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
A brief declaration OF JESUS CHRIST His peculiar Love to BELEEVERS And how they may abide in it IN A MEDITATION On Ioh. 15.1 to 10. By THO. MOORE Printed at Delff by MICHIEL STAEL 1647. CHRISTIAN READER I Have heer onely briefely given thee this Meditation as an addition or step forward in the love of God to mankind to see his speciall love to Beleevers and how they may walk in it which thou and I attaining our groweth to the harvest and perfection in the harvest will be certain which being my desire I Rest Thy well-willer in and for Iesus Christ THO. MOORE A MEDITATION Of Ioh. 15.9.10 and occationly from 1. to 10. Ioh. 15.9 As the Father hath loved mee soe have I loved you continue yea in my love Ioh. 15.10 If yea kyepe my commandments yea shall abide in my love even as I have kept my Fathers commandments and abide in his love THE coherence of these words with the former shew them to be a farther encouragement exoitation and direction to Christs disciples for abiding in Christ and that he by his word and Spirit may abide in them for he had before beene instructing admonishing and encouraging them to abide in him and he in them Vers 1.5 I am saith Christ the Vine the True Vine a vine was known to them to be one of the trees of Gods Creation and provision for man such a one as brought forth such fruite as did testify the goodnes of God to man Zack 8.12 such a one as in the promise or giving of which was implyed plenty peace and safet ye Deut. 8.7.8 9. Ier. 31.4.5.8 I. King 4.25 Such as the fruite thereof did cheare both God and man because being filled with his goodnesse they offered of it to God and drank thereof in their sacrifices with thanks to God which he accepted and confidence in God in which they were refreshed Psal 116.11 to 19. Now that Jesus Christ is the Vine the True Vine is for such as they noe hard saying to understand according to the letter which is the sence the words import seeing the Scripture menciones two men or two Adams the first man who is the first Adam and the second man who is the last Adam 1. Cor. 15.45.47 And suitably two creationes the first Creation Gen. 1. 2. And a new creation Rev. 21.5 The first Adam being natural and earthye and soe the old creation that is supported for him 1. Cor. 15.46 Psal 75.3 The second or last man being spiritual and heavenly and soe the new creation compleated in and through him 1 Cor. 15.46 Isa 65.18.19 Soe as when in Scripture wee reade of vine fig-tree dore c. as it speakes off and is aplyableto the first man with the first creation for him and things pertaineing thereto wee may understand it suitably whether naturally or metaphorically yet ever as the words in that sentence and buysinesse import which is the litteral sence or as it speakes of the second man with the new creation compleated in and through him and things pertayning thereto wee may understand it spiritually whether in more general or more peculiar sence yet ever as the words in that sentence and buysinesse import which is also the litteral sence and so according to the letter or words written in this buysinesse I am the vine being spoken by and of Jesus Christ the spiritual man and the things of him it sheweth plainly that verily I. Hee is the vine the tree of life Rev 2.7 22.1.14 The greene Olive-tree in the house of God Psal 52.8 Their green fir-tree from whom their fruit is found Hos 14.8 And soe the vine as heere Vers 1.5 II. Hee is the vine or fruitful tree of Gods provision and preparation for man for the good of man 1. Pet. 1.2 Isa 42.1 1. Ioh. 4.14 In and through whom is testified the goodnesse and love of God to mankind Isa 55.1.4 Ioh. 3.16.17 And his peculiar love to his chosen Rom. 8.32 Joh. 9.3.6 III. Hee is the vine whose fruit cheareth both God and man hee hath in mans nature and stead soe dyed for mans sinnes and risen for mans justification and offered up himself such a perfect and acceptable sacrifice to God for man that in him mercy and truth are met Psal 85.10 And it is as iâ— all had dyed 2. Cor. 5.14 And with him yea in him God is well-pleased Mat. 3.17 17.5 And through him light mercy is extended to men filling them with good Joh. 1.4.5.9 Act. 14.17 So as in beholding and receiving his love heeâ— through testified they may give thanks to God and be comforted in God Psal 107.21.22.42.43 IV. Hee is the vine in which is all fulnesse of liveing and quickening sap that effecteth-life and fruitfulnesse it pleaseth the Father that in him should all fulnesse dwel Col. 1.19 All fulnesse of grace and truth Ioh. 1.14 Grace is powred into his lips Psal 45.2 Hee is immeasureably anointed and filled with the Spirit Psal 45. Isa 42. 61.1 In him are hid all the treasures of wisedome and understanding in him dwels al the fulnesse of the God-head bodily Coll. 2.3.9 V. He is the vine in promising of whom God promiseth and in giving of whom God giveth and in receiving of whom believers receive plenty of durable riches Pro. 3.13.18 Wisedome righteousnesse c. 1. Cor. 1.30 Enheritance Eph. 1.11 Kinred Mar. 3.35 Pleasures Psal 16. Utt. Also peace even peace with God in conscience with brethren and towards men peace passing understanding that wil keep the hart and mind in Christ and joy in the Holy Ghost Rom. 5.1.2.5 14.17 Phill 4.4.5 And safety for suport preservation and eternall salvation Joh. 10.28.29 VI. Hee is the vine in and through whom al spirituall and quickening sap and powre of the devine nature flowes that brings forth good grapes or fruites that are acceptable that will either satisfie or be gathered of his Father and him Psal 52.8 Hose 14.5.8 1. Pet. 2.5.9 1. Joh. 5.12 Joh. 3.6 Cant. 4.1.14 and 5.1 Thus is Iesus Christ the vine endeed and not only allegorically and metaphorically but minding the buysinesse spiritually hee is soe truly and really and other natural and earthy yea or metaphoricall vines are so called in respect of that which they resemble and shew forth of some small goodnesse of his in whom the true good is vers 1 I am saith hee the True Vine And this may bee understood in oposition too or respect of others that are so called or in soom sort are vines I. The naturall vines the trees soe called that bring forth such fruites as aforesaid truth these vines are vines endeed as Creatures that have theire being support fruitfulnesse and operation of their fruits from God through Christ Ioh. 1.4.11 Psal 75.3 Coll. 1.17 Without whose word or forth-putting of his blessing those vines languish and bring forth noe fruite or bringing forth fruits yet cannot nourish nor are accompanied with those blessings of plenty
