lost and that it was Christ only that could save them they felt the Wounds of Conscience and it was Christ only that could Heal them they feared the Wrath of a Sin-revenging God and it was Christ only that could Deliver them The Remission Reconciliation and Salvation which they had by Christ did lay the first Foundation of a most endeared love unto Christ And stâ—ll they perceive a continual need of Christ to procure daily pardon for them and to convey dayly supplyes of Grace unto them They have Need of Christ when they are Dark to Enlighten them when they are Dead to Quicken them when they are Streightned to Enlarge them when they are Weak to Strengthen them when they are Sad to Comfort them when they are Tempted to Succour them when they are Fallen to Raise them when they are in Doubts to Resolve them when they are under Fears to Encourage them when they Stagger to Establish them when they Wander to Restore them Christ and None but Christ can do all this and more than this for them and therefore because of the need and usefulness of Christ true Christians do love him Rea. 2 True Christians do love an unseen Christ because of the Loveliness of Christ which Loveliness though it be not and cannot here be seen by the Eye of the Body yet it is evident unto the Eye of Faith see the Description which is given of Christ the Beloved by his Spouse the Church Cant. 5. 9. The Daughters of Ierusalem there enquire of the love-sick Spouse What is thy Beloved more than another Beloved O thou fairest amongst Women what is thy Beloved more than another Beloved that thou dost so charge us Hereupon the Spouse giveth a Description ver 10. My Beloved is VVhite and Ruddy the cheifest among ten thousand and after she had set forth his Graces Beauties and Excellent Accomplishments in Metaphors taken from beauties in the several parts of mans body in the 11 12 13 and 14 verses she concludeth in the 15 and 16 verses His Countenance is as Lebanon Excellent as the Cedars His Mouth is most sweet yea he is altogether Lovely This is my Beloved and this is my Friend O Daughters of Ierusalem The Spouse is here acknowledged to be the Fairest amongst Women and not only by the Daughters of Ierusalem but her Beloved who had a more curious eye doth both commend her loveliness and admire it ch 6. 4 5. Thou art beautiful O my Love as Tirzah comely as Ierusalem Turn away thine â—yes from me for they have overcome me and ver 10. VVho is this that looketh forth as the Morning fair as the Moon clear as the Sun and Terrible as an Army with Banners But what beauty is there then in the Beloved if the Church be beautiful beyond all other of the Children of men how beautiful is Jesus Christ from whom the Church doth derive all its comeliness He is said to be White and Ruddy that shews the beauty of his Face and his Countenance is said to be as Lebanon and like the lofty Cedars thereof that shews the Majesty of his Face His Mouth is said to be most Sweet and sweet it is indeed in regard of the Gracious words which proceed from it no Doctrine so sweet as Christ's Doctrine no Precepts so sweet as Christs Precepts no Promises so sweet as Christs Promises But to sum up all Excellencies and Perfections in a word he is said to be altogether Lovely there is no Person or Thing in the World that is most lovely which can properly be called altogether lovely Many defects may be found in the most amiable persons and much insufficiency may be found in the most desirable things but Christ is altogether lovely unlovely in no respect there being no Spot or Blemish no Defect or Imperfection to be found in him and he is lovely in every respect there is an incomparable and Transcendent amiableness in Christs person in every regard In the person of Christ the Humane Nature and the Divine Nature are in Conjunction he is most lovely in regard of both His Humane Nature is compounded of Body and Soul His Body is most Beautiful a most Glorious Beauty and lustre is put upon it whatever it were in his state of humiliation be sure it hath a Glorious Beauty now in his state of Exaltation It is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Glorious Body Phil. 3. 21. If the Face of Moses did shine with resplendent Glory after his conversing Forty dayes with God in Mount Sinai which was Below how doth the Body of Christ shine which hath been above Sixteen hundred years in Mount Sion which is Above I am perswaded that Christs Body is the most Beautifull of all Visible Creatures But the Beauty of Christs Soul doth Excel No creature whatever hath such shining Excellencies as are in the Soul of Christ All the Excellencies that are or ever were in any creature are like a Feather laid in the Ballance with the exceeding weight of his Glorious Excellencies and Perfections Christ Excelled the most Excellent Men that ever lived as to Spiritual Endowments when he was here upon the Earth He Excelled Moses in Meekness Solomon in Wisdom Iob in Patience and how much doth he Excel now he is in Heaven He Excelleth not only the Spirits of just men made Perfect but also the most glorious and Holy Angels that never sinned If any creatures have Wisdom it is but a Beam Christ is the Sun If they have Goodness it is but a drop in Christ is the Ocean If they have Holiness it is but a Spark or dark shaddow Christ is the Brightness of his Fathers Glory If they have the Spirit they have it but In some measure the Spirit is given to Christ without Measure Ioh. 3. 34. Christ is most lovely in his Manhood so nearly united unto his Godhead and how lovely is he in his Godhead as God he is Equall in all Glorious Excellencies with the Father Christs Godhead implyeth Excellency of Being he calleth himself I am Ioh. 8. 28. Excellency of Glory therefore called the Lord of Glory 1 Cor. 2. 8. and King of Glory Psal. 24. 7. Lift up your heads O yee Gates and be ye lift up ye Everlasting Doors and the King of Glory shall come in This is Interpreted by some to be spoken of Christs Ascension and the Angels and Saints making way for his Triumphant Entrance and Possession of his Heavenly Pallace Many Descriptions are given in the new Testament of this lovely Person I shall mention only one Col. 1. 15 16 17 18 19. Who is the Image of the invisible God the First-born of every creature For by him were all things created that are in Heaven and that are in Earth Visible and Invisible whether they be Thrones or Dominions or Principalities or Powers all things were made by him and for him And he is before all things and by him all things consist And he is the Head of the
wayes of God as Pharoah when his chariot-wheels were taken off Love to Christ is like wheels in your motion for Christ and like Oil to the wheels which makes you ready unto any good work which he doth call you unto but when you have but little Love unto Christ you must needs be more slow in your motions more sluggish in Christ's service you will not you cannot take that pains in the work of the Lord and be so Zealous as you might and should be for your Master's Glory To Conclude if you have but little love to Christ you will be apt to faint in the day of Adversity to shrink when you are called to take up his Cross and suffer for his sake lesser sufferings will discompose you greater sufferings will affrighten and amaze you and you will be in danger of turning fearful Apostates in time of great Tryals there is need of great Love to christ as well as great Faith to carry you thorow sufferings with courage that you may persevere unto the end SECT XI Vse 4. FOR Exhortation unto the love of Jesus Christ whom you have never seen this is the Use chiefly designed in the choice of this subject and which I shall most largely insist upon In the Prosecution of it I shall give some Motives and then some Directions The Motives to Induce and Excite you unto the Love of this unseen Christ may be drawn 1. From the consideration of what Christ is 2. From the consideration of Christ's Love 3. From the consideration of Christ's Benefits 4. From the consideration of that Love which Christians have and should have unto Christ. The first sort of Motives may be drawn from the consideration of what Christ is and that 1 What he is in Himself 2 What he is to the Father 3 What he is unto true