Election doth Nor yet is this meaning so fully suitable to the sense of the place and force of the Argument For glory was given and doth appertain to our Savior not as man alone but as the Second person in the glorious Trinity as we opened and gave in undeniable evidence thereof in the former Doctrine As our Savior was the subject of this glory which was given so is he the subject of that love which gives it But that Election properly so termed should be attributed to Christ as the second person I do not remember that any Scripture evidenceth Therefore in the. Third and last place I do conceive that this love is attributed to the Father in a personal regard and for the manner of it it doth in a proper and peculiar sort appertain to him and Issues from that inward and intimate relation that is betwixt the Father and the Son The Father gives al to the Son as Son The Son returnes al to the Father as Father Nor a Father because God but because he hath a Son Not Son Because God But because he hath a Father And hence it is they are said to have an In-being each in other Beleevest thou that the Father is in me and I in the Father Joh. 14.8 9. Thou in me and I in thee that they may be one as we are one And for that reason it is the Father is said To dwel in Christ the second person Joh. 14.10 And that cannot in any propriety of speech be said of the Essence because that the person dwels not in the Essence For relations make no impression in the subject Hence it is the Lord Jesus becomes the object of his Father love his heart wholly affects his thoughts are wholly set upon him taken up with him An infinite and eternal Favorite of an infinite and eternal Father Called the express Character of his Fathers person Hebr. 1.3 No such likeness No such Love So that he cannot once look off from him Enamoured with him and with an infinite fulness of Soul-pleasing satisfaction takes contentment in him Hence our Savior professeth Prov. 8.30 I was dayly his Delight The Original word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a compound of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 intueri 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 retinere so to eye blande applicaâ—e fe alteri ut inclusum retineamus in solidum So to Eye and pleasingly to apply our selves to another as to hold keep that other with us for ever So the Father doth gaze upon the infinite beauty of his own image in his Son bestows his affection wholly upon him and holds him to himself for ever The Father and the Son being subsistences of the same Essence they are one with another in regard of the Essence unto which they be adjoined and one in another in regard of the personal relation that is betwen them they are the delight one of another and glorifie each other continually The issue then is In that the Father eyes affects delights in his Son as the brightness of his Glory the express image of his person as his only begotten bearing his similitude and likeness in an unconceivable and unmatchable resemblance This love in this manner is proper to the Father the fountain and first cause of that glory the Lord Jesus had with the Father before the world was and the first cause whence that glory comes to be restored after he had emptied himself of his glory and suffered the shameful death of the Cross Father glorifie me with thy self with the same glory that I had with thee before the world was And hence it is our Savior is said to be in the bosom and to come from his bosom He lay in the bosom of his love and from thence was sent to reveal those bosom secrets of the riches of his free love and Grace which Els had never seen Sun This is the love wherewith the Father loved the Son before the world and this love is the cause why he gave him that glory And that appears by a double Reason REAS. I. Love laies out it self for the behoof and benefit of the thing beloved as much as may be for the furtherance of the good of it to the utmost of that perfection its able to contrive and the other able to receive saies not in wishes but is active and working not desires only in a kind of complementing formality but really procures what may be most useful for the advancement of the thing beloved Let us not love in word and Tongue only 1. Joh. 3.18 But in Deed. The love of the Father being of greatest excellency even of unconceivable vertue efficacy our Savior being of unmatchable likeness to draw out the love of the Father and incomparable worth to deserve it it could not be but so great love should give the greatest good to one of greatest desert and therefore must give him that incomprehensible glory which might be the amazement of the hearts of men and Angels through al eternity Behold here is the incomprehensible glory of the ever blessed Son given out of the unconceivable love of the Father of glory Hence the Evangelist Joh. 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand In love there is no lack and its bountiful and studies the advancement of the thing beloved So Jonathan to David I know thou shalt be King in Israel and I shal be second to thee He loved him as his own Soul and could have given that to him and therefore did not grudg him the Kingdom And however it cannot stand with the glory of the Father that his Son should be above him yet he provides for eminency of honor answerable to his excellency He hath so provided carried al things by the counsel of his own wil and course of his providence to bring in al praise to this Christ He hath given power to him even power to have life and to quicken whom he wil and to judg al. Joh. 5.20 to 23. That al might honor the Son and they honor the Father 2. Love is of a cementing Nature desires union and neerness with the thing beloved is not pleased nor satisfied but with the presence of that which it doth affect seeks the fellowship society and company of that in a special manner It s the guise of the Spouse that is sick of Love when she went to seek her Savior Cant. 3. I found him whom my Soul loved I held him and would not let him go So Ruth to Naomi when she perswaded her to depart and go into her own Countrey Intreat me not to leave thee where thou goest I wil go where thou livest I wil live and where thou diest there wil I be Buried Ruth 1.16 17. Now the love of the Father being of infinite purity and perfection must needs have like proportionable operation and therefore must not only affect the presence of his Son but must provide for the injoyment of it in the neerest
