A Comment Upon Christs Last Prayer, Verse 26 · Doctrine 5
It is the Deſire, and Endeavor of our Savior,Doct. 1. That the deareſt of Gods Love, which was beſtowed on himſelf, ſhould alſo be given to his Faithful Servants.
You ſee how our Savior is not content to put them off with the leaſt pittance, the meaneſt proviſion, but he would have them have the beſt, the choyceſt rarities: If there were any Dainties better than other, he would carve out them to his People; as the Love wherewith thou haſt loved me.
Chriſt was the only begotten, the Firſt-born of God, and had the Firſt-born Affections of God beſtowed upon him: and he is not ſatisfied, unleſs that Firſt-born Affection of the Father be imparted to them in their proportion.
If there be one bit better than another, ſome ſpecial Rarity that comes unexpected, and that from far; it's the faſhion of tender-hearted Friends, I would this Carving were but in ſuch a ones hand, though it coſt me more than I would ſpeak: it's the choyceſt Proviſion that ever I taſted.
So our Savior, when his heart is raviſhed with the reliſh of the unconceivable Complacency, and Soul-pleaſing Satisfaction, he cannot make a meal of it; but he minds, and remembers the Father of his tender Lambs, and poor feeble Servants: O that my Members, and Faithful, might have a ſhare of this Love, but a little reliſh of it, though it coſt me more than wil be imagined.
Thou loveſt them as Creatures, thou gaveſt them their Being, and thou preſerveſt it. He preſerves both Man and Beaſt.
Thou pitieſt them as Sinners, thou haſt appointed a means for their relief, and thou haſt revealed it.
Thou provideſt for them as Chriſtians, thou haſt ſent the means (bleſſed be thy Name) and haſt diſpenſed al thoſe glorious Helps of Life and Grace.
And this is a high Favor, for thou haſt not dealt ſo with any Nation (though thou dealeſt wel withal) neither have the Heathen knowledg of thy waies.
Thou tendereſt them as thy Saints appointed to Eternal Life, with Grace, as given unto Adam; and he, as a man, had he kept the Covenant for himſelf, and his (and ſo a man by keeping of Covenant) had brought man to Eternal Life.
But, bleſſed Father, thou haſt not only communicated thy Grace, but thy ſelf unto me, thou haſt loved me before the World, and I have enjoyed the neereſt Union, Thou in me, and I in thee; not as an infinite God, who haſt created al things, ſuſtaineſt what thou haſt created, governeſt, guideſt al things to their ends, and in their ends, for which they were created: But as a Father, I was with thee, as thine everlaſting delight, and lay in thy Boſom.
O! this Love, this endeared, and intimate Love of a Father, let my feeble, poor Servants have ſome of that, ſome reliſh of that: As thou art in me, and I in thee; ſo they may be in me, and in thee alſo.
O! let them have but a reliſh of this Love, I have enough; that they may be for ever refreſhed, everlaſtingly ſetled and eſtabliſhed.
When the Spirits of Friends, are moſt indeared to thoſe that they would entertain with greateſt content, they are not ſatisfied to take what is next at hand, or content themſelves with ordinary, or common Proviſion, with courſe, or mean Fare; but they ſend far and neer, ſpare no coſt, nor care, nor pains, nor expences; but the beſt Rarities, fetched from the remoteſt places, purchaſed at deareſt Rates, preſerved in the moſt eſpecial manner, and that on purpoſe to give ſuch Perſons wel-come, to whom they are indeared as unto their own Souls, and would lay out their heart for their hearts content. It is ſo with our Savior.
That the Saints may know his endeared Affection to them, and what Proviſion he hath laid in for their wel-come in Heaven, he leaves this as his laſt farewel upon their Souls: He tels them, he doth not purpoſe to ſet before them, ordinary Fare, common Courteſies, which he vouchſafes to al, as Life, Breath, and Being; poor Diet, of theſe periſhing things here below, of Profits, Pleaſures, Honors, and Applauſe. Nay, he cannot ſatisfie himſelf, how he may give the choyceſt, ſatisfying content to them: And therefore he looks out, not what Proviſion, Earth, or Heaven can afford; but what the Boſom, and Breaſt, and Heart-blood Affection of God the Father can afford.
That Love wherewith thou haſt loved me the firſt of al, the greateſt of al, let out ſome of that, Righteous Father, unto the fainting Souls of my Faithful Ones.