Christians First Consider What Christ is in Himself In generall He is the most amiable person and the most sutable Object for your Love If you ask of the dayes which are past which were before you since the day that God created Man upon the Earth if you seek from one side of Heaven unto the other if you make enquiry into all the parts of the Earth you will never find that either there ever was or is to be found any person so lovely so beautifull and so every way deserving your Love as the Lord Jesus Christ there is a Matchless Transcendent and Incomparable Beauty and Excellency in him How passionately are some Foolish Men in Love with the externall beauty which they see in some Women the exact Symetry of parts and comely Proportion of the body the Amiable Features and Lovely Mixtures of colours in the Face the Beauty of the Eyes in their Spirit their Quick and Graceful motions and Amorous Glances How doth this Ravish the Hearts of some fond Lovers although the most Beautiful body in the World is no better than painted clay dirt and corruption enclosed in a Fair Skin which sickness will cause to look pale and Wan Death will quite Marr and Spoil But the Amiableness and Beauty of Christ is more Transcendent and Permanent and therefore a more fit Object for your Love Christ is Fairer than the Children of Men he is all Fair without any Spot altogether Lovely without any Blemish or Deformity I have already spoken of the Glorious Beauty which is in Christ's Glorified Body the most Lovely of any Visible creature which God hath made and also of the Shining Excellencies which are in Christ's Glorified Soul so nearly joyned to the Divinity could we suppose all the Loveliness that ever was seen or found in the most lovely persons that ever lived to meet in one person how Lovely would that person be yet such though never so resplendent Beauty would be but a dark Shaddow compared with the Brightness of Christ's most Beautifull Person Can you Love the imperfect Beauty which you see in Creatures and will you not Love the perfect Beauty which there is in Christ can you Love a Fading Beauty which soon Withereth like the Flower and will you not Love Christ whose Beauty never Decays but alwayes doth abide more Fresh than Beauty in the Flower of Youth can you be soon Affected with Beautiful Objects which are before the Eye of your Sense and will you not be Affected with this far more Beautiful Object the Lord Jesus Christ who is so clearly discernable by the Eye of Faith If the Eye of your Faith were open and clear to look upon the Transcendent Amiableness which is in Christ you could not chuse but Love him could you see the Glances of his Eye and the Sweet Smiles of his Lovely Face as some have seen your Hearts would be Overcome and Ravished with Love and filled with Extacies of Joy and Ineffable Delight More Particularly There are the most Amiable Qualifications in Christs Person to attract and draw forth your Love I shall instance in these six 1. His Greatness and Authority 2. His Holiness and Purity 3. His Wisdom and Omnisciency 4. His Truth and Fidelity 5. His Fulness and All-sufficiency 6. His Kindness and Mercy 1. Consider Christ's Greatness and Authority Aquila non capit muscas The Eagle doth not pursue after Flies Great Souls are not Affected except it be with Great Things there is none so Great as Jesus Christ He is most Great in Honour and Dignity He is most Great in Power and Authority Excellency of Majesty doth greatly engage the Love and command the Hearts as well as the Obedience of Subjects and those Princes that have the greatest Power and Authority are the Darlings of the people when they dont abuse their place by Unrighteousness and Cruelty by Usurpation and Tyranny If Power be managed with Clemency and Authority with Kindness towards those that are under command so highly do Princes advance themselves hereby in the Esteem and Love of their people that they will be ready to spend their Estates and venture their Lives in their Service Christ is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth he is clothed with the Highest Honour Arrayed with the most Excellent Majesty Decked with the largest Power and invested with the Greatest Authority He is the King and Lord of Glory He is Exalted to Higher Dignity than the greatest Potentate that ever lived upon the Earth yea he is advanced above all Thrones and Dominions and Principalities and Powers of the Glorious Angels which are in Heaven All Power is given to him in Heaven and Earth Mat. 28. 18. He doth what he will in Heaven the Angels are at his Beck and Execute his Will go and come at his Command and he hath Power on Earth He is the Head of the Church and Head over all unto the Church he can Restrain his Enemies and conquer them and bring them under his Feet at his Pleasure And whatever severity he doth shew sometimes in Executing his Judgments and taking Vengeance on the Wicked he doth never abuse his Power
in your understandings but get them fastened and fixed and close girt about the loins of your mindes hold the truths of Christ fast prize them above all jewels don't part with them upon any terms let all go estate liberty and life it self rather than any of this rich treasure which Christ hath entrusted you withal 3. Assert the truths of Christ be not ashamed or afraid to own any truths of Christ in the most adulterous gainsaying generation profess your belief of Christ and of the truths of Christ endeavour that the light of these truths may shine abroad and cast forth such bright beams in the dark world where you live that others may be brought hereby unto the knowledge of the Truth 4. Endeavour to maintain Christ's truths earnestly contend for the Doctrine of Faith once delivered to the Saints endeavour to convince gainsayers and to defend Christ's truths against those corrupt and erroneous opinions and Doctrins which like leaven is very apt to spread and infect the mindes of men 2. Shew your love to Christ in your publick spiritedness and zeal for Christ's honour and interest let your affections be publick not private narrow contracted and centring in self let your love be a publick and general love Love not only Relations but love all Christ's disciples though of different Perswasions and interests because of the image of Christ love not only your Friends that love you but also your Enemies that hate you because of the command of Christ. Let your desires be publick desires desire the welfare of the univeral Church and of all Gods people throughout the world and accordingly Pray for their Peace and Prosperity and endeavour as you have opportunity to promote the publick good more than your own private advantage seek not your own things but the things of Jesus Christ. Let your griefs be publick griefs grieve not only for your own sins but also for the sins of others whereby Christ is dishonoured in the world grieve not only for your own afflictions but also for the afflictions of Ioseph Heb. 13 3. Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them and them which suffer adversity as being your selvs also in the body You are in the same mystical body with all Christ's afflicted members and when some members suffer the rest should suffer too by way of sympathy Bleeding in their wounds and grieving in their sorrows be ready also to relieve any especially Christ's disciples when they are in distresse and want according to your capacity and as you have opportunity Employ all your Talents for your Masters glory and endeavour to promote the interest of the Lord Jesus unto the utmost of your abilities 1. In reference to those which are without If you are called your selves labour to call others unto Christ as Andrew called Peter Phillip called Nathaniel unto the Messias Iohn 1. 40 41. 