ii. 1 o LA DCClaratZon ofthe Glorious MYSTERY upon us, to free us from that condition, and to render us meet for titemoft intimate fociety with himièlf. Never was there love which had fuck effete, which colt him fo dear in whom it was, and proved fo advantagi- ous unto them on whom it was placed. In the purfuit of it he under- went every thing that is evil in his own perfora, and we receive every thingthat is good in the favour of God, and eternal blelfednefs On titi account of there things,the apoRfe afcribeth a confirainiq powee untb the love of Chrift, a Cor. v. 04. And if it conitraineth us unto any return unto him, it doth fo unto that of love in the firft place. For no fuitabie return can be made for love but love, at IeaR not without it. As love cannot be purcltafed, for if a wan would give all the fúbflance ofOil heufefor love, it would utterly be contemned, Cant. viii. 7. fo if a man wouldgive all the world for a requital of love, without love, it would be defpifed. To fancy that all the love of Chrift unto us, confine in the precepts and promifes of the gofpel, and all our love unto him, in the obfervance of his commands, without a real love in him unto our perfohs like that of a husband unto a wife, Ephef. v. 25, 26. or an holy affetion in our hearts and minds unto his perfora, is tooverthrow the whole power ofreligion, to defpoil it of its life and foul, leaving nothing but the car- kafs of it. This love unto Chrift, and unto God in him, becaufe of his love unto us, is the principal inftana of divine love, the touchftone of its reality and fincerity. Whatever menmay hoaRof their affetionate en dearments unto the divine goodnefs, ifit benot founded in a fenfe ofthis love of Chrift and the love ofGod in him, they are but empty notions they flourifh withal, and their deceived hearts feed upon afhes. It is in Chrilb alone that God is declared to be love, without an apprehenfion whereof none can love him as they ought. In him alone, that infinite goodnefs which is the peculiar objet of divine love, is truly reprefented unto us, without any fuels deceiving phanta£ms, as the workings of fancy, or de- pravation of reafon may impofe upon us. And on him doth the faxing communication of all the effets of it depend. And an infinite condefeen- fion is it in the holy God, fo to exprefs hisglory hr theface ofJefus (b.ill, or to propofe himfelfas the objet of our love in: and through him. Hor confidering our weaknefs, as to an immediate comprehenfion of the infinite, excellencies of the divine nature, or to bear the rays of his refplendent glory, feeing none can fee his face acrd live, it is the molt adorable effer ofdivine wifdoin and grace, that we are admitted unto the contemplation of them, in the perfora of Jefus Chrift.. There is yet farther evidence to be given unto this love unto the per- fon cf Chrift, from all thofe bleffed effets of it which are declared in the fcripture, and whereof believers have the experience in themfelves. But fomething I have fpoken concerning them formerly in my difcourfe about communion with God; and the nature of theprefent defign, will not admit' of enlargement upon them. C-H A P.
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