A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…

2 Be willing to put off mortal infirmities, so shall we see God face to face, Phil. 1.23. 2 Cor. 12.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.

3 Of trial whether we have communion with God or no?

3 Of tryal whether we have communion with God or no?

1 You never heard God the Father, nor the Son; God hath now delivered all his counsel in his Word by his Son, yet we may have familiar, sensible, affectionate communion with God, Heb. 1.1.

1 You never heard God the Father, nor the Son; God hath now delivered all his counsell in his Word by his Son, yet we may have familiar, sensible, affectionate communion with God, Heb. 1.1.

4 It stirs us up to the love of our brethren. No man hath seen God at any time, but have communion with him, and communion of love; God loves his people, we have communion with God, Psal. 16.2, 3. The Papists ask for Images, can there be any better resemblance of the Father then the Son his Image? and in loving and having communion with Gods Image that is like him? they kill his living Images to honour dead Images. It is the greatest love we can show to God, to love his Image.

4 It stirs us up to the love of our brethren. No man hath seene God at any time, but have communion with him, and communion of love; God loves his people, we have communion with God, Psal. 16.2, 3. The Papists ask for Images, can there be any better resemblance of the Father then the Son his Image? and in loving and having communion with Gods Image that is like him? they kill his living Images to honour dead Images. It is the greatest love we can shew to God, to love his Image.

Doct. Where love dwells, God dwells, for God is love, Vers. 16.

Doct. Where love dwels, God dwels, for God is love, Vers. 16.

What is it for God to dwell or abide in us?

God is said to dwell, not where he is, but where he loves to be, and so doth a man. Now God loves to be where love is, God loves not to be where malice and discontent is; God being a God of peace, loves to dwell in a ⟨p. 307⟩place of peace, or else he dwells not. God indeed is all the world over, if we go to Hell, he is there; if to Heaven, he is there; but yet he doth not dwell every where, Isa. 57.15. If where the Devil dwells, all that he possesseth is in peace, much more God, who is the God of peace, loves to be where peace is, & keeps that peace which passeth understanding.

God is said to dwell, not where he is, but where he loves to be, and so doth a man. Now God loves to be where love is, God loves not to be where malice and discontent is; God being a God of peace, loves to dwell in a ⟨p. 307⟩place of peace, or else he dwels not. God indeed is all the world over, if we go to Hell, he is there; if to Heaven, he is there; but yet he doth not dwell every where, Isa. 57.15. If where the Devill dwels, all that he possesseth is in peace, much more God, who is the God of peace, loves to be where peace is, & keeps that peace which passeth understanding.

There is a two-fold peace that passeth understanding.

1 The peace of that soul whose sins are pardoned, Phil. 4.7.

1 The peace of that soule whose sins are pardoned, Phil. 4.7.

2 The peace of that soul whose sins are mortified; now where God is, where God keeps the soul, there is peace that passeth understanding, both pardoning sin, and mortifying corruption: When Jacob was with Laban, and Joseph in Potiphars house, all was well; much more will all be well, where God himself is.

2 The peace of that soule whose sinnes are mortified; now where God is, where God keeps the soul, there is peace that passeth understanding, both pardoning sin, and mortifying corruption: When Jacob was with Laban, and Joseph in Potiphars house, all was well; much more will all be well, where God himself is.

Reas. 1. From Gods nature, for God is love, where sparks fly out of the Chimney, there is fire; so where you see love in the lips, carriage and heart of a man there is the presence of the blessed God.

Reas. 1. From Gods nature, for God is love, where sparks flye out of the Chimney, there is fire; so where you see love in the lips, carriage and heart of a man there is the presence of the blessed God.

2 From Gods operations: Where God dwells, he pardons sin, and purifies the conscience, or prospers the outward man, and there is a spirit of love in that mans heart; where God freely pardons, there is much forgiven, & where is much forgiven there is much love, Luk. 10.43.47. where we have a thousand forgiven, we shall be ready to forgive an hundred, Ephes. 4. ult.

2 From Gods operations: Where God dwels, he pardons sin, and purifies the conscience, or prospers the outward man, and there is a spirit of love in that mans heart; where God freely pardons, there is much forgiven, & where is much forgiven there is much love, Luk. 10.43.47. where we have a thousand forgiven, we shall be ready to forgive an hundred, Ephes. 4. ult.

2 He purges filth: If our hearts be purified from uncleanness and sinful distempers, there the heart runs clear in love, and there dwells, 1 Pet. 1.21. But if the heart be full of mud, it will run foul in hatred.

2 He purges filth: If our hearts be purified from uncleannesse and sinfull distempers, there the heart runs clear in love, and there dwels, 1 Pet. 1.21. But if the heart be full of mud, it will run foul in hatred.

3 He works love. If we love our brethren, it must be from the love of God in us, if there be love, it is from God; if there be hatred, it is from the Devil, Judg. 9.23. it is said, That he sent an evil spirit between Abimilech and the men of Shechem. Where Satan dwells, he will set all on fire, all hatred and wrath is from hell, and it will so kindle that it will consume one another; Fire from hell doth not warm, it scorcheth, Ephes. 4.17. If we give way to sinful wrath, we give place to the Devil; Love cannot be from the Devil.

3 He works love. If we love our brethren, it must be from the love of God in us, if there be love, it is from God; if there be hatred, it is from the Devill, Judg. 9.23. it is said, That he sent an evill spirit between Abimilech and the men of Shechem. Where Satan dwels, he will set all on fire, all hatred and wrath is from hell, and it will so kindle that it will consume one another; Fire from hell doth not warm, it scorcheth, Ephes. 4.17. If we give way to sinful wrath, we give place to the Devil; Love cannot be from the Devil.

2 This love is not from the world, Jam. 4.4.