Epistle wherein my Text lyeth was written by Peter the Apostle of the Circumcision and is directed to the Strangers scattered throughout Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bâ—thynia as in the first v. of this Chapter By these Strangers we are to understand the scattered Iews who were Strangers in these several Countries where they did Inhabit We read in the 2d of the Acts that there came up many of these Iews from these and other Countries unto Ierusalem to Worship and in the temple hearing the Apostles speak with divers Tongues which were of use in the divers places where they did live and that without Instruction from Man but as the Spirit gave them utterance they were Amazed and Confounded and afterward hearing Peter preach through the Wonderful Power of the Spirit three thousand of them were Converted by one Sermon unto the Christian Faith and added to the Christian Church When the Feast of Pentecost was over these Converted Iews returned into their Countries where their several Dwellings Families and Callings were which Countries being Heathenish and Idolatrous no doubt but there they met with Opposition and Suffering upon the account of the Christian Religion which they became Zealous Professors of besides what they endured from their own Countreymen or Unconverted Iâ—ws who hated Christianity more than the Heathens did The Apostle doth seem to have a respect unto these in this Epistle wherein he doth encourage them under their sufferings for the sake of Christ by many Consolatory Arguments In the 2d v. he wisheth that Grace and Peace might be multiplyed in them and towards them and then though their Sufferings did abound their Consolations would abound much more In the 3d 4th and 5th ver He blesseth God for his abundant Mercy towards them in begetting them unto a lively Hope of the glorious and never fading Heavenly Inheritance which was reserved for them through Gods Infinite Grace and unto which they were reserved and kept through Faith by Gods infinite power In the 6th and 7th verses he telleth them however they were in heaviness through manifold Temptations that is Afflictions which are the Worlds left-hand Temptations yet he giveth them to understand that these afflictions they were but for a season weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning they were but needful to humble them to purifie them to crucifie them to the world to make them conformable to their head the Lord Jesus Christ and that they were for the tryal of their faith that the truth of it might appear both to themselves and others and that the worth of it might appear how much more precious than Gold when it is tryed in the Fire which carrying them thorow their sufferings might be found both to their own praise and their Masters honour at the appearing of Jesus Christ and then the Apostle doth take occasion in the text to speak of their Love which they did bear unto this Jesus Christ and of that unspeakable and glorious joy which doth result from believing in him although they had no sight of him which no trouble or affliction could overwhelm or hinder Whom having not seen ye love in whom though now ye see him not yet believing ye rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of Glory Hence observe Doct. 1. That it is the Property and duty of true Christians to Love Iesus Christ whom they have never seen Whom having not seen ye Love Doct. 2. That true Christians do Believe in an unseen Christ. In whom though now ye see Him not yet believing Doct. 3. That true Christians do or may rejoice in Believing with unspeakable and glorious joy In whom though now ye see him not yet Believing ye rejoice with Ioy unspeakable and full of Glory Here are three great points to be treated of 1. Concerning the Love of Christians unto Christ. 2. Concerning the faith of Christians in Christ. 3. Concerning the Joy of Christians in Believing For the present I shall speak only of the Love of Christians unto Christ under the first Doctrine the other two I may have opportunity to treat of afterwards Section I. Doct. THat it is the Property and duty of true Christians to love the Lord Iesus Christ whom they have never seen In handling of this point I shall speak 1. Concerning true Christians who do love Jesus Christ. 2. Concerning Jesus Christ whom they have never seen the Object of their Love 3. Concerning the Love which they bare unto this unseen Christ. 