Saint Pauls Triumph, Collection · Sermon 3
THE THIRD SERMON,
VponUpon ROMANS 8. the two laſt Verſes.
For I am perſwaded, (or I am ſure,) that neither Death, &c.
THe dependence of theſe words with the former, and the meaning of them in themſelues I hauehave already ſhewed. Alſo I caſt this Scripture into this moulde, ſhewing, that the ſubſtance thereof emptied it ſelfe into theſe ſeauen particulars: Firſt, the things implyed, and that was, that there is a Communion betwixt God and the faithfull, in the word ſeperate, which neceſſarily implyes a Coniunction with God; things cannot be ſeperate, that are not firſt ioyned together. Secondly, there is ſhewed the Bond of this Communion, the louelove of God. Thirdly, the Apoſtle ſhewes the ground of this louelove and Communion, Ieſus Chriſt. Fourthly, he declares the Intereſt which the Faithfull hauehave in Chriſt Ieſus, by a tearme of neere reference, our Lord. Fiftly, he doth here auouch the ſafety of all Gods Children in the middeſt of all dangers, and inlargeth himſelfe in many particulars, neither death, nor life, nor Angels, &c. Sixtly, he profeſſeth his owne confident perſwaſion that hee hath of this, I am ſure. Seauenthly, hee beares himſelfe boldly vponupon this confidence againſt all Commers, Death, life, Angels, &c. Of the firſt and ſecond points we hauehave ſpoken; Now in the ſtrength of God we are to procceede to ſpeake of the third point, and that is the ground and foundation of this louelove which God beares to his Children, and that is Ieſus Chriſt, Nothing is able to ſeperate mee from the louelove of God, which is in Chriſt Ieſus.
The Doctrine, for our Inſtruction, is this;Doctrine. The ground or foundation of all Gods louelove which hee beares or ſhewes to true Beleeuers, is Chriſt Ieſus. The Doctrine is contained within the Text fully, and deliuered almoſt in ſo many words, for marke the words, the louelove of God which is in Chriſt Ieſus; As if he ſhould ſay, the louelove that God beares to true Beleeuers in Chriſt Ieſus, is ſetled in him, erected in him, and made good vntounto vsus in him, as hee being the ground and foundation of it. The Doctrine may ſeeme plaine enough at the firſt ſight, and ſo it is; yet that we may rightly and ſoundly comprehend it, or rather be comprehended by it,Explication. it needes ſome Explication: Firſt of the names, Chriſt Ieſus; Chriſt ſignifies the annointed; Ieſus ſignifies a Sauiour, and wheras he is called in Scripture, ſometimes by the name of Chriſt onelyonly, and ſometime by the name of Ieſus onelyonly, the Apoſtle here ioynes them both together, Chriſt Ieſus; thereby to ſet forth the perfection and fulneſſe of Gods louelove to vsus in his Sonne. Ieſus is the name of his Perſon; Chriſt the name of his Office, he is called Chriſt reſpectiuely to God, by whom he is annointed, he is the Lords annointed: and hee is called Ieſus in reſpect of vsus, whom he comes to ſaue, he is our Ieſus, our Sauiour: Behold, how compleat and perfect Gods louelove to vsus in Chriſt is? Hee loues vsus in his perſon, he loues vsus in his office, he loues vsus in his Chriſt, and in our Ieſus, in his annointed, and in our Sauiour, How could he deuiſe to louelove vsus more, then is meant and contained in theſe words, that God loues vsus in Chriſt Ieſus? Secondly, we are to ſpeake ſomewhat of the phraſe in Chriſt Ieſus, which is to be receiued vnderunder a diſtinction, for there is a difference in the actions of Gods louelove to vsus in his Sonne: I ſay a difference in reſpect of our Senſe, and in reſpect of Gods louelove it ſelfe: Some actions of Gods louelove to vsus, are ſo in Chriſt, that they are wholly ſuſpended on Chriſt, and his merits are the