A continuation of the exposition of the Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the…

There was some step made unto that confusion which ensued on the loss of this universal Love by the first Promise; without which, the whole lower Creation would have been an Hell, and nothing else. This was the spring of all that Love which was in the Old Testament, because it was a new discovery that there was yet Love in God towards fallen mankind. And whatever in the world may pretend thereunto, yet if it proceed not from the new Revelation and Discovery that God is Love, it is nothing of that Divine Love which is required of us. And this is only in Christ; In him alone the [Greek or Hebrew] and [Greek or Hebrew], the Benignity and Love of God unto mankind appeared, Tit. 3. 4. And here is a foundation laid and a spring opened of a Love far more excellent than that which our Nature was furnished and adorned withal in the first Creation. For the Love of God being the cause and fountain of ours, which is a compliance with the manifestation of it, the more eminently the Love of God is manifested, the more eminent is that Love which is the fruit thereof. And Gods Love is far more gloriously displayed in Christ than it was in all the works of his hands. In him alone we know not only that God hath Love, but that he is Love; that he hath Love for sinners, and that such a Love, as in the spring, means, and effects of it, is every way ineffable and incomprehensible.

There was some step made unto that confusion which ensued on the loss of this universal Love by the first Promise; without which, the whole lower Creation would have been an Hell, and nothing else. This was the spring of all that Love which was in the Old Testament, because it was a new discovery that there was yet Love in God towards fallen mankind. And whatever in the world may pretend thereunto, yet if it proceed not from the new Revelation and Discovery that God is Love, it is nothing of that Divine Love which is required of us. And this is only in Christ; In him alone the 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 and 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, the Benignity and Love of God unto mankind appeared, Tit. 3. 4. And here is a foundation laid and a spring opened of a Love far more excellent than that which our Nature was furnished and adorned withall in the first Creation. For the Love of God being the cause and fountain of ours, which is a compliance with the manifestation of it, the more eminently the Love of God is manifested, the more eminent is that Love which is the fruit thereof. And Gods Love is far more gloriously displayed in Christ than it was in all the works of his hands. In him alone we know not only that God hath Love, but that he is Love; that he hath Love for sinners, and that such a Love, as in the spring, means, and effects of it, is every way ineffable and incomprehensible.