Heaven on Earth, Discourse · Chapter 5 (3 of 4)

Heaven on Earth · Discourse · Chapter 5 (3 of 4)

p. 409Thirdly, That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, is, not onelyonly aIſa. 1. The Hebrew word for Repentance is from foreign Shob, which ſignifies to return, implying a going back from what a man had done.Isa 1 turning from all ſin, but it is alſo a turning unto God; it is not onelyonly a ceaſing from doing evil, but it is alſo a learning to do well; it is not onelyonly a turning from darkneſs, but it is alſo a turning to light, as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Acts 26. 18. To open their eyes, and to p. 410turn them from darkneſs to light, and It notes a returning or converting from one thing to another, as from ſin to God, from evil to good, from Hell to Heaven.from the power of Satan unto God: So in Iſa. 55. 7. Let the wicked forſake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, &c. It is not enough for the man of iniquity to forſake his evil way, but he muſt alſo return unto the Lord; he muſt ſubject his heart to the power of Divine Grace, and his life to the Will and Word of God. As Negative goodneſs can never ſatisfie a gracious ſoul, ſo Negative goodneſs can never ſave a ſinful ſoul. It is not enough that thou art not thus and thus bad, but thou muſt be thus and thus good, or thou art undone for ever. Ezek. 18. 21. But if the wicked will turn from all his ſins that he hath committed, and keep all my Statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he ſhall ſurely live, he ſhall not die. Negative Righteouſneſs and Holineſs is no Righteouſneſs no Holineſs, in the account of God. It was not the Phariſees Negative Righteouſneſs, norLuke 18. 5. Matth. 20. 13, 14.Luke 18:5Matt 20:13Matt 20:14 his Comparative Goodneſs, that could prevent his being rejected of God, his being ſhut out of Heaven, his burning in Hell. It is not enough that the Tree p. 411hears no ill fruit, but it muſt bring forth good fruit, elſe it muſt be cut down and caſt into the fire; that Tree that is not for fruit is for the fire. Every Matth. 7. 19. He that holds nor wholly with Chriſt, doth very ſhamefully neglect Chriſt. Aut totum mecum tene, aut totum omitte. Greg. Nazian. And therfore if Chriſt trample upon them at laſt, it is juſt.Matt 7:19tree that brings not forth good fruit (ſayes Chriſt) is hewn down and caſt into the fire. Men that content themſelves with Negative Righteouſneſs, ſhall finde at laſt Heaven Gates bolted upon them with a double bolt. All that Negative Righteouſneſs and Holineſs can do, is to help a man to one of the beſt Chambers, and eaſieſt Beds in Hell: That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, brings the heart and life, not onelyonly off from ſin, but on to God; it makes a man not onelyonly ceaſe from walking in the wayes of death, but it makes him walk in the wayes of life. They do no iniquity, they walk in his wayes. Pſal. 119. 3.

Fourthly, That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, ſtrikes moſtAuguſtine a great ſinner wrote Twelve Books of Repentance, and walked moſt croſs to the particular ſins he had moſt lived in. effectually, and particularly, againſt that ſin or ſins, that the ſinner was moſt apt and prone to before his Converſion. The hand of Repentance is moſt againſt that ſin, it is moſt upon that ſin that the ſoul hath looked moſt p. 412with a learing eye upon. The chief and principal ſins that Iſrael was guilty of, was idolatry and ſinful compliance; Now when God works kindly upon them, they put the hand of Repentance upon thoſe particular ſins, as you may ſee Iſa. 27. 9. By this therefore ſhall the This was the great ſin of Iſrael, but after their return out of captivity, they never ſet up Idols more, but were wonderful zealous to keep their Temple from ſuch defilements, both in the time of Antiochus Epiphanes, and of the Romans, and do accunt them as a menſtruous cloth▪ to this very day.iniquity of Jacob be purged, and this is all the fruit to take away his ſin: When he maketh all the ſtones of the Altar, as Chalk ſtones, that are beaten in ſunder, the groves and images ſhall not ſtand up. Here you ſee, when God appears, and acts graciouſly for, and towards his people, they put the hand of Repentance upon their Groves and Images, theſe muſt down, theſe muſt no longer ſtand: The Groves and the Images ſhall not ſtand up, they ſhall be utterly abandoned and deſtroyed, demoliſhed and aboliſhed. So in Iſa. 30. 22. Ye ſhall defile alſo the covering of thy graven Images of Silver, and the ornament of thy molten Images of Gold: Thou ſhalt caſt them away as a menſtruous cloth; thou ſhalt ſay unto it, Get thee hence. Here you ſee the hand of Repentance is againſt their Idols of Silver and Gold, and not onelyonly againſt their Idols, but alſo p. 413againſt whatſoever had any relation to them. Now they ſhew nothing but a deteſtation of their Idols, and a holy indignation againſt them; Get youThe Jews were willing in the Romans time, rather to die then to ſuffer the Eagle, the Imperial Arms, to be ſet up in the Temple. hence. The hand of Repentance makes a divorce between them and their Idols, between their Souls and their eſpecial Sins. Now they are as much in hating, abhorring, abominating, and contemning their Idols and Images, as they were formerly in adoring, worſhipping, and honoring of them. So Mary Magdalen in the ſeventh of Luke, walks quite croſs and contrary to her former ſelf, her ſinful ſelf, ſhe croſſes the fleſh, in thoſe very things wherein formerly ſhe did gratifie the fleſh. So the penitent Jailor in that ſixteenth of the Acts, waſhes thoſe very wounds that his own bloody hands had made: He acts in wayes of mercy, quite contrary to his former cruelty: At firſt there was none ſo fierce, ſo furious, ſo cruel, ſo bloody, ſo inhumane in his carriage to the Apoſtles; at laſt, none ſo gentle, ſo ſoft, ſo ſweet, ſo curteous, ſo affectionate to them. The ſame you may ſee in Zacheus in the nineteenth of Luke; In Paul, Acts the ninth; and in p. 414Manaſſe, in that of the ſecond of Chronicles, chap. 33. 6.

Fifthly, That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, is, very large and comprehenſive; it comprehends and takes in theſe following particulars, beſides thoſe already named.

1. It takes in a ſight and ſenſe of ſin. Men muſt firſt ſee their ſins, they muſt be ſenſible of their ſins, before they can repent of their ſins. Ephraim had firſt a ſight of his ſin, and then he repents and turns from his ſin. After I was inſtructed, I ſmote upon my thigh, Jer. 31. 18, 19. A man firſt ſees himſelfIt was ſo with Paul, who thought himſ…lf in as good a way for Heaven as any, Acts 9. and 26. compared.Acts 9 out of the way, before he returns into the way; till he ſees that he is out of the way, he walks ſtill on, but when he perceives that he is out of the way, then he begins to make inquiry after the right way: So when the ſinner comes to ſee his way to be a way of death, then he cryes out, O lead me in the way of life, lead me in the way everlaſting, Pſal. 139. 24.

2. (For I ſhall but touch upon theſe things) That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, doth include not onelyonly a ſight and ſenſe of ſin, but p. 415alſo confeſſion, and acknowledgmentAct 19. 18. Confeſſio peccati eſt vomitus ſordium anim… ▪ Aug.Acts 19:18 of ſin. Pſal. 51. & 32. 3, 4, 5. While I kept cloſe my ſin, my bones conſumed; but I ſaid, I will confeſs my ſin, and thou forgaveſt the iniquity of my ſin. Job 33. 21, 27. The promiſe of remiſſion is made to confeſſion, 1 John 1. 9. If we Non dico ut confitearis conſervo tuo peccata tu…, diceto Deo, qui curet ca. Chryſ. in Pſa. 50.Ps 50confeſs our ſins, God is faithful and juſt to forgive us our ſins. So Prov. 28. 13. He that hideth his ſin, ſhall not proſper; but he that confeſſeth, and forſaketh it, ſhall finde mercy. If we confeſs our ſins ſincerely, ſeriouſly, humbly, cordially, pardon attend us; Homo agnoſcit, Deus ignoſcit. Confeſſion of ſin muſt be joyned with confuſion of ſin, or all is loſt; God is loſt, Chriſt is loſt, Heaven loſt, and the Soul loſt for ever. The true Penitent can ſay with Vivaldus, I hide not my ſins, but I ſhew them; I wipe them not away, but I ſprinkle them; I do not excuſe them, but I accuſe them; (Peccata enim non nocent, ſi non placent,) My ſins hurt me not, if I like them not: The beginning of my Salvation is the knowledge of my tranſgreſſion.

3. That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, doth include not p. 416onelyonly confeſſion of ſin, but alſo contritionJer. 13. 17. Joel 2. 13. David cryes not perii, but peecavi, not, I am undone, but I have done fooliſhly. Baſil wept when he ſaw the Roſe, becauſe it brought to his minde the firſt ſin, from whence it had the prickles, which it had not while man continued in innocence, as he thought. You know how to apply it.Jer 13:17Joel 2:13 for ſin, Pſal. 51. 4. 1 Sam. 7. 2. Zach. 12. 10, 11. Ezra 10. 1, 2. 2 Cor. 7. 11, &c. It breaks the heart with ſighs, ſobs, and groans, for that a loving Father is offended, a bleſſed Saviour crucified, and the ſweet Comforter grieved. Penitent Mary Magdalen weeps much, as well as loves much, Luke 7. Tears inſtead of gems were the ornaments of Penitent Davids Bed, and ſurely that ſweet Singer, never ſung more melodiouſly, then when his heart was broken moſt penitentially. How ſhall God wipe away my tears in Heaven, if I ſhed none in Earth? And how ſhall I reap in joy, if I ſow not in tears? I was born with tears, and ſhall die with tears; why ſhould I then live without them in this valley of tears? ſaith the true Penitent. The ſweeteſt joys are from the ſoureſt tears. Penitent tears are the breeders of ſpiritual joy. When Hannah had wept, ſhe1 Sam. 1. 18.1 Sam 1:18 went away, and was no more ſad. TheTrue Repentance is a ſorrowing for ſin, as it is Offenſivum Dei, averſivum à Deo. Bee gathers the beſt Honey of the bittereſt Herbs. Chriſt made the beſt Wine of Water; the ſtrongeſt, the pureſt, the trueſt, the moſt permanent, p. 417and the moſt excellent joy isPeters was for ſin, Judas his for puniſhment. Peter grieves becauſe Chriſt was grieved, Judas grieved becauſe he ſhould be damned. Pſal. 42. 5.Ps 42:5 made of the Waters of Repentance. If God be God, they that ſow in tears ſhall reap in joy. But that no mourner may drown himſelf in his own tears, let me give this Caution, viz. That there is nothing beyond remedy, but the tears of the damned. A man who may perſiſt in the way to Paradiſe, ſhould not place himſelf in the condition of a little Hell; and he that may, or can hope for that great all, ought not to be dejected, nor overwhelmed for any thing.

