MY beloved, this subject, of the love of Christ to sinners, is indeed an inconceivable Subject. I have been backward to meddle with it, for how shall I speak of that which I do not know? For the love of Christ passeth all knowledge. Yet I shall a little open it to you, and shall make it appear that the love of Christ is great to his people: though I cannot comprehend it in the length and breadth, and height and depth of it, yet this we may know, that he hath a very tender love to us, Rev. 1. 5. To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Christ hath loved us: and would you ⟨p. 206⟩have a proof of his love to us? he hath loved us and washed us. He found us in our sins as swine in the mire; and yet he loved us and washed us, when he was fain to stop his breath as it were and hold his nostrils, yet he would come and wash us: yea he would make a bath of his own blood. Christ commended Mary, that she washed his feet with her tears: but how is the love of Christ commended in that he hath washed us in his blood? Christ hath our names down upon his book, Rev. 21. 27. There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, &c. But they that are written in the book of life. Mark, Christ keeps his book for you, lest you should be forgotten, or there should be any mistake. It is a metaphor taken from men that keep their books, because they will not let any thing be mistaken or forgotten. Yea, but books may be mislaid: therefore Christ hath your names written on his breast. The High priest was to have the names of the twelve Tribes upon his breast. So doth Christ, he hath you, for remembrance sake, engraven upon his hands, Isaiah 4. 9. 15. Can a woman forget her sucking child, &c. She may forget: but I have engraven thee upon my hands: yea he hath you upon his heart. He challengeth all the world for his love to you. He tells you that a woman may forget her child, but he will not forget you. A woman cannot choose, but have a very tender respect for her child: for this child (saith she) have I born many a bitter throw and pain: now, for you did Christ travail, Isaiah 53. 11. And so the Apostle Peter, ⟨p. 207⟩speaking of the Resurrection of Christ (Acts 2.) he tells us, that he being freed from the pains of death, it being impossible he should be holden of them. The word in the Greek signifies birth-pains.
MY beloved, this subject, of the love of Christ to sinners, is indeed an inconceivable Subject. I have been backward to medle with it, for how shall I speak of that which I do not know? For the love of Christ passeth all knowledge. Yet I shall a little open it to you, and shall make it appear that the love of Christ is great to his people: though I cannot comprehend it in the length and breadth, and height and depth of it, yet this we may know, that he hath a very tender love to us, Rev. 1. 5. To him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood. Christ hath loved us: and would you ⟨p. 206⟩have a proof of his love to us? he hath loved us and washed us. He found us in our sins as swine in the mire; and yet he loved us and washed us, when he was fain to stop his breath as it were and hold his nostrils, yet he would come and wash us: yea he would make a bath of his own blood. Christ commended Mary, that she washed his feet with her tears: but how is the love of Christ commended in that he hath washed us in his blood? Christ hath our names down upon his book, Rev. 21. 27. There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that desileth, &c. But they that are written in the book of life. Mark, Christ keeps his book for you, lest you should be forgotten, or there should be any mistake. It is a metaphor taken from men that keep their books, because they will not let any thing be mistaken or forgotten. Yea, but books may be mislaid: therefore Christ hath your names written on his breast. The High preist was to have the names of the twelve Tribes upon his breast. So doth Christ, he hath you, for remembrance sake, engraven upon his hands, Isaiah 4. 9. 15. Can a woman sorget her sucking child, &c. She may forget: but I have engraven thee upon my hands: yea he hath you upon his heart. He challengeth all the world for his love to you. He tels you that a woman may forget her child, but he will not forget you. A woman cannot chuse, but have a very tender respect for her child: for this child (saith she) have I born many a bitter throw and pain: now, for you did Christ travail, Isaiah 53. 11. And so the Apostle Peter, ⟨p. 207⟩speaking of the Resurrection of Christ (Acts 2.) he tels us, that he being freed from the pains of death, it being impossible he should be holden of them. The word in the Greek signifies birth-pains.