peculiar the wine wherof himselfe wil drink and with the same refresh his choise freinds Cant 5.1 Psal 36.8.9 He found the ransome Ioh. 33.24 Hee gave his son Ioh. 3.16.1 Ioh. 4.14 Hee made him flesh Ioh. 1.14 Hee made him to be sin and curse for us 2. Cor. 5 21. Gall 3.13 Hee raised him from the dead and made him wisdome and righteousnesse for us Rom. 4.25.1 Cor. 1.30 Hee hath accepted his sacrifice and taken well-pleasednesse in him Heb. 10.1.10 Mat. 3.17 and 17.5 Hee hath filled him with spirit and eternal life for men so hath made him a quickning spirit Psal 68.18 Isa 61.1.1 Ioh. 5.10.11 1. Cor. 15.45 And so hath set him forth for a propitiation Rom. 3.25 A witnesse leader and commander Isa 55 4. The medium of dispensing spirit Isai 42 1.2 And comming into him and of fruitfulnesse Ioh. 10 9. Soe is hee the vine the True Vine which God hath made and prepared II. That from the beginning he by spirit in such meanes as he used hath beene drawing in some to his son and these are his chosen his vineyard in whom his word is put and soe hee in them that from them he may be declared to others Pro. 9.1 Isa 5. and 28.16 III. Hee stil useth meanes through Christ to make him knowne and soe to open him and call and draw into him and ingraft in him this being peculiarly in some sence the fathers worke Ioh. 1.13 Mat. 16.16 Ioh. 17 6.7.8 and 6.44.45 and 3.14.15 Rom. 5.8 10.2 Tim. 1.9 And this he doth by his gospel Rom. 1.16 And that both in his servants ministration therof Ioh. 17.20 23. Rom. 10.14 15.17.1 Cor. 3.5 And also by his spirit opperating therein and therwith Act. 11.21.2 Cor. 13.3 Whence that Act. 26.18 IV. That when God hath made knowne his son by the Gospel and vouchsafed the ministration of it by his servants with some motiones of his spirit calling to Christ and soe into his vineyard he According to his nighdrawing in the meanes and drawing them nigh to Christ and his lookes that they should bring forth fruites Isa 5.4 Luk. 13.6 Even fruites of repontance Mat. 3. Faith love joy peace c. Gall 5.22.23 And glorifying him that others therby might come to praise him Mat. 5.16 V. When he hath used such meanes and striven with them and waited for them his time and some bring forth noe fruite that is suitable to the meanes and for him Hee taketh them away either by taking gospel and church state from them Mat. 21.42.43 and 23.37.38.2 Chron. 36 16 17. Isa 5.5.6 Or by taking away his spiritual opperationes from them and so reprobating them Ier. 6.16.31 Ezek. 24 13. Mat. 3.1 Ioh. 2.19 Heb. 2.1.4 and 10.29.30 V I. Those which by the meanes and spirit therin doe bring forth fruite hee purgeth that they may bring forth more fruite I. He purgeth and cleanseth by the grace the promiseâ— the spirit given all opperating to reprove sin Ioh. 16.8.9.10 To deny ungodlinesse c. Tit. 2.11.12 To cleanse from al 〈◊〉 thinesse of flesh and spirit 2. Cor. 7.1 And soe is withering aâ—â— crucifying the flesh with the affectiones and lusts thereof Isa 40.6.7 Gall. 5.24 II. Hee purgeth by afflictiones and correctiones as often as need is to take downe pride breake them of their enterprises returne them from their strayings and hasten them to himself that they may being judged in the world not be condemned with the world but partake of his righteousnesse 1. Pet. 1.6 Ioh. 33.16.24 Heb. 12.6.11.1 Cor. 11.32 Isa 27.8.9 III. He purgeth them in nurturing with the crosse oâ— Christ enabling them to suffer shame losse hard-ship c. foâ— the name of Christ by whom the world is made as a crucified thing to them and they become as crucified to it which freed from many snares Gall. 6.14.2 Tim. 3.11.12 And al this purging is that they may partake of the vertue of 〈◊〉 resurrection of Christ bring forth more fruit Rom. 6.4.5.6 VII Hee accepteth and treasureth up those fruites that are brought forth by the opperationes of his spirit in and through those that abide in Christ and make them usefull 1. Pet. 2.3.4.5.9 Cant. 5.1 VIII Hee owneth knoweth keepeth and approveth this vine and vineyard and branches with the fruites thereof Mat. 3.17 Psal 16.2 Tim. 2.19 Cant. 6.2.3 and 7.12 He hath not only a right over them to dispose of them for so all are his Psal 119.91 The earth is the lords and the fulnesse therof the world and they that dwel therin Psal 24.1 Yea the whole field is his Mat. 13.24 But these are his garden Isa 51.3 His vineyard Psal 80.15 His pleasant portion Ier. 12.10 His peculiar above al the field his treasure Deut. 7.6 Psal 135.4 His enheritance Deut. 9.26.29 And his jewels Matt. 3.17 Soe that they are owned as his choise portion with speciall love care and portection And thus hath he instructed his disciples and us in them about his father himselfe and themselves which as it might be a motive to deter all from harmeing them and to alure men to come and suffer themselves by the doctrine of Christ to be drawne forth of the field into this vineyard and so into Christ and a strong motive to those that are in Christ have of his word and spirit in them to abide and walke in him in the faith and love of him and submission to his teachings and to have his word spirit with al its opperationes abiding in them seeing they are in such a vine and have such a Husband man Againe As our Saviour had beene instructing his disciples so hee had been admonishing them in warning them of the danger of unfruitfulnesse and not abiding in him namely I. That while they abide in the beleife of him and his word enlightened to their hart and in fellowship with his and his word abideth in their hart there is a possibillity of bringing forth fruite to God Psal 78.5.6.7.8 Act. 28.27 Heb. 4.12 And in suffering its opperationes and yeelding up thertoo assurance of bringing forth fruit Rom. 12.1 2. Goll 3.16 Isa 48.18 As heere Vers 2.4.5.6 II. That not abiding in him and his word but suffering it either to be stollen away or not to have its opperation and rooting in the hart it is unpossible to bring forth fruit that will abide or be accepted Mat. 13.19.20.21 As heere Vers 5.6 III. That those to whom hee is made knowne and his word come and they brought to the vineyard and bring forth noe fruite God taketh away in withdrawing his light and spirit from them and soe closeth their eyes and giveth them up to hardnesse Ioh. 12.38.39.40.2 Thess 2.10 And casteth them forth even from the hart and spiritual fellowship of his living people Ier. 14.11 1. Ioh. 5.11 and 2.19 and manifesteth them 2. Tim. 3.9 Psal 12.5 IV. That when they are taken away and cast forth they wither and ar soone withered their moisture light zeale
of his servants still to be a continued worke and that not only that they may continue being the salt of the earth and the light of the world and by their light shining to win in men to glorify God Mat. 5.13.16 But olso for such as God hath blessed their ministration unto and made them instruments by which the spirit hath brought them to Christ enabled them to believe on him and writ his mind in their hart they are not then to cease their ministration towards them but then to follow one and more abundantly to care for watch over pray for instruct admonish and encourage them for their father building up and preservation in the faith and provocation to love and good works 2. Cor. 3.2 to 17. and 11.2.3 Iud. 1.5 Act. 20.28 II. That those who are through grace brought into believe and so made cleane by the word of Christ applied to them and so in Christ and hee in them it is meete needful profitable and safe for them to be still attending the ministration of Christ in the Gospell and to be further instructed admonished exhorted and encouraged and that againe and againe while they are in these clay tabernacles 1. Cor. 13.10.12 Yea though they bee sinceere and fruitfull Phil. 1.7 and 2.1.13 and 3.1.2.10 And know and are established in the present truth 2. Pet. 1.12.13 Yea though their faith love and hope be stedfast and opperative and their election of God so testified as may be knowne 1. Thess 1.3.5 and 3.2 Yet stil the ministration of the Gospell is meete needful and safe even for them because of oppositiones in flesh and weaknesse and wants that yet may yet be found in the usefulnesse of their faith and love and orderly walking 1. Thess 3.2.3.10 And good ends and reasons for both these points are given in the scripture it self as to instance briefly a fewe I. To stit up and keepe mindfull and waking the harts of the believers 2. Pet. 1.13 and 3.1 That so they may not suffer that lose in opportunities which forgetfulnesse sleepinesse endangers too Cant. 5.2.3.6 II. To prevent and save from seducements by false