4. That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, doth include, not onelyonly contrition for ſin, but alſo a holy ſhame and bluſhing for ſin. Ezra 9. 6. Jer. 3. 24, 25. & 31. 19. Ezek. 16. 61, 63. And thou ſhalt be confounded, and never open thy mouth any more, becauſe of thy ſhame, when I am pacified towards thee for all that thou haſt done, ſaith foreign Boſh, to bluſh, to be abaſhed, to wax pale and wan, &c. Quantum diſplicet Deo immundi…ia peccati, in tantum placet Deo erubiſcentia paenitentis. Ber.the Lord God. When the Penitent Soul ſees his ſins pardoned, the anger of God pacified, and Divine Juſtice ſatisfied, then he ſits down aſhamed. So in Rom. 6. 21. What fruit had ye then in thoſe things, whereof ye are now aſhamed? p. 418Sin and ſhame are inſeparable companions:So much the more God hath been di…pleaſed with the blackneſs of ſin, the more will he be well pleaſed with …he bluſhing of the ſinner. A man cannot have the ſeeming ſweet of ſin, but he ſhall have the real ſhame that accompanies ſin; Theſe two God hath joyned together, and all the world cannot put them aſunder. It was an impenitent Caligula, that ſaid of himſelf, that he loved nothing better in himſelf, then that he could not be aſhamed. Juſtinus Motto was, (Quod pudet hoc pigeat) that ſhould grieve moſt which is ſhameful in it ſelf, and done againſt conſcience. And doubtleſs thoſe things are onelyonly ſhameful, that are ſinful: A ſoul that hath ſinned away all ſhame, is a ſoul ripe for Hell, and given up to Satan. A greater plague cannot befal a man in this life, then to ſin, and not to bluſh.

Fifthly, That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, comprehends loathing and abhorring of ſin, and ofVis magnus eſſe? incipe ab imo. Wilt thou be great? begin from below, ſaith one. It is very obſervable, that thoſe brave Creatures, the E…gle, and the Lyon, were not offered in ſacrifice unto God, but the poor Lamb and Dove, to note, That God regards not your brave high lofty ſpirits, but poor meek and contemptible ſpirits. our ſelves for ſin, as well as ſhame, and bluſhing for ſin. Job 42. 6. Ezek. 16. 61, 62, 63. Amos 5. 15. Ezek. 20. 41, 42, 43. And ye ſhall remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye ſhall loath your ſelves in your own ſight, for …all the evils that you p. 419have committed. The ſincere penitent loaths his ſins, and he loaths himſelf alſo, becauſe of his ſins. He crys out, O theſe wanton eies, O theſe wicked hands, O this deceiptful tongue, O this crooked will, O this corrupt heart! O how do I loath my ſins, how do I loath my ſelf, how do I loath ſinful-ſelf, and how do I loath my natural-ſelf, becauſe of ſinful-ſelf! My ſins are a burden to me, and they make me a burden to my ſelf; my ſins are an abhorring to me, and they make me abhor my ſelf in duſt and aſhes. A true Penitent hath not onelyonly low thoughts of himſelf, but loathſome thoughts of himſelf; none can think or ſpeak ſo vilely of him, as he doth, and will think and ſpeak of himſelf. Ezek. 6. 9. And they that eſcape of you, ſhall remember me among the Nations, whither they ſhall be carried captives, becauſe I am broken with their whoriſh heart, (as the heart of a Husband is at the adulterous carriage of his wife) which hath departed from me, and with their eyes, which go a whoring after their Idols; and they ſhall loath themſelves for evils which they have committed in all their abominations. If thy p. 420Repentance do not work thee out withSome people can ſhed tears for nothing, ſome for any thing, but a ſound penitent ſheds more tears for his ſins, then he doth for his ſufferings. thy ſins, and thy ſins work thee out of love with thy ſelf, thy Repentance is not that Repentance that accompanies Salvation. And thus you ſee the particular things that that Repentance that doth accompany Salvation doth comprehend and include.

Sixthly, That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, hath theſe choice companions attending of it. Firſt, Faith. Zach. 12. 10, 11. They ſhall look upon him whom they have pierced, and mourn, &c. Mourning and beleeving go together. So in Matth. 4. 17. Mark 1. 14, 15. Now after that John was put in priſon, Jeſus came into Galilee, Preaching the Goſpel of the Kingdom of God; And ſaying, The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand: Repent ye, and believe the Goſpel. Secondly, Love to Chriſt doth always accompany that Repentance that accompanies Salvation, as you may ſee in Mary Magdalen, in that ſeventh of Luke. Thirdly, A filial fear of offending God, and a holy care to honor God, doth always accompanie that Repentance that accompanies Salvation. 2 Cor. 7. 11. For p. 421godly ſorrow worketh Repentance to Salvation, Repentance is, poſt naufragium tabula, the fair daughter of a foul mother. Repentance is a fruitful Womb.not to be repented of; for behold this ſelf ſame thing that ye ſorrowed after a godly ſort, what carefulneſs it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of your ſelves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement deſire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge: In all things ye have approved your ſelves to be clear in this matter. Verily, Repentance to life hath all theſe lively companions attending of it; they are born together, and will live together, till the penitent ſoul changes Earth for Heaven, Grace for Glory.

Seventhly and laſtly, That Repentance that accompanies Salvation, is a continued act, a Repentance never to be2 Cor. 7. 10.2 Cor 7:10 repented of. Repentance is a continual ſpring, where the waters of godly ſorrow are alwayes flowing. A ſound Penitent is ſtill a turning nearer and nearer to God; he is ſtill a turning further and further from ſin: This makes the Penitent Soul to ſigh andRom. 7.Rom 7 mourn, that he can get no nearer to God, that he can get no further from ſin: The work of Repentance is not the work of an hour, a day, a yeer, but the work of this life. A ſincere Penitent p. 422makes as much conſcience of repentingQuid reſtat ò peccator niſi ut in tota vita tua deplores totam vitam tuam. Anſelmus. O then, what then remains, but in our whole life, to lament the ſins of our whole life. daily, as he doth of believing daily; and he can as eaſily content himſelf with one act of Faith, or Love, or Joy, as he can content himſelf with one act of Repentance. My ſins are ever before me, ſayes David. Next to my being kept from ſin, I count it the greateſt mercy in the world, to be ſtill a mourning over ſin, ſayes the Penitent ſoul. The Penitent ſoul never ceaſes repenting, till he ceaſes living. He goes to Heaven with the joyful tears of Repentance in his eyes: He knows that his whole life is but a day of ſowing tears, that he may at laſt reap everlaſting joyes. That Repentance that accompanies Salvatition, is a final forſaking of ſin; It is a bidding ſin an everlaſting adieu; it is a taking an eternal farwel of ſin, a never turning to folly more, What have I to do any more with Idols? ſays Ephraim, Hoſ. 14. 8. I have taſted of the bitterneſs that is in ſin, I have taſted of the ſweetneſs of divine mercy in pardoning of ſin; therefore away ſin, I will never have to do with you more; you have robbed Chriſt of his ſervice, and me p. 423of my comfort and crown: Away, away ſin, you ſhall never be courted, nor countenanced by me more. That man that onelyonly puts off his ſins in the day of adverſity, as he doth his garments at night when he goes to bed, with an intent to put them on again in the morning of proſperity, never yet truly repented. He is a dog that returns to the vomit again, he is a ſwine that returns to the wallowing in the mire; ſuch a dog was Judas, ſuch a ſwine was Demas. It is an extraordinary vanity in ſome men, to lay aſide their ſins before ſolemn duties, but with a purpoſe to return to them again; as the Serpent layeth aſide his poyſon when he goeth to drink, and when he hath drunk, he returns to it again, as they fable it. It is ſad when men ſay to their luſts, as Abraham ſaid to his ſervants, Abide you here, and I will go and worſhip and return again to you, Gen. 22. 5. Verily ſuch ſouls are far off from that Repentance that accompanies Salvation, for that makes a final and everlaſting ſeparation between ſin and the ſoul; it makes ſuch a divorce between ſin and the ſoul, and p. 424puts them ſo far a ſunder, that all the world can never bring them to meet as two lovers together. The Penitent Soul looks upon ſin, and deals with ſin, not as a friend, but as an enemy; it deals with ſin as Amnon dealt with Tamar, 2 Sam. 13. 15. And Amnon hated her exceedingly, ſo that the hatred wherewith he hated her, was greater then the love wherewith he had loved her: And Amnon ſaid unto her, Ariſe, be gone. Juſt thus doth the Penitent Soul carry it ſelf towards ſin.

And thus you ſee what Repentance that is that accompanies Salvation.

The fourth thing I am to ſhew, is, What Obedience that is that doth accompany Salvation: That Obedience doth accompany Salvation, I have formerly proved. Now what this Obedience is that doth accompany or comprehend Salvation, I ſhall ſhew you in theſe following particulars.

Firſt, That Obedience that accompanies Salvation, is cordial and hearty, the heart, the inward man doth anſwer and eccho to the Word and Will of God. The Believer knows, That no Obedience, but hearty Obedience p. 425is acceptable to Chriſt; he knowsIſa. 29. 13. Matth. 15. 7, 8, 9. The heart is (Cam…ra omnipotentis regis,) i. e. The preſence chamber of the King of Heaven, and that upon which his eye, his hand, his heart is moſt ſet.Isa 29:13Matt 15:7Matt 15:8Matt 15:9 that nothing takes Chriſts heart, but what comes from the heart. Chriſt was hearty in his obedience for me (ſayes the Believer) and ſhall not I be hearty in my obedience to him? Chriſt will lay his hand of love, his hand of acceptance, upon no obedience, but what flows from the heart. Rom. 6. 9. Ye have obeyed from the heart, that form of doctrine which was delivered you. So in Rom. 7. ult. So then with the minde, I myſelf ſerve the Law of God. My heart ſayes Paul, is in my obedience. So in Rom. 1. 9. God is my witneſs, whom I ſerve with my ſpirit in the Goſpel of his Son. Many ſerve God with their bodies, but I ſerve him with my ſpirit; many ſerve him with the outward man, but I ſerve him with my inward man. God hath written his Law inEzek. 36. 26, 27.Ezek 36:26Ezek 36:27 Believers hearts, and therefore they cannot but obey it from the heart. I delight to do thy will, O my God (how ſo?) why thy Law is within my heart; or, in the midst of my bowels, as the Hebrewforeign hath it. The heart within ecchoes and anſwers to the Commandments without, as a Book written anſwers to his p. 426minde that writes it; as face anſwers to face, as the impreſſion on the wax anſwers to the character engraven on the ſeal. The Scribes and Phariſees were much in the outward obedience of the Law, but their hearts were not in their obedience; and therefore all they did, ſignified nothing in the account of Chriſt, who is onelyonly taken with outward actions as they flow from the heart and affections; their ſouls were not in their ſervices, and therefore all their ſervices were loſt ſervices. They were very glorious inMatth. 23.Matt 23 their outward profeſſion, but their hearts were as filthy Sepulchres; their out-ſides ſhined as the Sun, but their in-ſides were as black as Hell. They were like the Egyptians Temples, beautiful without, but filthy within. Well, remember this, No action, no ſervice goes for current in Heaven, but that which is ſealed up with integrity of heart. God will not be put off with the ſhell, when we give the Devil the Kernel.

