88 c.f1 Declaration ofthe Glorious MYSTERY ++++44444+++}444+a+++x.44+++++Aa+44xa+++++ 4,T4 444++ ++++++4+4+#+4++'r4 1i)Px`NNMPISSGcOiF.FL AGG:ER7FR 44:ié7wG7iG i47RPtgiW.rÑ CHAP. XII. The efpecial Principle of Obedience unto the Perfon of CHRIST ; which is Loy E. Its Truth and Reality vindicated. g fg HAT which Both enliven and animate the obedience where- ark,:;: of we have difcourfed, is love. This himfelf makes the foun- dation ofall that is acceptable unto him. If, faith he, you 1141-1-20:le love me, keep my commandments, John xiv. 15. As he diftinguilheth between love and obedience, fo he alferts the former as the foundation of the latter. He accepts of no obedience unto his commands that doth not proceed from love unto his perfon. That is no love which is not fruitful in obedience, and that is no obedience which proceeds not from love. So he exprelfeth on both fides ; Jr a man love me, he will keep my words; and he that loveth me not, keepethnot my fay_ ing,q, v. 23, 24. In the Old Teflament the love ofGodwas the life and fubltance of all obedience. Thou (halt love the Lercl thy God with all thy heart, with all thy foul, thy mind and flrengeh, was the fum of the law. This includes in it all obedience', and whereit is genuine, will produce all the fruits of it. And where it was not, no multiplication of duties was accepted with him. But this in general we do not now treat of. That the perfonofChrift is thecfpecial objeh of this divine love, which is the fire thatkindles the facrifice of our obedience unto him ; this is that alone which at prefent I deign to demonftrate The apoftle hath recorded a very fevere denuntiation of divine wrath tga.inft all that love him not, If ary man love not the Lord efue Chrift, let him le Anathema Maranat ta, t Ger. xvi. 22. And what was added unto the curfeof the law, we may add unto this of the gofpel; And all the people'ball fay Amen. tout. xxvit. 26. And on the outer hand, he prays for grace, on all that lovehim in fincerity, Ephef. ü. 26 Wherefore none who defire to retain the naive of chriftians, can deny in words at leaf}, but that we ought with all our hearts to love the lord Jefri Chráfl. I do not fo dillinguiffa love from obedience as though it were not it Pelf a part, yea the chiefeft part, of our obedience. So is faith alfo, yet is it conftantly dillinguilhed from obedience properly fo called. This alone is that which I (hall demonftrate, namely, That there is, and ought tobe, in all believers, a divine gracious love unto the perfon of Chrift, immediately fixed on him, whereby they are excited unto, and ailed in alltheir obedience unto his authority. Had it been only pleaded that many who pretend love unto Chrift, do yet evidence that they love him not, it is that which the fcripture tellifieth and continual experience doth proclaim. If an application of this charge had been made unto them, whofe fincerity in their profeffion of love unto him, can be no way evifted, it ought to be born with pa- tience, ainongft other reproaches of the faine kind that are caft upon them
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