A Discovery of Glorious Love, Sermon 4
SERMON IV.
EPHES. 3. ver. 19.
And to know the love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledge.
WEE are yet upon the conſideration of the tranſcendency of Chriſts love to Beleevers (And oh how ſweet is it to loſe our ſelves in this conſideration!) How loath am I to leave a point of ſuch infinite neceſſity and ſweetneſſe? How gladly could I, not only live, but die in the declaration of the love of Chriſt to beleevers? I doubt not but the very mention of the point, That the love of Chriſt to beleevers is a tranſcendent love, maketh the hearts of you to leap for joy. Tell me (O beleever) couldeſt thou not wiſh to have thine cares ever followed with this ſound? That Chriſt loveth thee with a love paſſing knowledge. Something we have already hinted, and ſomething more wee ſhall adde at this time; yet becauſe when I have ſaid all that I can about the tranſcendency of Chriſts love to beleevers, I ſhall come many thouſand ſteps ſhort of its height, I am reſolved to ſay all that I intend to this point, at this time.
Therefore a little more to demonſtrate this, That the love of Chriſt paſſeth knowledge, I ſhall intreat you to view
Firſt, His command over them.
Secondly, His care for them.
Thirdly, His endeavour, not only to declare to, but to perſwade beleevers of this love.Chriſts Commands ſpeak love
Firſt, If we do conſider the command which Chriſt exerciſeth over beleevers, we ſhall ſee the tranſcendency of his affection even in that. It is Chriſts glory, that he is the King of the Saints (in a peculiar manner) and it is his grace, that he exerciſeth that Kingly power in a ſweet way. How ever he ruleth the Nation with a rod of iron, yet he ruleth the Saints with a golden Scepter. Hence it is, that although in wrath, his iron rod break the Nations in peeces, yet his golden Scepter is ſtill ſtretched out in love, to entertain the Saints. You read in Cant. 3. that Solomon made a Chariot of the wood of Lebanon, he made the pillars thereof of ſilver, the bottome of gold, the covering of it of purple, the middeſt being [PAVED WITH LOVE] Cant. 3. v. 10. That Chariot which Solomon made for himſelf, and in which hee rode, might well ſet out the Chariot in which Chriſt rideth up and down the world of beleevers, whom he governs. Indeed it is very glorious, and it glitters with beams of light, but withall it is very gracious, as being paved with ſtones of love; Love is the throne in which he ſits, love is the Scepter with which hee ruleth, and all his government is managed in ſuch a way, as that beleevers may ſay, that he is the Lord of love even in his ruling of them. Abſolom did but flatter, when hee ſtood by the way of the gate, and kiſſed all that paſſed by (and by it inſinuated how ſweetly hee would govern, if he came to the Kingdome) but that which was flattery in Abſolom, is reality in Chriſt, When any of the ſpirituall pilgrims come (as beleevers do) to do him obeyſance (as they ought to doe, being under his commands) hee putteth forth his hands, and taketh them, and kiſſeth them, and doth not only promiſe, but perform tranſcendent love in all his commands over them. But to read this more particularly, you will ſee the tranſcendency of Chriſts love diſcovered in his command over beleevers, if you conſider three things.
Firſt, Chriſt layeth no commands upon beleevers, but ſuch as are full of love & ſweetneſſe. He reduceth all the Decalogue to theſe two heads, Thu ſhalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart; and with all thy ſoul, and with al thy mind: and thou ſhalt love thy neighbour as thy ſelf, Mat. 22.37.39. Well might John ſay, That his Commandements are not grievous, 1 Joh. 5.3. (the word is burthenſome) and indeed what burthen is there in the commands of Chriſt,foreign, from foreign a weight. unleſſe love be a burden? Indeed he might have commanded (which is his peculiar Prerogative) what he pleaſed, but he commanded nothing but what is pleaſant in it ſelf, and will be ſo to a ſanctified ſoul (which is the tranſcendency of his love) A new Commandement (ſaith he) do I give unto you, that ye love one another, as I have loved you, that ye alſo love one another, Joh. 13. v. 34. Well may the Commandement be called New, it being ſuch as was never given by any King beſides himſelf: And ſurely there was great love in his boſome to beleevers, when hee only laid a burthen, or a command of Love upon their ſhoulders. All her ways are ways of pleaſantneſs, Prov. 3.17. The waies of Chriſt (which are his Commands) are waies of pleaſantneſſe (for I take it,The word is foreign which is uſed for the pleaſantneſſe of a life of love. 2 Sam. 1 26. that Solomon there by wiſdome underſtandeth Chriſt.) Beleevers, if you could but live in love, you would fulfill the Law of your Lord; for hee being a Lord of love to you, Love is the fulfilling of the Law he layeth upon you. Yea ſuch is the tranſcendency of his love to beleevers, that hee layeth no Commandement upon them, to do any thing, which hee did not himſelf. Fleſh and Blood may think it a hard, and a harſh Command, to waſh the feet of a poor beleever, a fellow ſervant: But grace will ſee the Command to be ſweet, and lovely? (and Jeſus Chriſt to be loving in laying this Command) becauſe it is no other than what himſelf hath done before: Ask the ſervant whether his Lord be loving, who layeth no Commandement upon him, but that which is ſweet in its ſelf, and ſweet in its fruit, and no worſe than his Lord himſelf will undertake. Beleevers, it is your caſe, all the Commands of your Lord Chriſt are ſweet in themſelves, and ſweet in their fruit; and they are ſuch as he himſelf (while hee lived) ſtooped unto. Doth not this declare tranſcendent love?
