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

Section II.

2. That Christ will manifest himself unto them that love him, appears, in that His Love doth engage Him, and His word doth engage Him hereunto. His Love doth engage Him, The Love of Christ is like fire, that cannot conceal it self long, and no fire so strong, and hath such a vehement flame as the Love of Christ to His people. Joseph had a great love to his Brethren notwithstanding all ⟨p. 177⟩their unkindness, and although he concealed himself for a while, and spake roughly unto them, yet after they were sensible of their fault, and were filled with perplexing fears, he could conceal himself no longer from them, as in Gen. 45. 1. Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all that stood by him, he wept alou•, and said unto his brethren, I am Joseph, and ver. 4. Joseph said unto his brethren, come near me, I am Joseph your brother whom ye sold into Egypt. So Christ may conceal himself for a while from his people, whatever love he hath to them, and whatever they have to him; some unkindnesses they have shown may be the cause of this hiding, but when they are sensible of their fault, full of grief and perplexity for their offences, his Love will not permit him to hid himself much longer; His Love will engage Him to manifest and discover himself, and say, I am Jesus your Saviour, come near me my brethren, come near me, that you may have a clearer view of me, that ye may know me and know that I do love you. The Word also of Christ doth engage him manifest Himself unto them that Love Him: It is Christs promise here in the Text, He that loveth me shall be loved of ⟨p. 178⟩my Father, and I will Love him, and will manifest my self unto him. Christs word is sure, True and faithful is Christs name; the ordinances of the heaven may sooner fail, than Christ fail of His Word and Promise.