Christ and the Covenant, Sermons · Sermon 1
Chriſts Perſonall Excellencies the object of our Love. SERMON I.
John 14.28.
…f ye loved me, ye would rejoyce, becauſe I ſaid, I go unto the Father, for my Father is greater than I.
THeſe words are part of the laſt ſweet Sermon, which our Saviour Preached unto his Diſciples before his Death and departure from them: wherein he labours to allay their ſorrow and grief upon the …ccaſion of his departure: Therefore he tells them … the ſecond Verſe, In my Fathers houſe are many man…s: and at the third Verſe, I go to prepare a place for ….
Then he tells them at the 16, 17, 18, verſes, that … would ſend them another Comforter and, I will not leave … comfortleſſe, I will come unto you.
Then he labours to perſwade them unto comfort, … their proteſtation of their own Love unto him. … ſay you love me, ſaith he, If ye loved me, yo would re…e, becauſe I ſaid, I go unto the Father, for my Father is …ter than I.
…f ye loved me, that is, If you loved me ſo much as you ſhould. 'Tis uſuall with Scripture to ſpeak of thing… abſolutely, when they are meant c…mparatively. If you loved me ſo much as you pro…eſſe, and ſo much as you ſhould: for they did love him.
If ye loved me, ye would rejoyce, becauſe I go unto m… Father.
Joy is the top of Comfort, as Comfort is the top o… Peace. Joy is the cream of Comfort. If ye loved me ye would be ſo far from being troubled at my going that you would be very much comforted: for I g… unto my Father, who is greater than I: Than I am a… Mediatour, who upon my coming to him, will exa… me, and therefore if ye loved me, ye would rathe… rejoyce, becauſe I go un…o my Father, who is great… than I: From whence then I take up this Doctrine.
Doct. That true love unto the Perſon of Chriſt, w… make us rejoyce in his Perſonall Exaltment, thou it may be in ſome reſpects unto our debaſement, or pr… ſent loſſe.
For the opening and proſecuting whereof,
1. We muſt enquire what there is in Chriſt's g… ing to the Father, that is matter of our Rejoycing.
2. I ſhall labour to ſhew you, that 'tis our duty rejoyce in the Perſonall Exaltment of Chriſt, tho… in ſome reſpects it may be to our own loſſe and … baſement.
3. That true love to the Perſon of Chriſt will … able us to do this.
4. That 'tis poſſible, that Chriſt's own, and … Diſciples, may be wanting in their Love to Chri… Perſon.
5. What an excellent thing it is to love the P… ſon of Chriſt, rather than the benefits of Chriſt: To have our hearts drawn out in Love to his Perſon, more excellent than to have a love to him upon the account of benefits. And
6. What we ſhould do, that our hearts may be drawn out in love to the very Perſon of Chriſt, ſo as we may be able to rejoyce in his exaltment, though to our own debaſement.
Firſt, If you ask what there is in Christ's going to the Father, that is matter of our Rejoycing, of a Diſciples rejoycing.
I anſwer, much every way;—much in reference to our own concernments, —much in reference to the concernments of Chriſt, —much in reference to the concernments of God the Father.
As for our own concernments,
Firſt, If Chriſt had not gone unto the Father, his …atisfaction for our ſins had not been accepted, nor …ur Redemption perfected, Heb. 9.12. Neither by the blood of Goats and Calves, but by his own blood, he entred in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal Redemp…ion for us. It doth relate and allude unto the manner of the Old Teſtament: when the blood of Goats …nd Calves was poured out, the Prieſt took the blood …nd carried it into the holy of holyeſt, and ſprinkled the mer… Seat: But though the blood of Bulls or Calves had …een poured out, yet if the Prieſt had not carried it …to the holy of holyeſt, the typicall ſatisfaction and re…emption had not been obtained: And ſo here, though …e blood of Jeſus had been ſhed, and poured out up…n the Croſſe, if he had not gone unto the Father, and …rried his blood into heaven, into the holy of holyeſt, his …tisfaction for our ſin had not been accepted, and ou… …edemption had not been perfected.
Secondly, If Chriſt had not gone unto the Father, he had not made the application of his Death, and Blood, and Merits unto our Souls. He came into the world, that we ſhould have Repentance and Remiſſion: both were purchaſed by his Death: But now if he had not gone unto the Father, there had not been an application. Both were purchaſed by his Death on earth, —But was the buſineſſe ſo left at a looſe? no, but by his going to the Father, what he purchaſed by his Death he doth apply. In Acts 5. it's ſaid, Him hath God exalte… with his Right hand, to be a Prince and Saviour, for to giv… Repentance unto Iſrael, and forgiveneſſe of ſins. So that ha… he not gone unto the Father, there had not been a… application of his Blood, and Death, and Merit unt… our ſouls.
