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

Quest. How is such obedience a certain sign of our acquaintance with Christ?

Quest. How is such obedience a certain signe of our acquaintance with Christ?

Ans. 1 This sincere keeping of the Commandments our Saviour looks at it, as an act of friendship in him, Joh. 15.14. then are ye my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you, as we take it for a point of special friendship when a man is ready at our command, and willing to do what we would have him; nay, Joh. 15.10. our Saviour takes it not only as love, but as abiding constant love, and if it spring from our love to Christ, it must needs spring from Christs love to us, for we could not have loved him except he loved us first, 1 Joh. 4.19. 1 Joh. 5.3. no man keeps any thing that is grievous, a man may have fire about his house, or a moat in his eye, but he keeps it not, it is grievous; a man may be out of the way, but it is grievous, but when he keeps the Commandments as his way, his treasure, his eye, his life, this is not grievous to him; every Office, be it never so bad, it seems easy, because he loves Christ dearly; as Jacobs seven years service for Rachel seemed but a little space, because he loved her, Gen. 29.20. if there be such mutual love, it is a certain sign of acquaintance.

Ans. 1 This sincere keeping of the Commandments our Saviour looks at it, as an act of friendship in him, Joh. 15.14. then are ye my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you, as we take it for a point of special friendship when a man is ready at our command, and willing to do what we would have him; nay,