Selected quad for the lemma: love_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
love_n	friend_n	great_a	love_v	6,235	5	6.3276	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A40055	Foure pious, godly, and learned treatises the first, leads us to the gate of true happinesse : the second, is for instruction, letting us to know what Christ suffer'd for us, that we might enjoy him : the third, is helps and cautions, that we may the better avoid sin : the fourth, brings us to be seekers and suers to God for those things that be above, Collo. 3 / by a late faithfull and godly minister of Jesus Christ ; now since his death recommended to all the people of God, by Mr. John Goodwin.	Late faithfull and godly minister of Jesus Christ.; Goodwin, John, 1594?-1665.	1652 (1652)	Wing F1665A; ESTC R40246	109,790	246

hee had denied Christ what cause have wee to weepe teares not of brine but of bloud when wee looke upon Christ whom we have so cruelly crucified How can that choose but bee sorrow and compunction to us that occasioned so much anguish and torment to Christ Oh that our heads were rivers and our eyes fountaines of teares that wee might weepe day and night for our sinnes and transgressions Fourthly as it serves to humble us so it serves for comfort and consolation as I told you for what saith the Apostle Christ died who shall condemne Christ died then hee hath appeased his Fathers wrath then hee hath satisfied his Fathers justice then hee hath redeemed us from Hell hee hath made Heaven smile on us hee hath purchased a crowne of glory hee hath tryumphed over and trampled under our spirituall enemies Let mee sing with Isay Isay 44.23 Isay 44.23 Sing oh heavens and shout yee lower parts of the earth Why The Lord hath redeemed Iacob and glorified himselfe in Israell And surely brethren whatsoever wee thinke now in our strength and bravery and jollitie there is nothing in the world will minister comfort but this in time of distresse when wee shall come either upon the racke of conscience or come to the sight and kenne of death or to appeare before that Tribunall there is nothing but the death of Christ will stead us What else in the world will revive and cheare a drouping soule affrighted with horrour groaning and bowed under the burden of sinne What will bee able to stablish a mans heart and conscience that fears the approach of death but this What else will make him stand upright and unapaled before Gods Tribunall at that terrible day In all these sad exigents in these times the bloud of Christ it serves as Rahabs scarlet threed it is a token to us that God will deale mercifully with us Only it must bee our care as it was the Spies condition with Rahab to tie it in the Window wee must looke to tye it to our selves by faith and applie it to our selves and then you shall never miscarry Againe as it serves for comfort and consolation so it serves as a rich Mirrour to set forth the love of God to us If the Iewes could conclude from our Saviours shedding of a few teares over Lazarus Ioh. 11.36 they see him shed a few teares over dead Lazarus Joh. 11.36 see how hee loved him say they With how much more force may wee conclude since Christ hath shed his bloud see how he loved us Greater love then this saith Christ hath no man then to lay downe his life for his friend It is true blessed Saviour greater love hath no man but thou art more then Man and thou hast done more then this for thou hast laid downe thy life for thine enemies It was the honour of that Trajan when a Souldier was wounded he suffered his owne clothes to be rent and made clouts to bind up his wounds but what is this to the love of Christ that not only did forgoe his cloathes but was content that his owne flesh should be torne for us to cover our wounds this he did Observe this love was shewed to us not to Angels creatures more noble Heb. 2.14 Heb. 2.14 By no meanes tooke hee the nature of Angels As hee did not take their nature so hee did not suffer their punishment due to their transgression and Apostacie when those sonnes of the morning fell from their prime estate they fell as the Elephant they could not raise themselves and they are still reserved in chaines of darknesse and shall to the last day but when man sinned God sent his Sonne to suffer death on the Crosse for us wee have reason to say as David Psal 8. Psal 8. Lord what is man that thou art so mindfull of him Lastly if such and so great hath beene the love of Christ to us then what can wee doe lesse then to returne like love backe againe to him Wee know a Diamond is best fashioned by a Diamond love is the best procurer and solicitour of love how can we but love God that hath sent his Sonne to die for us How can wee esteeme any thing too deare for him that esteemed nothing too deare for us And if Christ did give his life for us shall wee grudge to give a penney to part with somewhat for his members How shall wee esteeme any thing too deare for him shall we not part with our lusts for him Surely if there be any argument in the world will prevaile it is this argument from Christs love that will perswade men to obedience so saith the Apostle Saint Paul that apprehended it 2 Cor. 5. 