24. Coll. 3.1 12. Gall. 5.22 23. Phill. 2.1 6 12 13 14 15 16. 1 Thes 5.11 14 23. And so to hasten to the comming of Christ waiting for him to perfect and fit them for it Tit. 2.11 12 14. 2 Tim. 4.8 2 Pet. 3.11 And because they know the love of Iesus Christ their life to be so great to them they esteeme highly of his word and Spirit and the ordinances which in his word he hath apointed them and wherein they may testify submission to him and considence in and love to him Psal 119.138 139 140. and 143.10 and 84. to the end And soe waite through the Spirit to receive all help for all things needful to perfect them from him through his word and Spirit and in fellowship with him and his chosen ones in use of his apointments Isa 26.7.12 Gall. 5.5.6 1 Ioh. 1.3 4. Psal 100.4 5. And therefore will not turne aside for helpfulnesse to dead images or devices and traditiones of men knowing that in so doeing they should sit loose from him their head and dishonour him as wanting love or Spirit and procure to themselves blasting and witherdnesse in their life and love and darkenings in perceiption of his love which is their life Psal 115.1 14. Coll. 2.6 8. 9 10 16 23. 1 Ioh. 5.20.21 Psal 30.5 12. Gall. 6.8 II. This manifested love of Christ doth Admonish those that believe in Christ and love him I. In all conditiones and how-ever things apeare to sence yet to acknowledge him to have loved us and to be loving and gracious to us to be good and to doe good and praise him for his kindnesse and wonderfull works waiting on him for his goodnesse to be shewne us in due time Psal 73.1 and 145. to the end Phill. 4.4.7 Psal 107. to the end 1 Thes 5.18 Lam. 3.26 31. Let hoe affliction cause us to murmur against him or be jealous of his love for that is great wee have cause to be jealous of our own love and he might say to us wherein have you loved mee and wee might be silent but yet he accepts and remembers the small fruites of his Spirit in us and forgets not the love of our espousealls though it were but the fruites of his own first discovered love Cant. 5.1 Jer. 2.2 Heb. 6.10 1 Ioh. 4.19 And shall wee for a little hideing and silence of his or a few afflictions from him call in question al his love and in beholding the fulnesse of others say to him wherein hast thou loved us far bee it from us hee can not but behold it as an evill in us that he hath so loved us as to take our nature beare out sins suffer our curse and give himselfe a ransome for us and become the propitiation for our sins and al this for us while we were his enemies and yet we to say wherein hast thou loved us If thou say hee hath so loved al men yet I pray the consider he hath not so made it known to al men and sweetned the knowledge thereof to their harts as he hath done to thee they are thy Brethren created by the same God purchased by the same Lord and of as good nature parts and other naturall qualificationes and performances as thou and no worse then thou wert yet he suffers them to lye in darknesse and to rest upon such mountaines of worldly riches friends fleshly wisedome or self wrought righteousnesse as he hath blasted and will bring downe and as will fayle them But he hath discovered to the the mountain of Israel and brought thee out of darknesse into light and gained thee to himselfe with the knowledge of his love soe manifested that himselfe might be thy mountaine thy peace thy righteousnesse thy life and hath often made thee tast his goodnesse and is now but confirming thee to him in his crosse and death that thou mayest partake of his resurrection and life and wilt thou so forget all his goodnesse as to say wherein hast thou loved mee Oh doe not so let us not so ill-requite him as for any thing to be offended in him Mall 1.1 6. Rom. 6 3 5. 2 Cor. 4.10 11. Phill. 3.10 14. II. To learne of Christ to love others as wee have been and are loved of Christ Jesus to love such as are yet enimies to us and know not Christ with the love of compassiones as Christ did us when we were enimies to him without partaking of their sins or delightfull fellowship with them in their wayes to use meekenesse patience and long-suffering to them and pray for them and seeke to overcome their evill with goodnesse Mat. 5.44 45. Rom. 12.17 21. Tit. 3.2.3 4. 1 Pet. 2.22 23 24. To love believers with love of delight exercising bowels of mercies to them bearing their infirmities and burthens having fellowship with them continuing in Brotherly love Coll. 3.12 16. Rom. 14 and 15. 