Thirdly, If Chriſt had not gone unto the Fathe… the Holy Ghoſt, the Comforter, had not come. If go not away, the Comforter will not come. —But wh… might not the Comforter, or the Holy Ghoſt, come though Chriſt had been here on earth, if he had n… gone unto the Father?
I anſwer, The gifts, graces, and comforts of th… Holy Ghoſt, were the Dona Regia, which were give… out upon the Coronation of Chriſt: for by this goin… to the Father he was crowned with glory and honour, … in Heb. 2. — When the Holy Ghoſt comes, he do bear witneſſe to our ſpirits, that we are the childre… of God, and God reconciled to us. But how ſhou… God give ſuch a teſtimony of his Reconciliation un… us, if Chriſt had not firſt gone into heaven, and give up his accounts of what he had done here on earth. … is ſaid expreſly in John 7. This ſpake he of the ſpir… which they that believe on him ſhould receive, for the H… Gh ſt was not yet given, becauſe that Jeſus was not yet glo… fied. And if Jeſus Chriſt had not gone unto the F… ther, and ſo ſent the Spirit, how ſhould we ha… known that he had ſo much care for us, and love to us, when he was in heaven, as by the ſending of the Holy Ghoſt. We are never more fit for the Holy Ghoſt, than when we are weaned from the carnall preſence of Chriſt: And therefore if Chriſt had not gone unto the Father, the Spirit, the Holy Ghoſt had not come.
Fourthly, If our Lord and Saviour Chriſt had not gone unto the Father, we ſhould have had no Advocate in heaven to plead our Cauſe in heaven upon all occaſions. 'Tis a great matter (we ſay) to have a Friend at Court, an Agent there that may plead for us. What a mercy is it to have an Agent in heaven to negotiate our buſineſſe there? why now ſaith the Apoſtle; If any man ſin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jeſus Chriſt the Righteous. If Chriſt had not gone unto the Father, we had not had this Advocate in heaven to plead for us upon all occaſions. And
Fifthly, If Chriſt had not gone unto the Father, we ſhould have no entrance into heaven; heaven was locked up, the Gates of Paradiſe were ſhut, and kept by an Angel with a a flaming ſword: This Paradiſe was opened upon the Croſſe, This day ſhalt thou be with me in Paradiſe; and we enter into it by Chriſt's going into heaven, by his going into the holy of holi…eſt, I go to prepare a place for you; not as ſent before to take up your Lodgings, but as one Friend goes before another, to make a great entertainment for his Friends. But I ſay, if Chriſt had not gone unto the Father, we had had no entrance into heaven. Why now, is it not a matter of Joy, and of great Comfort, that we have entrance into heaven? —That the Comforter is come,—That we have always one in heaven to plead our Cauſe upon all occaſions: Theſe and many other things we obtain by Chriſt's going to the Father. This for our own concernment. And
Secondly, As for the concernment of Chriſt: By his going to the Father, he was exalted, and glorified, (as Mediatour I ſpeak.)
And if you ask what was the Glory and greatneſſe that was put upon Chriſt, as Mediatour, by his going to the Father. —It conſiſts in two things. —The Royalty of his entertainment, when he came unto his Father,— And the greatneſſe of his advancement.
And if yo… ask yet, what was the Entertainment that he had when he came unto the Father.
Why, it was an Entertainment ſuitable to ſuch a Father,—and to ſuch a Son. When that great Sinner, the Prodigall, returned unto his Father, his Father fell upon his neck, and kiſſed him. Bring out the Robes, kill the Fatted Calf,, bring out the Ring: And if ſuch an entertainment for a Prodigall Son, what entertainment then for the Naturall Son of God, the obedient Son of God, that had been upon his Father's great concernment in the world? Great was this Entertainment ſurely, beyond all my expreſſion. But now more particularly.
1. No ſooner did he come into heaven unto his Father, but he was Juſtified in all that which he did and ſuffered for us, as you have it in the 1 Tim. 3.16. God was manifeſt in the fleſh, Juſtified in the Spirit, ſeen of Angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
2. No ſooner did he come unto the Father, but he was mightily declared to be the Son of God, as you have it in Rom. 1. Thou art my Son, this day, (that is, upon the Reſurrection) this day have I begotten thee. The Apoſtle explains it concerning the Reſurrection in Acts 13.