who had his Being from him and so his working In the daies of his Humiliation he laid aside the Dispensation of Power and suffered the Power of darkness to prevail but now he desires al might be restored to him verse 5. Al these belong to Christ God-man in regard of the Union of our Nature with his Person And this is the Love that is here intended Reas 1. Love of the highest strain and pitch of greatest and choycest Excellency is here intended and understood This is the Standard to al the rest But the Love of God to Christ is the cause of other the Blessings and Benefits that are bestowed John 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands Therefore this Love is a peerless and unmatchable Love al other things which are given to our Savior Grace Glory al Power in Heaven and Earth are but the effects of it Again Joh. 17.24 The glory that our Savior hath given him of the Father it is said to Issue from a higher fountain and to be but a stream of it Namely The Father loved him from the foundation of the World Love is from Eternity the fruits are in time Lastly The whol Tenor of the Prayer and expressions of our Savior in this Chapter gives further evidence and argument to confirm it 2. How is this Love said to be in them When this love of God in Christ sets God on work to wil a like or proportionable good to the Creature I would say thus When God wils to have a Creature neer to him in his Son as his Son to communicate intimately with the Creature through his Christ as his Christ Then this love leaves a being like it self upon the Creature It s then in its vertue and efficacy in the fatithful It was with God put forth upon Christ before the World was and therefore much more before they were But our Saviors Prayer is that this love which was expressed upon him might also be extended unto his made effectual and operative in his It s true the expressions of common love and the communication of ordinary good is of larger extent and issues from God as the Creator of al and he that is the first being and so gives being to al Creatures But special union to be so high unto God and to communicate so intimately with him it s firstly here to be seen and from hence therefore must be derived to all such who shal be so Priviledged as to be made partakers thereof 3. The Means and Order how this is done Answ The means by which God doth convey the efficacy of this love wherewith he loved his Son unto his Saints may be thus conceived As the eternal generation of the Son from the Father was the foundation of his love of the Father to the Son as we have shewed he begat him knew and owned and loved him So the vertue of this eternal generation is the Cause whence this love comes to have a being in the Saints For out of this eternal generation it is that God sends his Son The Son being sent acts under that Authoritative Order and doth answer the purpose of the Father And as Second Adam and as Son and as begotten of the Father he assumes ouâ— Nature into personal union with himself becomes Head of the Covenant and as he was begotten of the Father so he begets Children unto God the Father Therefore he is called the eternal Father and the Father is said to beget Children because Christ doth as sent by God the Father 1 Pet. 1.3 The Father begets us through his resurrection Joh. 13. Born of God And thence they have the Spirit of Sons So in the text The love wherewith thou hast loved them may be in them But how is that And I in them That our Savior adds to intimate how this comes about 4. When is this done Answ When the love of God in Christ set Gods love or set God on work to send Christ begotten of him to beget Children to him And then this love through Christ leaves like impression and operations upon the Soul 1. Brings the Soul into neerest union with God through Christ 2. Most intimately communicates of the special operations of the Spirit of the Father through Christ 1. Brings the finner into neerest union to wit Christ is in the Soul Rom. 8.10 If Christ be in you the Body is dead c. Yea dwelt in the heart Eph. 3.17 And God by and through Christ Rom. 8.9 So Joh. 17.23 I in them and thou in me So 1 Joh. 2.24 Ye shall continue in the Son and in the Father 1 Thess 1.1 The Church which is in God the Father and in our Lord Jesus Christ 2. Leaves like operations the most intimate and special communion of the Spirit of Christ and the Soul So that God doth al through Christ by man he doth nothing of nor from himself Thus Christ is al in al Col. 3.11 And the sinner is wholly now beyond the covenant of works made with Adam and with him in Adam So that as Paul observes I live not but Christ lives in me Gal. 2.20 I work not I but the Grace of God with me 1 Cor. 15.10 And Christ in me Coloss 1. and last Verse When the love of God in Christ sets God on work to send his Son begotten of him to beget Sons unto him so that he brings them to the neerest union God in Christ and Christ he one in them They in Christ and through Christ in God the Father So that the Father in Christ doth al by them they nothing of themselves receives also al from them they take nothing to themselves Then this love of Christ is in them and leaves a like efficacious impression upon them Hence a double Collection 1. We may hence learn how to come to a right apprehension of Gods special love and so to a right explication and understanding of several Scriptures thereby Gods special love is when he purposeth to make the Creature neer to him in his Son as his Son is neer The Father is in his Son Christ in the Faithful and the Father by Christ in them Christ is in the Father the Faithful in Christ and by him in the Father He doth intimately communicate with them through his Christ as with his Christ God by Christ doth al by them they not of themselves He through Christ receives al from them they take nothing to themselves This Love is like the main Hinge upon which the whol Frame of Gods Dispensations turn and many Scriptures seem to be made familiar and somwhat open hereby As this Because I wil make a Creature to me in my Son as my Son therefore I wil Elect him to set out this Love And therefore create and give Grace and because his own Grace cannot bring him so neer as my Son he shal through his default fal and then I wil send my Son and he shal take Humane Nature into Personal