This, Holy Paul praies for, as for the moſt precious Favor that could be obtained, as that indeed wherein the reſt iſſue, begs it upon his Knees, Eph. 3.14. I bow my Knees unto the Father of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that ye may be ſtrengthened with might by his Spirit in the inward man: that Chriſt may dwel in your hearts by Faith, that ye may be rooted and grounded in Love: The end of al is, That ye may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the Love of Chriſt which paſſeth knowledg, verſe 19.
The Height exceeds al Excellency, al Apprehenſions, al Admiration. The Length exceeds the limits of al Time, from everlaſting to everlaſting. The Breadth exceeds the Bounds of al Being, none have received the impreſſions of ſuch Love.
It is the Happineſs of the Supreameſt of the Angles, to have but the Reflection, and to come within the Shadow of this Love. Their Work and Happineſs, is to attend upon thoſe, that God hath taken ſo neer unto Chriſt, and himſelf in Chriſt.
As great Perſonages maintain their Gentlemen honorably, to attend upon their Heir: They keep them at Cambridg, or ſome ſuch like place, becauſe they will have their Son and Heir there.
They are miniſtring Spirits, ſent out for the good of thoſe that ſhal inherit Salvation.
No Creature hath this, nor indeed is capable of this Love, but Man. As I might demonſtrate to you by the Courſe of Gods Diſpenſation.
The Depth being al the moſt inward, intimate, and enlarged working of al Creatures, let al the Affections of al Creatures be put together, let there be a Confluence, and concurrence of al Fatherly, Motherly, Brotherly, Friendly, Natural, Spiritual Affections put together. This draws deeper than them al.
David expreſſed Jonathans Love; it was beyond the Love of Women, which are moſt ardent, and moſt vehement. That was but as one Creature might love another: but this is ſuch a Love, as God loves himſelf and his Son withal. And to procure this Love, the heart of our Savior was ſo ſtrongly carried, that he left Heaven, and his Glory, yea, loſt his Life, yea, was content to loſe Gods Love, that is, the ſence and ſweetneſs thereof, which was better than Life it ſelf, that we might enjoy it. For he became a Curſe, that we might be bleſſed, Gal. 3.13. He was willing to be forſaken (My God, my God, why haſt thou forſaken me?) that ſo we might be received, and kept for ever, ſafe, in the Boſom of his Love, Matth. 27.46.
And hither Chriſt would bring, and here leave us, never to depart from hence. And therefore he doth content himſelf, that this Love was appointed, provided, prepared, tendred to the Saints, nay, enfeoffed, and beſtowed upon them; but that it might be with them, and remain in them for ever.
Be in you] that is, That it might take up its Reſidence, and abode, in them for ever.
REASON.
1. Love we know, is an Affection of Ʋnion, and by this, the neereſt Union betwixt Chriſt and his Saints, is procured: They are brought to lie both in the Arms of the Father; nay, to lodg in his Bowels and Boſom together. And therefore, as hath been mentioned before, there is that proper Relation, that peculiar Diſpoſition, to be found in the Second Perſon towards our Nature, and the Saints by that means; which is not to be found in the Father, or in the Holy Ghoſt. As the Second Perſon, he is the Head of his Church, which can be ſaid of none of the Perſons; it's an Hereſie to maintain it.
This Union of our Nature, is not only an impreſſion in the Soul, as a work upon the Creature: For then it had been common to al the Perſons. For al the Operations, which are created Expreſſions, are indiviſae, undivided; what one doth, that al do.
This Union therefore, being a real Union (me non cogitante) though no man in the World, had a thought or apprehenſion of it: therefore beſide the impreſſion that is left upon the Creature, there is ſomwhat a peculiar operation iſſuing from the Second Perſon, which belongs to him alone; and by which it is, he is ſaid to be united, and none elſe. And therefore there is a peculiar kind of propriety and relation, which the Second Perſon hath in this Union, wherein he ſuits with our Nature, which is not to be found in any of the other; and that he muſt have as Second Perſon, becauſe it's his Prayer.
Hence we are called, Fleſh of his Fleſh, and Bone of his Bone. Neerer than Fleſh and Bone, as neer as one part of the Bone to the other, one part of the Fleſh to the other. So our Savior, John, 6.57. As the living Father hath life in himſelf, ſo I live by the Father: and he that eateth my Fleſh, ſhall live in me.
Al the whol Aim of our Saviors Prayer is,
1. To bring his Saints as nigh as may …e; I will, that thoſe that thou haſt given me, may be where I am: that is not enough.