onelyonly procuring cauſe of them: As for example, forgiueneſſe of ſinnes, is an action of Gods louelove to vsus, and yet this wholly depends on Chriſt and his merits; that his precious bloud muſt procure this mercy for vsus from God, elſe they will neuer be forgiuen; and this and the like louelove of God, is both in Chriſt and for Chriſt. There are ſome other actions of Gods louelove which ariſe meerely and onelyonly out of the abſolute will of God, without any concurrance of Chriſts merits; As the eternall purpoſe of God, whereby hee hath determined to chuſe ſome men to ſaluation; this is an action of Gods louelove meerely, riſing out of his abſolute will, without Chriſts merits, for Chriſt is a Mediator, and all his merits are the effects of his louelove, not the cauſe of it; and yet this louelove though it be not for Chriſt, yet is it in Chriſt too, Epheſ. 3.11. according to the eternall purpoſe which hee wrought in Chriſt Ieſus, that is, in regard of the execution of it, for euen this eternall purpoſe, and all the actions of Gods louelove which ariſe from his abſolute will, are effected and brought to paſſe, in, and through Chriſt. This diſtinction wee muſt here vndergoe, that ſo God may hauehave his right, and Chriſt may hauehave his right; that we may honor the Father ſo, as that we may alſo honour the Sonne; and the Sonne ſo, as that the Father may not looſe his honour, that ſo the abſoluteneſſe of the louelove of God, and the Mediation of Chriſt, may not impeach one another. Thirdly, we muſt obſerue, that Gods louelove in this verſe, is called the louelove of Chriſt, in the 35. verſe, ſhewing, that God not onelyonly loues vsus in Chriſt, but that Chriſt loues vsus too: We muſt conceiue it thus; God loues his Sonne Chriſt Ieſus, and in him all true beleeuers; Chriſt Ieſus loues God the Father, and in him he loues all true beleeuers; and this is the right ſtraine of Gods louelove to vsus in Chriſt Ieſus. So much for explication.
For proofe of this point,Proofes. looke into theſe places of Scripture, Mat. 3.17. This is my beloued Sonne, &c. Here is a Proclamation from heauen, publiſhed by Gods owne mouth: God the Father ſpeakes it of his own Sonne, This is my beloued Sonne, &c. The words intend two things: Firſt, the louelove of God to Chriſt Ieſus, This is my beloued Sonne, that is, my moſt dearely beloued Sonne, for ſo it is in the originall: Secondly, the louelove of God in his Sonne, to all thoſe that he is well pleaſed withall, in whom I am well pleaſed; He doth not ſay, with whom I am well pleaſed, as my louelove ſtaying vponupon him only; but in whom, as my louelove extending it ſelfe to all that are in him. This louelove that God beares to Chriſt extends it ſelfe to all men and Angels. All the louelove they finde of God, it is in his beloued Sonne, Chriſt Ieſus, Iohn 17.23. and 26. verſes. In the 23. our Sauiour ſaith, Thou haſt loued them, as thou haſt loued me; ſpeaking of the faithfull: Heere wee ſee that the louelove of God to Chriſt, is the ſample or patterne of that louelove which he beares to vsus▪ Now is not the ſampler, or patterne, the ground of that draught which is drawne by it? then the louelove of God to Chriſt, muſt needes be the ground of his louelove to vsus: In the 26. verſe, That the louelove where with thou haſt loued me, may be in them: With the ſame louelove wherewith God hath loued Chriſt, he loues vsus; Here he ſpeakes more directly to the point then before, in the 23. verſe, there was but a likeneſſe, thou loueſt them, as thou loueſt me: Here is a ſameneſſe or oneneſſe of each: The ſame louelove wherewith thou haſt loued me, may be in them. It is not two ſorts of louelove, or two