Evidence for heaven containing infallible signs and real demonstrations of our union with Christ…Evidence for heaven containing infallible signs and reall demonstrations of our union with Christ…
Evidence for heaven containing infallible signs and real demonstrations of our union with Christ and assurance of salvation : with an appendix of laying down certain rules to be observed for preserving our assurance once obtained / published by Ed. Calamy ...Evidence for heaven containing infallible signs and reall demonstrations of our union with Christ and assurance of salvation : with an appendix of laying down certain rules to be observed for preserving our assurance once obtained / published by Ed. Calamy ...
Edmund Calamy 1600–1666London: printed for Simon Miller, 1657
[26], 209, [15] p. · 67k words · Wing C240 · ESTC R3864
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.
I may then be said to love my brother for the truths sake, when that grace and truth which is in him, is the principal attractive of my love; for that love which is dilated on the godly by a godly heart, hath grace for the principal attractive of it, and not base by-respects,1 and therefore continueth as long as grace lasteth, though other motives to love fail, and such occurrences fall out, as usually extinguish a love led by by-respects, therefore saith the Apostle of this love, It never faileth, 2it is still growing and increasing in a state of imperfection, and at length perfected in Heaven, it never faileth.
I may then be said to love my brother for the truths sake, when that grace and truth which is in him, is the principall attractive of my love; for that love which is delated on the godly by a godly heart, hath grace for the principall attractive of it, and not base by-respects,1 and therefore continueth as long as grace lasteth, though other motives to love fail, and such occurrences fall out, as usually extinguish a love led by by-respects, therefore saith the Apostle of this love, It never faileth, 2it is still growing and encreasing in a state of imperfection, and at length perfected in Heaven, it never faileth.
it self unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, it rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth, it beareth all things; believeth all things, loveth all things,
It is a love that suffereth long, is kind, envieth not, vaunteth not it self, is not puffed up; doth not behave *it self unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, it rejoyceth not in iniquity, but rejoyceth in the truth, it beareth all things; believeth all things, loveth all things, ⟨p. 46⟩endureth all things, 1 Cor. 13.4, 5, 6, 7.
*And is thereby distinguished from a carnal love, which oftentimes doth.And is thereby distinguished from a carnall love, which oftentimes doth.
It is a heart-softening affection, a heart-mollifying love; This is intimated by the language of the Apostle, Heb. 3.13. Exhort one another daily, 1while it is called to day, lest any of you be hardened, through the deceitfulness of sin. Hence it is evident, That if our love one towards another were such, as it should be, and did operate as it should do, it would soften and mollify our hearts: Congruous love is mollifying.
It is a heart-softening affection, a heart-mollifying love; This is intimated by the language of the Apostle, Heb. 3.13. Exhort one another daily, 1while it is called to day, lest any of you be hardened, through the deceitfullness of sinne. Hence it is evident, That if our love one towards another were such, as it should be, and did operate as it should do, it would soften and mollifie our hearts: Congruous love is mollifying.
1Christian love and carnal love herein differ.Christian love and carnall love herein differ.
Here note two or three things; Christians frequently complain of hardness of heart in these days,1 and not without cause, but few I believe take notice, that want in love is the cause of it; Strangeness weakens, cools and abates love, nothing more, this it doth in man towards God, and in man towards man, and as love abates, and strangeness grows, the heart contracts hardness more and more, Probatum est.
Here note two or three things; Christians frequently complain of hardness of heart in these dayes,1 and not without cause, but few I believe take notice, that want in love is the cause of it; Strangeness weakens, cools and abates love, nothing more, this it doth in man towards God, and in man towards man, and as love abates, and strangeness grows, the heart contracts hardness more and more, Probatum est.
Whilst the Galatians love towards Paul continued, they were pliable within and without, they would have parted with any thing to have done him good, but when once their love abated, their hearts were hardened towards him, and his message too.
Whilest the Galatians love towards Paul continued, they were pliable within and without, they would have parted with any thing to have done him good, but when once their love abated, their hearts were hardned towards him, and his message too.
Love and intimate converse melts the heart, nothing more; strangeness hardens it, nothing the like; intimate converse with God, increaseth love to God, and melteth the heart; intimate converse with the godly-wise, doth the like.
Love and intimate converse melts the heart, nothing more; strangeness hardens it, nothing the like; intimate converse with God, encreaseth love to God, and melteth the heart; intimate converse with the godly-wise, doth the like.
Our great hardness of heart, and unprofitableness under the great means of grace in public, I may truly say, hath in great part sprung ⟨p. 47⟩from the gross neglect of the duties of Christian love; and the great strangeness that is grown amongst Christians, in these times, where we meet, but in complement usually.
Our great hardness of heart, and unprofitableness under the great meanes of grace in publick, I may truly say, hath in great part sprung ⟨p. 47⟩from the gross neglect of the duties of Christian love; and the great strangeness that is grown amongst Christians, in these times, where we meet, but in complement usually.