1 Pet. 4.10 11. Heb. 10. and 13 1. But this with other uses do more fully flow from the next observation joyned to this III. This love of Jesus Christ so manifested may bee a ground of exortation to us to mind and heed wel this his love that we may be more abundantly firmed in the beliefe heeroff it beeing the ground of our believing and that which believed doth facillitate our beliefe of that more abundant love that followeth to be spoken of Rom. 5.1 5 10 11. and 8.31 36. Gall. 2.20 And while there remayneth doubtfulnesse in this there can be no stabillity in the beliefe of that which followeth now to be spoken of in the next observation Joh. 3.12 and 6.61 62 63. II. Obse That Iesus Christ loveth those that believe in him and love him even as the Father hath loved him In which observation there is something closely intimated namely That the love of Jesus Christ and so of God the Father in and through him to such as believe in Jesus Christ and love him is a speciall and peculiar love above all that love in which he loveth any other of the sous of men Deut. 7.6.7 Truth it is he loveth all the sons of men till they become of the seed of the Serpent with the love of compassion and willingnesse to have them come in to him Psal 145.8 9. Pro. 8.4 5 31. Joh. 3.16 17. 1 Tim. 1.15 Yea even while they are sinners and know him not and while he is angry with them for not believing on him Rom. 5.6 8 10. 1 Joh. 2.2 and 4 10. Joh. 3.18.36 And this their not knowing and not believing this his love and goodnesse is that which holds them in impenitency and under sin and in wickednesse still Psal 9 10. Rom. 2.4.5 Joh. 16.8 11. 1 Joh. 5.19 20. 2 Thess 2.8 But such cleare and powerfull discovery of his love and goodnesse as doth cause the hart so to know believe and acknowledge the same that one is overcome thereby to believe on him and love him is a speciall and peculiar in his love
10.4.5 Believing Jesus to bee the Christ and the truth of Gods report concerning Christ and his love in giving him and his promises to him and all believing in him Ioh. 4.10 12. and 8 24. and 20.31 Inward a probation of Jesus Christ and that discovered in him and done and to bee done by him with rest and quietnesse of hart therein as in that which is enough Phill. 3.3.8 and Psal 16.6.7 Harkening to Christ in attending to his sayings and waiting for and yeilding to his teachings Psal 85 8. and 119.33 Looking to him for the beginning and finishing of all that belongs to life and Godlinesse Isa 8.16.17 Mich. 7.7 Inward and harty love to the Lord Jesus Christ and to God in him Isa 6.4 With 1 Cor. 2.9 1 Pet. 1.8 Which love springing from the love of God shead abroad in the hart doth encline the hart with childlike affectiones to God 1 Ioh. 4.14 Ier. 3.19 Psal 116. 1. And with unfeined delight in and love of brethren 1 Pet. 1.22 And love of compassion and mercy to men 2 Cor. 5.14 And soe hath Christ put in the hart of the believer the love of our brother 1 Ioh. 4.21 Which is his second commandment and like the first in that as the first receiveth soe this worketh forth all righteousnesse So as I. This faith and love doth quallify the hart faith working by love Gall. 5.6 And so make the hart of the believer sit for all inclinationes labours and services of love in that it makes it strong to endure and go through all the sufferings of it Cant. 8.6.7 Patient to endure that which is to be undergone and for gone for it 1 Cor. 13.4.8 Sinceere in seeking none of a mans owne ends but only the beloved and so preserves from stumbling Phill. 1.9.10.11 Fervent to accomplish that wherein it may testify love to the beloved Psal 116.12 Constant in all things that love leadeth too orthrough 1 Ioh. 2.10 Yea and likewise II. This love through or by which faith worketh doth move and spring up freely in the hart inclinationes and motiones to as much as the law of works of it were in its force could compell or enjoyne too as to have God for our God for ever Zach. 13.9 To worship him in Spirit and truth Psal 95.6 To glorify his great name Phill. 1.20 To delight in keeping sabboth with him and his Psal 27.1.4 To give our neighbour that preheminence God hath given him in our service and care and so to seeke to preserve his life dignity chastity estate and name and to fly the lust of having any thing from him that is his Rom. 12.10 and 13 8 9 10. Yea farther III. This love flowing in this faith doth move and leade to things higher and more excellent then the law could have led too as namely To long after and delight and have all our well-pleasednesse in Iesus Christ in whom God hath his and so to be beholding his glory and drinking in of the fulnesse that is in him Psal 73.25 26 and 84 1 2 and 27 1 4. Cant. 1 2 3 and 2 3 5. To love our bretheren as Christ hath loved us 1 Ioh. 3.16 and 5.1 And in this faith and love to glorify Christ and the word of his grace Phill. 