3. No ſooner did he come unto the Father, but he was annointed with a new and freſh Annointing, with the oyle of gladneſſe above all his fellows: For as David (the Type) had a double Annointing, one by the hand of Samuel, after which he was thruſt out into the Wilderneſſe, and another at the day of his Coronation, ſo Chriſt Typified had a double Annointing, one upon his Incarnation, in which reſpects he ſaith, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, and he hath annointed me to preach, —and another upon his Coronation, when he was crowned with Glory and honour. And therefore in Heb. 1. he is annointed twith the oyle of gladneſſe above his fellows, comes in upon his exaltation. And
4. No ſooner did he come into the preſence of his Father, but his Father ſaid unto him, Sit thou down at my Right hand; the moſt honourable place in heaven, ſit thou at my Right hand, my Son. —Why now is it not a matter of great rejoycing to us, that Chriſt going to heaven with our names upon his ſhoulder, and heart, ſhould have ſuch an entertainment as this, ſuch a welcome as this unto God the Father?
But 2ly. What advancement had he upon his going to the Father?
Why, great was his advancement as Mediatour.
For 1. No ſooner did he come unto the Father, but he was Invested with all that glory that he had with God the Father from all Eternity, which he had laid by and vailed, when he took our nature upon him: and therefore in Joh. 17. ſaith he, And now, oh Father, glorifie thou me with thy ſelf, with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. No ſooner did he come into heaven unto his Father, but he was inveſted with that glory again, that he had vailed to take our nature upon him.
2. No ſooner did he come into the preſence of his Father, into heaven, but God commanded all the Angels to worſhip him: Worſhip him all ye Angels.
3. No ſooner did he come into the preſence o… his Father, to heaven, but he was made Executor and Adminiſtrator to his own Will, to ſee that performed. We die, and leave Legacies, but cannot Adminiſter our ſelves, nor be the Executors of our own Wills: but Chriſt lives for ever. I was dead, but am alive; and when he came into heaven, God the Father made him Executor to his own Will, and therefore ſaith he; Ask the Father in my Name, and whatever ye ask, that will I give you. Him hath God the Father Exalted to give remiſſion and repentance, Executor of his own Will and Teſtament.
4. No ſooner did he come into heaven, into the preſence of his Father, but he was made the grea… Governour of all the world, and Head of the Church. In Acts 5. Him hath God exalted with his right hand, to be a Prince and Saviour: Lord over all the world, and Saviour of the Church. Agreable to that in Epheſ. 1.20. which he wrought in Chriſt, when he raiſe… him from the Dead, and ſet him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principalitie… and powers, and might and d…minion, and every name tha… is named, not onelyonly in this world, but alſo in that which is t… come. And hath put all things under his feet, and gav… him to be head over all things to the Church, which is his body. Prince and Saviour, Lord over all the world, and Saviour and Head unto the Church.
5. And to ſay no more in it: No ſooner did he come into the preſence of God his Father, (that is greater than he, as Mediatour) but God the Father did take him into fellowſhip in the matter of divine worſhip. Whether I or no, Chr…ſt qua Mediatour, or quia Mediatour, be to be adored with divine worſhip, I will not now debate; but whatſoever worſhip was due to God the Father, was given to Chriſt. Confounded …he all they that worſhip graven Images, worſhip him all ye gods. All divine worſhip due to God the Father, is given to him. Here's an advancement. Now is it not a matter of great rejoycing, that Chriſt our Head ſhould be thus advanced? Saith the Emperour's Wife, If thou be Caius, I am Caia; —and, If Chriſt be King, the Church is Queen, Pſal. 45. Is it not, I ſay, a matter of great rejoycing, that Chriſt our Head ſhould be thus advanced? Now thus he is advanced by his going to God the Father. Thus for the Son's concernment. But
Thirdly, What matter is there of rejoycing by Chriſt's going to the Father, in reference to the Father's concernment?
Much; ſaith Chriſt in John 14.13. Whatſoever ye ſhall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. That will I do; I am now going from you, and if ye ask the Father in my name, that will I do, —why? not that the Son may be glorified onelyonly, but that the Father may be glorified.
Look when the great Promiſe of the Father is fulfilled, then is the Father glorified. What's the great Promiſe of the Father? Acts 1. The coming of the Holy Ghoſt. By Chriſt's going to the Father comes the Holy Ghoſt: Therein was the Father glorified then.
And look, when Every tongue ſhall confeſſe that Jeſus is the Lord, to the glory of the Father, then is the Father glorified. Now by Chriſt's going to the Father, being exalted, every tongue doth confeſſe, that Jeſus is the Lord, to the glory of the Father, as in Philip. 2.