44 45. If you have found the Messias or rather have been found of him let your love to Christ and love to Souls prompt you to endeavour the Conversion of others that are your Relations your Friends and Acquaintances Put your unconverted Friends in mind of their miserable Estates whilst under the guilt and reigning power of sin whil'st slaves to the Devil and their own lusts mind them of Death and the fearful consequences thereof to all unpardoned sinners tell them of Christ that he is the only Saviour and Redeemer of Mankind How able and willing he is to save them if they seek after him and apply themselves unto him tell them that not long since you were in the same estate with themselves living in the practice of the same sins and going on in the same way to destruction and that the Lord hath shewed mercy unto you in your Conversion and bringing you into a state of Salvation tell them that there is mercy also for them if they look after it that Gods Grace is most free his mercy most plentiful that Christ is most Gracious and casteth out none that come unto him tell them of the amiablenesse of Christ's Person of the surpassing love which he hath shewn to fallen mankind in his dying for them and that though he were dead yet he is alive and lives for evermore to intercede for all them that make choice of him make use of him for their Advocate Therefore perswade them that they would break off their sins by Repentance which otherwise will be the ruine both of their bodies and of their Souls in Hell and without delay that they would come unto Christ and accept of him upon Gospel-terms If any of you cannot manage these arguments well your selves perswade them if you can to hear such Ministers and Sermons as through Gods blessing have been effectual for your Conversion and thus you may be instrumental to augment the Kingdom of Christ which is one of the best ways of expressing your love unto Christ. 2. In reference to them which are within labour to promote the interest of Christ amongst them that are truly Gracious by vigorous endeavors to strengthen and establish them to quicken and encourage them in the wayes of the Lord Communicate the experiences which you have had as you see there is real need and it may tend not so much to your praise as your Masters honour Labour in your places to be both shineing and burning lights be forward to every good word and work Look upon your selves as the devoted Servants of Christ and that you are not your own and therefore lay out your selves to the utmost for him and give all diligence to glorifie him with your bodies and spirits with your Estates and interests with your gifts and talents all which are his and ought to be at his devotion 3. Shew your love to Christ in your vigorous resistance and opposition of Christ's Enemies There are three grand Enemies of Christ which you are by your Baptisme engaged to fight against namely the Devil the Flesh and the World which war both against Christ and against your Souls This Trinity of Adversaries agree in one and combine together against his anointed doing their utmost endeavour to break his bands to untye his cords and to unhinge his Government they would pluck the Crown off of Christ's head could they reach it and the Scepter out of his hand they would devest Christ if they could of all his power here on Earth and confine him to his territories in Heaven but all their attempts in this kind have been and will be in vain Christ hath tryed the strength of these Enemies and hath vanquished them but still some life and power is left with them to war against the holy seed you are Christs Souldiers listed under his banner shew your fidelity and your love to your Captain and General in manfully maintaining the spiritual combat against his and your spiritual Enâ—mies fight the good fight of Faith resist unto blood don't yeild upon any account disdainfully turn away
Epistle wherein my Text lyeth was written by Peter the Apostle of the Circumcision and is directed to the Strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bâ—thynia as in the first v. of this Chapter By these Strangers we are to understand the scattered Iews who were Strangers in these several Countries where they did Inhabit We read in the 2d of the Acts that there came up many of these Iews from these and other Countries unto Ierusalem to Worship and in the temple hearing the Apostles speak with divers Tongues which were of use in the divers places where they did live and that without Instruction from Man but as the Spirit gave them utterance they were Amazed and Confounded and afterward hearing Peter preach through the Wonderful Power of the Spirit three thousand of them were Converted by one Sermon unto the Christian Faith and added to the Christian Church When the Feast of Pentecost was over these Converted Iews returned into their Countries where their several Dwellings Families and Callings were which Countries being Heathenish and Idolatrous no doubt but there they met with Opposition and Suffering upon the account of the Christian Religion which they became Zealous Professors of besides what they endured from their own Countreymen or Unconverted Iâ—ws who hated Christianity more than the Heathens did The Apostle doth seem to have a respect unto these in this Epistle wherein he doth encourage them under their sufferings for the sake of Christ by many Consolatory Arguments In the 2d v. he wisheth that Grace and Peace might be multiplyed in them and towards them and then though their Sufferings did abound their Consolations would abound much more In the 3d 4th and 5th ver He blesseth God for his abundant Mercy towards them in begetting them unto a lively Hope of the glorious and never fading Heavenly Inheritance which was reserved for them through Gods Infinite Grace and unto which they were reserved and kept through Faith by Gods infinite power In the 6th and 7th verses he telleth them however they were in heaviness through manifold Temptations that is Afflictions which are the Worlds left-hand Temptations yet he giveth them to understand that these afflictions they were but for a season weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning they were but needful to humble them to purifie them to crucifie them to the world to make them conformable to their head the Lord Jesus Christ and that they were for the tryal of their faith that the truth of it might appear both to themselves and others and that the worth of it might appear how much more precious than Gold when it is tryed in the Fire which carrying them thorow their sufferings might be found both to their own praise and their Masters honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ and then the Apostle doth take occasion in the text to speak of their Love which they did bear unto this Jesus Christ and of that unspeakable and glorious joy which doth result from believing in him although they had no sight of him which no trouble or affliction could overwhelm or hinder Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of Glory Hence observe Doct. 1. That it is the Property and duty of true Christians to Love Iesus Christ whom they have never seen Whom having not seen ye Love Doct. 2. That true Christians do Believe in an unseen Christ. In whom though now ye see Him not yet believing Doct. 3. That true Christians do or may rejoice in Believing with unspeakable and glorious joy In whom though now ye see him not yet Believing ye rejoice with Ioy unspeakable and full of Glory Here are three great points to be treated of 1. Concerning the Love of Christians unto Christ. 2. Concerning the faith of Christians in Christ. 3. Concerning the Joy of Christians in Believing For the present I shall speak only of the Love of Christians unto Christ under the first Doctrine the other two I may have opportunity to treat of afterwards Section I. Doct. THat it is the Property and duty of true Christians to love the Lord Iesus Christ whom they have never seen In handling of this point I shall speak 1. Concerning true Christians who do love Jesus Christ. 2. Concerning Jesus Christ whom they have never seen the Object of their Love 3. Concerning the Love which they bare unto this unseen Christ. 