on him and love him that so they might come to partake of this peculiar love Ioh. 11.42 and 17.21.22.23 and 20.31 As Iesus Christ set forth the privilledges of his disciples in the hearing of the multitude Mat. 5.3.8 That the multitude hearing the same might bee alured to become his disciples that so they might also come to partake of such priviledges II. More speciall and peculiar for such as by the spirit of grace are enabled through the Gospell in the knowledge of the propitiation made by Christ and the eternall life that is in him and the love of God in the gift of his son to believe the truth and goodnesse of the report of the Gospell so as there through they are convinced and emptied of their former delight and considences and alured and overcome to submit and come into Christ Rom. 6.17 Isa 55.4.5 Ioh. 6.44.45 And in believing receive from God through Christ remission of sins peace in conscience and accesse to God Act. 10.43 Rom. 5.1.2 Eph. 2.17.18 So as heerby they are enabled to believe both the redemption and reconciliation wrought in and by Christ with God which is in him and hee is and that reconciliation that by his spirit he worketh in men to God and the eternall life that is in him to bestow and in this believing to depend on him for the same and in that dependance to love both him and their brethren Rom. 5.6.7.8.11 and 4.22.25 1. Pet. 1.8.21.22.23 These though yet accumbred with such like infirmities as these disciples were are yet true believers in end lovers of Christ and built upon him and in the same condition and so loved even as they were as is evident by comparing our saviours profession to Peter and Peters aplication of the same to all unfeyned believers and lovers of Christ Mat. 16.16.17.18 With 1. Pet. 2.3.4.5.9 And our saviours promise to all so believing in and loving of him Ioh. 14.21.23 And this affirmation charge and direction is recorded for their learning that through patience and comfort of the scriptures they may have hope Rom. 15.4 And so not only know they are beloved but even so beloved of Iesus Christ even as the Apostle writ to those that believed and knew they had life that they might farther know this eternall life and their having of it and so believe more and more and have their joy full 1. Ioh. 5.10.11.12.13 and 1.4 with Ioh. 15.11 Object It seemes as if believers now could not have like assurance of such peculiar love and so such consolation in it as the e had to whom Christ spake it because they had it from Christ his owne mouth which none now can have because he is in heaven Ans This is a great mistake and wrong conception confuted by our saviour himself who before he lift the world did testifie that he would send another advocate and comforter even the Holy Spirit of truth in his stead and place to be with the believers for ever and that his Spirit should bring his words to their remembrance and teach them al things Ioh. 14.16.17.18.21.23.26 Yea soe as it should be noe dammage to them that he left the world and went to his Father but more gainfull to them then if he had not gone in bodily presence from them Joh. 16.7.8.15 And this Holy Spirit gives to believers a twofold knowledge of this peculiar love though not both alwayes at once and this he doth I. By making a man a believer glorifying Christ so in his hart as hee not only brings him to believe the propitiation made by him but in believing that love and goodnesse to depend on God in Christ for farther saving and for that eternall life that is in him 1. Pet. 1.21 Rom. 3.24 25. and 4.23 25. and 5.8 9 11. And therein effects love and a Christ-like disposition 2 Cor. 3.3 In which believing he gives them interest in Christ and in al that is Christ 1 Cor. 1.30 and 3.22 23. And such in their believing veiw of this affimation and invitation may know themselves so beloved and envited of Christ and have the same assurance and consolation thereof that these had to whom Christ spake If not somthing more then they had till after his assencion that they received the promise of the more abundant portion of the Holy Ghost compare Rom. 15.4.5 1 Joh. 5.10.13 with Joh. 16.7 15. and 30.31 II. By a more peculiar witnessing such love as this into their believing hart Rom. 8.15 16 17. By a supernaturall illumination and inspiration of his gracious word and promise into the hart in which hee cleares up and sheads abroad even this peculiar love more abundantly therein Ioh. 14.26 Rom. 5.5 Tit. 3.5 6. By which Spirit Christ doth manifest his presence with them acquaint them with the things of the Father and himselfe which gives more abundant consolation to the beleevers as it did to these when they received the same Joh. 14.21 23. and 16 13 14 15.7 Act. 2. Cant. 1.2 And to this end was this recorded that believers might know certainly their interest in this peculiar love and have the consolation of