Secondly, That Obedience that accompanies Salvation, is univerſal as well as cordial; the ſoul falls in with p. 427every part and point of Gods will, ſo far as he knows it, without prejudice or partiality, without tilting the ballance on one ſide or another. A ſoulNon eligit mandata, He doth not pick and chuſe. He obeyes all in reſpect of his ſincere purpoſe, deſire, and endeavor; and this God accepts in Chriſt, for perfect and compleat Obedience, &c. ſincerely obedient, will not pick and chuſe what commands to obey, and what to reject, as Hypocrites do; he hath an eye to ſee, an ear to hear, and a heart to obey the firſt Table as well as the ſecond, and the ſecond as well as the firſt; he doth not adhere to the firſt and neglect the ſecond, as Hypocrites do; neither doth he adhere to the ſecond and contemn the firſt, as prophane men do; he obeys not out of humor, but out of duty; he obeys not out of choice, but out of conſcience. Pſal. 119. 6. Then ſhall I not be aſhamed, when I have reſpect unto all thy Commandments. Look as Faith never ſingles out his object, but layes hold on every object God holds forth for it to cloſe with; Faith doth not chuſe this truth, and reject that, it doth not cloſe with one, and reject another; Faith doth not ſay, I will truſt God in this caſe, but not in that; I will truſt him for this mercy, but not for that mercy; I will truſt him in this way, p. 428but not in that way; Faith doth not chuſe its object; Faith knows that he is powerful and faithful that hath promiſed, and therefore Faith cloſes with one object, as well as another: So a true obedient ſoul ſingles not out the commands of God, as to obey one, and rebel againſt another; it dares not, it cannot ſay, I will ſerve God in this command, but not in that. No: In an Evangelical ſenſe it obeyes all, Luk. 1. 5, 6. Zacharias and Elizabeth were both righteous before God, walking in all foreign, Without complaint. An obedient ſoul is like a chryſtal glaſs with a light in the midſt, which ſhines forth thorow every part thereof: So that Royal Law that is written upon his hea…t, ſhines forth into every parcel of his life; his outward works do eccho to a Law within.the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord, blameleſs. They walked not onelyonly in Commandments, but alſo in Ordinances; nor onelyonly in Ordinances, but alſo in Commandments. They were good ſouls, and good at both. A man ſincerely obedient layes ſuch a charge upon his whole man, as Mary, the Mother of Chriſt, did upon all the ſervants at the Feaſt, John 2. 5. Whatever the Lord ſaith unto you, do it. Eyes, ears, hands, heart, lips, legs, body, and ſoul, do you all ſeriouſly and affectionately obſerve what ever Jeſus Chriſt ſayes unto you, and do it: So David doth, Pſal. 119. 34, 69. Give me underſtanding, p. 429and I ſhall keep thy Law; yea, I ſhall obſerve it with my whole heart. The proud have forged a lie againſt me; but I will keep thy Precepts with my whole heart. The whole heart includes all the faculties of the ſoul, and all the members of the body; ſayes David, I will put hand and heart, body and ſoul, all within me, and all without me, to the keeping and obſerving of thy Precepts. Here is a ſoul thorow-paced in his obedience, he ſtands not halting nor halving of it; he knows the Lord loves to be ſerved truly and totally, and therefore he obeys with an entire heart, and a ſincere ſpirit. I have read of a very ſtrange ſpeech that dropped out of the mouth of Epictetus, a Heathen, If it be thy will (ſayes he) O Lord, command me what thou wilt, ſend me whither thou wilt, I will not withdraw my ſelf from any thing that ſeems good to thee. Ah how will this Heathen at laſt riſe in judgement againſt all Sauls, Jehues, Judaſes, Demaſes, Scribes, Phariſees, Temporaries, who are partial in their obedience, who while they yeeld obedience to ſome commands, live in the habitual breach of other commands? p. 430Verily, he that lives in the habitual breach of one command, ſhall at laſt be reputed by God guilty of the breachJam. 2. 10.Jas 2:10 of every command, and God accordingly will in a way of Juſtice proceed againſt him, Ezek. 18. 10, 11, 12, 13. It was the glory of Caleb and Joſhua, Num. 14. 24.Num 14:24that they followed the Lord fully in one thing, as well as another. So Cornelius, Acts 10. 33.Acts 10:33We are preſent before God to hear whatſoever ſhall be commanded us of God; He doth not pick and chuſe: So in Acts 13. 22. I have found David the ſon of Jeſſe, a man after mine own heart, which ſhall fulfil all my will; or rather as it is in the Greek, he ſhall fulfil all my foreign wils. He mindes not onelyonly general duties of Religion, but alſo particular duties, as a Magiſtrate, as a Miniſter, as a Father, as a Maſter, as a Son, as a Servant.wills: To note the univerſallity and ſincerity of his Obedience. A ſincere heart loves all commands of God, and prizes all commands of God, and ſees a Divine Image ſtamped upon all the commands of God, and therefore the main bent and diſpoſition of his ſoul, is to obey all, to ſubject to all. God commands univerſal obedience, Joſh. 1. 8. Deut. 5. 29. Ezek. 18. The Promiſe of Reward is made over to Univerſal Obedience, Pſal. 19. 11. Joſh. 1. 8. Univerſal Obedience is a p. 431Jewel that all will wiſh for, or rejoyce in, at the day of death, and the day of account; And the remembrance of theſe things, with others of the like nature, provokes all upright ſouls to be impartial, to be univerſal in their Obedience.

Thirdly, That Obedience that accompanies Salvation, ſprings from inward Spiritual cauſes, and from holy and heavenly Motives, it flowes from Faith. Hence it is called, The obedience of Faith, Rom. 16. 26. So in 1 Tim. 1. 5. Now the end of the Commandment, is Love out of a pure Heart, and of a good Conſcience, and of Faith unfeigned. Faith draws down that Divine Vertue and Power into the ſoul, that makes it lively and active, abundant and conſtant in the work and way of the Lord. AndWhere Love is, the Soul ſays of every command, Bonus Sermo, it is a good ſaying; but where Love is wanting, the man cryes out, Durus Sermo, It is a hard ſaying, who can bear it. as Faith, ſo Love puts the Soul forward in ways of Obedience. John 14. 21, 23. If any man love me, he will keep my Commandments. So Pſal. 119. 48. My hands alſo will I lift up to thy Commandments, which I have loved. Divine Love is ſaid to be the keeping of the Commandments, becauſe it puts the Soul upon keeping them. Divine Love p. 432makes every weight light, every yoke eaſie, every command joyous; it knows no difficulties, it facilitates obedience, it divinely conſtrains the ſoul to obey, to walk, to run the ways of Gods commands. And as ſound Obedience ſprings from Faith and Love, ſo it flows from a filial Fear of God, Pſal. 118. 119. Mine heart ſtands in aw of thy Word. So Heb. 11. 7. Noah being warned of God, touching things not ſeen, as yet, moved with fear, prepared an Ark.

Ah but Hypocrites and Temporaries are not carried forth in their Obedience, from ſuch precious, and glorious principles; and therefore it is, that God caſts all their ſervices as dung inIſa. 1. 11.Isa 1:11 their faces. And as that Obedience which accompanies Salvation flows from inward Spiritual Principles, ſo it flows from holy and heavenly Motives, as from the taſtes of Divine Love, and the ſweetneſs and excellency of communion with God, and the choice and precious diſcoveries that the ſoul in wayes of Obedience hathIſa. 64. 5.Isa 64:5 had of the beauty and glory of God. The ſweet looks, the heavenly words, p. 433the glorious kiſſes, the holy embraces that the obedient ſoul hath had, makes it freely and fully obedient to the Word and Will of God. Ah! but all the Motives that move Hypocrites and carnal Profeſſors to Obedience, are onelyonly external and carnal, as the eye ofMatth. 6.Matt 6 the Creature, the ear of the Creature, the applauſe of the Creature, the rewards of the Creature; either the love of the loaves, or the gain ofJohn 6.John 6 cuſtom, or the deſire of ambition: ſometimes they are moved to obedience from the fear of the Creature, and ſometimes from the want of theHoſ. 7. 14.Hos 7:14 Creature, and ſometimes from the example of the Creature, and ſometimes from vows made to the Creature; ſometimes the frowns of God,Hoſ. 5. ult. Pſal. 78. 34.Hos 5Ps 78:34 the diſpleaſure of God, the rod of God moves them to obedience; ſometimes the quieting and ſtilling of Conſcience, the ſtopping of the mouth of Conſcience, and the diſarming of Conſcience of all her whipping, racking, wounding, condemning, terrifying, and torturing power, puts them upon ſome ways of Obedience. Their Obedience always flows from ſome p. 434low, baſe, carnal, corrupt conſideration, or other. O but that Obedience that accompanies Salvation, doth always flow (as you ſee) from inward and Spiritual cauſes, and from holy and heavenly Motives.

