A Discovery of Glorious Love, Sermon 5
SERMON V.
EPHES. 3. ver. 19.
And to know the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge.
THere is nothing of greater force to allure men, than the deſire of knowledge; Iob tells us,Job. ….12. Vain man deſireth to bee wiſe, though man be born like a wilde Aſſes colt. Albeit it is our fate, that ſince the fall we are ſubject to folly, (and in that ſenſe we are vain) yet there remaines (at leaſt) ſo much wit in us, as to approve of knowledge, and to deſire to be wiſe: onelyonly here is our miſery, that there is a great deal of vanity in our deſiring knowledge; Wee are all of us apt, either to deſire the knowledge of that that is above us (and ſo unattainable) or elſe beneath us (and in that reſpect not ſo much deſirable.) It was this golden apple of knowledge, which was ſo taking, and tempting with our Grandmother Eve, that albeit the beſt that ſhee got by eating that apple, was but the knowledge of evill, (which wee had all been better without) yet ſhee was drawn to eat of the Apple: Not onelyonly as perſwaded of its being pleaſant to the taſte, but becauſe it was deſirable to make one wiſe: And ſurely; as our Grandmother did eat thoſe ſowre grapes, ſo we all her children have ever ſince had our teeth ſet on edge with the ſame deſire.
Hence it is, that too too often, out of an eager deſire, and affectation of knowledge, we are apt upon the one hand for to five too high, and to pry into thoſe hidden ſecrets which God hath not revealed) or elſe on the other hand, wee are apt to ſtoop too low (and to dive into niceties and vanities, at leaſt into the knowledge of ſuch things in which we are not concerned) but as the Apoſtle doth ſay) I ſhall ſhew you a more excellent way; by declaring how you may poiſe your deſire of knowledge, ſo as that you ſhould be neither too high, nor too low in the purſuit thereof: Doe not ſay therefore, who ſhall aſcend, to bring down Jeſus Chriſt from above, and to reveale the knowledge of hidden glories, and unconceiveable myſteries? Neither ſay, who ſhall deſcend? to raiſe him up from beneath, but remember the word (the Scripture) is nigh, even the Goſpel which we preach: Labour to know it, and you ſhal know enough, not only as to ſalvation, but even as to the perfection of your knowledge. Chriſt who is the Wiſdome of God, and in whom are hid all the treaſures of wiſdome, and knowledge, is fully and clearly revealed in the Goſpel, and by the ſtudy and the knowledge of it, wee ſhall come to the knowledge of him. Now of all knowledge, the knowledge of Chriſt, as it is moſt ſacred, ſo it is moſt ſatisfactory: And of all things in Chriſt, the knowledge of his love: And as that is moſt ſatisfactory, ſo it is moſt ſweet. It is this knowledge, which the Apoſtle here prayeth that the Epheſians might obtain, (and by conſequence that knowledge which all Chriſtians ought to deſire, and labour for.) It concerneth you not ſo much to know Arts and Sciences (though in themſelves, and their way, they are neceſſary, and of worth) neither doth it concein you (at leaſt) ſo much, to be acquainted with other truths of the Scriptures (which in their place are very precious) But this is that which doth ſo mainly concern you, viz. That you know the love of Chriſt paſſing knowledge.
Our third Point in order taken up, and to bee ſpoken to from theſe words, is this, That it is a thing of neceſſary concernment, for every Chriſtian to know the tranſcendent love of Ieſus Chriſt.
We have already endeavoured to hold out, at leaſt, a beame of light towards the diſcovery of that boſome-love, that is in Chriſt towards his: And at this time my deſire is, to hint ſomething, which may at leaſt put you on to endeavour to make a further diſcovery of the riches, and the glory, and the tranſcendency of that love: For my deſigne is to make it appear, That the ſtudy for the knowledge thereof, is of very choice, ſpeciall, and neceſſary concernment for you all.
Explication what knowledg we ſhould labour forThe ſubject of the point, you ſee, Is the knowledge of the love of Chriſt. Now when I ſay, That the knowledge of the love of Chriſt is of neceſſary concernment
1 A clear and full.1 I do mean, not ſimply the bare beleeving of this truth, but a clear and full underſtanding of it, the ſubſtance, and circumſtances thereof. There are divine, and infinite dimenſions in the love of Chriſt, and it is our duty to labour for the knowledge of all theſe: We ſhould ſtrive to be able to meaſure both the length and the breadth, yea and alſo to take the height, and to ſound the depth of the love of Chriſt: Chriſts boſome is a very glorious Mine of love, and it concerneth us to dig very deep into it, and not content our ſelves with a bare diſcovery of that Golden Oare, or vein of love, which is upon the ſuperficies or top of the ſame Mine; and in which we may eaſily diſcover, as it were in the very letter of the Goſpel; but it doth concern us to endeavour to attain unto the deep and myſteriall diſcoveries thereof, which Saints by the light of the Spirit come to attain.