ſeuerall loues that God beares to Chriſt, and to vsus, but as God is moſt ſimple, and but one, ſo is his louelove, the ſame hee beares to Chriſt, the ſame he beares to vsus, rooted and grounded in Chriſt, and in, and through him, extended and communicated to vsus, 2 Cor. 5.19. God was in Chriſt, reconciling the world to himſelfe: Here the Apoſtle ſpeakes of the wonderfull louelove of God to the true beleeuing world in Chriſt; and hee comprehends all this louelove of God in theſe words, God reconciled vsus to himſelfe in Chriſt; and withall ſhewes the manner how he hath reconciled vsus to himſelfe, by not imputing our ſinnes vntounto vsus. Here muſt needes be infinite louelove and mercy in God, to forgiue ſo many thouſand ſinners, as there are beleeuers, and ſo many thouſand ſinnes as eueryevery beleeuer is guilty of, from the beginning, to the end of the world: Here is infinite louelove; And what is the ground of all this, that the Lord doth vouchſafe all this louelove and mercy to beleeuers? why, it is altogether in Chriſt; and this the Apoſtle ſets out moſt ſignificantly in the firſt words, God was in Chriſt perſonally, there was the ſeat of his louelove; and in Chriſt he loued vsus, and in him he reconciled vsus to himſelfe, not imputing our ſinnes vntounto vsus; ſo that all Gods louelove which he beares to vsus, is in Chriſt Ieſus, Epheſians 1. verſe 6. To the praiſe of the glory of his grace, wherewith hee hath made vsus freely accepted in his beloued; The Lord is very gracious vntounto his children, he takes vsus into his fauour, and ſets his louelove vponupon vsus, vouchſafeth many kindneſſes vntounto vsus, and this is a glorious grace, that hee vouchſafeth vsus the glory of his grace: God magnifies and glorifies his grace exceedingly on vsus: In what? In that he doth accept vsus, ſaith the Apoſtle; It is a glorious and an admirable grace, that the Lord God being ſo great, ſo holy, and ſo glorious as he is, ſhould yet freely accept vsus, ſuch poore, ſinfull, and baſe creatures as wee are; But what is the rule or ground of this, of all this glorious grace? It is Chriſt Ieſus, it is in his beloued, ſaith the Apoſtle, for ſo it followes in his Beloued, that is in Chriſt Ieſus: Hee is the beloued Sonne of God; So that wee ſee from proofes out of the Scripture, that the point is cleere, that all the louelove, grace and acceptance, that euer God ſhewes to true Bele…uers, it is in Chriſt Ieſus, it is rooted and grounded, and founded in the beloued Sonne of God, Chriſt Ieſus.
The Reaſons are drawne from the Scripture too,Reaſons. and they are of two ſorts; ſome from our ſelues, and our owne eſtate; others from Chriſt: Firſt, from our ſelues, our Nature being corrupted, God cannot louelove this Nature of ours, except he finde it in ſuch a perſon that is free and pure from this corruption; and that is Chriſt Ieſus alone; and therefore in him alone God loues vsus: Our Nature is corrupted with ſinne, Rom. 3.23. All hauehave ſinned, and are depriued of the glory of God: And God cannot louelove, but hate ſinne and corruption, Pſal. 5.4.5. Thou hateſt all them that worke iniquitie, thou ſhalt deſtroy them that ſpeake lies: God hates not onelyonly the worke, but the workers of iniquity: Wee are ſo farre from being beloued of God, that wee are hatefull to him of our ſelues; and therefore God cannot louelove our Nature, except he finde it in ſuch a perſon as is free from ſinne, and that is Chriſt alone: He tooke our nature vponupon him, Iohn 1.14. The word was made fleſh: and he alone was free and pure from ſin, Iſa. 53.9. He had done no wickedneſſe, neither was there any deceit in his mouth: And therefore in him alone GOD loues vsus.