1.17 20 21 27. To edify our brethren in faith and love 1 Cor. 8.1 and 13 to the end To hold forth the word of life Eph. 6.19 And all in faithfulnesse without loving our lives unto death Rev. 12.11.17 Yea and to say farther IIII. This love by which faith worketh stirreth and worketh effectually in these motions for fulfilling the same in yeelding up ones self to the Lord as his and al the members as his servants to walk in and according to this love Psal 119.125 and 106 9 10 19. And this also in love of longing and waiting for the appearing and comming of our Lord Iesus Christ 1 Tim. 4.8 Rev. 22.17.20 And thus in scripture it appeares that all particular precepts are found and performed in believing in Christ and loving one another and so how Christ hath put with the Gospell his commands in the hart of believers and though the degree or measure heerof be different and in some very small yet in some degree or other may every believer that hath attained to walk in faith and love seale this truth by experience Ioh. 7.37 38 39 and 3.33 Rom. 8.1 2. 1 Ioh. 2.8 And yet that there be no mistake the next expression is to be added III. That the commandements of Christ to his disciples are such as do naturally and aptly spring up in the beliefe of the Gospell Ioh. 6.28 29 40 47 and 5 37 38. Eph. 1.19 1 Thess 2.13 The Gospell declares Iesus Christ to be the son of God and saviour of the world the head husband high-priest Prophet and King of his church Act 2. 37. and 8 37 and 9 22. Ioh. 4.42 Eph. 5.25 Heb. 5. and 7. Rom. 1.3.4 And that he hath come in the flesh and died for our sins and rose for our justification and so wrought reconciliation and saluation for mankind with God Rom. 4.25 1 Cor. 15.3.4 2 Cor. 5.19 1. Tim. 2.4.6 And that he is exalted at Gods right hand and filled with grace powre authority and Spirit to offer salvation to men Act. 5.31 32. 2 Cor. 5.20 And to work it in such as believe Ioh. 1.12.16 And to condemne such as refuse and rebell against him Rom. 14.9.11 And in this declaration the Gospell also declareth the intence love of God to mankind in the gift of his son to be the saviour of the world that whosoever believeth in him might not perish but have everlasting life 1 Ioh. 4.14 Ioh. 3.16.17 The well-pleasednesse God hath taken in and with his son and that he hath done is and doth Mat. 3.17 and 17.5 The propitiation hee is for the sins of the world and the advocation he maketh for believers Ioh. 1.29 1 Ioh. 2.1.2 Heb. 9.24 The peculiar love of God to Christ and to all those that believe in Christ Ioh. 5.20 Psal 33.13.19 And what Christ is to and for them and what he will work in them and bestow on them 1 Cor. 1.30 Ioh. 1.12 16 and 6 27. And all this is in the Gospell and by the ministers thereof and by the Spirit set forth as the foundation and ground of the heavenly call enviting to Christ Isa 55.1.6 And whosoever is by the Holy Spirit enlightened to understand and enabled to believe al this with his hart being convinced and drawne thereby to Christ Joh. 3.37 42 and 6 44 45. Pro. 1.23 Isa 61.1.2.3 The Spirit doth farther enter the hart sheading abroad this so great and rich love of God therein so as there doth from this grace naturally and aptly spring up in the thus believing hart from this grace believed A beliefe and dependance on Jesus Christ for eternall life and all that appertaines thereto Rom. 5.1 5 6 10 11. 1 Ioh. 2.24.25 And
also an unfeyned love of our brother 2 Cor. 5.14 1 Ioh. 4.21 1 Pet. 1.22 From both which commands writ in the hart aptly springs up all contained in the particular precepts of the Gospell as is before shewne Ioh. 4.13 and 7 38 39. And walking in this faith and love in minding the precepts and veiw of the opportunities the motiones to go according to the mind of Christ will aptly spring up so as one may go one serving in newnesse of Spirit and not in oldnesse of letter Pro. 6.20 21 22 23. Ioh. 3.16 17. Rom. 12.2 and 7 6 25 and 8 1 2. So that from this whole consideration that the commands of Christ to his disciples are such commands as are contained and expressed in the Gospell and put with the Gospell by Christ into the hart of the believer and do naturally and aptly spring up in the believe of the Gospell it appeares that believing in Iesus Christ and loving our brother are the commands of Christ heere ment Consider III. The commandments of Ghrist to his disciples are such as are suitable to the commendements himselfe hath performed for them Pro. 3.1.13 Heb. 3.8.9 1 Cor. 6.20 Now hee in fulfilling the commandements hee received of the Father for us having taken away our sinnes and dyed our death and soe purchased us and wrought salvation for us and by his Gospell and Spirit sent forth having made knowne this salvation to us and in aplying it evidenced himselfe to bee our righteousnesse and life and ready and able eternally to save us 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Ioh. 3.5 Heb. 5.9 Suitable heerto it is that wee abhoring our sinnes and denying our selves our wisedome righteousnesse strength with all that is ours and all fleshly delights and considences to accept of him for all and so to believe in trust too and depend on him for all grace righteousnesse life and safety 1 Cor. 1.30 31. Phil. 3.3.4.7 8 9.10 1 Pet. 1.13.14 Gall 