2 A ſpirituall and experimentall.2 Yea, and not only ſo, but alſo to endeavour to get an experimentall knowledge of this love; That as the Painter curiouſly painted love, by drawing the type of it out of his own boſome; So we in like manner may be able by our Chriſtian diſcourſes to paint forth, and to declare what the love of Chriſt is, taking eſpecially the grounds thereof, out of our own boſomes, our own experiences. Divines obſerve that the Scriptures own not any thing for knowledge (at leaſt ſaving) which is not experimentall. And certainly that knowledge of the love of Chriſt (whereof we ſhall now ſpeak) ought to be, not only a bare head knowledge, but eſpecially a heart knowledge, an experimentall knowledge; This I thought good to adde for the explication of the ſubject of the Propoſition.
Now for the predicate (or the thing that we do affirm of this knowledge of the love of Chriſt) you may do well, for the clearer apprehending thereof, to take it in theſe particulars.
Firſt, This knowledge is of concernment. There are many things, the knowledge whereof may be expedient, but not of ſuch concernment. But this knowledge whereof we ſpeak, is ſuch a knowledge, as not onelyonly may be expedient for us to know, but alſo of concernment for us that wee ſhould know.
Secondly, I ſay it is of neceſſary concernment; ſome knowledge may bee of accidentall concernment to be known, which is not of neceſſary concernment: ſome things indeed as being accidentall to ſome greater truth, and the diſcovery thereof, are in that reſpect of concernment, to be known; (and ſo may concern a man to endeavour for the knowledge thereof) But now this knowledge hath a neceſſity laid upon it; and woe be to every ſoule that knoweth not the love of Chriſt.
Thirdly, I adde, it is of neceſſary concernment for every Chriſtian; ſome truths there are, which albeit they may be of neceſſary concernment for ſome perſons, who are as it were anointed with an higher anointing, and imployed in a more ſpeciall way (as officers in the Church, &c.) may yet not bee of ſuch neceſſary concernment to all: But now this knowledge, (whereof we are ſpeaking) is of neceſſary concernment; for every ſoule that is named by the name of Chriſt, (and ſo pretends to be a Chriſtian) but eſpecially every ſoul that is united to Jeſus Chriſt (and ſo is indeed a Chriſtian) ought to labour for a ſolid knowledge of the love of Chriſt. As the Fathers in Chriſts School, are not above this knowledge; ſo neither the babes and children in Chriſts School are beneath it, but all, even the one and the other, are bound, and it lyeth upon them, as that which doth concern them very near, and very neceſſary, to know this love of Chriſt, which paſſeth knowledge.
One word I ſhal only adde by way of Caution; I do not ſpeak, neither would I have you underſtand mee, as if this were the only knowledge to bee laboured for. Indeed it is the ſovereign, but not the ſole knowledge, which Chriſtians ſhould deſire, and endeavour to obtain.
In all that therefore I ſhall ſpeak, I deſire to be underſtood, not excluſively, ſhutting out other truths, but as incluſively, and eminently driving at this in a peculiar manner. And as Chriſt ſaid with reference to doing, Thoſe things, you ought to have done (that is eſpecially) and not leaving the other undone (i.e. altogether neglect) I ſay in like manner of knowing, the knowledge of the love of Chriſt, you ought eſpecially to labour for (as a thing of more choice, and ſpeciall and neceſſary concernment) but you are not altogether to neglect the knowledge of other Goſpell-truths, as if they were of no neceſſity, or of no neceſſary concernment at all.
For the Proof I ſhall not need to adde many places (it being ſo fully laid down in this;) Certainly this wiſe Apoſtle Paul, would never have ſo earneſtly, and particularly begged of God, that the Epheſians might know the love of Chriſt, which paſſeth knowledge, if it were not of ſpeciall and neceſſary concernment for them. I ſhall only adde to this his deſire for the Epheſians, that determination of his for himſelf (which he expreſſeth to the Corinthians) I am determined (ſaith he) not to know any thing among you, ſave Jeſus Chriſt and him crucified; Now the knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt crucified (as I hinted once before) is the knowledge of Chriſt in his love; Though the whole life of Jeſus Chriſt, was but (as it hath been ſhewed) like one great Sermon of love, yet the death of Chriſt was as it were a longer, and clearer Sermon of love, than all his life was. Never did Chriſt ſpeak love, more fully, and more freely, than when he was as it were in that Pulpit, the Croſſe: Now then, if certainly Paul did determine to know nothing but this; wee may ſafely conclude, both from his determination for himſelf, and his deſire for the Epheſians, that the knowledge of Chriſts tranſcendent love, (eſpecially in a clear experimentall way) is of neceſſary concernment for every Chriſtian.
I ſhall offer ſome reaſons to make this point yet clearer.
