Christ Day and Night or I tell thee from the Lord thou wilt certainly lament it when it is too late and that to Eternity for it is not I but the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it O remember I beseech you and forget not that this very Call will be as Oil to the Flames in Hell O how will this torment yonder is my Father in Heaven my Brother in Heaven my Neighbour in Heaven and I was offer'd Christ as well as they I might had Christ but would not I must be for ever burning and tormented in these Flames May we not imagine and expect that Souls upon these Considerations should fly to Christ as Doves to the Windows And do they not What is the Reason Oh they are under delusion about it they think they are in Christ already they hope to be saved by Christ And is not this thy case that readest these Lines But are not thou deceived Look well to it look again and again to it that thou and others may be undeceived I shall come to a use of Tryal And the Lord help thee to apply every Mark to thy own Heart diligently faithfully Use 3. For Examination The Love of Christ to Believers is a surpassing Love But have we an Interest in this Love as one said when he looked on the Rain-bow and therein read God's Covenant never to drown the World more Ah! but what is that to me if I be be drown'd So here Christ hath infinite Love for his But what if I have no part in it as he said Christ is to me a Grief and a Torment because I have refused him rejected him have no part in him Ah Souls look and search narrowly into it that you be not mistaken How many Souls are undone meerly by Mistakes Therefore Paul presseth so hard this Work of Examination 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine prove know your own States see what Grounds you build upon that you may not think your selves loved of God when you are Reprobates such as God will never own 1. Where the Love of Christ is there is the Image of Christ 2 Cor. 5. 17. If any man be in Christ he is a new Creature he is transform'd into the same Image 2 Cor. 3. 18. He hath a Participation of God He is holy as God is holy Christ's Beloveds are Holy Ones 2. Where the Love of Christ is there is the Spirit of Christ If any man hath not the spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. And they that have the Spirit of Christ are led by the Spirit ver 14. Gal. 5. 16 25. Christ's beloved Ones are spiritual Walkers Here is a Touchstone for Professors 3. Where the Love of Christ is upon a Soul that Soul is a true Lover of Jesus Christ Cant. 2. 16. My beloved is mine and I am hiâ— Love is the Loadstone the attractive of Love We love him because he first loved us 1 John 4. 19. Object Many will reply here If this be a Mark of the Love of Christ then we hope all is well We do not question but we love Christ as well as any other and it is pity they should live that do not love Christ Answ It is true indeed But how many deceive themselves with this Who questions his Love to Christ except it be a few weak doubting Souls It is hard to perswade them that they do love Christ The generality of the World though ignorant carnal profane will pretend to love Christ though they love the World better a Lust better But this is a Love Christ will never own Therefore I shall give you some Characters of true and saving Love to Christ such Love as Christ will own 1. A true Lover of Christ loves nothing in comparison of Christ nothing in competition with Christ 1. He loves nothing in comparison of Christ To one that is a stranger to Christ the World is lovely Sins Lusts lovely there is a great deal of Beauty and Glory in worldly Riches and Honours But when a Soul hath a right view of Christ then transit gloria mundi then all worldly Glory is eclipsed Phil. 3. 7 8. Now all Paul's former Gains are loss dross dung not only his worldly but Pharisaical Gains too Before a Man hath a Righteousness of his own which he highly values but now all is as filthy Rags 2. He loves nothing in competition with Christ If Houses Lands Friends yea Life it self stand in competition with Christ that he must forsake these or Christ True love of Christ bears down all before it Now he is enabled to say after Christ Mat. 16. 24 25 26. and follow the Example of that noble Marquis Farewel Crown Kingdom Wife Children and All that I may go to Christ Now what say'st thou Soul Judge righteous Judgment Thou lovest Christ thou say'st but dost thou not love something else better Thou canst not part with a Lust or petty Vanity for him This then is a Love which Christ will never own But poor doubting Believer thou may'st be here gathering Evidences Thou art afraid thou dost not love Christ savingly But dost thou love any thing else better If thou find it really in thine own Heart there is nothing whatsoever that thou-lovest better than Christ thou may'st conclude thou dost truly love Christ For there is never an Unbeliever in the World but there is something or other which he loves better than Christ 2. A true Lover of Christ loves all Christ and all Christ above all things 1. He loves all Christ 1. The Person of Christ 1 Cor. 2. 2. He sees Beauty and Glory in Christ John 1. 14. We beheld his glory said the Disciples You see desireableness in his Benefits but not in his Person then your Love is not right 2. The People of Christ Psal 16. 3. My delight is in the Saints saith a true Lover of Christ these are the excellent in the earth 3. The Ordinances of Christ How amiable are thy Tabernacles O Lord of Hosts my Soul longs for them saith a Lover of Christ Psal 84. 1 2. There I was wont to meet with my Beloved there I have had glorious views of him sweet tasts precious Solacements delightful Communions there I have sate under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet unto my taste He hath brought me into his banquetting-house and his banner over me was love Cant. 2. 3 4. There I have eaten of his Bread and drank of the Wine which he hath mingled there I have been ravished with his Loves 4. The Ways of Christ A Beloved of Christ loves his holy Laws and Government he can experience David's Language Psal 119. 111. Thy testimonies have I taken as mine heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart A Lover of Christ accounts his ways not his bondage but his heritage not his slavery but his liberty and that not for a fit as a Carnalist Formalist may seem to do but for ever Now Soul thou
