On I J o H N V. i. In the former Verfe the Apoille argues from the reality of the EffeCt, as an Evidence of the Caufc. Whoever /Jelieues that Jefus is the Chrif/, that is, the Saviour of the World, foretold by the Prophets, and exprefles the Truth of that Faith in a fuiable.Converfation, is bom ofGod; and t·very o11e that lovet~ h11n tha~ begat, loverh. bim a!fo tbdt is begotten of him. Grace is not lefs powerful m producmg tender rectprocal AffeClions between the Off-fpring of the fame Heavenly Father, than the fubordinate End~arments of Nature. The Pretence is vam of Love to God, without lbving his regenerate Cluldren. And in the Text he argues from the knowledg of the Caute, to the difcovering of the fmcerity of the Effect: By this we kno1v that we l!YIJe the Chzldmz of God, with a holy Affection, if we loveGod, anJ keep his Commandme11ts. There is but one Difficulty to be removed, that the Force of the Apofile's reafoning may appear; ,tis this, a Medium to prove a ~hing mufi be a clearer Evidence than what is concluded by it : Now tho' a Demon!lratton from the Caufe be more noble and fcicntificaJ, yet that which is drawn from the EffeCt, is more near to Senfe, and more difcernaiDle. And this is verified in the In!lance before us ; for the Love of God, who is abfolutely fpiritual in his Being and Excellencies, doth not with that fenfible Fervour affeCt and paffionately tranfport us, as Love to his Children, with whom we vifi. bly converfe, and who are receptive of the mo!l fenf1ble Te!limonies of our Affection. Accordingly the Apoft:le argues, He that ltYVes not his BrotiJer u;hom he bathfeen, how ca1t he l01Jt God UJ!Jom he bath not feen ! As the Motives to love our Brethren, from our Conjunction in Nature; and familiar Converfation, are more capable to allure our Affections, and more fenfibly !lrike the Heart than the invifible Deity, who is infinitely above us ; by the fame reafon we may more eaGly judg of the truth of our Love to them, than of our Love to God. To thiS the Anfiver 1S clear ; the Apo!lle doth not fpeak of the Love of God, as a fiill, filenr~ contemplative Affection, confined to the filperiour facUlty of the SouJ, but as a burnmg, fhining Affection (like Fire *)active and decla- * Lumint zul ntive of it (elf in thofe Effects that neceifarily flow from it, that is voluntary Obedi. f•mp'':/'/ i· ence to his Commands ; and thus it becomes manifefi: to the renewed Confcience; and zur tP.I 11 "' is a moll convincing Proof of the Sincerity of our Love to the Saints. The Text being cleared, affords this Doctrine : · Doct. The Sincerity of our Love to the Children of God, is certainly difciYVered ry our LfYI.Je to God, and Ohedunce to his Commands. For the lllu!lration and Proof of the Point, I will briefly !hew, I. Who are defcribed by this Titl~, Tbe Cbi/Jren of God. I!. What is included in our Love to them. IIJ. What the Love of God is, and the Obedience that flows from it. IV. _How from Love ~o God, artd willing Obediert~e "to his Commands, we may convmcmg ly know the Smcenty of out Love to hiS Chtldren. To ~xplain the fir!l, we mu!l confider that this Title, The Chiidren of God, is giveri . upon (everal accounts. Firf/, By Creation the Angels are called the Sons of God, ahd Men his Off/print;. The reafon of the Title is, r . The manner of their Production by his immediate Power. Thus he is lliled, The Father of Spirits, in di!linction from the Fathers of the Flejh. For tho' the Conception and forming of the Ilody be the Work of his fecret Providence, yet 'tis by the hand of Nature, the Parents concurring as the fecond Caufes of it: but the Production of the Soul is to be entirely afcribed to his Power, without the Intervention of any Creature. 2. In their fpiritual immortal Nature, and the intellectual Operations flowing from it, there is an Image and Refemblance of God ; from whence this Title is common to all reafon able Creatures, and peculiar to them: for tho' Matter may be ordered and fa• fhioned by the Hand of God into a Figure of admirable Beauty, yet 'tis not capable of his Likenefs and Image ; fo that neither the Lights of Heaven, nor the Bea!ls and Plants of the Earth are called his Children. Semzdly, By External Calling and Covenant fome are denominated his Children . f~;i~J. \~~e~da~.~:~~~~~~n~i~~~~c~~d~~: t~~~~,'~~dceJ~~j~~~~~e~~ i~~~ a;~~~~~ the Covenant, vifible Profe!lion, and the receiving the External Seals of it will be of no advantage; but the publick ferious owning of the Gofpel, entitles a Perfon to be of the Society of Chri!lians; and Filius and FrEderatus are all one. Thirdly_, There is Sonfbip that arifes from fupernatural Regeneration ; thit is the' commumcatmg a new Nat~re to Man, whereby there is a holy and bleifed Change in the d1techve and commandmg Faculttes,the Under!landmg and Wtll,and in the Atiecti• ons, and confequently in tbe whole Life. This is wrought by the Ellieacy of the Word Xxxx and
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