greater then the Love of the Husband to the Wife Conjugâ—l Love is at least ought to be great Love The Love of Abraham to Sarah was great of Isaac to Rebecca was great of Jacob to Rackel was great of Elkanah to Hannah was great of Augustus to his Livia was great who dyed in the Embraceme is of her with these words Livia nostri Conjugii memoresto vive vale which may thus be Englished Livia remember we were one live and farewell Man and Wife are one flesh and if both be living one Spirit so that this Love must needs be great but Christs is greater Husbands Eph. 5.25 love your Wives as Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it Where is there a Husband that gives himself for his Wife that gives himself to death for his Wife Or if he should what would it signifie She could never say with the Text who loved me and washed me from my Sins in his Blood This must not be said of any blood but Christs is not this then a peculiar Love Spiritual Christs Love is greater then the Spiritual Love of Christians Jonathans love to David was great and Davids love to Jonathan was great but Christs is greater what 's a spark to the Furnace a drop to the Ocean Such is the Love of Man to the Love of Christ God manifest in the flesh 'T is true David speaks very honourably of Jonathans Love 2 Sam. 1.26 Thy Love to me have been wonderfull passing the Love of Women But Christs Love is greater Christs Love is greatest Jo. 14.13 Greater Love hath no Man then this that a Man lay down his life for his Friend Christ laid down his life for Enemies as Enemies when and while Enemies Is not this now a peculiar Love What use may be made of this Lastly that Christ hath a peculiar Love for his peculiar People Hath Christ a peculiar Love for his peculiar People USE This then may be useful by way of Caution by way of Comfort by way of Councel Is Christs Love a peculiar Love By way of Caution take heed then of turning Love into Lust and loving kindness into lasciviousness To do evil that good may come and to be sinful because God is merciful and to be lustful because Christ is Love-ful is the Sophistry of the Prince of Darkness Dost argue from Grace to Sin from Love to Lust from Mercy to Iniquity from Immunity unto Impiety this is the Dialect of Hell and the Sophistry of the Prince of Darkness Rom. 3.8 Oh how do the Apostle thunder against such we are slanderously reported and some affirm that we say Let us do evil that good may come whose damnation is just Art loved be joyous Soul thou art more then a Conquerour through him that loveth By way of Comfort Oh you that have the Love of Christ shed abroad in your hearts by the Spirit of Christ this Text as a Cordial under your fainting Fits Who loved us Art tempted or troubled pained or panged distressed or disserted yet loved Me Duce vinces Rom. 8.37 who loved us Nay in all these things we are more then Conquerors but how through him that loved us Not only Conquerors but more then Conquerors It is a compound word and signifies more then simply to overcome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we greatly overcome we over and above overcome we overcome above measure or exceeding gloriously we do more then overcome we do Over-overcome as the Greek seem to read it It may well be read thus But in all these things we Over-overcome through him that loved us In all these things but what things were these These things ye may run and read Rom. 8.35 What shall separate us from the Love of God shall Tribulation or Distress or Persecution or Famine or Nakedness or Peril or Sword Here are seven bitter Dishes and shall these No In all these things we do Over-overcome Is not any one of these Dishes enough for any pallate in the World yet not one of these not any of these yea not all these shall separate from the Love of God But in all these things we do Over-overcome but how through him that loved us Now that thy Cup may be filled with Joy and Peace like the water pots of Galilee up to the very Brim suffer me to tell thee that Christs Love is the most sutable and soveraign Cordial Christs Love is the most sutable Cordial Those Cordials are most efficacious that are most natural and most suiting the Spirits Gal. 2.20 Christs Love is the Christians Life I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me Christs Love falls in with the Life of a Christian and therefore most sutable Christs Love is the most soveraign Cordial As Gods Love when he gave Christ is put for all Causes Jo. 3.16 So God loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son So Christs Love when Christians get comfort is put for all Cordials Is not that a lofty as well as a lovely Expression of the great Doctor of the Gentiles Rom. 8.38 39. For I am perswaded that neither Death nor Life nor Angels nor Principalities nor Powers Nor things present nor things to come Nor Height nor Depth nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Soul Christs Love contain in it the sum of the Gospel Christ being the