2. That they may ſee my Glory: nor yet that. But,
3. That they may gaze upon it. Nay, yet further; not they only in Glory, but,
4. I in them, and we both in the Cabinet, as nigh to God as may be, and as nigh one to another, as can be, in him.
2. The greateſt good, together with the greateſt ſafety of the Saints, is provided for: This ſhews the indeared Affection of the Love of Chriſt: for Love ever deſires the greateſt good to the thing beloved. So he praies, 2 Theſ. 3.5. The Lord direct your hearts into the Love of God, and the expectation of Chriſt. So alſo he perſwades, Jude 21. Keep your ſelves in the Love of God. If they be once here, they are beyond either evil or danger, they need fear nothing. Nothing can ſeparate from the Love of God in Chriſt. Nothing ye can want, John 16.26, 27. I ſay not, that I will pray the Father for you: I need not that; for the Father himſelf loveth you. His Love ſent me, and ſet me on work; his Love is the higheſt Fountain, the firſt mover; and therefore it wil ſet me on work.
If once God love his, as his Chriſt, nothing can alter or hinder: If the ſame Love, the ſame Happineſs with Chriſt. This Love hath al, works al, is before al, overrules al.
3. By this, the Glory of the Father, and Chriſt, is moſt advanced.
This Love is the Treaſury, and Magazine of al that incomparable, and unconceivable Maſs of Mercy and Goodneſs: in this it is contained, and by this it is expreſſed to the World.
This Love ſet God on work to create a World, and to ſet out his Excellencies therein, to redeem the World out of the World, and to bring to light thoſe depths of his indeared affections to his, in his Chriſt, which the world could not conceive and would not believe. That the world may know thou haſt loved them, as thou loveſt me. They did know, and they would not beleeve it, that there was ſuch love in God, or ſuch love towards men.
By this, God is admired in them that do beleeve. 2 Theſſ. 2.10. He is glorious in his Saints, but his glory is beyond comprehenſion, admirable, when the condition of the Saints, what they were, and hereby are, comes to be conſidered.
USE, 1. Of Reprehenſion.
It Checks the opinion and carriage of the drooping and diſcouraged Saints, who poar upon their own ſins, and ſit down diſcouraged in the ſight and ſenſe of their own unworthineſs: and then begin to meaſure the Lord Chriſts affections according to their own diſpoſition: nouriſh ſecret Jealouſies and ſurmiſes: If there be any bleſſings which are of eſpecial account that they want, or Graces which they deſire, or Counſels which they need: They ſecretly conceive, that Chriſt, who knows their weakneſs and wretchedneſs better than themſelves, he grudgeth the graunt of ſuch high favors to ſuch undeſerving and ſinful wretches as they be. No, ſay they, it wil never be. Happy they who are ſit to receive, but the Lord ſees them too good, and too much for me: And the Devil is ready at hand to add fuel to the fire, to help forwards ſuch groundleſs miſconceivings as they be. That he may mint and maintain hard thoughts in the Soul againſt our Savior Chriſt and his intended compaſſions. So he dealt with our firſt parents.
The Spark was no ſooner ſtirring and appearing, but he blows and increaſeth it, until it come unto a great Flame. Yea, hath God ſaid, ye ſhal not eat of every Tree? He knows that ye ſhal be as Gods knowing good and evil. Therefore he forbids you the meanes; that ye may not attaine the end. He envies the happineſs, otherwiſe, he that knows what it is, he would have provided for your ſpiritual good, that ye might have knowledg, as wel as provide the Tree. Therefore the Lord profeſſeth himſelf offended with this way ward diſtemper of his froward Children.
The Father cares not for me, loves not me, thinks al too good for me, Iſa. 40.27. Why ſai'ſt thou, O Jacob, & ſpeaks O Iſrael, my way is hid from the Lord? This is the dayly talk of al diſmayed ones, the ſpeech they have in their meetings. Jacob ſaies, Iſrael ſaies, This ye ſay: but what ſaies the Lord Jeſus? Why ſpeakeſt thou thus? Chriſt cannot abide ſuch unkind ſurmiſes and Jealouſies.
To caſt an Eye to ſuch a wretched Creature as I, my wants are ſuch &c. But the Lord knows how better to beſtow his ſupplies. That I ſhould have peace, or evidence, or aſſurance &c.
Let it ſuffice thee, that Chriſt wiſheth thy welfare, as he doth the moſt able and excellent Chriſtian upon Earth. He doth not grudge the greateſt excellency in Heaven, no not in the very heart of the Father. He would not have a choice Sit, but he would have thee to be partaker of it: he would have thee ſhare in the love of the Father with himſelf.
Sit down aſhamed and confounded in thy ſelf, that ever thou ſhould'ſt have a hard thought of Chriſt, whoſe heart is ſo fully …nlarged for thy good.