that we oppose not whatever this Spirit shall express we eye him only and expect only what we need and joyn nothing with him or his excellency then are we perfect in one Abide perfectly in him be acted perfectly by him perfectly advance al the excellencies of God through Christ then are we perfectly one with God the Father in and through Christ As the Apostle 1 Cor. 15. When be shall deliver up his Kingdom that is cease the excecution of any Ordinance or Dispensation in an immediate manner by any Ordinance or any Grace by any Ordinance then the Father shall be all in all instead of al Ordinances Word Sacraments Sabbath Prayers Covenants Promises but the Father wil infinitly let out of himself to our Savior and immediately through our Savior unto the Souls of his USE 1. Comfort This is Ground of strong Support to perswade our hearts no Temptations from without no corruptions from within no oppositions be they never so fel and fierce never so mighty and violent shal ever be able to hinder our Communion with God in Christ and so our everlasting happiness Were the Root of it either in the means we use or abilities we have or in the power of the Creatures on Earth or Angels in Heaven or Grace in our hearts It might indeed either be wonderfully hindered or else utterly lost as in Adam But it issues from a Fountain which is beyond not only Heaven but that which is above Angels there yea the highest Stars even the first Origination of the eternal blessed In-being of the Father in the Son which is without al Creatures nothing can further it above al nothing can hinder it before al nothing can reach it This seems to be Pauls ground Rom. 8. and last Nor things present nor things to come Principalities Powers Life Death Angels c. Why good Angels do not hinder It 's from the Love of God in Christ therefore it 's beyond the reach of al created Power 2. Exhortation See the lowest corner of the Foundation stone of our Eternal happiness and look to it and stay there Look at al means as from Christ The Law as kept in the Ark The Truth as in Jesus dispensed as in the Head of the Second Covenant Eph. 4. 2. Look at Christ as from the Father John 14.24 The words ye hear are not mine but the Fathers that sent me This sending and speaking by Christ is because the Son is in the Father and the Father in the Son Verse 23. That the World may know that thou hast sent me and loved them as thou lovest me HERE we have the last thing in the Verse laid out to wit The several ENDS which the Lord aimed at in the Order and Degrees whereby this Vnity of Relation was brought in Christ was in them the Father in Christ and this In-being of the Father in the Son brings in this perfection of the Unity of the Faithful These last words set forth a Double â—nd of this Dispensation 1. That the World may know that thou hast sent me 2. That thou lovest them as thou lovest me To the first of these we have spoken formerly in verse 21. where it was first mentioned and so first came into consideration to be opened and handled and therfore we shal say no more of that at this time but refer your thoughts unto our former Expressions That which now offers it self to a further and more ful enquiry is thus expressed That thou hast loved them that is That the World may know that thou hast loved them as thou hast loved me We have Three Particulars here to open and then the meaning of the Text and the mind of the Lord wil appear The Father hath loved the Son He loveth the Faithful as he loves the Son the Lord Jesus When the Faithful attain their full perfection of Vnity the World shall know that he loved them as he loved the Lord Christ To the First of these We must know That when we attribute these Perfections either to the God-head or Persons they are not attended in propriety of Speech as though the Godhead or Persons were subject to such passions and affections as are in man signified by such words But they are spoken by way of resemblance and similitude that there be some actions affirmed of the God-head and Persons and put forth by them which men out of the Disposition of Love do put forth Sometimes again Love as it is affirmed to proceed from God 〈◊〉 Christ discovers not only nor so much the act of God properly but the Fruits and Effects which issue and proceed from Gods Love and are expressed upon our Savior Christ and blessings which flow from and are procured by his own Merits Which may be truly called the cause of the things or the fruits of Gods Love not properly the cause of any Act as it issues from the Lord. John 10.17 The Father loveth me because I lay down my life for my Sheep Nothing without God is the cause of any act of Gods Wil or Understanding but the laying down of his life may be the cause of that Glory which the Father had intended and he according to the Fathers intention had purchased Phil. 2. He humbled himself to the Death the death of the Cross wherefore God hath exalted him and hath given him a Name c. Or else the manifestation of the approbation or satisfaction which the Father took in his Death The first of these I conceive to be principally intended in the place and so we shal speak unto it The Lord Jesus is the Object of the Fathers Love His heart was wholly after him his thoughts wholly set upon him not once looked off him taken up wholly with him from al Eternity The infinite and Eternal Favorite of an Infinite and Eternal Father upon whom he spent as I may speak with Revereace his whol affection John 3.35 The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hand We shal 1. Open it 2. Give in the Reason 3. Make the Use The Lord Christ is said and that truly to be the Object of this Fathers Love two waies Partly As the Second Person God with the Father As God-Man taking our Nature upon him 1. The first respect If we look at the Lord Jesus as the Second Person his Eternal Love then issues from his Eternal Generation So himself speaks and confesses verse 24. Thou hast loved me before the Foundation of the World and so termed the only begotten and welbeloved Son And it shews it self as the special operation of the most pâ—â—e and perfect Love doth in three Particulars 1. Love affects Union and where it can it attains it with most strength So it is here after an unconceivable manner the Father is intimately endeared unto his Son that his Eye is never off him himself never from him Therefore it is in Prov. 8.22 the Father is said to possess him in the beginning of his way He