Reaſon 2 The ſecond Reaſon is from Chriſt himſelfe, and that in many reſpects: Take him any way in his Nature, perſon, office, workes, doings, ſufferings, Chriſt Ieſus yeelds vsus, not onelyonly a cauſe, but an euident demonſtration thereof. I will giuegive you ſome taſte hereof: For to ſpeake of all is infinite and impoſſible. Firſt, conſider Chriſt in his relation to God, and ſo he his the Sonne of God, the onelyonly begotten Sonne of God, Iohn 1.14. Therefore he is the ſeate of Gods louelove: It is ſo betwixt the Earthly Father and his onelyonly Sonne; but if it ſhould faile in man, yet it cannot faile in God; for Chriſt is called the Sonne of Gods louelove, Col. 1.13. Therefore hee is the very louelove of his Father: Therefore all they that are beloued of God, are beloued in him, or elſe they are not beloued. Secondly, conſider him in relation to vsus; He is our head, we his body, Col. 1.18, and is not the ſenſe and motion of naturall life originally ſeated in the head, and deriued from the head to all the parts of the Body? and ſo it is betwixt Chriſt and vsus in the ſenſe and motion of Gods louelove, in our ſpirituall life; He is our head, and all our ſpirituall life is in him, and comes from him. He is the Vine, and we are the branches, Iohn 15.5. and what iuyce or nouriſhment ſoeuer is in the branches for naturall growth, it is firſt in the ſtocke or roote; ſo it is betwixt Chriſt and vsus, what iuyce ſoeuer we hauehave to grow in Grace, it is from this ſtocke, euen from Chriſt himſelfe. Hee is the foundation, we the building, 1 Cor. 3.9.11. And doth not the whole frame, waight, and coſt of the building reſt on the foundation? ſo the whole frame of Gods Church, and that grace and worth of eueryevery beleeuing member, it reſts wholly on Chriſt the foundation. Thirdly, conſider Chriſt in the Common relation he beares to God and vsus, and ſo he is our mediator, and that not onelyonly to God for vsus, but from God to vsus, 1 Tim. 2.4. A mediator generally receiues of the one party, and conueyes it to the other; and ſo Chriſt receiues the louelove of God, and conueyes it to vsus: But this may be where the parties are equall; but here God and man muſt be mediated betweene: the parties are very vnequall; and therefore here is a further matter to be preſſed: If the King be diſpleaſed with the ſubiect, he that muſt mediate betwixt them and makes the peace, muſt be ſuch an one as the King loues, & that ſo dearely, as that for his ſake he can be content to forgiue & louelove the party that hath offended him; & in this caſe, the louelove ſhewed to the offender, is granted in his louelove to the Mediator: So it is betwixt God & vsus; we hauehave diſpleaſed him, & therefore Chriſt our Mediator, he muſt be ſo dearely beloued of God, that for his ſake God wil be reconciled to vsus; ſo that the ground of all Gods louelove to vsus is in Chriſt Ieſus. Yea; here is yet a further matter, much more enforcing this Reaſon; Here is ſuch a mediation, as the like is not found in the world againe; The Mediator is in both the parties betwixt whom he mediates, and both they are in him, that is, God in Chriſt, and Chriſt in God, Chriſt in the faithfull, and the faithfull in him; and therefore there can be no louelove of God to vsus but it muſt be grounded on Chriſt.
Laſtly, in reſpect of his abſolute State in himſelfe; for what ſaith the Apoſtle, All the treaſures of the wiſdome and knowledge of God are hid in Chriſt, Col. 2.2.3. If all Gods Treaſure be in him, then the riches and treaſure of Gods louelove is in him too: In him dwels the fulneſſe of the Godhead bodily, verſe 9. If the fulneſſe of the Godhead, then the fulneſſe of Gods louelove dwels in him, there is the ground, ſeate, and Reſidence of it; And therefore the ground of all the louelove that God beares to vsus, is in Chriſt Ieſus.
Vſe. 1 The firſt Vſe of this point, for matter of Confutation of two popiſh Errours at once: namely, concerning the mediation of Saints, and the merits of man. Vnderſtand this one point well, that Chriſt Ieſus is the ground of all Gods louelove to vsus, and the multitude of mediators, and mans merits, will fall to the ground, euen as Dagon did before the Arke. Chriſt is the ground of Gods louelove to vsus; What neede we any other mediators? he onelyonly brings vsus into Gods louelove and fauour, and none elſe can doe it: ſo for mans merits, they cannot procure Gods louelove; Chriſt merits all at Gods hand: If we can merit any thing, it is either grace or glory, and this wee cannot merit vnleſſe wee can merit Gods louelove, and that wee cannot doe, vnleſſe we can merit Chriſt Ieſus, who is the infinite treaſure of God, for he is the ſeate of it; and if we will ſay that we can merit Chriſt, then wee may ſay that we can merit Gods louelove, elſe we can neuer do it; and if we cannot merit Gods louelove, then we can neither merit grace nor glory. I do not hereby diſ-hearten men from good workes, but from the pride of them: Doe not thinke to merit any thing at the hands of God by them; all our merit is in Chriſt, for God loues vsus onelyonly in him.
