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

3. If you would attain true Love unto Christ, you must get an Interest in Christ, you must lay hold on Christ by Faith, that you may be united to him, and related to him; It is Faith that works Love, to them that believe Christ is precious, but by Unbelievers he is slighted, and cannot be beloved; without Union to Christ you will have no affection to Christ; the foundation of Love is laid in the Relation to ⟨p. 122⟩the Beloved, and this Union to and Interest in Christ, it is only by Faith: If then you would embrace Christ in the arms of your Love, you must first lay hold on Christ, and receive him by the hand of Faith. Whatever Motives and Attractives of Love there be in Jesus Christ, they will be none to you without this Interest and Relation; Christ is a Person most beautiful, most lovely a•d amiable, but he will not be so in your eyes, so long as you are without the eye of Faith; he is great and powerful, but so much the worse for you, because without Interest in him, his power is engaged against you: he is pure and holy, and whilst in your sins you are therefore the more odious in his sight; he is wise and knoweth all things, therefore is privy to all your sins; he is most true, and therefore will fulfil his threatenings against such as go on still in their trespasses; he is full, but you without interest in his Person have no share in his fullness; he is kind, but it is to those that are related to him, but what is this to you that are Unbelievers? he is a Shepherd to his Sheep, but you are Goats; he is a Captain to his Soldiers, but you are Enemies; he is a Teacher to his Disciples, but you are the Devils Scholars; he ⟨p. 123⟩is a Gracious Sovereign, but it is to his Subjects, you are rebels; He is a Priest to his People, having made satisfaction and doth make intercession for them; but you trample his blood under his feet. He is a Friend and Benefactor to his People, but you are Strangers; he is a Brother, and a Husband to his People, but you stand in none of these Relations; he is a Redeemer to his People but your are Slaves and Captives.

3. If you would attain true Love unto Christ, you must get an Interest in Christ, you must lay hold on Christ by Faith, that you may be united to him, and related to him; It is Faith that works Love, to them that believe Christ is precious, but by Unbelievers he is sleighted, and cannot be beloved; without Union to Christ you will have no affection to Christ; the foundation of Love is layd in the Relation to