free in the manifestation of their Favor and they have ever found them faithful that they cannot challenge them in the least yet they fear in the issue when it comes to a dead lift they wil leave in the lurch Should such expressions be dayly presented before a man and such unkind expressions be laid in his dish he could not but with indignation cast off such a one Why have I ever failed of my Word ever been wanting in my labor to answer al your desires bestead you in al your needs and have I this for my love and labor that ye look at me as one feeble and faithless Take ye other and chuse ye better Friends I wil have no more to do with you And it is not possible but our groundless needless surmises hard conceits that we harbor and unloving thoughts of the Lords dealing and goodness but it should imbitter Gods heart against a wretched Creature and suffer him to sink in his sorrows and however he cannot out of his Love forsake his yet he cannot in respect to the Honor of his Love and Faithfulness but draw and with-hold the sense of it that the way-ward heart may the better perceive its own wretchedness and unreasonable dealing and learn not to doubt of Gods Love when there is no cause Our groundless surmises of Gods Favor causeth yea compels God to darken our apprehensions and his expressions The Second Evil. The little and mean account we make of the intimation on Gods Love unless it answer our conceits and humors in each particular Unless we may have what we wil and when we wil and as much as we wil unless the Lord take measure of our mind and please us in every Point we cast al his kindness behind our back and the Love of the Almighty is in but little esteem with us when their complaints are many and sad that their temptations grow fierce and their corruptions get head and over-bear their abilities smal and their comforts less But yet the Lord loves you notwithstanding whatever these hindrances be which stand in the way and that is enough to settle and satisfie the heart Obj. True I cannot say but he loves me but if yet my Graces be so weak and my distempers so strong what is that Ans What is that It 's of more worth than al thy Graces thou canst either attain or desire if thou did'st know how to value things according to the worth O! if I had such a measure of Grace the enlargedness of heart and abilities to perform Service in a Spiritual manner as such and such then I might be comforted and might be perswaded the Lord loved me to purpose As though the Child that is now yong and smal should conceive his Father did not carry the strength of Fatherly affection towards him because his Coat was not so long or his Doublet Jerken or Apparrel was not so large as his Elder Brothers when indeed it is not because he wants Love to provide them but he is not able to wear them So it is here Thou art happily but a Babe in Christ not of time and standing in Christianity canst not tel how to wield and exercise such eminency of Abilities for the present Let if suffice he is thy Father and loves thee as he doth the most able and excellent Christian upon Earth Doth not that please your Pallates What would ye have which would please if ye can be pleased I wil say more He loves thee aâ— he doth the Lord Jesus the Son of his Love I hope now ye are contented What! love me so ye wil say poor silly weak ignorant worthless Creature it 's a likely matter indeed Yea thee Hast thou but a grain of Faith but as a grain of Mustard-seed even the least of al others the poorest weakest filliest unworthy Worm be thy place thy parts never so mean he loves thee as his Son Go thy way never quarrel question any more never murmur repine any longer this is enough on Conscience nay it 's too much I could not have thought it I durst not have desired it I could not have beleeved â—t but that thou hast said it that thou should'st love me who loath my self and know my self worthy to be abhorred Therefore rest thy weary heart here in thy weaknesses do not think to bring such measures of Grace to deserve this Love Nay lay hold upon this Love it wil encrease the eminency of al Graces and that in the most glorious manner in thy Soul Eph. 3.18 Paul praies That they might comprehend with all Saints the length breadth depth and height c. and know the Love of God which passeth knowledg that so they may be full of all his fulness View this Love wistly and warm thy heart with it and thou shalt not need to complain of barrenness or emptiness thou shalt be ful of Grace not have a scant measure thou shalt be ful of Wisdom and Meekness Patience Holiness c. Nay ful of the fulness nay of al the fulness of God-like Grace no kind of Grace no Excellency in any kind that suits the Station and Condition thou dost obtain in the Body of Christ but thou shalt be possessed of it How the knowledg of this Love brings in this fulness it 's not now a place to enquire only the Doctrine now delivered wil lead us by the hand to some further Light in this Work While we know that is while we constantly attend to the Dispensation of Gods Love in Christ begetting of us as his adopted ones by his Spirit to himself while we experimentally find this and so know it and leave our hearts under the influence thereof as of him to receive al as from him to do al we shal then be ful Whatever may be lacking to thy Hope Meekness c. repair to this Love and know there is no lack I have the choicest Love of God that either Heaven or Earth affords and that is beyond the excellency of al Grace and the chiefest of al Abilities that either I do want or can desire He loves me therefore let him do what he wil with me take what he wil Love wil supply al give that he wil Love is better than al. Cant. 1.1 His Love is better than Wine As Elkanah comforted Hannah in the want of Children Am not I better to thee than ten Sons 1 Sam. 1.8 2. Instruction We hence infer beyond denyal and conclude beyond al doubt That the Love of God to his is unchangeable As he loves his Son he loves his Saints and adopted ones That did never change this will never fail We are accepted as Christ nothing can prejudice us in Gods Favor or shal be able to condemn us We are advanced as Christ he wisheth al good and works al good for us as for him sets us far above al Principalities and Powers and what is named in this World or the World to come Though we know it not understand it