doctrine which enstrange from God and Christ 1. Cor. 15. to the end 2. Cor. 11.1.2.3.11 1. Ioh. 2.19 III. To prevent and save from the intisements and deceitfulnesse of sinfull and worldly lusts that withdraw from God Heb. 3.1.12.13 1. Ioh. 2.16 IV. To edify in faith love hope 1 Thess 5.11 Iud. 20.21.22 V. To provoke to fruitfulnesse in love and good works Tit. 3.8 Heb. 10.24 VI. To help forward to fulnesse of joye and comfort that may abide and hold in times of tribulation 1. Ioh. 1.4 1. Thess 3.2.3 So that in the truth of these two observationes in Christ practise and teaching it appeares that it comes not from the spirit of Christ for any dispensour of the Gospell to think that when any are by their ministration brought to Christ that they may then leave their care over them and cease their ministration towards them all the scriptures of the Apostles shew the contrarie Nor is it from the spirit of Christ for any that in believing know themselves in Christ and hee in them to conceite they now need no more to attend the ministration of the Gospell the whole scripture sheweth the contrarie and this might also be an exhortation to us both to the use of and attendance to the continual ministration of the Gospell 2. Tim. 4.2 Heb. 13.7.8 c. Now in the 9. and 10. Verses For the better and more full understanding of that which is therein held forth to us it is meete first to consider some circumstances about the words and then that which is set forth in the words themselves First For the Circumstances these three are considerable I. Who it is that assirmeth soe great Love II. To and off whom so great love is affirmed III. To what end the saying is recorded I. For the first whose affirmation this is of so great and peculiar love It is evident from the chapters before and vers 1. of this chapter that it is the affirmation of Iesus Christ who is the Son of God Rom. 1.4 Joh. 11.27 And the Saviour of the world Ioh. 4.42 1. Ioh. 4.14 And head and husband of his Church Eph. 5.25.32 Who is the truth it selfe Ioh. 14.6 All whose words are truth and nothing false or wreathed in them Pro. 8.7 8. Hee of whom the Father hath born testimony Mat. 3.17 Ioh. 5.37 He of and to whom the Holy Spirit of truth hath bo ne and doth beare testimony Ioh. 15.26 1. Ioh. 5.6 Hee whose lips are full of grace Psal 45.2 And in whose mouth was never any guile found 1. Pet. 2.22 So that of the truth and verity of this affirmation how great soever it were great sin to doubt at all and needfull it is that wee be firme in beliefe of this greatnesse power love and truth of our saviour his one-nesse with God and his onenesse with us his love to mankind and his peculiar love to the church that so wee may firmely believe the truth of this affirmation of so great love c. Ioh. 3.31.32.33 and 11.25 II. For the second who they are to and of whom so great and peculiar love is affirmed and invitation and direction for abiding therein given it is evident to be the disciples of Christ Ioh. 13. And though they were the eleven Apostles Iudas Iscariot being gone out and their could be no more at that time because it would have beene above a competent number for eating the passeover together yet this affirmation was to them as they were his disciples and did beleeve on him and love him and so concerned all that did believe on him and love him as well as it did themselves that were present to heare and this appeares by the tearmes and titles by which they were called as His owne which were in the world Ch. 13.1 Which also were al given and brought to him by the heavenly call Ioh. 6.39.44.45 and 17.2.8 And disciples Ch. 13.5.22.35 As all were that did believe on him and love him Mat. 5.1.13.14.15.16 And little children chap. 13.33 appliable to all that believe on him and love him Ioh. 14.1 1. Ioh. 2.12.13 And it appeares likewise by the new commandment given them chap. 13.34 Which is given to all that unfeinedly believe on him 1. Ioh. 3.23.24 and 4.21 And it also appeares by the promise of the spirit to them Ioh. 14.16.17 Which promise belongs also to all that believe on him Ioh. 7.38.39 Act. 2.38.39 And it appeares also by the metaphor and expressiones used in this 15. chap. In which al that it said of being Branches in him Vers 2.4.5 Of being cleane through the redemption and propitiation in him by his preaching the Gospell spiritually applied to them Vers 3. Of abiding in him Vers 4. Of impossibillity of bringing forth any spirituall and acceptable fruite without abiding in him Vers 4.5 Of the withering
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
overcame their evill with goodnesse and followed on his entertaiment and wooing of them till he acquainted them with his fathers words and love and united them to himself in faith and love Isa 42.2.8 Ioh. 17.6.7.8 And though happily some even brethren might through their weaknesse murmur at the receite of such prodigals and black-mores to advance them to such nighnesse with himself as the elder brother at the youngers entertainment with his father Aaron Eminam at Moses marrying an Ethiopian and the believing jewes at such familiarity with believing Gentiles Luk. 15.28 Numb 12.1.2 Act. 11.2.3 Yet he disdained them not nor was ashamed of them but as one that saw and would not see their deformity heredily and kindly entertained them and set his love upon them and spake comfortably to their harts Oh love endeed never to be forgotten Isa 42.19.20.21 Psal 113.6.7.8 VII In that he hath accepted their faith and love and prayers and returned them some discernable experiments of his goodnesse in suports in troubles some deliverances out of temptationes graunts of many requests some accesse and approach to himself some roome in his house and in the harts of his with many refreshings in his courts and some hope of future happinesse All fruites of love Rom. 3.26 and 5.2.5 and 7.24.25 Psal 16.2 and 92.12 Isa 56.5.7 VIII In that they have his word for it even written also for their consolation that they may know that he loves and is not ashamed to be knowne to love them Prov. 8.17 Ioh. 14.21.23 IX Yea they have had some hints and evidences of the Holy Spirit given into their hart of his love to them and the Spirit is truth and the comforter 1. Ioh. 3.24 and 4.19 and 5.5.6 Rom. 8.15.16 X. By all the former they come to see him to be their great high priest interceading in heaven for them Heb. 7. and 9. So that it is many wayes evident he loves them and they knowing and believing his love in redeeming them with his owne bloud when they were his enimies and receiving them and washing them when they were in their bloud and such Ethiopians affording them so many favoures and some vissits of his Spirit since as from all these they have discerned such love of his as hath caused them to believe in him and love him so having attained to believe in him and love him they cannot deny but they know that he hath loved them and that he loves them much yea so as if they do not close their eyes by some fleshly reasonings and suffer themselves to be withdrawne from the remembrance of his love thus manifested it will draw them into admiration and acknowledgement of this his love and inflame them with more love to him and desires after him and frame them to be like him in loving their brother and hee also will returne manifestationes of more love to them of which will be spoken in the next observation Cant. 1.2.3.4 and 2.3.5.1 Ioh. 4.16.19 Ioh. 14.21.23 And this being a sure and undeniable truth that Iesus Christ hath thus verily and manifestly loved those that believe in him and love him yea through his love manifested