1.20 And hee having so loved us suitable it is that wee should so love one another 1 Ioh. 3.16 Eph. 5.2 So that in this consideration it also apeares That believing in Iesus Christ and loving our Brother are the commandments of Christ heere ment Consider IV. The commandements of Christ to his disciples are such commandements as he hath given into their harts and cannot nor are otherwise required to bee kept then as they are in the hart whence believers confesse that they have received the command from him 1 Ioh. 4.21 And hee is said to write them in their harts Heb. 8.10 And the commandement is true in him and in them 1 Ioh. 2.8 The law without was engraven in tables of stone and writ in leaves but the Epistle of Christ is writ by his Spirit in the hart 2 Cor. 3.3.7 The law without leaves under sinno and death but Christs law within affords life 2 Cor. 3.6.7.8 9 10. Whence Christ saith hee that hath my command ments and keepeth them hee it is that loveth mee Ioh. 14.21 In which consideration it apeareth that faith and love Which all Christs disciples have Coll. 1 4. and are to keepe and walke in Heb. 3.14 Are the commandments heere ment And yet that this may bee moore evident some proofes heerof may be considered Proofe I. These two commandements of faith and love as they are contained in the Gospell and spring from the Gospel believed so they contayne the whole summe of the patterne or forme of healthfull and sound words which the Gospel requireth of us 2 Tim. 1.14 And of all that which the Gospell believed springeth up in the hart 1 Ioh. 5.13 Ioh. 20.31 1 Ioh. 3.1.3 and 4 19 21. Whence the commandment is called the word of the Gospell it selfe believed 1 Ioh. 2 7. And the Gospell is called the commandment which in hart believed that which is said before of Christ his keeping his Fathers commandements is by believers found true in him and that which is said in consideration the second of faith and love springing up in the hart the believers find true in them because the darknesse is past and the true light now shineth 1 Ioh. 2.8 And so in respect of the Gospell put in the hart it is called the old command and that which was at first heard and received from Christ and which quickeneth and in respect of its Spirituall entrance receipte and abiding and the faith and love springing up therefrom it is called the new commandement being allwayes greene and flourishing so that the believer may thereby bring out of the good treasurie of his hart things new and old Mat. 13.52 Which according to all the considerationes proveth faith and love to bee the commandements heere ment Proofe II. These two commandements of faith and love are the commendements which God giveth unto and putteth in the hart of his children Ier. 31.33 Phill. 2.29 Eph. 2.8.10 They are the commandements of God the Father when he calleth and uniteth men to his son Jesus Christ causing them to beliefe on the name of his son Jesus Christ and to love one another as his son hath given commandement 1 Ioh. 3.23 and 4 21. And they are the commandements expresly given by Iesus Christ to all his disciples when he makes knowne his Father to them to believe on him for eternall life Ioh. 12.36 and 14 1. And to love one an other as hee hath loved us Ioh. 13.34 and 15 12. And these are also the very commandements which the Holy Ghost putteth into the harts of believers 1 Pet. 1.21.22 1 Ioh. 3.21.24 So that these two commandements of faïth and love are evident to be the commandements heere ment Proofe III. All labouring to attaine and fulfill in performance any or all other particular preceipts of law or Gospell which flowes not from and is not acted through this believing in the name of Iesus and love of the brethren whatsoever endeavours and services they bee and how and to what end soever otherwise done whether To please God and get boldnesse with him or to get therethrough the righteousnesse of God and so Christ and faith in him and love to brethren or to assure themselves by such attainments and observances of a peculiar interest in Christ even all whatsoever so done to comfort themselves therewith all of it I say as the scripture shewes I. It is but a serving of God according to the oldnesse of the letter and so leaves the doores thereof under sin and curse and the feare of both Rom. 7.6 25 and 8 2 7. Gall. 3.10 Tit. 1.9.10.15 Ioh. 3.5.6 II. The doers thereof do therein and thereby deprive themselves of and hold themselves out from enjoyment of Christ and unfeyned faith in him and love of brethren Rom. 9 32. and 10.3.4.1 Sam. 2 9. Zach. 4.6 Psal 107.11.12 Ecclez 15.16 and 16.15 III. They deceive themselves and are deceived in all that which by such observances and ataynments they judge themselves by to bee in Christ and to have peculiar interest in