prepare a place True there be Mansions enough but how hard to come at them He answers I wil come and bring you to my self USE 4. Of Instruction If God give Glory to Christ how unreasonable is it for us sinful wretches to deny our Savior his own his due If the Father give it we should be ready and careful ever to acknowledg it We do not the work of Angels but the work of God himself And this is the Scope of the Father in al his Counsel and therefore it should be ours He turns the Trade this way The Father judgeth no man but hath committed all judgment to the Son that all men might honor the Son as they honor the Father John 5.22 23. As great Princes when they wil advance any Person whom they purpose to make a Favorite they so contrive that all business must come through his hand that al may eye him honor him and have dependance upon him So it is with the Father Christ is his Favorite he hath so ordered it that al must come through his hand al from the Father by him al through him returned to the Father So the Father professeth Phil. 2.10 11. He hath given him a Name above all Names that at his Name all might bow As therefore the Father determined mined so we resolve I have both glorified him and will glorifie him John 11.28 There were Three things as ye have read before in the words 1 The Parties for whom Christ praies such as the Father had given him 2 What he praies for That they might be where he is 3 The end of this their being with Christ That they might see the Glory which the Father had given him Before we could come at the Second of these there was one Point which was supposed and taken for granted which makes way for al those that follow namely That Christ was in Heaven and did enjoy the fulness of Glory there given him of the Father and of both these that is both the Parts of the Point 1. That Christ is in Heaven 2. That he is possessed of the fulness of Glory by gift from the Father at his right hand both as Second Person and as Mediator God and Man Redeemer of the World we have fully written And before we can proceed to the Second Thing which was formerly propounded and wherein the pith of the Prayer of our Savior appears containing the main thing petitioned we shal be enforced to take in the last clause of the Verse as being nothing else but an amplification of the former Doctrine and laies out unto us the cause and reason whence it comes that the Father gave and Christ received this so great Glory The first Original from whence this so great and unconceivable Glory proceeds It is from the Love of the Father towards our Savior his blessed Son And that Love is not of yesterday nor of late or in this last Age of the World occasioned but it issues out of his antient and everlasting Lover wherewith he imbraced the Lord Jesus before the World was and that not only finished and brought to perfection but before the first corner stone before the Foundation thereof was laid I wil not give way to any curious Speculation but I beleeve it 's true and I suppose it 's suitable to the meaning of the words That the Father laid the Foundation of the Love of his Son in his own heart and thoughts in order of Nature before in his everlasting purpose he laid out in his contrivement the first Pillars and Principles upon which the World was founded He understands himself directly al other Quatenus sui imaginem gerunt So Wisdom seems to speak Prov. 8.22 He possessed me in the beginning of his way before his Works of old The first beginning of Gods way is to understand himself But we shal content our selves with that which is taken up with the currant and common consent of al. And then we have two Points 1. The Father loved his Son from everlasting before the Foundation of the World And this we handled formerly in the foregoing verse 23. 2. That which is of fresh Consideration unto which we shal speak a few words very briefly is the force of Argument or Reason here laid forth viz. The everlasting love wherewith the Father embraced his Son is the first cause why he gave him everlasting Glory The Eternal Glory of Christ is a Gift of the Eternal Love of the Father In grows out of this root it issues firstly out of this Fountain Hither our Saviors thoughts arise and here he rests This is the Crown of Glory and the Diadem in the Crown and the lustre and shine of that is The Love of the Father To this our Savior ascends and in this he satisfies himself and he would lead al his as afterwards we shal see Had not the Father given him glory out of his love glory it self would never have given our Savior content Nay Heaven and glory it self had not been worth the loving nor having unless the love of God were in them That is the quintessence of al. We shal open shortly two things 1. What we must understand this love to be 2. How this love is the cause of this glory For the right discovery and discerning of this love that we may come as neer the mind of our Savior and the meaning of the text as we may we shal with warines in some doubtful Seas sound and cast several passages that we may find where the Channel lies 1. It cannot then be taken for the spiritual and special fruits and effects of Gods love which the Lord dispenseth to his according to the good pleasure of his wil of which the Apostle speaks Rom. 5.5 The love of God is shed abroad in our Hearts This rather looks at the fountain that those streames for which Jude Prayes Grace Peace and Love be multiplied Jude 2. For this love is from eternity so are not those fruits and expressions because they are put forth in time Beside the glory of our Savior is one of those fruits which are here said to Issue from that love And I suppose it doth vertually and summarily include those spiritual expressions which makes way for it 2. Somtime the love of God is put by a Figurative speech for Election as that in Rom. 9.13 Jacob have I Loved that is Elected or set apart to be the subject of the expressions of his love And this also seems not to fit the place in hand For it goes somwhat against the grain of the phrase The love in the former and following words in the verse before and after leads us to another apprehension and looks another way Beside the aim of our Savior and his expression would perswade one to think that he eyes somthing in the Father which in a peculiar manner relates to him Not that which equally and indifferently belongs to the Holy Spirit and himself also as that purpose of
