Light in his Strength and according to his will and fulfill ye not the lusts of the flesh Without this walking 't is a vain thing to pretend to be in Christ or to hope for Justification by his Righteousness for the Son of God was made a Sacrifice for sin that the Righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in them who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit Rom. 8. 4. What kind of Saints would there be What exemplary Members What illustrious Assemblies if every one had in a greater measure crucified the flesh with its lusts and affections and had a more attentive and obedient ear to hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches You see the Resemblance between the Church of Christ and a Body In the Second place I am to tell you what kind of body the Church of Christ is 1. The Church is a Body of Men. Ezek. 34. 31. And ye my flock the flock of my pasture are men and I am your God saith the Lord God I grant the Elect Angels have Christ to be their Head but all the Apostate Ones were left in that misery into which by sin they brought themselves And though the Son of God be the Lord and Keeper of the Holy Angels yet he is not their Redeemer as he is of his Church for whom he died When this Saviour was born the Tongues of Angels proclaimed peace on earth good will towards men Luk. 2. 14. Though the World lye in wickedness yet the Church is gathered out of the World The Saints themselves were sometimes dead in sins and trespasses and walked according to the course of this world according to the Prince of the power of the air fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and were by nature the Children of wrath even as others Eph. 1. 1 2 3. All the stones of Gods spiritual Temple are dug out of the common Quarry of Mankind and to keep them humble they should often look to the rock from whence they were hewen All the Sons and Daughters of the Lord Almighty are of Adams lapsed race without exception The Grace of God is admirable in making a Church of such as these The Body of the first Adam was formed out of the dust but the Mystical body of the second Adam was formed out of that which is a great deal worse a meer masse of corruption And as there is not a Saint but was once a Sinner so those Sinners who are chosen and called and made faithful they are not of the wise commonly or of the mighty or noble of the World But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of the World to confound the things that are mighty and base things of the world and things despised yea and things that are nor to bring to nought things that are that no flesh should glory in his presence but according as it is written He that glorieth let him glory in the Lord 1 Cor. 1. 27. 31. 2. The Church is a Body governed by the best Laws The Lord himself is their Law-giver and he is holy and just and good and his Commands are like himself holy just and good also Rom. 7. 12. There is a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Law of sin which the men of the world obey This Law commands what the Law of God forbids forbids what the Law of God commands Darkness and light are not more contrary than these two Laws are But this Law of Sin is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Law of Death Obedience is destructive to him that yields it The Law of the Lord is quite of another nature there is life and peace in the doing of it Prov. 7. 2. Keep my Commandments and live and my Law as the apple of thine eye Psal 119. 165. Great peace have they that love thy Law and nothing shall offend them The more the Church conforms to the Laws of her Lord and Head she recovers the more of the Image of God which was lost by the Fall and partakes the more of the Divine Nature escaping that corruption that lust causes in the World This Law is written in the Heart which is changed and renewed and the Heart being suited to the Commandment delights in obedience Psal 40. 8. I delight to do thy will O my God yea thy law is within my heart This Law is of the highest authority therefore the Saints should endeavour to keep it without spot and whatever penalties they suffer they will never have reason to repent of their faithfulness to their Lord or their obedience to his Precepts 3. The Church is the wisest Body and Society in the World Indeed all the World besides are a company of meer Fools and mad-men Are not they fools that hate knowledge are not they fools that joyn with Satan to undo themselves are not they fools who venture for a meer trifle a little sinful gain or pleasure to lose their precious Souls which are of more value than the whole World put together are not they fools who have Salvation Life and Immortality offered to them and neglect the offer who are warned to flee from future Wrath and the vengeance of eternal Fire and yet will needs run thither and are angry with any that endeavour to stop them Oh how has sin bereaved men of their Wits and Understandings But the Church of Christ is sayingly enlightened all her true members made wise unto Salvation They are so wise as to make their peace with God believing in Jesus and relying on his blood for Reconciliation they are so wise as to follow the Lamb and that path must needs be best and safest wherein he leads them They are so wise as to make timely provision for eternity and to commit the keeping of their Souls into a strong hand which never lost any that it undertook to keep and to secure Therefore the Apostle speaks with so much confidence 2 Tim. 12. I know whom I have believed and I am perswaded he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day What is the wisdom of this World compared with the Churches wisdom which is spiritual the Apostle undervalues the policy of Princes in comparison of the Gospel that policy comes to nothing this Gospel guides to glory 1 Cor. 2. 6 7. Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect yet not the wisdom of this world nor of the Princes of this world who yet get most by their wisdom that come to nothing but we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory 4. The Church is a Body of great beauty and excellency called therefore in the Song of Solomon the fairest among women Cant. 5. 1. Sion is affirmed to be the perfection of beauty Psal 50. 2. The Church is excellent in regard of her Original for she is of Heavenly