and courage and bewty is gone Psal 125 5.8 Ezek. 19.10.13 Iud. 12. As heere Vers 6. V. That when they are withered men gather them while they retained his word and till the light sweetnesse and savour of it was dried up they could not be so easily drawne by Satan or lusts or men to other doctrine or to idolatrie or oppression persecution or the like but being withered they are driven with every wind and men gather them to any superstition oppression c. they turne into Egypt or the world againe and their sin growes ripe and they become of the seed of the Serpent the worst of men Iam. 1.14.15 Inâ— 4.5.12 Mat. 5.13 As heere Vers 6. VI. Men thus throw them into the fire and they fall under the wrath of God and his angels shall bind them in bundles and they shall be throwne into everlasting fire Pro. 7.7.27 Mat. 13.30.41.42 As heer Vers 6. A faire and whole some warning with might terrify any that receive gospell from remaining as high-way or stonie or thorny ground or harbouring such a secret evill disposition as ludas and Simon Magus did or from dispising the word and quenching the spirit and it is a wholesome admonition to al believers to shun all degrees of withdrawing and backssliding from faith love or any opperationes of the grace and spirit of Christ and now farther our saviour with this admonition joynes and gives to his disciples for quickening up their spirits a sweet and foreceible exhortation and encouragement to abide in him and that hee and his word may abide in them and this from manifold sure grounds and strong motives that will meete in one Viz. I. The experience they had already found of the goodnesse of him in and by the word he had spoken to them Vers 3. He had spoken and given to them the word gospel or glad tidings of peace remission of sinns and everlasting life which the father hath prepared in him which word of gospel the father gave him to spake Mar. 1.14.15 Ioh. 12.49.50 and 17.6.7 In which word or gospell is declared The peace or atonement Christ by death resurrection and sacrifice hath wrought and the fulnesse of grace and truth iâ— him and the greatnesse of Gods love in giving him and hâ—â— readinesse to accept all that believe on him Luk. 24 46.4â— Ioh. 1.4.9.12.14.16 and 3.16.17 And the father sending forth spirit in this declaration did so enlighten their harts anâ— prevaile with them that he therein brought them to beleeve Mat. 16.16 In which repentance was wrought in them anâ— they received remission of sins and life and so were turned from darknesse to light begotten to Christ made cleane and righteous in him and so sanctified to God and had interest iâ— the things of Christ Act. 11.18 and 10.43 Rom. 5.1.5.8.10.11 Tit. 3.4.5.6 Ioh. 3.5 In which they expetimented his word to be the words of eternall life Ioh. 6.68.69 So that as in him through that he hath done in himselfe life was prepared for men even so through him by his word and spirit bringing the word to their hart they had received of the life in him and so experimented the goodnesse of him in his word and to them and such as they this must needs be a strong and forceible motive to abide in the faith and love of him and to have his word abiding and opperating in them Psal 119.93.1 Pet. 1.21.22.23 and 2.2.3 Whence that 2. Pet. 1.9 II. The powre effecacy and fruitfulnesse of the same grace that will operate and shew forth it selfe in fruitfulnesse in those that abide in him and have his word abiding in them Vers 5. So that such as abide in mindfulnesse of his word and so in their beliefe estimate love of and submission to him and his teachings and so suffer his word to abide in them in its opperationes it will be profitable and fruitfull in them and make them fruitfull also Heb. 4.12 Isa 55.3.10.12 I. It will free them not only from that casting of withering and burning foremencioned Ioh. 11.25.26 But also from those out-goings falls snares hart condemnationes and sore correctiones that others by inconstancie and forgetfulnesse of him fal into Rom. 8.1.2 Isa 4.2 Psal 119.9.92 1. Cor. 15.1.4 II. It will bring forth plenty of fruites in them of love joy peace patience meeknesse heavenly desires and motiones that will spring forth to spirituall prayers confession conversation c. Coll. 3.16 Ioh. 7.38.39 III. It will leade too and bring forth blessed fruites in their word and conversation for convincing unbelievers aluring the convinced to Christ and edifying believers Isa 61.3.7 2. Pet. 1.7.8 2. Cor. 13.18 And this also is a strong and forceible motive to abide in Christ and that his word may abide in us III. The abundant love of the Father to Christ his Son soe that al that are brought to and abides in this his Son and have him in his Word and Spirit abiding in them he loveth them as he loveth his Son with the same delightful love Ioh. 12.26 14.23 17.23 And giveth them eternall life Ioh. 3.35.36 And whatsoever they aske of him they abiding in Christ and his words in them it shall be done to them vers 7. Ch. 16.23.24.27 Which also is a strong motive to abide in him and that his words may abide in us Pfall 66.18.19.20 IV. The assured comfortable issue of all namely That in his word abiding in them and they abiding in him and so bringing forth fruites their mayn desighne and buysinesse even that in which they are one with God and Christ shall be accomplised to the satisfying and joying of their harts that is God shall be glorified and so they shall be disciples and followers of Christ like him endeed vers 8. Phill. 