2 Cor. 5. The love of Christ constraineth us it constraineth us to doe that that God requires Let us take heed that wee doe not trample under foot the precious bloud of Christ by committing those sinnes it was shed for Exod. 12.6 In Exod. 12.6 we shall find that the bloud of the Passeover was sprinkled on the two side-posts and the upper doore post but not upon the threshold under-foot implying and intimating in what high reverence and esteeme wee should have the bloud of Christ we should not trample on it The bloud of the Passeover was sprinkled on the two side-posts and the upper post of the house but not on the threshold underfoot If such reverence were due to that that was but the type how much is due to that that is the substance Then let us take heed wee trample not under-foot the bloud of Christ by wilfull committing those sinnes for which it was shed Let it suffice nay let it bee too much that wee have once crucified Christ let us doe so no more if wee doe so wee are worse then the Iewes Every wilfull sinne we commit we crucifie Christ and hee that crucifieth Christ now is worse then the Iewes the Iewes crucified him in the time of his humiliation and abasement but now if wee doe it it is in his exaltation when hee sits at the right hand of God Let us all take up that speech Ezra 9.14 Lord Ezra 9.14 since thou hast stayed us from being beneath for our iniquities should wee breake thy Commandements wouldest not thou returne and confound us Gods blessings are as strong physicke if it worke not health it makes more sicke Every blessing especially such as this makes us either better or worse certainly that heart is steele or brasse which the sence of the love of God cannot move to leave evill and vile courses * ⁎ * FINIS THE EPICURES CAVTION LVK. 21.34 And take heede to your selves least at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting and drunkennesse and the cares of this life and so that day come upon you unawares IN the Verses going before from the 25. Coherence to the 34. of this Chapter our blessed Saviour had discoursed in the hearing of his Disciples

it was with the friends of Iob miserable comforters as himselfe justly stiles them they saw him afflicted in his goods in his children in his person and from these premises they concluded presently that he was an hypocrite Thus it was with the barbarous people Act. 23. Act. 23. when they saw a Viper fastned upon Saint Pauls hand presently the Viper strongly indited him a murtherer Nay Christs Disciples did so Joh. 9.29 Ioh. 9.29 no sooner did they see a man that was borne blind but they they questioned with our Saviour Who sinned this man or his parents that he was borne blind implying that it must needs bee that this man must sinne himselfe blinde So it was with the Iewes in this Chapter Vers 3. they saw Christ despised and rejected of men and presently they inferre that he was rejected of God smitten of God and humbled for his owne sinnes but such men must thinke that even Christ himselfe who like Absalom from the crowne of his head to the sole of his foote had no stayne or blemish of sinne in him yet hee tasted as deepe of the cup of Gods wrath and more than any mortal man besides he that stood highest in his Fathers favour was most low and despicable in the eyes of the world he that was the favourite of his Father in whom his Father was well pleased yet hee was not exempt from that scourge wherewith God chasteneth every Sonne that he receiveth Fourthly if Christ suffered not for his owne sinnes This reades us a Lecture of patience to put up injuries though they bee not deserved in the world It is the plea of some men when they are injured it would not trouble me if I deserved it thinke what Christ deserved at the hands of the Iewes what hee had done that hee was so used In 2 Pet. 4 21. Christ dyed 2 Pet. 4.21 and hath left us an example to follow his steps What example but an example of patience that we should follow him when wee suffer undeserving Seneca gives that advise in his 69. Epistle as if hee had beene a Disciple of Christ 2. Pet. 3.21 We should labour to imitate Christ in this in putting up and digesting injuries though on our part they be cause lesse and undeserved In 2. Pet. 3.21 What glory is it if when yee be buffeted for your faults yee take it patiently what great matter is it but if when you doe well and suffer for it then you beare it patiently this is acceptable to God It is true it is acceptable to God that wee suffer punishment patiently when wee have deserved it but when wee are patient and have not deserved it it is highly acceptable as the word imparts Fiftly and lastly Christ dyed not for his owne sinnes then here is Balme in Gilead comfort for wounded and distressed consciences that faint under the weight and burden of their sinnes It is true indeede if Christ had dyed for his owne sinnes then our estate had beene woefull and lamentable then hee had quit scores only with