4. Shew that it is the Property of true Christians to Love Jesus Christ whom they have never seen 5. That it is their Duty to love him 6. How they ought to love Him 7. Why they do love Him where I shall give the reasons of the point 8. Make some Use and Application 1. Concerning true Christians whose property it is to love Jesus Christ whom they have never seen whom having not seen yee love ye love that is ye who are true Christians who are so in reality as well as profession and of these true Christians that do love Christ the Apostle doth give a description in the 2d ver where he calls them Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father thâ—ough Sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Iesus Christ. True Christians are Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father they are such whom God according to the Councel of his own will according to his own purpose and grace did choose from all Eternity to be a holy and peculiar people to himself to glorifie him here on Earth and that they might be glorifyed by him hereafter in heaven And this election doth evidence it self in the Sanctification of the Spirit true Christians are sanctified being separated and set apart from the rest of the world for Gods use and service God hath sealed them for himself and hereby distinguished them from all others the Motto of which seal is this Holiness unto the Lord. See a description of them in this respect 2 Tim. 2. 21. If any man purgeâ— himself from these he shall be a vessel unto Honour sanctifyed and meet for the Masters use and prepared unto every good work they are purged from the defilement of sin which doth pollute and dishonor them they are vessels unto honour like those of Silver and Gold in a great house which are adorned with Pearls and precious stones they are adorned with all sanctifying graces which are of more worth than the richest Jewels and hereby they are both beautiful in Gods eye and they are made meet for Gods use being hereby prepared and enabled unto every good work This the Apostle prays for in the behalf of the Thessalonians 1 Thess. 5. 23. And the very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and Body be preserved blamelesse unto the coming of our Lord Iesus Christ. True Christians are sanctifyed wholly in their whole man though they be not sanctified thorowly they are sanctified in every part though they are not sanctified in the highest degree Their whole Spirit is
sanctified that is the higher faculties of the soul namely the understanding and the will their understandings are enlightned by the Spirit unto a Spiritual discerning both of good and evil beyond what any natural man doth oâ— can attaâ—n unto their wills are bowed or rather rectified and made straight being enclined unto God and his Law Their Souls are sanctified in the inferior faculties in all the affections belonging both to the concupiscible and the irrascible appetite their liking affections of love desire delight and hope are towards God and Christ and things above their disliking affections of hatred fear grief and anger are towards sin Their bodies also are sanctifyed being made members of Christ and instruments of Righteousness their eyes ears tongues hands feet and every part being devoted to God and made use of for his glory Thus true Christians are sanctified by the spirit And they are sanctified unto obedience the graces which are wrought by the spirit in their hearts do appear in the obedience of their lives the course of their lives in a course of obedience unto the laws of Christ they are sanctified unto obedience and they are sanctified unto sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ God hath set them apart to be sprinkled with the blood of the immacâ—late Lamb who takes away sin that they might be pardoned and saved such are true Christians who love Christ whom they have not seen Section II. Secondly COncerning the object of true Christians Love and that is Jesus Christ whom they have never seen This Jesus Christ whom they love is the Eternal Son of God the second Person in the glorious Trinity who in time assumed our Humane Nature clothed himself with our mortal Flesh lived like a servant in a mean condition died like a malefactor the cursed Death of the Cross and all for our sakes for our sins rose again the third day for our Justification ascended up into heaven after forty days and there is set down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty on high to make intercession for us and to make preparation there for our reception into the glorious Mansions and Eternal Habitations which are in the Fathers house He is called Jesus from the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to save because he saveth his people from their sins Matth. 1. 