A53713:132
Of Communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost
Of communion with God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, each person distinctly in love, grace, and consolation, or, The saints fellowship with the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, unfolded by John Owen ...Of communion with God the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, each person distinctly in love, grace, and consolation, or, The saints fellowship with the Father, Sonne, and Holy Ghost, unfolded by John Owen ...
Oxford: printed by A. Lichfield for Tho. Robinson, 1657
Part › Chapter 4: Inferences on the Former Doctrine concerning Communion with the Father in Love.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Answ. This is the most preposterous course, that possibly thy thoughts can pitch upon, a most ready way to rob God of his glory. Herein is Love (saith the Holy Ghost) not that we loved God, but that he loved us first. 1 Joh. 4. 10, 19. Now, thou wouldest invert this Order, and say, herein is Love, not that God loved me, but that I love him first. This is to take the Glory of God from him: that whereas he loves us without a cause, that is in our selves, and we have all cause in the World to love him, thou wouldest have the contrary, viz, that something should be in thee, for which God should love thee, even thy love to him; and that thou shouldest love God, before thou knowest any thing lovely in him, viz. whether he love thee or no. This is a course of fleshes finding out, that will never bring Glory to God, nor peace to thy own Soul. Lay down then thy Reasonings; take up the Love of the Father upon a pure Act of believing, and that will open thy Soul to let it out unto the Lord in the Communion of Love.
Answ. This is the most preposterous course, that possibly thy thoughts can pitch upon, a most ready way to rob God of his glory. Herein is Love (saith the Holy Ghost) not that we loved God, but that he loved us first. 1 Joh. 4. 10, 19. Now, thou wouldest invert this Order, and say, herein is Love, not that God loved me, but that I love him first. This is to take the Glory of God from him: that whereas he loves us without a cause, that is in our selves, and we have all cause in the World to love him, thou wouldest have the contrary, viz, that something should be in thee, for which God should love thee, even thy love to him; and that thou shouldest love God, before thou knowest any thing lovely in him, viz. whether he love thee or no. This is a course of fleshes finding out, that will never bring Glory to God, nor peace to thy own Soule. Lay downe then thy Reasonings; take up the Love of the Father upon a pure Act of believing, and that will open thy Soule to let it out unto the Lord in the Communion of Love.