1.20 Which is a sweet prevayling motive And how much more all these in one the fore-experiments and present operation of his grace the Fathers love and answer of prayers and glorifying himself in their fruitfulnesse is it a strong motive to exort and encourage to abide in Christ and to have his word abiding in us And our saviour having thus already instructed admonished and encouraged his disciples proceedeth in the 9. and 10. Verses To a father encouragement direction and instruction of them to this Abiding that their joy might be full From which practise of our saviour might be observed I. That the work of the ministration of the Gospell is a continual worke to be followed not only for bringing in men still to Christ but even also for building up and encouraging those that are in Christ while they are in these clay tabernacles so was the ministration of the Gospel by Iesus Christ from the beginning of it from the baptisme of Iohn till the day that he left the world Act. 1.21.22 Ioh. 16.28 and 17.4.12.13 And so was the ministration of his servant till the time of their departure 2. Tim. 4.6.7.8 2. Pet. 1.13.14 And such is the ministration
affirmation As the Father hath loved mee so have I loved you In which are two thingss observable One that our Saviour loveth his disciples that believe on him and love him and this put downe inclusively as a thing so known to them that it needed no affirmation The other that our Saviour soe loves them as the Father loves him so that heere are two things affirmed I. Christ his love to believers II. The peculiarity and manner of his love to them whence spring two observation to veiw Obs 1. That Iesus Christ hath loved and doth love all that in the Heavenly call are brought in to believe on him and love him and that with such an apearing and manifested love that they may know hee loves them whence the affirmation is heere about the kind and manner of his love and not simply of his love as knowing they did not question that For that is soe abundantly testified that unlesse they close their eyes and harden their harts they cannot but know and believe that he loves them and that he loves them much I. In that he tooke our very nature upon him and was made flesh yea for our sakes tooke such flesh and bloud as wee have subject to weaknesse paines and death and so not only being God became man but being in the forme of God equall with his father in glory and majestie hee our case requiring it became not only man but in fashion as a man in forme of a servant in the likenesse of sinful flesh as a worme and no man a reproach of men and despised of the people for our sakes and was not this great love Ioh. 1.14 Heb. 2.14 Phill. 2.7.8.9 Rom. 8.3 Psal 22.6 II. In that hee also in this meane shape in our nature and stead became under the law for us and so in the same bond with us and took upon him our dept and had all our sins imputed to him and was made sin for us and so though he was innocent yet he bare the imputation and the shame and ignominy of all our sins and who can deny but this great love Rom. 3.19 Gall. 4.4 Isa 53.6.12 2. Cor. 5.19.21 Psal 40.11 Heb. 12.2 III. In that he also bare the strokes suffered the punishment and curse and died the death that was due to us and so rose againe acquit of all our sins and a victorer over curse and death and presented himself to his father as the ransome and propitiation for our sins and heerin appeares great and true love endeed Isa 53.4.5.7.8 1. Pet. 2.24 and 3.18 1. Tim. 2.6 Gall. 1.20 IV. In that he hath left his Gospell and received spirit to send forth to make knowne this grace that men might come in and receive it and procure mercy and patience waighting and leading to repentance that wee might repent and believe and so partake of this grace and this is love endeed Rom. 10.18 Psal 68.18 Rom. 2.4 V. In that he hath done all this for us freely while wee not only did not deserve it but were even sinners ungodly and his enimies yet so great his love that far lesse then this is hardly to be found among friends and no greater can be required in us to a friend then he shewed to us when wee were enimies to him Oh love without comparison 1. Pet. 3.18 Isa 53.2.3.4 Ioh. 15.13 Rom. 5.6.7.8.10 Coll. 1.20.21 In all which the believer may see love abundantly manifested to him and this knowne and believed there needed no such particular