A30579:188
Gospel-conversation
Gospel-conversation: wherein is showed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Cripplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwin, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nigh, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.Gospel-conversation: wherein is shewed, I. How the conversation of believers must be above what could be by the light of nature. II. Beyond those that lived under the law. III. And suitable to what truths the Gospel holds forth. By Jeremiah Burroughs, preacher of the Gospel to Stepney and Criplegate, London. Being the third book published by Thomas Goodwyn, William Greenhil, Sydrach Simpson, Philip Nye, William Bridge, John Yates, William Adderly.
London: printed by Peter Cole, 1650
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Ans. Surely love, answerable love, that we should return love for love, he that dwells in God dwells in love, God Himself is love; Read but the first Epistle of that beloved Disciple ⟨p. 55⟩John, what abundance of love is there made known of God? every letter thereof is a character of love; and what commendations of love in heavenly expressions? But you read no such thing in the Scripture before the Gospel was revealed in that clearness as it was then; now nothing but Love, love, and how it called for love: Then there must be this conversation, Love to God, as God to us. And that must be real as Gods love in Christ was.
Ans. Surely love, answerable love, that we should return love for love, he that dwels in God dwels in love, God Himself is love; Reade but the first Epistle of that beloved Disciple ⟨p. 55⟩John, what abundance of love is there made known of God? every letter thereof is a character of love; and what commendations of love in heavenly expressions? But you reade no such thing in the Scripture before the Gospel was revealed in that cleerness as it was then; now nothing but Love, love, and how it called for love: Then there must be this conversation, Love to God, as God to us. And that must be real as Gods love in Christ was.
Quest. How did God manifest his love?
Answ. A Conversation becoming the Gospel, must be a manifestation of our love in some proportionable way: So God loved the world, as He gave His only Son: that is as if he should have said thus, God so loved the world, so dearly, as that which was the dearest thing unto God he gave for a testimony of his love to man-kind. The dearest thing, What's that? His Son. If God should have said, That I might testify my love to mankind, as I have made one world for them, I will make ten thousand more, yea I will make so many worlds as every one of the children of men shall have a world to possess; you would think this were very much: Oh this were nothing in comparison of that expression, So God loved the world, as He gave His Son; the Son of God is infinitely dearer to God than ten thousand thousand millions of worlds are. Now, a conversation that becomes the revelatio of such love, must needs be this, Whatsoever then is dearest to our souls let that be given up to God. As it was a testimony of the love of Abraham to God, Hereby I know thou lovest me. Why? Because he gave up his Isaac to God, he would not spare his only Son whom he loved: so God showed his love to us: we may say, Lord, hereby we know thou lovest us, that thou hast given thine Isaac, thine only Son for us, and hereby Lord shall men and Angels know that we love thee, that whatsoever is dear to our souls thou shalt have it, we will offer it up to thee in way of sacrifice: this is a conversation that becomes the Gospel. So that when God calls for anything, never think it much, Oh this is hard and costly and dear to me, and how shall I part with this? Is this becoming the Gospel, to stand with God for any thing? for thy love must be somewhat suitable to Gods; His love was such as he gave the dearest to thee,