shall be remembred Surely the Worlds hard usage of his members shall not be forgotten shall not pass unpunished If at the great day the not feeding and cloathing of hungry and naked Saints will be punished with everlasting fire oh what a sin will it be found to take away their food and rayment from them if Christ will be so angry with those who visited not believers in Prison Mat. 25. 42 43. where shall they appear that were the Imprisoners of them The World should not be cruel to Christians since Christ will quickly appear to judge the World in Righteousness So much for the first Proposition That the Church of Christ is compared to a Body Proposit II. The second Proposition is this That this Body of Christ is imperfect in this World and therefore continually should be encreasing Hence it is that Christians are exhorted to grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. Pet. 3. 18. and not only to be stedfast and unmoveable but always to abound in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. In the handling of this Proposition I shall first shew in what respects the Church of Christ here on earth is imperfect Secondly In what sense the Church should be continually increasing Thirdly I shall produce several Reasons for this Increase of the Church Lastly I shall give you the Vses that may be made of it I begin with the first of these and shall shew in what respects the Church of Christ here on Earth is imperfect Two things are here to be considered First The number of the Churches Members is not yet compleated Secondly Those Members which actually are of the Church are imperfect the very best of them as long as they remain in this World 1. The number of the Churches Members is not yet compleated There are more still to be called out of the World and brought home to Jesus All are not gathered which the Father has designed to give him Joh. 10. 16. And other sheep I have who are not of this Fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall he one Fold and one Shepherd 1. Many 't is to be hoped who have heard the Gospel shall be converted though as yet they are not Though they have hitherto resisted the Holy Ghost yet at last they shall yield unto his Call and striving When once the day of power and the time of love is come they shall be made willing to receive a Saviour to be the Lords and to serve the Lord though now never so great an obstinacy and unwillingness is discovered Psal 110. 3. 2. Many who are in the loyns both of Believers and Unbelievers shall in due time be born and born again The Church shall never quite discontinue it may indeed sometimes be less visible but it always has a Being God will have a Seed to serve him in every future Generation Psal 22. 30. 3. The Natural Branches are to be graffed in again to their own Olive-tree Rom. 11. 24. For if thou wer 't cut out of the Olive-tree which is wild by nature and wer 't graffed contrary to nature into a good Olive-tree how much more shall these that is the Israelites which be the natural branches be graffed into their own Olive-tree Blindness in part is happened to Israel but they are still beloved for their Fathers sake and at length the veil which is upon their Hearts shall be taken away and they shall look unto him whom their Fathers crucified and be saved by him For he is the Messiah the deliverer that is come out of Sion and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob Rom. 11. 26. Now when Israel shall be added to the Christian Church how will this Church be encreased it will be a very glorious augmentation like a Resurrection from the dead Rom. 11. 15. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the World what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead 4. The Kingdoms of the world are to become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11. 15. I grant this is in part already the Gentiles have been preached to and have obeyed the Gospel Christ according to the Fathers Promise has had the Heathen given to him for his Inheritance and some of the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession but we may rationally conclude after the destruction of Antichrist and the utter overthrow of his power and usurpation that many more Kingdoms of the world will submit unto the Lord Jesus and his Church hereby will have a vast increase We find Rev. 18. Babylon destroyed the Kings of the earth and the Merchants that committed Fornication with her crying Alas alas and lamenting her sudden and utter downfall The Heavens and the holy Apostles and Prophets rejoycing over her because God had avenged them upon her And then it follows Rev. 19. 