4. Shew that it is the Property of true Christians to Love Jesus Christ whom they have never seen 5. That it is their Duty to love him 6. How they ought to love Him 7. Why they do love Him where I shall give the reasons of the point 8. Make some Use and Application 1. Concerning true Christians whose property it is to love Jesus Christ whom they have never seen whom having not seen yee love ye love that is ye who are true Christians who are so in reality as well as profession and of these true Christians that do love Christ the Apostle doth give a description in the 2d ver where he calls them Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father thâ—ough Sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ. True Christians are Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father they are such whom God according to the Councel of his own will according to his own purpose and grace did choose from all Eternity to be a holy and peculiar people to himself to glorifie him here on Earth and that they might be glorifyed by him hereafter in heaven And this election doth evidence it self in the Sanctification of the Spirit true Christians are sanctified being separated and set apart from the rest of the world for Gods use and service God hath sealed them for himself and hereby distinguished them from all others the Motto of which seal is this Holiness unto the Lord. See a description of them in this respect 2 Tim. 2. 21. If any man purgeâ— himself from these he shall be a vessel unto Honour sanctifyed and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work they are purged from the defilement of sin which doth pollute and dishonor them they are vessels unto honour like those of Silver and Gold in a great house which are adorned with Pearls and precious stones they are adorned with all sanctifying graces which are of more worth than the richest Jewels and hereby they are both beautiful in Gods eye and they are made meet for Gods use being hereby prepared and enabled unto every good work This the Apostle prays for in the behalf of the Thessalonians 1 Thess. 5. 23. And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and Body be preserved blamelesse unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ. True Christians are sanctifyed wholly in their whole man though they
be not sanctified thorowly they are sanctified in every part though they are not sanctified in the highest degree Their whole Spirit is sanctified that is the higher faculties of the soul namely the understanding and the will their understandings are enlightned by the Spirit unto a Spiritual discerning both of good and evil beyond what any natural man doth oâ— can attaâ—n unto their wills are bowed or rather rectified and made straight being enclined unto God and his Law Their Souls are sanctified in the inferior faculties in all the affections belonging both to the concupiscible and the irrascible appetite their liking affections of love desire delight and hope are towards God and Christ and things above their disliking affections of hatred fear grief and anger are towards sin Their bodies also are sanctifyed being made members of Christ and instruments of Righteousness their eyes ears tongues hands feet and every part being devoted to God and made use of for his glory Thus true Christians are sanctified by the spirit And they are sanctified unto obedience the graces which are wrought by the spirit in their hearts do appear in the obedience of their lives the course of their lives in a course of obedience unto the laws of Christ they are sanctified unto obedience and they are sanctified unto sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ God hath set them apart to be sprinkled with the blood of the immacâ—late Lamb who takes away sin that they might be pardoned and saved such are true Christians who love Christ whom they have not seen Section II. Secondly COncerning the object of true Christians Love and that is Jesus Christ whom they have never seen This Jesus Christ whom they love is the Eternal Son of God the second Person in the glorious Trinity who in time assumed our Humane Nature clothed himself with our mortal Flesh lived like a servant in a mean condition died like a malefactor the cursed Death of the Cross and all for our sakes for our sins rose again the third day for our Justification ascended up into heaven after forty days and there is set down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty on high to make intercession for us and to make preparation there for our reception into the glorious Mansions and Eternal Habitations which are in the Fathers house He is called Jesus from the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to save because he saveth his people from their sins Matth. 1. 21. He is called Christ from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to anoint he being anointed by the Father with the Spirit and with Power to be Mediator between God and Man to be the great Prophet and Priest and King of the Church This Jesus Christ Christians have not seen with the eye of sense indeed some Christians in the primitive times as the Apostles who were of his family and other disciples who conversed with him frequently did see Christ with the eye of sense but it was in his state of Humiliation when he was here upon the Earth not in his state of Exaltation now he is in Heaven yet some have seen Christ after his Ascention namely Paul at his conversion and Stephen the Proto Martyr before he dyed but none have had a perfect sight with bodily eyes of the Glory which is upon Christ's body the lustre of which is so great that none can behold it in this state of weakness and imperfection and live But whatever sight some Christians have had formerly no Christians now have a sight of Christ's Person they have heard of him with the hearing of the Ear but they have not seen him with the seeing of the Eye they have seen Representations of Christ in the Sacrament but they have never seen his Person that is represented they have seen his Image upon their Fellow-Christians but they have not seen the original from whom this Image hath been drawn Some Christians have been in Iudea and seen the place where the Lord lived and at Ierusalem and seen the place where the Lord dyed and Visited the place of his Sepulchre where the Lord for a time did lye and they have seen the Mount whence the Lord Ascended but no Christians now alive have been in Ierusalem and on Mount Sion which is above to see where the Lord now is in his Glory It is this Jesus Christ whom Christians have not seen that is the Object of their Love Section III. Thirdly Concerning the Love which True Christians do bear unto this unseen Christ. Love is the going forth of the Heart unto the Object Beloved and the Love which True Christians do bear unto Jesus Christ is a Grace wrought by the Spirit in their hearts whereby upon discovery and believing Apprehensions of Christs infinite Loveliness and Excellency his Matchless Love Grace and Mercy their Hearts do go forth towards him in Earnest desires after Union to him and Communion with him wherein they take chief Complacency and this accompanied with a yeilding and dedication of themselves unto his will and service 1. The Love of Christians unto Christ is a Grace wrought in their Hearts by the Spirit It is a Flower most Sweet and Fragrant but there is no Seed of it in the Nature of any Man since the Fall it is planted in the Soul by the Spirit of God Love to Christ is a Divine Spark that comes down from above a fire which is kindled by the breath of the Lord whose Essâ—nce is Love 2. The Ground of this Love to Christ is the discovery and believing Apprehensions of Christs Lovelinesse and Love There must be first a discovery of Christ as a sutable Object for Love and not a bare Notion of this but believing apprehensions of it that Christ is Infinitely lovely Superlatively Excellent and that his love is Matchless and Transcendent towards the Children of Men that there is a Treasury in him and a Storehouse of all Graces and the most Needfull and Rich Supplies otherwise there will be no going forth of the Heart in love unto him 3. The Actings of Christians love to Christ is in their desires after Vnion unto and Communion with Christ. It is the Nature of love to desire Union to the Object beloved especially of this love to Christ and this Union being attained the desires are after Communion with Christ Converse and Fellowship with him no Converse is so desirable as with the Persons whom we most dearly love and this Communion being attained there is chief Complacency therein the Soul doth sweetly rest and repose it self in Christ and rejoyceth in his presence and love 4. The Concomitant of this Love which True Christians have unto Christ is a yielding and dedication of themselves unto his will and Service Lovers do give themselves unto those whom they love this accompanieth the Marriage Union and such as love Christ they are Espoused and joyned unto Christ and they give themselves unto Christ to
