The second thing that we have to declare, is, 1What this love of the Lord Jesus is. Now the best way to show what this is, is to show how it ⟨p. 6⟩is wrought: now for the working of it, there must be two Antecedent things which must make way for it; and they are Humiliation and Faith: for every one believes not this to be needful; and if they do believe it, yet they may be opposite to it, because it is not agreeable to their nature, That a man must be broken so, and moulded again, before he can have this love which is wrought by Humiliation and Faith. And they are wrought on this manner, when we preach the Gospel, and offer Jesus Christ unto you: for the duty of a Minister, is nothing but this, to offer Jesus Christ himself unto the world. To us a Child is borne; To us a Son is given: for, unto you is borne a Saviour, that is, Christ the Lord. This is the sum of the 2Gospel; this is the news which we bring: God hath given us his Son; we offer you not forgiveness 3of sin, But the Lord Jesus. And when he hath given us him, will he not with him give us all things also? Christ must first be given, and when you have him, you shall have all: in him 4are the promises, yea and Amen. First have Christ, 5and then the promises belong unto you, not before. The Gospel is no•hing but this; we are to manifest, that God the Father is willing to give you his Sonne. We are his Spokesmen, to beseech you to take him, that you would take him as your 6husband, to be ruled by him: none, before you are humbled, can marry you to Christ. You must be divorced from all other things, and believe that Christ will take you; and this is Faith, the other Humiliation. And then when you can receive him, you will love him. Now when we ⟨p. 7⟩preach thus unto the world, what answer do we find? Why, there are some that will not believe that there is such a Lord: and then our work is to persuade, that Christ is such a Lord; and this was the Apostles work, and theirs at the beginning. But when we entreat you to take Christ for your Lord, your answer is, as theirs who were invited to the feast. This, and this excuse they have to hinder them, to believe, that a Christ is propounded, and men regard him not, they will not look after him. Now, that Christ may be received, there is required Humiliation and Faith:
The s•cond thing that wee have to declare, is, 1What this love of the Lord Iesus is. Now the best way to shew what this is, is to shew how it ⟨p. 6⟩is wrought: now for the working of it, there must be two Antecedent things which must make way for it; and they are Humiliation and Faith: for every one beleeves not this to bee needfull; and if they doe beleeve it, yet they may bee opposite to it, because it is not agreeable to their nature, That a man must be broken so, and moulded again, before hee can have this love which is wrought by Humiliation and Faith. And they are wrought on this manner, when we preach the Gospell, and offer Iesus Christ unto you: for the duty of a Minister, is nothing but this, to offer Iesus Christ himselfe unto the world. To us a Child is borne; To us a Sonne is given: for, unto you is borne a Saviour, that is, Christ the Lord. This is the summe of the 2Gospell; this is the newes which we bring: God hath given us his Sonne; wee offer you not forgivenesse 3of sinne, But the Lord Iesus. And when he hath given us him, will hee not with him give us all things also? Christ must first bee given, and when you have him, you shall have all: in him 4are the promises, yea and Amen. First have Christ, 5and then the promises belong unto you, not before. The Gospell is no•hing but this; we are to manifest, that God the Father is willing to give you his Sonne. We are his Spokesmen, to beseech you to take him, that you would take him as your 6husband, to be ruled by him: none, before you are humbled, can marry you to Christ. You must bee divorced from all other things, and beleeve that Christ will take you; and this is Faith, the other Humiliation. And then when you can receive him, you will love him. Now when we ⟨p. 7⟩preach thus unto the world, what answere doe wee finde? Why, there are some that will not beleeve that there is such a Lord: and then our worke is to perswade, that Christ is such a Lord; and this was the Apostles worke, and theirs at the beginning. But when wee intreat you to take Christ for your Lord, your answer is, as theirs who were invited to the feast. This, and this excuse they have to hinder them, to beleeve, that a Christ is propounded, and men regard him not, they will not looke after him. Now, that Christ may be received, there is required Humiliation and Faith:
- 12 What this love of the Lord Jesus is.2 What this love of the Lord Iesus is.
- 2Esa. 9. Luke […].Esa. 9. Luke 〈…〉.
- 3John 3. 16.Iohn 3. 16.
- 4Rom. 8.
- 52 Cor. 1. 20.
- 62 Cor. 5.
