The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…

That is, those which have such a true love to him, as doth show itself by the faithful using of his pure worship, and by keeping not the duties of flesh and blood, but his commandments. So that here God sets down this, as a note of loving him to keep his commandments, whence this lesson ariseth, that the love of God consists in keeping his commandments, but afore the doctrine be further declared, an objection must be removed, for one may say, what? do you say that none love god but those that keep his commandments, then I pray you where can you find one that loveth God, and who is this that is able perfectly to keep and fulfil the law of God. But for the absolving of this doubt, know that there is a great difference betwixt these two, to keep Gods commandments & to fulfil Gods commandments, for keeping noteth a truth, fulfilling a perfection, this perfection Christ only had, but this truth, every christian must have, for every christian man may so far keep Gods law, as that he shall be both accepted and also rewarded, though not for the merits of the work, yet for the mercy of him, that accepts the work. But this true keeping must be known by these notes, first in keeping one, must aim at all, there must be a full purpose and true desire to keep all, for if one lie in any sin, & break any wilfully, then the wilful & known breach of one, makes him guilty of all. Secondly, the obedience must be done willingly, with a free & cheerful hart, as David bids Solomon, serve the Lord with a willing mind. Thirdly, the end of our actions must be good, to show our loyalty to God, to approve our harts to him in obedience to his commandments, that we may be blessed of him, and not for any other end or intent of our own, as to be magnified of men, and to merit by them, or such like.

THat is, those which haue such a true loue to him, as doth shew itselfe by the faithfull vsing of his pure worship, and by keeping not the duties of flesh and bloud, but his commandements. So that heere God sets down this, as a note of louing him to keepe his commaundements, whence this lesson ariseth, that the loue of God consists in keeping his commaundements, but afore the doctrine be further declared, an objectiō must be remoued, for one may say, what? doe you say that none loue god but those that keepe his commandements, then I pray you where can you find one that loueth God, and who is this that is able perfectlie to keepe and fulfill the law of God. But for the absoluing of this doubt, knowe that there is a great difference betwixt these two, to keepe Gods commandements & to fulfill Gods commandements, for keeping noteth a truth, fulfilling a perfection, this perfection Christ onely had, but this truth, euerie christian must haue, for euerie christian man may so farre keepe Gods law, as that he shalbe both accepted and also rewarded, though not for the merits of the worke, yet for the mercie of him, that accepts the worke. But this true keeping must be knowne by these notes, first in keeping one, must aime at all, ther must be a full purpose and true desire to keepe all, for if one lie in any sin, & breake any wilfullie, then the wilfull & known breach of one, makes him guiltie of all. Secondly, the obedience must be done willinglie, with a free & cheerefull hart, as Dauid bids Solomon, serue the Lord with a willing minde. Thirdly, the end of our actions must be good, to shew our loyaltie to God, to approue our harts to him in obedience to his commandements, that wee may bee blessed of him, and not for any other ende or intent of our owne, as to bee magnified of men, and to merit by them, or such like.