Body the Church who is the beginning the First-born from the Dead that in all things he might have the Preeminence For it pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell If we read believe and consider this great Description of Christ we must needs see and say that Christ is most Excellent and Amiable and that no beloved is like to the Beloved of true Christians therefore it is that true Christians do love Christ because of his loveliness Rea. 3. True Christians do love Christ because of His love His love which he doth bear to them He loves them with a First love and with a Free love He loves them with a tender and compassionate love with an active or doing love with a passive or suffering love His love is Infinite without Bounds or Limits it is Superlative without comparison Transcendent beyond comprehension Everlasting without change and which will have no end or conclusion He lov'd them when they were polluted in their sins and washt them with his own blood he loved them when they were Naked in their Souls and clothed them with the Robes of his Righteousness He loves them in their sickness and sorrows and is their Comforter He loves them in their wants and Straits and is their Benefactor He loves them in Life and is the Life of their Souls He loves them at Death and is the Stay of their Hearts And he loves them after Death and will be their Portion for ever There is great Reason that true Christians should love Christ because of his loveliness and there is further reason that they should love him because of his love especially when both are incomparable both are incomprehensible I shall further speak God willing unto both these with other reasons under the motives in the Exhortation to excite Christians to the love of Christ. SECT VIII Vse 1. FOR Information hence learn that there are but few true Christians in the world because there are so few that love this unseen Christ. There are many Christians in Name few Christians in deed and in truth The time hath been when openly to profess the Name of a Christian did argue true love unto Jesus Christ I mean in the Primitive times when Christians were Persecuted by the Heathens as in the Ten first dreadful Persecutions under the Heathen Emperours when the world was watered with Christian blood then especially at some times and in some yea most places whoever openly acknowledged themselves to be Christians they exposed themselves unto Imprisonments Racks Tortures Burnings and the most cruel deaths It was the Truth and Strength of Love unto Jesus Christ which carried them thorow such great sufferings as many did in those dayes undergo for the sake of Jesus Christ But now there are Multitudes of bare nominal Christians they call themselves Christians being baptized in Christ's name but they are altogether without love to Christ whose Name they bare Surely there are but few not only in the Christian World but even in England where Christianity is to be found in as great purity as in any place that love Jesus Christ in sincerity No grossely ignorant persons do truly love Christ such as don't know Christ they can't love him ignoti nulla cupido there is no desire after nor love unto an unknown thing An unknown evil cannot be hated and an unknown good cannot be loved No grossely Erroneous persons do truely love Christ such as do not receive Christ's Truths they cannot love Christ's Person Joh. 14. 23. If any man love me he will keep my words The words of Christ do include not only the words of his Precepts but also the words of his Doctrine Such as erre grossely I mean in the Fundamental Truths of Christianity they are no friends to Christ but his Enemies so far are they from true love unto him No grossely wicked persons do truly love Christ such as profane persons who Blaspheme the name of God in their hideous Oaths the love of Christ doth teach an Holy Awe and Reverence of Gods Name such are Persecuters of Gods people for Righteousness sake How can they love the Head that hate the Members Christ accounteth himself to be persecuted in the perseution of his Members Act. 9. 4. Saul Saul why persecut est thou me and v. 5. I am Jesus whom thou persecutest and surely persecutors of Christ do not love Christ. Such are Scoffers at Religion who deride Holiness and mock at the name of a Saint or Godly person whereby they evidently shew their contempt of the Holiness of Christ from whom the Saints derive all theirs and how can they love Christ that do contemne him and his Image No unrighteous persons do truly love Christ whether they be so in regard of distributative justice or in regard of commutative justice whether they be unrighteous in Execution of judgement in distribution of Rewards or Punishments whether they be unrighteous in their Traffick and Dealingâ— Christ strictly requireth justice and Righteousness and how can they love him that do not keep this Commandement No Covetous persons do truly love Christ the Apostle saith 1 Joh. 2. 15. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him And I may say that if any man love the world that is with his chief love the love of the Son is not in him the love cannot be chiefly set upon things below here on Earth and upon Christ who is above in Heaven No Licentious persons do truly love Christ no Drunkards Adulterers or any that indulge themselves in unlawful delights the love of Christ doth teach us to deny such Lusts and to Mortifie them No meer civil persons that are unconverted no Hypocrites that have a forme of Godliness but are without the power of it do truly love Christ the former may be loving and courteous unto men but they have no love to Christ the latter may Profess love to Christ and Seem to love him but they do not really love him In a word none who are under the reigning power of any sin do truly love Christ The Reign of sin is in the heart and this is inconsistent with the love of Christ in the Heart Now let us separate all these forementioned persons from the rest Grossely Ignorant persons grossely erroneous persons grossely wicked persons the Profane the Persecutors of Gods people the Scoffers at Religion all Unrighteous persons all Covetous Persons Drunkards Adulterers and all Licentious Persons meer Civil persons Hypocrites and all that are under the reigning power of sin and how few will there be left that do truly love Christ and by Consequence there will appear but very few that are true Christians SECT IX Vse 2. FOR Examination Here you may know whether you are true Christians by the Tryall of your love unto Jesus Christ. Examine your selves therefore whether you love Jesus Christ whom you have never seen the most in the world do love truly those persons and things only