The ſecond vſe ſerues to ſhew vsus the wofull and Vſe. 2 miſerable eſtate of thoſe that are out of Chriſt:Firſt, ſhewing the wofull eſtate of thoſe that are out of Chriſt. and the bleſſed and happy eſtate of thoſe that are in Chriſt. Firſt, the wofull and miſerable eſtate of thoſe that are out of Chriſt; all that are without Chriſt, that is, that are not regarded of God in Chriſt, they are in a fearefull taking: God loues them not; they may louelove themſelues, and the world may louelove and applaud them, but God doth not louelove them: When theſe prophane wretches ſhall come to fawne on God in their priuate houſes, by reading, praying, ſinging of Pſalmes, &c. What wil God ſay vntounto them? Away, get you from me, you are not in Chriſt, I louelove you not: If they come to Gods Houſe to heare the word, to receiue the Sacraments, to call vponupon God with the Aſſembly, or the like, what will God ſay to them? Get you hence, you are not in Chriſt, I louelove you not: But when they ſhall come before Gods iudgement ſeate, and there make profeſſion of their almes, deuotion, profeſſion, formality in Religion, and the like; what will God ſay to them? Depart from mee yee accurſed, yee are not in Chriſt, I louelove you not. In that day they ſhall feele and finde what it is to be deſtitute of Gods louelove, and to be out of Ch…iſt, for the euerlaſting wrath, and hatred, and curſe of God ſhall be ſhewed vponupon them to the vttermoſt, Ioh. 3.36. Hee that beleeues in the Sonne hath euerlaſting life; and on the contrary, hee that obeyeth not the Sonne, ſhall not ſee life, but the wrath of God abideth on him: They that doe not beleeue and obey Chriſt, they are expoſed to the wrath and hatred of God; it ſhall be their portion for euer: The Apoſtle, Eph. 2.12. ſpeakes of the Epheſians before their calling, and ſaith, that they were without hope, and without God in the world. Hee that hath not his part in Chriſt, hath no part nor portion in God, but onelyonly as the Beaſts or the Diuels hauehave, the maintaining hand of God, for life and maintenance: yea, but there is no ſauing louelove of God to them that are without Chriſt, but they are expoſed to the curſe and wrath of God: And let vsus take hold vponupon one particular, in that place for the preſent occaſion; It is ſaid there, That they were ſtrangers from the Couenant, &c. You come heereto receiue the Sacrament, the Seale of Gods Couenant, ſee therefore that ye hauehave faith in Chriſt, and be in Chriſt, and that you be reconciled to God in him, elſe you are ſtrangers from this Couenant, you hauehave nothing to doe with this Seale, it concernes you not; therefore if you be without Chriſt, get you hence, you are but Dogges and Swine in Gods eſtimation, theſe precious p…arl…s, theſe holy things of God, are not to be communicated vntounto you, ye hauehave no part in theſe things.
