A55299:503
An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ,…
An answer to the discourse of Mr. William Sherlock, touching the knowledge of Christ, and our union and communion with him by Edward Polhill ..., Esquire.
London: printed for Ben. Foster, 1675
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.
Herein the immutability of Gods Love consists, not that he always loves the same person, but that he always loves for the same reason: For it is no perfection to be so sixth in our kindness; that where we love once, we will ⟨p. 585⟩always love, whatever reason there may be to alter our affections; for by this means we may love undeserving Objects, which is the greatest degeneracy of Love; but the perfection of Love consists in loving deserving Objects, and in loving upon honourable reasons, and the immutability of Love consists in loving always for the same reasons, which is the only foundation of a virtuous immutability: The reason of Christs Love to any person is Holiness and Obedience: If any love me, he will keep my words, and my Father will love him; and we will come to him, and make our abode with him, Joh. 14.23. The unchangeableness of his Love is seen in this, that he will continue to love, while we continue to obey him: If ye shall keep my Commandments; that is, continue to do so: Ye shall abide in my Love; I will continue to love you: As I have kept my Fathers Commandments, and abide in his Love, Joh. 15.20. This is the immutability of the Divine Nature, that God always acts upon steady, constant Principles, that whatever changes there are in the World, which may occasion very different administrations in his providence; yet he is the same still, and never changes: Whereas, should God ⟨p. 586⟩always love the same person; however he changed and altered, God must change and alter too; because though he still loves the same person; yet he must love for different or contrary reasons, or for none at all; and that is the much greater change of the two, to alter the reason, than the Object of Love: If God love a good man, because he is good, and continue to love him, when he is wicked, his love is a mutable thing, which can love goodness or wickedness, which can love for none, or for contrary reasons: But if God always loves true goodness, and good men, and never loves any other; whatever change there be in Creatures; God is the same still, and unchangeable in his Love.
Herein the immutability of Gods Love consists, not that he always loves the same person, but that he always loves for the same reason: For it is no perfection to be so fixt in our kindness; that where we love once, we will