for such as you although now his friends yet whilst in a state of Nature strangers and enemies here was Love stronger than death Oh the height Oh the depth of this Love There are such dimensions in this love of Christ as the longest line of your most extended thoughts and imaginations can never be able to reach and measure 6. It was the Love of Christ which raised him again from the dead for you Rom. 4. 25. Who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification 7. It was the Love of Christ which carryed him up from earth to heaven where he was before for you Ioh. 16. 7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth it is expedient for you that I go away for if I go not away the Comforter will not come unto you but if I depart I will send him unto you 2. The strength and activity of Christs Love to you doth shew it self in what he is Doing for you 1. He is interceding for you at the right hand of God Rom. 8. 34. Who is he that condemneth it is Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who is even at the right hand of God who also maketh intercession for us It is through Love that Christ doth plead for you in Heaven that your persons may be accepted your sins pardoned your prayers answered and that the Holy Ghost may be sent down to you to teach sanctifie and comfort you 2. He is preparing a place for you Ioh. 14. 2. In my fathers house there are many Mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you It is through love that Christ as your forerunner is for you entred into the glorious Palace that is above to take possession of it for you and to prepare places there for your reception 3. The strength and activity of Christ's love to you doth shew it self in what he will do for you 1. He will keep you in his hand that none shall pluck you thence Ioh. 10. 28. They shall never perish neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand Because you are received into the arms of his love therefore you shall be kept by the hand of his power and therefore you shall never either finally or totally fall away 2. Christ will make all things work together for your good Rom. 8. 28. And we know that All things work together for good to them that love God Christ hath an endeared love to all you that love God your love being the fruit of his and when Men and Devils conspire together to do you mischief Christs love will turn it unto your spiritual advantage 3. Christ will stand by you in trouble and at death Iohn 14. 18. I will not leave you comfortless I will come unto you When affliction doth arise especially if it be for his sake you are bereaved of all outward Comforts Christ will not leave you comfortless when friends fail and flesh fails and Heart fail yea and life fails Christ will not fail but will stand by and strengthen you and be a light to you in your darkest hours a stay to your Spirits when they are ready to sink within you 4. After death Christ will take care of your Souls he will not sufâ—er them to wander they know not whither he will not suffer the Devil to seize on them as his prey but he will send his Angels to conduct and convey them into the heavenly paradise that where he is there they may be also Luk. 16. 22. And it came to passe that the Beggar died and was carryed by the Angels into Abrahams bosom 2 Cor. 5. 8. We are confident I say and willing rather to be absent from the body and present with the Lord. 5. Christ will raise up your Bodies at the last day if your Bodies should be consumed by Fire or drowned in the Water or rot in the Earth whatever becometh of them the Lord Jesus at his second glorious appearance will find them and raise them and transform them into the likeness of his most glorious body Iohn 6. 40. And this is the Fathers will which hath sent me that every one which seeth the Son and Believeth on him may have Everlasting Life and I will raise him up at the last day Phillip 3. 20. 21. For our Conversation is in Heaven from whence we look for the Saviour the Lord Iesus Christ who shall change our vile Body that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious Body 6. Christ will send forth his Angels to gather you into the society of the Elect that have lived in all Ages and all Parts of the World and to convey you into his presence to meet him in the Air when he cometh to Judge the World Math. 24. 31. And he shall send his Angels with a great sound of a Trumpet and they shall gather together his Elect from the four Winds from one end of Heaven unto the other 1 Thess. 4. 16. 17. For the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the voice of the Archangel and with the trump of God and the dead in Christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air. 7. Christ will own you and crown you and admit you into the Kingdom of Heaven which he hath prepared for you Math. 25. 34. Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand Come ye Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you from the Foundation of the World Here is strong and active love indeed and shall not the consideration of this love of Christ raise and highten your love unto him shall it not provoke and excite you unto activity of love unto the lively and most vigorous exercise thereof hath Christ united himself to your nature and shall not your Hearts be united to his Person hath he fulfilled all Righteousness for you and will not you fulfill his command of Love hath he endured such temptations contradictions and sufferings upon your account and given himself to dye for you and will not you give your Hearts unto him hath he risen from the dead and Ascended into Heaven for you and will not your Affections arise from the Earth and Ascend into Heaven where Jesus Christ is Doth he plead in Heaven with the Father for you and will not you hearken to his pleadings by his Word and Spirit with you for your love is he preparing a glorious Mansion for you in his Fathers house and will not you prepare a place for him and entertain him in the inner room of your chiefest Affections doth and will he keep you in his hand and will not you embrace him in your bosoms will he make all things work together for your good and will not your Affections work towards him will he stand by you in trouble and at Death and will not this
with infinite Might and Power the beauty of thy face is most wonderfull the smiles of thy countenance are most sweet and delightful and doth this lovely fair One this fairest of ten thousand this most excellent and alltogether lovely Person bear a particular love to me to such a vile worm as me to such a dead Dog as me to such an undeserving ill-deserving hell-deserving sinner as me O what marvellous kindness is this what infiâ—iâ—e Riches of Free Grace doth he know me by name hath he given himself for me and given himself to me and shall not I give him my heart am I written in his bookâ— Redeemed with his blood clothed with his Righteousness beautified with his Image hath he put the dignity of a Child of God upon me and prepared a place in the Fathers house for me O wonderful O admirable what shall I render what returns shall I make had I a thousand tongues should I not employ them all in speaking his praise had I a thousand Hearts should I not present them all as too mean to thank-offering unto him And yet am I slow slow of Heart to love this dear and sweet Iesus awake O my Soul awake from thy dulness and stupidity shake off thy sleep which glues thine eye-lids so close together shake out the dust of the Earth which hath got into thine eyes and keeps thee from the view of thy beloved Arise O my Soul and lift up thy self unfetter thy feet unâ—log thy self take the wing and mount up above the sky and visible Heavens even to the place where the lovely and dear Iesus is Take thy leave of the world and all things therein Bid farewel to the flattering honours the deceitful Riches the glozing Pleasures that are here below bid adieu to them and leave them to those that place their chiefest happiness in them if Earth hath thy body for a while yet let it have thy heart and chiefest affections no more come O my Soul ascend and soar aloâ—t unto the Heaven of Heavens the way unto the Holy of Holies is accessible the vail is rent the fore-runner is entred and thou mayest have entrance too with thy Thoughts and Desires and Loves and Hopes and Ioyes there thou mayst see and veiw and admire and embrace thy dearest Lord there thy Heaâ—t may find a fit object for it's Love even thy dearest Lord Iesus who wil not reject despise thee but give kind entertainment unto thy love and withall give the fullest sweetest returns there thy Heart may find a room to dispose of it self and not only a lodging like that of a wayfaring man for a night but an habitation wherein to dwell and to take up it's Eternal abode let thy Heart be thy fore-runner that when thy body drops off from thee thou mayst know where to betake thy seâ—f and find ready entertainment there where thy Heart hath been long before Why dost thou hang downwards O my Soul why dost thou bend so much to the Earth and Earthly things what is there here below that is not beneath thee and altogether unworthy of thy Love how empty and vain and thorny are these things don 't wast thy time weary thy self for very vanity don't prick and wound thy self with these things any more What aileth thee O my Soul that thou art so backward to the Love of Christ is it because thou canst not see Christ with the Eyes of thy Body thou shalt see