This is that which is aimed at. Many dark and disturbing thoughts are apt to arise in this thing. Few can carry up their ⟨p. 22⟩hearts and minds to this height by faith, as to rest their souls in the Love of the Father; they live below it, in the troublesome Region of hopes and fears, storms and clouds. All here is serene and quiet. But how to attain to this pitch they know not. This is the will of God, that He may always be eyed as Benign, Kind, Tender, Loving, and unchangeable therein: and that peculiarly as the Father, as the great fountain and spring of all gracious Communications, and fruits of Love. This is that which Christ came to reveal: God as a Father, John 1. 18. That name which he declares to those who are given him out of the world, John 17. 6. And this is that which he effectually leads us to by himself, as he is the only way of going to God, as a Father: John 14. 5, 6. that is, as Love: And by doing so, gives us the rest which he promiseth: for the Love of the Father is the only rest of the soul. It is true as was said, we do not this formally in the first instant of Believing. We believe in God through Christ. 1 Pet. 1. 21. Faith seeks out rest for the soul. This is presented to it by Christ, the Mediator, as the only procuring cause. Here it abides not, but by Christ it hath an access to the Father, Ephes. 2. 18. into his Love, finds out that he is Love, as having a design, a purpose of Love, a good pleasure towards us from eternity; A delight, a complacency, a good will in Christ; all cause of Anger, and Aversation being taken away. The soul being thus by Faith through Christ, & by him brought into the bosom of God, into a comfortable persuasion, and spiritual perception and sense of his love, there reposes and rests it self. And this is the first thing the Saints do, in their Communion with the Father, of the due improvement whereof, more afterwards.
This is that which is aymed at. Many darke and disturbing thoughts are apt to arise in this thing. Few can carry up their ⟨p. 22⟩hearts and minds to this height by faith, as to rest their soules in the Love of the Father; they live below it, in the troublesome Region of hopes and feares, stormes and clouds. All here is serene and quiet. But how to attain to this pitch they know not. This is the will of God, that He may always be eyed as Benigne, Kind, Tender, Loving, and unchangeable therein: and that peculiarly as the Father, as the great fountaine and spring of all gracious Communications, and fruits of Love. This is that which Christ came to reveale: God as a Father, John 1. 18. That name which he declares to those who are given him out of the world, John 17. 6. And this is that which he effectually leads us to by himselfe, as he is the only way of going to God, as a Father: John 14. 5, 6. that is, as Love: And by doing so, gives us the rest which he promiseth: for the Love of the Father is the only rest of the soule. It is true as was said, we doe not this formally in the first instant of Believing. We believe in God through Christ. 1 Pet. 1. 21. Faith seeks out rest for the soule. This is presented to it by Christ, the Mediator, as the only procuring cause. Here it abides not, but by Christ it hath an accesse to the Father, Ephes. 2. 18. into his Love, finds out that he is Love, as having a designe, a purpose of Love, a good pleasure towards us from eternity; A delight, a complacency, a good will in Christ; all cause of Anger, and Aversation being taken away. The soule being thus by Faith through Christ, & by him brought into the bosome of God, into a comfortable perswasion, and spirituall perception and sense of his love, there reposes and rests it selfe. And this is the first thing the Saints doe, in their Communion with the Father, of the due improovement whereof, more afterwards.