Firſt, The knowledge of the love of Chriſt contains in it the ſumme of the Goſpell. (Chriſt being the ſum of the Goſpell, and love the ſum of Chriſt.) God ſo loved the World, that hee gave Chriſt, and Chriſt ſo loved the world, that hee gave himſelf, containes in it the morrow and pith of all the Goſpell: This little word love (written in the golden letters of free-grace upon the boſome of Jeſus Chriſt) is an epitomy of the Goſpell: Look as O love the father, is the fulfilling of the Law; ſo Chriſts love to us, is the fullneſſe of the Goſpell. You have done the Law, if you love God ſincerely, and you underſtand the Goſpel, if you know Chriſts love ſoundly.
Secondly The knowledge of Chriſts love is of neceſſary concernment, becauſe it containeth in i… the chiefeſt motive to duty. You will never doe duty (at leaſt with that ſweetneſſe in your own ſpirits which you ſhould) and with that acceptation of God, which you would) if you do not act from a principle of love. Now the love of Chriſt known to us, is that which chiefly enflameth our love to him; what was the reaſon, that notwithſtanding that love that God ſhewed to Iſrael, when he was a child, & taught him to goe, taking him by the armes, had not that impreſſion upon Iſrael which it ſhould have? the Prophet hinteth the reaſon, becauſe, Iſrael knew it not, Hoſ. 11.3. God ſhewed, but Iſrael did not underſtand his love; and therefore it was that Iſrael would not walk anſwerable thereunto. In like manner, wee ſhall never walk anſwerable by doing our duty, (for I take duty, to be at leaſt an anſwer of love) in caſe wee doe not know what the love is, wherewithall Chriſt hath loved us. Paul was more abundant than all …he reſt of the Apoſtles were, in his …abours. And ſurely this might be …he reaſon, that happily hee underſtood more of the love of Chriſt, than the reſt did: Hence it may be that it is, that you have that expreſſion in the 2 Cor. 4.14. The love of Chriſt conſtraineth us. The conſideration of Chriſts love (which Paul came to have, by the knowledge thereof) it was as it were a whole croud or throng of Arguments, or like to a whole ſiedge of motives (for the word will bear both metaphors) unto Paul, foreign ſee Luk. 8.45. and Luke 19.43.both to dye and to ſuffer for Jeſus Chriſt. There is no ſoul but needeth a ſpurre to duty, being dull in himſelf. Now the knowledge of the love of Chriſt, being of ſuch ſpeciall efficacy this way, muſt needs alſo be of neceſſary concernment for every Chriſtian.
Thirdly, Chriſts love is a fountain of a beleevers life, and therefore it muſt needs bee of neceſſary concernment for a beleever to know it, in as much as he cannot live without it; verily this is life eternall to know the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge, If it bee of neceſſary concernment for the ſoul to live, it muſt be alſo of neceſſary concernment to know Chriſts love, in as much as without the one, hee cannot enjoy the other. I live (ſaith Paul) but how? by the faith (now faith is but a higher degree of knowledge of the love of Chriſt) of the Son of God, who loveth me. As Moſes preſſed the Iſraelites to the ſincere keeping of the Law, for it is (ſaith he) your life; In like manner may we preſſe Chriſtians to the ſerious knowledge of Chriſts love, becauſe it is our ſoules life.
Fourthly, The knowledge of Chriſts love, is the foundation of a ſoules joy, and Chriſtians comfort, and therefore of ſuch neceſſary concernment. The reaſon why the Saints are ſometimes ſo ſad, is becauſe they doe not know the love of Chriſt, (at. leaſt in all the dimenſions thereof,) Hence it is that Peace is joyned with love, ſomtimes in the Goſpell: Peace (ſaith Paul) bee to the brethren, but from whence? from this (as it is added) and love from God the Father, and our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, Epheſ. 6.23. the hearts of beleevers would be at Peace, if ſo be they did but fully underſtand the love of Chriſt. O (ſaith the ſoul) of that beleever, and of this beleever, indeed they live ſweetly upon Chriſts love, becauſe they have it, but I go ſadly in the want of Chriſts love, becauſe I think there is none for me: The ſoul is ſad, becauſe it ſeeth not the fulneſſe of the love of Chriſt: I (ſaith another ſoul) ſuch an one who hath more grace than I, and ſuch an one who hath leſſe ſinne than I have, he may live joyfully becauſe of Chriſts love, but I muſt goe ſadly becauſe I fear hee will not love me. The reaſon of this ſoules ſadneſſe, is becauſe it knoweth not the fullneſſe of love, that is in Chriſt, and the freeneſſe thereof; without doubt, did we but know the love of Chriſt better than we do, wee ſhould not be ſo ſad, ſo often as we are. That boſome Diſciple John (who knew much of the love of Jeſus, and had declared the knowledge of it unto others) he ſaith it was for this end: theſe things write I unto you (ſaith hee) that your joy might bee full; Sith therefore the joy and the comfort of our ſoules is built upon the love of Chriſt, as its foundation, it doth neceſſarily concern us, to get the knowledge thereof.