And to ſay no more in it but this: Look, when the great d…ſign of God upon the world is accompliſhed, and Chriſt the Son glorified, then is the Father glorified. Now by Chriſt's going to the Father the great deſign of God is accompliſhed, and the So… glorified. Thus we have cauſe of rejoycing in reference to the concernment of God the Father: Loo… where you will, —will you look upon your ow… concernment, —will you look upon the concernment of Chriſt, —will you look upon the concernment of God the Father, there is matter of our rejoycing in Chriſt's going to the Father. And ſo have done with the firſt thing. But then
Secondly, How may it appear, that it is our wor… and duty, to rejoyce in the Perſonall Exaltment o… Chriſt, though in ſome reſpect it ſhould be to ou… own debaſement, or preſent loſſe?
Why you ſee what our Saviour ſaith here, If ye loved me, ye would rejoyce, becauſe I go unto the Father, wh… is greater than I. You loſe by my going you think; and indeed in ſome reſpects you do. But however it is your duty to rejoyce, becauſe it is for my Perſonall Exaltment: And you know what Paul ſaith in another caſe. Some Preach Chriſt out of envy, and out of contention, and to adde affliction to my bonds; but however, ſaith he, Chriſt is preached, Chriſt is exalted, and therein I will rejoyce: I will rejoyce, though I be debaſed, ſo Chriſt may be exalted, I rejoyce.
If that we are to Praiſe God for the Exaltment of Chriſt, then we are to rejoyce therein; for Praiſe and Rejoycing go together in Scripture. Now, though I cannot praiſe God, and be thankfull that God loves me, I may praiſe God for this, that the Father loves Chriſt, and be thankfull for his love and his goodneſſe to Chriſt. Chriſt praiſed God for our glory and happineſſe, though to his own debaſement, why ſhould not we praiſe God for his Exaltment, though it be to our debaſement?
If I am to mourn for ſin, becauſe it is a diſhonour to God, though the ſin be to my own profit, then I am to praiſe God and Chriſt for his Glory, though it may be in ſome reſpects to my prejudice.
B…t beſides this, the more Communicative any good is, the more we may, and ſhould rejoyce therein. There is abundance of light in the Sun, but if the Sun be not up, and aſcended, it cannot give light unto all the world: So now, though there be light in Chriſt, able to enlighten all the world, yet if this Sun be not up, he cannot give light to all the world: but being now Aſcended, he is able to give forth his beams of light unto all the world.
But you will ſay; How may it appear, that Chriſt will be as gracious and communicative in his love unto us now in heaven, as he would have been had he been here on earth.
You know what he ſaid when he was here on earth, And let him that is athirſt come. John 7.37. In the last day, the great day of the Feaſt, Jeſus ſtood and cryed, ſaying; If any man thirſt, let him come unto me, and drink. —Now he is in heaven, look into the Book of the Revelation, which he ſpeaks from heaven, he ſpeaks more than that, And let him that is athirſt come, there's that, And whoſoever will, let him take of the water of life freely, here's more now he is in heaven.
And I pray, when did our Lord and Saviour Chriſt, waſh his Diſciples feet? Give the glorious teſtimony of his condeſcending love unto his D…ſciples, … when he was going to the Father? Jeſus knowing … that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God: he aroſe from Supper, and laid aſide his Garments, and took a Towel and girded himſelf. Knowing that all power was given into his hand, he gives that reaſon: He did thus condeſcend in this way of love, knowing that all power was given into his hand.
Now that he is in heaven, all power is given into his hand, and therefore now certainly he will be as gracious, and communicative in his love and goodneſſe, as if he had been here on earth; and rather over and above. Surely therefore it is our work and our duty, to rejoyce in this Exaltment of Chriſt, though in ſome reſpects it may be to our debaſement, or preſent loſſe. But then
Thirdly, How ſhall we do this?
Why, true love to the Perſon of Chriſt will enable us to do this: It will enable us to rejoyce in the Perſonall Exaltment of Chriſt, though it may be to our own preſent loſſe and abaſement. —It is a ſweet thing to the Lover, to ſuffer for the Perſon loved: that is, where love fixt upon the Perſon, and not upon the benefits, If love be fixt upon the benefit, it is not ſo, but if upon the perſon, it is ſo: So if our love be fixt upon the Perſon of Chriſt, this love will enable us to rejoyce in the Exaltment of Chriſt, though it be in our own debaſement: Chriſt rejoyced in our Exaltment, though it was to his own debaſement, —why? becauſe he loved our perſons, who loved us, and gave himſelf for us, So that true love unto the Perſon of Chriſt, will make us rejoyce in his Exaltment, though it may be to our own preſent debaſement,
You will ſay then, How few are there, that do love Chriſt indeed: Chr…ſt is hard…y loved for Christ: Chriſt himſelf is hardly l…ved f…r himſelf: To love the Perſon of Chriſt, how few are there that do that. And ſo I come unto the fourth thing.