God for himselfe but we should still have remayned as deepely ingaged as ever and have beene cast into utter darkenesse and have beene reserved in chaynes till we had payd the utmost farthing but now Christ hath suffered for us Then as the Apostle inferres Rom. 8.34 Rom. 8.34 Who shall condemne Let Sathan the accuser of the brethren bring what objections hee will this one plea will answer all Christ dyed if he dyed then he hath appeased the wrath of God to us and payd the debt of the Law and the punishment of the Law and fulfilled obedience and given satisfaction to God Christ had no sinne of his owne therefore what hee suffered it was for our sinnes and transgressions This shall suffice to bee spoken of the negative part from this particular But that carries the force of a negation That Christ was affirmed to suffer for his owne sinne We judged him smitten of God and humbled But. The affirmative part followes to be handled But He was wounded for our transgressions Where I shall not neede to tell you that by being wounded in this place wee are not to understand onely nor principally as some Popish writers doe the bodily torments and tortures of Christ that hee as this day indured on the Crosse but withall and especially those secret agonies and conflicts of soule that he felt that were caused out of a deeper apprehension of the greatnesse of our sinnes that hee suffered for and the sense of the greatnesse of Gods wrath that hee then sustained which being so the conclusion from this affirmitive part is this that Christ Iesus suffered extreame torments in his body and sad and amazing agonies in his soule for our sinnes and trangressions He was wounded for our transgressions c. For the proofe of it I neede not range far from the Text. In the fourth verse of this Chapter surely saith the Prophet hee hath borne our griefes and sorrowes In the fifth vers hee was bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was on him by his stripes wee are healed In the sixth vers The Lord hath layd upon him the iniquitie of us all In the eighth vers For the transgression of my people was he stricken In vers 10. He made his soule an offering for sinne In the 12. vers he poured out his soule to death Wee see he was broken for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was on him and this not onely in body but in soule too he poured out his soule to death he made his soule an offering for sinne If you aske the reason why I answer first It is a rule of the Schooles where the gift is free and undeserved without merit or desert on our part there the best if not the onely reason that can bee assigned of that gift is the free grace and love of the doner So this gift is freely from Christs love to us so saith the Apostle Eph. 5.2 Eph. 5.2 Let us love one another as Christ hath loved us and given himselfe a ransome for us where hee shewes not only the manner how wee should love one another As Christ hath loved us but the motive how he loved us hee suffered for us he loved us and gave himselfe a ransome for us Secondly as it was the love of Christ to give himselfe so it was the love of God that gave Christ as Christ saith it of himselfe so hee speakes it likewise of his Father Joh. 3.16 Ioh. 3.16 God so loved the world that hee gave his only begotten Sonne c. Wee must not thinke that God then begins to love us when God is actually reconciled to us in his Sonne so some conceive but amisse if I be not deceived and mistaken for saith the Apostle Rom. 5.18 Rom. 5.18 Hee loved us when wee were enemies God loves us not only when wee are friends when wee are actually reconciled by

the death of his Sonne but when wee were enemies S. Aug. psal 113. So saith S. Austin upon Psal 110. God loves us when hee hates us hee loves us as creatures when notwithstanding hee hates us as sinners So I say God doth not then begin to love us when wee are actually reconciled by the death of his Sonne but hee first loved us and because hee loved us therefore hee gave his Sonne Pet. Mart. As Peter Martyr saith excellently as the pledge and pawne and earnest of his love So then that is the second reason that as Christ gave himselfe out of love so God gave Christ because he loved us Thirdly as the love of God was the cause of this so the justice of God required that Christ should die For God had no purpose to redeeme man and man being not able to satisfie Gods justice for his sinne it was needfull that Christ as our suretie should answer that that wee were not able to doe and to take our burden Vse 1 And here when wee consider the infinite wisedome of God devising so to fit a means for the reconciling the mercy and justice of God in our salvation and redemption wee have cause to crie out with the Apostle Oh the deepnesse and riches of the knowledge and wisedome of God how unsearchable are his judgements and his wayes past finding out It is true I denie not the print and footsteppes of the wayes of God in the Creation the Heathens themselves discovered by the darke and dimme light of reason The Heathen could discerne it in the