sum of the Gospel and Love the sum of Christ God so loved the World that he gave Christ and Christ so loved the World that he gave himself contain in it the Pith and Marrow of all the Gospel This little word Love written in the golden letters of free-Grace in the blood of Jesus Christ is an Epitomy of the Gospel The Life of Christ was a perfect Mirror of his Love every action of it was full of Love and if we put all the Actions of his life together we may conclude that he was not born so much to Live as to Love Was there a word that dropped from his Lips but was sull of Love And as for his works they all speak Love so loud that the deafest ear may hear it Should we begin at the Temple where Christ disputed with the Doctors and â—low him to the Mount where 〈◊〉 was crucified by the Soulâ—ers we should see all the way â—ewed with Love-Reses Now 〈◊〉 loved then this Christ is â—hy Christ and this Love â—hy Love and is not this â—â—tter of Joy Go away then â—â—d be filled with Joy and â—ace through Believing Oh but there are Achans withâ—â— Object 1 Sauls within the Sons of â—erviab within Oh there are â—any Blots in my Scutcheon â—any Weeds in my Garden â—uch Rubbish in my House â—any Holes in my Coat much â—eâ—ven in my Heart Oh no â—eart like unto Mine Soul Solut. Christs Loâ—â— is greater â—en thy Lust and his Mercy â—en thine Iniquity If the Sun â—e
long Though there he silence here there 's suffering else where Oh though there be peace now there may beware ere long Though there be prosperity now there may be adversity ere long Oh though it be Summer now it may be Winter ere long Though the Woman be in the Wilderness Solution yet she shall come out Cant. 8.5 leaning upon her Beloved Soul art loved though thou beest or shouldest be in Tribulation yea in great Tribulation yet thou mayest come out of that great Tribulation These are they that came out of great Tribulation Rev. 7.14 having washed their Robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Now wilt thou that art loved and universally washed from thy Sins in Christs own blood go away with thy countenance sad Oh Soul pluck a Cluster from this Vine and take a Drop from this honey-comb Who loved us and washed us from our Sins in his own Blood Doth Christ wash from Sin in his own Blood By way of Counsel Suffer then the words of Exhortation Now here I would speak to the unwashed and the washed Art not washed Go then to Christ for washing To the unwashed No more shall have a Crown then have a Christ shall have Glory then have Grace and shall have Happiness then have Holiness If therefore thou wouldest be justified before God and sanctified before Man go to Christ If I wash thee not Jo. 13 8. and 't is Christ that speaks it thou hast no part with Me. Whether would ye go whether should ye go whether will ye go whether can ye go but unto Christ who loveth and washeth from Sin in his own Blood Art unwashed go then to Christ for washing But is it Christs will Question 1 as well us Christs work that I should go to him to be washed As it is Christs work to wash Answer so it is Christs will that thou shouldest be washed 1 Thess 4.7 This is the will of God even your sanctification Now God and Christ will and nill the same things But may those that are unwashed Quest 2 go to Christ to be washed As unto whom Answer should an unwashed Soul go but unto Christ So none but unclean Souls Souls sensible of their Vlcers and Vncleanness will go to Christ to be washed Mat 9.12 The whole need no Physitian that is see no need of a Physician but those that are sick But did ever a Soul Quest 3 so unclean as I go to Christ to be washed Oh! I am a Gehaziâ— he was no fuller of Leprosie 〈◊〉 then I am of Sin and yet he went out of his Masters presence a Leper as white as Snow A Sinner thou art Answer and no more thou art now though a Sinner be a Subject of misery yet an object of Mercy Luk. 19. The Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost Quest 4 If I must go to Christ to be washed in his Blood then what manner of Blood is Christs Blood Beloved My Line Answer will not sound this Bottom for it is a bottomless Bottom but I will let it down for Christ can make a Feast of a Fragment Take a Tast though but a Tast Christs Blood is a Heart-softning blood The heart of Man is stony yea like an Adamant stone concerning which stone they say that nothing but Goats-blood will soften it Oh Soul though thy heart be like an Adamant-stone yea like the nether Milstone yet the blood of Christ can soften it I will take away the stony heart out of their flesh Eze. 11.19 and will give them a heart of flesh Christs Blood is a justifying blood Justification is a great thing and a gracious thing indeed to be acquitted from 〈◊〉 and Death and accounted righteous unto Life and Glory â—o not this great greatly great This is through Christs blood That being justified by his blood Rom. 5.9 we should be saved from wrath through him Christs Blood is a Sin-mortifying blood Beloved ye must look