Secondly,Secondly, ſhewing the bleſſed eſtate of thoſe that be in Chriſt truely. this ſhewes the happy & bleſſed eſtate of all true Beleeuers, that are truely in Chr…ſt, and that deſire to be …ke vntounto him: They hauehave a happy ſtate, they hauehave true right and title to that louelove which God beares to his dearely beloued Sonne, and to all the pledges and fruits of it: If we be in Chriſt, wee are intitled to the beginning of Gods louelove, his Election, for in Chriſt we hauehave our Election, Epheſ. 1.4. He hath choſen vsus in him before the foundation of the world, that we ſhould be holy and without blame before him in louelove: Secondly, in Chriſt we are intitled to the renewing of Gods louelove to vsus in our Redemption, for in him we hauehave our Redemption, Col. 1.14. In whom you hauehave redemption, by his bloud, &c. Thirdly, in Chriſt we are intitled to the application of his louelove in our Adoption Epheſ. 1.5. Who hath predeſtinated vsus to be adopted through Ieſus Chriſt, in himſelfe, according to the good pleaſure of his will: Fourthly, if we be in Chriſt, wee are intitled vntounto the continuance of his louelove to vsus for euer, in our Sanctification, 1 Cor. 1.2. Sanctified in Chriſt Ieſus, and Epheſ. 5 14. Chriſt is our ſanctification; hee is full of grace and truth, Ioh. 1.14. Be thou in him, and thou ſhalt receiue fulneſſe of grace: Eternall life is in him, 1 Iohn 5.11. Be thou in him, and thou ſhalt hauehave this life, All the promiſes of God are yea, and Amen in him, 2 Cor. 1.20. they are his, and in him they are ours; they are made vntounto vsus in him, and they are performed and made good vntounto vsus in him: Againe, if wee be in Chriſt, all Gods bleſſings are ours, Epheſ. 1.3. Bleſſed be God, who hath bleſſed vsus with all ſpirituall bleſsings in Chriſt: Therefore if we be in Chriſt, wee are happy; whatſoeuer our ſtate be in the world; if we be in afflictions, being in Chriſt, he will helpe vsus to beare them; if in temptations, hee will ſtrengthen vsus againſt them; if wee be fallen from God by our ſinnes, if wee be in Chriſt, he will raiſe vsus vp againe, and renew our peace with God; If wee be in Chriſt, hee will be all in all vntounto vsus; hee will pacifie Gods wrath for vsus, he will procure his fauour, aboliſh ſinne, bring righteouſneſſe, deliuer vsus from hell, and bring vsus to heauen: Bleſſed men are we if wee can reſt on Chriſt Ieſus, as our al-ſufficient Redeemer and Sauiour.
Vſe. 3 The third Vſe teacheth vsus therefore to labour to be in Chriſt: But how ſhall I get to be in him? why by faith, beleeue in him as thy Sauiour and Redeemer, and then thou haſt gotten to be in him; as euer thou lookeſt to hauehave any fauour, or any louelove at the hands of God, get to be in Chriſt by faith: Yea, but is it in my power to get faith? I doe not ſay, it is in thy power, but yet thou muſt get it, it is thy duty to labour for it, and certainely if the Lord would not aſſiſt thee with his power, and inable thee to beleeue, he would neuer command thee ſo often to beleeue in Chriſt: Not that all men, generally, ſhall or can beleeue, for this is againſt the reuealed will of God, for all men hauehave not faith; but that eueryevery particular man and woman may comfortably and particularly conclude for him and her ſelfe, that certainly God will giuegive grace and power to beleeue, vponupon the vſe of the meanes, for this agrees with Gods reuealed will, the Commandements and promiſes of God being tendred generally to all, and no exception can be found in the word againſt any one in particular. This the Diuell puts into the hearts of men, that when the Miniſter exhorts them to beleeue, and to get Chriſt; they reply, They know not whether they can beleeue or no; or whether they were euer ordained to beleeue or no: and thus the Diuell keepes them at a bay all their life, that they neuer beleeue, nor indeauour to beleeue: But make thou no queſtion whether thou canſt beleeue or no, but vſe the meanes and indeauour to beleeue; for if thou doſt not beleeue, thou ſhalt ſurely be damned, put it to the tryall, it may be thine endeauours may take effect, and then thou ſhalt ſurely be ſaued. What madneſſe were it in thee, not to put thy ſelfe to the tryall, by vſing the meanes? Many men hauehave beleeued vponupon the vſe of them, and why not thou? But thou wilt ſay, I cannot vſe the meanes at all: thou maiſt at leaſt in outward conformity: But I cannot vſe them as I ſhould: I anſwere, doe it as thou canſt, doe thy beſt; and ſo put thy ſelfe and thine indeauours vponupon Gods mercy, and humble thy ſelfe before the Lord for thy weakeneſſe, vntowardneſſe, and hardneſſe to beleeue.