it waite therein for the more full peculiar testimony therof so great their consolation thereby From these three things thus observed Viz. That it is Jesus Christ that hath affirmed so great love c. And that it was affirmed to believers and that it is recorded for believers that they may know how they are beloved I. Al that reade and heare the same should be stirred up to obey and embrace the Gospell of Christ in which not only deliverance from sin and death is declared and tendered but also for such as doe believe such peculiar love and eternall life to be farther found in Christ and the greater grace it tenders the greater the sin and the more woful the condition of al that doe slight and disobey the cal thereof Act. 8.38.39.41 Hose 11 7. Heb. 2.3 and 12.25 2 Thes 1 8. Oh that men would believe and turne II. Believers have good cause to praise and glorify God for recording the affirmationes of and invitationes to such grace in the Gospell Rev. 22.16 17. And also to give the more ernest heed to this great love and to the invitation and direction for continuance therein seeing it is from Christ to them Heb. 2.1 4. And according to this threefold consideration vew the words themselves now in the words themselves are three things considerable I. Our Saviour serious affirmation of his love and the manner of it to his disciples As the Father hath loved me soe have I loved you II. His gracious exortation invitation or charge Continue yee in my love III. His sweet and safe direction how to continue in his love including a promise in it If yee keepe my commandments yee shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commands and abide in his love I. The first thing to be vewed in our Saviour serious
3.7.8 Jsa 40.7.8 In mortifying all the affections and lusts of the flesh and lustes after any thing besides this love of Christ and the fruites thereof Coll. 3.1.4 Gall. 5 23. In carrying us forth to the acknowledgment of our owne nothingnesse and confession of the great love of God and seeking the enjoyment of it more and more abundantly Psal 103. Rom. 1 16. Cant. 1.2.3.4 In enflaming our desires and commanding all our powres for all services of love through all labours and sufferings laid before us Rom. 12.12 Phill. 2.1.2.6 Rev. 12.11 2 Cor. 5.14 And this is to yeild up too and to eate and drink in and digest his love Ioh. 4.32.34 VI. To exercise our selves and walke in this love of his with this remembrance and estimate of and considence in and yeelding to the opperation of this his love and to do all wee have to do in performances or sufferings in and through this remembrance beliefe and acknowledgment of the love of Christ which is to walke in his love 1 Cor. 13 1 13 and 16 14. VII To rejoyce evermore in the Lord and in this his love and to give him thanks waighting for the enjoyment of the fulnesse thereof Phill. 4.4 1 Thess 5.18 1 Joh. 3.1 2 And thus also we shall be cloathed with his love All these particulars joyned together are encluded in continuing in his love soe that the sence whether briefly propounded or largly set forth with explication meete in one to continue in his love in performance of which abideing in his love what freedome from sinne in respect of accusation or tirannicall commands what freedom from the bondage of the law and from terrors and feares of wrath and death What enjoyment of peace and joye What heavenly operationes in purifying the hart and silling with childlike love desires and sweet content What experiments of strength and goodnesse is found none know but those that experiment it Rom. 5.1 5. 1 Cor. 2.14 But al they that continue thus in his love doe both know and experiment it such and soe good that is better then life 1 Ioh. 3.1 2 3. Psal 63.1 2 3. And they have their experiments for the proofe and can set their scale to the same witnessing him to be true Rom. 8.1 2. Ioh. 7.37.38.39 3.33 And from this gracious charge and invitation of our Saviour to his disciples to continue in his love arise two observationes clearly Obs I. The insinit love and good will of Jesus Christ to those that believe in him and love him farther shewing it selfe in this that he is not content only to love them and so peculiarly to love them yea and to make known such love to them also but that hee would have them also alwayes to continue and abide in this his peculiar love and receive al refreshing and satisfying in it and to be ever with him and before him eateing and drincking loves in his presence Psal 36.8 and 65.4 Cant. 5.1 A favour greater then that of David to Mephibosheth 2 Sam. 9.7 Even as much as that desired by the church Cant. 8 6. Well may his love be said to passe knowledge for height breadth depth length Eph. 3.18 19. Obs II. The infinit obligation in which believers are to Jesus Christ and soc their duty and way that is safe and seemly for them and