But when God shall give his people one heart, and one way, to serve him, with one consent; when their love shall abound, one towards another, and operate without these obstructions of division, in judgement, and affection [they shall then have hearts of flesh, and not of stone: 1] as appears by Jer. 32.39. and Zeph. 3.9. compared with Ezek. 36.26. which places have reference to one and the same time.
But when God shall give his people one heart, and one way, to serve him, with one consent; when their love shall abound, one towards another, and operate without these obstructions of division, in judgement, and affection [they shall then have hearts of flesh, and not of stone: 1] as appears by Ier. 32.39. and Zeph. 3.9. compared with Ezek. 36.26. which places have reference to one and the same time.
It is said of Leviathan, Job 41. That the flakes of his flesh are joined together: they are firm in themselves, they cannot be moved. His scales are one so near another, that no Air can come between them. They are joined one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sundered. The Lord Jesus Christ is the great Leviathan of Heaven and Earth, and his people are his scales, and the flakes of his flesh; and were they so joined together in Christian love and society, that no Air of temptation could come between them, they would be firm in themselves; and so stick together, that they could not be sundered, yea, in their neck would strength remain, and sorrow would be turned into joy before them.
It is said of Leviathan, Job 41. That the flakes of his flesh are joyned together: they are firme in themselves, they cannot be moved. His scales are one so neer another, that no Air can come between them. They are joyned one to another, they stick together, that they cannot be sunder•d. The Lord Jesus Christ is the great Leviathan of Heaven and Earth, and his people are his scales, and the flakes of his flesh; and were they so joyned together in Christian love and society, that no Air of temptation could come between them, they would be firm in themselves; and so stick together, that they could not be sundered, yea, in their neck would strength remaine, and sorrow would be turned into joy before them.
Great is the latitude of Christian love, of love congruous to the rule of God; for they whose love is congruous to the rule of God. Grudge not a one against ••e other; Speak not evil ⟨p. 48⟩bone of another: Do not bite cand devour one another; Devi•e •ot evil one against another;d; Do not oppress, over-reach, or defraud eone another, i• any matter; Render not evil ffor evil unto any man; Say not I will do gso to him, as he hath done to me, I will •ender unto the man according to his deeds; They bear not false hwitness against their Neighbour, nor bear witness, without icause against their Neighbour, nor deceive with their lips; Lay not wait against the dwelling of kthe righteous; Spoil not his resting place; Add not affliction lto the afflicted; Rejoice not in their menemies fell, much less in their brothers; Hate not their brother in nheart; Stand not against the blood oof their Neighbours, out of desire of revenge, nor upon a political account; Are not as Cain *who slew his Brother;15 They judge not their pBrother, nor set at nought their Brother; Give no offence qwillingly to any, but endeavour, as much as lawfully they may, to live peaceably rwith all men; They put away all sbitterness, and wrath, and anger, and •lamour, and evil speaking, with all malice; Love one another as tGod gave us Commandment; Love one another, as Christ hath loved uus; Love as *Brethren; Love without xdissimulation, cordially, yunfeignedly, out of a pure heart, fervently; Love not in word zand in tongue only, but in deed and in truth; They walk ain ⟨p. 49⟩love; abound bin Love, grow cin Love, speak the truth din Love, serve one another ein Love, continue fin Love, are kindly affectionated one towards another gwith brotherly Love; Rejoice with them hthat rejoice, and weep with them that weep; In honour prefer ione another, have compassion kone of another, are pitiful, are courteous lone towards another, tender mhearted; if rich, they are rich in good works 38ready to distribute, willing to communicate, show mercy owith cheerfulness, they bear one another's pburdens. If strong, bear the infirmities qof the weak, support rthe weak, bear one with another, a•d forbear one sanother; Forsake not the tassembling of themselves together, but exhort one another daily, edify one another uand comfort one another, with the Word of the Lord;
Great is the latitude of Christian love, of love congruous to the rule of God; for they whose love is congruous to the rule of God. Grudge not a one against ••e other; Speak not evil ⟨p. 48⟩bone of another: Do not bite cand devour one another; Devi•e •ot evill one against another;d; Do not oppress, over-reach, or defraud eone another, i• any matter; Render not evill ffor evill unto any man; Say not I will do gso to him, as he hath done to me, I will •ender unto the man according to his deeds; They bear not false hwitness against their Neighbour, nor bear witness, without icause against their Neighbour, nor deceive with their lips; Lay not wait against the dwelling of kthe righteous; Spoil not his resting place; Adde not affliction lto the afflicted; Rejoyce not in their menemies fell, much less in their brothers; Hate not their brother in nheart; Stand not against the blood oof their Neighbours, out of desire of revenge, nor upon a politicall account; Are not as Cain *
*Gain was wicked, and slew his brother, yet was he not so impudent as to give God thanks for it, when he had done, much less did he call out Adam thereunto.
