs Iust nothing in vs therefore 1. Ioh. 3. 16. Iohn saith hereby we haue perceiued loue that he layed downe his life for vs. By whome saith Paul we haue redemption Eph. 1. 7. through his blood according to his rich Grace Nothing at all but pure loue made him bestowe himselfe vpon the Church it was his grace and not her goodnesse not because she was faire and wâ—rthie but because he was fanourable and gracious Therfore the Apostle saith Christ loued the Church and gaue himselfe for Eâ—h 5. 25. 26. her that hee might sanctifie or make her 〈…〉 e and holy clense her by the washing of water through the word By which we plainly see that his loue is the forge fountaine from whence our holines our happines and all spirituall celestiall and eternall benefits whatsoeuer do proceede and come Thus much concerning the loue of Christ The workes or tokens of his loue come now to be considered in the next words Here endeth the first part ⧠THE SECOND PART REV. 1. 5. And hath washed vs from our sinnes in or by his blood CHAP. I. The sense is giuen diuerse doubts are remoued remission of sins consenteth with regeneration in three things and differs from it in seauen other THe Apostle hauing affirmed that Christ did loue vs he doth immediatly coÌ„firme his affirmation by setting down two notable works performed by him for vs being vndoubted tokens and fruits of his loue vnto vs. The former wherof is expressed in the wordes recited His Blood that is the merit and validitie of his blood And by blood we must vnderstand his whole passion the which was accomplished at the effusion of his blood vpon the crosse For albeit as touching the diuine nâ—â—ure he cannot properly be saide to haue blood in that the Deitie is a most pure simple perfect and incomprehensible Essence void of composition alteration yet as concerning his humanitie he hath blood he shed his blood and died And for that the humane nature is not a person subsisting by it selfe but is receiued into the vniâ—â—e of his person as he is the eternall Sonne of the Father a true distinct person existing from al eternitie therfore by a figure that which is proper to one of his natures is attributed to his whole person Whence it is that Paul saith that God hath purchased the Act. 20. 28. Church by his owne blood that is God incarnate or that person
will praise the Lord during my life as long as I haue any beeing I will sing vnto my God This we should all performe but you rather then manie others because the Lord doth drawe you to it with moecords of loue then he doth the most Some furtherance thervnto you may receiue by diligent reading and examining this third part of our Tractate concerning the loue of Christ vnto vs which I dedicate vnto you for no sinister or base respect but to testifie my desire of the constant growth of those Christian vertues which haue begun to shyne and shew themselues in these your younger yeares that growing in grace and in the knowledge of Iesus Christ you may be partaker of his glorie Thus assuring my selfe of your kinde acceptance of these our labours I cease to deteine you longer and leaue you to him that neuer leaueth his but guardeth them by his grace for euer Yours in Christ Iesus to be commanded Thomas Tuke ¶ THE THIRD Part. Rom. 1. 6. And hath made vs Kings and Priests to God euen his Father CHAP. I. Christ is the Auhour of our Royaltie and Priestly dignitie Sixe vses are made of that doctrine IN these wordes is contained the second signe and action wherby Christ 〈◊〉 hath declared his loue vnto vs and in them fiue things are worthie obseruation First the Agent Christ. Secondly the Subiect vpon whome the worke is wrought Wee Thirdly the Act it selfe hee hath made vs kings and priests Fourthly the Time when he hath made Fiftly for whose or glory or â—o whom we are made euen to God his Father First for the Agent For somuch as Christ hath thus aduanced vs wee are taught to be thankfull to him If a man did freely procure his neighbor a farme or lord-ship it deserued a thankfull acceptaÌ„ce But if he did also giue him true title to a kingdome made him heire to a crowne his obligation shuld be of a far higher nature Beloued Christ hath made vs kings and heires to a crowne not of rusting gold but of eternall glorie not won by tyranny but got by righteousnes 1. Pet. 5. 7. euen by that perfect obedience which he performed for vs and is imputed 2. Tim. 4. 5. to vs. Lâ—t vs therefore be thankfull to him seek to please him And because it is he that hath made vs Priests let vs like Priests present him with the Calues of our lips let vs offer vp vnto him the sacrifice of a thankful hart testified in a thankeful tongue and expressed by our religious righteous and sober conuersations Vnthankfulnes is a poysoned roâ—te of wickednes and a fruitfull mother of mischiefe whereof we cannot but be deepely guiltie if we shal either wilfully dishonour or not care to honour him who hath so royally honoured vs. Secondly seeing it was Christ that â—ath brought vs to this honour we see that we come not to it by our birth or bloud by nature or inheritance from our parents and therefore we must not ascribe it to our selues but when like kings we get the conquest in any conflict ouer any â—inne and as Priests do ofâ—er vp vnto God any sacrifice which is accepted we must attribute al to the grace of God in Christ that of his mere good will merit hath made vs both kings and Preists It is God that worketh in vs both the will and the Phil. 2. 