Scriptures have revealed him to be The reason why Heathens and Infidels are without love to Christ is because they have never heard of him and the reason why many nominal Christians that have heard of Christ are without love to him is because they are not really perswaded that there is or ever was such a person as Jesus Christ in the World If you would attain this love you must give firm assent to this Truth which is the greatest of all and the very pillar foundation of the whole Christian Religion that Christ really is and that the History of him is no cunningly devised Fable If you have reason to beleive that there was such a a Person as Alexander the Great that there was such person as Iulius Caesar both which lived before Christs time you have more reason to believe that there was and is such a Person as Jesus Christ you have only Prophane history for the former but you have Sacred history for the latter you have only the writings of men to testifie the one but you have the word of God in the Holy Scripture to testifie the other You have as much reason to beleive the history of the Gospel as to beleive any other history and you have more reason to believe the history of the Gospel than to believe any other history I shall suggest one reason amongst many that might be mentioned The History of the Gospel was written by unlearned Fishermen and it was beleived by as leaâ—ned men as any in the world in and near the time of their writing which belief some of them sealed with their blood which they would never have done had they found any reason to suspect the truth of this history which had there been any reason of suspition they might easily have found out in those times when such a grand Fable as this had it been a Fable could not possibly have gained credit amongst wise and inquisitive men especially when it would have been their greatest worldly Interest the preservation of their Estates and Lives to have disbelieved and disowned it If beside the Apostles all the learned Fathers whose Works are extant amongst us who lived near the Apostles times and some of whom suffered Martyrdom for Christ's sake did see reason to believe that there was such a Person as Christ surely you have reason to believe and no solid reason to discredit the report of him in the History of the Gospel And when you have attained a firm Assent unto this get a full perswasion that Jesus Christ is such a person as the Scriptures do record and testifie him to be Be perswaded of his Amiableness his Greatness his Holiness his Wisdom his Faithfulness his Fulness his Kindness the Relation he stands in to the Father his onely begotten and dearly beloved Son the Relation he standeth in to his People especially in his Offices of Prophet Priest and King as I have set him forth in the Motives to stirre up Love acquaint your selves with the History of his Birth so Wonderfâ—ll of his Life so Holy of his Works so Powerfull of his Doctrine so Heavenly of his Sufferings so Great of his Death so Painfull and yet so Voluntary of his Resurrection Ascension Session and Intercession at the right hand of God so needfull for us as you have this History upon record in the New Testament the assent to this in your Minds will be a preparative for the attaining of true Love to Jesus Christ in your Hearts 2. If you would attain true Love unto Jesus Christ you must get Conviction of Sin and a sense of your Need of Christ. The prevailing love and liking of Sin is inconsistent with true love unto Jesus Christ such as love Christ do hate Sin and such as love sin have an Enmity against Christ Whilest your hearts goe after your Covetousness or your Voluptuousness or are set upon any other Wickednesse your hearts cannot be set upon Christ Before you can love Christ your hearts must be taken off from sin Get therefore a conviction of Sin as the greatest Evil in the world Be perswaded what an evil thing and a bitter it is to transgress Gods Law and thereby to affront the highest Majesty the great King of Glory Look into the Word and Law of God and see what is there required what is there forbidden and then look back upon your Lives or look into the Register of your Consciences that you may find out what your sins of Omission and Commission have been Take a view of your transgressions of the Law and of your disobedience also unto the Gospel and as you are guilty before God so labour for a clear sight and deep sense of your Guilt how you are under the Curse for your Disobedience how you are liable to ruine and eternal destruction for your sins Look upon sin as the most mischievous thing in the world if there be any evil in any temporal calamities which ever did befall any of the children of men yea if there be any evil in future miseries in the extremity and eternity of Hells Plagues and Punishments be perswaded that there is far more evil in sin which is the cause of all Think how miserable you are whilest under the Guilt and Reigning power of sin that the Worm is not so vile that the