Fifthly, the knowledge of Chriſts love, is of neceſſaay concernment, becauſe it is the riſe of Chriſtian thankfullneſſe. Hence it is that thankfullneſſe ſprings, it is from this fountain whence it floweth. Thoſe ſoules will bee moſt thankfull for the love of Chriſt, that underſtand is moſt; Ignorance begets ingratitude, but knowledge maketh thankfull: Bleſſe the Lord O my ſoule, and forget not all his benefits; Men will not be thankfull for that which they do forger; neither can men remember that which they do not know: All that Chriſt looks for from the Saints, is this, that they ſhould acknowledge the tranſcendent love he beareth unto them. Wee will never be able to ſing glory and dominion be to him, who hath loved us, except wee know how hee loved us. Look as a Lark, at the diſcovery of the light of the day, aſcends chirping, and chirping; and the lighter the Heavens appear, the higher ſhe aſcends, and the ſweeter ſhee ſings; In like manner the ſoul, who knoweth the love of Chriſt, and ſeeth the light thereof, mounteth and ſingeth, and the more bright the beames of Chriſts-boſome love ſhines in upon them, the higher is the ſoul elevated, and the ſweeter it doth chirp, and chant that ſpirituall ſong of thankfulneſſe unto Chriſt. You are bound beleevers, to thank Chriſt for his love, but you will never to purpoſe go about to cancell that bond, if ſo be you doe not know the tranſcendency of that love with which hee hath bound you.
Sixtly, Chriſts love is all the legacy he hath left Chriſtians. Surely it is of neceſſary concernment, for Chriſtians to know that which Chriſt left them in his will. He hath not left them ample poſſeſſions, nor brave buildings in this world: (his father (though he loved him) left him not a houſe to put his own head in here) but dear love, rich love, tranſcendent love, love paſſing knowledge, this Chriſt hath left to beleevers (as his father left him) as the father hath loved me, ſo have I loved you, Joh. 1.5. ver. 9. Aske the widdow, whether it doth not neceſſarily concern her, to know that which her husband left her; Aske the child whether there lie a neceſſity upon him to know that which his father left him, both the one and the other will ſay, yes. Why beleevers, your everlaſting father, and your ſoules husband, Jeſus Chriſt, hath left you nothing but his love, ſurely it is neceſſary that you ſhould know it.
Seventhly, As the ſoul is filled with the knowledge of the love of Chriſt; ſo it is filled with the fulneſſe of God. You empty creatures, doth it not concern you, (and that neceſſarily) to be filled with the divine fulneſſe, the fulneſſe of God? ſurely you will ſay, yes; then know, it doth as neceſſarily concern you to bee acqainted with the love of Chriſt; without that you cannot be ſo filled. Some have thought, that knowledge is nothing but an union between the thing known, and the underſtanding; Hence it is, that they ſay and conclude, that by how much any partake of knowledge, by ſo much they partake of fulneſſe: God is love, and if the knowledge of Gods love be the union thereof with the ſoul, then certainly, by how much we know the one, by ſo much wee partake, and are filled with the other. Obſerve how the Apoſtle therefore joyneth this in the Text, To know the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge (ſaith he) that you may bee filled with all the fullneſſe of God. Every drop of this knowledge of the love of Chriſt, tendeth towards the filling of the ſoul with the fulneſſe of God: ſurely therefore to be filled, and to be filled with God, and to bee filled with the fulneſſe of God, yea with all the fulneſſe of God, being ſo neceſſary for every ſoul as it is, and the knowledge of Chriſts love being ſo advantagious to this, It muſt needs bee a thing of ſpeciall concernment for every Chriſtian, to labour to know the love of Chriſt, which paſſeth knowledge.
Briefly now for application:
Firſt, it may ſerve for a uſe of Lamentation, that notwithſtanding the knowledge of the love of Chriſt is thus neceſſary, yet
Firſt, that this knowledge hath been little ſtudied. Secondly, though it ſhould be much ſtudied, yet it can be little obtained.
Firſt,, I ſay, it hath been but little ſtudied. Men have been very ſwift in ſearching after other truths, but they have been ſlow in ſearching after this. An ample, exact diſcovery of this love of Chriſt, may well be ſet down among the deſiderata, i.e. the deſirables of Divines, it having been ſo little handled by any. Indeed much of the Law (in the point of duty) hath been diſcovered, but little of the Goſpel, (eſpecially in this point of Chriſts love) hath been inquired into. I doe not know any one Authour of eminency, (indeed as yet I have met with none at all) who on purpoſe hath handled, or diſcourſed exactly concerning this ſubject, viz. the tranſcendency of the love of Chriſt; I have heard, that that precious Divine Dr. Preſton, was wont to complain of the great defect this way: Surely it is very ſad to think that the knowledge of the love of Chriſt, being of ſuch neceſſary and high concernment, hath been ſo little inquired into; O what a gallant Goſpel-deſigne were it, for ſome one who is acquainted with the Spirit in a large meaſure, to goe over the whole hiſtory of the Goſpel, and to obſerve the glorious ſhinings of the love of Chriſt to beleevers in all. It would bee precious if ſome would take it in hand, and perfect it to the purpoſe: But it is ſad to think it hath been neglected ſo long.