Fourthly, 'Tis poſſible that Chriſt's own Diſciples may be wanting in their love to Chriſt's Perſon. Tis ſomewhat ſtrange this: If a Prince or Noble-man ſhould take a poor woman, a Beggar off the Dunghill, and marry her, it would be ſomewhat ſtrange, that ſhe ſhould not love his Perſon. If he ſhould not love her, you would not think it ſo ſtrange: If Boaz ſhould not love Ruth, you would not have thought it ſo ſtrange, but that Ruth ſhould not love the Perſon of Boaz, this may ſeem ſtrange: So now, ſuch beggars were we, when the Lord came and took us off the Dunghill, and ſaid, Now is a time of love. If the Lord Jeſus ſhould not love our perſons, it would not ſeem ſo ſtrange; but that we ſhould be wanting in our love to the Perſon of Chriſt, this is ſtrange: —yea Friends, 'tis poſſible that Chriſt's own Diſciples may be wanting in their love to the Perſon of Chriſt.
They may be wanting in the manner of their love to Chriſt's Perſon.
They may be wanting in the meaſure of their love to Chriſt's Perſon.
If ye loved me, ſaith he, and yet they left all to follow him: poſſibly then, the beſt Diſciples of Chriſt, the beſt men may be wanting in their love to the Perſon of Chriſt. To make this out a little to you.
1. Firſt of all, The more we love the Perſon of Chriſt, the more diligent and obſervant we ſhall be in keeping Chriſt's Commandments, that are properly his. If ye love me, keep my Commandments. Why now, how many are there of God's own people, that are too negligent in keeping Chriſt's Commandments; the Commandment of Love, —the Inſtitutions of Chriſt: and why ſo, but becauſe they are wanting in their love to the Perſon of Chriſt, If ye love me, keep my Commandments.
2. If a good man may be wanting in his zeal for for Chriſt, poſſibly he may be wanting in his Love t… Chriſt's Perſon: what is zeal, but fired love, inflam… love, angered love? Now poſſibly a man that love Chriſt in truth, may be wanting in his zeal. Old E… loved God, without all doubt, and yet he was wanting in his love to God. Peter loved Chriſt, Thou knoweſt that I love thee, and yet wanting in his love by denying of Chriſt. Good men may be wanting in thei… zeal for Chriſt; why? but becauſe they are wanting in their love to the Perſon of Chriſt.
3. The more a man loves the Perſon of Chriſt, th… more he doth love the Servants, the people of Chriſt It was a good ſpeech of Jerom, when there was … difference between Auſtin and him: I love Chri… dwelling in Auſtin: even at that very time when there was a difference betwen them. And certainly if we love the Perſon of Chriſt, we ſhall love Chriſt dwelling in the Saints. But now don't we find by wofull experience, that even in good people, their love to the Saints is wanting? why? but becauſe their love to the Perſon of Chriſt is wanting.
4. The more a man doth love the Perſon of Chriſt, the more he will be ſpeaking and thinking of him: Love is buſied and exerciſed in thoughtfulneſſe about the perſon loved; and in ſpeech. If a man love a Perſon or Thing, he will be thinking much on't, and ſpeaking much on't. But now by our experience, cannot we go a whole day together, and have no thought of Chriſt? Don't we ſit down at our meals frequently, and not one word of Chriſt? Good Conference, where art thou? Good and holy Conference, where art? Come to Profeſſors Tables, one Diſh after another, one Cup of Wine after another, but nothing of Chriſt. It's gone, it's gone: what's the reaſon, but becauſe we are wanting in our love to the Perſon of Chriſt? Certainly, if we were not wanting in our love to the Perſon of Chriſt, we would be thinking more of him, and ſpeaking more of him.
5. The more we love the Perſon of Chriſt, the more we ſhall deſire to be diſſolved, that we may be with him in the enjoyments of himſelf, and thoſe heavenly embracements. I deſire to be diſſolved, (ſaith S. Paul) why? and to be with Chriſt, to have the Perſon of Chriſt: But how many good people are there that cannot deſire to be diſſolved; —why? becauſe there is a want in their love to the Perſon of Chriſt-Poſſibly then you ſee, by all theſe things, 'tis poſſible that a good man, Chriſt's own and beſt Diſciples, may be wanting in their love to the Perſon of Chriſt. But
Fifthly, You will ſay, Suppoſe that my heart be not drawn out in love to the Perſon of Chriſt, but my love is rather fixt upon Chriſt's benefits, ſpirituall benefits: Is not that good? is it not good that I ſhould have love for Chriſt in reference unto the benefits that I have from him.
