f the PERSON Of CHRIST, 95 D. That they are difpofed, and able conftattly, infeparably, univerfal- ly, uninterruptedly to cleaveunto God in love. And as they do fo unto God, fo they do unto the perfon of Chrift, and through him as their head unto God, even the Father. [2. Add hereunto that gracious reflex fenfe whichthey have of the glory, dignity, eternal fweetnefs and fatisfae}ion which arifeth from hence, and we have the fumof angelical bleffednefs. 3.) The church of mankind is the other part of the rational creation whereon the image of God is renewed. Love unto the perfon of Chrift proceeding from faith, is their life, their joy and glory. It was fo unto the church under the Old Teftament. The whole book ofCanticles is deigned to no other purpofe, but varioufly to thadow forth, to infinuateand reprefent the mutual love of Chrift and the church. Blef- fed is he who underftands the fayings of that book, and bath the experi- ence of them in his heart. Theforty fifth Pfalm among others is deigned unto the faine purpofe. All the glorious defcrìptions which are given ofhis perfon in the refrdue of the prophets, were only means to excite love unto him, and defires after him. Hence is he called pa rntrt, Hag. ìi. y. The delreofall nations. He alone who is defrable unto, andthe only beloved of the church, gathered out of all nations. The clear revelation of theperfonof Chrift, fo as to render him the dire& object of our love,, with the cuales and reafons of it, is one of the molt eminent privileges of the New Teftament. And it is varioufly attefted in precepts, promifes, inftances, and folemn approbations. Wherever he fuppofeth or requireth this love in any of his difciples, it is not only as their duty, as that which they were obliged unto by tlie precepts of the gofpel, but as that withoutwhich no other duty whatever is accepted He him. If, faith he, ye love me, keep my commandments, John xiv. -r q. He fo requires loveunto himfelf, as not to expert or approve of any obedience unto his commands without it. It is a great and bletfed duty to feed the (beep andlambs ofChr f : yet will not he accept of it unlefs it proceeds out of love unto his perfon. SimonSon of Jonas, lovefl thou me,feedmy- lambs, John xxi. 15, tb, 17. Three times did he repeat the faine words to him who had failed in his love towards himby denying him thrice. Without this love unto him, he requires of none to feed his (keep, nor will accept ofwhat they pretend to do therein. It were a bleffedthing, ifa due apprehen- lion hereof did always abide with them that are called unto that work. Hereunto doth he annex thofe blef[edpromifes which comprize the whole ofourpeace, fafety and confolation in this world. Ile (faith he) that loveth me, (Ball be lovedof myFather, and ¡willlove him, andmanifefl my felfunta him, Johnxiv, as. andv. 23. My Father will love him, andwe will come unto bim, andmake our abode with him. Whatheart can conceive, what tongue can exprefs theglory ofthefe promifes, or the leaftpart ofthe grace that is contained in them ? Who can conceive aright of the divine condefcenfion, love and grace that are expreffed in theirs ? How little a portion is it that we know of God in thefe things? But if we value them not, if we labour not for an expërience of them according unto our meafure, we have neither lot 'nor portion in the gofpel. The prefence and abode of Godwith us asa fa- ther manifefting himfelf to be fuchunto us, in the infallible pledges and af- furances ofour adoption: the prefenceof Chrift with us, revealing himfelf untous with all thofe ineffable mercies wherewith thefe things are accompa- nied, are all contained in them. And thefe promifes arepeculiarly given un- tothem thatlove the perfon of Chrift, and in the exercife of love towards him. Ilereunta
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