Fourthly, That Obedience that accompanies Salvation, is a ready, free, willing, and chearful Obedience. Firſt; It is ready Obedience. Pſal. 27. 8. When thou ſaidſt, Seek ye my face, my heart ſaid unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I ſeek. Pſal. 119. 60. I made haſte, and delayed not to keep thy Commandments. Pſal. 18. 44. Aſſoon as they hear of me, they ſhall obey me; the ſtrangers ſhall ſubmit themſelves unto me. I have read of one whoCaſſianus, lib. 4. c. 24. readily fetched water near two miles every day, for a whole year together, to pour upon a dry ſtick, upon the bare command of a Superior, when no reaſon could be given for the thing. O how ready then doth Grace make the Soul, to obey thoſe Divine commands that are backed with the higheſt, ſtrongeſt, and choiceſt Arguments! Secondly▪ As that Obedience that accompanies Salvation, is ready Obedience; ſo it is free and willing Obedience. p. 435Acts 21. 13. Then Paul anſwered, Voluntaes ſemiplena eſt voluntas; An half will, an incompleat will, an unwilling will, is a will in Divine account.What mean ye to weep, and to break mine heart? For I am willing, not to be bound onelyonly, but alſo to die at Jeruſalem for the Name of the Lord Jeſus. The beamings out of Divine love and glory, make gracious ſouls willing in the day of his power, Pſal. 110. 3. Thoſe Divine principles that be in them, make them willingly obey, without coaction or compulſion. So 2 Cor. 8. 3. The Macedonians were willingly obedient, or as the Greek hath it, They were voluntiers,foreign. not onelyonly to their power, but beyond their power. All the motions and actings of Chriſt towards his people, for his people, and in his people, are free; He loves them freely, he pardons them freely, he intercedes for them freely, he acts them freely, and he ſaves them freely; and ſo they move and act towards Chriſt freely; they heat, they pray, they wait, they weep, they work, they watch, freely and willingly, that Spirit of Grace and1 Chron. 29. 6-18. 1 Tim. 6. 18. 1 Theſ. 2. 8. A Saint at worſt is obedient, either1 Chr 29:6–181 Tim 6:181 Thess 2:8 Holineſs that is in them, makes them Voluntiers in all Religious duties and ſervices. It is reported of Socrates, that when the Tyrant threatned death unto p. 436him, he anſwered, He was willing;(Voluntate plena, or ſemi-plena) with a will or an unwilling will, like the Merchant that is unwillingly willing to throw his goods over board, into the tempeſtuous Sea, to ſave his life. nay, then ſays the Tyrant, You ſhall live againſt your will; he anſwered again, Nay, whatſoever you do with me, it ſhall be my will. Yet nature a little raiſed and refined, will inable a man to do this; will not Grace, will not Union and Communion with Chriſt, inable a man to do as much, yea infinitly more? Thirdly, As that Obedience that accompanies Salvation, is free and willing Obedience, ſo it is cheerful and delightful Obedience; it is a Believers meat and drink, it is his joy and crown, it is a pleaſure, a paradiſe to his ſoul, to be ſtill obeying his Fathers will, to be ſtill found about his Fathers buſineſs. Pſal. 40. 8. I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy Law is in my heart. As the Sun rejoyceth toPſal. 19. 5, 11. compared. Tanto magis delectat opus bonum, quanto magis diligitur Deus, ſummum & incommutabile bonum. Aug. A good work, ſo much the more delighteth, by how much the more God the chiefeſt and unchangable Good is loved. In hoc cognoſcitur amor Chriſti, ſi quis ſervat praecepta Chriſti. Bern.Ps 19:5Ps 19:11 run his race, ſo do the Saints rejoyce to run the race of Obedience. Gods work is wages, yea, it is better then wages; therefore they cannot but delight in it; not onelyonly for keeping, but alſo in keeping of his commands, there is great reward. Pſal. 112. 1. Bleſſed is the man that feareth the Lord, that delighteth greatly in his Commandments; p. 437that is, in the ſtudying and obeying of his Commandments. Pſal. 119. 16. I will delight my ſelf in thy Statutes; I will not forget thy Word. Verſ. 35. Make me to go in the path of thy Commandments; for therein do I delight. V. 47. And I will delight my ſelf in thy Commandments, which I have loved. V. 143. Trouble and anguiſh have taken hold on me; yet thy Commandments are my delight. Divine commands are not grievous to a lover of Chriſt; for nihil difficile amanti, nothing is difficult to him that loveth. The love of Chriſt, the diſcoveries of Chriſt, the embraces of Chriſt, make a gracious ſoul ſtudious and induſtrious to keep the Commandments of Chriſt, in lip and life, in word and work, in head and heart, in book and breſt.

Thus you ſee that that Obedience that accompanies Salvation, is, Ready, Free, and Chearful Obedience.

Fifthly, That Obedience that accompanies Salvation, is, Peremptory Obedience, Joſh. 24. 15. I and my Joſephus reports of ſuch reſolute Chriſtians, that in the face of al reproaches and difficulties, followed Chriſt to the Croſs.houſhold will ſerve the Lord. He is fully reſolved upon it, come what come p. 438can, in the face of all dangers, difficulties, impediments, and diſcouragements, he will obey the Lord, he will follow the Lord; ſo thoſe Worthies in the eleventh of the Hebrews (of whom this world was not worthy) obeyed Divine commands peremptorily, reſolvedly, in the face of all manner of deaths and miſeries. So Paul was obedient toActs 20. 23. Gal. 1. 15, 16. You may as well ſtop the Sun from running his race, as you are able to hinder gracious ſouls from obeying Divine commands. Pſal. 44. 13. 24. As a wicked natu…e makes the wicked peremptory in their diſobedience: Jer. 44. 15, 16, 17. So the Divine nature makes gracious ſouls peremptory in their Obedience.Acts 20:23Gal 1:15Gal 1:16Ps 44:13Ps 44:24Jer 44:15Jer 44:16Jer 44:17 the heavenly viſion, though bonds did attend him in every place; he is better at obeying, then at diſputing; I conferred not (ſayes he) with fleſh and blood: So Peter and John, and the reſt of the Apoſtles, in deſpight of all threatnings and beatings, they obey the Lord, they keep faſt and cloſe to their Maſters work. Whether it be right in the fight of God, to hearken more unto you, then unto God, judge ye; for we cannot but ſpeak the things which we have ſeen and heard. And now Lord, behold their threatnings, and grant unto thy ſervants, that with all boldneſs they may ſpeak thy Word. And when they had called the Apoſtles, and beaten them, they commanded that they ſhould not ſpeak in the Name of Jeſus, and let them go. And they departed from the preſence of the Council, rejoycing, that they p. 439were counted worthy to ſuffer ſhame for his Name. And daily in the Temple, and in every Houſe, they ceaſed not to Teach and Preach Jeſus Chriſt. Acts 4. 19, 20, 29. & 5. 40, 41, 42. compared.

Thus you ſee, no tryals, no troubles, no terrors, no threats, no dangers, no deaths, could deter them from peremptory Obedience to Divine precepts. It is not the Fiery Furnace, nor the Lyons Den, nor the Bloody Sword, nor the Torturing Wrack that can fright gracious Souls from their Obedience to their deareſt Lord. Pſal. 119. 106. I have ſworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgements.

Sixtly, The end of that Obedience that accompanies Salvation, is, DivinePropter te domine, propter te, Is every godly mans Motto. Quicquid agas, propter D…um agas, Was an Eaſtern Apophthegm. Druſius. glory; the Eye of the obedient Soul, in prayer and praiſes, in talking and walking, in giving and receiving, in living and doing, is Divine glory. Rom. 14. 7, 8. For none of us liveth to himſelf, and no man dieth to himſelf; for whether we live, we live unto the Lord, and whether we die, we die unto the Lord; whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lords. In all actions, the obedient Soul intends p. 440and attends moſt Divine glory: If Satan, the World, or the Old man, do at any time propound other ends to theFinis movet ad agendum, The End moves to doing. Soul, this great end, Divine glory, works out all thoſe ends; for this is moſt certain, That which a man makes his greateſt, and his higheſt end, will work out all other ends. Look as the light of the Sun doth extinguiſh, and put out the light of the fire; ſo when a man makes the glory of God his end, that end will extinguiſh and put out all carnal, low, baſe ends. That man that makes himſelf the end of his actions, that makes honor, riches, applauſe, &c. the end of his actions, he muſt at laſt lie down in eternal ſorrow, he muſt dwell in everlaſting burnings;Iſai 50. ult. & 33. 14.Isa 50 the man is as his end is, and his work is as his end is; if that be naught, all is naught; if that be good, all is good, and the man is happy for ever.

Seventhly, That Obedience that accompanies Salvation, that borders upon Salvation, that comprehendsSi dixiſti ſufficit, teriiſti. Aug. If once thou ſaidſt it is enough, thou art undone. Salvation, is a conſtant Obedience. Pſal. 119. 112. I have enclined my heart to do thy Statutes alway, even unto the end. p. 441The Cauſes, Springs, and Motives of holy Obedience, are laſting and permanent, and therefore the Obedience of a ſound Chriſtian, is not like the morning dew, or a deceitful bow. Pſal. 44. 17, 18, 19. All this is come upon us, Hiſtory reports, that it hath been the ancient cuſtom of pious Chriſtians, under perſecuting Emperors, to meet, and by the Sacrament to binde themſelves for ever, to flie what was evil, and follow what was good, what ever it coſt them.yet have we not forgotten thee, neither have we dealt falſly in thy Covenant. Our heart is not turned back, neither have our ſteps declined from thy ways. Though thou haſt ſore broken us in the place of Dragons, and covered us with the ſhadow of death. The love of Chriſt, the promiſes of Chriſt, the preſence of Chriſt, the diſcoveries of Chriſt, the example of Chriſt, and the recompence of reward held forth by Chriſt, makes a ſound Chriſtian hold on, and hold out, in ways of Obedience, in the face of all dangers and deaths: Neither the hope of life, nor the fear of death, can make a ſincere Chriſtian, either change his Maſter, or decline his Work. Phil. 2. 12. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my preſence onelyonly, but how much more in my abſence: Work out your own ſalvation with fear and trembling. This was the Philippians glory, That they were conſtant in their Obedience, p. 442whether Paul was preſent or abſent, they conſtantly minded their work.

Ah but Hypocrites and Temporaries,Such Hypocrites may well cry out as Ecebolius did, who was onelyonly conſtant in inconſtaney, foreign. Tread upon me that am unſavory Salt. are but paſſionate, tranſient, and inconſtant in their Obedience; they talk of Obedience, they commend Obedience, and now and then in a fit, they ſtep in the way of Obedience, but they do not walk in a way of Obedience, they are onelyonly conſtant in inconſtancy, Job, chap. 27. verſ. 10. Will the Hypocrite delight himſelf in the Almighty? Will he always call upon God? Or as the Hebrew hath it, Willforeign he in every time call upon God? will he call upon God in time of proſperity, and in time of adverſity; in time of health, and in time of ſickneſs; in time of ſtrength, and in time of weakneſs; in time of honor, and in time of diſgrace; in time of liberty, and in time of durance, &c? The anſwer to be given in, is, He will not always, he will not in every time call upon God. As a lame Horſe, when he is heated, will go well enough, but when he cools, he halts down-right; even ſo an Hypocrite, though for a time, he p. 443may go on fairly in a Religious way, yet when he hath attained his ends, he will halt down-right, and be able toThe Monk in the Fable being a poor Fiſher-mans ſon, ſtill ſpread a Net over his Table, as a remembrance of his mean original, till he had by theſe ſhews of humility attained to the higheſt preferments; which when he had attained, he laid away the Net, becauſe the Fiſh was caught. go no further. The Abbot, in Melancton, lived ſtrictly, and walked demurely, and looked humbly, ſo long as he was but a Monk; but when by his ſeeming extraordinary ſanctity he got to be made Abbot, he grew intolerably proud and inſolent; and being asked the reaſon of it, confeſt, That his former carriage, and lowly looks, was but to ſee if he could finde the Keys of the Abbey. Ah! many unſound hearts there be, that will put on the Cloak of Religion, and ſpeak like Angels, and look like Saints, to finde the Keys of Preferment, and when they have found them, none prove more proud, baſe, and vain, then they. Ah! but that Obedience that accompanies Salvation, is conſtant and durable: A Chriſtian in his courſe goes ſtrait on Heaven-wards. The two milch Kine, 1 Sam. 6. 12. took the ſtrait way to the way of Bethſhemeſh, and went along the high-way, loughing as they went, and turned not aſide to the right-hand, or to the left: So gracious Souls go ſtrait p. 444along the High-way to Heaven, whichA Chriſtians emblem ſhould be an houſe moving towards Heaven, ſaith Clemens. is the way of Obedience; though they go loughing and weeping, yet they ſtill go on, and turn not aſide to the right-hand, nor to the left: If by the violence of temptation or corruption they are thruſt out of the way at any time, they quickly return into it again. They may ſometimes ſtep out of the way of Obedience, but they cannot walk out of the way of Obedience.Pſal. 119. 3, 4.Ps 119:3Ps 119:4 The honeſt Traveller may ſtep out of his way, but he ſoon returns into it again, and ſo doth the honeſt Soul.