Toad is not so full of deadly Poyson that the filth of the Earth is not comparable unto the filth of your sins Think how base and disingenuous you have been how monstrously ingrateful to your Maker and Benefactor what Traytors and Rebels you have been to your Supream King and Soveraign Think what peril and danger continually you are in of Death and Hell how weak the thred of Life is which ties Soul and Body together which may be suddenly cut when you are least aware when you are most secure and then if you be found in a Christless state your Souls will be conveyed immediately unto a place of remediless and eternal misery Be perswaded that you are undone irrecoverably unless the Lord Iesus Christ do help you that you are lost for ever unless the Lord Jesus Christ do save you that you cannot escape the dreadful Vengeance of God but must be tormented most horriâ—ly and everlastingly amongst the Devils and the damned in Hell unless the Lord Jesus Christ do deliver you from the Wrath which is to come The sight and sense of sin your miserable condition thereby and of your indispensable need of Christ will make way for your Love of him If any of you were in debt many thousand pounds unto a severe Creditor and had not one penny to discharge it and you were threatned by him to be thrown into Prison where you must lie and â—ot and starve and die without hopes of relief or release except you could make payment of the debt And if you should hear of such a Rich man that were willing and did proffer to be your Surety and to pay all for
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
Body the Church who is the beginning the First-born from the Dead that in all things he might have the Preeminence For it pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell If we read believe and consider this great Description of Christ we must needs see and say that Christ is most Excellent and Amiable and that no beloved is like to the Beloved of true Christians therefore it is that true Christians do love Christ because of his loveliness Rea. 3. True Christians do love Christ because of His love His love which he doth bear to them He loves them with a First love and with a Free love He loves them with a tender and compassionate love with an active or doing love with a passive or suffering love His love is Infinite without Bounds or Limits it is Superlative without comparison Transcendent beyond comprehension Everlasting without change and which will have no end or conclusion He lov'd them when they were polluted in their sins and washt them with his own blood he loved them when they were Naked in their Souls and clothed them with the Robes of his Righteousness He loves them in their sickness and sorrows and is their Comforter He loves them in their wants and Straits and is their Benefactor He loves them in Life and is the Life of their Souls He loves them at Death and is the Stay of their Hearts And he loves them after Death and will be their Portion for ever There is great Reason that true Christians should love Christ because of his loveliness and there is further reason that they should love him because of his love especially when both are incomparable both are incomprehensible I shall further speak God willing unto both these with other reasons under the motives in the Exhortation to excite Christians to the love of Christ. SECT VIII Vse 1. FOR Information hence learn that there are but few true Christians in the world because there are so few that love this unseen Christ. There are many Christians in Name few Christians in deed and in truth The time hath been when openly to profess the Name of a Christian did argue true love unto Jesus Christ I mean in the Primitive times when Christians were Persecuted by the Heathens as in the Ten first dreadful Persecutions under the Heathen Emperours when the world was watered with Christian blood then especially at some times and in some yea most places whoever openly acknowledged themselves to be Christians they exposed themselves unto Imprisonments Racks Tortures Burnings and the most cruel deaths It was the Truth and Strength of Love unto Jesus Christ which carried them thorow such great sufferings as many did in those dayes undergo for the sake of Jesus Christ But now there are Multitudes of bare nominal Christians they call themselves Christians being baptized in Christ's name but they are altogether without love to Christ whose Name they bare Surely there are but few not only in the Christian World but even in England where Christianity is to be found in as great purity as in any place that love Jesus Christ in sincerity No grossely ignorant persons do truly love Christ such as don't know Christ they can't love him ignoti nulla cupido there is no desire after nor love unto an unknown thing An unknown evil cannot be hated and an unknown good cannot be loved No grossely Erroneous persons do truely love Christ such as do not receive Christ's Truths they cannot love Christ's Person Joh. 14. 