21. He is called Christ from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth to anoint he being anointed by the Father with the Spirit and with Power to be Mediator between God and Man to be the great Prophet and Priest and King of the Church This Jesus Christ Christians have not seen with the eye of sense indeed some Christians in the primitive times as the Apostles who were of his family and other disciples who conversed with him frequently did see Christ with the eye of sense but it was in his state of Humiliation when he was here upon the Earth not in his state of Exaltation now he is in Heaven yet some have seen Christ after his Ascention namely Paul at his conversion and Stephen the Proto Martyr before he dyed but none have had a perfect sight with bodily eyes of the Glory which is upon Christ's body the lustre of which is so great that none can behold it in this state of weakness and imperfection and live But whatever sight some Christians have had formerly no Christians now have a sight of Christ's Person they have heard of him with the hearing of the Ear but they have not seen him with the seeing of the Eye they have seen Representations of Christ in the Sacrament but they have never seen his Person that is represented they have seen his Image upon their Fellow-Christians but they have not seen the original from whom this Image hath been drawn Some Christians have been in Iudea and seen the place where the Lord lived and at Ierusalem and seen the place where the Lord dyed and Visited the place of his Sepulchre where the Lord for a time did lye and they have seen the Mount whence the Lord Ascended but no Christians now alive have been in Ierusalem and on Mount Sion which is above to see where the Lord now is in his Glory It is this Jesus Christ whom Christians have not seen that is the Object of their Love Section III. Thirdly Concerning the Love which True Christians do bear unto this unseen Christ. Love is the going forth of the Heart unto the Object Beloved and the Love which True Christians do bear unto Jesus Christ is a Grace wrought by the Spirit in their hearts whereby upon discovery and believing Apprehensions of Christs infinite Loveliness and Excellency his Matchless Love Grace and Mercy their Hearts do go forth towards him in Earnest desires after Union to him and Communion with him wherein they take chief Complacency and this accompanied with a yeilding and dedication of themselves unto his will and service 1. The Love of Christians unto Christ is a Grace wrought in their Hearts by the Spirit It is a Flower most Sweet and Fragrant but there is no Seed of it in the Nature of any Man since the Fall it is planted in the Soul by the Spirit of God Love to Christ is a Divine Spark that comes down from above a fire which is kindled by the breath of the Lord whose Essâ—nce is Love 2. The Ground of this Love to Christ is the discovery and believing Apprehensions of Christs Lovelinesse and Love There must be first a discovery of Christ as a sutable Object for Love and not a bare Notion of this but believing apprehensions of it that Christ is Infinitely lovely Superlatively Excellent and that his love is Matchless and Transcendent towards the Children of Men that there is a Treasury in him and a Storehouse of all Graces and the most Needfull and Rich Supplies otherwise there will be no going forth of the Heart in love unto him 3. The Actings of Christians love to Christ is in their desires after Vnion unto and Communion with Christ. It is the Nature of love to desire Union to the Object beloved especially of this love to Christ and this Union being attained the desires are after Communion with Christ Converse and Fellowship with him no Converse is so desirable as with the Persons whom we most dearly love and this Communion being attained there is chief Complacency therein the Soul doth sweetly rest and repose it self in Christ and rejoyceth in his presence and love 4. The Concomitant of this Love which True Christians have unto Christ is a yielding and dedication of themselves unto his will and Service Lovers do give themselves unto those whom they love this accompanieth the Marriage Union and such as love Christ they are Espoused and joyned unto Christ and they give themselves unto Christ to
wayes of God as Pharoah when his chariot-wheels were taken off Love to Christ is like wheels in your motion for Christ and like Oil to the wheels which makes you ready unto any good work which he doth call you unto but when you have but little Love unto Christ you must needs be more slow in your motions more sluggish in Christ's service you will not you cannot take that pains in the work of the Lord and be so Zealous as you might and should be for your Master's Glory To Conclude if you have but little love to Christ you will be apt to faint in the day of Adversity to shrink when you are called to take up his Cross and suffer for his sake lesser sufferings will discompose you greater sufferings will affrighten and amaze you and you will be in danger of turning fearful Apostates in time of great Tryals there is need of great Love to christ as well as great Faith to carry you thorow sufferings with courage that you may persevere unto the end SECT XI Vse 4. FOR Exhortation unto the love of Jesus Christ whom you have never seen this is the Use chiefly designed in the choice of this subject and which I shall most largely insist upon In the Prosecution of it I shall give some Motives and then some Directions The Motives to Induce and Excite you unto the Love of this unseen Christ may be drawn 1. From the consideration of what Christ is 2. From the consideration of Christ's Love 3. From the consideration of Christ's Benefits 