tel what buying is but by selling Our Savior disputes upon this Ground He that hath seen me hath seen the Father because I am in the Father and the Father in me to wit by vertue of that Relation there is in one to the other USE 1. Instruction We here see the Reason why many of the Faithful are at such a loss for the Knowledg of the Love and Favor and Acceptance of the Father They seek not to Christ for this and therefore they are not acquainted and informed They take not the right way to come to the Speech of the Father John 14â—6 I am the way there is none that comes to the Father nor can be acquainted with his mind but by me When our Savior was checking Nicodemus for his ignorance as not reaching the knowledg oâ— Mercy he gives this as the reason we repair not to him who only can relieve and reveal John 3.13 No man ascends up into Heaven but the Son of Man wâ—â— is in Heaven So our Savior did with Philip when he so earnestly desired the knowledg of the Father Shew us the Father and it shall sâ—ffice So many perplexed ones Shew us the Face of a reconciled Father and it 's enough they are to be checked as he John 14.9 Have I been so long time with you and yet hast thou not known me He that hath â—een me hath seen the Father and how sayest thou then Shew us the Father 2. Hence we may discern the Cause how it comes to pass That men of mean Place and Parts shallow Compass and Conceivings poor and feeble Abilities not able to see much in ordinary occasions and yet so comforted assured pâ—rswaded of the Love of the Father The reason in from hence They are taught of Christ he knows all and he makes them know As it was said when they wondred at the Answers of the Disciples They knew they had been with Jesus Act. 4.13 He that hath intelligence dayly from such as have the Ear of the King sit at Counsel-Table he in the Bosom of his Majesty if he have an express and Intelligence it 's no wonder because he understands the Mysteries of State the mind of the King So it is here Christ lies in the Bosom of the Faâ—her and Christ discloseth those bosom Expressions and Affections of the Father We have done with the First The Second follows And these have known that thou hast sent me Here is another Circumstance touching the Description of the Parties for whom our Savior praies which may yet further his Petition that it may be of prevailing force with the Father for the grant of his desire to wit That they may be where he is and see his Glory Had they indeed been the wicked of the World who never knew the Father nor himself and therefore were never fit nor able to see his Glory or to take any satisfaction in it or to return any Glory to the Father or himself thereby It had been bootless for him to have begged such a favor and it had been impossible for them to receive any good by it as having no interest therein nor fitness for the enjoyment of such a Priviledg But he praies who knows him as a Son knows his Father yea such a Son such a Father known by an Eternal Generation And he praies for such who know that the Father hath sent him and therefore are wel acquainted with him and the Father and with the Ambassage he comes of and with that great Work which he had undertaken and hath now discharged and for which he shal have a Name that at the Name of Jesus every knee shal bow both in Heaven and Earth And therefore they who know what the Father hath purposed and the Son hath performed and that experimentally to their own good They are the fittest to see it and to celebrate the Name of the Father and Son for ever in Heaven The Saints have a special Knowledg Doct. that the Lord Christ is sent of God the Father for the Work of their Salvation These all these and none but these have this Knowledg as their priviledg and peculiar Favor appropriated to them in which the World hath no Portion nor yet shal ever be made Partakers of it At the great Day when al Flesh shal appear before God and al his Saints gathered and by Christ brought home to the Father when he hath fully finished the Work and done the Wil of the Father That as he now professeth I came not to do mine own wil but the wil of him that sent me and this is the wil of him that sent me That of those that thou hast given me I should lose none but raise them up at the last day Then I say when the Work is finished and performed in the Eyes of the Ungodly and he shall be admired in his Saints not of them only but admired in them even by the Wicked who shal be forced to admire that Power and Love and Mercy which hath done such great things for such undeserving Creatures and therefore shal see it and be constrained to acknowledg the truth and reality of that great Work what the Father purposed and plotted from Eternity with the Lord Jesus how out of infinite Love and. Faithfulness he was sent and hath now accomplished it This they shal see and be forced to know with grief and vexation of Spirit that it is so And for this also our Savior prayed in the former Verse That the World may know that thou hast sent me But to find and own this in the reality of the Work of it to tract the foot-steps of the unsearchable Wisdom and Riches of Mercy in marking this good upon their Souls in that miraculous and my sterious manner as he hath this is peculiar to the Saints These and these alone know that Christ is sent to this Work these have found the excellency of it here and these are fit to gaze upon it and admire it for ever hereafter Three things we are to open 1. How Christ is said to be sent of the Father 2. For what he is sent and what was his Errand 3. How the Saints know this in a special manner 1. How sent This Sending is the first in-let whereby the Fountain of the ever lasting good Wil and Favor of the Father is laid open and let out unto us And you shal find the Spirit in the Scripture leading al his by the hand hither here he would Land us and here leave us and thereby teaching of us that we should not stay before we repair hither and when we are here not to stir But rest and repose our Soul and resolve our Faith and Confidence as into the first Principle where there is no possibility either of alteration or addition So firm it cannot be altered so fully sufficient and satisfactory that nothing can be added nor desired It is too mysterious a depth and therefore beyond our scantling to fathom it We
