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

Answ. It's all one with God, whether you have respect to that which is now, or what he knows will be hereafter, so a wise man serves a Prince, not out of mere affection to the Prince, but because he loved himself first; for he fore-saw if he served him carefully, he should have abundant recompense: Now to the wise man it's all one, whether he have respect to the future foreseen recompense, or to the present, and therefore still his service is mercenary; therefore when God loved us, it was not for any thing we did, or was ⟨p. 335⟩foreseen to be done by us, for then we had not loved him, because he first loved us, but he had loved us, because we first loved him.

Answ. It's all one with God, whether you have respect to that which is now, or what he knows will be hereafter, so a wise man serves a Prince, not out of meer affection to the Prince, but because he loved himselfe first; for he fore-saw if he served him carefully, he should have abundant recompence: Now to the wise man it's all one, whether he have respect to the future foreseen recompence, or to the present, and therefore still his service is mercenary; therefore when God loved us, it was not for any thing we did, or was ⟨p. 335⟩foreseen to be done by us, for then we had not loved him, because he first loved us, but he had loved us, because we first loved him.

2 In Scripture account, that which comes after, is not the cause of that which went before, therefore our love coming after cannot be the cause of Gods love going before: To Abraham and his seed were the promises made, not by works or obedience to the Law, for the Law was given four hundred years after, Gal. 3.17. and therefore God had not respect to it, as the Apostle argues; So that which we have done four thousand years after the world was made, cannot be the cause of Gods love before the world was, Rom. 9.12, 13, 14. If the Apostle there had not excluded foreseen works, his arguing had been of no effect; for he speaks not only of what was then, but he considered nothing that might be afterwards as the cause of his love.

2 In Scripture account, that which comes after, is not the cause of that which went before, therefore our love coming after cannot be the cause of Gods love going before: To Abraham and his seed were the promises made, not by works or obedience to the Law, for the Law was given four hundred years after, Gal. 3.17. and therefore God had not respect to it, as the Apostle argues; So that which we have done four thousand years after the world was made, cannot be the cause of Gods love before the world was, Rom. 9.12, 13, 14. If the Apostle there had not excluded foreseen works, his arguing had been of no effect; for he speaks not onely of what was then, but hee considered nothing that might be afterwards as the cause of his love.

Use 1. To refute those that make Gods love to us depend upon our love to him, they expressly blot out this Scripture, to say that any one is beloved of God for his fore-seen faith, is to say, that God loved us, because we first loved him, which is expressly contrary to this Text, so that if we enquire the cause of Gods love to us, we must seek it in God, not in our selves, for he loved us, because he loved us.

Ʋse 1. To refute those that make Gods love to us depend upon our love to him, they expresly blot out this Scripture, to say that any one is beloved of God for his fore-seen faith, is to say, that God loved us, because we first loved him, which is expresly contrary to this Text, so that if we enquire the cause of Gods love to us, we must seek it in God, not in our selves, for he loved us, because he loved us.

Use 3. To such as have already given their love to God; let them learn to maintain their love, and increase it: a man is wont to make much of an old friend; Thine own friend, and thy Fathers friend forsake not, Prov. 27.10. Why, God is the ancientest that ever thou hadst, he loved thee before thou wert, before thou knewest what the world was, or what love was, therefore love him again.

Ʋse 3. To such as have already given their love to God; let them learn to maintain their love, and increase it: a man is wont to make much of an old friend; Thine own friend, and thy Fathers friend forsake not, Prov. 27.10. Why, God is the ancientest that ever thou hadst, he loved thee before thou wert, before thou knewest what the world was, or what love was, therefore love him again.

Use 4. Of consolation to such as have experience of Gods love towards them, if God loved us before we loved him, when we were strangers and enemies, then surely he will not cast us off for our infirmities in our after loves, it may be we may be loose and sinful; but God loved us at first, not for our goodness, neither will he cast us off afterward for our wickedness. Yet this is no encouragement to licentiousness, for God knows how to put us to anguishes and straights, and crosses, and yet reserve everlasting life for us. There is never a servant of God, but had he cast him off for his failings, he had never been saved, none but have failed in many things, and abused Gods grace; but God knows how to heal such distempers, and yet reserve his mercy to us; if he began to love us, before we loved him, then as he was first in love, so he will be last.