did make them believers in him and lovers of him yea so as they might have the knowledge of his love to them and their love thereby inflamed to him I. Informeth us That such as do unfeynedly believe in Iesus Christ and love him they have an inward principle of life and love with in them that as it was begotten so it is quickened sed and moved by a fountaine of life and love in Christ to them 2. Cor. 3.3 Coll. 3.10.11 Psal 16.7.8 Hose 14.5.8 Ioh. 15.1.2.5.2 Cor. 5.14.15.17 Psal 36.8.9 Which is ready to mind them of Christ and his love and so to move guide and leade them as to deny all fleshly lusts and services so to all services of love to and for Christ Ezek. 36.26 Ier. 31.34 Rom. 8.14 Gall. 5.17.22 Tit. 2.11.12 c. Yea and this also upon all occasiones that in their way are offered to them as on the sight and veiw of mortall men to remember the love of God to mankind whom he created and for whom provided a saviour Act. 17.26 Tit. 3.4 Heb. 2.14 And the low estate that Iesus Christ abased himself unto for our sakes in becoming man subject to humane infirmities Phil. 2.6.7.8 And how he died for and gave himself a ransome for all men Heb. 2.9 1. Tim. 2.6 And on sight of the evills and follies committed by men to remember the shame and ignominy that Christ tooke on him in being made sin for us and the curse he suffered being numbred with transgressors and put to death on the tree for us 2. Cor. 5.19.21 Gall. 3.13 1. Pet. 2.24 And the propitiation that hee by his bloud hath made for our sins and the sins of the whole world 2. Cor. 5.14 1. Ioh. 2.2 And the great misery and wickednesse the worldlieth in because they do not know believe and come into Christ for this grace Ionas 2.8 Ioh. 3.18.36 1. Ioh. 5.19 And the great love of God to themselves that were even such in bringing them out of such darknesse disobedience and misery and acquainting them with and making them partakers of so great grace 1. Pet. 2.9.10 Tit. 3.3.4.5 And giving them such hope to hold forth to those that are yet in darknesse and in no worse case then themselves were once in yea having shewed them mercy for that end 1. Tim. 1.12.15.16.17 and 2.1.6 And in sight of believers and the grace appearing through them to remember the faithfulnesse of God in performing his promise of bringing into Christ Isa 55.4.5 and 53.11 And the faithfulnesse of Christ in sending forth Spirit through the Gospell Mat. 28.20 Ioh. 16.7.8.15 And the vertue of his bloud by his Spirit applied too and sprinckled on the consciences of men Heb. 9.14 and 12 24. 1 Pet. 1.2 3 21 22. And the relationes union and fellowship they are brought into and the hope given them through Christ Eph. 4.4 7 12 16 and 2 17 22. And still are they more minded of all these things as they experiment the fraily of humane nature the opposition of flessily lusts or the opperation of grace in themselves 2 Cor. 4.7 13. Gall. 5 17. 1 Ioh. 1.7 9 and 2.1 2. And stil are they more minded of these things in reading and hearing the things of Christ set forth in the Gospell 2 Pet. 1 12 and 3 1 2. And as this inward principle of life and love doth leade and apt them by all these meanes to such minding of these things so in the minding of them it self is opperative and springs forth in motiones of love joye peace confidence goodnesse and desires to confesse and to pray to God and to praise him to mourne for and pitty and compassionate men to rejoyce for receive and edify brethren to shew mercy and walk in truth and righteousnesse and blamelessely towards all Eph. 4.20
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
portion wisedome rightcousnesse sanctisication redemption treasure riches Psal 16.5 1 Cor. 1.30 To have him for their Father and captaine to acquaint them with the misteries of God to fight their battels answer their enemies subdue their lusts tread downe Satan under their feet Isa 55 4 and 42 1 8. Mich. 7 18. Rom. 16 20. To sanctify them throughout and preserve them to his Kingdome 1 Thes 5 24. 1 Pet. 1 4 5. To be blessed with all Spirituall blessings and compleate in him Eph. 1.3 Coll. 2.9 To have him loving them as the Father hath loved him and so estating them in all his owne things so as they who because of the excellencie of his loving kindnesse do put their trust under the shadow of his wings shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatnesse of his house and he wil make them drink of the river of his pleasures and fill them with fulnesse of joy in his presence and pleasures at his right hand for evermore Psal 36 7 8 and 16 11. So that wee may well say of them happy art thou Oh Israel who is like unto thee Oh people saved by the Lord the shield of thy help and who is the sword of thine excellencie and thy enemies shall be found lyars unto thee and thou shalt dwell in safety alone Deut. 33.29.28 Psal 31.20 Mich. 7.9.10 Vse II This may also be a motive to presse forward and alure all men to looke to Iesus Christ and come in and submit to him in repenting and forsaking their sins with all their former delights and hopes and believing the Gospell in its report of the great love of God in giving his son to die for their sins and rise for their Iustification and suffering this tidings to prevaile to the breaking of their harts in sight of and sorrow for their sins against so gracious a God and so loving a saviour and for which the Lord Iesus suffered so much and to cause them to renounce reliance on any wisedome strength righteousnesse or works of their owne endavourings seeing nothing lesse then the bloud-shading of Iesus Christ could make peace for them nor any thing but the Spirituall application of that bloud can effect peace in them Mar. 1.15 Act. 2.37 Zach. 12 10. Phill. 3 3 4 7 8. Gall. 2 21. 1 Pet. 1.2 Therefore to looke and submit to Iesus Christ and to waite for Spirit and teaching from him and not to rest but be attending the Gospell and yeelding to all the Gospell requires till he by his Spirit applying the vertue of his death and resurrection to them do overcome them to believe and so effect peace and newnesse in their hart Isa 42 1 8 and 45 21 23. Ioh. 8.30 31 36. Tit. 3.4.5 And the rather and the more are they to be vehement for this and presse heertoo because in the attainement of this so great and peculiar love is to be met with all Ioh. 1.12 and 3 16. and 7 37.39 Therefore whatever thou bee that hast not yet attained let the hearsay of this great and peculiar love to such as believe in him and love him now prevaile with thee and perswade thee to open thy eare and attend with thy hart to the Gospell and suffer it to prevaile with thee to bring thee to repentance and faith in Iesus Christ and to the love of him Oh consider Metives I. Iesus Christ hath loved thee his compassiones have been great towards thee he gave himself a ransome for thee and died a grievous and ignominions death for thy sins and rose for thy justification and is become thy Lord to whom thou owest thy self thy life and all that thou hast and hee hath powre to absolve thee and powre to judge and condemne thee and yet waites for thee and stands ready to send forth Spirit to thee to make knowne his grace in thy hart and bring thee into him 1 Tim. 2 6. Heb. 2.9 Rom. 14.9.10 11 12. 