Secondly, Chriſt layeth all his commands in a way of love; that which he biddeth beleevers do (who are under his command) it is in a loving way: As the command is, ſo is the manner of its impoſing, i. e. ſweet and loving. It is poſſible, that a ſweet thing may be injoyned in a harſh way: An eaſie commandement in it ſelf may be burthenſome in the way of its impoſall. To command with a bended fiſt, and a frowning forehead, is not to command in a loving way: but now Jeſus Chriſt, when ever he commandeth, hee commandeth ſweetly, and ſmilingly: he doth not lift up his voyce, and cry (as ſome underſtand that place) Eſa. 42. v. 2. Hee doth not ſpeak in an auſtere, rough, rugged manner: But as the Lord is, ſo is his language, loving. Obſerve with what love he layeth his commands on beleevers; You are my friends, if you do whatſoever I command you, Joh. 15 14. He doth not threaten, and ſay, I will be your Foe, if you will not obey; but if you do, you ſhall bee my Friends. And ſo again, If you love me, keep my Commandements. It is worth the noting, that grace may be ſaid to come in this reſpect by Chriſt: He gave not his Law (as Moſes did) with thundring and lightning, in a dreadfull manner; But he gave the Law to his Diſciples himſelf, in a ſweet and loving way. Hee beginneth his Sermons, with Bleſſed are ye: And all his commands drop from him like the drops of dew upon the tender graſſe; He ſhall come down (ſaith the Pſalmiſt, Pſal. 72. v. 6.) like rain upon the mown graſſe, as ſhowers that water the earth, i. e. Hee ſhall come down, both ſoftly and ſweetly; this is ſpoke of Chriſts comming as a King; ſo that you may ſee the tranſcendency of Chriſts love unto you, in the manner in which hee layeth his Commandements on you.
Thirdly, Conſider the end that Chriſt doth aim at in all his Commandements▪ and that will alſo diſcover the tranſcendency of his love to beleevers. Hee ſeeks not himſelf, but them, in all his Commands. Hee biddeth the beleever work, not that he may reap any thing himſelf, but that the beleever may get all; hee putteth them to labour in his Vineyard, that they may have all the harveſt. As it is inconſiſtent with his Deity, to have any thing added to him, ſo alſo it is inconſiſtent with his love; Hee putteth his ſervants to reap, that they may have all the corn, and hee ſetteth them to work, rather that he may give them wages, than that himſelf ſhall get any thing by their workings. Take my yoke upon you (ſaith hee) and you ſhall finde reſt unto your ſoules. Chriſt layeth a yoke upon their necks, not to burthen them, but to eaſe them; not to break their backs, but to refreſh their boſomes. Many Kings, and Rulers, aim at themſelves in their commands, and they ſeek too too often, rather their own greatneſſe, than their Subjects good. But (beleeve it) Jeſus Chriſt your King, is not ſuch an one; All that he aims at in his government is your good: The end of his Commandements are your comfort; As his government increaſeth over you, ſo his peace increaſeth in you: This is the effect, and fruit of all his Commandements, not ſo much that others may take notice of his glory in commanding, as that you may find his grace in obeying. Indeed, love is the work and wages of his Commandement; hee therefore bids you do ſo, that he may love you; therefore it is, that though you are frail, and weak, and cannot obey, hee will be kind to love you, notwithſtanding all.
So that now the Commands of Chriſt, being as it were love materially (in the ſubſtance) and love formally (in their impoſals) and love finally (in their aim) what can you conclude from all this, but that the love of Chriſt, even to beleevers, is declared to be tranſcendent in the exerciſe of his command over them?
Chriſts care ſpeaks love.Secondly, conſider the care that Chriſt hath of them. O the tranſcendent love that Chriſt expreſſeth to beleevers, in the care that hee taketh of them for all neceſſities! He is not only a Lord to command, and to ſet them on work; but he is a Father to take care, and provide for his. And it is eaſie to obſerve tranſcendency of love, in the tranſcendent care that Chriſt hath to provide for his. Food, and rayment, and lodging, are the leaſt things that can be taken care for; and yet you ſhall ſee Chriſt doth not only take care for them, but he doth take care for other things alſo; yea, and as he doth take care that beleevers have food to eat, ſo it is of the fineſt (the kidnys of the wheat, and the fineſt flower;) Rayment, and glorious rayment, a houſe, & a brave one too. Firſt, Chriſt taketh care that beleevers may have food to eat. Hee knoweth they muſt have bread, and therefore hee hath provided bread of life; hee knoweth they muſt have drink, and therefore hee hath opened the ſealed fountain of the water of life. The care that God hath to feed his people in the Wilderneſſe, did demonſtrate his love unto them, that he gave them quails and mannah, &c. Beleevers, while you are in the wilderneſſe of this world, your Lord hath declared his love, in making rich proviſions of ſpiritual food for you: Hee hath prepared the hidden mannah which hee will give unto you; A feaſt of fat things, full of marrow, of wine on the Lees, well refined, as it is Eſay. 25.6. Nay, even in the middeſt of your enemies he hath prepared a table for you: And not only that you may be ſure of food, but that the food might be ſurpaſſingly ſweet, Hee hath made himſelf to be meat for you. If it be true, that the Pelican feedeth her young ones with her own blood; then that Bird may be a type of your beloved: His fleſh is meat indeed, and his blood is drink indeed; and this doth hee give for the life of your ſouls (O beleevers.) Cleopatra, that ſhee might outvie Marke Antonies love, cauſed (as the Hiſtory relateth) a pearl of great price to be diſſolved, that he might drink thereof: Chriſt, beleevers, hath done more for you, and hath outvied her love to him; Gold, and ſilver, & pearls, are but corruptible things, in compariſon of this precious blood, and yet that blood he hath prepared for beleevers to drink, that they might live for ever.