4. From the consideration of that Love which Christians have and should have unto Christ. The first sort of Motives may be drawn from the consideration of what Christ is and that 1 What he is in Himself 2 What he is to the Father 3 What he is unto true Christians First Consider What Christ is in Himself In generall He is the most amiable person and the most sutable Object for your Love If you ask of the dayes which are past which were before you since the day that God created Man upon the Earth if you seek from one side of Heaven unto the other if you make enquiry into all the parts of the Earth you will never find that either there ever was or is to be found any person so lovely so beautifull and so every way deserving your Love as the Lord Jesus Christ there is a Matchless Transcendent and Incomparable Beauty and Excellency in him How passionately are some Foolish Men in Love with the externall beauty which they see in some Women the exact Symetry of parts and comely Proportion of the body the Amiable Features and Lovely Mixtures of colours in the Face the Beauty of the Eyes in their Spirit their Quick and Graceful motions and Amorous Glances How doth this Ravish the Hearts of some fond Lovers although the most Beautiful body in the World is no better than painted clay dirt and corruption enclosed in a Fair Skin which sickness will cause to look pale and Wan Death will quite Marr and Spoil But the Amiableness and Beauty of Christ is more Transcendent and Permanent and therefore a more fit Object for your Love Christ is Fairer than the Children of Men he is all Fair without any Spot altogether Lovely without any Blemish or Deformity I have already spoken of the Glorious Beauty which is in Christ's Glorified Body the most Lovely of any Visible creature which God hath made and also of the Shining Excellencies which are in Christ's Glorified Soul so nearly joyned to the Divinity could we suppose all the Loveliness that ever was seen or found in the most lovely persons that ever lived to meet in one person how Lovely would that person be yet such though never so resplendent Beauty would be but a dark Shaddow compared with the Brightness of Christ's most Beautifull Person Can you Love the imperfect Beauty which you see in Creatures and will you not Love the perfect Beauty which there is in Christ can you Love a Fading Beauty which soon Withereth like the Flower and will you not Love Christ whose Beauty never Decays but alwayes doth abide more Fresh than Beauty in the Flower of Youth can you be soon Affected with Beautiful Objects which are before the Eye of your Sense and will you not be Affected with this far more Beautiful Object the Lord Jesus Christ who is so clearly discernable by the Eye of Faith If the Eye of your Faith were open and clear to look upon the Transcendent Amiableness which is in Christ you could not chuse but Love him could you see the Glances of his Eye and the Sweet Smiles of his Lovely Face as some have seen your Hearts would be Overcome and Ravished with Love and filled with Extacies of Joy and Ineffable Delight More Particularly There are the most Amiable Qualifications in Christs Person to attract and draw forth your Love I shall instance in these six 1. His Greatness and Authority 2. His Holiness and Purity 3. His Wisdom and Omnisciency 4. His Truth and Fidelity 5. His Fulness and All-sufficiency 6. His Kindness and Mercy 1. Consider Christ's Greatness and Authority Aquila non capit muscas The Eagle doth not pursue after Flies Great Souls are not Affected except it be with Great Things there is none so Great as Jesus Christ He is most Great in Honour and Dignity He is most Great in Power and Authority Excellency of Majesty doth greatly engage the Love and command the Hearts as well as the Obedience of Subjects and those Princes that have the greatest Power and Authority are the Darlings of the people when they dont abuse their place by Unrighteousness and Cruelty by Usurpation and Tyranny If Power be managed with Clemency and Authority with Kindness towards those that are under command so highly do Princes advance themselves hereby in the Esteem and Love of their people that they will be ready to spend their Estates and venture their Lives in their Service Christ is the Prince of the Kings of the Earth he is clothed with the Highest Honour Arrayed with the most Excellent Majesty Decked with the largest Power and invested with the Greatest Authority He is the King and Lord of Glory He is Exalted to Higher Dignity than the greatest Potentate that ever lived upon the Earth yea he is advanced above all Thrones and Dominions and Principalities and Powers of the Glorious Angels which are in Heaven All Power is given to him in Heaven and Earth Mat. 28. 18. He doth what he will in Heaven the Angels are at his Beck and Execute his Will go and come at his Command and he hath Power on Earth He is the Head of the Church and Head over all unto the Church he can Restrain his Enemies and conquer them and bring them under his Feet at his Pleasure And whatever severity he doth shew sometimes in Executing his Judgments and taking Vengeance on the Wicked he doth never abuse his Power