1 Cor. 6.20 Psal 68.18 And shall not all this goodnesse melt and breake thy hart in pieces for thy sins for which his bloud was shead and for thy long enstrangment from and oft rebelliones against him that hath so loved thee and died for thee and to renounce reliance on thy owne wisedome righteousnesse and strength to fall downe before him and turne to him and seeke for life and Spirit from him and the rather seeing he might justly condemne thee and yet in his so great love and compassion still calleth thee saying seeke mee and live Oh turne thee horne thee that iniquity may not be thy destruction Ezek. 33.11 and 18 30 31. Isa 55 6.7 Pro. 8.31.35 II. If thou obey this his heavenly call soe as thou be overcome thereby to deny thy self and renounce thy owne former lusts hopes and to believe his love and goodnes soe as thou depend on him for life love him thou shalt not only receive remission of sins and a new hart with peace therein accesse in grace which yet is better then all the things of this world Rom. 4.23.25 5.1.2 Act. 10.43 Psal 32.1.2 But thou shalt therewith also partake of the same peculiar love of Iesus Christ in which himself is beloved and shal not this alure move thee to seeke him Ioh. 7.37.38.39 14.21.23 III. And the more to move encourage thee to this repentance and faith in him he hath caused this his speciall love that he beareth to those that believe on him and love him to be written and spoken off That thou mayest know what love thou shalt partake off in believing in him and loving him Ioh. 20.31 Rom. 15.4 Ioh. 1.7 5.34 1. Ioh. 1.3 And for a paterne and farther encouragement to thee he hath all ready communicated of his speciall love to such as before they believed were as great sinners and as far off as thou to encourage thee to repent and believe that thou mightest partake of the same love also 1 Tim. 1.15 16. And will not this prevaile with thee IV. And to remove all stumble because thou caust not come to Iesus Christ unlesse God by his Spirit draw thee this also he hath declared that at one time or other he will be tendering to thee yea and it s not to be doubted when by his servants hee is teaching the Gospell to thee Pro. 8.31.32.35 Ioh. 1.4 5 9. Mat. 28.20 But thy imbessellity ought rather to stir thee up to pray him to draw thee then to stumble and discourage thee from turning in to him Cant. 1.4 And I pray thee answer in thy hart this question the Gospel having been preached to thee hast thou not at one time or other felt or discerned some spiritual motiones abont the death of Christ for sinners hinted into thy hart with suck light as hath given thee to see much sinfulnesse and miserie in thy self and much mercy and hope in Christ and this with such force as it hath strooke at thy hart and stirred and moved with
in thee to encline thee to repentance of thy sins and to believe in Christ how sayest thou didst thou never meete with his Spirit thus moving to have drawne thee to Christ yea doth he not now stir when these things are put to thy remembrance sure in these seasons hee is calling thee and striving with thee to draw thee hee is taking the yoke from of thy jawes and laying meate before thee wherefore though thou be blind and deafe and lame yet now looke and heare and rise and do not refuse or withdraw from his Spirits opperationes for he hath powre to bring thee in and if thou do turne in at his reproofes and turnings he will powre forth Spirit on thee and make known his gracious words unto thee Ier. 2 5 6 30. Mich. 2 7. Rev. 3.20 Gen. 6.3 Hos 11.3.4 Mat. 23.37 Isa 42.18 Pro. 1.23 2 Cor. 6.1.2 It is thy refusall and withdrawing in these seasons that endangers thee to the great condemnation Oh therefore turne not from him that first speakes from heaven deprive not thy self of such precious mercy and life Ioh. 3.19 1 Cor. 2.3 and 12.25 But if others will by following lying vanities forsake their owne mercies and in such seasons for worldly causes hang back and loose their owne soules Iona. 2.8 Mat. 16.24.25 Yet thou that art pinched with and troubled for thy sins and afraid of wrath and death and hast assayed many wayes in workings of thy owne to find peace and life and not attamed but art weary and heavy laden Oh let the tidings of this grace and love of Christ and all these motives therefrom prevaile with thee to let go all thy other hopes and desires and repent and believe the Gospell acknowledge the grace of Christ and submit and harken to him and yeild to his gracious call and opperationes who calleth thee by name and he will give the rest and life Mat. 11 27 28. Isa 55.1 3 and 61 1 2 3. Psal 34.8 Tast and see hee is gracious Vse III. This also may be an admonition to all men believers and others to beware of udging of Gods hatred or love towards any man or of the miserablenesse or happinesse of any mans Spirituall and eternall condition by a mans having or wanting being rich or pore in the honour riches friendship powre or good report among men seeing this love of God that makes happy is not like that of the world nor so testified and knowne all things of that nature comming alike to all good and bad Eccless 9.1 2 3. Such as are very dear to God may in all these outward things be very pore Iam. 2.5 As Iob and such may be very rich as David Salomon c. And such as live in ignorance unbeliefe and impenitencie may be very pore and such may bee very rich Iam. 5.1.6 Ier. 5.4.5 And so may men given up of God be also very pore Iud. 1.6.7 And such also may be very rich in these outward things Ier. 12.1.2 Iob. 21.22 So that by these things love or hatred cannot be knowne only correctiones by afflictiones meeting with a man to prevent his sinning or humbling and turning from sin are found most often on those God most loves Heb. 12.7 Hose 4.14 Wherefore to judge a mans self or others simply by such outward povertie or riches fulnesse or want prosperity or adversity is very unsafe and the way to justify the wicked and condemne the generation of the just Psal 73.1.15 And therefore to be shunned of us Ioh. 7.24 Yet doth not this hinder but that the receite of such outward favours as they are fruites of Gods tender compassiones and his love and faith-fulnesse to his redeemed one 's procured and sanctified through the bloud and grace of Christ and the receiver in beholding that grace made more humble in himself and enlarged thereby to give thanks to God and shew forth his love to brethren and compassiones to men more abundantly are testimonies of favour from God and of grace in the receivers Psal 145.8 9 and 136.24 25 and 111.5 and 75 3. 1 Tim. 4.4 5. 2 Sam. 7 18 19. 2 Cor. 9.8.15 And also correctiones for offences received as from the hand of a gracious God and as sanctified through the bloud of Christ in which the receiver is humbled to the acknowledgement of his owne sinfulnesse and Gods righteousnesse and so more submitted to the teachings of grace corruption more mortified and he more conformed to Christ are arguments of favour to the receiver Pro. 3.11 12. Heb. 12.5.11 Iam. 1.12 Whereas when a man prospers in outward things growing proud and persisting in evil more abundantly thereby It is an argument of displeasure from God and wickednesse in man Psal 73.5 6 7 8 9 18. and 92.6 7. And so likewise is it for men to be followed with judgements therein to grow hard and desperate in persisting in evil wayes Exod. 7. c. Isa 26.10 11. Though still outward prosperity or adversity bee of themselves neither prooses of love nor of hatred in God Vse IV. This likewise may bee both an admonition and motive to such as are babes and yet but weake in the saith of Christ who through some spiritual discoveries of the grace of Christ in the Gospell have been helped in some measure to deny and goe out of themselves and to receive the Gospell so as in some measure they believe in Christ and love him and yet are but weake and lyable to many insirmities as the disciples at the time of this love affirmed were To you I say seeing this is recorded and spoken for your sakes that you may know what portion you have in Christ Jesus and with what love you are beloved of him as is before shewne Oh be warned and moved to looke for this love Oh do not sit downe and rest in this that you have seene his love to man-ward and experimented his compassiones to you and found some peace in your consciences in receipt of remission of sins and some accesse to the throne of grace though this be sweet and precious but waite through the Spirit in dependance on him and in this considence seeke ernestly in supplication and use of his appointed meanes in attending to the Gospell to have your faith established in his peculiar love of delight and well-pleasednesse Rom. 5.1 5. Heb. 6. 