Secondly: Though the love of God had appeared before in our Creation, Protection, and Provision, yet nothing to what it doth in our Redemption by the death of Christ: Lo, here is the love of God in its strength and glory, 1 Joh. 4. 10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins. Herein is love (i. e.) here is the highest expression of Gods love to the Creature; not only that ever was, but that ever can be made; for in love only God acteth to the uttermost: What ⟨p. 157⟩ever his power hath done, it can do more; but for his love it can go no higher; he hath no greater thing to give than his Christ. 'Tis true, in giving us a being, and that in the noblest rank and order of Creatures on Earth; herein was love. In feeding us all our life long, by his assiduous tender providence; herein is love. In protecting us under his wings from innumerable dangers and mischiefs; herein is love, much love: And yet set all this by his Redeeming love in Christ, and it seems nothing. When we have said all, Herein is the love of God, that he sent his Son, &c. This was free love to undeserving, to ill deserving Sinners. Preventing love; not that we loved him, but that he loved us. Just as an Image in the glass (saith Ficinus) that is imprinted there by the face looking into it, the Image does not look back upon the face, except the face look forward upon the Image; and in that the Image does seem to see the face, its nothing else, but that the face does see the Image. O, the unexpressable glory of the love of God in Christ!
Secondly: Though the love of God had appeared before in our Creation, Protection, and Provision, yet nothing to what it doth in our Redemption by the death of Christ: Loe, here is the love of God in its strength and glory, 1 Joh. 4. 10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the Propitiation for our sins. Herein is love (i. e.) here is the highest expression of Gods love to the Creature; not only that ever was, but that ever can be made; for in love only God acteth to the uttermost: What ⟨p. 157⟩ever his power hath done, it can do more; but for his love it can go no higher; he hath no greater thing to give than his Christ. 'Tis true, in giving us a being, and that in the noblest rank and order of Creatures on Earth; herein was love. In feeding us all our life long, by his assiduous tender providence; herein is love. In protecting us under his wings from innumerable dangers and mischiefs; herein is love, much love: And yet set all this by his Redeeming love in Christ, and it seems nothing. When we have said all, Herein is the love of God, that he sent his Son, &c. This was free love to undeserving, to ill deserving Sinners. Preventing love; not that we loved him, but that he loved us. Just as an Image in the glass (saith Ficinus) that is imprinted there by the face looking into it, the Image does not look back upon the face, except the face look forward upon the Image; and in that the Image does seem to see the face, its nothing else, but that the face does see the Image. O, the unexpressable glory of the love of God in Christ!
