The Christians great interest

The fourth thing to be premised, is, although the matter of a mans interest in Christ be of so great importance, and the way to attain to the knowledge of it, so plainly held forth in the Scriptures, yet there be but few who reach the distinct knowledge of it; And that this may not discourage any person from attempting it, I shall hint some few reasons, why so few come to the clear knowledge of it, which will also prepare the way for what is to be spoken afterwards.

The first thing which doth hinder many from the knowledge of their interest in Christ, is, their ignorance of some special principles of Religion: as, 1. That it was free love in Gods bosom, and nothing in man, that moved him to send a Saviour to perfect the work of Redemption. Joh. 3. 16. God so loved the World, that he sent, &c. Men are still seeking some ground for that business in themselves, which leads away from suitable and high apprehensions of the first spring and rise of Gods Covenant-favour to his people, which hath no reason, cause, or motive in us, and so they cannot come to the knowledge of their interest. 2. They are ignorant how that love doth effectually discover it self to a mans heart, so as he hath ground to lay claim to it, viz. That ordinarily it doth first discover his broken state in himself because of sin and corruption defiling ⟨p. 5⟩the whole man, and any thing in him that might be called a righteousness; all these things are loss and dung, Phil. 3. 6, 7, Secondly, It discovereth Christ as the full and satisfying treasure above all things. The man finds a treasure, for which, with joy, he selleth all, &c. Mat. 13. 44, 46. Thirdly, it determineth the heart, and causeth it to approach unto a living God in the ordinances, Psal. 65. 4. and causeth the heart to wait upon him, and him alone, 62. 5. My soul, wait thou only upon God. Thus, having dropped in the seed of God in the heart, and formed Christ there,