that art deluded about thy Love to Christ lay these things together and apply them faithfully and thou may'st find it Thou say'st thou lovest Christ that is his Benefits but as to his Person thou say'st as Isa 53. 2. There is no form nor comeliness no beauty that we should desire him You say you love Christ but his Ordinances are of no value to you You love Christ but you hate his People scoff at revile them 1 John 5. 1. That Text tells you That he that loves God loves him also that is begotten of him You say you love Christ but hate Holiness you cannot endure the power of Godliness Holy Duties Religious Exercises are not your heritage but your bondage not your liberty but your slavery Soul do not let Satan gull thee that love of thine is but a counterfeit Love which thou may'st go to Hell with 2. He loves all Christ above all things 1. Above all things on Earth 2. Above all things in Heaven Cant. 5. 10. Christ is the chief among ten thousand to him yea as verse last altogether lovely All desires 1. Above all things on Earth Mat. 10. 37. If any man love father or mother more then me he is not worthy of me Father and Mother are instanced as the chief of all worldly Objects Son and Daughter and Life Yet if Christ be not preferred above all these our Love is such as Christ will not own 2. Above all things in Heaven Psal 73. 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none in earth I desire in comparison of thee Soul apply this to your self Do you love Christ above all things Then it is a Love which Christ will own 3. A True Lover of Christ his Heart is taken up with Christ his Life is taken up with Christ 1. His Heart is taken up with Christ Christ is much in his Thoughts Desires Meditations Cant. 1. 13. A bundle of myrrh is my beloved unto me he shall lie all night betwixt my breasts Can you say you love Christ and he is little in your thoughts Lovers cannot but have their thoughts run upon one another The World is much in your thoughts vain Company Pleasures the Profits of the World much in your thoughts and Christ but little in your thoughts These things shew you have but little Love to Christ It is the Character of a Beloved of Christ Christ shall be as a bundle of myrrh to me Myrrh was of fragrant smell and delightful Christ shall be sweet unto my Thoughts Christ shall delight my Heart saith a gracious Soul 2. His Life is taken up with Christ 1. He speaks Christ much Psal 37. 30 31. The mouth of the righteous is as choice silver and his tongue talketh of judgment Lovers are much talking of one another Is Christ little in your Mouth It is a sign he is little and low in your Heart 2. He lives Christ Gal. 2. 20. The life that I live I live by the faith of the son of God His Care and Endeavour is to live a Christ-like Life a Gospel-life Do you love Christ and live in sin and wickedness in open rebellion against Christ You have not so learned Christ Ephes 4. 20. to 24. If you love Christ and have learned Christ you will put off the old Man with his corrupt Deeds and put on the new Man of Righteousness and True Holiness or else your Love to Christ is but a Fancy Object If this be a Character of a Beloved of Christ I am afraid I have not a dram of True Love to Christ O how little do I live Christ How contrary do I live to Christ This may be the Objection of a weak Believer Answ You must not judge of your self by the measure of Grace but by the truth of Grace Christ will not bring a pair of Balances to weigh your Graces but a Touchstone to try the Truth of them The best of Saints are far short of the Life they ought to iâ—e far short of the Pattern Christ hath set them You must not expect to attain it legally but evangelically not perfectly but sinâ—erely But is it your chief Care and Business Thus it is with every Beloved of Christ Can you in truth and sincerity say with David Psal 119. 5 6 7 112. The best of Saints are more in desires and endeavours then attainments Here is the Mercy we have to deal with God in a Covenant of Grace And this is the Glory of it That it accepts of sincerity for perfection According to the tenour of it a Christian is what he sincerely desires and endeavours to be 2 Cor. 8. 12. If there be first a willing mind it is accepted according to what a man hath and not according to that a man hath not Doubting Soul Are these the real Workings of thy Heart â— that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes O that there were such an Heart in me O that I could wholly live to God! O that I might never sin more O that I could come up to the whole Will of God that I could attain to the top of Holiness This according to the Covenant of Grace is living Christ And here thou hast an Evidence of true Love to Christ 4. A true Lover of Christ earnestly longs for a nearer conjunction to Christ fuller communion with Christ in Grace in Glory 1. In Grace Isa 26. 