The true Christians love of the unseen Christ, or, A discourse chiefly tending to…

2. Consider that Christ loveth you with the Truest love: There is little true love in the world, you have many that truly hate you, few that truly love you: and there is much dissimulation in the pretended love and affection of some; all that Flatter you do not truly love you; love in show and outward appearance, in good words and fair speeches is common, but love in deed and in truth, that evidenceth it self in real offices of Love, where there is the greatest need, this is rarely to be found. Job complaineth, Job 6. 15, 16, 17. My brethren have dealt deceitfully like a brook, and as the stream of brooks they pass away; which are blackish by reason of the ice, and wherein the snow is hid; what time they wax warm they vanish, when it is hot they are consumed out of their place. In the prosperity of Job he had many friends, and their love and friendship did seem to have some strength and consistency, like the ice upon the brook; but when heat of trouble ⟨p. 77⟩and calamity came upon Job, then the love of his friends did melt and vanish away like ice and snow before the warm beams of the Sun: the Love of the most is selfish, for their own ends, and therefore when their love is not like to be beneficial, but rather create trouble and prejudice to themselves, it cometh to nothing. True Christianity doth teach another kind of Love, and those that are powerfully Religious have a true love, which is ready to show it self most in an Adverse estate. But none do or can love you with such a true love as Jesus Christ; there is no flattery or dissimulation in his Love, his love is not in the least counterfeit, it is not in the least selfish and for his own ends; he doth not love you to Receive good from you, but that he might Do good unto you: He loveeth you not only in Prosperity, but chiefly He doth evidence his love in Affliction and adversity. He is a present help in the time of trouble, and then doth give the most tender demonstrations of his Love; he is touched with the feeling of your infirmities when you are tempted, and sympathizeth with you in your sorrows when you are afflicted; He shows his Love in visiting you under your troubles, in supporting you, in relieving you, and in delivering you, Oh! ⟨p. 78⟩what Love should you have unto the Lord Jesus Christ, who Loveth you with such a True love?