by the Bush burning he went neer to see that wondrous fight Exod. 3.3 2. But this is not al He further sets on those excellencies by the discovery of some unexpected suitableness to the Soul and the condition thereof as appointed and performed with intendment to his good who is given to Christ Gods wil hath determined Christ hath received al power for this very purpose to communicate them to him It s possible for God to dart in some kind of ravishing appearances of the excellencies of mercies life and Salvation which pass by as sudden lightning upon the understanding So it was with Balaam who had a glimpse of the glory of Heaven and it stirred his affections for the while Let me die the death of the Righteous and let my last end he like his Numb 23.10 But it left nothing behind it he is as far to seek as before As a man seeing his Face in a Glass so these forget what they were But these leave some intimation of some kind of special provision appointed for the purpose My Message is to thee Leaves some impression of Wisdom to discover the way of Grace for our own future good that he comes to a guess of the way of life and peace though he hath no perfect skil yet he can say it coasts within such a compass it lies to that point though he cannot readily hit the Particular Path. As the poor Man said after God had broken his heart It seised upon me like Thunder and Lightning from that day forwards I could discern somthing in every Sermon This I take to be the meaning of that which torments Interpreters and exercised mine own thoughts many a time and it s very difficult to cut the Hair we wil speak a word to it 1 Cor. 1.30 Christ is made of God to us Wisdom We may come at it thus 1. This Wisdom cannot be justification not sanctification for those are mentioned immediately after and therefore they are not there meant Therefore it must be in vocation When Christ sets open the way Of all the good that God wil do And Of the manner of his communicating of himself for so the word â—â—lâ— belongs to a Syllogisme impliâ—â— the laying open of the frame of things as they lie in inference and sets it on upon the mind 3. The Reason why this is properly given to our Savior 1. Argument is taken from that relation he stands in unto the Father The proper Nature of Relates is to manifest and give knowledge each of other Math. 11.27 No man knowes the Father but the Son c. Joh. 1.18 No man hath seen God at any time but the only begotten Son 2. Argument from the commission delegated unto Christ He it is Whom the Father hath appointed to communicate his counsel to his faithful Ones Hebr. 1.2 He hath spoken in these last daies unto us by his Son Joh. 16.15 All that the Father hath are mine therefore said I He shal take of mine and shal shew it unto you So that the Son hath al committed to him and he communicates to the Holy Spirit who speaks not of his own but what he hath heard Thus we have the explication of the point And the work of our Savior what he hath done We shal refer for application to what follows in the uses hereafter made to the ensuing Doctrins The Second and next thing in order it the work of our Savior and his profession and ingagment What he wil do I have declared thy Name This he hath done And he add's further And I wil declare it Before I enter upon that we shal Observe by the way the conjoyning and coupling of these two works of our Savior together I have and I wil What he had done in former times and what he would do for future The Lord Christ extends the same Care at all times Doct. to all his Servants for their Eternal Good What he hath been he is and he wil be to the Faithful in things which concern their Spiritual Happiness He deals variously and dispenseth in a differing manner the Comforts and Conveniences of the things of this life He advanceth me leaves contempt upon another one is wretched another impoverished another spends his daies in health and peace as Isaac another is under dayly pressure and tryals Because al these things though good in themselves yet they are under and petty things and therefore not good for every man Diets are ever judged and directed to men according to their temper and disposition That which is Cordial to one as heating and nourishing Provisions to such as be weak and languishing i'ts hurtful to another that is of a ful Body and Feaverish distemper Therefore the wise God as a tender Father and wise Physitian he gives liberally to one when he holdâ— another to a spare Diet. So God Diets his Servants according to their Spiritual Disposition they are not alike useful and therefore he doth not in a like manner and measure dispense them But when it comes to Faith in God Repentance from dead Works and such things as concern Gods Eternal Love and so Eternal Life there look what care God shewed in former times to his he wil shew the like at al times to al to provide for their Spiritual welfare Compare Gen. 28.15 with Hos 12.2 He found him in Bethel and there he spake with us He spake to Jacob who was dead and buried long before that Generation But what he spake to him he spake to al the Saints Exod. 13.21 22. He took not away the Pillar of the Cloud by day noâ— the Pillar of Fiâ—e by night A Type of Christ who by night and day in al the Conditions and times of a mans Pilgrimage vouchsafes his guiding and saving presence to his People This also the rock in the Wilderness typed our unto the Israelites 2 Cor. 10.2 The Rock that followed go whether they would the Water out of the Rock followed them and attended upon them for their dayly refreshing So doth the Mercy and Truth of the Lord follow his al the daies of their lives Psal 23.6 And it is the aim of the place Heb. 13.8 Jesus Christ yesterday and to day and the same for ever that is in his saving overshadowing guiding presence to his Saints REASON 1. His Love is the same and that wil set him on work by the like care and endeavor to provide for their welfare If any thing without him had been a moving Cause of this Care and resolute endeavor for their good when that had altered or failed this would have failed also But his own Love which only issues out of his own Bowels and Bosom made him do good at one time and therefore to the same at al times for it is the same Jer. 31.3 With everlasting Love I have loved thee therefore I have drawn thee therefore called thee therefore comforted thee and wil continue so to do for ever John 13. Having loved his