8 9. The desire of the Soul is to his Presence it cannot live without the Presence of Christ When it goes to a Duty it is the Presence of Christ it breaths after O 〈◊〉 wilt thou come unto me Psal 101. 2. O that I may have communion with thee Tell me O thou whom my soul loveth where thâ—â— feedest where thou meetest with thy flocks O let me not be of thâ—â— that turn aside Cant. 1. 7. My soul breaketh with longing c. Psal 119. 20. Doubting Soul Canst thou read these in thy Heart thou 〈◊〉 an Evidence of true Love to Christ But thou Soul that 〈◊〉 live without the Presence of Christ canst go all the Day all 〈◊〉 Week without his presence and be quiet company of 〈◊〉 worldly Enjoyments can content thee Thou hast cause to 〈◊〉 nay thou mayest conclude thou hast not a dram of Saving-love 〈◊〉 Christ in thy Soul 2. In Glory Psal 42. 1 2. O when shall I come and appear 〈◊〉 thee When shall I have the full Enjoyment of Thee These 〈◊〉 the workings of a gracious Soul I have had some glympses 〈◊〉 times Oh how glorious are they Oh when shall I see his 〈◊〉 Rev. 22. 4. We have some little Enjoyment of his Presence 〈◊〉 times some times solace our selves with Love and blessed be the Lord for them But how soon are they lost again Oh when will the time come when we shall enjoy him fully without cessation without intermission for ever and ever and ever when we shall be for ever with the Lord 1 Thes 4. 17. I desire to be dissolved
of Christ As if it were enough for others such a Sinner and such a Sinner but not for you It was â— Brand upon the Israelites that they limited the Holy One of 〈◊〉 They spake against God What did they say Can God furnish a 〈◊〉 in the wilderness He clave the rock and the waters came Can â—e 〈◊〉 bread also Psal 78. 19 20 41. O the unreasonableness of Unbelâ—â—â—â— Certainly he that could turn the Rock into Water could if he pleaâ—â— turn it into Bread Is not this your Case As if you should 〈◊〉 He can pardon others but can he pardon me Can he over 〈◊〉 all my Sins This is to limit the Grace of Christ 3. You dishonour the Grace of God His Wisdom As if thâ— might a better way been found out His Love As if htere 〈◊〉 not enough for you His Power As if he was not able to pass 〈◊〉 so many Offences His Truth And so make him a Lyar. 〈◊〉 to deny him to be a God For if he be God he is Truth yea 〈◊〉 it self Abraham honoured him herein Rom. 4. 20. He 〈◊〉 not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith 〈◊〉 ving glory to God O it is a clear case it is your unbelief be 〈◊〉 of it 4. You displease God by your unbelief Luther lay under 〈◊〉 for a time but when he was lead to this that nothing was 〈◊〉 pleasing to God then to believe in his Son the Work was easie to 〈◊〉 Ah Soul thou dost not think how pleasing it is Thou can'st 〈◊〉 please God better then by believing in Jesus 5. You grieve Christ and his Spirit Psal 95. 10 11. 〈◊〉 years was I grieved with this generation and sware they should not 〈◊〉 into my rest Who were they that he was so grieved with 〈◊〉 may see if you compare it with Hebr. 3. 17 18 19. They 〈◊〉 those that believed not 6. You provoke God A Man is provoked when we will 〈◊〉 believe him Psal 95. 8. Harden not your hearts as in the 〈◊〉 What was the Provocation Psal 78. 22. Because they 〈◊〉 in God and trusted not in his salvation Therefore the Lord was 〈◊〉 a fire was kindlâ—d against Jacob and anger came up against Israel 〈◊〉 sweet Soul dread this unbelief 7. You lose all the sweet Sights and Tasts of Christ and Grace I shall say to thee as Christ to Martha John 11. 40. If thou wouldest believe thou shouldest see the glory of God O the glorious Grace and Love you should see You should see Christ glorious in pardoning Love comforting Love saving Love Doubting Soul here is an open Door And wilt thou not enter O venture venture upon Christ As Esther 4. 16. If I perish I perish As the Lepers at the Gate of Samaria 2 Kings 7. 3 4. If they went into the City they died if they stayed there they died The Syrians were their Enemies they might expect death from them but being in this dilemma they ventur'd and had good Success Soul this is just thy case If thou stay in thy Sins thou dyest thou may'st look upon Christ as thine Enemy He may justly curse thee damn thee but thou must be damned if thou goest not to him Thou canst but perish therefore venture on him Go and believe and thou shalt certainly have good Success Never any perished in this way Believe and you exalt the Grace of Christ Christ is exalted Acts 5. 31. Grace is exalted Isa 30. 18. Are your Sins as great as the Mountains Are there Mountains of vileness and unworthiness in the way Grace is exalted above them all What is the great Mountain before Zerubbabel It shall be made a Plain and thou shall at last cry Grace Grace Zech. 4. 7. Use 5. 1. Consolat To all Believers both weak and strong O blessed are ye of the Lord ye are partakers of this matchless unparallel Love Christ loves you with a surpassing Love A Love that cannot be express'd a Love that cannot be comprehended We cannot express the Love that ye are loved with neither can ye conceive it Ye are loved even as Christ is John 17. 23. with a great with an infinite with an everlasting Love Eye hath not seen nor ear heard nor heart conceived the things which God hath prepared for you 1 Cor. 2. 9. For Direction hearken to these Counsels 1. Admire this Love as Paul here doth Indeed you cannot sufficiently admire but be admiring Cry out as the Apostle Oh the depth of the riches of the wisdom and goodness of God! How unsearchable are his ways and past finding out Rom. 11. 33. O the height and depth and length and breadth of this Love of Christ Ephes 3. 