Secondly, we may lament, not onelyonly to think this knowledge hath been but little advanced by the labours of any, but eſpecially, that it is ſuch, that after all labour it can be but little gained. We may weep to think, how little of the love of Chriſt it is, that thoſe who have. moſt knowledge of it, doe, or can know. We read of a Book which was ſealed, and John wept much (ſaith the Text) becauſe no man was found worthy in heaven or in earth, that was able to open the Book, or to look thereon. Beloved, the heart of Chriſt may be compared to a glorious Book, in which the myſterious hiſtory of his tranſcendent love is written: But alas! who is there, not onelyonly in earth, but in heaven, that is able to open this Book, and to diſcover the myſteries thereof? Beloved, when we ſhall come to heaven, wee ſhall then be in a capacity of more perfect knowledge of the love of Chriſt: But alas! even then wee ſhall never be able to comprehend the love of Chriſt in the perfection thereof, that is, ſo fully as it may be known; Then indeed we ſhall apprehend it in the perfection of our knowledge (i.e.) ſo far as it can bee known by the finite knowledge of creatures; but yet then we ſhall not know it ſo full as it is. The Schoolmen ſpeak of knowledge (as they doe of ſeeing:Duplex plenitudo ſcientioe, & viſionis, viz Plenitudo 1 Subjecti. 2 Objecti.) There is a twofold fulneſs of knowledge.
Firſt, a fulneſſe in regard of the object (i.e.) ſuch a fulneſs as regards the thing it ſelf.
Secondly, a fulneſſe of knowledge in regard of the ſubject in which it is. Now for mine own part, I incline (at leaſt for preſent, to conclude, that although without doubt, there ſhall be a fullneſſe of knowledge of Chriſt in reſpect of our knowledge (i.e.) according to the utmoſt bounds, or extents, which our knowledge, when it is perfected to the higheſt, is capable of; yet notwithſtanding in regard of the fulneſſe of knowledge, as it relates to the thing it ſelf, viz. The love of Chriſt, quoad eſſentiam, & virtutem intenſivam, & extenſivam (i.e.) when it is conſidered ſo far forth as it may be had unto all the effects, and purpoſes, whereunto that knowledge doth extend it ſelf; this I ſay, I think wee ſhall not have, but to all eternity, wee ſhall be admiring and adoring of this love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge.
Wherefore then wee muſt needs lament to conſider, that although the knowledge of the love of Chriſt be of ſuch neceſſary concernment, yet it hath been but little ſearched after by many; and when wee ſhall make the greateſt ſearch after it, we ſhall never be able fully to attain it.
Uſe. Secondly, it may be a uſe of Reproof unto thoſe who neglect this ſtudy of the knowledge of the love of Chriſt altogether. Many there are, who are little in the ſtudy of the Bible, leſſe in the ſtudy of the Goſpel, but, leaſt of all in this, which is the light, and luſtre, and glory of all the Goſpel, the love of Chriſt to beleevers: And I cannot chuſe but think thoſe blame-worthy, and to be reproved, who in theſe times ſpeak much of their parts and abilities in the beating out of ſome truths merely controverſall (which yet I ſpeak not againſt in its place) and yet neglect this knowledge which is of ſuch neceſſary concernment. I doe not altogether blame thoſe who ſtudy this headſhip of Chriſt (I mean this Government) it being I think this preſent truth, which is moſt controverted in theſe times; yet notwithſtanding, to ſtudy ſo far the head of Chriſt, as to neglect his heart, ſo far to mind his government, as to neglect his love, is, without doubt, a thing to bee reproved.
But much more are thoſe to bee reproved, who ſtudy neither the one, nor the other, but ſpend all their time, their pains, and their parts, in controverſies, and niceties, prying either into unrevealed poſitions, or being buſied about needleſſe queſtions, neglecting, in the mean time, this one neceſſary thing, viz. the knowledge of the love of Chriſt. How many are there that may (as one ſaid of the Schoolmen) bee like unto Travellers, or men in a journey, who have good bread about them, but goe gnawing, and biting upon hard ſtones? ſo indeed ſome men, who have (at leaſt means to have) the bread of life, Chriſts love, but they neglect it, and ſpend their time in gnawing upon hard trivialls, at leaſt not uſefull queſtions. Be reproved, O all ye, who ſo far ſpend your ſelves, about the obtaining of any knowledge, when in the mean time, you doe neglect the ſtudy of this knowledge, (the love of Chriſt) which is of neceſſary concernment.
