Ver: 2 3, the 17thChapter of St. J O -I Ñ 345 Son, accept of nìé. Chrift being beloved of the Father; is the Storehoufe and 'Con- duit to convey that Love to his People. Vfe 3. Exhortation, to endeavour after the fenfe and apprehenfion of this Love in, our own Hearts. Surely this is our Duty, for Chritf afterward faith, Verf.26. That the Love wherewith thou haft loved me, may be in them. There is a . Love of God towards us; and a Love of God in us : fo Zanchy citing the Text ; his Love, ergo nos, towards tis, is carried on from all Eternity ; but nondnm in nobi , , it is not in Us, but in Time. He loved us before the Foundation of the World,' tho we know, it not, feel it not; but now this Love beginneth to be in us, when we receive the Effe &s, and- God is a&ually become our reconciled Father in Chrift. God's Love from Everlafting, was in Purpofe and Decree, not in Ad. God's Love in us is to be interpreted two ways, both in the Effe&s and the Senfe. In the Effects, at Converfion : Ephef. 2. 4, 5. But God, who is rich in Mercy, for his great Love wherewith he loved we, even when we were dead in Trefpaf s and Sen, hath quickned us together with ChrJi. In the fenfe, when we get affurance, and an intimate feeling of it in our own Souls. Both are wrought in us by the Spirit ; Rom. 5. 5. Ind Hope maketh us not ofsamed, becanfe the Love of God is flied abroad in oar Hearts by the Holy Ghofi, that is given to us. A Man may have the Effects, but not the Senfe ; God may love a Man, and he not know it, nor feel it. But we are to look after both: Therefore I (hall do two things. Firfl, Preis you to get the fenfe. Secondly, Speak to the Comfort of them that have indeed the Effeds, but not the Senfe. Firfl ; I (hall preis you all to get the fenfe and comfortable apprehenfion of this Love, that God loved you as he loved Chrift. I. Motives. The Benefits are exceeding great. (r.) Nothing quickneth. the Heart more to love God. Certainly we are to love God again, who loved us firfi. r l'ohn 4. 19. Now tho it be true, that Radius re- pints languet, that God loveth us fir(t, belt, and molt : yet the more dire the Beam, the ftronger the Refle &ion ; the more we know that God loveth us in Chrift, the more are we urged and quickned to love God again 5 2, Cor. 5. 54. For the Love of Chrift confiraineth us. And this Confideration is the more binding;, if you,expe& thofe Pri- vileges which Chrift had, you mull exprefs your Love by ['unable Obedience. John 6. 38. I came down from Heaven, not to do mine own Will, but the Will of him that Jim me. John 4. 34. My Meat is to do the Will of him that fint me, and to finifls his Work., John 8.29. And he that feat me, is with me; the Father hath not left me alone, for I do always thofe things that pleafe him. You muff love him as Chrift loved him. Will you fin again(t God, that are fo beloved of him ? Thus we muff kindle our Hearts atGod's Fire, for Love mutt be paid in kind. (2.) It maketh us contented, patient, and joiful in Tribulatidns and Af liftions, Rom. 5.3. And not only fo, but we glory in Tribulations alfo. And, a Pet. r. 8. Whom having not feen, ye love : in whom tho now ye fee him not; yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unfyeakable and full of Glory. (3.) Nothing more emboldneth the Soul agáinft the Day of Death and Judgment, than to know, that God loveth us, as he loved Chrift, and therefore will give us the Glory that Chrift is poffeffed of a John 4. 17. Herein is our Love made perfel , that we may have boldnefi in the Day of judgment, becanfe as he is, fo are we in the World the greater apprehenfion we have of the Love of God in Chrift, the more perfelt out Love is. 2. Means, that this may be increafed in us. , a. Meditate more on, and believe the Gofpel. It is good to bathe and fteep Our Thoughts in the remembrance of God's wonderful Love to Sinners in Chrift. John 17..26. I have declared to them thy Name, and will declare it, that the Love wherewith thou haft loved me, may be in them, and I in them. Fervency of Affe &ion followeth ftrength of Perfwafion ; and ftrength of Perfwafion is encreafed by ferious Thoughts. 2. Live in Obedience to the Spirit's fandifying Motions ; for this Love -is applied by . the Spirit, Rom. 8. 14. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sons of God ; compared with the 16th, The Spirit, it fel f beareth Witnefi with mir' Spirits; that Xxxx wd
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