Secondly, Chriſt hath provided not only food for the belly, but rayment for the back too. And as the food, ſo alſo the rayment do tranſcend in love. A garment of needle-work, Pſal. 45.14.rich, and coſtly attire, Chriſt hath provided for beleevers: When thou waſt naked, (beleever) and hadſt no cloaths to cover thee, but the filthy rags of thine own works (which did defile thee) then, even then he cloathed thee in broidered work, Ezek. 16.10, 11, 12, 13.and ſhod thee with badgers skins, and covered thee with fine linnen, and decked thee with ornaments, and put bracelets on thine hands, and a chain on thy neck, & a jewel on thy ſorehead, & ear-rings on thine ears, & a beautifull Crown upon thine head; &c. Thus did he adorn thee, and thus did he array thee, and thou waſt exceeding glorious with the garments he put on thee. Greater love can none declare than this, to give another as good garments as himſelf doth wear; why, this doth Jeſus Chriſt. In the mount of Tranſfiguration, (Matth. 17. v. 2.) it is ſaid, his rayment was as white as the light: And when the Saints appeared to John in his viſion, they appeared in garments of the ſame colour; it is ſaid, They were arrayed with white robes, Rev. 7 13. Righteouſneſſe is his garment, and ſo it is beleevers too. It was an act of great love to Mordecay (and Haman thought the King could expreſſe no greater) that the Royal apparrel ſhould be brought which the King uſed to wear, and to be put on him. Why, beleevers, ſuch is the tranſcendent love of Chriſt to his, in his care for your apparrel, that the royal apparrel which he weareth himſelf is brought to you, and is put on your ſouls Now (and you are all glorious within here,) and it ſhall be put on your bodies hereafter; even that body which is now vile, Phil. 3. laſt.ſhall be made glorious, like to his glorious body: And when Chriſt ſhall come, and appear in his garments of glory,Col 3.4. 1 Joh. 3.3. you ſhall appear with him in the like: And then he ſhall be admired, not only in himſelf,2 Theſ 1.10. but in you. O tranſcendent love, that Jeſus Chriſt ſhould provide ſuch cloathing for us poor creatures!
Thirdly, as for lodging, Chriſt hath provided that likewiſe for beleevers. Indeed himſelf had no houſe here on earth (not ſo much as a hole wherein to lay his head) and therfore beleevers fare no worſer here than he did, they have as good a lodging as their Lord: In this world indeed they have not a houſe to be in, nor a bed to lye on (as their own;) But as to hereafter he hath provided a houſ, and that not a mean one, but a manſion houſe, and the building thereof is brave; It is a building of God, and the bravery of it appeareth in this (which was the bravery of Chriſts body, Heb. 9.11.) that it is a houſe not made with hands. The Shunamite did declare her love to the man of God, by making of him a litle chamber, and by ſetting a bed therein, and a table, and a ſtoole, and a candleſtick for him, 2 King. 4.10. Jeſus Chriſt ſheweth greater love than this, in having provided a better room for beleevers; not a little Chamber, but a great Manſion (a bed of glory, Abrahams boſome) not a ſtool, but a Throne, not a candleſticke (no nor the Sunne) but himſelf, to be as a light, this not on the wall (as it were without his own Palace) but even within, where himſelf is, in his own preſence, Joh. 17. 24. Father (ſaith he) I will that they whom thou haſt given me, be with me where I am. Conſider this, beleevers, Chriſt hath prepared as good a houſe for you, as for himſelf, and when he was, as it were, in the entry thereof, he ſtood at the door, and did in a manner agree with the Father before hand, that you ſhould come in as well as himſelf: and therefore it was, (he ſaid) he went to propare a place for them.
So that now here is rich proviſion of neceſſaries, food, and rayment, and lodging: And what doth this declare, but rich love in Chriſt, that he ſhould take ſuch care of beleevers?
Wee might adde, not onelyonly that Chriſt hath prepared theſe things which are the neceſſaries, but hee hath prepared other things which are glorious. But oh, who ſhall bee able to declare all the gracious proviſion which Chriſt hath made for his! When as eye hath not ſeen, neither hath ear heard, nor hath it entred into the heart of man to conceive thoſe things; we will therefore break out with the Pſalmiſt, O how great is thy goodneſſe, which thou haſt laid up as a ſecret treaſure (for ſo the word ſignifieth) for them that love thee, foreignand beleeve in thee,To hide as a treaſure hence foreign a treaſure. Pſal. 31.19. Thus you ſee the tranſcendent love of Chriſt in his care for, as well as his command over beleevers.
Thirdly, and laſtly, we might abundantly demonſtrate the tranſcendency of Chriſts love to beleevers,Chriſts endeavour to perſwade beleevers of his love, ſpeaks its greatneſſe. in his indeavour to declare and perſwade the hearts of beleevers of all this love. That Chriſt ſhould love at all, and love ſo much is tranſcendent; But that he ſhould take paines to perſwade the hearts of beleevers to beleeve this, is an addition to the tranſcendency of the love. Chriſt ſaw how backward we would be to beleeve, and how hardly we would be brought to perſwade our ſelves, that indeed he did love us at all; therefore it is, he took ſuch care, and made ſuch proviſion, for the perſwading of the hearts of beleevers to cloſe with the truth of this, that he loved them. I have (ſaith he) declared thy name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith thou haſt loved me may be in them. This is the great work which he did himſelf, when he was on earth, and which his Ambaſſadors now doe in his name (now he is in Heaven) viz. To perſwade the hearts of his that he loveth them. What a great deal of love was there in that cry of his, when he was on earth, That if any came to him, he would in no wiſe caſt them out? And if they did but thirſt, they might come to him, and drink? How did he declare the ſtrength of his love, in perſwading ſoules to come to him, that they might taſte, and ſee how he loved them. It had been much, if Jeſus Chriſt would have given a poor ſoul leave to love him, and would have accepted it upon his ſeeking to him, but that he ſhould love, and wooe us to love him, and take paines to make us beleeve that he doth love us, This is tranſcendent love! O beleevers, ſuch is the ſtrength and tranſcendency of the love of Chriſt towards you, that when he was upon earth himſelf, he made it his great work, not onelyonly to tender love freely, but to perſwade you to beleeve it fully. And now he is gone to Heaven, he hath taken care to appoint Ambaſſadors, and they alwayes in his name doe beſeech you to beleeve, that he doth love you: And it is the great longing of his ſoul, to fill you, not onelyonly with his own love, but with his Fathers love too, whereſoever the Goſpell of free grace doth ſound, the ſumme thereof is this, That God ſo loved the world, that hee ſent his Son: And that Jeſus Chriſt himſelf ſo loved poor ſoules, that he came himſelf, that if any would but beleeve, they might have him, and in him everlaſting life and love.