12. that upon the head of Christ were many Crowns which shews the subjection of many Kings to him and v. 6. there is a voice of a great multitude as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thundrings as if all the World did joyn together in saying Alleluia for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth From all this it appears that the Church as yet is incompleat and that greater numbers of Converts are to be expected and how should the Promises of the Churches enlargement in the latter dayes be thought upon with joy and how earnestly should we pray that those Promises may be accomplished 2. Those Members which actually are of the Church are imperfect the very best of them as long as they remain in this World How plainly does the Wise man speak Eccl. 7. 20. There is not a just man upon Earth that doeth good and sinneth not There is many a just man upon earth and every just man his practice is to do good but there is not one that so does good as not to be chargeable with the least evil The Apostle James that is so much for joyning good works with faith yet acknowledges in many things we offend all Jam. 3. 2. And the Apostle Paul that great Saint and Preacher speaks thus of himself and surely he would not tell a lye through abundance of humility Phil. 3. 12 13. Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but forgetting the things which are behind and reaeching forth to those things which are before I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God The imperfection of the Saints and Members of the Church on Earth will be evident in several respects 1. The Knowledge of the Saints is imperfect He that knew as much as any sayes We know in part and prophesy in part and now we see through a glass darkly 1 Cor. 13. 9. 12. David who was wiser than his enemies who had more understanding than all his Teachers than the Ancients yet prays still
whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached and therein I do rejoyce yea and will rejoyce 4. The avoiding of Scandal is much for the Churches Increase The Scandalous and loose lives of Professors make the World conclude the Gospel but a cunningly devised Fable and harden the men of it in Irreligion and a profane contempt of God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent The evil works of such as are called Christians for many of these latter Ages has been a great impediment to the spreading of Christianity Our Lord sayes Woe to the World because of offences Mat. 18. 7. for the World hereby is confirmed in prejudice and Wickedness and at last more certainly ruined But when the Members of the Church do work out their own Salvation with fear and trembling and shew a vehement desire after the Worlds Salvation also this is the way to gain the World to Christ and to turn it unto righteousness 5. The Church is mightily increased by the exemplary conversation of her Members When Believers are zealous of good Works and without rebuke and blame When they are patterns of Piety Justice Mercy Meekness Patience Self-denial when they go about doing good and by the heavenliness of their discourse and carriage declare plainly that they seek a better countrey than is to be found in this World hereby they adorn the Gospel and render it more lovely in the Worlds eye and more likely to be entertained the ignorance of wicked and foolish men is silenced by well doing 1 Pet. 2. 15. nay they be forced to a confession that God is in his Church of a truth and may at length consent and desire to be Members of that Church where there is so much of God and of his presence visible and apparent 2. As the Church should increase in numbers so all the Members of the Church should strive to increase more and more in grace and goodness They should strongly be induced to this because of their own imperfection in Grace which imperfection fills them many times with inward trouble and tormenting doubts and fears and makes outward affliction but highly necessary Besides Holiness is of such an excellent nature and so perfective of the Nature of man that the strongest desires are to be justified the most diligent endeavours after it to be commended Grace is increased in the Members of Christ several wayes 1. By a Serious and frequent engaging in those Ordinances which he has instituted He that has instituted these has promised his blessing and adds the efficacy Prayer Fasting giving of thanks receiving the Supper of the Lord attending upon the Word preached and searching the Scriptures and the like means of Grace when seriously used do exceedingly promote the growth of a Christian making him to become strong in Spirit The Church is the Garden of God the Saints are planted there the Word and Ordinances of Christ are like the showers from Heaven and the Husbandmans pains which makes these Plants to thrive and flourish Psal 92. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God But still it must be remembred though means are to be used yet we must look beyond them unto him that has appointed them else they will never attain their end 1 Cor. 3. 7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing nor he that watereth but God that giveth the increase 2. Grace is increased by the improving of Providences The Dispensations of Providence were various towards David he was exercised with great Severity and likewise with great Goodness we read Psal 116. 