dn Exp~(ition of the Epifile ~· his Goods among(\; fo w~en ~od, that is rich in Mercy, and hath great Love ~ fhall have but a few to enJOY tt, how wdl hts Heart be intended more in L I I(a. r. 29. I/Jo lfrael be"' the jimd of the Sea, (he fpeaks of Election,) ;et f,,~e~ Remnant fball be fiivecl. And yet let me add this, in the fourth place, That he loveth every one whom h bath chofen, as tf he loved none elfe ; lefl: any of his Children fhould be jealo e of it, he doth fo dextroufly manage his Love, that every one may fay, Noneuiss loved as I am: As he fatd, I am the greateft of Sinvers; fo may every one of his Chtldren fay, I am the greatefl: of beloved ones. So loving is God to thofe he chufcth, that all fort of Natures fpeak this of him, be they of what condition foever. There is alfo this to be added to this Head, the condition wherein we were when we were called, even when we were dead in Sins ancl Trej}".ffes. But I will refervc that, till it comes in order in the Text. And fo much now for that fecond Head here in the Text, which doth illuflrate the greamefs of the Love of God, Vs, and not Others. I come now to the third, which contains divers Particulars in thefe words [For his great Love wherewith he loved 11s. J There is, ' r. Ails of Love mentioned. There is, 2. The Time when he loved us, viz. before calling. And then, 3· There is a fpecial kind of Love, His Love, wherewith he loveclw. To begin with the firfl. There are two great ails of Love, :.Vhich God bath fhewn to us: the one was that from everlafl:ing; the other, when he gave )efus Chrifl. I will notfpeakofthe latter now, becaufe it tomes in afterwards at v. 5· But let us take in that act of Love in God, which here certainly the Apoflle bath a more fpecial recourfe to, that is, hi~elelling Love, which is,CJ!linently th~ Love, which this U,me [ hath loved us J referreth to, and whtch ts the foundation of all the refl, and let me in a word or two, fhew you the greatneiS of this. Firft; Let me fay this of it, that take it as it was an act in God, it can never be exp'refs'd, what it was, nor how great it was. And therefore God him(elf ( as I may fo fpeak with reverence ) is fain to manifefl: that Love which he took up in his own heart, by degrees, and by effells. The Scripture it felf cloth not know how to give you the greameiS of that Love, which God did pitch upon us fi·om everlafl:iqg, but it's flill fain to do it by the effells. In I John 4· 9· when he had faid before, that God is Love, and therefore he bath thus greatly loved us; he is fain to fall upon [peaking of the effells of this Love: I, this was [ mani– fejlecl J faith he, the Love of God towards uJ, bectmfc that God font his only begot– ten Son i11t• the World, that we might live thro11gh him. And, v. ro. Herein ir love, • (it is manifefl:ed in this) not that we loved God, but tbat he loved us, ancl font his . So11, to be the propitiation for om· Sins. And after he had fpoken of his Love, what faith he? v. 12. No man hath fcen God at any time; the meaning whereof, I think, is clearly ~his, as if he had [aid, I am fain to tell you this Love of God, which I am difcourfing of, meerly as it is manifefled in the effects ; for if you would have me [peak of it as it is in the fountain, it is not to be expreiS'd ; for no Man bath feen God at ony time, he is not able to know what Love is in the Heart of God, but at the fecond hand: It may be illuflrated by the gift of his Son, by making of us happy and glorious in Heaven, by his communication of him(elf to us the-re; but what, and how great it is, can never be exprefs'd. And !'le give you the reafon, why I interpret it thm, becau(e in Exod. 33.19,&c. when'God had fpoken of his Love to Mofcs, and C.1id, I will be graciow to thofc to whom I will be gracio11s ; he adds, No Man can fee Gocl, ancl/ivc ; for you can• not fee into this Love, as it is in him. And
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=