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

And the reason is manifest from what hath been spoken why the Apostle giveth this as a ground of his good Persuasion concerning these Hebrews, as that they had an especial Interest in those Better things from which Salvation is inseparable. For if this Love in general be so a Grace of the Gospel, if it so spring and arise from the Love of God in Christ, as that there neither ever was, nor can be the least of it in the world which is not an Emanation from that Love; and if in its especial nature it so particularly relates unto the Spirit of Christ, and our Union with him, it must needs be among the principal Evidences of a good spiritual condition. And the same will yet farther appear if we consider the grounds whereon it is enforced in the Gospel, which are principally these that follow.

And the reason is manifest from what hath been spoken why the Apostle giveth this as a ground of his good Perswasion concerning these Hebrews, as that they had an especial Interest in those Better things from which Salvation is inseparable. For if this Love in general be so a Grace of the Gospel, if it so spring and arise from the Love of God in Christ, as that there neither ever was, nor can be the least of it in the world which is not an Emanation from that Love; and if in its especial nature it so particularly relates unto the Spirit of Christ, and our Union with him, it must needs be among the principal Evidences of a good spiritual condition. And the same will yet farther appear if we consider the grounds whereon it is inforced in the Gospel, which are principally these that follow.

1. As the Head of all other considerations the Lord Christ expresseth it as that which was to be the great Evidence unto the world of the Truth and Power of the Gospel, as also of his own being sent of God, Joh. 17. 21. That they all may be one, as thou Father art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us, that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. It is true there is another especial principle of the Union of Believers as they are one in God and Christ. This is that one Spirit whereby they are all united unto him as their mystical Head. But this alone is not here intended, as being that which the world can no way discern, nor consequently be convinced by. He intends therefore their Unity among themselves, the Life and Spirit and Bond whereof is this Love, as hath been declared. There is no other kind of Unity which may be among Christians, that carrieth the least conviction with it, of the Divine Mission, Truth and Power of Christ. For they may be all carnal, from carnal Principles, and for carnal Ends, wherein the world can see nothing extraordinary, as having many such Unities of its own. Herein therefore doth the Testimony consist which we give to the world, that Jesus Christ was sent of God. And if we fail herein, we do what we can to harden the world in its impenitency and unbelief. To see Believers live in Love according to the nature, and acting the Duties of it before mentioned, was in ancient times a great means of the Conviction of the world concerning the Truth and Power of the Gospel, and will be so again when God shall afresh pour down abundantly that Spirit of Light and Love which we pray for. And in some measure it doth so at present. For whosoever shall consider the true Church of Christ aright, will find the Evidences of a Divine Power in this matter. For it doth and ever did consist of all sorts of persons in all Nations and Languages whatever. High and low, rich and poor, Jews, Greeks, Barbarians, Scythians, men of all Interests, Humours, Oppositions, dividing Circumstances, at distances as far as the East from the West, do constitute this Body, this Society. Yet is there among all these, known to each other or unknown, an ineffable Love ready to work and exercise it self on all occasions in all the ways before insisted on.