*Teach and admonish one another, consider one another to provoke xunto Love, and to good works, confess their faults one yto another; This (I think) is meant, at least chiefly, of faults committed one against another, and pray one for another; Pray for 4all men, even enemies; †Do good unto all, abut especially unto the household of Faith, they are not overcome of evil, but blabour to overcome evil with goodness; they do as they would cbe done by in all things; they esteem dvery highly in Love, for their works sake, their lawful and faithful Ministers, especially those in whom they have propriety; They receive eone another, as Christ received us to the glory of God; and be at peace among themselves.
*Teach and admonish one another, consider one another to provoke xunto Love, and to good works, confess their faults one yto another; This (I think) is meant, at least chiefly, of faults committed one against another, and pray one for another; Pray for 4all men, even enemies; †Do good unto all, abut especially unto the houshold of Fai•h, they are not overcome of evill, but blabour to overcome evill with goodness; they do as they would cbe done by in all things; they esteem dvery highly in Love, for their works sake, their lawfull and faithfull Ministers, especially those in whom they have propriety; They receive eone another, as Christ received us to the glory of God; and be at peace among themselves.
Then again. He whose Love to his brother is congruous to the Rule of God, goes not up and down as a tale-bearer, fHe seeks not his own, gbut his brothers good; labours to avoid whatsoever may offend hor weaken his brother, or be a stumbling block unto him; labours to please ihis brother for his good, to Edification; He loves his Neighbour as himself; kdoth good freely, llooking for nothing again; He says not as Cain, Am I my brothers keeper? but watches over his brother for his good, and reproves mhis brother in Love, according to Christ's Rule nprivately and publicly, if need be; informs against his brother oin such place and case, as Christ commands him, and with-draws from his brother in case of pscandal or contempt of the Churches lawful constitutions and censures; or in case he cause divisions qor offences in the Church, contrary to the Doctrine of the holy Scriptures; mourns rfor his brother, and prays for shim in such cases. Labours to restore this brother in the spirit of meekness, when overtaken in any fault, and returns to him uwhen he turns to the Lord. Forgives *him and comforts him, and confirms his Love towards him; He forgives his brother his trespasses from his xheart, as often as he yoffendeth, and repenteth, freely, as zChrist forgave us; For Christ's sake, and as God hath forgiven us.
Then again. He whose Love to his brother is congruous to the Rule of God, goes not up and down as a tale-bearer, fHe seeks not his own, gbut his brothers good; labours to avoid whatsoever may offend hor weaken his brother, or be a stumbling block unto him; labours to please ihis brother for his good, to Edification; He loves his Neighbour as himself; kdoth good freely, llooking for nothing again; He saies not as Cain, Am I my brothers keeper? but watches over his brother for his good, and reproves mhis brother in Love, according to Christ's Rule nprivately and publiquely, if need be; informs against his brother oin such place and case, as Christ commands him, and with-draws from his brother in case of pscandall or contempt of the Churches lawfull constitutions and censures; or in case he cause divisions qor offences in the Church, contrary to the Doctrine of the holy Scriptures; mourns rfor his brother, and praies for shim in such cases. Labours to restore this brother in the spirit of meekness, when overtaken in any fault, and returns to him uwhen he turns to the Lord. Forgives *
All these qualifications the Scripture calls for, in my Love towards my Brother, as these quotations in the Margin do manifest; Therefore that Love towards man, which is congruous to the holy Scripture, must needs have these qualifications in it, ergo.
All these qualifications the Scripture cals for, in my Love towards my Brother, as these quotations in the Margin do manifest; Therefore that Love towards man, which is congruous to the holy Scripture, must needs have these qualifications in it, ergo.
But here the soul conscious to its own wants and failings, will be ready to reply,1 as the Disciples did to Christ, when he told them, how hard a matter it was for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; who then can be saved, said the Disciples? so the soul will be ready to say here, if all this be in that Love which is congruous to the rule of God, who then can say his Love is congruous to the rule of God? surely none, for in much of this we fail all.
But here the soul conscious to its own wants and failings, will be ready to reply,1 as the Disciples did to Christ, when he told them, how hard a matter it was for a rich man to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven; who then can be saved, said the Disciples? so the soul will be ready to say here, if all this be in that Love which is congruous to the rule of God, who then can say his Love is congruous to the rule of God? surely none, for in much of this we faile all.
He that truly wills, desires,1 and endeavours to do all this,2 that Christ may have the honour of it, doth it in a Gospel-sense, and in Gods acceptation, who accepts the will for the deed: where ability is wanting, this must be granted, otherwise no Child of Adam could conclude on the affirmative.
He that truly wills, desires,1 and indeavours to do all this,2 that Christ may have the honour of it, doth it in a Gospel-sense, and in Gods acceptation, who accepts the will for the deed: where ability is wanting, this must be granted, otherwise no Child of Adam could conclude on the affirmative.
1Answ.
2This, and no less then this, is vigour fit to give the appearance of a sincere Love.This, and no less then this, is vigor fit to give the appearance of a sincere Love.