with infinite Might and Power the beauty of thy face is most wonderfull the smiles of thy countenance are most sweet and delightful and doth this lovely fair One this fairest of ten thousand this most excellent and alltogether lovely Person bear a particular love to me to such a vile worm as me to such a dead Dog as me to such an undeserving ill-deserving hell-deserving sinner as me O what marvellous kindness is this what infiâ—iâ—e Riches of Free Grace doth he know me by name hath he given himself for me and given himself to me and shall not I give him my heart am I written in his bookâ— Redeemed with his blood clothed with his Righteousness beautified with his Image hath he put the dignity of a Child of God upon me and prepared a place in the Fathers house for me O wonderful O admirable what shall I render what returns shall I make had I a thousand tongues should I not employ them all in speaking his praise had I a thousand Hearts should I not present them all as too mean to thank-offering unto him And yet am I slow slow of Heart to love this dear and sweet Iesus awake O my Soul awake from thy dulness and stupidity shake off thy sleep which glues thine eye-lids so close together shake out the dust of the Earth which hath got into thine eyes and keeps thee from the view of thy beloved Arise O my Soul and lift up thy self unfetter thy feet unâ—log thy self take the wing and mount up above the sky and visible Heavens even to the place where the lovely and dear Iesus is Take thy leave of the world and all things therein Bid farewel to the flattering honours the deceitful Riches the glozing Pleasures that are here below bid adieu to them and leave them to those that place their chiefest happiness in them if Earth hath thy body for a while yet let it have thy heart and chiefest affections no more come O my Soul ascend and soar aloâ—t unto the Heaven of Heavens the way unto the Holy of Holies is accessible the vail is rent the fore-runner is entred and thou mayest have entrance too with thy Thoughts and Desires and Loves and Hopes and Ioyes there thou mayst see and veiw and admire and embrace thy dearest Lord there thy Heaâ—t may find a fit object for it's Love even thy dearest Lord Iesus who wil not reject despise thee but give kind entertainment unto thy love and withall give the fullest sweetest returns there thy Heart may find a room to dispose of it self and not only a lodging like that of a wayfaring man for a night but an habitation wherein to dwell and to take up it's Eternal abode let thy Heart be thy fore-runner that when thy body drops off from thee thou mayst know where to betake thy seâ—f and find ready entertainment there where thy Heart hath been long before Why dost thou hang downwards O my Soul why dost thou bend so much to the Earth and Earthly things what is there here below that is not beneath thee and altogether unworthy of thy Love how empty and vain and thorny are these things don 't wast thy time weary thy self for very vanity don't prick and wound thy self with these things any more What aileth thee O my Soul that thou art so backward to the Love of Christ is it because thou canst not see Christ with the Eyes of thy Body thou shalt see him with those Eyes hereafter when he comes in his Glory thy body is raised and repaired and sitted to bear such a sight thou can'st not see the Wind but thou hearest it's noise and feelest it's blasts and dost thou not hear Christ's voice in his Word dost thou not feel the breathings of his Spirit in his Ordinances Thou art invisible thy self O my Soul and art thou so drenched in flesh that visible objects shall have more Power to draw down thy heart than this most glorious object though now invisible shall have power to draw up thy Heart dost thou question and doubt of his love to thee and doth this damp and discourage thy Affection whose Image is this which is engraven upon thee is it not the Image of Christ what writing is that upon thy Heart is it not Gods Law written by Christs Spirit whose deckings and adornings hast thou got about thee what Beauty is this which is put upon thee is it not Christs comeliness where hadst thou those Bracelets that Ring those Iewels that chain of Graces are they not Christ's love-tokens which he hath given thee and yet wilt thou doubt of his love if thou feelest corruption strong yet dost thou not perceive some Grace although it be weak hast thou not some love to Christ although it be low are not thy desires chiefly after him which evidence that thy chief love is to him and is it so with any but such whom Christ doth love doth not Christ love first and yet wilt thou question his love banish then thy fears silence thy doubts O my Soul rouze up thy self and climb â—p by the Iacobs ladder which is let down to thee from Heaven and settle thy love upon Iesus Christ and those things which are above where Christ sits at the Right hand of God Such retired Contemplations of Christ and Soliloquies and pleadings with your own Souls when alone by your selves will tend exceedingly to the promotion of your love unto Christ. 