Laſtly, we ſhall adde a word of Exhortation to ſtir up all to the ſtudy of the love of Chriſt. You who have ſpent, or rather miſpent, many a precious hour in reading of Romanſes, and fond hiſtories, of feigned loves, yea, you who ſpend all your time, though it be about ſome matters of concernment, but neglecting this; be ſtirred up now, to lay out your ſelves in the ſtudy of that which is ſweet, and neceſſary, viz. the ſtudy of the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge; you muſt conceive, that (as I hinted in the explication) my deſire is, that you would labour to be well verſed, and to be exact ſtudents in this buſineſſe; I would not have you content your ſelves in ſome generalls, but labour to make a particular diſcovery of the love of Chriſt in its ſubſtance, in its circumſtances, and in its ſundry actions, and declarations: O remember, that this knowledge includeth in it all that knowledge which is neceſſary to be known for ſalvation.
When you have ſtudied it well, you ſhall find that there is nothing in the whole doctrine of ſalvation, which is not comprehended in this love of Chriſt (as Calvin hath well obſerved upon the place) This knowledge is both ſafe and ſweet; it is not ſuch knowledge as wil puffe up the head, but it will purifie the heart: I doe not doubt that any can grow wanton, who attaineth to any ſpirituall ſaving degree of this knowledge. The love of Chriſt will conſtrain to duty, and reſtrain from ſin; therefore betake your ſelves to this ſtudy above all others.
Now I ſhall offer ſomething as meanes to help you, and as motives to encourage you. OnelyOnly by way of caution, learn to take heed of promiſing your ſelves too much; Doe not think that you ſhall ever come to perfection of knowledge in this point, at leaſt while you are in this life: It is a point which may take up the ſtudy of all the Saints; (happily ſo much may bee couched in the 18 verſe of this chapter, that you may bee able to comprehend with all Saints.) He ſpeaketh, as if it were a Text, about which, not onelyonly every Saint is to ſet himſelf, but as which doth require all the abilities of all the Saints. Look as ſome great point doth require the abilities of many Scholars (and all little enough, when joyned together) to make a good diſcovery thereof: ſuch is the love of Chriſt, as that all the Saints may well ſpend themſelves in the ſtudy of it, and when they have brought all their notes together, and added all their ſtudies together, they will bee able to make (at leaſt in this life) but a very little diſcovery thereof. Therefore take heed of promiſing your ſelves perfection in this ſtudy.
Now I adde this caution, not to deter you from the ſtudy, but to make you the more ſerious in it; and alſo to keep you from caſting of it off, after you have begun to underſtand it. It is with ſome Saints, as with Scholars, who having ſet about ſome ſtudy, and after ſome progreſſe, find the buſineſs ſo hard, and high, as that they can never come to the perfect knowledge thereof, they begin to ſlack in their indeavours, and to caſt it off: But now beloved, conſider it beforehand, that you may not afterwards caſt off the ſtudy of the love of Chriſt, when you have ſpent your ſelves to the uttermoſt, you ſhall never come to a perfection.
Yet let me adde this, the leaſt beames of the love of Chriſt have ſo much light in them, as that they will bee very ſweet, and every peece or part of this knowledge, will be of very ſpeciall worth: yea, the low, and imperfect knowledge of the love of Chriſt (if experimentall, and ſpirituall) is of infinite more value, than the high and perfect knowledge of Tenne thouſand things beſides: Yea, and one thing more let me adde, it is poſſible for you to attain to a very ſweet and ſatisfactory degree of this knowledge.
Qu. But what ſhall I do to attain a ſatisfactory degree of this knowledge of the love of Chriſt, ſo as that albeit I cannot attain to the knowledge thereof fully, yet I may be able to attain ſo much, as may make me (at leaſt) ſay, as it is in the Text, The love of Chriſt paſſeth knowledge?
Anſw. For that I ſhall offer ſome directions, as concerning the means and helps how you may obtain the knowledge of the love of Chriſt; And alſo as concerning the manner how wee ſhould carry our ſelves in that ſtudy.
Firſt, For the meanes, I ſhall name theſe particulars.
Firſt, Be much converſant in reading of the Goſpel. How ever the Bible in general, doth give teſtimony concerning the perſon of Jeſus Chriſt, and alſo in ſome meaſure concerning his affection to the Saints; yet the Goſpel (of all parts of the Bible) doth in a more ample, clear, and ſatisfactory Way, hold out the love of Chriſt to beleevers. That which all the Prophets ſpake of him, or of his love, is ſo allegoricall, and ſo darkly, as that it is not eaſie (at leaſt for every one) to obſerve the light of Chriſts love, ſo clearly ſhining in them. Indeed the ſun ſhine of Chriſts love is in the firmament of the old Teſtament, but as it is there, it is much clouded & much veiled. But in the Firmament of the new Teſtament it ſhineth in its full brightneſſe; luſter, and glory. And therefore bee moſt coverſant in reading of it. And while you read the Goſpel, be ſure to carry this along with you, that all that which you ſhall read there, either ther in the life, or death of Chriſt, is ſtill to be underſtood, as a demonſtration of his love to beleevers.