Eightly and laſtly, Paſſive Obedience accompanies Salvation, as well as Active. Every one that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus, muſt ſuffer perſecution,2 Tim. 3. 12. & 2. 12. Rom. 8. 17, 18. Acts 14. 22.2 Tim 3:122 Tim 2:12Rom 8:17Rom 8:18Acts 14:22 from Tongue or Pen, from Hand or Heart. If we ſuffer with him, we ſhall reign with him; there is no paſſing into Paradiſe, but under the flaming Sword. Thorow many afflictions we muſt enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. A ſincere heart is as willingI might produce a cloud of witneſſes that have been excellent at ſuffering, at burning. to obey Chriſt Paſſively as Actively. Acts 21. 13. I am ready, not to be bound onelyonly, but alſo to die at Jeruſalem for the Name of the Lord Jeſus. I am willing, p. 445ſays Paul, to lofe my comforts for Chriſt, I am ready to endure any dolors for Chriſt, I am willing to loſe the Creature, and to leave the Creature for Chriſt. Paul, Phil. 3. 8. ſpeaks of himſelf as having been like one in a Sea tempeſt, that had caſt out all his precious wares and goods for Chriſts ſake; For whom, ſays he, I have ſuffered the loſs of all. So muſt we in ſtormy times, caſt all over-board for Chriſt, and ſwim to an Immortal Crown, thorow ſorrows, blood, and death. But becauſe I have in this Treatiſe, ſpoke at large of the ſufferings of the Saints, I ſhall ſay no more of it in this place. And thus you ſee what that Obedience is that accompanies Salvation. The fift thing that I am to ſhew you, is, What Love that is that accompanies Salvation.

That Love doth accompany Salvation, I have formerly ſhewed you; but now I ſhall ſhew you what that Love is, that doth accompany Salvation, and that I ſhall do in theſe following particulars. I ſhall not ſpeak of the firſtneſs, freeneſs, fulneſs, ſweetneſs, and greatneſs of Chriſts p. 446love to us, but of that Love of ours that accompanies Salvation, concerning which I ſhall ſay thus.

Firſt, That Love that accompanies Salvation, is a Superlative Love, a Tranſcendent Love. True love to Chriſt doth wonderfully tranſcendMatth. 10. 37, 38. Luke 14. 26, 27, 34.Matt 10:37Matt 10:38Luke 14:26Luke 14:27Luke 14:34 and ſurpaſs the Love of all relations; The love of Father, Mother, Wife, Childe, Brother, Siſter, yea, Life it ſelf. Pſal. 73. & 25. Whom have I in Heaven, but thee? And there is none upon Earth, that I deſire beſides thee. ChriſtFriends may have the Milk of a Believers love, but Chriſt hath the Cream. will be Alexander or Nemo, he will be all or nothing at all: There are the greateſt cauſes of love, there are the higheſt cauſes of love, there are all the cauſes of love to be found in Chriſt; in Angels and Men, there are onelyonly ſome particular cauſes of love; all cauſes of love are eminently and onelyonly to be found in Chriſt. Col. 1. 19. It pleaſed foreign.the Father, that in him ſhould all Fulneſs dwell. There is not onelyonly plenitudo abundantiae, but plenitudo redundantiae, an over-flowing of Fulneſs in JeſusCol. 2. 3.Col 2:3 Chriſt. All Wiſdom, all Knowledge, all Light, all Life, all Love, all Goodneſs, all Sweetneſs, all Bleſſedneſs, all p. 447Joys, all Delights, all Pleaſures, all Beauties, all Beatitudes, all Excellencies, all Glories, are in Chriſt. The true lovers of Chriſt, know that ChriſtWe ſo far love as we know, Tantum diligimus, quantum cognoſcimus. loves as a Head, as a King, as a Father, as a Husband, as a Brother, as a Kinſman, as a Friend: The love of all relations meets in the Love of Chriſt; and this raiſes up a Believer to love Chriſt with a tranſcendent love: They know that Chriſt loves them more, then they love themſelves; yea, that he loves them above his very life. Joh. 10. 11, 17, 18. And Magnes amor is amor, Certe non amant illi Chriſtum, qui aliquid pluſquam Chriſtum amant. Aug. Certainly they do not love Chriſt, who love any thing more then Chriſt.Love is the Loadſtone of Love. Chriſt is amiable and lovely; he is famous and conſpicuous; he is ſpotleſs and matchleſs in his Names, in his Natures, in his Offices, in his Graces, in his Gifts, in his Diſcoveries, in his Appearances, in his Ordinances; he is full of Gravity, Majeſty, Mercy, and Glory; He is white and ruddy, the chiefeſt Cant 5. 10. ult.Song 5:10among ten thouſand. His mouth is foreign ſweetneſſes; yea, foreign all of him is deſires, or all ofHe that holds not wholly with Chriſt, doth very ſhamefully neglect Chriſt. Aut totum mecum tene, aut totum omitte. Greg. Nazian. him is delights. Chriſt is wholly delectable, p. 448he is altogether deſirable from top to toe, he is amiable and lovely, he is glorious and excellent: Chriſt is lovely, Chriſt is very lovely, Chriſt is moſt lovely, Chriſt is always lovely, Chriſt is altogether lovely: He is the expreſs Image of God, he is the brightneſs of his Fathers glory; if the ſoul can but anatomize him, it ſhall finde in him all high Perfections and ſupereminent Excellencies. And upon theſe and ſuch-like conſiderations, the Saints are led forth to love Jeſus Chriſt with a moſt tranſcendent Love.

Secondly, That Love that accompanies Salvation, is Obediential Love, it is Operative and Working Love; the Love of Chriſt makes a man ſubject to the commands of Chriſt; If any John 14. 21, 22, 23.John 14:21John 14:22John 14:23man love me, he will keep my Commandments. And again, He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them, he it is that I have read a ſtory of an Elephant, who being f…ln down and unable to help himſelf, or get up again, by reaſon of the inflexibleneſs of his legs, a Forreſter coming by, helped him up; wherwith the Elephant by the very inſtinct of nature, was ſo affected, that he followed this man, and would do any thing for him, and never left him till his dying day. Ah Sirs, will not Divine Love make a man do more?loveth me. Divine Love is very Operative. Pſal. 116. 1. I love the Lord, ſays David. Well, but how doth this Love work? Why ſays he, I will walk in his ways: I will pay my vows: I will take the cup of ſalvation: I will offer the p. 449of thanksſgiving; and I will call upon the Name of the Lord, as long as I live, Verſ. 2, 9, 13, 14, 17. Divine Love is not ſtinted nor limited to one ſort of duty, but is free to all: He that loveth, flieth; he that loveth, runneth; he that loveth, believeth; he that loveth, rejoyceth; he that loveth, mourneth; he that loveth, giveth; he that loveth, lendeth; he that loveth, beareth; he that loveth, waiteth; he that loveth, hopeth, &c. Heb. 6. 10. For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love. Love makes the ſoul laborious; that Love that accompanies Salvation, is very Active and Operative, it is like the vertuous Woman in the Proverbs, that ſets all her Maidens on work; it is never quiet, but in doing the Will of God; it will not ſuffer any Grace to ſit idle in the Soul; it will egg and put on all other Graces, to act and operate. Love ſets Faith upon drawing from Chriſt, and Patience upon waiting on Chriſt, and Humility upon ſubmitting to Chriſt, and Godly-ſorrow upon mourning over Chriſt, and Selfdenial upon forſaking of the neareſt and deareſt comforts for Chriſt, &c. p. 450As the Sun makes the Earth fertil, ſo doth Divine love make the Soul fruitful in Works of Righteouſneſs and Holineſs. He that loves, cannot be idle nor barren; Love makes the Soul conſtant and aboundant in wel-doing, 2 Cor. 5. 14. The love of Chriſt conſtraineth foreign. Loves property is to do eternally, it is an eternal, laſting principle, and actions will laſt as long as principles; its action is as abiding as it ſelf.us; it doth urge us, and put us forward; it carries us on, as men poſſeſsed with a vehemency of ſpirit, or as a ſhip which is driven with ſtrong winds towards the deſired Haven. Natural love makes the Childe, the Servant, the Wife obedient; ſo doth Divine love make the ſoul, better at obeying, then at diſputing. A Soul that loves Chriſt, will never ceaſe to obey, till he ceaſes to be. That Love that accompanies Salvation, is like the Sun; the Sun you know caſtethBeatus qui amat te, & amicos in te, & inimicos propter te. Aug. Confeſſ. his beams upward and downward, to the Eaſt, and to the Weſt, to the North, and to the South; ſo the love of a Saint aſcends to God above, and deſcends to Men on Earth, to our Friends on the right-hand, to our Enemies on the left-hand; to them that are in a ſtate of Grace, and to them that are in a ſtate of Nature. Divine love p. 451will ſtill be a working one way or another.