Vſe. 4 The fourth Vſe teacheth vsus the plentifulneſſe, infiniteneſſe, and abundance of Gods louelove to Chriſt, that had louelove enough in him for all the beleeuing world beſide: In him all the nations of the earth, the choſen and beleeuers are bleſſed; in his louelove they are loued; in his righteouſneſſe, all the beleeuers in the world are accounted righteous; in his worthineſſe, they are accounted and made worthy of life and ſaluation. This was infinite louelove, that God poured on his head, as the Oyle on the head of Aron, that runs downe to the skirts of his cloathing: ſo Gods louelove in Chriſt deſcends and runs downe on all the faithfull that now are, or euer ſhall be, to the worlds end. And therefore, firſt let vsus conſider of it, and bleſſe God for it, that hath poured out ſuch infinite louelove for the vſe and benefit of the Church: Thus the Apoſtle doth, Epheſ. 1.3. Bleſſed be God, who hath bleſſed vsus with all ſpirituall bleſsings in Chriſt: ſecondly, let vsus conſider it, and magnifie, and honour the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that is capable, worthy, and that is the ſtorehouſe of ſuch an infinite treaſure; ſo doth the Church in the Can. 1.2. Thy name is as an oyntment poured out &c.
Thirdly, conſider it and reioyce in it for thy ſelfe, that thou art a true Beleeuer, and that thou haſt thy part and portion in this ouer-flowing louelove of God, for thy acceptance and ſaluation, Epheſ. 2.3.4.5. God that is rich in mercy, through his great louelove wherewith hee loued vsus, euen when wee were dead by ſinnes, hath quickned vsus together in Chriſt, by whoſe grace yee are ſaued: The Apoſtle would hauehave vsus to reioyce in this, that God ſo loued Chriſt, that in him hee hath raiſed vsus vp from the ſtate of ſinne, to the ſtate of grace and ſaluation.
Fiftly, is Chriſt the ground of Gods louelove to vsus? Vſe. 5 then this commends vntounto vsus the wonderfull louelove that God beares to his Church in Chriſt Ieſus: Firſt, it is a moſt tender and affectionate louelove; Secondly, it is moſt holy; Thirdly, it is moſt perfect; Fourthly, it is vnchangeable; Laſtly, it is moſt comfortable. Firſt, it is a moſt tender louelove and affection that God beares to vsus in Chriſt; the bowels of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt are marueilous deare, tender, and pretious to God: and therefore the louelove that God beares to vsus in the tender bowels of his owne bleſſed Sonne muſt needes be marueilous deare, tender, and affectionate, Zach. 2.8. Hee that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye: Why are wee ſo tender to God? Why? becauſe hee tenders vsus in the tender bowels of Ieſus Chriſt. Secondly, it is a moſt holy louelove, our moſt holy God loues vsus in his moſt holy Sonne Ieſus Chriſt, that holy one of God. God doth not louelove vsus as many a wicked Father loues his Childe, in his euill and wanton courſes; no, that is prophane and carnall louelove; but hee loues vsus with a holy louelove in Chriſt, ſo farre as we are waſhed from our ſinnes in the bloud of Chriſt, and as we be made conformable vntounto Chriſt, ſo farre as we denie our ſelues, and dye to ſinne, and riſe againe to newneſſe of life. Thou that goeſt on in thy ſinne, neuer dreame that God loues thee in Chriſt, except thou haſt crucified the fleſh with the luſts, they that hauehave their part of Gods louelove in Chriſt, they crucifie the fleſh.