trusting too much to Earthly Contentments Psal 30.6.7 I said in my prosperity I shal never be moved Lord by thy favor thou hast made my mountain to stand strong Thou did'st hide thy Face and I was troubled When we turne our Eyes and hearts to the world God turns away his gracious respect he expressed towards us He wil make his presence welcome or he wil withdraw Math. 23.38 Ye shal see me no more til ye shal say blessed is he that cometh in the Name of the Lord. And therefore our Savior settles himself in this Math. 11.25 I thank thee O Father because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him 1 Joh. 2.16 2. Beware of Resistance of the Truth when it is made known If ye wil not have his word to direct you ye shal not have the knowledg of his Mercy that may support and refresh you When the spirit of truth comes to lead us into al truth then it shal take of Christs and shew to us Joh. 16. and Joh. 17.8 I have given them thy word and they have Received it and they have known that thou hast sent me This receiving wil let in this knowing Revel 3.20 If any wil open I will come and Sup with him 1 Joh. 2.24 If the word that ye have heard abide in you ye also shal continue in the Son and in the Father so Verse 27. 3. Take heed of Sleighting and making little account of any of the Commandements of the Lord Presume not to neglect the least or tamper with any sinful distemper or give way to infirmities or passions So Jonah 2.8 He that trusteth in Lying vanities for saketh his own Mercy That is the mind of the context Joh. 14.23 If any man love me be wil keep my words and my Father wil love him and we wil come unto him and make our abode with him And Verse 21. I will manifest my self to him that is keep him in his purity keep him in his power as we keep liquors that they loose none of their life they drink lively and quick as when new put up 3. Collection The Faithful should increase in the knowledg and right apprehension of this Name of Gods Fatherly mercy and it is their own fault if they do it not for els they might For where can there be any cause of none Proficiency found but in our selves Christ hath undertaken the work and who more able than he who is the Wisdom of the Father and came out of his Bosom and therefore is able to make known those Bosom secrets of Gods Fatherly Love which never did see Sun and reveal them Yea he is as willing as able and ready to communicate these unknown depths of Gods indeared affections Yea you that are faithful you have experience of his sufficiency this way you have a pawn in your hand a real proof of what he hath done when you were at the worst not only unskilful but uncapable of his knowledg Yea he hath made you know the things belonging to your Peace when ye never sought after nor inquired for him And he is the same that ever he was and professeth he wil make it known there is no fault nor want in Christ But you are wanting to him and your selves and play the Trevants in this are laze and heedless to learn that which is so carefully so constantly taught you If a Scholler had the choicest and ablest man for his parts most diligent in his place to be his â—â—acher yet if he came not on in his learning but stood at a stay every man would conclude there is no want of sufficiency or Faithfulness in the Master he might have grown and many have come on under him but the cause and fault is in his own heedlessness Object But alas my person is mean my infirmities so many my parts so Poor I am a very Dullard heavy headed long before I can attain a little but am never likely to come to any great matter Answ There is no one excepted not one excluded that is faithful He hath given thee knowledg he can as wel add to what he hath given and he wil do it Thy weakness cannnot hinder his Faithfulness who hath promised Yea he is ready and professeth his willingness that he wil make thee know Nay he is unweariable to teach notwithstanding al thy unteachableness to learn He hath given thee a mind to know and he wil increase that knowledg and make him dayly more known that thou mayest dayly increase Isa 48.17 I am the Lord thy God which teacheth thee to profit which leadeth thee by the way that thou shouldest go And Chap. 42.16 I wil lead the Blind by a way that they knew not c. This I wil do unto them and not forsake them 4. Collection We here see the Reason why after many Prayers made many pains improved by diligence and endeavor of the dear Servants of the Lord that men might see and savingly and experimentally know the precious Name of Fatherly Mercy yet after al many are at so great a loss and know so little find almost nothing of the sweetnesâ— which is to be had out of this Name that Christ wil make known and would make known to them Truly we do not go to the right door and we receive not the dole Christ is the way to lead us to the Father and we miss the way and so attain not to our end Christ is said to be the Light Isa 49.6 He is given as a Light unto the Gentiles In him was the Promise of Life and that is the Light of men to lead them by the hand to the Love of God the Father and the Faithful Performance of the Covenant And we follow not that Light but we compass our selves about with our own Sparks and follow the light of our own Fire the carnal conceivings and contrivements of our own Carnal Reason and stay not upon the Name of God and therfore it is we lie down in Sorrow Isa 50.11 Christ bids us learn of him Matth. 11.29 Buy of him Rev. 3.18 And we learn of our own Delusions and Discouragements we learn of the wrong Master go to the wrong Shop buy of our own Abilities make Tradings of our own We should not look to our own Grace but to Christ first to quicken our Grace 5. Collection Here is matter of Abasment of heart and holy fear in both which we ought to walk before the Lord. 1. Ground of Abasement Not to boast of any measure of enlightening or Assurance which at any time we do partake of as though by any sufficiency of ours or improvement of any Ability of our own we had attained thereunto There is never a spark of this Fire but it is from Heaven not one Beam of holy Light but it comes from this Sun The entrance continuance perfection al is from him he is the Author and