Good? yes. I ſate down under his ſhadow with great delight, ſaith the Spouſe, and his fruit was ſweet unto my taſte: Fruit; that is the Fruit of Juſtification, the Fruit of Sanctification, of Conſolation, and his fruit was ſweet unto my taste. 'Tis good, without all doubt, that our hearts ſhould be drawn out to Chriſt, by occcaſion even of his benefits.
But I pray don't miſtake me: I grant therefore,
1. It is good, and a lawfull thing to love Chriſt in reference to his benefits. But
2. 'Tis our duty to love Chriſt's Perſon, to have our hearts drawn out with love to the very Perſon of Chriſt. But
3. The excellency of Chriſt's Perſon is not the object of my Faith, but Chriſt crucified. But
4. Though Chriſt crucified be the object of my Faith, yet the Perſonall Excellencies of Chriſt are the object of my Love. Yea, it is a more excellent thing yet to love the Perſon of Chriſt, than the benefits of Chriſt. A more excellent thing, to have my heart drawn out in love to the Perſon of Chriſt, than to have my heart drawn out in love to him for his benefits.
But you will ſay, Wherein doth our love to the very Perſon of Chriſt exceed, or excell our love upon the account of benefits, though ſpirituall? Many ways.
Firſt of all, If your hearts de drawn out in love to the very Perſon of Chriſt, by your loving him you make him your own. 'Tis not ſo in other loves: By my loving Gold, I don't make it my own; by my loving Silver, I don't make it my own; but by loving his Perſon, I make him my own. 'Tis not ſo in regard of benefits: By my loving the benefits of Chriſt, the comforts from Chriſt, I don't make Chriſt my own, but by my love unto the Perſon of Chriſt, I make Chriſt my own.
2. The leſſe of Self in your love to Chriſt, the more pure and clean it is, and ſo the better. Now if your heart be drawn out in love to the benefits of Chriſt, your love is more ſelfiſh, you love him in reference unto your ſelves; becauſe you have ſuch enjoyments, and ſuch benefits. But if your hearts be drawn out in love to the Perſon of Chriſt, your love is leſſe ſelfiſh; ſo the more pure, the more holy and clean.
3. If your heart be drawn out unto Chriſt himſelf, and the Perſon of Chriſt, you will more readily accept of any thing fr…m Christ, though it be never ſo ſmall; yea, though it be afflictive. If that your love be placed and founded upon the benefits of Chriſt, then you will not ſo eaſily and readily accept of any thing from Chriſt, eſpecially if afflictive. True love interprets all things in the beſt ſenſe; that is, love to the …erſon, but love to the benefit don't. Love the Per…on of Chriſt, and you will interpret every diſpenſation …n a good ſenſe, for you love his Perſon, but Love to the benefit will not do ſo.
4. If your love be drawn out in love to the very Perſon of Chriſt, then you will ſympathize with Chriſt in all his Concernments of the Goſpel, whether matter of joy, or matter of grief. If your love be …ounded upon Chriſt's benefits, you will not ſympa…hize with him ſo, but love his Perſon, and you will …ympathize with him in all his Concernments.
5. If your hearts be drawn out in Love to the very Perſon of Chriſt, then you will abound therein: The …nely meaſure of love, is to know no meaſure, that is, …here the Perſon is loved: But if love be placed upon …he benefit, it knows ſtints, and limits, and meaſures. …ut if your heart be drawn out in love to the very Perſon of Chriſt, you will be abundant therein, and …ou will never think you can love enough.
6. If your heart be drawn out in love to the very Perſon of Chriſt, then you will long after the preſence of Chriſt, and you will be afflicted for his abſence. Love Chriſt …pon the account of benefits, and it will not be ſo; but love Chriſt upon the account of his Perſon, and then it will be ſo. You will long after his preſence, and you will be afflicted for his abſence.
7. The more your heart is drawn out in love to Chriſt, and the Perſon of Chriſt, the more you will love the Seed of Chriſt, the Poſterity of Chriſt, …he Children, and the People of Chriſt. David loved …onathan's ſeed, why? for he loved his Perſon, not his benefits: ſo, love but the Perſon of Chriſt, an… then you will ſhew kindneſſe to the Seed of Chriſt, an… be more loving to the Seed of Chriſt.
8. The more your heart is drawn out to the ver… Perſon of Chriſt, the more will your love continue That's perpetuall that hath a perpetuating Cauſe: Th… Perſonall Excellency of Chriſt is a perpetuall Cauſ… of love, but the benefit that doth come from Chriſt … not ſo. Let the benefit be never ſo great, if your lov… be founded upon the benefit that doth come fro… Chriſt, as the benefit dies, your love will die; but your love be founded upon the very Perſon of Chriſ… and drawn out to the Perſon of Chriſt, then will yo… love continue and never die.