Secondly, If thou wouldeſt know the love of Chriſt, be ſure to labour to get into the boſome of Chriſt; that Soul knoweth little of Chriſts love in the power, and ſweetneſs, and Spirituality thereof, who knoweth only Chriſt in his head, as being without him, and is a ſtranger to the knowledge of Chriſt in his heart, as being in him. Labour therefore to have Chriſt revealed in thee (as Paul ſpeaks of himſelf) otherwiſe all that knowledge which thou haſt of the love of Chriſt, will be to little or no purpoſe. Look as Jeſus Chriſt did therefore know the Father moſt, becauſe (as the Scripture ſaith) he lay in the Fathers boſome. In like manner do thou labour to be in the boſome of Jeſus Chriſt, that thou mayeſt the better know what is his love to beleevers.
Thirdly, Conſule with Beleevers. Ask thoſe objects of love, concerning the love of Chriſt to them. They that have had experience of his love, can beſt inform thee. I make no queſtion, but that a poor beleever, who hath taſted of the love of Chriſt, and in ſome meaſure experienced the tranſcendent ſweetneſſe thereof, is farre better able to helpe thee in this great ſtudy of the love of Chriſt, than the greateſt Scholar in the world is, who it may bee hath read, or heard ſomething of his love, but yet hath no experience thereof in his ſoul.
Fourthly, Study thine own experiences. Conſider the carriage of Chriſt particularly towards thy ſoul. Remember how long hee bare with thee, whilſt thou waſt in the ſtate of nature, I and an enemy unto him. How long did hee ſtand knocking at the door, ere thou didſt open? How long did he come wooing of thy ſoul, ere thou didſt imbrace him? How many ways did hee take to work upon thee, to open thine heart to let him in, that hee might love thee? How freely did hee tender love to thy ſoul? was there any other condition, on which hee tendred himſelf to thee, than thine acceptance of him? Said he not, when he came and knocked at thy door, if thou wilt open, I will come in and ſup; and thy heart ſhall be at no coſt to prepare, I have brought that with me that ſhall feaſt thee? Said hee not, if thou doe but thinſt, come and drink, and if thy heart bee but willing, eat the good things of my boſome, and live for ever. Thus mind thoſe experiences of Chriſts acting towards thee: Remember all the Feaſts of love which hee hath given thee, and by theſe thou wilt come to ſee, how good, how kind, how loving he is.
Laſtly, Adde prayer to all theſe. It is the choyceſt wiſdome to be wiſe in the knowledge of Chriſts love: And if you lack this wiſdome, James giveth you his advice, ask it of God, and if you ask of God a wiſe heart in this particular, doubtleſs he will not deny thee; for he giveth liberally to thoſe that ask and upbraideth no man. Then ask of him much, Beg of him a wiſe and an underſtanding heart, to know the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge. Intreat God that thou mayeſt be taught of him, to know what is the love of himſelf, and of his Son. As Chriſt ſaith, Every man that hath heard, and learned of the Father, cometh to me: So every Soul that the Father teacheth, will quickly learn to know what is the love of Chriſt to beleevers. And that thou mayeſt bee able to know the love of Chriſt in its luſter, beg of God to beſtow upon thee his Spirit. Chriſt hath ſaid, The Father will give the Spirit to him that asketh him; And the Apoſtle ſaith, As no man knoweth the things of a man, but the ſpirit of a man which is in him; ſo none can know the things of Chriſt, but the Spirit of Chriſt. Go to the Lord Jeſus, and remember him of his promiſe: Tell him, he hath promiſed to ſend his Spirit, and that when the Spirit is come, he ſhall take of Chriſt, and ſhew it unto the Soul. Intreat him therefore to ſhew his Spirit, and intreat him alſo, that his Spirit would come with the ſhedding abroad of his love. Say, O! that the Spirit would take of thy love, and ſhed it into me; and O! that he would ſhed it abroad into mine heart, that I may be able with all Saints to comprehend the height, and the depth, and the length, and the breadth of the love of Chriſt, and that I may be able alſo to know that love which paſſeth knowledge.
Having thus hinted a few words as concerning the means (how we may attain the knowledg of Chriſts love) I ſhall now adde a word or two concerning the manner how we ſhould behave our ſelves in the uſe of this means, while we ſtudy the knowledge of Chriſts love; and for this take theſe directions.