affirmation that he loved them for they see and believed it in his becoming the propitiation for their sins so as there is no cause to doubt of his love 1. Ioh. 3.16 and 4.10.16 Gal. 2.20 Object Iesus Christ hath so loved all men as to take their nature beare their sins and die their death and give himself a ransome for them and become the propitiation for their sins and procureth patience and mercie with some light at some time to lead them to repentance 1. Tim. 2.5.6 1. Ioh. 2.2 Ioh. 1.9 Therefore all men may know themselves so loved of Christ as well as believers Ans The proposition is True but the inference false for though it be True that he hath so loved all men Ioh. 3.16.17 And hath beene witnessing this his love to them in some measure Act. 14.17 More clearly where the sound of the Gospell comes 2. Cor. 4.13.14 Yet all men have not faith 2. Thess 3.2 The men of the world harkening to the enchantments and delusiones of Satan believe not the goodnesse of God no not where the Gospell comes and so have wrong thoughts of God and either regard him not at all but go one in serving their lusts Psal 14.1.2 and 50.21 and 10. Or else if they thinke of his wrath they suppose to apase him by some other satisfaction and righteousnesse Rom. 9.30.31 and 10.1.2.3 And so they lie in wickednesse 1. Joh. 5.19 And so though love of compassion be towards them as it is to all not given over to Satan yet they not believing it is not manifest to them and so they lying in unbeliefe they are under wrath and condemnation because of their unbeliefe Ioh. 3.18.36 And therefore cannot in their unbeliefe know themselves so beloved of Christ But such as through grace believe they have seene and knowne and believed this love of Christ in all the before-said five respects whence it s rightly said to be manifested to them and through this knowledge and faith they come to receive and have a tast of his first loving them 1. Ioh. 4.10.16.19 and 5.20 And are therthrough brought to depend on him and love him and desue to be conformed to him Rom. 5.5.11 Tit. 3.4.7 1. Pet. 2.3.9 And thus though such love hath shewed it self in Christ for all men yet it is not so manifested to nor knowne and believed of such as lie in unbelieve and so they have it not but the believers know this great love in believing and so have it and yet this is not all but it is farther evidenced to them VI. In that when God by his Spirit did through the Gospell evidence Christ and this his love and the fulnesse of grace and truth in him to them and so made him to appeare so glorious to them that it made all other excellencies as drosse to them and drew their desires after him and so caused them to come in and submit to him and desire to be found in him and enjoye him Isa 55.5 Ioh. 1.14.17 and 6.44.45 Phill. 3.7.8.9 Though then they were found in their owne bloud and filth so as they could not endure the stinch of their owne filth nor the sight of their owne blacknesse and bloudinesse Ezek. 16.1.9 Isa 64.6 Yet then did not he cast them away but washed them with his bloud spake peace to their hart Ioh. 6.37.45 Rev. 1.5 Heb. 12.24 And though they wore found some thing stubborne untoward and gainsaying yet did not he faint nor give over but
well-pleasednesse was with him his delight was in him his presence with him and his purpose of glorifying him firme unmoveable and inseparable yea even when the shines and appearances of his love and delightfull fellowship were withdrawne and hidden from him and he for our sakes so far left as to feele the punishment of our sins which he suffered yet even then did the Father love him yea and also therefore love him Heb. 29. Phill. 2.6 7 9 10. Ioh. 16.32 end 10.17 And in his ministration of the Gospell and communication of Spirit and all the opperationes thereof in the harts of his people the Father is well-pleased with him and as he hath accepted his sacrifice and ransome for the sons of men so he accepteth all his Spirituall offerings and opperationes in the harts of believers acquainting them with and drawing and presenting them before his Father Isa 42.1.2.8 Psal 20.3 Ioh. 17.1 8 and 5 19 37. In all loving him II. In keeping these his Fathers commandments hee himself tooke delight in and was well-pleased in and with his Fathers love not desiring other loves favour riches pomp or Kingdome nor being troubled for being deprived of them or any of them having all his satisfying and content in the love and well-pleasednesse of his Father alwayes being well-pleased with him Ioh. 4.32 34 and 5 43 44 and 10.30 Psal 40.8 Ioh. 14.31 and 16 32. III. In all trials that befell him on earth in keeping these commandments this his Fathers love and well-pleasednesse with him and his delight and satisfying therein found had its perfect working with him carrying him through all labours and sufferings so as he neither drew back from any part