Creation but for the print of his footsteps in Redemption men and Angels could not conceive how infinite justice and infinite mercy should come together how sinners should die eternally and bee saved eternally and live for ever How God should be just and yet man that had sinned not die these wayes are past finding out But now in the death of Christ all these seeming contradictions are easily reconciled For now as in the cōposing of Davids Ditty Mercy and Iustice are met together truth and mercie kisse each other For first that God should punish sinne at all it was an act of Gods justice but that God should punish sinne not in our selves but in Christ it was an act of mercy That God should exact the payment of the debt to the utmost far thing it was an act of severe justice but that hee did not exact it at our hands our selves but at the hands of our Suretie this was mercy infinite mercy So that wee have great cause to say and so wee may well with David wee may say on this occasion of Redemption as hee on the Creation Psal 104. Psal 104. How admirable are thy workes In wondrous wisedome thou hast made them all That for the first use Secondly as it serves to set up the wondrous greatnesse of Gods wisedome so likewise it serves to set forth the grievousnesse and haynousnesse of our sinnes It is a true saying No glasse can represent so fully the grievousnesse of our sinnes not the torments of the damned in Hell as the torments of Christ on the Crosse for sin Surely those sinnes must needes bee great that could not bee expiated but at so deare a rate as the shedding of the bloud of Christ I come not to dispute here as the Schooles nicely and curiously and unprofitably whether God could have devised another means to worke the redemption of man kind besides the death of his Sonne I know it is not for man to confine the wisdome of God and to say this God can doe as he saith to the Sea Hither shalt thou goe and here thou shalt stay thy proud waves shall goe no further It is not for man to say so to Gods wisedome and power this God can doe and hee can doe no more But let me tell you thus much that the Sonne of God was more precious and deare in the eyes of his Father then to suffer him to die a cursed death if the worke of redemption could bee so well and so conveniently accomplished otherwise I cannot thinke but that the Sonne of God was more precious in the eyes of his Father then to suffer him to undergo such a cursed Ignominious death if redemption could have beene effected by other meanes Nay I speake more boldly for I may doe it upon good ground the satisfaction for mans sinne it was such a worke as could not have beene performed but by the finger of God Men nor Angels could not doe it they might have given some satisfaction but they could not give a valuable satisfaction 1 Tim. 1.6 As it is 1 Tim. 1.6 Christ gave himselfe a ransome for all that is not all he gave himselfe not only a ransome but a full valuable sufficient ransome I say all men and Angels could not have given to God a sufficient ransome First not men because no man can pay his owne score therefore hee cannot satisfie for others Secondly not Angels being finite created natures they could not undergoe the punishment of our sinnes which was infinite there was an infinite punishment due to our sinnes because we had offended infinite justice and there is no creature can undergoe an infinite punishment Nay I say more all the Angels and Arch-angells in Heaven if they had united their forces to sustaine and indure one moment those exceeding unexpressible agonies that Christ indured on the Crosse when hee said My God my God why hast thou forsaken mee they would have broken them and have crushed them downe irrecoverably to Hell Then farr bee it from us to set light by those sinnes the weight and burden whereof none but Christ could undergoe and when hee did undergoe them it made him bow and buckle and by his owne confession it made his soule heavy to death Thirdly as it serves to discover the greatnesse of our sinnes so it serves to provoke us to sorrow and humiliation for our sinnes for what did Christ shed droppes of bloud for our sinnes and shall not wee shed teares for them Thus it was with the converts Act. 2 37. Act. 2.37 when Peter told them your wicked hands have crucified Christ saith the Text they were pricked in their hearts Nay that is not all they were pricked through in their hearts or violently as it were all the floud-gates of sorrow were opened they were pricked thorow with sorrow And mistake mee not Brethren thinke not that it was the souldiers and the Iewes only that crucified Christ no it was every one of us our hands are as deeply imbrewed in the bloud of Christ as theirs Our wicked thoughts are as thornes that goared his precious head Our wicked actions are as nayles that fastned his hands and feete to the tree Our oathes and blasphemies are as swords and speares that pierced his sacred side Oh then can wee choose but bee pricked in our hearts when wee have crucified Christ If Peter went out and wept bitterly when