Thirdly, That Love that accompanies Salvation, is a ſincere and incorrupt love. Eph. 6. 24. Grace be with all foreign Word for word in incorruption, or with incorruption. i. e. That love Chriſt in ſincerity, and not feignedly and hypocritically.them that love our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in ſincerity. Amen. The true bred Chriſtian (Amat Chriſtum, propter Christum) loves Chriſt for Chriſt; he loves Chriſt for that internal and eternal worth that is in him; he loves him for his incomparable excellency and beauty, for that tranſcendent ſweetneſs, lovelineſs, holineſs, and goodneſs, that is in him; he is none of thoſe that loves Chriſt for loaves, neither will he with Judas, kiſs Chriſt, and betray him; nor yet will he with thoſe inMatth. 21. 9, 15.Matt 21:9Matt 21:15 the Goſpel, cry out, Hoſanna, Hoſanna, one day; and Crucifie him, crucifie him, the next. They love Chriſt with a Virgin love, Cant. 1. 3. The Virgins love thee. They love thee in much ſincerity, purity, and integrity; they love thee for that fragrant ſavor, for that natural ſweetneſs, for that incomparable goodneſs that is in thee; ſo in the fourth Verſe, The upright love thee, or as it is in the Hebrew, Uprightneſſes p. 452foreignlove thee; Uprightneſſes being put for upright ones, the abſtract for the concrete;Judas was kin to the bag, he was not kin to Chriſt; and he in Clemens was not his, but his riches Kinſman. Chriſt hath many ſuch Kinſmen. A Chriſtian cares not for any thing that hath not aliquid Chriſti, ſomething of Chriſt in it. He ſayes with him, Sine Deo omnis copia eſt eg…ſtas, Without Chriſt all plenty is ſcarcity. Auſtin prayes, Lord (ſaith he) whatever thou haſt given take all away, onelyonly give me thy ſelf. God gave him himſelf, and caſt in many other mercies, as Paper and Packthred into the bargain. or, they love thee in uprightneſſes, that is, moſt uprightly, moſt intirely, moſt ſincerely; and not as Hypocrites, who love thee for baſe, carnal reſpects; who love thee in complements, but not in realities; who love thee in word and tongue, but deſpiſe thee in heart and life; who love the gift, more then the giver. That Love that accompanies Salvation, is real and cordial Love, it is ſincere and upright love; it makes the Soul love (Chriſt) the giver, more then the gift; it makes the Soul love the gift for the givers ſake, it will make the Soul to love the giver without his gifts.

And verily, they ſhall not be long without good gifts from Chriſt, that love Chriſt more then his gifts. Veſpaſian commanded a liberal reward ſhould be given to a woman that came, and profeſſed, That ſhe was in love with him; and when his Steward asked him, What item he ſhould put to it in his Book of Accounts; the Emperor anſwered, Veſpaſiano adamato, Item to p. 453her that loved Veſpaſian. Ah Chriſtians, ſhall Veſpaſian an Heathen Prince reward her liberally that loved his perſon, and will not the Lord Jeſus much more reward them with his choiceſt gifts, that love him more then his gifts? Surely, Chriſt will not be worſe then a Heathen, he will not act below a Heathen. He ſhall never be a loſer that loves Chriſt for that Spiritual ſweetneſs, and lovelineſs that is in Chriſt, Chriſt will not live long in that mans debt.

Fourthly, That Love that accompanies Salvation, is a vehement Love, an ardent Love; it is a ſpark of heavenly fire, and it puts all the affections into a holy flame. Can. 1. 7. Tell me, O thou, whom my ſoul loveth, where thou feedeſt? &c. This amiable, amorous, Pathetical Compellation, O thouAnima eſt ubi amat, non ubi animat, The ſoul is where it loves, not where it lives. whom my ſoul loveth, ſpeaks the Spouſes love to be hot and burning towards Chriſt. So in Iſa. 26. 8, 9. The deſire of our ſouls is towards thee, and to the remembrance of thy name. With my foreign In the midſt of me; it is an emphatical phraſeſoul have I deſired thee in the night, yea, with my ſpirit within me, will I ſeek thee early. This affectionate, this paſſionate p. 454form of Speech, With my ſoul have I deſired thee, and that, with my ſpirit within me, will I ſeek thee, does elegantly ſet forth the vehement, and ardent love of the Church to Chriſt; ſo doth that pathetical exclamation of the Church, Stay me with flagons, comfort Cant. 2. 5.Song 2:5me with apples, for I am ſick of love. The betrothed Virgin cannot ſhew more ſtrong and vehement love to her beloved, then by being ſick, and ſurpriſed with love-qualms, when ſhe meets him, when ſhe enjoyes him; it was ſo here with the Spouſe of Chriſt. The love of Chriſt to Believers, is a vehement love, an ardent love (witneſs his leaving his Fathers boſom, his putting upon us his Royal Robes, his bleeding, his dying, &c.) And it doth naturally begetAmor non niſi donum amantis. Gul. Par. vehement and ardent Love in all the beloved of God. Where Chriſt loves, he always begets ſomewhat like himſelf, Amor ſemper habet, quid ſui ſimile. That love that is flat, luke-warm, or cold, will leave a man to freeze a this ſide Heaven, it will fit him for the warmeſt place in Hell. Dives love was very cold, and he found the flames of Hell to be very hot. That love that p. 455accompanies Salvation is full of heat and fire.

Fifthly, That Love that accompanies Salvation, is laſting Love, it is permanent Love; the objects of it are laſting, the ſprings and cauſes of it are laſting, the nature of it is laſting. The Primitive Chriſtians loved notRevel. 12. 11.Rev 12:11 their lives unto the death; Perſecutors have taken away the Martyrs lives for Chriſt, but could never deſtroy their love to Chriſt. Epheſ. 6. 24. Grace be 1 Cor. 13. 8. Love never faileth, or as it is in the Greek foreign, never falleth away, but ſhall laſt for ever in Heaven; in which reſpect the Apoſtle lifts it up above Faith, Hope, and all the common gifts of the Spirit, in the ſame Chapter.1 Cor 13:8with all that love the Lord Jeſus in ſincerity, or, in incorruption, as the Greek word ſignifies, whereby the Apoſtle gives us to underſtand, That true love to Chriſt, is not liable to corruption, putrifaction, or decay, but is conſtant and permanent, laſting, yea, everlaſting.

That Love that accompanies Salvation, is like to the Oyl in the Cruſe, and the Meal in the Barrel, that waſted not; it is like the Apple-Tree of Perſia, that buddeth, bloſſometh, and beareth fruit every monethmonth; it is like the Lamp in the ſtory, that never went out; it is like the Stone in Thracia, that neither burneth in the fire, nor p. 456ſinketh in the water. Cant. 8. 6, 7. Love is ſtronger then death, many waters foreign Contemning, it would be contemned. Omnia vincit amor. Love rides in her chariot of triumph over all calamities, and miſeries, and cryes, Victory, victory.cannot quench it, nor th… floods cannot drown it: If a man would give all the ſubſtance of his houſe for love, it would be contemned. Love will out-live all enemies, temptations, oppoſitions, afflictions, perſecutions, dangers, and deaths. Loves Motto is (Nulli cedo) I yeeld to none. Love is like the Sun, the Sun beginning to aſcend in his circle, never goes back until he comes to the higheſt degree thereof.

True love abhors Apoſtacie, it aſcends to more perfection, and ceaſes not, until like Eliahs Fiery-Chariot, it hath carried the Soul to Heaven.

Many mens love to Chriſt, is like the Morning Dew, it is like Jonahs Goard, that came up in a night, and vaniſhed in a night: But that love that accompanies Salvation, is like Ruthes love, a laſting, and an abidingRuth 1.Ruth 1 love; it is Love that will bed and board with the Soul, that will lye down and riſe up with the Soul, that will to the fire, to the priſon, p. 457to the grave, to Heaven with the Soul.

Sixthly, That love that accompanies Salvation, is an aboundingThis is clear throughout the whole Book of Canti…les, as all may ru… and read. love, an increaſing love. Love in a Saint, is like the Waters in Noahs time, that roſe higher and higher. The very nature of true Love is to abound and riſe higher and higher, Phil. 1. 9. This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more.

The longer a Believer lives, the more eminent and excellent Cauſes of Love he ſees in Chriſt. Chriſt diſcovers himſelf gradually to the Soul. Now a Believers love to Chriſt, riſes anſwerable to the cauſes of love that he ſees in Chriſt. The more light, the more love, Knowledge and Love, like the Water and the Ice, beget each other.

Man loves Chriſt by knowing, and knows Chriſt by loving: Mans love is always anſwerable to his light; he cannot love much, that knows but little; he cannot love little, that knows much. As a man riſes higher p. 458and higher in his apprehenſions ofAmat Deus? non aliunde hoc habet; ſed ipſe eſt unde amat. Aug. Chriſt; ſo he cannot but riſe higher and higher in his affections to Chriſt. Again, the daily Mercies and Experiences that they have of the love of Chriſt, of the care of Chriſt, of the bowels and compaſſions of Chriſt, working more and more towards them, cannot but raiſe their affections more and more to him: As fire is encreaſed by adding of fuel unto it, ſo is our love to Chriſt, upon freſh and new manifeſtations of his great love towards us. As the Husband abounds in his love to his Wife, ſo the Wife riſes in her love to her Husband; the more love the Father manifeſts to the Childe, the more the ingenuous Childe riſes in his affections to him; ſo the more love the Lord Jeſus ſhews to us, the more he is beloved by us. Chriſt ſhewed much love to Mary Luke 7. 47▪ 48Luke 7:47Luke 7:48Magdalen, and this raiſes in her much love to Chriſt; She loved much, for much was forgiven her. As the Iſraelites in the three and thirtieth of Numbers, removed their Tents from Mithkah to Chaſmonah, from ſweetneſs to ſwiftneſs (as the words import;) ſo the p. 459ſweetneſs of Divine love manifeſted to the ſoul, makes the ſoul more ſweet, ſwift, and high in the exerciſe and actings of love towards Chriſt. A Soul under ſpecial manifeſtations of Love, weeps that it can love Chriſt no more. Mr. Welch, a Suffolk Miniſter, weeping at Table, and being asked the reaſon of it, anſwered, It was becauſe he could love Chriſt no more. The true lovers of Chriſt can never riſe high enough in their love to Chriſt; they count a little love to be no love; great love to be but little; ſtrong love to be but weak; and the higheſt love to be infinitely below the worth of Chriſt, the beauty and glory of Chriſt, the fulneſs, ſweetneſs, and goodneſs of Chriſt: The top of their miſery in this life, is, That they love ſo little, though they are ſo much beloved.

Seventhly and laſtly, That Love that accompanies Salvation, is open love, it is manifeſt love, it is love that cannot be hid, that cannot be covered and buried; it is like the Sun, it will ſhine forth, and ſhew it ſelf to all the world. A man cannot love Chriſt, p. 460but he will ſhew it in theſe, and ſuchlike things as follow.