To all this I might adde the conſideration of the eaſie price that Jeſus Chriſt ſetteth upon his love, which he tendereth; It is but acceptation. If any man will but come to (his boſome) the fountain of love, he may take the waters thereof freely; that fountain is not a ſealed, but an open fountain: And this is the tranſcendency thereof, that it is open, even for thoſe, in whom there was a fountain of wrath and enmity flowing up, and that againſt himſelf. O my brethren! if you did but conſider, that the love of Chriſt paſſeth knowledge, that in its nature, it is every way full, and in its tender free; And that he profereth rich love to thoſe, who by nature were the children of wrath, and that all this is in a beſeeching way; Certainly you muſt conclude, that the love of Chriſt is a tranſcendent love, and that it paſſeth knowledge. It was the tenderneſſe of the love of Jonathan, and David, that it paſſed the love of women; Thy love to me (ſaith David) was wonderfull, paſſing the love of women, 2 Sam. 1. v. 26. Surely, beleevers, the love of Chriſt to you is wonderfull (tranſcendently wonderfull) paſſing the love of women (paſſing the love of Jonathan and David) comprehending (as formerly hath been hinted) yea and ſurmounting any, or all the loves of all the creatures whatſoever: Neither man, nor Angels could, or ever did, expreſſe ſo much love, as Jeſus Chriſt hath not onelyonly expreſſed, and declared, but doth even tender, and beſceeh, beleeving ſoules to accept of. I ſhall adde no more for the demonſtration thereof, but onelyonly this; That when I have ſaid all that I can (though I had all the tongues both of Men and Angels) of the love of Chriſt, you that finde it in your boſomes, will have reaſon to tell me, that the one half was not told you: For the love of Chriſt is ſuch, as all the Saints, who do in the fulleſt meaſure injoy it, are not able to expreſſe it, but muſt be fain to ceaſe ſpeaking, and ſo wrap up their ſoules in wondring at it, and cry, That it is a love paſſing knowledge.
Before I come to the Application, I ſhall briefly anſwer two Objections which may come in, and be made againſt the truth of this Doctrine.
Ob, Firſt, it will be objected, If the love of Chriſt be ſo tranſcendent to beleevers, Whence then cometh it to paſſe, that he permits them oftentimes to lye ſo low, that their enemies triumph, and inſult over them? Surely will ſome weak (for weakneſſe is the around of the Objection) beleever ſay, If Chriſt love me ſo highly, why doth he permit me to lye ſo low? If I be ſo near to his heart, how is it that he ſuffereth wicked men to tread upon me? If he layeth me in his boſome, why is it that he ſuffereth me to lye at the worlds feet?
Anſw. 1. This may conſiſt with love; tell me (thou weak ſoul) was not Chriſt the dearly beloved of the Father; and yet did not the father permit wicked men to perſecute him? Canſt thou be reviled, buffeted ſcourged, or crucified worſe than he? & yet notwithſtanding all, he was beloved of the Father, and that in a tranſcendent manner: in like manner, thou mayeſt be the beloved of Chriſts ſoul, and yet be delivered into the hands of thine-enemies (as it is) Jer. 12.7. Nay, this is not onelyonly conſiſting with love, but▪
2 It is an act of love; for while Chriſt permits theſe ſufferings of thine, hee maketh thee like unto himſelf. It is deſired of Paul, as it makes him conformable unto Chriſt, Phil. 3.10. Even a mourning garment is glorious when it is the ſame that Chriſt weareth. foreign. i.e. We boaſt in a glorying manner.What ſoul is there that may not, as it were, be proud, and glory in its tribulations (as the word ſignifieth, Rom 5.3. (when he conſidereth in them he is made like to Chriſt; yea, a ſuit of ſackcloth is to a ſpirituall ſoul brave, and fine, when the Lord of glory goeth in the ſame faſhion.
Object. 2 But ſome will object further, and ſay, I do not queſtion whether Chriſt loves me tranſcendently becauſe of the ſufferings I lye under, but rather becauſe of the deſertions in which I am. Alas! I queſtion whether he loveth me at all, becauſe he withdraweth himſelf from me ſo long: much more reaſon have I to queſtion, whether be loveth me tranſcendently; while I ſee him altogether deny me his company. Indeed in a ſenſe, I think that the love of Chriſt paſſeth knowledge (for I know but little of Chriſt) Methinks I ſee him withdrawn, I will not deny but he hath ſweet ſmiles, but I am a ſtranger to thoſe ſmiles. Time was, when I thought hee loved me tranſcendently, but now I fear hee loveth me not at all, for hee deſerteth me.
Anſw. To ſuch a ſoul as objects thus, I would ſay but three words.
Firſt, Theſe withdrawings of Chriſt (whereof thou complaineſt) are but in ſhew, not in ſubſtance. The Sun is but abſent in ſhew, when it doth not ſhine, it is prerent ſtill, though behind a cloud: I have often thought that Chriſts withdrawing, in this reſpect, may be called rather his concealed preſence, Note thisthan his real abſence: He was cloſe by Mary, although ſhe did not ſee him; He was in the company of his Diſciples, though they knew it not: His preſence was not manifeſt (not becauſe his perſon was not there, but) becauſe their eyes were held, that they ſhould not know him, Luke, 24, v. 16.
Secondly, Theſe withdrawings (whereof thou complaineſt) are not total; Chriſt never ſo withdraweth from the beleever, but he leaveth ſomething behind, he putteth in his hand before he goeth (as it is Cant. 5. v. 4.) And ſurely, his hand was never empty.☞ Mind this If he be abſent in ſhining, he is preſent in ſtrengthning; though he doth not appear rich in love, yet he is ſtill preſent, upholding thy life. The very breath that thou breatheſt (poor deſerted creature) doth declare that Chriſt is preſent in ſome meaſure: It were impoſſible that thou ſhouldeſt breath, if Jeſus were not within thy boſome; thy weepings after him, are demonſtrations, that in ſome meaſure he is with thee.