upon your Sin as that which was the death of your Lord and ye must look upon the death of your Lord as that which is the death of your Sin Our old Man is crucified with him Rom. 6.6 that the body of Sin may be destroyed Christs Blood is purchasing blood There was little paid for the Saviour they sold him for thirty pieces of Silver but there was much paid for the Sinner Ye are not redeemed with corruptable things 1 Pet. 1.18 19. there 's the Negative part but what are these Silver and Gold But if Silver and Gold cannot what can the blood of Christ can but with the precious blood of Christ Ye are not redeemed with corruptable things as Silver and Gold but with the precious blood of Christ The blood of Christ is the price of Redemption Christs Blood is pardoning blood Oh what wearisome days and nights have many Souls but what 's the reason they want a pardon Do not these say at night oh that it were morning And in the morning oh that it were night Oh how can you rest day or night that are without a pardon Christs blood is pardoning blood Col. 1.14 In whom we have Redemption through his blood the forgiveness of Sins Christ Blood is pleading blood Abels blood did plead against the Offender but Christs blood plead for the Believer Abels blood did cry for vengeance Heb. 12.24 but Christs blood cry for Mercy 'T is called the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things then that of Abel Christs Blood is a pacifying blood Christs blood is the blood of Atonement No sooner was Haman executed but Ahasuerus was appeased No sooner was Christ crucified but God was pacified And you Col. 1.21 22. that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your minds by wicked works yet now hath he reconciled but how in the body of the flesh through death Christs Blood is a procuring blood Our Sins did shut Heavens gate but the blood of Christ is the Key that open the gate of Paradise for us 'T is Christ that hath the Key of David opening and no man shutting shutting and no man opening Loved ones have boldness to enter into the holiest Heb. 10.19 but how by the blood of Jesus Christs Blood is pure blood Beloved we have our Blots in our Scutcheons our Weeds in our Gardent our Rubbish in our Houses our Leaven in our Hearts our Holes in our Coats but Christ had none in His. Impure blood run in our veins but only pure blood run in His. He Heb. 4.15 was in all points tempted like as we are yet without Sin Christs Blood Lastly is purifying blood As the blood of Christ is a blood of value and of Merit so 't is a blood of Vertue and Spirit This blood is a Laver to wash in it washeth a Crimson Sinner Milk-white Now this is if I mistake not a part of the washing in the Text And washed
from God 2 Cor. 3.2 3. Ye are our Epistle written in our hearts known and read read of all Men For as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with Ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in tables of stone but in fleshly tables of the heart Are there not some of you here that remember the very first promise wherein Christ and your Souls met and you cannot forget that and other promises also Then a promise is given from God when it sutes the Souls condition For instance Art tempted Oh say the Soul my Temptations are wanton and wicked horrid and sordid brutish and blasphemous Blessed is the Man Jam. 1.12 that endureth Temptation for when he is tryed he shall receive the Crown of life which God hath promised to them that love him Now this suit is the Souls condition Art afflicted Oh say the Soul I can look no way but I may say Gad a Troop commeth My afflictions come like waves no sooner is one affliction over but another commeth Isa 63.9 In all their affliction he was afflicted He was affected with their affliction and they had his Affection under their Affliction This word sutes the present Condition Art persecuted Oh say the Soul 2 Cor. 4.9 Saul hunts after my Soul to take it Persecuted but not forsaken Though persecuted of Man yet not forsaken by God This falls in with the Souls condition and so looks like a word given from God Art disserted Oh say the Soul the Sun of Righteousness is gone down upon me and there 's a Cloud interposing between my Soul and my Saviour Isa 54.7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee but with great mercies will I gather thee Doth not this sute the Condition of the Soul Art reproached Oh say the Soul they lay to my charge things that I know not Mat. 5.11 Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and speak all manner of evil against you falsly for my sake Is not this word sutable Art impoverished Oh say the Soul my Barrel is empty and my Cruse empty Ps 34.10 The young Lyons do lack and suffer hunger but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing They shall not want any thing that is good that is for their good Is not this promise sutable and seasonale Art Unbelieving Oh say the Soul my Faith is at a low Ebb and I cannot make conclusion of Light