13. Certum est nos velle cum vâ—lumus sed ille facit vt ve limus qui operatur iâ— nobis velle Aug lib. de lib. Aâ—b c. 2. deed Indeede we will but it is by him And if he did not make vs worke as he maketh vs will to worke the work could not be wrought We may as well say that death can create life and that darknesse may make light as that we can of our selues either make or truely shew our selues to be spirituall kings and priests Thirdly in that Christ hath made vs kings and priests it argueth that he is not without power and authoritie For to create a king and to make a priest are workes of authoritie and power Esay calls him the mighty God Is 9. 6. and the Scriptures shew that we were all redeemed by him that the whole Is 53. 5. 6. Eph. 1. 7. Ioh. 13. World was created by him and therefore he must needs befull of strength and maiestie The consideratioÌ„ whereof should strike a terrour into the wicked which are his enemies and moue them to forsake their rebellions least he crâ—sh theâ— with his iron scepter and breake them in peeces like a Potters vessell And it ought to moue all the kings and potentates of the world to vaile their bonnets to bend their sceptâ—rs and to cast downe their crownes before him For he is the Prince of the Kings of the earth and is as able to dismount a king as to make a king And Reu. 15. secondly it should teach vs to seeke vnto him for his grace and to depend vpon him in aâ—oâ—r troubles Blessed are all saith Dauid that trust in him Ps 2. 12. Fourthly seing it is Christ that hath thus promoted vs we are taught to esteeme highly of this worke and benefit The excellencie of the work-man doth often commend the worke and make it more regarded The dignitie of the giuer doth moue the receiuer to account more dearely of the gift He that wrought this worke for vs is the Lord of life the father of eterâ—ie the Is 9. 6. King of glorie the Sonne of God â—nd Iudge of the world He that bestowed this benefit vpoÌ„ vs is Iesus Christ that Reu. 1. 5. faithfull witnesse and the first-borne of the dead If thy King or thy faithfull and tâ—â—stâ—e friend did giâ—e thee a costly iewell thou wouldest like it somewhat better and wouldest not easily be drawâ—n to part from it Christ our King and friend so faithful as that he spent his bloud to saue vs hath giuen vs this 〈◊〉 râ—yall gift he hath aduanced vs to this kingly condiâ—â—on let vs therefore highly pâ—izâ— iâ— and by no meanes hazard the pâ—râ—ing from it Fiftly seeing Christ hath 〈◊〉 honored his seruants let all men feare to dishonour them Thou darest not disgrace him whom thy king doth grace and durst thou dishonour him whome Christ thy king that mightie God doth grace and honour Shall â—e escape the wrath of a king that scornes a man because he hath honored him And shall we thinke that Christ that heauenly Monarch and Lion of the tribe of Iudah wil put vp those scornful wrongs that are offered by many wicked wretches vnto his Seruants because he doth grace them and by his grace doth make them flie those sins which they wrth a brazen face and browes of marble commit and blush not at Verily he that dishonours a maÌ„ because Christ doth honour him doth dishonour Christ himselfe and carieth a curse about him vnder seale and without serious and timely repentance which is not
vsuall in such obdured hearts he shall not escape it Sixtly seeing Christ doth make men kings and priests we that are desirous of this dignitie are taught to sue to him Wouldst thou bâ—aking to subdue the rebellious corruptions which lurke like tâ—aytours in thy heart Wouldest thou be a priest to offer vp vnto God the sacrifices of righteousnesse then flie to Christ he is the Spring from whence these benefits do flow it is he that makes vs kings and priests Yet here withal remember that neither the Father nor the Holy Ghost must be excluded from this worke For they haue all their hands in working of it The Father makes vs by his Sonne by â—is Spirit It was his loue that Christ was sent vnto vs and that the Holy Ghost doth come into vs. The Sonne makes vs by his merit and vertue And the Holy Ghost makes vs by working faith in our hearts whereby we lay hold vpon Christ who hath procured this dignitie for vs and doth apply vnto vs his obedience whereby we become acceptable to God and his blood whereby all our sinnes are washed the vertue of his death and resurrection whereby we die to sinne and rise to righteousnesse For all the works of God wrought vpon the creature are common to the three persons which in euerie operation do cooperate how be it in a distinct manner as Basil sheweth when he saith The Father begins the worke the Lib. de spir san c. 16. Sonne workes it in his owne person and the Holy Ghost doth finish it CHAP. II. Christ hath