Thirdly, Chriſts departure will not be final, hee will be found again, though he be not felt now: And when he cometh he will make rich amends for his abſence. This ſaid Mr. Peacock after this deſertion, The Sea is not more full of water, nor the Sun more full of light, than my heart is full of joy, the joy that I feel in my heart is incredible. Ah ſaid another poor ſoul, (that had cryed Chriſt was gone) He is come, he is come, he hath kiſſed me with the kiſſes of his lips, his love is better than wine, he hath not deceived me, neither will he deceive any.
I ſhall therefore retort the Argument thus, Though beleevers give Chriſt occaſion to goe away very often, yet Chriſt never goeth away altogether, but even in his conceived abſence, vouchſafeth a concealed preſence, and at his ſenſible return maketh rich amends for his ſtaying, and going away: What doe theſe declare, but that his love is tranſcendent, and (as the Text ſaith) paſſing knowledge.
Four words I ſhall adde by way of Application, viz.
A word of
1 Information.
2 Reproof,
3 Exhortation.
4 Perſwaſion.
Firſt, for Information, in as much as it is thus clear, that Chriſt loves his, with tranſcendent love, then it may inform us of theſe four things.
Firſt, in the deſervedneſſe of that great, and dreadfull curſe, which Paul denounceth againſt thoſe who love not Chriſt, 1 Cor. 16.22. If any man love not the Lord Jeſus, let him be Anathema, Maranatha. That is, let him be curſed with the higheſt, and greateſt degree of curſing that may be poſſible; for of thoſe three degrees of curſing, which the Jews uſed in their threefold excommunication, this of Anathema Maranatha was the higheſt; and it includes as much as this, Let the Lord come, and ſtrike this perſon with eternall perdition. And tell me. do not thoſe deſervedly expoſe themſelves to this dreadfull curſe, who do not love ſuch an one as Jeſus Chriſt is; who loveth all his with a tranſcendent love? Mind this, wretches! (you who love not the Lord Jeſus) what can you ſay for your ſelves, that you ſhould not lye under this curſe? Why do not you love Jeſus Chriſt? what reaſon have you for it? Is not he lovely, fairer than the ſons of men? Is not he loving? Doth not his love to his, paſs the love of women? Were Chriſt unkind, you might with ſome pretence plead, that you have reaſon not to love him; but being ſo kind, ſo loving as that he openeth his boſome, and letteth out tranſcendent love to all that are his: Certainly, you may expect, and that juſtly, to be accurſed in this high degree, for not loving Chriſt.
Secondly, See here the true ground of a beleevers glory. Is it not a ground of glory to be beloved of Chriſt, with ſuch a tranſcendent love as you have heard? Well may beleevers make their boaſt of Chriſt all the day long; and well may they glory in the love that they enjoy; for why? that love is tranſcendent, paſſing knowledge. None of all the ſonnes or daughters of men have any, ſuch juſt ground of glory (though they ſhould enjoy the love of all the creatures) as beleevers have, who do enjoy only the love of Chriſt. For that love they have, in him, tranſcends, and excells, (and that infinitly) all that love which any can have from all the creatures. Let the world falſly and fondly brag of their creature-loves (and pity them (Oh beleevers!) when you ſee them do ſo:) But rejoyce your ſelves in the mean time, with joy exceeding great, and full of glory: And the point will bear you out in it, for you have ſuch a love, as is not to be found in all the world beſide. Having the love of Chriſt, you have that love which paſſeth knowledge.
And ſurely, beleevers, if the men of the world think they have good ground to glory in this, that they enjoy the Low love, (though of ſome ſeeming great creatures) you have much more ground to rejoyce, who enjoy this high love, of him who is indeed greater than all the creatures (Jeſus Chriſt). Do men think they have juſt ground to ſit and glory, in that they ſip the puddle drops of creatures loves? Have not you more ground, and that juſter, and truer, to ſing and glory in this, that you drink in the pure love of Jeſus Chriſt? which is ſo ſweet, ſo excellent, and ſo tranſcendent, as that it paſſeth knowledge.
Thirdly, in as much as Chriſt loveth beleevers with a tranſcendent love; then ſee here the riſe and ground of all that which Chriſt doth for them. You wonder beleevers (at leaſt you might) and that juſtly; whence it is that Chriſt doth ſo much for you. One while he is filling you with his unſearchable riches another while he is crowning you with his own glory Now you have him giving you choice gifts, and anon you have him bringing of you choyce graces: In this duty you have him imbracing of your ſouls in his arms; And in that duty you find him kiſſing you with the kiſſes of his lips; and you are ready to cry out, Whence is it that Chriſt doth all this for me! One while thou art ſick, and Chriſt viſiteth thee, and maketh thy bed, and ſitteth by thy bed ſide other whiles thou goeſt abroad and Chriſt walketh with thee, and thou leaneſt upon him, as upon thy beloved. Now thou art in the wilderneſſe (it may be under ſome baniſhment) and Chriſt commeth to thee: And anon it may be thou art in priſon (under ſome reſtraint) and Chriſt viſiteth thee there too? And all this maketh thee cry out, Whence is it, that my Lord ſhould thus come to me? Why ſee the Point, and in that ſee the cauſe; He loveth thee (O beleever) and he loved thee with a tranſcendent love: And hence it is, that he doth all that he doth for thee, and giveth all that he beſtoweth on thee. You wonder why Chriſt ſhould ſanctifie ſuch unſanctified hearts as yours are, & cleanſe by the waſhing of water, and by the word, ſuch impure ſpirits as yours be: And you are ready to ſay, Whence is it that the Lord of glory ſhould ſtoop to waſh ſuch a creature as I am? Whence is it that he at whoſe feet Angels fall, and bow, ſhould come & waſh the feet of ſuch a creature as you be? Hence it is (beleevers) Chriſt hath loved you, and that with a tranſcendent love: Wonder not therefore henceforth (unleſſe it be with the wondring, why Chriſt doth any thing, or all things, for you) there is a reaſon, yea great reaſon (though not in you) yet in himſelf: It is this we have been ſpeaking of, i. e. the tranſcendent love he beareth to you.
