2. Keep the remembrance of the exceeding greatness of his love fresh in your minds, in that he hath quickened you, Eph. 2. 4, 5. and that this life was by his death. All the Flowers of the field cast their savour but for a time, and then away with them; but Christs love and Christs death do usually always breath a savour of life to a sincere heart that ever knew what the sting of death meant, 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15. Christs love constrains, because he dies that we should live. But how? Because we thus judged. God hath made man an Agent by counsel. Now some Christians go to the Lord to help them, but set not prayer of Faith awork, and hence have no water of life: Some do, but use not other means to set the understanding (the mind of Faith) on work, to quicken it up to act, and so would have life brought in, but not by the right door: An empty Vessel will not be full of this water till now, that the mouth of the understanding is open. Now many things are to be considered to act every Grace, as Gods Command and Promise, &c. But this is that which in the general quickens, oh Christs love which constrains the Soul to live to him! According as a man thus receives from Christ, so he returns to him. As 'tis observed, one sign that when a people visit not their Minister, they receive no good; so here: That is sign of a decaying Christian, for usually they that get good by Christ, cannot by their good will stay away from Christ. So then the soul will return in all fruitful obedience to the Lord, when he receives the sweet of the Love of the Lord. The Lord doth me good methinks, and hence he follows the Lord. Satan hence prevails with the heart, because of his external objects, and a party within; so here Christ prevails, because there is a party within, when external Objects are propounded. Let a man have life, if he have no food he will never live. If bread be before him, and he feed not on it, and that abundantly, he will never have strength, so this love of Christ in us, is life in us, and food for us.
2. Keep the remembrance of the exceeding greatnesse of his love fresh in your minds, in that he hath quickned you, Eph. 2. 4, 5. and that this life was by his death. All the Flowers of the field cast their savour but for a time, and then away with them; but Christs love and Christs death do usually alwaies breath a savour of life to a sincere heart that ever knew what the sting of death meant, 2 Cor. 5. 14, 15. Christs love constrains, because he dies that we should live. But how? Because we thus judged. God hath made man an Agent by counsel. Now some Christians go to the Lord to help them, but set not prayer of Faith awork, and hence have no water of life: Some do, but use not other means to set the understanding (the mind of Faith) on work, to quicken it up to act, and so would have life brought in, but not by the right door: An empty Vessel will not be full of this water till now, that the mouth of the understanding is open. Now many things are to be considered to act every Grace, as Gods Command and Promise, &c. But this is that which in the general quickens, oh Christs love which constrains the Soul to live to him! According as a man thus receives from Christ, so he re•urns to him. As 'tis observed, one sign that when a people visit not their Minister, they receive no good; so here: That is sign of a decaying Christian, for usually they that get good by Christ, cannot by their good will stay away from Christ. So then the soul will return in all fruitful obedience to the Lord, when he receives the sweet of the Love of the Lord. The Lord doth me good methinks, and hence he follows the Lord. Satan hence prevails with the heart, because of his external objects, and a party within; so here Christ prevails, because there is a party within, when external Objects are propounded. Let a man have life, if he have no food he will never live. If bread be before him, and he feed not on it, and that abundantly, he will never have strength, so this love of Christ in us, is life in us, and food for us.