Thirdly, then this louelove of God to vsus in Chriſt, is a moſt perfect louelove, Ioh. 17.23. God loues vsus with the ſame louelove wherewith he loues Chriſt, and therefore it cannot but be a moſt perfect louelove; If God ſhould louelove vsus in our ſelues, it would be a very imperfect louelove, not worthy God; becauſe all the louely graces in the beſt of vsus are ſtained with many imperfections; and therefore God takes vsus, and ſets vsus into Chriſt, forgiues all our ſinnes in his death, and couers all our vnrighteouſneſſe with his righteouſneſſe, and ſo beholds vsus, and loues vsus in him with a perfect louelove; and if we hauehave not this perſwaſion, we ſhall neuer come to hauehave any true peace in our conſciences. Fourthly, if God louelove vsus in Chriſt, then his louelove to vsus is moſt vnchangeable and vnmoueable; it is grounded and built on a Rocke, and the Rocke is Chriſt Ieſus, and therefore can neuer be moued, but ſtands faſt for euer: If any thing can alienate Gods louelove from Chriſt Ieſus, then it may alienate his louelove from vsus; If nothing can remoue his louelove from Chriſt, then nothing can remoue it from vsus; and let ſinne and Sathan, and all our enemies, bodily and ſpirituall, ſtand vp and ſay what they can doe againſt vsus: Can you draw vsus from the louelove of God? wee will put you hard to it: well, doe your worſt: Can you draw the louelove of God from Chriſt? if you cannot, (as wee are ſure you cannot) then you cannot draw it from vsus, for it is grounded in Chriſt Ieſus. Laſtly, if God louelove vsus in Chriſt, then this louelove of God to vsus is a moſt ſweet and comfortable louelove, and that in all the former reſpects, becauſe it is a tender louelove, a holy louelove, a perfect louelove, and an vnchangeable louelove; yea, but eſpecially in this reſpect, becauſe it is in Chriſt Ieſus: the very name of Gods louelove is very ſweet and comfortable vntounto vsus, but when the nature of it is tendred vntounto vsus in the name and perſon of Ieſus Chriſt, it is much more ſweet and comfortable vntounto vsus: To be ſorted with Chriſt in any ſtate whatſoeuer, is very comfortable to the beleeuing ſoule, to be in afflictions and reproaches with him, yea, to dye with him, this is a comfortable thing to Gods Children; Who would not thinke themſelues happy to be ioyned with Chriſt in any of theſe? Yea, but to be ſorted with Chriſt in the boſome of God, in the louelove of God; that God ſhould louelove vsus in Chriſt Ieſus, yea, and with the ſame louelove wherewith hee loued Chriſt Ieſus: Here is the comfort of all comforts, and the fulneſſe of our Conſolation.
The laſt Vſe teacheth vsus, that as God loues in Vſe. 6 Chriſt Ieſus, and meaſures forth all his proceedings to vsus in him; ſo muſt wee doe to God againe; If wee doe any thing to God, doe it in Chriſt; If we beleeue in God, let vsus beleeue in him through Chriſt; If wee pray to God, let vsus pray to him in Chriſt; If we louelove God, let vsus louelove him in Chriſt; If we obey God, let vsus obey him in Chriſt; If wee worſhip God, let vsus worſhip him in Chriſt; Whatſoeuer we doe in word or deed, let all be done in the name of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt, Coloſ. 3.17. elſe it is abhominable to God, our ſpirituall ſacrifices are acceptable to God onelyonly in Ieſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2.5. Againe, is Ieſus Chriſt the ground of all Gods louelove to vsus, then let the ground of all our louelove to God, to the faithfull, and to the Creatures, be ſetled in Chriſt; Doth God louelove thee onelyonly in Chriſt, and canſt thou not louelove where thou ſeeſt Chriſt? Or dareſt thou louelove where thou doſt not ſee him? Seeing God loues where he ſees Chriſt, and loues not where he ſees not Chriſt, learne his example, and frame louelove to his louelove; Let vsus louelove the Creatures of God in Chriſt, the Children of God in Chriſt; let vsus louelove the ordinances of God in Chriſt; let vsus louelove God himſelfe in Chriſt, and whatſoeuer we doe in the ſeruice of God, let it be done in Chriſt; whatſouer we doe in word or deed, let all be done in the name of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. Yee come now to receiue the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, then walke by this Rule in receiuing; Let vsus doe all that we doe herein, in the name, faith, louelove, power, and mediation of Chriſt; Let vsus receiue it in Chriſt, as God giues it to vsus for the louelove hee beares to vsus in Chriſt, ſo let vsus receiue it for the louelove of Chriſt, with a true purpoſe to ſerue God all our life; and let vsus bewaile our ſinnes, and know that all our worthineſſe is in Chriſt; and therefore let vsus receiue it in the worthineſſe of Chriſt, beleeuing that God will make it effectuall to our ſoules in him: And ſo receiuing it, and doing all we doe in it, in the name of Chriſt, we ſhall receiue it with glory to God, and comfort to our owne Soules.
FINIS.