1. Gall. 5.5 Psal 105.1 8 and 106 4 5. Eph. 1.17.20 And give all diligence by excercising and walking in faith and love and yeelding too and bringing forth the fruites of the Spirit and waiting at his posts that you may have this speciall love of Christ more cleared and assured to you 2 Pet. 1.5 11. Heb. 6.11 Isa 55.1.5 Pro. 8.34.35 And to that end suffer not your hart by any meanes to fall back to the love of the world and the things thereof 1 Ioh. 2.15.16 Neither desire to be loved of Iesus Christ as the world loveth her friends Ioh. 14.27 and 15 19 20. Nor to
that loves us so dearly who is the Lord of all and all are his servants Eccles 3.14 Psal 119.89 90 92. It is the appointed way to passe through before we can come to enjoy the harvest and fulnesse of his peculiar love and choise fruites thereof Act. 14.22 And that in due season as wee suffer with him wee shall raine with him 2 Tim. 2.12 III. To love one another as Jesus Christ hath loved us even so freely delightfully flowingly c. And to walk in such love and fellowship together c. Eph. 5.1.2 To all which by this love of Christ we may be exorted but the speciall use in which wee may come to see and ataine to all set forth in these uses is that which followes in the next point The Second thing to bee veiwed is Our Saviours gracious invitation or charge Viz. Continue yea in my love This sentence by the whole drift scope of our Saviours instruction in the simily from Vers 1. to this 9 Vers apeares to be ment in as large a sence as Vers 4. Abide in me and I in you and as Vers 7. If yee abide in mee and my words in you Soc as the sence appeares to bee twofold First Continue yea in my love That is Depend and rest upon it and rest your selves satisfied with it and turne not aside from this my love to seeke or desire any other loves beside mine Psal 36.7 8. and 73.23 26. and 23. and 27. 1. Isa 28.12 16. and 30.15.16 Secondly Continue yea in my love That is let it bee ever with you in you and before you and have its perfect working in you in all its operationes and doe not smoother it or shrinck from it in any of its workings and motiones Rev. 3.3 Jam. 1â— 25. 1 Thess 5.19 So that the meaning of the words apeare to bee as much as if our Saviour had said in more words to his disciples and to us in them I. Continue yea in my love take up all your satisfying and well-pleasednesse therein Psal 16.5 6 7 and 18 1 2 3. Phill. 3.3 7 8 9. Drink in all your delight and resreshing therefrom Joh. 7.37 38 39. Psal 36.7 8 9. Cant. 1.2 3 and 5 1. And take up all your consolation and glorying in this my love Jer. 9.23 24. 1 Cor. 1.30.31 II. Continue ye in my love walk in it and yeild up your selves to go forth in all the opperationes of it doing all you do in the remembrance beliefe of and confidence in this my love and in submission too and walking in the same Coll. 3.16 17 and 2 6. Gall. 2.20 Rom. 6.17 and 12 1.2 Phil. 2.2.6 So that to take the sence both in a briefe summe and in an amplified explication it comes both into the same sence As. I. To take it in a briefe summe it appeares to have this sence continue yea in my love that is as much as to say so cleave to me and demane your selves to mee-ward in accepting of and yeelding to my love in taking all your satisfying in it and yeelding all your service to it that you neither turne aside and wind out your selves from it nor cause mee to hide or withdraw it from you suitable to this are such prayers and exhortations as Coll. 1.9 10 11 and 3 9 10 16 Eph. 3 16 19 and 4 1 7 22 24. Eph. 5.2 For such as so continue in his love that by his love they be enflamed with and led out in the love of him shall partake of more abundant testimonies of love from him Pro. 8.27 Jeh 14.21 23. But such as withdraw from resting and delighting in his love and yeelding up in love to the requirings and opperationes thereof hee will not flow in upon them with appearance and testimonies of his delightfull love but rather hide the same from them Heb. 10.38 Therefore for our profit he said continue yea in my love viz. in resting in and yeelding to my love II. To take the sence in an amplified explication in some particular branches to continue in this love of Christ containeth in it these particulars I. To remember his love with all the fruites thereof so as wee never forget nor be unmindfull of the same but keepe it in our mind and hart as it hath beene by the word of grace and his Spirit therein made knowne to us Cant. 1.4 Psal 103.1 5 As to say His redeeming us by his bloud even when wee were his enemies Rom. 5.5.6 10. 1 Cor. 15.1.4 His accepting and receiving us when in the heavenly call wee were presented to him though wee were then in our bloud hee washing and speaking peace to us and in us even by his bloud that was before shead for us Ezek. 16.4.6 9. Rev. 5.5 His becoming all things for us and to us even wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption Father Brother Prince teacher c. 1 Cor. 1.30 Jsa 9.6 His oft supporting relieving and visitting us and assuring his gracious presence with us and giving us some experiment thereof in his gracious opperations Psal 34.4 and 116 1 10. Isa 43.1 2 3. Rom. 5.2.3.4 His making us sons and therein partakers of all his son like privilledges and therein filling us with peace and assurance of raining and so the first fruites of eternall life and the hope of the inheritance and Kingdome Joh. 1.12 1 Ioh. 3.1.2 Rev. 1.6 and 5 10. Rom. 5.2.3 His making an everlasting and free covenant with us engaging himself to us for all these high privilledges 2 Sam. 23.5 1 Cron. 16 15 18. Psal 105.8.9.10 Of which himself is ever mindfull And of all these things to be mindfull is one step of continuing in his love II. To abide in and keepe fast and constantly at all times that judgement esteeme and prizing of his love and the fruites thereof and the goodnesse and equity of all it requireth and worketh which was begotten and quickened up in us upon the first discovery and communication of his love to us by his Spirit in and through the word of grace in which wee were enabled to beliefe and this is another step of continuance in his love Pro. 31.21 22 and 4 20 21. Rev. 3.3 Ier. 2.1.5 Deut. 32.15.18 III. To abide in and hold fast our considence in his love and goodnesse which by his grace he hath begotten trusting perfectly to his grace and this is to stand and stay in his love Heb. 3.6.14 and 10 35. 1 Pet. 1.13 IV. To account this love of his with the fruites thereof riches enough without desire or regard of any other love or fruite to enrich us and this is to take up our content and lie downe in his love Psal 73.23 Phil. 3.7.9 V. To suffer this love of his thus remembred esteemed trusted to with content taking therein to have its perfect worke in and with us 1 Ioh. 4.10.11.12.17.18.21 In making the world with all the glory riches and goodlinesse thereof as contemptible to us as it will Phill.