3. That the sorrows of Death compassed him and the pains of Hell gat hold upon him he found trouble and sorrow and v. 10. He was greatly afflicted in this distress he calls upon that God who is merciful and gracious for deliverance and his calling is heard and his Soul is delivered from Death his Eyes from Tears and his Feet from Falling And now how is his Heart affected his Graces strengthned He is filled with Love he is resolved to give himself to Prayer as long as he lived his Soul is at rest in God who had dealt bountifully with him he offers the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving and he cryes out Oh Lord I am thy Servant truly I am thy Servant v. 16. as if he should say Lord thou art a Master beyond all comparison and as it is my firm resolution so 't is my Happiness and Honour as well as Duty to be a Servant to thee 3. The Covenant of Grace is to be Studied and the Promises applyed in order to a Christians increase God has assured his People that he will perfect that which concerns them and that he will not forsake the work of his own hands He has said that his Servants shall Spring up as among the Grass and as Willows by the Water-courses Isa 44. 4. That the Righteous shall hold on his way and they that have clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. That they shall bring forth fruit even in Old Age and even then be flourishing and this shall be to shew that the Lord is upright Psal 92. 14 15. Such Promises being prized and applyed will make the New Creature full of vigour and perseverance will be certain Heark to the Apostle Phil. r. 6 7. Being confident of this very thing that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ even as it is meet for me to think this of you all 4. Grace is increased by Having recourse unto that fulness which dwells in Christ Therefore growing in Grace and growing in the Knowledge of Christ are joyned together for Christ is full of Grace and Truth and out of his fulness sayes St. John We all have received and Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 14 16. that is Grace answerable to that Grace which is in him Grace is his purchase he has it in Possession he gives it to all that have it and every new degree is from the same hand He is the Object the Author and the Finisher of Faith Heb. 12. 2. They are the most growing and established Saints that are least taken with the World that have least confidence in themselves that do best understand and most look unto Jesus 5. All impediments of increase must be carefully shunn'd as Pride and sloth and earthliness carnal and corrupt affections if these or things of like nature prevail they will prove to the Soul what Diseases are to the Body and make the Members of Christ to be feeble and languish depriving them both of their Strength and Beauty These are like peccant humours which must be Purged if we would have our Souls healthy and prosperous These are like weights which must be laid aside if we will run the Race that is set before us so as to obtain the Prize Heb. 12. 1. In the third place I am to produce several reasons why the Church
should be continually increasing 1. This increase is for the Fathers glory the more Saints there are God is honoured by the more and the more any are Saints he has still the more glory from them The stronger the members of Christ grow their Faith in God is firmer their fear more filial they love him more with their heart and Soul and strength they walk more humbly with him all which shews what right apprehensions they have of him and that they glorifie him as God believing his presence power mercy truth and righteousness That our Lord might perswade unto fruitfulness and increase he sayes Joh. 15. 8. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples 2. This increase of the Church is for the honour of Christ the Churches Head The largeness of a Dominion and the multitude of Subjects is the honour of a Prince The more sincere Christians there are the Kingdom of our Lord is the more enlarged and He himself is magnified the more The Redeemer is glorified when the Everlasting Gospel runs when his word which is the Scepter of his Kingdom is believed and obeyed when Souls by whole multitudes come flocking to him to be justified by his blood sanctified and healed by his grace and saved to the uttermost How was Christ honoured when after the ten first Persecutions the Roman Empire submitted to the Faith the Eagle gave way to the Cross and Constantine the Great threw down his Crown at the feet of the Lamb of God Then was that Scripture signally fulfilled though a further accomplishment is still to be expected Isa 55. 5. Behold thou shalt call a Nation that thou knowest not and Nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the Holy One of Israel for he hath glorified thee 3. In this increase of the Church the operaetion of the Spirit is very illustrious He wrought the miracles for the confirmation of the Gospel and made it at first to be entertained in the world Wherever there is true Faith it is of his bestowing Those that are regenerated are said to be born of the Spirit Joh. 3. 6. The renewing of a Soul is of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. All spiritual gifts all true grace all solid comforts are from the Spirit The more therefore Light is spread the more largely gifts are distributed the more plentiful communication there is of grace the more peace and joy abounds the greater is the Spirits glory The Nicene Creed calls the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord and Giver of life Quot Membrae tot Miracula So many members as Christ has so many miracles there are of the Spirits working for he has raised them all to life who were once dead in sins and trespasses as well as others 4. This Increase is for the Churches advantage therefore it should be endeavoured 'T is matter of joy and praise to Saints to behold sinners converted and sanctified to see Prodigals coming to themselves and coming home to their Fathers House to see strangers and forreigners made fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God Eph. 2. 