Fourthly, let this inform beleevers, that (ſith Chriſt loveth them with a tranſcendent love) at all times, they have then a juſt: ground to act their faith upon him in any caſe. Why is it (O beleever) that thou doubteſt, whether Chriſt will do this for thee, or give that to thee, when as thou conſidereſt he loveth thee with ſuch a tranſcendent love? upon all occaſions, act your faith (O ye children of faith) in your beloved: what ever it is that you want, and he hath; what ever it be that thou wouldeſt have, and he can give, Beleeve that Chriſt will not let thee goe without it; for why, he loveth thee with a tranſcendent love.
In three caſes more particularly this truth will inform you of the ſure ground that beleevers have to act their faith on Jeſus Chriſt.
Firſt, in caſe of hearing of their prayers. Theſe things I touched at in the firſt Ser. mon, but not ſo fully.Surely he that ſo tranſcendently loveth their perſons, will without doubt hear their prayers, Thou ſayeſt (O beleeving ſoul) thou haſt great neceſſities (and they force thee to make many prayers.) Thou ſayeſt, that Chriſt can help thee at all hands (and therefore thou art calling upon him at all times) But thou ſayeſt, will hee hear mee? Why ſhouldeſt thou not beleeve that he will, when thou conſidereſt the tranſcendent love he beareth to thee? The love that is in his boſome, towards thee, will open his ears, to hear the breathings that come from thee. Indeed, ſometimes hee may ſeem to be deaf, and not hear thy prayers; and ſometimes alſo he may ſeem harſh, and not accept of thy perſon: But it is to try thy faith: For notwithſtanding, hee will hear thee, and accept of thee, in what thou deſireſt according to his will, for thy good, that he may declare his tranſcendent love. You know Chriſt called the woman of Canaan Dog, and ſeemed to ſpeak harſh to her; and yet even all the while that hee looked (as it were) ſourly upon her, and ſpake (as it were) ſadly againſt her; yet even then did his bowels roule for her, and even then was there love in his boſome to her: And therefore though (for a while) he ſeemed to deny, that hee might try the ſincerity of her faith; yet afterwards he granted her requeſts, that he might declare the reality of his own love. In this caſe therefore you have a ſure ground of faith, O beleevers, Chriſt will not reject your prayers, becauſe he loveth your perſons, and, the more tranſcendent his love is towards the one, the more ſure may you be that he will hear the other.
Secondly, In caſe of obtaining counſell from Chriſt, and knowing the mind of Chriſt. This Point will inform us in a ſure ground of faith, and love. (O beleever) love will open Chriſts boſome, and let thee ſee the counſels that are there: Surely hee will counſel thee in caſe of doubts, becauſe he loveth thee, as he doth: Thou ſayeſt here is a Scruple, and there is a queſtion, and I would fain know the mind of Chriſt concerning this or that: But how can I hope that ever he will open his mind to me, either in the one, or about the other? Why ſayeſt thou ſo (O beleever?) is not his tranſcendent love, a good ground for the acting of thy faith, in this caſe? Verily becauſe his heart is to thee, therefore it will be with thee (That I may allude to that phraſe. of Judges 16. v. 15.) How ever Dallilah ſaid to Sampſon, How canſt thou ſay, I love thee, when thine hart is not with me: thou haſt no reaſon to ſay, as ſhe ſaid (in ſuch a way as ſhe did:) Thou mayeſt beleeve that his heart will be with thee, becauſe thou heareſt that he loveth thee. I would fain perſwade my own heart, and yours alſo, in theſe times of doubting, and of darkneſſe (in which wee need counſell, and would bee glad to know the Mind of Chriſt more) I would I ſay, perſwade mine own heart, and yours alſo, to this Point, to act faith upon Chriſt in this caſe, whatever the truth of ſuch a Scripture be (as you would know) or of ſuch a queſtion (as you would fain be reſolved in.) Sith Chriſt loveth you with a tranſcendent love; act faith in this caſe, That in due time, hee will reveal even the one, and the other to thee.
Thirdly, Chriſts tranſcendent love giveth a ſure ground of faith in the caſe of raiſing up of the ſaints out of ſuffering. Verily (O you children of faith and love) beleeve it, Jeſus Chriſt who loveth you in ſuch a tranſcendent manner (as you have heard) will not let you alwaies be under thoſe great ſufferings which you doe: His great love (for the preſent) maketh him ſympathize with you (in all your afflictions, he is afflicted.) Men that perſecute you, they perſecute him that loveth you: He looketh upon your ſufferings as his own. (And becauſe heeloveth you ſo tranſcendently, hee will ere long tell thoſe that perſecute you, the ſame terribly) beleeve it, Chriſt that hath appeared to you in this, ſaying, I have loved you with an everlaſting love, and therefore with loving kindneſs have I drawn you out of the ſtate of ſin, will alſo ſay unto you, I do love you with a tranſcendent love, & therefore with the ſame loving kindneſs will I draw you out of the ſtate of ſufferings. (I ſay) Act faith (O beleevers!) upon this ground of Chriſts tranſcendent love, even a ſweet, and a ſingular faith, in the caſe of delivering you out of ſufferings. As he will not alwayes ſtrive himſelf with you, ſo neither alwayes wil he ſuffer wicked men to trample on you, becauſe hee knoweth (and his love maketh him afraid) leſt your ſpirits ſhould fail, as under the one, ſo under the other.