23. If any man love me he will keep my words The words of Christ do include not only the words of his Precepts but also the words of his Doctrine Such as erre grossely I mean in the Fundamental Truths of Christianity they are no friends to Christ but his Enemies so far are they from true love unto him No grossely wicked persons do truly love Christ such as profane persons who Blaspheme the name of God in their hideous Oaths the love of Christ doth teach an Holy Awe and Reverence of Gods Name such are Persecuters of Gods people for Righteousness sake How can they love the Head that hate the Members Christ accounteth himself to be persecuted in the perseution of his Members Act. 9. 4. Saul Saul why persecut est thou me and v. 5. I am Jesus whom thou persecutest and surely persecutors of Christ do not love Christ. Such are Scoffers at Religion who deride Holiness and mock at the name of a Saint or Godly person whereby they evidently shew their contempt of the Holiness of Christ from whom the Saints derive all theirs and how can they love Christ that do contemne him and his Image No unrighteous persons do truly love Christ whether they be so in regard of distributative justice or in regard of commutative justice whether they be unrighteous in Execution of judgement in distribution of Rewards or Punishments whether they be unrighteous in their Traffick and Dealingâ— Christ strictly requireth justice and Righteousness and how can they love him that do not keep this Commandement No Covetous persons do truly love Christ the Apostle saith 1 Joh. 2. 15. If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him And I may say that if any man love the world that is with his chief love the love of the Son is not in him the love cannot be chiefly set upon things below here on Earth and upon Christ who is above in Heaven No Licentious persons do truly love Christ no Drunkards Adulterers or any that indulge themselves in unlawful delights the love of Christ doth teach us to deny such Lusts and to Mortifie them No meer civil persons that are unconverted no Hypocrites that have a forme of Godliness but are without the power of it do truly love Christ the former may be loving and courteous unto men but they have no love to Christ the latter may Profess love to Christ and Seem to love him but they do not really love him In a word none who are under the reigning power of any sin do truly love Christ The Reign of sin is in the heart and this is inconsistent with the love of Christ in the Heart Now let us separate all these forementioned persons from the rest Grossely Ignorant persons grossely erroneous persons grossely wicked persons the Profane the Persecutors of Gods people the Scoffers at Religion all Unrighteous persons all Covetous Persons Drunkards Adulterers and all Licentious Persons meer Civil persons Hypocrites and all that are under the reigning power of sin and how few will there be left that do truly love Christ and by Consequence there will appear but very few that are true Christians SECT IX Vse 2. FOR Examination Here you may know whether you are true Christians by the Tryall of your love unto Jesus Christ. Examine your selves therefore whether you love Jesus Christ whom you have never seen the most in the world do love truly those persons and things only
your pleadings with him at the Throne of Grace for further supplyes of his Grace and that you may be brought into more intimacy of acquaintance with him Every day you should express your love to Christ especially on the Lords day when almost the whole day is to be spent in publick and private Exercises of Religious Worship in all your love to Christ should be in exercise in your attendances upon him in Ordinances you most bring not only your Bodies before him but present your Hearts unto him this you should be carefull to do in publick Prayer and Hearing of the Word Preaching and Singing Psalms often should you endeavour in every Ordinance to lift up your hearts unto the Lord but above all when you approach the Lords Table all your Graces should there and then be in exercise especially this Grace of love to Jesus Christ your Eye there should affect your Heart when you see the representations of your crucified Lord and think what manner of Love he did bear to you that he should submit himself unto such a Death for you how should this affect your hearts And if ever then your Love to Christ should shew it self and act with the greatest vigour and strength SECT XVII HAving given Directions how to attain love to Christ in the truth and in the strength of it I come now to the last sort of Directions wherein you should shew your love to Jesus Christ. More generally shew your Love to Christ in your Obedience unto Christ Ioh. 14. 