Fathers commands Secondly For the things expressed they are fully and plainly affirmed which should bee to us proofe sufficient yet for better usefulnesse wee may veiw them that wee may the more profitably believe them I. The first of them is that Jesus Christ hath kept his Fathers commands not only those that apertained to his own person as hee had taken our nature and had a soule and body like us and was made under the law for us which law hee also perfectly kept and fulfilled and so in that respect was altogether without sin and perfectly righteous Which is greatly for our benefit 2 Cor. 5.21 1 Pet. 2.22 and 3.18 Heb. 7.26.27 But also as that heere specially ment and which wee are heere especially to heed he hath kept those commands which the Father gave him in respect of his office and mediatorship for which hee so fitted him and which were so peculiar to him and needfull for us that hee should performe 1 Tim. 2.4 5 6. Heb. 10.7.19 In respect whereof hee is also the just one and faithfull and perfectly righteous in fulfilling them 1 Ioh. 2.1.2 and 1.9 And that hee hath kept these commands is evident I. By the plain affirmation of Scripture In respect of the first command that he gave himself a ransome for all men by the grace of God tasted death for every man 1 Tim. 2.6 Heb. 2.9 Hee humbled himself and became obedient to the death even the death of the crosse Phill. 2.8 Died for our sins and was buried and rose againe the third day according to the scriptures 1 Cor. 15 3.4 In respect of the other command a testimony in due time 1 Tim. 2.6 Hee is the true light which lighteth every man that commeth into the world Ioh. 1.9 He taught in their sinagogues c. Luk. 4.14 15 22. He taught and advocated for his disciples and gave his Fathers words to them and sent and sendeth forth Spirit from his Fathers right hand Act. 2.33 Eph. 4.7 8 12. And was and is faithful to him that appointed him as a son over his owne house to edify preserve consolate and glorify them Heb. 3.1 6. Isa 61.1.4 II. By his own testimonie both by words and deedes by word he said I will give my flesh for the life of the world I lay downe my life that I might take it againe this commandment have I received c. The Father gave mee a commandment what I should fay and what I should speake therefore even as the Father said unto mee so I speake I have saith hee to his Father sinished the work which thou gavest mee to doe I have manifested thy name unto the men whom thou gavest mee Ioh. 6.51 and 10.17 and 12 49.50 and 17 4 6. By deed lie went out of the house and over the brooke and into the garden and offered himself to those that came to apprehended him and died and rose and ascended and sent forth of the Holy Ghost c. Ioh. 14.31 and 18 1 4 c. Act. 1 and 2. III. By the testimony of his Father that Jesus is his son in and with whom hee is well-pleased bidding all to looke to him and heare him and assureth that hee is full of Spirit and will not faile in whatever appertaineth to him to doe Mat. 3.17 and 17 5. Isa 42.1.8 IV. By the evidence and witnesse of the Holy Ghost of whom it is said the Spirit of truth which proceedeth from the Father hee shall testifie of mee Ioh. 15.26 And so is the Holy Ghost a witnesse of these things whom God hath given to them that obey him Act. 5.32 God also bearing witnesse with signes and wonders and divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost according to his owne will Heb. 2.4 Yea the Holy Ghost will so evidence the righteousnesse of Christ in his perfect keeping of these commands that he will reprove the world of sin because they believed not on Christ that had ransomed them and received Spirit and sent forth light to bring them to believe And he will enable such as are turned in his reproofes to believe on Christ 1 Pet. 1.21.22 And will farther glorify Christ in the harts of believers and guide them into all truth Ioh. 16.13.15 That they may know him in respect of his faithfulnesse in these commands to be all wisedome righteousnesse sanctification and redemption for and to them an all life and good in them 1 Cor. 1.30 Coll. 1.27 and 2 3 9 10 and 3.11 V. By the experiments of those that are taught of God who in the knowledge and beliefe of this grace met with in Christ his keeping these commands for us have seene and experimented that through his obedience and faithfulnesse in the first command having offered himselfe in sacrifice for the sin of the world It is that the earth is preferved that life is reprived that Gods patience and long-suffering is extended and that mercies and bownty are dayly renewed and the foundation of repentance laid and the doore of hope and life opened to them Psal 75.3 Act. 17.28 Rom. 1.16 With. 2.4 Lam. 3.22.23 2 Tim. 1.10 1 Tim. 4.10 And that through his faithfulnesse in the other command making known and aplying by his Spirit the vertue of his bloud to them and working by his Spirit in them it is that they believe in him and love him that they enjoy remission of sins peace with God joye in the Holy Ghost knowledge of their sonship support in tryalls refreshing in ordinances fellowship with God and brethren hope of glory c. Rom. 4.24 25. and 5.1 11. Phill. 1.29 1 Pet. 1.21.22 Rom. 14.17 18. 1 Ioh. 1.1 2.3 4 7. Psal 36.8 65.4 So that from their experments they can set too their seale that hee is true Ioh. 3 32.33 Rom. 8.1 2 3 4. VI. By the witnesse of all those faithfull ministers of the word that have this gracious testimony inspired to their hart who beare record of this Gospel that declareth this which Christ hath done and is at his Fathers right hand ready to do knowing they declare no fable and that where this is faithfully declared they are witnesses and in such witnesse bearing Christ sends forth the Holy Ghost to enlighten and beare witnesse to others that they may believe 2 Cor. 5.18.19 Act. 5.31 32 and 10 44. 1 Pet. 1.12 Mat. 28.20 1 Ioh. 1.4.6 So that it clearly and many wayes appeares that Iesus Christ hath kept his Fathers commandments this being encluded in that great misterie 1 Tim. 3.16 II. The second thing expressed is that Iesus Christ in keeping his Fathers commandments did abide in his Fathers love So that I. In keeping these commandments even while he was made low and under law for our sakes and did humble himself to be made pore and to die for us yea in all his sufferings he went through whose love soever he lost and of whatsoever he was deprived and whosoever hated and persecuted him yet in all his Fathers love and
