A commentary or, exposition upon the divine second epistle general, writtenA commentary or, exposition vpon the diuine second epistle generall, written

All love that comes from God to us, is through his Son, Joh. 17.23. That the world may know, that thou hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Christ define•• it, the Father will not deny it. Christ is Gods beloved, and we are Christ beloved. All things are ours, because we are Christs, and Christ is Gods. When we consider, how infinitely God loves Christ, and how infinitely Christ loveth us, we cannot despaire. Pater & filius sunt duo in persona, unum in desiderio. The Father and the Son are two in Person, but one in desire. It is not possible, that he should be hated, for whom Christ suffered. Hence it follows, that God will not fail to lift us up to the place where his own beloved is. Joh. 7.24. Father, I will that they also whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am. Rom. 8.17. We shall also be glorified together with him. It had been a great favour to be admitted for door-keepers in his house: great satisfactions to have our sins pardoned and that the Lord would be friends with us, considering our rebellion. But to be restored to that Paradise which Adam lost; this had been more: but to be advanced further and higher than ever Adam was; even to the Lords own throne; this is most of all. If all mens hearts were one heart, it could not comprehend the measure of this love. God hath life, for he is the fool fountain of it: but how shall we come at it? Esa. 33.14. Who shall approach the devouring fire? who amongst us shall dwell with the everlasting burnings? Yes, the blood of the Son hath qualified this fire, and quenched the wrath of the Father: thus that life is made ours. 1 Joh. 5.11. God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Sonne. In dilecto, cum dilecto, pro dilecto. Excellent favour, not only to give us place and grace with the Angels; but even with his own Son! We are made Lords of all creatures but the Angels: and our head [JESUS] is also head of the Angels. For his sake they are all ministering spirits, for the good of all those that are the heirs of salvation. If we be thus loved in the beloved, we may be sure of all necessary things. For howsoever God hath distinguished the things of this world i a propriety: yet we have such interest in them, that the Sun should not shine, not the world stand, but for the elects sake.