9. Laſtly, as to this: If your heart be drawn o… in love to the very Perſon of Chriſt, to Chriſt himſelf, then you have gained the heart of God the Father f… ever. Look into John 16. ſaith Chriſt at the 27. ve… For the Father himſelf loveth you, becauſe ye have lov… me. Not becauſe ye have loved my benefits, but b… cauſe ye have loved me; ye have gotten the heart my Father, ſaith he. Therefore doth my Father lo… you, becauſe ye have loved me, becauſe ye love … Perſon. Now is it not a bleſſed thing, Friends, … have the heart of God the Father? Why, if your heart … drawn out in love to the very Perſon of Chriſt, y… have gained the heart of the Father for ever. … and the Father loves you, and the Son loves you, a… they will come and make their abode with you. Oh wha… bleſſed thing is it then, for to have ones heart dra… out in love to the very Perſon of Chriſt! Certai… it is infinitely better to have ones heart drawn out love to the Perſon of Chriſt, than to have a love Chriſt upon the account of benefits, although the b… nefits be ſpirituall benefits.
And if theſe things be ſo, why ſhould we not all labour for this love to the Perſon of Chriſt? to love Chriſt, not upon the account of benefits, but for himſelf. Oh that I could perſwade people to fix upon the Perſon of Chriſt in their love: Oh that this day I could perſwade you to this divine fixation of your …ove upon the Perſon of Chriſt. I fear our love is not rightly placed: I fear we have love for Chriſt beneath Chriſt himſelf. 'Tis the great work of a Miniſter, to wooe for Chriſt: A Miniſters work is to come a wooing for Chriſt. Can a ſoul be wooed over unto Chriſt, and won over unto Chriſt, and not love the Perſon of Chriſt? Now then, as ever you do deſire that you may be eſpouſed to Jeſus Chriſt, that you may be married to Jeſus Chriſt, ſet not your affections upon benefits, ſet not your affections upon your own concernments in your love to Chriſt; be more raiſed Chriſtians: Oh that your love were rightly placed, fixed upon Chriſt himſelf, not on the bene…its, but on the Perſon of Chriſt himſelf. But
Sixthly, You will ſay, What ſhall we do? we have …eard what an excellent thing it is, to have love to …he Perſon of Chriſt, beyond all love to his benefits, …hough they be ſpirituall benefits, what ſhall we do …hat our hearts may be drawn out to the Perſon of Chriſt, that ſo we may be able to rejoyce in the Perſonall Exaltment of Chriſt, though to our own debaſement.
What ſhall we do? It is a great, and a good Que…tion. What ſhall we do, that our hearts may be …rawn out in love to the very Perſon of Chriſt?
1. Be ſure that you be really, conjugally united unto …hriſt: There is a double union, —There is a union …y way of juxta-poſition, laying one thing to another: … a man's Arm is united unto Bread, when the Bread is bound to his Arm. — There is a union by way o… Intus-ſuſception, by taking in; and ſo a man is united to his Bread, and his Bread to him, when he eats it, they are made one.
So there is a double union (as I may ſo ſpeak) to Chriſt; one whereby men are united to Chriſt by the externall Ligaments of the Goſpel, concerning whom our Saviour may ſpeak in John 15. Every branch in m… that beareth not fruit, ſhall be caſt out: —And then ther… is another union with Chriſt, which is that he ſpeak… of, He that eateth my fleſh, and drinketh my blood, ſhal… live, that's another kind of union, a cloſer union … Now if you be really, conjugally united to Chriſt you will love not onelyonly his benefits, but you will lov… his Perſon: Reſt not therefore, I pray you, in this externall union with Chriſt by the Ligaments of th… Goſpel, but labour more and more to be conjugall united to Jeſus Chriſt. But
2. If you would have your heart drawn out in lov… to Chriſt himſelf, and the Perſon of Chriſt, then ſtud… much the Perſonall Excellency and Goodneſſe that … in Chriſt's Perſon. Good is the object of love: Th… more excellent the good is, the more ſuitable the goo… is, and univerſall and obtainable, the more lovely an… commanding is that love. Chriſt is good, an excellen… good, goodneſſe it ſelf: a ſuitable good, ſuitable unt… all our wants. If you be poor, he is rich; if you b… fooliſh, he is wiſe; if you be out of the way, I am t… way, ſaith he; if you want a director in the way, I a… the truth; if you be in the dark, I am the light: A ſut… ble good, and an univerſall good he is. As all th… ſweetneſſes that are in the flowers of the field, and the garden, are brought in by the Bee into the Hive; a… a l the ſweetneſſes of the flowers are there imbodied on …ive; …ll …he Attributes of God, and the ſwee… neſſe of them all are hived in Chriſt, in whom all the fulneſſe of the Godhead dwells bodily. — And he is an obtainable good; called the Roſe of Sharon, the Roſe of the Field; not of the Garden, but of the Field, that every one may come at; called the deſire of all Nations. Do you then deſire, that your hearts may be drawn out in love to the Perſon of Chriſt, ſtudy much the Perſonall Goodneſſe and Excellency of Chriſt.