19. And when these Saints perceive that more of light is imparted to themselves and that they are filled fuller with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the Glory and praise of God they must needs apprehend this to be for their profit if the truest riches may be called gains and Pearls of the greatest price be of any value 5. The World is benefited by the Churches increase Not a Soul gathered out of the World but something is secured of greater value than the World If a City were on fire and burning apace to the ground the more persons are saved the more Goods are secured the greater kindness is done to that City because these Persons these Goods escape the fury of the flames Sin is ruining the World apace but all that in time come out from the World and touch not the unclean thing and are incorporated into the Church of Christ are safe as in a Sanctuary shall be delivered from the common destruction and scape the vengeance of eternal fire in which all the wicked must burn for ever 6. The Angels themselves are concerned at the increase of the Church The Apostate Ones are confounded when by all their subtilty and strength they are not able to hinder the increase of Christs Government nay that they are so over-ruled that they are made to promote his Kingdom by those very means which were designed to overthrow it And the Elect Angels are affirmed to rejoyce at the Repentance and Conversion of a Sinner Luk. 15. 10. Likewise I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth And if they are so glad at the Conversion of one what an accession would it be to their joy to behold thousands and millions added to the Church of Christ 'T is pleasing to the Angels to behold peace on Earth and Gods good-will expressing it self in the Salvation of Men Luk. 2. 14. and upon this account they cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glory be to God in the highest The Application follows USE 1. Of Reproof to them that hinder the Churches increase The furtherers of it I am sure are few the hinderers many therefore the more are concerned in the Reprehension 1. Enemies without endeavour with might and main to hinder the increase of the Body of Christ They hate the light and would fain hinder it from shining they are grieved that Jesus is preached are angry as well as grieved for they are unwilling his Subjects should become numerous The World upon this account raises Persecution and how many at such a time do fall away Mat. 13. 21. Cyprian laments the pressure of that Persecution which had so wofully wasted the Flock he was over and sayes that positi erant inter plangentium ruinas timentium reliqutas inter numerosam languentium stragem exiguam stantium paucitatem L. 4. Ep. 4. Many were ruined the rest feared the Church languished and few did stand against so furious an assault We have large Martyrologies but if all Apostates were registred how vast would be the Catalogues of them 'T is well Tribulation lasts but ten dayes a short time else the World might tread the Church under But the Worlds rage is without reason against the Church of Christ which will do no harm and desires to do the World the greatest kindness 2. Hypocrites within are to be reproved for they hinder the Churches increase fitly compared to Vipers which are said to eat the bowels in which they were bred Our Lords anger is very hot and his words sharp against Hypocrites Mat. 23. 13. For they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men they refuse to go in themselves neither suffer they them that are entring to go in They profess high but when
soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly he which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully 2 Cor. 9. 6. But though it will give away pounds to them that are needy it dares not unjustly take away a penny or a farthing from another though never so wealthy Solomon tells us that a false balance is not good and divers weights are an abomination to the Lord Prov. 20. 23. and they are also an abomination unto Love No duty more clearly discovered by the light of nature than to do justly and what does God in his written word more expresly require the unrighteous being plainly threaten'd with the loss of the Kingdom of Heaven and what poor and petty things are their unjust gains compared with such a Kingdom Wronging another though it be in so slie a manner that humane eyes observe it not humane laws cannot punish it yet will be overtaken with divine Vengeance 1 Thes 4. 6. That no man go beyond and desraud his brother in any matter because the Lord is the avenger of all such as we also have forewarned you and testified Love to our Neighbour implies a Love of Justice is to give our Neighbour his due Love can as soon cease to be Love as begin to be Injurious Nay if a man has heretofore been guilty of Injustice it will incline and constrain him to make restitution for The wicked must restore the Pledge and give again what he hath robbed and walk in the Statutes of Life then he shall live he shall not dye Ezek. 33. 15. 5. Love is very tender of others Names and Reputation It detests all manner of Lying as that which is an abomination to God Prov. 6. 17. and exposes the Lyar himself to the burning lake Rev. 21. 