him with those Eyes hereafter when he comes in his Glory thy body is raised and repaired and sitted to bear such a sight thou can'st not see the Wind but thou hearest it's noise and feelest it's blasts and dost thou not hear Christ's voice in his Word dost thou not feel the breathings of his Spirit in his Ordinances Thou art invisible thy self O my Soul and art thou so drenched in flesh that visible objects shall have more Power to draw down thy heart than this most glorious object though now invisible shall have power to draw up thy Heart dost thou question and doubt of his love to thee and doth this damp and discourage thy Affection whose Image is this which is engraven upon thee is it not the Image of Christ what writing is that upon thy Heart is it not Gods Law written by Christs Spirit whose deckings and adornings hast thou got about thee what Beauty is this which is put upon thee is it not Christs comeliness where hadst thou those Bracelets that Ring those Iewels that chain of Graces are they not Christ's love-tokens which he hath given thee and yet wilt thou doubt of his love if thou feelest corruption strong yet dost thou not perceive some Grace although it be weak hast thou not some love to Christ although it be low are not thy desires chiefly after him which evidence that thy chief love is to him and is it so with any but such whom Christ doth love doth not Christ love first and yet wilt thou question his love banish then thy fears silence thy doubts O my Soul rouze up thy self and climb â—p by the Iacobs ladder which is let down to thee from Heaven and settle thy love upon Iesus Christ and those things which are above where Christ sits at the Right hand of God Such retired Contemplations of Christ and Soliloquies and pleadings with your own Souls when alone by your selves will tend exceedingly to the promotion of your love unto Christ. 2. Would you have much love to Christ Be much in Reading and Studying the Scriptures The Scriptures are a Glasse in which Christ may be seen he cannot be seen Face to Face in this World this is the happiness of the Triumphant Church in Heaven not of the Militant Church upon the Earth what may here be discerned of Christ it is in the glass of the Scriptures and Gospel-Ordinances this is that glass spoken of 2 Cor. 3. 18. We all with open face beholding as â—n a glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from Glory to Glory Christ is the Glory of the Lord the brightness of his Fathers Glory would you have much love to him be often looking veiwing and beholding of him in the glass of the Scriptures by much beholding of him you may be transformed more and more into the likeness of his Holiness and into the likeness of his Love which is Glory begun The Scriptures have the Image of Christ engraven upon them the Image of the Father is upon the Son and the Image of the Son is upon the Scriptures there you may see the Picture of Christ the Beauty of Christ at least some lineaments are there drawn by the hand of God although not fully and to the life I mean such you will see in him when you come to behold him face to face in Heaven yet his Beauty is drawn in such proportions and with such shadows as you are now capable of beholding Would you have much love unto Christ whom
drink of those Rivers of Pleasures which are with thee O hasten Lord hasten thy glorious appearance that thou mayest be Glorified before the whole World and we be glorified with thee that we may be then taken to live with thee and reign with thee and be made perfectly happy in the full and everlasting enjoyment of thee Thus I have done with these Directions the last thing in this Use of Exhortation And what do you now say after all Motives to excite and perswade you to the Love of Christ and Directions therein shall all be in vain What do you say Sinners shall Christ have your hearts or no will you harbour base lusts in your hearts that will damn you and keep out the Lord Jesus Christ who alone can save you shall I gain no hearts for Christ by all may Sermons which I have preached concerning the Love of Christ My Lord and Master hath sent me to woe you to win your hearts for him may I speed or no shall my Message be accepted and Jesus Christ the most lovely person find entertainment with you If any person or thing in the world which you do most dearly love do so well deserve your love lock your ears still against all my words and let them perish like an empty sound in the Air lock your hearts against Christ who stands knocking at the door and give an absolute and peremptory refusal to give him any room there But if in the whole world you cannot find out a suitable Beloved besides Christ if there be nothing here below but is unworthy of your hearts if all inferiour things whilest they have your chief Love do debase you and defile you and unless your hearts be taken off from them will certainly ruine and destroy you everlastingly O then be perswaded without any further delay to open the everlasting doors of your hearts to let Christ into them and set Christ up in the highest seat of your Affections O be perswaded to give Christ your chief Love to give him your Heart and your whole heart with grief and hatred let go your hold of sin and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ in the Arms of your dearest Love And then I would say to you as our Saviour did to Zacheus when he gave him entertainment in his house This day is Salvation come unto you O happy day unto you O happy you that ever you were born if this day Christ should be heartily entertained by you This then would be the day of your Conversion in which the Angels would rejoyce and though Grief and Trouble might invade you for a while because of your sin yet this would make way for your spiritual Joy weeping might endure for a Night but joy would come in the Morning but O the Joy which you will then have in the day of your Coronation when all tears shall be wiped away from your Eyes and when you shall have admission into the glorious presence of the Lord where there is Fulness of Joy and Pleasures for Evermore And what do you say Believers you that have some Love to Christ shall this Doctrine and these Sermons which I have preached be a means to raise and heighten your Love Your Love hath been too much mixed will you love Christ more purely your love hath been very weak will you love Christ more strongly Your Love to Christ hath been but a spark shall it now break forth into a flame after such blowings shall there be no burnings When you think of Christs Person so amiable his Love so incomparable his Benefits so ineâ—timable shall not this fire your hearts and will you not now love him more dearly and ardently than ever will you be perswaded to get off your hearts from Earth and Earthly things and get up your hearts to your Lord which is in Heaven and to settle your Love there upon him so as never to withdraw it from him any more Will you love the Lord Jesus much whom you can never love too much will you now dwell in the Love of Christ and be more frequent and â—ervent in the actings of it Then O what comfort would you find in your Love and what sweetness in the sense of Christs Love This would be the surest Evidence that Christ loveth you because Christ loveth first and how would this sweeten your passage through the Valley of Affliction and through the Valley of Death This would sweeten a bitter cup and make a sweet cup more sweet In Life the sense of Christs Love will be better than life but at Death this will be the onely stay and support which you can have nothing else can give any well-grounded comfort in a dying hour Death rageth and playeth the Tyrant every where shooteth his Arrowes hither and thither sometimes he smiteth those that are Elder than your selves and sometimes those that are Younger sometimes those that are weaker than your selves sometimes those that are stronger sometimes those that are better sometimes those that are worse sometimes the righteous are smitten sometimes the wicked sometimes the profane and sometimes the Professors that all might be awakened to prepare And what is it that can give you comfort when you come to the sides of the pit You may have the Love of your dear Yoke-fellowes weeping and