of the first command Heb. 12.2 Isa 50.5.6.7 Nor did nor will faile in the other command to fulfill all righteousnesse Isa 42.1.2.8 IV. In all this his so keeping these commands through all he met on earth he retained the beliefe and held fast the confidence he had in his Fathers love with assurance of being upheld and in due season to see the travell of his soul and to be glorified with the glory he had with his Father before the world was Isa 50.5 6 7 and 53 8 11. Ioh. 17.1.2.3 And now being glorified at his Fathers right hand remaineth there Advocating for and sending forth Spirit to his people waiting till all his enemies be made his footstoole when he will take his great powre and raigne being the well-beloved of his Father Psal 110. 1 Ioh. 2.1.2 Eph. 4.7.12 Rev. 11.17 Thus hath Iesus Christ kept these his Fathers great commandments and abode in his love which might be of much use to us I. To informe us of the great love of Christ to us that hath undertaken and performed these so great needfull and fit commands to be done by him for us and of the great love of God in the gift of his son to fulfill such commandments for us and so loving and accepting him in the keeping of them Gall. 2.20 1 Ioh. 4.9 10 and 3 16. Rom. 8.32 and 5 6 11. 2 Cor. 3.18 and 4.6 And of the full and perfect saluation that is to be found in Jesus Christ that great saluation hee hath wrought in his owne body for men and that healthfull and eternall saluation which by his Spirit applying the former hee worketh in those that believe on him and love him 1 Ioh. 4.14 1 Pet. 2.24 Heb. 5.8 9 and 7 24 25. II. To exort us to looke to him and to that hee hath done and that which apertaines to him to doe to believe both and to accept and receive the one and to depend one and submit to him for and in the other Isa 42.1.8 and 45.22.23 and 55.1.6 Rom. 4.24 25. and 5.1.6 11. and 6. to the end And soc to love him and it love to receive and highly prize this his direction and promise to follow and walke in the one and to depend one and wayte for the other And so wee come to the third thing in this point which is that heer also affirmed by our Saviour that As he hath kept his Fathers commands and abode in his love so if wee keepe his commandements wee shal abide in his love In which are contained two things clearly set forth Viz. FIrst A sweet and healthfull direction how to continue in his love namely I. In keeping his commandments II. In keeping them as hee kept his Fathers commandements Secondly A comfortable promise that so keeping his commands they shall abide in his love First the healthfull direction hath three things in it to be opened and understood for our better use-fulnesse I. The commands of Jesus Christ to believers heere-ment what they are II. The keeping of them of which hee heere speaketh what that is III. The manner of keeping as he kept his Fathers commands what that is I. For the first of these to know rightly what the commandements of Jesus Christ to believers heere-ment are livers things may be considered Consider I. That there bee commandements of divorts sorts mencioned in the Scripture as to instance the chiefe of them There are I. Such commands as by the grace of creation by Christ and by the grace of redemption wrought in and by Christ in his own body and the common frultes thereof all men are bound with all their powers and in and by that strength that at any time hath beene given into their naturall powres by God to perform to the utmost in performance of which if noe fayling bee found they shall have life but the least fayling therein if but once in any part of any one command doth alwayes leave a man in and of himself under sinne and death the wages thereof and by these commandements are all men found under the guilt of sinne and under the powre of curse and death even al those that sight against and run crosse to these commands al those also who doe their utmost to make themselves righteous in and by the keeping of them Rom. 2.12.14 and 3.10 20. and 6.23 and 10.5 Gall. 3.10 Ieb 9.22 30 33. And the trespasses which these commandments doe charge mankind withall and which through the fall they were necessitated to commit and left without devine powre to help themselves were all laid on Jesus Christ who mas manifested to take them away and to make propitiation for the sins of the world Isa 53.2 6. 2 Cor. 5.19.21 1 Ioh. 3 4 5. and 2.2 Ioh. 1.29 And under this law of commandments was Jesus Christ made for those that were under it Gall. 4.4 And hee himselfe and hee only did altogether and alwayes fulfille it so as it could charge him with no sinne of his own commission but only with our sins against it in that hee was made under that law for us so as al his whole suffering and sacrifice was for us 1 Pet. 2.22.24 and 3 18. 2 Cor. 5.21 And to this law hath he perfectly satisfied in respect of himselfe in fulfiling it