bestowed that foresaid honour vpon All Beleeuers This Doctrine is applied to six purposes ANd so from the Agent we come vnto the Subiect vpon whom this 〈◊〉 worke is wrought to wit all the children of God all that Christ hath loued all that he hath washed in his bloud from their sinnes of what sex or sort of what race or ranke soeuer and they alone So that first we may herby learne to know whether our sins are actually cleÌ„sed froÌ„ vs or no. For if Christ hath washed thee from them he hath also made thee a king and a priest Therefore if thou warre with sinne like a prince of spirit and dâ—est conquer the corruption of thine heart and offer vp vnto God such oblations as are pleasing vnto him then maist thou concluâ—e that Christ hath purged thee For whome he washeth them he thus honoreth with this grace to them he conferres this dignitie Secondly seeing he hath made vs kings and priests who are moâ—â—all and mâ—serable and by nature the seruants of sinne the children of wrath and his verâ—e enemies We may behold as in a mirrour First his admirable loue in scatteâ—ing the bright beames of his grace vpon such a loathsome Dunghill as we are all by reason of the rotteÌ„nes of our natures Secondly we may behold his exceeding commiseration in shewing so great mercy to such despicable and vile wretches Thirdly we maâ— see his wonderful power in quickning vs that are by nature starke dead in sin making vs to liue like spiritual kings maslâ—cring the enemies of our soules within vs and as holy preists sacrificing our selues vnto God Fourthly we see that pouâ—rtie penurie crosses calamities such like do not restraine him from bestowing his preferments Fiftly we see his integriâ—e exprâ—essing his words by works his pâ—eaching by his practise For hee commandeth vs to loue our enemies and we see Math. 5. 44. how well he hath affected vs in promoting vs so high that were his enemies And by this we see that in conferring his benefits he is far from the fashion of the world Many men do neuer shew any tokens of loue to theÌ„ that haue offended them or reuoulted from them but vsually they seeke to be reuenged of them either openly or vnder-hand But Christ hath caried no such spleene to vs but hath highly honoured vs who haue iniustly dishonoured him and many waâ—es displeased both him and his father The consideration of his loue should persuade vs to reloue him His mercy should keepe vs from dispaire His power teacheth vs to coÌ„fesse his diuinitie His practise should moue vs to do our selues as we exhort others to do as also to break the common custome of the world and to shew the fruits of loue to those that shew nothing lesse to vs. For in so doing we shall heap coales of fire vpon their heads Thirdly wee are all taught to reuerence one another Let not the rich contemne the poore let not the young despise the olde let not the noble disdaine the simple let not the learned polititian vilipend the man of meaner vnderstanding For if we be Christs we are All of vs spiritually Kings and Priests one as truely as another wee are all the Lords annointed He that aduanced one hath aduaunced the rest the poore as well as the rich the meane man as well as the mighty Monarch And though here in this world God himselfe hath made vs subiects commands our obedience to his LieutenaÌ„ts here on earth whom to disobey is to rebell against God himselfe yet when we come to take possession of our heauenly kingdome in the day of our spituall Coronation all outward circumstances shal be layde downe and if in this world the poore man haue exceeded the rich in the growth of grace be shall in the world â—o come excell him â—n the greatnes of glory For as we haue husbanded the talents of Gods graces committed to vs in this life so God in mercy will reward vs with his glory in the life to come Fourthly seeing Christ doth make those kings and priests whom hee washeth in his bloud it should stirre vs vp to labour by all meanes to be partakers of it As wee desire this true nobilitie to possesse this great aduancement so let vs be carefull of the other that in all assurance wee may enioy it For these benefites are inseparable Hee that enioyes not that Bloud hath not this honour Fiâ—â—ly seeing all the faithfull of all callings and conditions are thus aduanced we are taught not to iudge of a mans finall estate or of the qualitie of 〈◊〉 â—nward condition by his outward successe For the dearest children of God in this world as Iob Dauid Paul are vsually afflicted and sometimes so crossed as that to caâ—nall men which spend their daies in wealth their Iob. 27. 13. yeares in pleasures they seeme accursed and to be the onely miserable men that liue vpoÌ„ the earth and yet 〈◊〉 thelesse their inward estate before God is very glorious wherefore the Psalmist saith The kings daughter is all Psal 45. 13. glorious within her cloathing is of broydred gold Christ doth loue her Christ hath washt her Christ hath clad her with the golden garment of his righteousnes hath made her a royal priesthood Now as the Church our mother is so are all those that are her faithfull true children according as