18. Call in the Help of all the Beloved of Christ Help me all my Fellow-Disciples help me all ye Friends of the Bridegroom Join in this Choir all ye Angels and Archangels O magnifie the Lord with me and let us exalt his Nametogether 2. Labour to return Love for Love Doth Christ love you O dâ— you love him Are you dear to Christ O let Christ be dear to youâ— Say as the Spouse Cant. 5. 16. This is my beloved this is my friend Love him with a Love of desire Love him with a Love of 〈◊〉 light Love him with a Love of admiration Love him with 〈◊〉 Love of Satisfaction Love him with the Love of Adhaesion 〈◊〉 you cannot say you are sick of Love be sick that you can 〈◊〉 him no more 3. Take heed O take heed of abusing this Love What a 〈◊〉 thing will it be to abuse this Love Is this thy Kindness to 〈◊〉 Friend may Christ say Quest When do we abuse this Love Answ 1. When we indulge our selves in Sin Every Beloved 〈◊〉 Christ should say as Joseph Gen. 39. 9. How shall I do this great wiâ—â—edness and sin against Christ 2. When we grow remiss in Duty 2 Cor. 5. 14 15. O 〈◊〉 Love of Christ should constrain to be more humble holy activâ— diligent careful to please fearful to offend live at a higher 〈◊〉 for Heaven 3. When we doubt and question his Love Give way to 〈◊〉 giving Thoughts the Unbelievings of our own Hearts Christ 〈◊〉 needs take this very ill at our Hands when he hath given 〈◊〉 demonstrations of his Love that greater cannot be given John 〈◊〉 13. Rom. 5. 8. Herein God commended his Love as if a great 〈◊〉 Testimony could not be given Walk answerably to this Love Oh how should a People so 〈◊〉 loved walk How earnestly doth the Apostle press this Ephes 4. 〈◊〉 He beseeches them to walk worthy So Colos 1. 10. That ye may 〈◊〉 worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing Believers Be ye Humble 〈◊〉 Heavenly Spiritual Zealous of Good Works Tit. 2. 14. Be Zeal 〈◊〉 for Christ's Honour Zealous for his Glory Lovers can never 〈◊〉 they do enough for one another are tender of one another 〈◊〉 tender of Christ's Name and Interest study his Love endeavâ—â—â— to exalt his Name his Love his Honour and Glory Oh 〈◊〉 manner of Persons ought ye to be in all holy Conversation and â—â—â—liness 2 Pet. 3. 11. Make this the Care and Business of your 〈◊〉 love Christ live Christ glorifie Christ And when Christ who 〈◊〉 your Life shall appear then shall ye also appear with him in Gloâ—â— FINIS
A DISCOURSE ON The Love of Christ BY WILLIAM SHEPPARD A. M. and Minister of the Gospel at Oundle in Northamptonshire LONDON Printed for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and Three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers-Chapel 1695. EPHES. iii. 19. And to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge THE Apostle Paul was here diving into the deeps of the Love of Christ and diving into it fell into a Labyrinth and an immense Ocean which set him into an Admiration Indeed after our greatest Searchings into and Discoveries of the Love of Christ the most we can doe is admire not comprehend So it was with the Apostle here when he set to search he found it unsearchable his Line was too short his Measure too narrow to reach this heighth and depth and length and breadth Therefore he draws this Conclusion That it is a Love beyond Knowledge We may Express much but we may Conceive more This Love is not only above all we can express but also above all we can conceive above Knowledge To know the Love of Christ. Not excluding but including the Love of the Father It is called the Love of Christ because the Love of the whole Trinity is convey'd to us in and through Christ Which passeth Knowledge Excelleth exceedeth Knowledge as the word in the Original signifies viz. wholly to comprehend Every true Believer knoweth so much of it by the teaching of the Spirit of God as is necessary to Salvation yet the more he knoweth the more he knoweth it to be Incomprehensible and past Knowledge We may take Three general Notes from the words 1st That the Love of Christ to Believers is so rich and unsearchable so vast and boundless so matchless and unparallel so immense and infinite that the best of Saints cannot understand it fully so as to be able to express the infinite and unsearchable Riches of it They have a true knowledge of it but they know it but in part 1 Cor. 13. 9. 2dly Though this Love of Christ be unsearchable yet every true Believer may and does attain to a certain measure of the knowledge of it so far as to know it to be infinite and unsearchable They may know it so far as to stand and wonder stand and admire not being able perfectly to comprehend it and this is the Work of Sâ—ints 〈◊〉 That the Unsearchableness of the Love of Christ should 〈◊〉 far from discouraging Believers that it should so much the more encourage and engage them to search after it for he seemeth to add this passeth knowledge to provoke the more to seek after it The Doctrine we shall insist upon as containing the sum and marrow of the words is this Doct. That the Love of Christ to Believers is a surpassing Love an infinite unparallel Love Therefore we read of the Unsearchable Riches of Christ Ephes 3. 8. Here are Two things to be shown I. What this Love of Christ is II. Why Christ loves Believers with such a surpassing Love 1. What this Love of Christ to Believers is And here what shall we say Doth not the Text say it is past knowledge Have not we already said it is such as we cannot express such as we cannot conceive How shall we dare to attempt such an Undertaking as this May not the Lord say Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge Job 38. 2. May we not say here as St. Paul speaks of his Revelation 2 Cor. 12. 