8. But a slanderous or malicious lye that wounds the Name and murthers the Reputation of another it hates exceedingly for this is an abomination most abominable and more against the very letter of the Law Thoâ— shalt not bear false witness against thy Neighbour The Name of a man ought to be very dear to him especially if he be a Christian because God and Christ and the Gospel are concerned in it A Christian cannot be aspersed without some aspersion on Christianity it self Love is very wary and that with great reason and will not cast into the precious Oyntment a dead Fly to make it send forth an evil savour Love hinders the Tongue from evil speaking and makes it subject to the Law of kindness Love is so far from raising a false report of another that it dares not take it up much less spread it all abroad The Citizen of Sion who shall dwell with God both here and for ever this is part of his Character He speaketh the truth in his heart he back-biteth not with his tongue nor doth evil to his neighbour nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour Psal 15. 2 3. Light may as well become darkness as Love be guilty of Lying and malicious Defamations Professors ears are ready to tingle when they hear the sound of hellish Oaths and horrid Execrations wretched men making bold with the Life of God the blood and wounds of Christ and hardly a sentence is pronounced without an Imprecation that God may damn them But these Professors would do well to consider that the same Mouth of Truth which has forbid and threatned Cursing and Swearing has forbid and threatned Lying and Slandering and if we observe how much injury may be done by a slanderous tongue we shall not wonder that the throats of such Slanderers are compared to open Sepulchers and their Tongues to whetted Swords and sharpned Arrows and the Poyson of Asps is said to be under them 6. Love is contented with its own and hinders us from coveting what belongs to another Sinful lustings and desires after that which is our neighbours precipitate unto those acts whereby he is injured thus Ahabs inordinate desire after Naboths Vineyard makes him a Murtherer of Naboth and that with many aggravations that he might enjoy it Love breeds contentation and instead of coveting what is anothers it wishes him both a quiet possession and an holy improvement and Love expelling these inordinate lustings it plucks up the very root of bitterness from whence do commonly grow all those injuries that the Sons of men do one to another Thus Love is Eagle-eyed to observe whatever God in his Law has commanded for our neighbours good and since the wise and gracious Law-giver has manifested his care of our neighbour in fencing his Life and all that is dear to him with so many Commandments Love rationally inferrs it ought to be our care not to break this fence but to keep all these Commandments without exception 7. Love breeds sympathy when our fellow Christians are in misery It makes us fear least harm befall the Church of God and when the Church is actually under Affliction it causes us in that affliction to be afflicted Love is the great Law of Christ and Chistian Sympathy is a fulfilling it Gal. 6. 2. Bear ye one anothers burthens and so fulfill the Law of Christ The Captive Jews their Harps were out of Tune and their Hearts had little list to Mirth and Musick nay By the rivers of Babylon they wept when they remembred Sion Psal 137. 1 2. Love easily melts the heart of a Saint into sorrow when other Saints are in sadness and calamity nay 't is reâ—dy to put on bowels when it sees any in misery This Sympathy of Love is a real thing and shews it self in a forwardness to relieve and help Love enlarges the Heart in Prayer for the distressed Church of Christ and all his Members it makes us in the Churches languors ready to faint and dye away our selves Love draws forth our Compassion towards the divided and distressed Land of our Nativity and in some it arises to so high a degree that they are ready such are their holy Agonies to wish Their Names blotted out of the Book of â—ife and themselves acâ—ursed from Christ rather than England should become desolate rather than God should depart and the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ be removed 8. Love makes us to delight in the Communion of Saints Sin has brought a great deformity and unloveliness upon Mankind the Scripture speaks thus of Men considered in their natural State They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Psal 14. 3. But the Grace of God lias made a difference between the Saints and other men they have put off the old man which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts and they put on the new man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness Eph. 4. 22. 24. Now this Holiness makes them truly amiable Love makes us pity the World that lies in wickedness but to delight in those who by Regeneration are called out of the World and made New Creatures David though a King lookt upon Saints as
the excellent ones and his delight was all in them as the most eligible and suitable Society Psal 16. 3. Love is exceedingly pleased with the holy and unblameable and exemplary Lives of others it finds a Melody and Sweetness in their gracious and edifying Discourses when their Hearts are warm and their Graces are in vigorous exercise the delight is greatest when Saints are most like themselves discovering most of real Sanctity and least of sinful Infirmity Love is for Communion with all Saints though of different perswasions He that likes Saints of his own Judgment onely 't is a sign he is fond of his own Opinion and that his Complacency is not so truly in the Image of God wherever it shines 'T is want of light that makes Saints of different sentiments in Religion and 't is want of Love that makes them so shye to look so strangely to speak so strangely and to act so strangely one towards another 9. Love causes a joy in the good of others In the natural Body if one Member be honoured all the Members rejoyce with it 1 Cor. 12. 