2. Would you have much love to Christ Be much in Reading and Studying the Scriptures The Scriptures are a Glasse in which Christ may be seen he cannot be seen Face to Face in this World this is the happiness of the Triumphant Church in Heaven not of the Militant Church upon the Earth what may here be discerned of Christ it is in the glass of the Scriptures and Gospel-Ordinances this is that glass spoken of 2 Cor. 3. 18. We all with open face beholding as â—n a glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from Glory to Glory Christ is the Glory of the Lord the brightness of his Fathers Glory would you have much love to him be often looking veiwing and beholding of him in the glass of the Scriptures by much beholding of him you may be transformed more and more into the likeness of his Holiness and into the likeness of his Love which is Glory begun The Scriptures have the Image of Christ engraven upon them the Image of the Father is upon the Son and the Image of the Son is upon the Scriptures there you may see the Picture of Christ the Beauty of Christ at least some lineaments are there drawn by the hand of God although not fully and to the life I mean such you will see in him when you come to behold him face to face in Heaven yet his Beauty is drawn in such proportions and with such shadows as you are now capable of beholding Would you have much love unto Christ whom
in your understandings but get them fastened and fixed and close girt about the loins of your mindes hold the truths of Christ fast prize them above all jewels don't part with them upon any terms let all go estate liberty and life it self rather than any of this rich treasure which Christ hath entrusted you withal 3. Assert the truths of Christ be not ashamed or afraid to own any truths of Christ in the most adulterous gainsaying generation profess your belief of Christ and of the truths of Christ endeavour that the light of these truths may shine abroad and cast forth such bright beams in the dark world where you live that others may be brought hereby unto the knowledge of the Truth 4. Endeavour to maintain Christ's truths earnestly contend for the Doctrine of Faith once delivered to the Saints endeavour to convince gainsayers and to defend Christ's truths against those corrupt and erroneous opinions and Doctrins which like leaven is very apt to spread and infect the mindes of men 2. Shew your love to Christ in your publick spiritedness and zeal for Christ's honour and interest let your affections be publick not private narrow contracted and centring in self let your love be a publick and general love Love not only Relations but love all Christ's disciples though of different Perswasions and interests because of the image of Christ love not only your Friends that love you but also your Enemies that hate you because of the command of Christ. Let your desires be publick desires desire the welfare of the univeral Church and of all Gods people throughout the world and accordingly Pray for their Peace and Prosperity and endeavour as you have opportunity to promote the publick good more than your own private advantage seek not your own things but the things of Jesus Christ. Let your griefs be publick griefs grieve not only for your own sins but also for the sins of others whereby Christ is dishonoured in the world grieve not only for your own afflictions but also for the afflictions of Ioseph Heb. 13 3. Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them and them which suffer adversity as being your selvs also in the body You are in the same mystical body with all Christ's afflicted members and when some members suffer the rest should suffer too by way of sympathy Bleeding in their wounds and grieving in their sorrows be ready also to relieve any especially Christ's disciples when they are in distresse and want according to your capacity and as you have opportunity Employ all your Talents for your Masters glory and endeavour to promote the interest of the Lord Jesus unto the utmost of your abilities 1. In reference to those which are without If you are called your selves labour to call others unto Christ as Andrew called Peter Phillip called Nathaniel unto the Messias Iohn 1. 40 41. 