Uſe. Secondly, It may be a word of Reproof. This point, that Chriſt loveth his with a tranſcendent love, may juſtly reprove the world, yea, and the Saints themſelves alſo.
Firſt, It may reprove the world, who are ready, not only to think, but to ſay (as hee in the Parable) that Chriſt is an auſtere man, Luke 19.21. No my brethren, Chriſt, you ſee, is not auſtere, but ſweet: As his name is, ſo is his nature, love; and that in a tranſcendent manner. Be reproved, wretches, in entertaining unkind, or reviling thoughts of Chriſt: You wrong him in his love, and your ſelves in the truth, while you think, or ſay, that hee is not a loving Lord; you ſhall ere long not onelyonly ſee that hee loveth, but that hee loveth all his, with a love paſſing knowledge.
But ſecondly, It reproveth the Saints alſo, who are ready very often to queſtion, if not the reality, yet the tranſcendency of Chriſts love. Be reproved, for ſaying Chriſt loveth you not at all, or if hee doth, but very little; for you hear, that he loveth even all his with a tranſcendent love. I profeſſe it is ſadde to ſee, upon what petty poor occaſions, even beleevers themſelves are ready to queſtion (at leaſt the greatneſſe) of Chriſts love. If hee denieth them, (though but a vanity) yet becauſe their hearts are ſet upon it ſo much, they think that his heart is not ſet upon them at all, ſuch is their weakneſſe, they are ready to think that Chriſt loveth them but a little, becauſe hee doth not give them, (happily a knife, which hee ſeeth they would uſe to cut their own throat with.) Your boſomes, O beleevers, will hint you the particulars in this caſe, and therefore I paſſe them by: OnelyOnly let the word of reproof fall upon you, who for any occaſion, whether great or ſmall, dare to queſtion the tranſcendency of Chriſts love; when as you ſee it to be a clear truth (written as with a Sun-beam upon your ſouls and boſomes) that the love he loveth you with, is paſſing knowledge.
Uſe, Thirdly, This point is a word of Exhortation, to exhort beleevers (upon the conſideration of this tranſcendent love, which Chriſt beareth to them) to doe at leaſt theſe four things.
Firſt, Tremble to think that ever you ſhould ſin againſt him, who loveth you ſo much. View thy ſins (O beleever) in the light of thy Saviours love; and when thou ſeeſt the tranſcendency of that love which is in his boſome towards thee, then ſit down, and bleed to behold thy great ſinnings againſt him. Then indeed hath tranſcendent love a ſweet working upon thy ſpirit, when as the thoughts of it can make thee mourn for thy ſinnes. How ſweetly did love work upon that woman (who was a ſinner) when ſhe taſted the tranſcendent love of her Saviour? The ſight of the great love which was in his boſome towards her, makes her ſit at his feet, and weep bitterly at the thoughts of her ſins. For the preſent, I will not diſpute the point whether mourning for ſin before cloſing with Chriſt can bee ſincere, Sure I am of this, that after cloſing with Chriſt, and taſting of his love, then mourning for ſin is moſt ſweet: And though nothing in the world melt the heart for ſinne, yet the thoughts of the love of Chriſt will. Well, beleevers, let in then have ſuch a work in your boſomes. O let his tranſcendent love (which you may read written with the blood of his heart) diſſolve thine adamantine heart: And let it make thee mourn for thy ſinnes greatly. They ſhall ſee him whom they have peirced, and mourn (ſaith the Scripture) Zach. 12.10. Why (beleevers) doe you ſee him whom you have peirced with your ſinnes? Do not you mourn, eſpecially when you ſee him in the light of love? I ſay no more but this, either you have not taſted this tranſcendent love of Chriſt, or elſe your ſpirits are very much hardened, if the ſenſe and thoughts thereof do not cauſe you to mourn for ſinne. Therefore let this word of Exhortation ſinke deeply into your hearts (O beleevers!) weep, and weep teares of blood, to think that ever you ſhould ſinne againſt Jeſus Chriſt, who hath writen in his own blood this truth, that he loveth you with a love paſſing knowledge.
Secondly, Be exhorted to be ambitious to anſwer this tranſcendent love of your Saviour, with the like. Let this love of thy Lord, be the loadſtone of thy love; Let it conſtrain thee to love him tranſcendently, who loveth thee ſo. I know it is impoſſible that thou ſhouldeſt parallel it, (which is the glory of Chriſts love) yet ſtrive at leaſt to imitate it, (which will be the glory of thine.) Do not content thy ſelf to love him little, that loved thee much; Sith Chriſt hath loved thee richly, bee aſhamed to love him but poorly. Ambition in this reſpect will be a grace, if ſo be that the ſire of Chriſts love to thee, ſet thee in flames of great love to him: O! be ambitious to declare as much as in thee lyeth, the exceeding greatneſſe of thy love to thy Lord.
Mirandula notes it as a badg of love that it maketh the perſon willing, yea & deſirous to ſuffer for the party beloved. Beleevers, Chriſts love to you, had ſuch a work as that, and if your love to him hath not yet riſen ſo high as to deſire to ſuffer for him, yet let it at leaſt riſe thus high, as to be willing to ſuffer any thing for him, if hee call thee to it; It will be a ſweet, and a ſure character of love.
As Chriſt wrote a letter of love to thee in his own blood: So do thou (upon occaſion) write a letter of love back to him, in the ſame rubrick. The love of Chriſt (ſaith Paul) conſtraineth us, becauſe (ſaith he) we thus judge, &c. 2 Cor. c. 5. v. 14. the conſideration of Chriſts love had a conſtraining power upon Pauls ſpirit, & he could not chuſe but judge this, that if Jeſus Chriſt… dyed for him, hee ſhould be willing to dye for Chriſt. Then is a Chriſtian ſweetly exerciſed, when as the Golden ball of divine love, is toſſed too and again, between Chriſts boſome, and his. Let this therefore ſink into your ſpirits, labour to anſwer (O beleevers) this tranſcendent love of Chriſt towards you, which paſſeth knowledge.