3. If you do deſire that your hearts may be drawn out in love to Chriſt himſelf, to the very Perſon of Chriſt, why ſhould you not now ſtand ſtill a little with me, and behold how Chriſt hath loved you, and your Perſons? Shall Chriſt love you, and your perſons, and will not you love him, and his Perſon? Conſider a little with me,
1. The more impediments that any love doth break through, the more it calls for love again. What impediments hath not Chriſts love broke through to come to us? —Broke through all our unworthineſſe, —broke …hrough the Law, —broke through the Juſtice of God, — broke through the Wrath of God, —broke through the Grave, —broke through Hell, —broke through all our unbelief.
2. And the more free any love is, the more it call's for love again. Three things there are that call for love, Likeneſſe,—Benefit,—Love: And where none of theſe are, the love is moſt free.
Now Chriſt hath loved you, but you were not like unto him when he loved you.
You could do him no kindeſſe, you had no benefits to beſtow upon him.
And you had no love for him: In the day when he ſaid, Now is the time of love, there was no love in your …e…ts for him; and therefore his love muſt needs be moſt free. But
3. The more patient that love is, the more i… calls for love again, the more taking it is: Now o… Saviour Chriſt ſtands knocking at your door: give m… leave to ſay to you, Had Chriſt come riding Poſt throug… your City, and knockt onelyonly at your door, and ſai… haſten after me, or you are damn'd for ever, it ha… been much; but to ſtand at your door and knock, day aft… day, and year after year, with the unwearied hand o… his love. Oh unſpeakable patience! unexpreſſible love yet thus hath Chriſt done for you, and thus hath Chri… loved you, and loved your perſon; and ſhall Chri… love you, and love your perſons, and ſhall your lov… reſt any where but in the Perſon of Chriſt: Do b… conſider how he hath loved you, and your perſon… and then your heart will be drawn out to love t… Perſon of Chriſt. And that's a third. But.
4. If you do deſire that your hearts may be draw… out in love unto Chriſt, if you do deſire, I ſay, th… your hearts ſhould be drawn out in love to Chriſt, th… Perſon of Chriſt, then uſe Chriſt much. In any goo… thing you have, the more you uſe it, the more yo… prize it; and the more you prize it, the more yo… love it. If you have a good Friend, the more you u… him, the more you prize him; and the more yo… prize him, the more you love him. If you have good Horſe, the more you uſe him, the more yo… prize him; and the more you prize him, the mo… you love him. If you have but a good Knife, the mo… you uſe it, the more you will prize it; and the mo… you prize it, the more you will love it. Would yo… love Chriſt, uſe him much, and then the more yo… will prize him, and the more you will love him. Indeed we don't uſe Chriſt enough; and what's the re… ſon we don't love him? but becauſe we don't u… him. — Either your ſins be great, or elſe they be ſmal… …f your ſins be great, you are afraid to uſe Chriſt for …hem: If your ſins be ſmall, you think you need not …ſe Chriſt for them. Either your wants be great, or elſe they be ſmall: If they be great, you dare not …ſe Chriſt for them; and if your wants be ſmall, you will not, you think it not worth your time to uſe Chriſt for them. Indeed we don't uſe Chriſt enough: Uſe Chriſt much, and then you will prize him much; and if you prize him much, you will love him much.
5. If you would have your hearts drawn out in love to the very Perſon of Chriſt, go then to God, and beſeech the Lord to circumciſe your hearts for to love him. Mark how the promiſe runs; The Lord hath promiſed to unite our hearts to fear him, and he hath promiſed to circumciſe our hearts to love him: why then, would you fear the Lord, go to God to unite your hearts unto him, to fear him; —would you love him, go to God, and beſeech him to circumciſe your hearts to love the Lord, and to love himſelf. And oh that the Love that now I have been ſpeaking of, unto the very Perſon of Chriſt, might this day be begotten in any one heart, or encreaſed where it is wanting. I fear we are wanting in our love to Chriſts Perſon: wherefore think on theſe things, and the Lord bleſſe them to you.