4. He was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words which it is not lawful you may read not possible for a man to utter The Original is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worldless words such things as words will not bear cannot bear The Tongue of Men nor Angels cannot declare this Love in the unsearchable infinite nature of it Therefore the most we can doe is to speak something of the Properties of it which we shall endeavour to give some hints of according to Scripture-light 1. It is great Love So great as surpasseth Knowledge The Love of Christ to Believers is so great and they are so dear to him that he thought nothing too much for them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 supereminens sublimis excelâ—a magnitudo He thought nothing too much to give therefore because he could give them no greater he gave them Himself Nothing too much to doe for them as Jacob served twice seven Years for Rachael and they seemed to him but a few Days because he loved her Gen. 29. 20. Nothing too much to suffer for them 1. He suffered in his Body Reviling Spitting Buffeting Scourging His whole Life was but a Suffering He suffered to his Heart's Blood Phil. 2. 6 7 8. 2. He suffer'd in his Soul which were the highest Sufferings 1. He endur'd the Curses yea all the Curses of the Law which his People should have borne Oh the thousands of dreadful Indictments the Law had against thee The Thunder and Lightning it denounces The fire and Brimstone it spits at thee All this did this loving Jesus bear for thee that art a true Believer and bear away Gal. 3. 13. 2. He endured the Wrath of God Isa 53. 4 5 6. Oh what Love was this Christ hath borne Griefs but they were our Griefs He carried Sorrows but they were our Sorrows He was wounded for Transgressions but they were our Transgressions He was bruised but it was for our Iniquities He was chastised but it was that we might have Peace He had Stripes but it was that we might be healed O Believer be astonish'd at this Love Christ had the Curse that thou might'st have the Blessing Christ had the Wrath that thou might'st have the Love Christ had the Misery that thou might'st have th Glory 3. He endured Dereliction of God at least in his own apprehension for a time Believer Think thou hearest Christ crying out My God! My God! Why hast thou forsaken me As Man he crieth out Why hast thou forsaken me as God My God! My God! and all this for thee Nay Christ was really forsaken of God for a time as to the sensible and comfortable Manifestations of God's Presence 4. He endured the Torments of Hell Not that Christ did descend into the Local Hell though I believe there is a Place where the Damned suffer the Vengeance of Eternal Fire that was not consonant with the Dignity of his Person nor Office of a Mediator But Christ did endure such Torments as did tantamount the Torments of Hell Psal 18. 5. The sorrows of hell compassed me about For Christ endured all that Wrath that was due for all the Sins of all the Elect from the Beginning to the End of the World which they must else have endured to all Eternity they must have suffered but could never satisfie Therefore the Damned must suffer for ever because they cannot satisfie for ever Christ suffered and satisfied Oh what Love was here to Believers Christ emptied himself of all his Glory for them He came down from Heaven to Earth
He took their Nature their Sins their Curse their Wrath their Hell He fulfilled the Law he satisfied Divine justice He pray'd he mourn'd he liv'd he died for them Lo how he loved them 2. Christ's Love to Believers is a Free Love 1. Undeserved Love Ezek. 16. 3 4 5 6 8. They were polluted in their Blood and when they were in their Bloud Christ said to them Live And why Why it was a time of Love Tit. 3. 3 4 5 6 7. They were also sometimes as well as others foolish disobedient deceived serving divers Lusts and Pleasures c. It was the meer Kindness and Love of God appeared to them justifying them freely by his Grace Rom. 3. 24. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10 11. We can provoke him to Wrath but not move God to Love it ariseth from Himself God's Chusing Calling Justifying Adopting Saving Love is all free undeserved Love 2. Undesired Love Isai 65. 1. This is the Voice of the Lord I am sought of them that asked not for me I am found of them 〈◊〉 sought me not Not so much as a Prayer What could be less thaâ— a little Breath to shew there was nothing done to procure thâ—â— Love It is Free Love 3. Christ's Love to Believers is a singular Love a distinguishing Love It is not to all but to some not to many but a 〈◊〉 Amos 3. 2. You only have I known Jer. 3. 14. One of a city two 〈◊〉 family two in a bed the one taken and the other left the 〈◊〉 band taken and the Wife left the Wife taken and the Husbanâ— left the Child taken and the Parents left Oh this makes it 〈◊〉 nishing Love Joh. 14. 22 Believer Dost not thou find this 〈◊〉 Love ravish thy Heart Doth not thy Heart burn within thee whilst thou readest these Lines 4. The Love of Christ to Believers is a Sincere Love a True Unfeigned Cordial Love His Heart is in it Cant. 4. 9. It is Christ's Voice to his Spouse his Heart was set upon her even to Ravishment so it is upon every sincere Believer And it will appear to be no counterfeit Love if you consider what he hath done what he hath suffer'd for them A greater Demonstration he could not give than his Dying for them Joh 15. 