Thirdly, upon all occaſions, have recourſe to this tranſcendent love. Populus me ſibilat, &c. (as the miſer ſaith) people deride mee abroad, but I comfort my ſelfe, when I come home, (he meant by looking into his boxes, and there ſeeing his gold.) Beleevers, though the world deride you abroad, yet you may have recourſe to this love of Chriſt, and comfort your ſelves when you come home: To look as it were into the glorious box (Chriſts boſome) and there ſee that, which (I am ſure to thee) is better than gold, id eſt, his grace. Weak people are thus farre wiſe, as they have their little bottles of ſpirits, and cordials to carry about with them, to refreſh them when they are faint; Beleevers, you (eſpecially you that are weak) imitate their wiſdome: Let this bottle of Chriſts tranſcendent love, alwayes be in thy boſome, and have recourſe to this; Refreſh thy ſpirits upon all occaſions (eſpecially when thou beginneſt to faint) and without doubt, there is a refreſhing power in this tranſcendent love of Chriſt, to keep up your hearts from fainting under troubles (as we ſhall ſee in the next point, when we come to it.) Jeſus Chriſt in his trouble had recourſe to his fathers love, why then in any trouble, have not you recourſe to Chriſts love?
Fourthly, (In as much as Chriſt loveth all his with a tranſcendent love) let it be your care (O beleevers) to imitate your Saviour: Love all his as he doth, with ſuch a tranſcendent love.Epheſ. 5.2. 1 Joh. 4.11. Beloved, if Chriſt have loved us, we ought then to love one another. At leaſt (O beleevers) be perſwaded to have ſalt in your ſelves, and to love one another, and that very dearly, ſith Jeſus Chriſt doth the like: Be ye followers of Chriſt (in this) as dea… children, and be you walkers in love one to another, as Chriſt hath loved you all; who ever they bee that are beleevers, Chriſt loveth them very dear, becauſe they are his: He doth ſo, why ſhould not you? O that where ever you ſee the light of Chriſts love ſhining upon any boſome, that there you would cauſe your love to ſhine alſo upon the ſame: Eſpecially take heed, that you do not frown upon thoſe, on whom Chriſt doth ſmile. You have heard (and therefore mind it) that Chriſt loveth all his with a tranſcendent love, therefore take in this exhortation alſo; who ever they be, that belong to Jeſus Chriſt (though in many things they differ from thee) yet let them have thy love, for this one thing, viz. Chriſt in them: At leaſt learn to love them really, becauſe you hear Chriſt loveth them tranſcendently, Chriſt loveth different Saints with the ſame love: ſure I am, that beleevers, of all, or any opinions, are the object of Chriſts affection, and though they are unhappily, it may be, erring about ſome truths, yet they are all of them happy in the injoyment of this truth, that Jeſus Chriſt loveth them all with a love paſſing knowledge. Sad it is to ſee thoſe look ſtrangely one upon another, who are yet all beloved of Jeſus Chriſt: But ſadder it is to ſee any Saint look upon another with a frowning countenance, when as Chriſt looketh upon him, as well as upon himſelf, with a ſmiling face. Who doth not bleed to ſee one beleever to write a book of revilings againſt another, when as you look upon the Goſpell (as a glorious book of love) writted by Chriſt to them all; Tell it not in Gath, publiſh it not in the ſtreets of Askelon: O! let not the daughters of the unbeloved triumph, to ſee you who are the highly beloved ones of Ieſus Chriſt, traducing and reviling one another. I ſay no more but this, ſith Jeſus Chriſt doth love al the Saints, and every believer, with a tranſcendent love, do you who are beleevers (and ſo ſhare in the ſweetneſſe of this truth) do the like.
Fourthly, I ſhall adde but a word of perſwaſion, and let it be to perſwade all thoſe, who as yet are ſtrangers to Ieſus Chriſt, to come in unto him. O that you could behold the glorious beames of tranſcendent love towards all beleevers, doubtleſs ſuch a ſight as that, could not chuſe but work upon your hearts, and ſtrangely draw your ſpirits to cloſe with him, who is ſo lovely in himſelf, and ſo loving unto his wandring ſoules, that erre up and down the Wilderneſſe of the world: Return (yee ſinners) unto holds of love, kiſſe the Son, imbrace Jeſus Chriſt, know, hee is the Lord of love: One who imbraceth all that come to him freely; and then loveth them all tranſcendently: I fear you are ignorant of this truth, that Chriſt loveth his with a love paſſing knowledge.
And it may be your ignorance of this, keepeth you from cloſing with him; But know it now, and be perſwaded to come to Chriſt; to cloſe with him, to imbrace his Goſpell, to love his truth, to be converſant in his ordinances, as knowing, if you be, you ſhall have love from him, which paſſeth knowledge. Bee contented now to break off from the wayes of ſinne, and vanity, and come into the wayes of righteouſneſſe; Bee contented to bid the creature adieu, and now be willing to imbrace Chriſt. do not ſay if you take up Chriſt in his Goſpell and in his wayes, Friends will leave you, and the World will loath you, and the Devill will ſtirre up the Sonnes of Belial againſt you: It matters not, though the creatures leave you, Chriſt will imbrace you; Though they loath you, Chriſt will love you. And what need you fear the riſing up of the Sonnes of Belial, when you ſhall enjoy the loves of Chriſts boſome? Heare and give eare, (O ye children of folly) bee wiſe at leaſt once, and you ſhall taſte love. Chriſt calleth you all, whoever you bee, come to him, imbrace him cordially, and you ſhall find him loving you tranſcendently. I have ſaid all (and happy I were, and you too) if I could but prevail with you to bee drawn to Jeſus Chriſt with theſe cords of love.
However you are ſtrangers to it now, yet if you would but come in, you ſhould know the love of Chriſt, and know the truth of this point. Your own experience ſhould bee forced to witneſſe to this, That Jeſus Chriſt loveth beleevers with a tranſcendent love, paſſing knowledge.