44 45. If you have found the Messias or rather have been found of him let your love to Christ and love to Souls prompt you to endeavour the Conversion of others that are your Relations your Friends and Acquaintances Put your unconverted Friends in mind of their miserable Estates whilst under the guilt and reigning power of sin whil'st slaves to the Devil and their own lusts mind them of Death and the fearful consequences thereof to all unpardoned sinners tell them of Christ that he is the only Saviour and Redeemer of Mankind How able and willing he is to save them if they seek after him and apply themselves unto him tell them that not long since you were in the same estate with themselves living in the practice of the same sins and going on in the same way to destruction and that the Lord hath shewed mercy unto you in your Conversion and bringing you into a state of Salvation tell them that there is mercy also for them if they look after it that Gods Grace is most free his mercy most plentiful that Christ is most Gracious and casteth out none that come unto him tell them of the amiablenesse of Christ's Person of the surpassing love which he hath shewn to fallen mankind in his dying for them and that though he were dead yet he is alive and lives for evermore to intercede for all them that make choice of him make use of him for their Advocate Therefore perswade them that they would break off their sins by Repentance which otherwise will be the ruine both of their bodies and of their Souls in Hell and without delay that they would come unto Christ and accept of him upon Gospel-terms If any of you cannot manage these arguments well your selves perswade them if you can to hear such Ministers and Sermons as through Gods blessing have been effectual for your Conversion and thus you may be instrumental to augment the Kingdom of Christ which is one of the best ways of expressing your love unto Christ. 2. In reference to them which are within labour to promote the interest of Christ amongst them that are truly Gracious by vigorous endeavors to strengthen and establish them to quicken and encourage them in the wayes of the Lord Communicate the experiences which you have had as you see there is real need and it may tend not so much to your praise as your Masters honour Labour in your places to be both shineing and burning lights be forward to every good word and work Look upon your selves as the devoted Servants of Christ and that you are not your own and therefore lay out your selves to the utmost for him and give all diligence to glorifie him with your bodies and spirits with your Estates and interests with your gifts and talents all which are his and ought to be at his devotion 3. Shew your love to Christ in your vigorous resistance and opposition of Christ's Enemies There are three grand Enemies of Christ which you are by your Baptisme engaged to fight against namely the Devil the Flesh and the World which war both against Christ and against your Souls This Trinity of Adversaries agree in one and combine together against his anointed doing their utmost endeavour to break his bands to untye his cords and to unhinge his Government they would pluck the Crown off of Christ's head could they reach it and the Scepter out of his hand they would devest Christ if they could of all his power here on Earth and confine him to his territories in Heaven but all their attempts in this kind have been and will be in vain Christ hath tryed the strength of these Enemies and hath vanquished them but still some life and power is left with them to war against the holy seed you are Christs Souldiers listed under his banner shew your fidelity and your love to your Captain and General in manfully maintaining the spiritual combat against his and your spiritual Enâ—mies fight the good fight of Faith resist unto blood don't yeild upon any account disdainfully turn away
willing to Dye and this sense of Christ's Love will effectually sweeten your passage through the dark Entry of Death An APPENDIX Concerning Christ's Manifestation of Himself unto them that love him Joh. XIV latter part of vers 21. And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self unto him WE read Luk. 4. 22. And all bare him witness and wondred at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth Never did such gracious and sweet words drop from the lips of any man that ever lived as those from the lips of Christ when he was here upon the Earth and of all Christ's words those which he spake to his Disciples in his last Sermon before his last Suffering in the 14 15 and 16 Chapters of Iohn are superlatively sweet and none more sweet in this Sermon than the words of my Text read unto you And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father and I will love him and will manifest my self unto him In the former part of the verse we have the Character of one that doth truely love Christ He that hath my Commandements and keepeth them he it is that loveth me In the latter part of the verse which is my Text we have the Priviledge of one that doth truely love Christ and that is in three Promises which Christ doth make unto him 1. He that loveth me shall be loved of my Father 2. And I will love him 3. And will manifest my self unto him It is the last of these Promises which I shall speak unto by way of Appendix unto my Treatise of the Love which true Christians have and ought to