26. Christians in like manner are to rejoyce with them that do rejoyce Rom. 12. 15. It was an excellent Spirit in John the Baptist and it argued the Truth of his Love to the Messiah of whom he was the forerunner that he rejoyced to see Christ increase though he himself decreased Joh. 3. 29 30. The Apostle was perswaded of the Corinthians affection to him when he said I have confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all 2 Cor. 2. 3. The more Love abounds the more the joy of one Christian will be the joy of every one Love rejoyces to see the Spirit of God poured out in the most plentiful manner to see useful and excellent gifts distributed to others It is really glad of their highest attainments their enlargements their comforts their honour and esteem following upon all this We are all Members one of another and why should we not rejoyce in one anothers honour since we are really honoured one in another and the honour of all redounds at length to our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Head of all 10. Love covers a multitude of sins and Infirmitieâ— 1 Pet. 4. 8. Not that there is any merit in this Grace of Charity to deserve the pardon of sin in our selves but instead of spreading the faults of others it spreads a veil over them Love makes us tender-hearted and kind ready to forgive others as we our selves for Christs sake have been forgiven And indeed the offences and injuries done to us by others are but like the debt of a few pence compared with our offences against God which amount to many Millions of Talents The Apostle Peter asked Christ Lord how often shall my Brother sin against me and I forgive him till seven times Jesus saith unto him I say unto thee not till seven times but untill seventy times seven Mat. 18. 21 22. Some think that there is allusion to the custom of the Jews to shew favour every seventh year but especially in the year of Jubilee As there is a greater measure of light in the Christian Church than there was in the Jewish so ought there to be a greater measure of love We must not only forgive to seven times or seven times seven but seventy times seven a certain â—umber for an uncertain intimatinâ— we must pardon our trespassing Brother without any stint or limitation Our Lord calls the time of the Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the acceptable year Luk. 4. 19. Christians should abhorr all manner of revenge and be as charitably inclined to pass by their Brethrens faults as if their life were a perpetual Jubilee Where is the love of those who not only harbour in their hearts a grudge against their Brethren but their mouths are like Trumpets to sound forth their failings Nay they tarry not to examine whether failings or no but boldly and blindly conclude them to be such and proclaim and exclaim against them Nay their eager tongues tarry not for a certain Information but whether reports to the disparagement of others be true or false they make them run like wild-fire What 's become of Love the mean while Love hiâ—es a multitude of sins but these persons won't conceal one Love covers real Crimes but these forbear not spreading false reports The Tongue by Drexelius is called Orbis Phaethon the Phaethon of the World that sets it in a flame If as the Apostle sayes an unruly tongue defiles the whole body and he that seems religious and bridles not his tongue does but deceive his own heart and his Religion is in vain Jam. 1. 26. Let a multitude of Professors at this day tremble and be astonished and cry out Who among us shall be saved 11. Love is projecting and designing the good of others Thus the Apostle abased himself that others might be exalted and sought not his own profit but the profit of many that they might be saved 1 Cor. 10. 33. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour but is very fruitful in contriving and operative in promoting his Neighbours welfare Love is not in not in word and in tongue only but in deed and in truth 1 Joh. 3. 18. It will not only say depart in peace be ye warmed and filled but 't is ready to cloath the naked and to feed the hungry nay it deviseth liberal and charitable things and considers the wants of Souls as well as Bodies cordially according to its capacity endeavouring that both may be supplyed The Apostles love to the Corinthians was very active notwithstanding a woful failing on their side 2 Cor. 12. 14 15. I seek not yours but you and I will very gladly spend and be spent for you in the Greek 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for your souls though the more abundantly I love you the less I be loved Thus have I explained the Nature of Love In the Second place I am to speak of the Properties which the Scripture attributes to it and requires should be in Love 1. Love must proceed from a pure heart 1 Tim. 1. 5. A heart must of necessity be made a new one before this Grace of Love can dwell there If Satan cannot make us hate our Brother he will endeavour to defile our Love There is need of the greater care that our Love be not defiled by selfishness or lust and filthiness Our affections should be pure and clean as Angels may be conceived to love one another All impure motions must be detested utterly and our hearts being first circumcised to love a God of Holiness must love Saints for their holiness sake Our love should alwayes have an holy aim and never degenerate so as to design the polluting of others or our selves with them 2. Love must be joyn'd with a good Conscience 1 Tim. 1. 5. A Christian should not be conscious to himself of any sinful or by-ends that he has in