in Darkness of Life in Death which is the true Logick of Faith 2 Tim 2.12 If we believe not yet he abideth faithful he cannot deny himself If not this a sutable word Art mourning Oh say the Soul mine Eye is like a Limbeck continually dropping I Isa 51.12 even I am he that comforteth thee Not I and another not I or another but I even I am he that comforteth thee This falls in with the present state Dost want Pardon Oh say the Soul I want a sight and a Sense of Pardon There 's no Salvation without Remission and yet I want a Sight and a Sense of that Isa 43.25 I even I am he that blotteth out thy Transgressions for mine own sake and will not remember thy Sins Is not this proper Hast back-sliden Oh say the Soul I have a sliding foot and a back-sliding Heart Hos 15.4 I will heal their back-sliding I will love them freely Is not this a proper promise Dost fear Oh say the Soul Lastly I fear I shall fall by the strength of this Temptation or this Corruption 2 Cor. 12.9 My Grace is sufficient for Thee for my power is made perfect in weakness A promise thus coming sutes the Souls condition and seems to me to be a promise given from God Art a Believer Triumph then thy Salvation is under Promise Soul By way of Triumph though Salvation be a great thing though it be a Soul-Salvation a Spiritual Salvation an eternal Salvation yet this Salvation is under promise and is entailed upon believing 1 Pet. 1 9. Receiving the End of your Faith the Salvation of your Souls As Faith shall have an End so there is the end of Faith and that 's Salvation receiving the end of your Faith even the Salvation of your Souls There must be believing till Faith come to an end if at the End you would receive the End of your Faith even the Salvation of your Souls When Faith shall have an End then shall the Soul have the End of Faith and that 's Salvation Receiving the end of your Faith even the Salvation of your Souls Soul take a Drop into thy Bucket pluck a Cluster from this Vine Gospel-Promises they are as it were the Veins of Christ whereby his Bloud is carried into all his body the Church Gospel-promises they are the Treasures of Comforts they are the Churches Stock they are the Believers Patrimony To Abraham and his Seed were â—he Promises made Heb. 6.17 It is the Priviledge and Dignity of true Believers to be called heirs of the Promise Oh Question but a Cloud seems to be impending Is not Sin reeling still Is not Satan raging still What course shall I now steer for the bitterness of Death is not yet past Solution Make Judgment of Gods Faithfulness not according to his Providences but according to his Promises God hath promised to keep his People and he will keep his Promise Providences may work counter but Promises are the same and are sure Whatever is uncertain the promise is sure An Estate may be lost Relations may dye and go to the Grave of Silence but the Promise is sure and the same Therefore it is of Faith Rom. 4.16 that 〈◊〉 might be by Grace why to the end the promise might be sure tâ— all the Seed To all the Seed but what Seed is this not 〈◊〉 that onely which is of the Law but to that also which is of thâ— Faith of Abraham who is thâ— Father of us all Now that thâ— Soul may be filled like thâ— water pots of Galilee up tâ— the very Brim with Joy and Peace through believing suâ—fer me to tell thee that thâ— promises are sure and the same For They are hid in the Scripture That the Gentiles should be feâ—low heirs Eph. 3.6 and of the same body and partakers of his promise but how through the Gospel They are hid in the Heart With the heart man believeth unto Righteousuess Rom. 10.12 and with the mouth â—onfession is made unto Salvation They are hid in Christ All â—â—e Promises of God 2 Cor. 1.20 in Him that is in Christ are YEA â—nd in him AMEN unto the â—lory of God by us But to end as I did begin Divine Promises they are hid â—n the Scripture but should that be made a Sacrifice then they are hid in the Heart Gospel-Promises they are hid in the Heart but should that be made a Sacrifice then they are â—id in Christ and are they not sure enough there Oh Soul â— am sure there they are sure Now Gospel-Believers have 〈◊〉 Gospel-Right to Gospel-Promises Art a Believer of â—he right Stamp these Promises then are thine and wilt thou go away with a Countâ—nance sad Oh Soul opeâ— thy mouth wide that it maâ— be filled with Grace and Peace For To Abraham and his Secâ— were the Promises made 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Luke 2.14 FINIS ADVERTISEMENT Books to be Sold by Beniamin Harris at the Sign of the Stationers Arms in Swithins Alley in Corn-hill near the Royal Exchange WAr with the Devil or The Young Mans Conflict with the Powers of Darkness By B. K. 8. p. bound is A Parable of the Kingdom of Heaven Or An Exposition of the first 13 ver of the 25th Chap. of St. Matthew By Mr. Knowllis 8. Price bound 1 s. Loving and Washing Or some Meditations upon Loving Washing in the Blood of Christ by Richard Mayhew Price bound 10. d.