USE, 2. For Inſtruction.
The Faithful ſhal certainly be made partakers of the Fathers love in Chriſt, and when they have it, its as certain they can never looſe it.
1. They may certainly expect it.
They may certainly expect that, which Chriſt deſires, becauſe he ever attaines his deſires at the hands of God the Father. Joh. 11.42. I know that thou heareſt me alwaies, he is ſure to ſpeed and therefore they are ſure to poſſeſs.
But Chriſt deſires this; Therefore they may expect it.
Nay, he not only deſires, but the ſtrength of his indeavor is ſpent to this purpoſe, and its the end he aimes at. His deſire is ever anſwered, his labour ever bleſſed: And therefore the faithful may undoubtedly expect this love.
The Lord Chriſt makes it the main work on Earth, in Heaven, what he hath done, what he wil. I have made known, I will make known thy Name. He that hath al power, he is improving al power for this end and purpoſe, that this love may be ſetled and eſtabliſhed. Wil the Lord Chriſt looſe his labor? can he miſs of his end? can any thing oppoſe his power or prejudice his ſucceſs?
2. They can never looſe it.
The love of the Father to Chriſt, nothing can alter that. The love of the Father to us is the ſame, nothing can change it. Our union, as his, nothing can ſeparate or break. Our communion, as his, nothing can interrupt it.
Hither Paul repaires, and lands his heart and Hopes in ſafety. Rom. 8.38. — Nor things to come; Obj. Somthing is yet to come. Anſ. Come what wil come. This is his aim, to ſettle the concluſion of their happines, and the certainty thereof: To be beyond the reach of al the hoſts in Heaven and Earth. Therefore he muſters up al, what are, what ſhal be. If there were a thouſand worlds to come, and ſhould ſet themſelves to ſhake the comforts of the faithful, it could not be.
The ground is hence,
Becauſe of the love of God in Chriſt. It was before al theſe things; & therefore they come too late to hinder it. It was without any repect, and therefore they could not work it. It was only and wholly from God: and therefore they cannot alter it. The Devils and ſin may as wel ſeparate Chriſt from the Father, as pul the love of the Father from his own heart, and ſo from Chriſt, as ſeparate us from it.
3. Its ground of greateſt contentment to the hearts of al Gods people in al their conditions.
Chriſt cannot love thee better than he doth, nor provide greater good for thee than he intends. Thou canſt have no more, I had almoſt ſaid, God can give thee no more.
Be therefore content with what thou haſt; our Saviors deſire is to intereſt thee in the heart and love of the Father, as himſelf. Not to love thee as a Creature, as a friend, a ſubject, but as the Son of his love. What me? Yea thee, poor, weak, ſilly, worthleſs Worm, that beleeveſt in him. Go thy way therefore, never quarel, nor queſtion any more; never murmur, nor repine any more. It is enough, nay it is too much. I would not have thought it. I durſt not have deſired it. I could not have beleeved it, but that our Savior hath ſaid and done it.
What, I beloved of the Lord Jeſus, miſerable wretch, who cannot but loath my ſelf, and Judg my ſelf worthy to be condemned? Yea thou. Therefore reſt thy weary heart in al thy weakneſs: do not think to bring ſuch meaſure of Grace to deſerve this love. Nay, lay hold of this love, and it wil increaſe the eminency of all Grace, and that in a glorious manner. Paul Prayes that the Epheſians may know this love, that they may be filled with all Gods fulneſs. Eph. 3.19.
View this wiſhly, and warm thy heart with it, and thou ſhalt not need to complaine of barrenneſs, thou ſhalt be ful of Grace. Nay, ful of al fulneſs of glorious Grace. No kind, no excellency of any kind that fits thy ſtation ſhal be wanting. How this is done, is not now to inquire, the Doctrine leads us to the ſame, while we conſtantly attend to the diſpenſation of Gods love in Chriſt begetting us as his Adopted ones to himſelf: while we find this experimentally, and ſo know it, it leaves our hearts under the influence of it, as of him to receive al, and as from him to do al. What ever may be lacking to thy Hope, patience, meekneſs &c. repaire to this love and know that there is no lack. I have the Choiceſt love of God that Earth, or Heaven, or the heart of God can afford. And that is beyond the excellency of al Grace, and al abilities that either I do want or can deſire. He loves me, therefore let him take what he wil from me, do what he wil with me, love wil ſupply al. Give what he wil, love is better than al. As he, Am I not better than ten Sons? Gods love is better than al Graces and bleſſings, for it is the fountain of all.