3â— 5. Christ's Love to Believers is a Superlative Love a Love of the Highest degree a Love above aâ—â— above all his above his Glory for he left it for them above his Life for he laid it down for them a Love above all other a Love to the Believer above all other Persons to pass by thousands and love thee a Love above all other Love to lay down his Life and that not for a near dear choice Friend but a vile wicked cruel Enemy I never heard nor read but of one in all my Life that lay'd down his Life for another and that was a Child for his Father A Citizen of Toledo being condemn'd to die his Son offer'd to die for him and was accepted This was a Child for his Father not an Enemy nor an ordinary Friend but the best of Friends a Father But Christ died not for a Father a Friend but an Enemy a Wretch a Rebel Rom. 5. 8 10. 6. Christ's Love to Believers is an Insuperable Love a Love that nothing can pose No Difficulty that Christ met with could pose it When Christ had undertook and God stood upon the fulfilling all Righteousness and satisfying Justice to the full that after he had by his active Obedience done all that could be required there must be passive Obedience too yet Christ did not shrink at this neither and after he had suffer'd much many Indignities from Men and Severities from God as in the Garden he sweat Drops of Blood yet it must come to his Life He did not spare that neither Joh. 15. 13. Was there ever any love like unto this love Certainly we may say here as David of Jonathan Thy love passed the love of women 7. Christ's Love to Believers is an inseparable Love Here are Two things 1. It is Constant Love Men will love to day and hate to morrow but when once God sets his Love upon a Soul he never takes it off more where he loves he always loves whatsoever their Carriage is towards Him when they deserve to be hated whatsoever His Carrriage seems to be towards them When he chides he loves when he hides he loves 1. When he chides he loves Rev. 3. 19. He chastens yet he loves Heb. 12. 6. He visits with the Rod yet still loves Psal 89. 30 31 32 33. 2. When he hides he loves Isa 54. 7 8 10. For his iniquity I was wroth and smote him I hid me says God Isa 57. 16 17 18. It seems as if it was God's Expectation that he should turn But did he turn No he went on frowardly in the way of his Heart What might we expect that the Lord should say now but that I will take away my Love for ever I will curse him Plague him Damn him But is it so No he loves still Oh to be admired Love See what follows in ver 18. I will heal him yea and restore comforts to him and to his mourners too 2. It is permanent and abiding Love lasting yea everlasting Love It reaches from Eternity to Eternity from eternal Chusiâ— to eternal Glorifying an unchangeable Love Though Christ's Face change sometime smile sometimes frown though his Hand his Actions change sometimes Hand-mercies Comforts sometimes Hand-strokes yet his Heart never changes whom he loves he loves to the end Joh. 13 1. II. Why Christ loves Believers with such a surpassing Love 1. Because these are they on whom the Riches of Grace shall be advanced for ever This is the great and glorious Design that was upon God's Heart from all Eternity to advance the Riches of his Grace in Christ upon poor Sinners Now these are the Souls that this glorious Design shall be advanced on and they must needs be beloved Ones that serve for the advancement of this glorious Design God may magnifie his Justice upon Persons and yet hate them but he never magnifies his Mercy and Grace on any but he loves them O Believers all the great things that ever God did was for You Creation was for you Christ for you Redemption was for you That 's the first Reason why Believers are so beloved 〈◊〉 because they are Persons set apart to advance the Riches of Godâ— Grace in Christ Psal 4. 3. These are they the Lord set apart foâ— himself for himself to enjoy for himself to converse with for himself to delight in to all Eternity 2. Because they are lovely in his sight not as they are in themselves but as they are in him by his Righteousness imputed his Graces communicated Cant. 4. 1. Behold thou art fair my Love behold thou art fair 1. By his Righteousness imputed Christ is made Righteousness to them 1 Cor. 1. 30. And they are made Righteous accounted Righteous
in him nay they are made the Righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. Now Christ looks upon us in this Righteousness and so accounts us lovely Hence he is said to see no iniquity in Jacob not that there was none but he sees it not looking on us in his own Righteousness Now they are pardon'd and as fully pardon'd as if they had never sin'd Therefore we read Jer. 50. 20. The iniquity of Israel shall be sought for and there shall be none and the sins of Judah and they shall not be found Why for I will pardon them Before they were in their Blood Filthiness Pollution and so ugly loathsome but now they are by this Righteousness beautiful lovely and so loved There is Christ's essential personal Righteousness as God this cannot be communicated but there is his mediatory Righteousness wrought as Mediatour This is imputed to them and by virtue of this they stand justified in God's sight and therefore loved 2. By his Graces imparted They are cloathed with Rubies and Saphires and all the shining Graces of the Spirit See how Christ adorns them Ezek. 16. 9 to 14. And how lovely they are in his sight by reason of these Ornaments Christ is the common Stock of Grace and they derive from him Grace for Grace viz. of every Grace according to their measure Gratiam novâ gratiâ comulatam The Father loves his Child because he is like him Believers are changed into God's Image from Glory to Glory 2 Cor. 3. 