The True Christians Love of the Unseen Christ, Section 8
SECT. VIII.
Vse 1. FOR Information hence learn, that there are but few true Christians in the world, because there are so few that love this unseen Christ. There are many Christians in Name, few Christians in deed and in truth. The time hath been when openly to profess the Name of a Christian, did argue true love unto Jesus Christ; I mean in the Primitive times, when Christians were Persecuted by the Heathens, as in the Ten first dreadful Persecutions under the Heathen Emperours; when the world was watered with Christian blood, then especially at some times and in some yea most places, whoever openly acknowledged themselves to be Christians they exposed themselves unto Imprisonments, Racks, Tortures, Burnings and the most cruel deaths; It was the Truth and Strength of Love unto Jesus Christ, which carried them thorow such great sufferings, as many did in those dayes undergo for the sake of Jesus Christ: But now there are Multitudes of bare nominal Christians, they call themselves Christians being baptized in Christ's name, but they are altogether without love to Christ, whose Name they bare: Surely there are but few, not only in the Christian World, but even in England (where Christianity is to be found in as great purity as in any place) that love Jesus Christ in sincerity. No grossely ignorant persons do truly love Christ; such as don't know Christ, they can't love him; ignoti nulla cupido, there is no desire after, nor love unto an unknown thing: An unknown evil cannot be hated, and an unknown good cannot be loved. No grossely Erroneous persons, do truely love Christ; such as do not receive Christ's Truths, they cannot love Christ's Person: Joh. 14. 23. If any man love me he will keep my words. The words of Christ do include, not only the words of his Precepts, but also the words of his Doctrine; Such as erre grossely, I mean in the Fundamental Truths of Christianity, they are no friends to Christ, but his Enemies, so far are they from true love unto him. No grossely wicked persons, do truly love Christ; such as profane persons, who Blaspheme the name of God in their hideous Oaths; the love of Christ doth teach an Holy Awe and Reverence of Gods Name; such are Persecuters of Gods people for Righteousness sake. How can they love the Head, that hate the Members? Christ accounteth himself to be persecuted, in the perseution of his Members; Act. 9. 4. Saul, Saul, why persecut est thou me, and v. 5. I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: and surely persecutors of Christ do not love Christ. Such are Scoffers at Religion, who deride Holiness and mock at the name of a Saint or Godly person, whereby they evidently shew their contempt of the Holiness of Christ, from whom the Saints derive all theirs; and how can they love Christ that do contemne him and his Image. No unrighteous persons do truly love Christ, whether they be so in regard of distributative justice, or in regard of commutative justice; whether they be unrighteous in Execution of judgement, in distribution of Rewards or Punishments, & whether they be unrighteous in their Traffick and Dealing…; Christ strictly requireth justice and Righteousness, and how can they love him, that do not keep this Commandement? No Covetous persons do truly love Christ; the Apostle saith, 1 Joh. 2. 15. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. And I may say that if any man love the world, (that is, with his chief love) the love of the Son is not in him; the love cannot be chiefly set upon things below here on Earth, and upon Christ who is above in Heaven. No Licentious persons do truly love Christ: no Drunkards, Adulterers, or any that indulge themselves in unlawful delights; the love of Christ doth teach us to deny such Lusts, and to Mortifie them. No meer civil persons that are unconverted, no Hypocrites that have a forme of Godliness, but are without the power of it, do truly love Christ: the former may be loving and courteous unto men, but they have no love to Christ; the latter may Profess love to Christ, and Seem to love him, but they do not really love him. In a word none who are under the reigning power of any sin, do truly love Christ: The Reign of sin is in the heart, and this is inconsistent with the love of Christ in the Heart. Now let us separate all these forementioned persons, from the rest; Grossely Ignorant persons, grossely erroneous persons, grossely wicked persons, the Profane, the Persecutors of Gods people, the Scoffers at Religion, all Unrighteous persons, all Covetous Persons, Drunkards, Adulterers, and all Licentious Persons; meer Civil persons, Hypocrites, and all that are under the reigning power of sin, and how few will there be left that do truly love Christ! and by Consequence there will appear but very few that are true Christians.