and in respect of us in suffering for all it can charge us with that so through his death for us we might be dead to it 2 Cor. 5.14 Rom. 6.10 11. and 7.4 And by his death and resurrection spiritually evidenced and aplieil to us bee in bolieving freed from the bondage of it Gall. 4.4 5. and 3.25.26 5.1 So that such commands in respect of such a bond is not heere ment II. Such commands as are beyond all the reach anâ— powre that is or ever was in any creatures and these are To make satisfaction for sins entred and to take them out of the waye and to abollish death and to procure favour and life againe with God for mankind And allso by Spirit to make knowne this saluation wrought and to communicate the same to such as embracing this knowledge doe there through believe and so to enlive and sanctifie them therewith and therein working salvation in them and communicating eternall life to them which commandments are before shewne what they are and how they belong only to Jesus Christ our Lord the mediator betweene God and men who is found faithfull and perfect in performance thereof and by fullfilling the one hath wrought salvation with God for men and in full filling the other offereth salvation to men and communicateth eternall Salvation to those that believe in him as is before declared nor is there any creature in and by whom the fulfilling these commands can be found that beeing peculiar to Iesus Christ our Lord Ioh. 28.1 23. Psal 40.6 10. and 49.7.8 Isa 49.6 9. and 50.2 9. Heb. 10.1 10. So that these commands are not heere ment III. Such commandements as are given by Jesus Christ the fulfiller of these former commandements unto those who by his Spirit through the Gospell are drawne to believe on him into whose hart by the same Spirit he putteth those commandments Heb. 8.2 6 10. Ier. 31.33 Which commandements are not such or so given as to bind us to worke our righteousnesse in and by our owne observances and performances by our owne strength or such as we had once in Adam or by his devine providence have in our naturall powres as the former law did under which by nature we were and under which he was made for us such commandements so given are to us-ward beeing fallen heavy and burthensome neither can wee have life in our observance of that law but his commandments bee not grievous but easie sweete and affording-light and life in the observance Rom. 8.2.3.4 Phill. 3.3 9. Gall. 2.21 and 3.5 10 25. and 4. and 5.18 Ioh. 1.14.16.17 Rom. 3.27 Matt. 11.27.28 1 Ioh. 5.3 Gall. 6.8 Nor are these commandements of Jesus Christ to his disciples such or so given as those which have already beene shewne to be put upon Jesus Christ himself and poculiar to him Psal 40.6 Jsa 50. to the end 1 Cor. 1.12.2 Cor. 3.3 17 18. But they are such commandements and so given as that they come from Jesus Christ our saviour in the declaration of the saluation wrought in and by his owne person with God for men in fulfilling the first commandement he received of his Father and the saluation which by Spirit applying the former he worketh in men to God in fulfilling the other commandement he received of the Father when he helpeth any to believe in which believing he putteth these commandements into their hart Ioh. 6.38 40 and 17 6 8. 2 Cor. 3.3.17 18. Ier. 31.33 Heb. 8.6.10 Which commandements are to believe on him and to love one another which by this first consideration appeares to bee the commandements of Christ to his disciples and those heere-ment 1 Pet. 1.2.8.18.19 20 21 22. Consider II. That the commandements of Christ to his disciples are such commands as are I. Contained and expressed in the Gospell II. Put with the Gospell by the Spirit of Christ into the hart of believers III. And do naturally and aptly spring up in the beliefe of the Gospell I. The commands of Christ to his disciples are contained and exprest in the Gospell the Gospell fully declaring the mind of Christ not only in declaration of that good he hath wrought for us and that which hee is able and ready to worke in us and to confer on us but that also which hee requireth of us that wee may receive him and be followers of him Mar. 1.14.15 Act. 13.38 40 and 20 27 35 and 26 18. 2 Cor. 5.19.20 Whence the Gospel also is called the commandement 2 Ioh. 4.5 1 Ioh. 2.7 2 Pet. 2.21 Rom. 16.26 And the law of Christ the law of faith the law of righteousnesse the law of the Spirit of life and the law of libertie Gall. 6.2 Rom. 3.27 and 9 31 32 and 8.2 Iam. 1.12 And the so receiving the Gospell as thore through to believe on Jesus Christ and love our brother and yeeld to and walk in that faith and love is called obedience of the doctrine of faith of Christ Rom. 6.17 and 16 19 26. Heb. 2.5.9 And all not so receiving the Gospell where it comes are said not to obey the Gospell the word the truth 2 Thess 1.8 1 Pet. 4.17 and 3 1. Gall. 3.1 The Gospell of Christ is a full and perfect doctrine and stands need of no other law for precepts to direct and leade such as come into Christ having in it self not only generall but particular precepts even for every branch of al that which the grace of God requireth of believers as to give some instances precepts for repentance Mat. 3.2 Mar. 1.15 Act. 17.30 For submission to Christ and receiving his reproofe and forsaking all wee have for his sake Iam. 4.6.7 Pro. 1.23 Mat. 16.24 25 26. For believing whatever his Gospell reporteth Ioh. 12.36 Mar. 1.15 For approbation of and resting on him Pro. 4.8 Isa 30.7.15 For hearing and attending to the sayings of Christ Pro. 8.10 Mat. 17.5 For looking to Jesus Christ for beginning and finishing in us all that belongs to life and godlinesse Isa 45.22 Heb. 12 2. For loving the Lord Psal 31.23 And therein and so for child like affectiones to God Mall 1.6 For brotherly affectiones to believers 1 Pet. 4.8 For compassion and meeknesse to such as are ignorant and out of the way Mat. 5.44 As likewise for being feare-lesse and strong in the way Isa 8.12.13 and 41.14 1 Cor. 16.13 For being patient Iam. 5.7 For being sinceere Tit. 2.7 For being fervent in Spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12.11 And so alwayes and in all to have God and Jesus Christ only for our God and Lord 1 Cor. 8.6 1 Ioh. 5.20.21 To worship him in Spirit and truth Ioh. 4.24 To seeke to glorify his name in all things 1 Cor. 10.31 To delight in keeping sabboth with him Isa 58.13.14 Heb 4.10.11 And with his Heb. 10.25 To veeld our neighbour that preheminence and respect God hath given him in our love care and service and so to honour our parents and not to hurt but preserve the