18. Now they are glorious in his Eyes and therfore loved 3. Because they are his Propriety is the ground of Love We love our own our own Relations our own Enjoyments Houses Lands c. A Believer is Christ's own and therefore loved Cant. 7. â—0 I am my beloved's and then it follows his desire is towards me They are his Friends his Favourites his Members his Spouse his Hephzibahs his Beulahs Isa 62. 4. his Jewels Mal. 3. 17. his Treasure and where the treasure is there will the heart be also Matth. 6. 21. 1. They are his chosen Ones John 15. 16. Ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you Indeed there is nothing to cause him to chuse but his own Love Misericordia ejus praevenit secundum gratiam non secundum debitum Aug. God's Love is Eternal and therefore can have no cause but it self for Non est gratia si praecesserint merita as Aug. 2 Tim. 1. 9. There purpose and grace are put together Christ loved them therefore he hath chosen them now he hath chosen them therefore loves them 2. They are his purchased Ones They are bought with a price 1 Cor. 6. 20. and that not a little one neither They are purchased at a dear rate they cost no less than Blood and that not the the Bloud of Bulls and Goats Hebr. 10. 4. nor the Blood of meer Man but the Blood of Christ nothing but Blood could do it precious Blood and that the precious Blood of the precious Christ 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. nay farther the Blood of God Acts 20. 28. for if the Divine Nature had not been hypostatically united to the human it would not have made the Purchase O what a Price is here surely these must needs be precious Souls dearly beloved Souls that cost such a price and Christ must needs love them highly for they are all the Fruit of his precious Blood all the Income that he is ever like to have for this inestimable Price Thus we see that there is great Reason though all from himself why Christ loves Believers with such a surpassing Love Object It doth not appear by God's Dealings with them in the World as if he loved them so but rather as if he loved others more and hated them Others have the sweet and they have the bitter others have their Eyes stand out with fatness and have more than Heart can wish when the Godly are chasten'd every Morning Psal 73. 4. to 7 14. Answ It is true God doth often exercise his People with cross Providences contrary Dealings They are in Trouble when others are in Peace they are in Sorrow when others are in Joy but this is in infinite Wisdom and Love to them These if rightly understood speak Love and God should not love them so much if he did not deal thus with them 1. It is to correct them for their Miscarriages If a Father should see his Child run on in ways tending to his own Ruine and not correct him would you not judge he rather hated then lov'd him So when God sees his Child grow undutiful disobedient fall into such ways as tend to his Perdition Is it not his great Love to use his Rod rather than lose his Child Whom I love I rebuke and chasten Rev. 3. 19. I rebuke but yet I love yea I rebuke because I love The Reason is evident it is to take away his Sin which would undoe him Isaiah 27. 9. By this shall the Iniquity of Jacob be purged and it shall be the Fruit of it to take away his Sin As the Rod is better than Death than Hell so it is greater Love to scourge him then to spare his Child God had one Son without Sin but never a Son without Sorrow Heb. 12. 6 10. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth But is this Love Yea for it is for our profit that we may be made partakers of his Holiness I know the Children of God are often crying out If I belong'd to God surely I should not be so afflicted As David My Foot had almost slipt Psal 73. 2 3. But thou that art a Child of God if thou weighest these Things may'st see how thou art beholding to God for Afflictions and cross Providences and instead of questioning his Love bless his Name that he will take so much pains and be at so much trouble with thee Therefore let thine Apprehensions be rectified herein and say as David Psal 119. 75. I know O Lord that thy judgments are right and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me 2. It is to exercise them to exercise their Graces This was God's End as far as appears by the Text in Job's great Afflictions and Tryals 1 Pet. 1. 6 7. If need be ye are in heaviness There is the first Particular to correct them and then it follows for the Tryal of their Faith Tribulations are to try the Saints Faith Love Patience Humility Self-denial c. Tryals have discover'd many to be far otherways than they expected To try their Faith Whether they can trust God under his chidings and hidings as well as his shinings It was in this School of Affliction that Job learned this great Lesson Though he slay me yet will I trust in him Job 13. 15. But how often do Souls find the contrary O saith a Soul I never thought there were so much Unbelief Impatience Pride Stubborness in my Heart as I found under such a Tryal To