well-pleasing to him namely To continue and abide in this his love Allwayes to remember and prize it to rest on and yeild too it to dwell and walke in it as is before-shewne Eph 5.1 2. and 4.1 7 20 24. Psal 23. to the end To which his great love obligeth and his charge from both which there are good grounds and strong motives of much usefulnesse to us as to instance a little It serveth I. To reprove such believers and professors of the Gospel of much faultinesse and ingratitude as having made some beginnings in the Spirit and in receite of some spirituall light in the Gospel helping them to believe have experimented not only peace in conscience in beliefe of the atonement made by Christ but also in dependance on Christ have met with some discoveries insights and tast of his peculiar love and lovelinesse and the sweet movings and operationes thereof 2 Cor. 3 3 18. Heb. 10. Gall. 3.1 2. and 4 15. Who notwithstanding are againe withdrawne and turned aside either to delight themselves with or to heape up to themselves or adorne themselves with or seeke satisfying in the glory riches and things of this world 2 Tim. 4 10. Or to please themselves or others in any idollatrous or superstitious service or to perfect themselves in becomming under the bondage of the law to help themselves with fleshly observances and performances to make up their assurance or faith Gall. 3.1 13. and 5.1 5 6. and 4. Yea or that have in any sort left their first love met with in Jesus Christ Rev. 2.4.5 To which what need more be said then Behold and remember this his so great love And what hart will it not wound to think that it should bee so bewitched after the tast therof to commit so great folly to preferre vanity to charge the all mightie with iniquity to requite him so evill that is so gracious Oh great solly Gall. 3.1 2 3 4. Ier. 2.5 6 13 41 46. Deut. 32.2.6 7. II. To admonish all that have believed in Jesus Christ and loved him to acknowledge the cause of all their weaknesse and in temptationes readinesse to start aside for gain or feare all their murmurings discontents all their follies through envy wrath or any worldly or fleshly lusts to proceed from a forgetfulnesse of this great love of Jesus Christ and of God in him and want of resting thereon and yeilding up to and walking in the motiones thereof which would have preserved them Iam. 1.12 Deut. 32.4.5.6.15 III. To exort us to love the Lord Jesus Psal 31.23 And to set forth the praises of his love Psal 145. to the end And to continue and abide in his love accepting it and yeilding to it as is before shewne the directiones whereto followeth The third thing to bee veiwed is the sweet and safe direction our Saviour giveth his disciples how to continue in his love in which direction a gracious promise is encluded If yee keep my commandments yea shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commandments and abide in his love FOR our better understanding of this direction and promise First wee have two things to bee enquired into Viz. I. What were the Fathers commandments concerning Jesus Christ which he kept II. How or in what manner Jesus Christ kept his Fathers commandments secondly wee have two things expressed to be veiwed and believed of us Viz. I. That Iesus Christ did keepe his Fathers commandments II. That in keeping them he did abide in his Fathers love Thirdly wee have our saviours assirmation containing both I. The direction how and II. The promise
and so without sin and this the scripture sets forth as his peculiar hee knew no sin he did no sin c. Ioh. 8 46. Heb. 7 26. Ioh. 17.4 Isa 50 and 53. Heb. 2 13. Ioh 13 1. Mat. 4 and 10. Ioh. 17 2 Cor. 5.21 1 Pet. 2 22 3 18. And that every one of us yea the best of all his servants while heere on earth offend in many things Iam. 3.2 Having sin still in nature Iob. 14 4 and 15 14. And also in his life Rom. 7 15. Gall 5 17. Against the law of works Rom. 3.19 20. Yea and the Gospell and so even against the law of grace In strists about the worke peculiar to Christ seeking in endavours to make peace and give satisfaction by performances or to doe in ones owne strength to make up duty and conscience good Rom. 9 32 and 10 3 and 7 15 24 25. and 8 7 8. Gall. 2 and 3. Or else in short-comming of that which through grace given wee might in the faith and love mencioned or walking therein to the denyall of the flesh and yeelding up to the Spirit in all things Rom. 7 15 25. Gall. 5 17. Yea it may bee in failing in particular service or ministration yea so certaine it is that all of us do in some things offend that who ever saith either that hee hath no sin or that he hath not sinned there is no truth in him and he casteth the lye on God Ioh. 1.8 10. Neither can any regenerate man avoid this by saying personally in themselves they have no sin or of themselves they do no sin but onely as they are one with their brethren and reckon themselves after them so they are sinners and do sin while any of their brethren have sin and are found to sin for in such a sence even so might Jesus Christ himself have said Isa 53 2. Cor. 5 21. 