Ʋse 4. Of consolation to such as have experience of Gods love towards them, if God loved us before we loved him, when we were strangers and enemies, then surely he will not cast us off for our infirmities in our after loves, it may be we may be loose and sinful; but God loved us at first, not for our goodnesse, neither will he cast us off afterward for our wickednesse. Yet this is no encouragement to licentiousnesse, for God knows how to put us to anguishes and straights, and crosses, and yet reserve everlasting life for us. There is never a servant of God, but had he cast him off for his failings, he had never been saved, none but have failed in many things, and abused Gods grace; but God knows how to heal such distempers, and yet reserve his mercy to us; if he began to love us, before we loved him, then as he was first in love, so he will be last.

Use 5. May teach us to be free in our love to God and our brethren, Mat. 10.8. Freely ye have received, freely give. God loved us, when we loved not him; So though men prevent you not with love, yet prevent you them; and if they provoke you, be fast in your love, be like God in your love, begin first, and continue last, and so come off freely in your love to God; be content to part with all for him, for when shall we be able to give more to God, then he hath given us? If you ask In quo consistit efficacia gratiae? What makes grace effectual to any soul? the answer is, the love of God to us.

Ʋse 5. May teach us to be free in our love to God and our brethren, Mat. 10.8. Freely ye have received, freely give. God loved us, when we loved not him; So though men prevent you not with love, yet prevent you them; and if they provoke you, be fast in your love, be like God in your love, begin first, and continue last, and so come off freely in your love to God; be content to part with all for him, for when shall we be able to give more to God, then he hath given us? If you ask In quo consistit efficacia gratiae? What makes grace effectual to any soul? the answer is, the love of God to us.

Doct. 2. The preventing love of God to us, is the effectual cause of our love to God.

The love he here speaks of, is such a love as casts out fear of judgement, and therefore must needs be a securing love.

The love he here speaks of, is such a love as casts out feare of judgement, and therefore must needs be a securing love.

1. Objectivè, By setting us a pattern of love; but that's not all, for all have read and heard of the great love of God to us.

2 Physicè, by working something in us, which makes us to love him. Jer. 31.3. With loving kindness have I drawn thee, and this is not only a moral drawing, by propounding some suitable object, as an horse is drawn by a lock of Hay, for that's a leading rather then a drawing; but Gods drawing us is not only by propounding fit arguments, but by a physical, or rather hyper physical work of his Spirit, he makes us of unwilling to be willing to follow him; objects do not give us a new heart, but God is said to give us a new heart, Ezek. 36.26. this he works.

2 Physicè, by working something in us, which makes us to love him. Jer. 31.3. With loving kindnesse have I drawn thee, and this is not onely a moral drawing, by propounding some suitable object, as an horse is drawn by a lock of Hay, for that's a leading rather then a drawing; but Gods drawing us is not onely by propounding fit arguments, but by a physical, or rather hyper physical work of his Spirit, he makes us of unwilling to be willing to follow him; objects do not give us a new heart, but God is said to give us a new heart, Ezek. 36.26. this he works.

1 By striking us with shame and horror for our sins, so that we are brought heartily to grieve for them, and when he hath drawn us to the suburbs of hell, then he shows us the glad tidings of salvation, and withal gives us a believing heart to long after them, to embrace them, and to assure our selves of them.

1 By striking us with shame and horrour for our sins, so that we are brought heartily to grieve for them, and when he hath drawn us to the suburbs of hell, then he shews us the glad tidings of salvation, and withal gives us a believing heart to long after them, to embrace them, and to assure our selves of them.

Reas. 1. From the efficacy of Gods gracious work; there is no work of God in us, but it works in our hearts the like suitable work; If God choose us for himself, then we choose him for our God, we choose him, his Word, and favour, and promises, above all treasure; Gods election of us stamps on us an election of him: Hath God purchased us at a dear rate? then we learn to purchase Christ at a dear rate, though with the loss of all we have. Doth God call any of us to be his sons? then we learn to call him Father, Hos. 2.1. to 3. In what ways he walks towards us, we begin to walk towards him, but ever God begins first, Psal. 27.8. When God saith to a soul, Seek my face, then it answers, Thy face O Lord will I seek. If God go on in a constant course of helpfulness by his Spirit to us, then we go on in a constant frame of grace towards him. Jer. 32.40. I will not turn away from them, and then he will put his fear in our hearts, that we shall not turn from him. So that Gods work ever leaves some impression of the like frame in us: if God first love us, then we learn to love him.

