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

1. You that have the Manifestations of the Love of Christ, Rejoice in the Lord; of all Persons in the world, you have most reason to rejoice, you are the happiest men and women alive. It is not ⟨p. 208⟩Wealth in the greatest abundance which can make men happy, the richest Persons have often thorns of the greatest discontent to pierce their hearts, and Stings of the greatest guilt to wound their Consciences: It is not the highest Honour and worldly Dignity which can make men happy; the vilest men are often exalted, and those that are in the Highest places, are in the most Slippery places, from whence they are soon cast down into destruction, and whatever security they have in Life, yet they are usually consumed utterly with Terrors when grim Death doth appear and summon them to depart. It is not the sweetest sensual Delight which can make men happy; Vanity is the Attendant, and Vexation of Spirit is the Consequent of all those pleasures that are sensual and sinful, which are the seed also of Pain and Everlasting torment: Such only can be said to be happy in truth, as are really united and related unto Jesus Christ, and through him reconciled unto God, and entitled unto the Kingdom of Heaven; but you are the most happy, and have reason to take the most comfort, who have not only Relation unto Christ, but also the Manifestations of him; who know that ⟨p. 209⟩Christ is yours, and you are his, that Christ loveth you, and that his Love, as it had no beginning, so it is without changing, and will know no ending. If you know that Christ loveth you, you have reason to rejoice, because hereby you may know assuredly that you are Elected, that God by an eternal and unchangeable Decree hath chosen you, when he hath chosen so few of fallen Men, and none of the fallen Angels, and when there was not the least foreseen Motive to induce him hereunto; the assurance of this may yield unexpressible sweetness unto you. If you know that Christ loveth you, you may know assuredly your Effectual Calling, Conversion, and wonderful Union unto Christ; and O what matter of Joy is it to think, how God hath called you out of Darkness into his marvellous Light! how he hath delivered you out of the Snare of the Devil, and the bonds of your own Lusts, and set your Souls at liberty!

1. You that have the Manifestations of the Love of Christ, Rejoyce in the Lord; of all Persons in the world, you have most reason to rejoyce, you are the happiest men and women alive. It is not