1 Pet. 2 24. And so may he still be said to suffer affliction Act. 9 4. Coll. 1 24. Isa 61 9. And to want of his fulnesse and perfection Eph. 1 23 and 4 13. And yet is this his peculiar that he knew no sin nor did sin being Holy harmelesse undefiled separate from sinners which could not bee if any could be said to be without sin in this life in such a sence besides himself Therefore there is yet one thing more to be put in in our keeping his commandements namely that as any sin is yet found either in our nature or life either against law of works or law of grace in failing either in faith or love or walking therein and yeelding to the Spirit there through according to grace received So wee in the acknowledgement of this his grace do speedily confesse our sins and seeke remission and healing of him and so in confidence of his goodnesse and love of brethren go one still in his way before him 1 Sam. 12 20 22. Pro. 28 13 14. 1 Ioh. 1 7 9. And in these five particulars is comprehended the keeping of his commands that appertaines to us III. For the third thing in this point the manner of keeping his commandements even as hee kept his Fathers commandements what this also is Viz. I. That all be done in an one-nesse and a greement of mind and will with the mind and will of Christ and God in Christ and so from the motion of the Spirit and law writ in the hart 1 Cor. 2 16 2. Cor. 3 3 17 18. II. Faithfully in the midst of his house and among the sons of men even a perverse people and in the midst of temptationes from the world the flesh and the devill Psal 101. Phill. 1 27 30 and 2 15 16 17. III. Constantly at all times and in all things with patience through all labours and sufferings till the season of entring his rest be fully given Act. 14 22. 2 Tim. 2 3 and 3 11 12. Mat. 10. Which will be but a first fruites heere Heb. 4 3 11. And perfectly at their departure hence Rev. 14 13. And gloriously at his comming againe for which they looke and long Phill. 3 20 21. 2 Cor. 5 1 6. 2 Tim. 4 8. Rev. 22 17 20. IV. Holding and excercising faith and love through all these 2 Cor. 5 1 14 19 c. For thus it is in all these respects before shewne that Christ kept his Fathers commandements And thus it is shewne what the commandments and the keeping of them with the manner thereof is Which may be Vse I. A discovery of the mistake or scant conceiptiones of the truth of such as in this place by commandements understand noe farther thing but the precepts of ten-words engraven in tables of stone and delivered by Moses to the people to be first kept by Christ by his Fathers command and to be now kept by believers by Christs command which beeing a law without us and enjoinning to doe and live will leave us all under sinne and death it beeing impossible for us to have life and enjoy the righteousnesse of the law that way because wee cannot perform the righteousnesse that apertayneth to us according to that law Rom. 3 10 20. Gall. 3 10. Rom. 8 3 4 Phill. 3 3 9. And though it were perfectly performed by Iesus Christ yet if there had not beene greater commandments that he received of the Father and performed for us our faith were but vayne and wee had beene in our sinnes and soe in danger of wrath still Ioh. 10 18 and 12.31 Heb. 9 22 26. 1 Cor. 15 14 17 18 Rom. 3 25. The ignorance whereof causeth many to establish a righteousnesse of their owne by setting upon the law and so submit not to Christ who is the end of the law for righteousnesse Rom. 10.3 4 In whom nothing avayleth but faith which worketh by love Gall. 5 6 All which may be clearly and fully seen in that which is all-ready said about this buy sinesse Vse II. And this also may bee an information of the cause of soe much darknesse and so many great and smarting afflictiones that many believers in this life do fall into namely because they keepe not the commandements which Christ hath put in their harts which are the same the Father by his Spirit through Christ hath given unto them which had they attended too their peace had beene as a river and their righteousnesse as the waves of the Sea Psal 89 30 31 32. Isa 48 18. Soe that the cause of such smarting afflictiones on them is not because they were unable to keepe the law of works or came short thereof through a necessity by that weaknesse Psal 103 10 and 143 2 Nor yet because they were unable to walke suitable and answerable to the Gospell or law of grace or fell short thereof through a necessity by that weaknesse Psal 130 3 4. For God requires in this no more then hee hath sowne Luk. 19.21.22 But in and according to the Gospell accepts of believers the will for the deed and requires