Reas. 1. From the efficacy of Gods gracious work; there is no work of God in us, but it works in our hearts the like suitable work; If God choose us for himself, then we choose him for our God, we choose him, his Word, and favour, and promises, above all treasure; Gods election of us stamps on us an election of him: Hath God purchased us at a dear rate? then we learn to purchase Christ at a dear rate, though with the losse of all we have. Doth God call any of us to be his sons? then we learn to call him Father, Hos. 2.1. to 3. In what wayes he walks towards us, we begin to walk towards him, but ever God begins first, Psal. 27.8. When God saith to a soul, Seek my face, then it answers, Thy face O Lord will I seek. If God go on in a constant course of helpfulnesse by his Spirit to us, then we go on in a constant frame of grace towards him. Jer. 32.40. I will not turn away from them, and then he will put his feare in our hearts, that we shall not turn from him. So that Gods work ever leaves some impression of the like frame in us: if God first love us, then we learn to love him.

Use 1. To reprove the Papists and Pelagians, that have attributed the efficacy of grace to other causes. If you should ask the Pelagians of old, & their followers at this day, what is the reason why Peter accepts Gods love. Simon Magus refuseth it? They would say, the one was willing to accept the offer, the other not: Well then, the efficacy of grace consists in our wills, then we begin first. Many of the Papists say the same, but the more moderate amongst them ask them why Peter accepts grace, Simon Magus refuseth it? they say the grace offered was sufficient for them both; but God offered it to Peter in a fit time and place, when his heart was free from temptation; but it was offered to Simon Magus at such a time, when his heart was carried away with the love of money: But the true cause was, Gods first love to Peter, that made him love God again; should God wait for times and opportunities? why, at the best time, mens hearts will find some evasions; if God should stay for a fit time, he should never find it, for Christians can tell, God took hold on them, when their hearts were most undisposed to it. How long is it before they can be convinced of their dangerous estate, or will be brought on to seek for help, till God awaken their hearts and open their eyes, so that they would be glad to see one glimpse of favour? why, tell them of never so fair promises, they cannot be brought to embrace them; so that unless God mightily draws us to it, we should never come on to accept of the offer of grace; but we therefore love God, because by his preventing love he brought us to that, which of our selves we could never have been brought to.

Ʋse 1. To reprove the Papists and Pelagians, that have attributed the efficacy of grace to other causes. If you should ask the Pelagians of old, & their followers at this day, what is the reason why Peter accepts Gods love. Simon Magus refuseth it? They would say, the one was willing to accept the offer, the other not: Well then, the efficacy of grace consists in our wils, then we begin first. Many of the Papists say the same, but the more moderate amongst them ask them why Peter accepts grace, Simon Magus refuseth it? they say the grace offered was sufficient for them both; but God offered it to Peter in a fit time and place, when his heart was free from temptation; but it was offered to Simon Magus at such a time, when his heart was carried away with the love of money: But the true cause was, Gods first love to Peter, that made him love God again; should God wait for times and opportunities? why, at the best time, mens hearts will finde some evasions; if God should stay for a fit time, he should never find it, for Christians can tell, God took hold on them, when their hearts were most undisposed to it. How long is it before they can be convinced of their dangerous estate, or will be brought on to seek for help, till God awaken their hearts and open their eyes, so that they would be glad to see one glimpse of favour? why, tell them of never so fair promises, they cannot be brought to embrace them; so that unlesse God mightily draws us to it, we should never come on to accept of the offer of grace; but we therefore love God, because by his preventing love he brought us to that, which of our selves we could never have been brought to.

Use 2. Would a man know whether God love him or no? a needful point to be known. Why, no man can know it by these outward things, these fall alike to all, Eccles. 9.1. Why, enquire you how thy heart stands affected to God? if thou canst find in thy heart that thou lovest God, the Text will tell thee, that God loveth thee.

Ʋse 2. Would a man know whether God love him or no? a needful point to be known. Why, no man can know it by these outward things, these fall alike to all, Ecles. 9.1. Why, enquire you how thy heart stands affected to God? if thou canst find in thy heart that thou lovest God, the Text will tell thee, that God loveth thee.

Object. Love God? who doth not? God forbid that any should not love God.