Firſt, Divine Love makes the Soul even ready to break, in longing after a further, clearer, and fuller enjoyment of Chriſt. The voice of Divine love is, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly. Revel. 22. 20. Cant. 8. ult. foreign Be…ahh, dod, Flee away ſpeedily my beloved.Rev 22:20Song 8Make haſte my beloved, and be thou like to a Roe, or to a yong Hart upon the Mountain of Spices. I deſire to be diſſolved, and to be with Chriſt, which for me is beſt of all. It is a mercy, ſayes Paul, for Chriſt to be with me, but it is a greater mercy for me to be with Chriſt. I deſire to die, that IAuſtin longed to ſee that head that was crowned with thorns. may ſee my Saviour, I refuſe to live, that I may live with my Redeemer.

Love deſires and endeavors for ever to be preſent, to converſe with, to enjoy, to be cloſely and eternally united to its object Chriſt. The longing of the eſpouſed Maid for the marriage day, of the Traveller for his Inn, of the Mariner for his Haven, of the Captive for his Ranſom, &c. Is not to be compared to the longings of the Lovers of Chriſt, after a further and fuller enjoyment of Chriſt.

p. 461The Lovers of Chriſt do wellGod hath reſerved the beſt Wine, the beſt things, till laſt. know, that till they are taken up into glory, their chains will not fall off, till then their glorious Robes ſhall not be put on, till then all ſorrow and tears ſhall not be wiped from their eyes, till then their joy will not be full, their Comforts pure, their Peace laſting, their Graces perfect; and this makes them look and long after the enjoyment of the Perſon of Chriſt.

It was a notable ſaying of one, Let all the Devils in Hell (ſaith he) beſet me round; let faſting macerat my body; let ſorrows oppreſs my minde; let pains conſume my fleſh; let watchings dry me, or heat ſcorch me, or cold freeze me: Let all theſe, and what can come more, happen unto me, ſo I may enjoy my Saviour.

Secondly, Love to Chriſt ſhews it ſelf by working the Soul, to abaſe it ſelf, that Chriſt may be exalted, toRevel. 4. 10, 11. Joh▪ 3 26 to 31. Phil. 3. 7, 8.Rev 4:10Rev 4:11John 3:26–31Phil 3:7Phil 3:8 throw down it ſelf, that Chriſt may be ſet up, to leſſen it ſelf, to greaten p. 462Chriſt, to cloud it ſelf, that Chriſt a…one may ſhine. Love cares not what it is, nor what it doth, ſo it may but advance the Lord Jeſus; Love makes the Soul willing to be a footſtool for Chriſt, to be any thing, to be nothing, that Chriſt may be all in all.

Thirdly, That love that accompanies Salvation, ſometimes ſhews it ſelf by working the Soul to be chearful and reſolute, to be patient and confident in ſufferings for Chriſt, 1 Cor. Acts 5. 16.Acts 5:1613. Love endureth all things: Love will not complain; Love will not ſay the burden is too great, the Priſon is too dark, the Furnace is too hot, the Chains are too heavy, the Cup is too bitter, &c. A true lover of Chriſt can ſlightActs 21. 13.Acts 21:13 his life, out of love to Chriſt; as that bleſſed Virgin in Baſil, who being condemned for Chriſtianity to the fire, and having her eſtate, and life offered her, if ſhe would worſhip Idols, cryed, Let money periſh, and life vaniſh, Christ is better then all. So Alice Driver ſaid, I drove my Fathers Plough often, yet I can die for Christ as ſoon as any of you all. That Love that accompanies Salvation, makes a Chriſtian free and forward p. 463in ſuffering any thing that makes for the glory of Chriſt.

Fourthly, That Love that accompanies Salvation, ſhews it ſelf by working the Soul to be pleaſed or diſpleaſed,It is a ſaying in Natural Philoſophy That it is (Naturaliſſimum opus viventis generare ſibi ſimile) the moſt natural act or work of every living thing, to produce another like unto it ſelf. Pſ…l. 45. 7. & 1…9. 104, 113, 128, 163.Ps 50:45Ps 50:7Ps 1:9Ps 1:104Ps 1:113Ps 1:128Ps 1:163 as▪ Chriſt is pleaſed or diſpleaſed. A Soul that loves Chriſt, hath his eye upon Chriſt, and that which makes Chriſt frown, makes him frown, and what makes Chriſt ſmile, makes him ſmile: Love is impatient of any thing that may diſpleaſe a beloved Chriſt. Look what Harpalus once ſaid, (Quod Regi placet, mihi placet,) What pleaſeth the King, pleaſeth me, That ſayes a true lover of Chriſt, What pleaſeth Chriſt, that pleaſeth me: Holineſs pleaſeth Chriſt, and holineſs pleaſeth me, ſayes a lover of Chriſt. It pleaſeth Chriſt to overcome evil with good, to overcome Hatred with Love, Enmity with Amity, Pride with Humility, Paſſion with Meekneſs, &c. And the ſame pleaſeth me, ſayes a lover of Chriſt. 1 John 4. 17. As he is, ſo are we in this world. Our love anſwers to Chriſts love, and our hatred anſwers to Chriſts hatred; he loves all Righteouſneſs, and hates p. 464all wickedneſs; ſo do we, ſay the Lovers of Chriſt, Pſal. 119. 113, 128, 163.

It is ſaid of Conſtantines Children,Euſebius in his Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory. That they reſembled their Father to the life, that they put him wholly on. The true Lovers of Chriſt reſemble Chriſt to the life, and they put him wholly on. Hence it is, That they are called Chriſts, 1 Cor. 12. 12.

Fifthly, True love to Chriſt, ſhews it ſelf ſometimes by working the Lovers of Chriſt, to expoſe themſelves to ſuffering, to ſave Chriſt from ſuffering in his glory, to adventure the loſs of their own crowns, to keep Chriſts Crown upon his head, to adventure drowing to ſave Chriſts honor from ſinking.

Thus did the Three Children, Daniel, Moſes, and other Worthies. IHeb. 11.Heb 11 have read of a ſervant, who dearly loved his Maſter, and knowing that his Maſter was looked for by his enemies, he put on his Maſters Cloaths, and was taken for his Maſter, and ſuffered death for him. Divine love will make a man do as much for Chriſt, it will make a man hang for Chriſt, and burn for p. 465Chriſt. Revel. 12. 11. They loved not their lives unto the death. Chriſt and his Truth was dearer to them, then their lives; They ſlighted, contemned, yea, deſpiſed their very lives, when they ſtood in competition with Chriſt, and his glory, and choſe rather to ſuffer the greateſt miſery, then that Chriſt ſhould loſe the leaſt dram of his glory.

Sixthly, That Love that accompanies Salvation, ſhews it ſelf ſometimes by working the lovers of Chriſt, to be affected and afflicted with the diſhonors that are done to Chriſt Pſal. 119. Mine eyes run down with Rivers Jere 9. 1, 2.Jer 9:1Jer 9:2of tears, becauſe men keep not thy Law. So Lots ſoul was vexed, racked,2 Pet. 2. 7, 8. foreign, ſignifies two things, 1. The ſearch and examination of a thing, 2. The racking and vexing a man upon the tryal.2 Pet 2:72 Pet 2:8 and tortured with the filthy converſation of the wicked Sodomites: The turning of his own fleſh, his Wife, into a Pillar of Salt, did not vex him, but their ſins did rack his righteous ſoul. Pſal. 6…. …. The reproaches of them that reproached thee, fell upon me. A woman is moſt wounded in her Husband, ſo is a Chriſtian in his Chriſt. ThoughThough King Craeſus his ſon were dumb all his life time, yet when one would have ſtruck at his Father, the affection that he had to his Father broke the bars of his Speech, and he cryed out, Take heed of killing the King: You know how to apply it. Moſes was as a dumb childe in his own cauſe, yet when the Iſraelites by making p. 466and dancing about their Golden Calf, had wounded the honor and glory of God, he ſhews himſelf to be much affected, and afflicted for the diſhonor done to God. The ſtatue of Apollo is ſaid to ſhed tears for the afflictions of the Grecians, though he could not help them; ſo a true lover of Chriſt will ſhed tears for thoſe diſhonors that are done to Chriſt, though he knows not how to prevent them. It is between Chriſt and his Lovers, as it is between two Lute ſtrings that are tuned one to another, no ſooner one is ſtruck, but the other trembles; ſo no ſooner is Chriſt ſtruck, but a Chriſtian trembles, and no ſooner is a Chriſtian ſtruck, but Chriſt trembles. Saul, Saul, Acts 9.Acts 9why perſecuteſt thou me?

Seventhly, That Love that accompanie… Salvation, doth ſhew it ſelf by working the Soul, to obſerve with a curious critical eye, Chriſts countenanceƲbi amor, ibi oculus. As love came in by the eye, ſo it delights by the ſame door, to run out to Chriſt. and carriage, and by cauſing the ſoul to be ſad or chearful, as Chriſts carriage and countenance is towards the ſoul; when Chriſt looks ſad, and carries it ſadly, then to be ſad as Peter was, Chriſt caſt a ſad look upon him, p. 467and that made his heart ſad; he went forth and wept bitterly. And when Chriſt looks ſweetly, and ſpeaks kindly, and carries it lovingly, then to be chearful and joyful, as the Church was in Cant. 3. 4. It was but a little that I paſſed from them, but I found him, whom my ſoul loveth: I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my Mothers houſe, and into the Chamber of her that conceived me. So the Church in Iſai. 61. 10. I will greatly rejoyce in foreign In rejoycing, I will rejoyce: That is, I will exceedingly rejoyce.the Lord, my ſoul ſhall be joyful in my God; for he hath cloathed me with the garments of Salvation, he hath covered me with a robe of Righteouſneſs, as a Bridegroom decketh himſelf with Ornaments, and as a Bride adorneth her ſelf with her Jewels. A true Lover of Chriſt hath ſtill his eye upon Chriſt, and as his countenance ſtands, ſo is he glad or ſad, chearful or ſorrowful. Tigranes in Xenophon, coming to redeem his Father and Friends, with his Wife, that were taken priſoners by King Cyrus, was asked among other Queſtions this, viz. What ranſom he would give for his Wife, he anſwered, He would redeem her liberty with his p. 468own life: But having prevailed for all their liberties, as they returned together, every one commended Cyrus for a goodly man; and Tigranes would needs know of his Wife what ſhe thought of him, Truly (ſaid ſhe) I cannot tell; for I did not ſo much as look on him, or ſee him. Whom then (ſaid he, wondering) did you look upon? Whom ſhould I look upon (ſaid ſhe) but him that would have redeemed my liberty, with the loſs of his own life? So a Chriſtian, a true lover of Chriſt eſteems nothing worth a looking upon, but Chriſt who hath redeemed him with his own Blood.

Eighthly, That Love that accompanies Salvation, reaches forth a handJ…rom profeſſed how much he loved Chriſt in Auguſtine, and Auguſtine in Chriſt. of kindneſs to thoſe that bear the Image of Chriſt. 1 John 5. 1, 2. Every one that loveth him that begat, loveth him alſo that is begotten of him. By this we know, that we love the Children of God, when we love God, and keep his Commandments. He that loveth not his Brother, whom he hath ſeen, how can he love God, whom he hath not ſeen.