mourning at your Bed-side Children Kindred and Friends wringing their hands and looking with a pitifull countenance upon you grieving to part with you but what comfort can all their Love yield unto your departing Spirits their Love may disturb you and make you the more unwilling to dye and leave them because they are so unwilling to part with you But the Love of Christ and sense thereof will be a Comfort indeed because he is a Friend whom you are not departing from but going unto and O the delight which then you may have when Friends look most sad and Death looks most grim when the trembling Joynts the clammy Sweats the intermitting Pulse the falling Jawes the ratâ—ing Throat and other symptomes give notice of near approaching Death then to think I am now come not onely to the Door of Eternity but also to the Gate of my Fathers House where many Saints are gone before me and many Angels are attending for me and where my dearly beloved Iesus is and hath prepared for my Reception and eternal Habitation Here are Friends about my â—â—d-side who ere long will convey 〈…〉 to the Grave to be fed upon by 〈…〉 are Angels also by my bed-side 〈…〉 Soul that so soon as it is loosned 〈…〉 Carkase they may convey me 〈…〉 Paradise Within a few 〈…〉 and I shall be with my dearest 〈…〉 Faith will be swallowed up 〈…〉 Hope in Fruition and my 〈…〉 to Perfection O the Glorious 〈…〉 there and then will shine into every 〈…〉 of my mind O the Love and Ioy and â—â—effable Delight when I come to see and enjoy and live for ever with my most dearly Beloved This This onely will make you
separate us from the love of Christ shall tribulation or disiress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword Nay in all these things we are more than conquerours through him that loved us And you may be perswaded as Paul was and greatly rejoyce therein that as v. 38 39. Neither death nor life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers nor things present nor things to come nor heighth nor depth nor any other Creature shall be able to separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Iesus your Lord. If you know that Christ doth love you you may know assuredly that your Prayers have audience with God that whatever imperfections and sinfull mixtures they have yet that they are mingled with the sweet Incense of Christ's Merits through which they are persumed and accepted and what comfort is this that whatever you ask of the Father in the Name of your dear Lord Jesus if it be for his Glory and your good he will certainly procure it for you To conclude If you know that Christ doth love you you may know assuredly that you are Heirs of the Kingdom of Heaven and that as certainly as you are alive you shall attain eternal Felicity in the Beatifical Vision and Fruition of your Lord as certainly as you have the first Fruits so certainly shall you have the Harvest as certainly as you have the Earnest so certainly shall you have the Inheritance as certainly as you see Christ by Faith here so certainly shall you have the Beatifical Vision of his Person and Glory in Heaven and be made perfectly happy in the eternal and full Enjoyment of him O how should you then rejoyce in the Lord rejoyce in his Person rejoyce in his Love rejoyce in his Benefits rejoyce in what you have and rejoyce in what you hope to have by him rejoyce in what you see now and feel now and taste now and rejoyce in the foresights and foretastes of your Happiness to come Rejoyce in the Lord always and again I say Rejoyce 2. If you have Manifestations of Christs Love unto you Admire his Free Grace in these Manifestations as Ioh. 14. 22. when Christ had promised to manifest himself unto such as love him Iudas not Iscariot he was the Traytor and had no true love to his Master but Iudas the Brother of Iames saith to him Lord how is it that thou wilt manifest thy self unto us and not unto the World This Question is not a Question of Enquiry concerning the Way and Manner how Christ would manifest himself unto them but it is a Question of Admiration concerning the Thing 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 What is done or What is come to pass How is it or Whence is it His Question did not expect an Answer neither do we find any to it but onely expressed his Wonder that Christ should manifest himself unto them And how should you wonder then that the Lord Jesus should manifest himself unto you That the Lord Jesus whose Name is Wonderfull and hath so many Wonders in him a Person of so great Eminency and Excellency who hath such a Crown of Glory upon his Head such Robes of Glory upon his Back and on the Vesture of his Garment and his Thigh a Name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords that this most excellent Person should manifest himself unto You such as You when he conceals himself from the greatest Princes of the Earth who by their Interest Authority and Influence might that highly promote his Glory he should manifest himself unto You who for the most part are low and mean poor and despised in the World that when he hideth himself from most of the Wise and Prudent and great Scholars in the world who by their Parts and Learning might magnifie his Name and spread his Fame he should manifest himself unto you who for the most part are persons of mean parts and Education that when Christ hideth himself from many Moralists who have escaped the grosser Pollutions which are in the World he should reveal and manifest himself unto you some of whom before Conversion were notoriously guilty of most foul sins that when Christ manifesteth himself unto so Few that you should be in the Number of those Few how many wonders are here That this Glorious Person should send down another Glorious Person I mean the Holy Ghost from Heaven which is more than if he had sent down all the Glorious Angels which are in Heaven to make this Discovery of himself unto you That he should make use of the Foolishnesse of Preaching as a Means to effect this great thing that while a man of like passions and infirmities with your selves is opening and applying the Scriptures the Lord by this means should unveil himself and open the treasures of his Love unto you that your humble fervent and believing prayers here on Earth should ascend up to the throne of God that is in Heaven and move the Lord Jesus that is there to come down thence though not in person yet by his Spirit that prayer should open heavens gate and have such a prevalency for this manifestation and discovery of Christ though the best prayers of the best men are not without mixture of sin that whilst you are sitting at the Lords table the Lord himself should give you a visit and whilst you are eating bread and wine at the Sacrament he should give you to see and feel and taste himself and his Love by your spiritual senses It was wonderful humiliation in Christ that when he could have commanded the most stately Horses yea Lions Elephants or Unicorns he should ride to Ierusalem upon an Ass and when Christ hath the Chariots of so many thousand glorious Angels which he could command and ride triumphantly in when he makes discovery of himself unto his people that he should make use of the Chariots of so mean Ordinances in the discovery of himself unto you how many wonders are here how should you admire his wonderful Grace and Love and say what is man that thou art thus mindful of him or any of the sons of men that thou shouldst thus visit them what are we unworthy wretches and why shouldst thou manifest thy self unto us even so dear Jesus because it seemed good in thy sight especially you have reason to wonder and admire at the manifestations which Christ hath given of himself and love to you when you consider the excellency of these manifestations and discoveries beyond all other discoveries If you have seen the most rare works of Art and Human Invention the most curious Pictures the most stately Edifices or any other works of the most ingenious contrivement If you have viewed the works of nature which do far exceed those of Art the beautiful frame of the Heavens over your heads and the glorious Luminaries of Sun Moon and Stars in their wonderful light and motion the Earth under your feet when it hath got on its best attire when the