Firſt, Be very exact. Exactneſs is requiſite in all ſtudies, but eſpecially in this: Gather up (O Beleever) all the crumbs and filings of this gold (Chriſts love.) When thou readeſt any thing concerning Chriſt, be exact to obſerve the ſmiles of his countenance, the words of his lips, the geſture of his hands, the turning of his eye, love doth thus obſerve them: Sic oculos, ſic ille manus, ſic ora ferebat.
Obſervation was made of eyes, and of hands, and of countenance; ſo doe thou obſerve: be very curious …o ſtudy this love in all its circumſt… ces, in all its doings, in all its demonſtrations: If ever you would ſhew exactneſſe in any ſtudy, ſhew it in this. Doubtleſſe the exacter you are in this ſtudy, the clearer you will be able to comprehend Chriſts love.
Secondly, be loving. Thoſe know moſt of Chriſts love to them, who abound moſt in love to him: John ſeemeth to be moſt loving of all the Diſciples, and therefore hee ſeemeth to have the greateſt knowledge of Chriſts love; he was ſo happy as to lean on the boſome of the Lord Jeſus; and to him was revealed more than to the reſt of the Apoſtles. Look, as that man doth but in vain expect mercy of God, who is without mercy himſelf; ſo doth that ſoul in vain deſire to know Chriſts love, who is without all love himſelf: you may doe well to obſerve the context, here in this 3 Epheſ. 17, 18, 19. v. The Apoſtle ſaith, that you Being rooted, and grounded in love, may bee able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the length, breadth, and depth, and height of the love of Chriſt, &c. To be grounded in love, is an excellent way to comprehend love: And doubtleſs Chriſt will bee very kind in the revelations of his love, to thoſe in whom hee obſerves the workings of love.
Thirdly, bee very admiring in all the ſtudy; let all your reading bee mixed with admiration at every love-paſſage of Chriſt; ſit and meditate at every word of love; ſtay, and wonder; adore the glory of that light which appeareth in any beam of love: And in the admiration of that love which doth appear, caſt thy ſelf at the feet of Chriſt, and cry out, O the depth of love in thee! O the riches of the love of thy boſome! that ſhouldeſt thus let out thy ſelf to beleevers.
Laſtly, when thou comeſt as it were at a ſtand, and canſt not comprehend the tranſcendency of this love, Imitate the Philoſopher, and caſt thy ſelf into that ſea of love, which thou wouldeſt fain fathome, or ſound, and art not able; Let that love comprehend thee, which thou canſt not comprehend thy ſelf: Emerge, and drown thy ſelf, in that vaſt Ocean of thy Saviours boſome, and becauſe thou art not able with any line of thine to ſound the depth, ſink thy very Soul, that it may be able to taſte that, which thy ſtudy will not help thee ſo much as to ſee.
I ſhall now adde but a word to ſtir you up (in the uſe of theſe means, and in this manner hinted) ſeriouſly to proſecute the ſweet ſtudy of the love of Chriſt.
Firſt, I might tell you, That all the time that you ſpend in this ſtudy will be very delightful, and very profitable, and you will have no reaſon to repent thereof. Thoſe who have ſpent (or rather miſ-ſpent) their time in reading of the fine Hiſtories of feigned Loves, have at laſt been forced to confeſs their follies in ſo doing. That well-deſerving perſon, Sir Philip Sidney, is reported to have lamented upon his Death-bed, the miſ-ſpending of thoſe parts which God had given him, in the penning of that well-penned peece, his Arcadia. But ſurely (beleevers) to lye upon a Death-bed, and to conſider, that although all thy time were (every hour thereof) ſpent in the ſtudy of Chriſts love, you will bee ſo farre from repenting of it, as that you will have juſt cauſe to rejoyce in it. But not to urge this, doe but
Secondly, conſider the times in which we live. How little love is there in theſe dayes! ſurely, the love of many is waxen cold, though it bee preſſed much, yet it is but little practiſed; Though all pretend to complain of the want of love, and ſeem to preſſe the exerciſe of love: Yet where is the man, that maketh it the ſweetneſſe of his life, to let others taſt the ſweetneſſe of his love? Surely while there is ſuch little love among men, it is but meet that we ſhould ſtudy the love that is in Chriſt. But
Thirdly, eſpecially conſider the ſweetneſſe that the knowledge of the love of Chriſt will bring to thy ſoul in any caſe. Little do you know what comfort is wrapped up in the knowledge of Chriſts love. How oft doth but a thought of this, revive the ſpirits of the fainting Saints? With what a compoſure of ſpirit is a beleeve able to behave himſelf in any tribulation, when he knoweth, that the love of his Saviour is without knowledge? Without the knowledge of this love, nothing will bee ſweet, but with the knowledge of this love, nothing can be bitter. And this is that which we ſhall come unto, as the laſt thing obſerved from theſe words, viz. to let you ſee, how efficacious the love of Chriſt is unto the ſupporting of beleevers in any tribulation.