15. If ye love me keep my Commandements Be faithfull in the performance of all known Duâ—ies which Christ doth command and be carefull in the forbearance of all known sins which Christ doth forbid let your great care be to please Christ whoever is displeased and your great fear be of offending Christ whoever be offended with your strictness Shew your love 1. In the Sincerity of your Obedience 2. In the Willingness of your Obedience 3. In the Vniversality of your Obedience 4. In the Constancy of your Obedience 1. Shew your love to Christ in the Sincerity of your Obedience Hypocrites will do some things which Christ commandeth but it is from carnal Motives and with carnal Designs But let love to Christ be the Motive and the Honour of Christ the End of your Obedience obey Christ because you love him and with a design to please him what you do do heartily unto the Lord and above all things desire and endeavour that what you doe may find acceptation with him 2 Cor. 5. 9. Wherefore we labour that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him 2. Shew your love to Christ in the Willingness of your Obedience some will obey Christ but it is with great Backwardness they will perform Duties but they are burdensome a weariness and toilsome and the Commandements of Christ are grievous unto them they are scarce ready unto any Duty but when they are scourg'd unto it by the Rods of Affliction or spurr'd and prickt forward by the goads of Conscience O the listlesness and indisposition in the most unto the most spiritual part of the Service of Christ which is an evident proof of the defect of love either in the truth of it or at least in the measure and degree of it Let your love shew it self in the willingness of your Obedience serve the Lord with a willing and ready mind with alacrity and chearfulness of spirit looking upon the Service of Christ as your Honour and esteeming every Duty to be your Priviledge If you have any constraints unto Obedience let them be the constraints of love as 2 Cor. 5. 14. If you be forced to obey Christ let there be no violence but the violence If love if you be drag'd to Duty let it oe with no other cords than the cords of bove let love be the Spur and Goad to prick you forward that you may not onely walk but run in the wayes of Christs commandements with an enlarged heart 3. Shew your love to Christ in the Vniversality of your Obedience Hypocrites wiâ—l perform some Duties which are for their turn and will serve their carnal designs other duties they omit and totally neglect let your love to Christ discover it self in your respect to all his Commandments though you cannot here attain Perfection of Obedience yet lâ—t your Obedience be universal obey Christ not only in open Duties which men are witnesses of but also in secret Duties and spiritual Duties which depend upon the exercise of the Mind such as Meditation Contemplation Self-search and Ejaculation as also in the spiritual part of all Duties which no Eye can be witness unto but the Eye of God and hereby you may be distinguished from all Hypocrites in the world 4. Shew your love to Christ in the Constancy of your Obedience Gal. 5. 7. Ye did run well who did hinder you that ye should not obey the truth Some Hypocrites are zealous Professors for a while and at first setting out seem to outstrip many that are sincere but they soon tire and are weary not onely in well-doing but of it they quickly sâ—umble and fall and not onely fall down but fall off not only fall back but fall away and turn fearfull Apostates Shew your love to Christ not onely in setting out well but in continuing your Christian course well unto the end of the course of your Lives begin well and patiently continue in well-doing Persevere in your Obedience Be not weary in well-doing knowing that in due time ye shall reap if ye faint not Gal. 6. 9. And if you be faithfull unto death Christ hath promised to give you the Crown of Life Rev. 2. 10. More particularly shew your love to Christ 1. In your learning keeping asserting and maintaining of Christ's truths 2. In your publick spiritedness and zeal for Christs honour and interest 3. In your vigorous resistance and opposition of Christs Enemies 4. In your Following of Christ's example 5. In your readiness to take up and patiently to bear Christs cross 6. In your desires after Christs presence here a longing for Christ's second appearance at the last day 1. Shew your love to Christ in your learning keeping asserting and maintaining Christ's Truths 1. Learn Christ's Truths acquaint your selves by diligent reading of the Scriptures and other books that may be a help hereunto with all fundamental truths of the Christian Religion in the first place and so go on and proceed further to learn those truths which are superstructory and whatever truths you find a Foundation for in the Scriptures which are the word of Truth receive them not only in the light of them but also in the love of them if the branches of truths be in your heads and the leaves of them in your profession and the fruit of them in your actions let the root of them be in your Hearts 2. Having learned the truths of Christ as they are in Jesus let them not hang loose
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