Now becauſe many miſtake in their love to the Saints, and the conſequences p. 469that follow that miſtake are very dangerous and pernicious to the ſouls of men, I ſhall therefore briefly hint to you the properties of that love to the Saints that accompanies Salvation. And

The firſt is this, True Love to the Saints is ſpiritual, it is a love for the Image of God, that is ſtamped upon the Soul. Col. 1. 8. Epaphras hath declared to us your love in the Spirit. A Soul that truly loves, loves the Father for his own ſake, and the children for the Fathers ſake. Many there are that love Chriſtians for their goods, not for their good; they love them for the money that is in their purſe, but not for the grace that is in their hearts. Many like the Bohemian Cur, fawn upon a good ſuit: Love to the Saints, for the Image of God ſtamped upon them, is a flower that grows not in Natures Garden. No man can love Grace in another mans heart, but he that hath grace in his own. Men doth not moreRemember, wicked men, God himſelf is wro…ged by the injury that is done to his Image. The contempt and deſpight is done to the King himſelf, which is done to his Image or Coyn. naturally love their parents, and love their children, and love themſelves, then they do naturally hate the Image of God upon his people, and ways. p. 470True love is for what of the Divine Nature, for what of Chriſt and Grace ſhines in a man: It is one thing to love a godly man, and another thing to love him for godlineſs. Many love godly men, as they are Politicians, or Potent, or Learned, or of a ſweet Nature, but all this is but natural love; but to love them, becauſe they are ſpiritually lovely, becauſe they are all Pſal. 45. 13.Ps 45:13glorious within, and their rayment is of imbroidered gold, is to love them as becometh Saints, it is to love them at ſo high and noble a rate, that no Hypocrite in the world can reach to it. Tho Waſps flie about the Tradeſmans ſhop, not out of love to him, but the Honey and the Fruit that is there: This age is full of ſuch Waſps.Epheſ. 1. 15. Col▪ 1. 4. It was the glory of the Epheſians and Coloſſians, that their Faith and Love reached to all the Saints. It was not narrow, and confined to ſome particulars, but it was univerſal.Eph 1:15Col 1:4

Secondly, True Love to the Saints, is univerſal to one Chriſtian as well as another, to all as well as any, to poor Lazarus as well as to rich Abraham, to a deſpiſed Job as well as to an admired David, to an afflicted Joſeph as well as to a raiſed Jacob, to a deſpiſed Diſciple as well as to an exalted Apoſtle. Phil. 4. 21. Salute every Saint; the meaneſt as well as the richeſt, the p. 471weakeſt as well as the ſtrongeſt, the loweſt as well as the higheſt: They have all the ſame Spirit, the ſame Jeſus, the ſame Faith; they are all Fellow Members, Fellow Travellers, Fellow Souldiers, Fellow Citizens, Fellow Heirs, and therefore muſt they all be loved with a ſincere and cordial love. The Apoſtle James doth roundly condemn that partial love that was among Profeſſors in his days, Jam. 2. 1, 2. Not that the Apoſtle doth abſolutely prohibit a civil differencing of men in place, from others; but when the richNon gens ſed mens, non genus ſed genius, Not race or place, but grace, truly ſets forth a man. mans wealth is more regarded then the poor mans godlineſs, and when men carry it ſo to the rich, as to caſt ſcorn, contempt, diſgrace, and diſcouragement upon the godly poor, This is a ſin for which God will viſit the ſons of Pride. Pompey told his Cornelia, it is no praiſe to thee to have loved (Pompeium Magnum) Pompey the Great, but if thou loveſt (Pompeium Miſerum) Pompey the Miſerable, thou ſhalt be a pattern for imitation to all poſterity. I will leave you to apply it. Romanus the Martyr, who was born of Noble Parentage, intreated his Perſecutors p. 472that they would not favor him for his Nobility; For it is not (ſaid he) the blood of my Anceſtors, but my Chriſtian Faith that makes me noble.

Verily, he that loves one Saint forYet there is a love of familiarity which we may lawfully ſhew more to one godly man, then to another. Thus Chriſt loved John more then the other Diſciples. the Grace that is in him, for that Holineſs, that Image of God that is upon him, he cannot but fall in love with every Saint that bears the lovely Image of the Father upon him; he cannot but love a Saint in rags, as well as a Saint in robes, a Saint upon the dunghill, as well as a Saint upon the throne. Uſually the moſt ragged Chriſtians, are the richeſt Chriſtians, they uſually have moſt of Heaven, that have leaſt of Earth, Jam. 2. 5. The true Diamond ſhines beſt in the dark.

Thirdly, Our Love to the Saints isYet this muſt be granted, That grace in a rugged, unhewn nature, is like a Gold Ring on a leprous hand, or a Diamond ſet in Iron; As a Gold Ring is moſt pleaſing, and taking, when it is on a neat, clean hand, and as a Diamond when it is ſet in a Ring of Gold; ſo grace is moſt pleaſing and taking to us in a ſweet nature, and not ſo much when it is in a rugged, unhewn nature; the beauty and glory of it, being clouded and darkned by a rugged nature. right, when we love them, and delight in them, anſwerable to the Spiritualcauſes of love that ſhine in them, as the more holy and gracious they are, the more we love them. Pſal. 16. 2, 3. My goodneſs extendeth not to thee, but to the Saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight. This is moſt certain, If godlineſs be the reaſon, why we love any, then the more any p. 473excel others in the Love, Spirit, Power, and practiſe of Godlineſs, the more we ſhould love them. There are thoſe that ſeem to love ſuch godly men, as are weak in their judgments, low in their principles, and dull in their practiſes; and yet look with a ſquint-eye upon thoſe that are more ſound in their judgments, more high in their principles, and more holy in their practiſes, which doubtleſs, ſpeaks out more hypocriſie then ſincerity. Verily, he hath either no grace, or but a little grace, that doth not love moſt where the Spiritual cauſes of love, do moſt ſhine and appear. Surely, thoſe Chriſtians are under a very great diſtemper of ſpirit, that envy thoſe gifts and graces of God in others, that out-ſhine their own. Johns Diſciples muttered and murmured, becauſe Chriſt had more followers and admirers, then John; And Johns Diſciples are not all dead, yea, they ſeem to have a new Reſurrection in theſe days. Well, as the faireſt day hath its Clouds, the fineſt Linnen its ſpots, the richeſt Jewels their flaws, the ſweeteſt Fruits their Worms: So when precious Chriſtians are under p. 472duplicate page p. 473duplicate page p. 474temptations, they may, and too often do envy and repine at thoſe excellent Graces, Abilities, and Excellencies, that cloud, darken, and out-ſhine their own: The beſt of men are too full of pride, and ſelf-love, that makes them ſometimes caſt dirt and diſgrace upon that excellency that themſelves want;Euſ…bius ſpeaks of him in his Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtory. As that great man that could not write his own name, and yet called the Liberal Arts, a Publick Poyſon and Peſtilence. There is no greater Argument, that our grace is true, and that we do love others for grace ſake, then our loving them beſt that have moſt grace; though they have leaſt of worldly goods. A Pearl is rich, if found on a dunghil, though it may gliſter more when ſet in a Ring of Gold; ſo many a poor Believer is rich and glorious in the eye of Chriſt, and ſhould be ſo in ours; though like Job he ſits upon a dunghil; though to the world he may ſeem to gliſter moſt, when adorned with riches, honor, and outward pomp, &c.

Fourthly, True Love to Saints is conſtant, 1 Cor. 13. 8. Love never faileth, it continues for ever in Heaven; p. 475that love was never true, that is not conſtant. Heb. 13. 1. Let brotherly love continue. True love is conſtant in proſperityConſalvus (a Spaniſh Biſhop and I… quiſitor) wondered how the Chriſtians had th…t Commandment, Thou ſhalt love thy Neighbor as thy ſelf, ſo indelibly Printed in their hearts. that no torture could blot it out, and make them confeſs, and betray one another, or ceaſe from loving one another. and adverſity, in ſtorms and calms, in health and ſickneſs, in preſence and in abſence. Thy own friend, and thy Fathers friend, forſake not. A friend (ſayes the Wiſeman) loves at all times, and a brother is born for adverſity. Proſperity makes friends, and Adverſity will try friends: A true friend is neither known in proſperity, nor hid in adverſity. True love is like to that of Ruths to Naomi, and that of Jonathans to David, permanent and conſtant. Many there be whoſe love to the Saint, is like Jobs Brooks, Job 6. 15, 16. which in Winter when we have no need, over-flows with tenders of ſervice, and ſhews of love; but when the ſeaſon is hot and dry, and the poor thirſty Travellor ſtands in moſt need of water to refreſh him, then the Brooks are quite dried up. They are like the Swallow that will ſtay by you in the Summer, but flie from you in the Winter.

It is obſerved by Joſephus of the Samaritans, that when ever the Jews affairs p. 476proſpered, they would be their friends, and profeſs much love to them;Auguſtus Caeſar was a conſtant friends to thoſe whom he loved he uſed to ſay, (Amare nec cito deſiſto, nec te…ere incipio) Late ere I love, as long ere I leave. but if the Jews were in trouble, and wanted their aſſiſtance, then they would not own them, nor have any thing to do with them. This age is full of ſuch Samaritans; yet ſuch as truly love, will always love. In the Primitive times, it was very much taken notice of by the very Heathen, That in the depth of miſery, when Fathers and Mothers forſook their Children, Chriſtians (otherwiſe ſtrangers) ſtuck cloſe one to another, their love of Religion, and one of another, proved firmer, then that of nature. They ſeem to take away the Sun out of the World, (ſaid the Orator) who take away friendſhip from the life of men: And we do not more need fire and water, then conſtant friendſhip.

Ninthly, That Love that accompanies Salvation, doth manifeſt and ſhew it ſelf by working the Soul to be quiet, and ſtill under Chriſts rebukes.John 21. 16, 17, 18John 21:16John 21:17John 21:18 Peter ſits down quiet under a threefold reproof; Lord thou knoweſt all things, thou knoweſt that I love thee. So Eli, It is 1 Sam. 3. 18.1 Sam 3:18the Lord, let him do what ſeems good in his p. 477own eyes. And Aaron holds his peace,Levit. 10. 3.Lev 10:3 when he ſaw the flames about his ſons ears: So David, I was dumb, I opened Pſal. 39. 9.Ps 39:9not my mouth, becauſe thou didſt it. The lovers of Chriſt are like the Scythian, that went naked in the Snow; and when Alexander wondered how he could endure it, he anſwered, I am all forehead. O the lovers of Chriſt are all forehead, to bear the rebukes of the Lord Jeſus.