and to be with Christ Moriar Domine ut te videam nolo vivere volo mori August Let me die Lord that I may see thee I will not live I will die Make haste my Beloved and be like to a roe or hart on the mountains of spices Cant. 8. ult Come Lord Jesus Come quickly Note Because I would not discourage the weakest Believer You may take notice That Love may be consider'd in the spark or in the flame and that this last Particular speaks Love rather in the flame 5. A true Lover of Christ thinks nothing too much to doe nothing too much to suffer for Christ 1. Nothing too much to doe for Christ Lovers think they can never doe too much for one another Gen. 29. 20. Jacob served seven Years for Rachel and they seemed but as a few Days for the Love he had to her A Beloved of Christ thinks he can never Pray too much Hear too much Doe too much in the Work of Christ Is it not otherwise with thee Thou think'st thou can'st never doe too much for the World Is not this thy Character we read of Eccles 4. 8 There is no end of all his labours for the World Plowing Sowing Riding Running Carking Caring for the World early and late thou never thinkest this too much but thou takest little Pains for Christ If one hour will not serve for the World thou wilt rise sooner But I appeal to thy own Heart when did'st thou an hour the earlier for Prayer to cry to God for a Christ Thou art soon weary of these and thinkest it more adoe than needs This speaks little Love to Christ 2. Nothing too much to suffer for Christ 1. He thinks not too much to suffer Reproaches for Christ Heb. 11. 26. He accounts them his Riches Glory 1 Pet. 4. 14. He thinks not too much to suffer Losses for Christ loss of Goods of Good Name Heb. 10. â—4 He believes he shall be no Loser by it Mat. 19. 29. He hath this Principle rooted in his Heart That he may lose much for Christ but shall never lose by Christ 3. He thinks it not too much to suffer Death for Christ Rev. 12. 11. They loved not their Lives unto the death Act. 21. 13. 6. A true Lover of Christ is exceedingly cast-down at the withdrawings of Christ and solaced with the returns of Christ 1. He is exceedingly cast-down at the withdrawings of Christ All his Peace and Comfort is gone when Christ is gone The Spouse lost Christ He withdrew himself And how was it with her Her Soul failed she was as swooning dying As Jacob's life was bound up in the Lad's life so is a Believer's life and all the comforts of it in Christ He saith as Absolon when shut out from his Father's Presence Let me die if I may not see his face so saith the Beloved of Christ And I have heard some Souls crying out most hideously under Divine Withdrawings Oh I cannot bear these Withdrawings I cannot live without God's Presence I had rather die a thousand Deaths than be in this Condition Woe Woe Woe is me I sojourn in Mesech and dwell in the Tents of Kedar Thou Soul that knowest not what these things mean can'st read these in thine Heart whatever thy Doubtings and Mis-givings of Heart may be about thy love to Christ thou may'st look upon them as Evidences of it let not Satan rob thee of thy peace and comfort be not faithless but believing and believing rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of glory But if thou that readest these lines art one that can endure distance from God you cannot bear distance from Friends and those you love but it is a great disquiet to you but you can be without God and it never troubles you let not Satan gull thee nor thy Heart deceive thee for I tell thee from the Lord That thou hast not the least spark of Saving Love to Christ 2. He is exceedingly revived rejoyced at the returns of Christ He saith as Mephibosheth Let him take all since my Lord is come back Let Worldlings take the World so I may have Christ Let Profane Ones take their Lusts so I may love Christ let Voluptuous Ones take their Pleasures so I may have Christ let Ambitious Ones take their Honours so I may have Christ I have enough The lines are fallen to me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly heritage Psal 16. 5 6. Return to thy rest O my soul for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee Psal 116. 6 7. Use 4. What Encouragement is here for poor awakened Soulâ—â— that are distressed for a Christ Oh here is a Jesus full of love matchless love away to him He is all love to coming Souls he is all wrath to Unbelievers to Sinners that stand it out against him he saith Those mine Enemies that will not come bring hither and 〈◊〉 before me But he is all love to coming souls he stands with open Arms ready to receive them his Heart is full of love Hands full of love Come poor Sinners here is my Blood my Love my Purchases my Benefits all for thee away with all your doubts and fears do not dispute your selves out of Christ Obj. Oh but I am vile so vile I dare not come Ans What if thou art never so vile if Christ hath love enough to swallow up all thy vileness then this need not hinder thy coming to Christ his love is infinite boundless bottomless thy sin is but the sin of a finite Creature his love is the love of an Infinite God Jer. 3. 12 13 14. Go and proclaim these words and say Return thou backsliding Israel saith the Lord and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon thee for I am merciful saith the Lord. God gives Commission to his Ministers to go and proclaim That if Sinners will come to him they shall have Mercy Soul this I have commission from the Lord to tell thee That if thou wilt come in to the Lord thou shalt have Mercy the Mouth of the Lord hath spoken it Obj. Oh but I am a great Sinner If I were not so great a Sinner I could hope Ans What if thy sins are never so great if the love of Christ be greater Isa 1. 18. Come saith the Lord and though your sins be as scarlet they shall be as white as snow though they be red like crimson they shall be as wool As if he had said Let your Sins be never so great of never such a Crimson dye yet if you will but come you shall have Mercy Though thy sins have weaken'd the Law and made that unable to save thee yet it hath not weaken'd Christ Rom. 8. 3. Christ came to doe that which the Law could not doe Heb. â— 25. 26 That Text tells you That he is able to the uttermost to save those that come Christ is able to the uttermost of your sins to the uttermost of your doubts and fears neither quantity nor