have unto Christ and that is the Promise of Christs manifesting himself unto such as love him And the Doctrine is this Doct. That Christ will manifest himself unto such as love him In handliâ—g of this point I shall shew 1. What it is for Christ to manifest himself 2. That Christ will manifest himself to them that love him 3. How Christ doth manifest himself unto such 4. When Christ doth manifest himself unto such 5. Where Christ doth manifest himself unto such as love him 6. And lastly make some Application Section I. 1. WHat it is for Christ to manifest Himself 1. Christ doth manifest himself when he maketh a clearer discoverie unto His Disciples of the excellency of His Person when he doth further unveil himself and le ts forth some beams and rays with greater lustre and brightness to discover more of the oriency and transcendency of his soul-ravishing beauty unto them which they had but a dimmeâ— sight and darker apprehensions of before and this is done when Christ doth more fully impart of the spirit of wisdom and revelation unto them Upon this account the Apostle did pray in the behalf of the believing Ephesians that the Lord would give them the spirit of wisdom and revelation to enlighten their understandings in the knowledge of him Eph. 1. 16 17 18. they had the spirit before and some knowledge of Christ before but he prayes that God would give them fuller measures of the spirit to make a clearer discovery of Christ that the eyes of their understandings might be more and more enlightened unto a more spiritual discerning of the surpassing Beauty and Excellency in Christ's person in the knowledge of whom the most enlightned Christians are capable of further growth unto the end of their life hence that Exhortation of the Apostle Peter 2 Pet. 3. 18. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ. 2. Christ doth manifest himself when he maketh a deep impression and giveth a sweet sense to his Disciples of his presence Christ is never really absent from such as Love him but he may Seem to be so sometimes they may apprehend him to be a far off he may and often doth withdraw the sense of his presence Cant. 5 6. I opened to my beloved but my beloved had withdrawn himself and was gone Christ doth manifest himself when he doth draw near to his people and maketh them feel that he is near giving them a sweet sense of his presence through the powerful breathings of his Spirit upon them whereby their hearts are quickned and enlarged and drawn forth towards himself and their graces excited unto powerful exercise 3. And chiefly Christ doth Manifest Himself when He makes discovery of His Love unto them that love him when He gives them to see not only the beauty of His face but also the smiles of His face when He gives them to behold the amiableness of His countenance and withall lifts up upon them the light of His countenance when he sheddeth abroad the sense of His Love into their hearts giving them a full perswasion of His special Love unto them and also a sweet sense thereof Thus Christ doth sometime look kindly and speak kindly unto his people and this sweet Language is not spoken to the ear of the body but inwardly by His Spirit to to their souls when he saith to the soul I am thy salvation and thy Saviour I have loved thee with an everlasting Love and my Love is vnchangeable The Mountains shall depart and the hills be removed but my loving kindness shall never depart and be removed from thee I have given my self for thee and I have given my self unto thee and I will never repent of this gift I have chosen thee for my self called and joyned thee unto my self and I will never repent of this choice nor suffer thee to be disjoyned from me for ever I have thee upon my heart and keep thee in my hand and no powers of Earth or Hell shall be able to pluck thee thence I have given thee my grace and I will shew thee my glory and ere long I will appear in the world and receive thee to my self that where I am there thou mayest be also Dry up then thy tears clear up thy countenance banish thy fears droop no longer dispond no more but be of good chear thy sins are forgiven thee thy name is written in my book which none can blot out Thou hast a true Love for me and my Father himself loveth thee and I love thee with a most endeared Love and therefore do not question or doubt of my Love any more Thus Christ doth manifest himself and his Love sometimes unto drooping disponding souls Section II. 2. THat Christ will manifest himself unto them that love him appears in that His Love doth engage Him and His word doth engage Him hereunto His Love doth â—ngage Him The Love of Christ is like fire that cannot conceal it self long and no fire so strong and hath such a vehement flame as the Love of Christ to His people Ioseph had a great love to his Brethren notwithstanding all their unkindness and although he concealed himself for a while and spake roughly unto them yet after they were sensible of their fault and were