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

SECT. VIII.

Use 1. FOR Information hence learn, that there are but few true Christians in the world, because there are so few that love this unseen Christ. There are many Christians in Name, few Christians in deed and in truth. The time hath been when openly to profess the Name of a Christian, did argue true love unto Jesus Christ; I mean in the Primitive times, when Christians were Persecuted by the Heathens, as in the Ten first dreadful Persecutions under the Heathen Emperors; when the world was watered with Christian blood, then especially at some times and in some yea most places, whoever openly acknowledged themselves to be Christians ⟨p. 30⟩they exposed themselves unto Imprisonments, Racks, Tortures, Burnings and the most cruel deaths; It was the Truth and Strength of Love unto Jesus Christ, which carried them through such great sufferings, as many did in those days undergo for the sake of Jesus Christ: But now there are Multitudes of bare nominal Christians, they call themselves Christians being baptized in Christ's name, but they are altogether without love to Christ, whose Name they bare: Surely there are but few, not only in the Christian World, but even in England (where Christianity is to be found in as great purity as in any place) that love Jesus Christ in sincerity. No grossly ignorant persons do truly love Christ; such as don't know Christ, they can't love him; ignoti nulla cupido, there is no desire after, nor love unto an unknown thing: An unknown evil cannot be hated, and an unknown good cannot be loved. No grossly Erroneous persons, do truly love Christ; such as do not receive Christ's Truths, they cannot love Christ's Person: Joh. 14. 23. If any man love me he will keep my words. The words of Christ do include, not only the words of his Precepts, but also the words of his Doctrine; Such as err grossly, I mean in the Fundamental ⟨p. 31⟩Truths of Christianity, they are no friends to Christ, but his Enemies, so far are they from true love unto him. No grossly wicked persons, do truly love Christ; such as profane persons, who Blaspheme the name of God in their hideous Oaths; the love of Christ doth teach an Holy Awe and Reverence of Gods Name; such are Persecutors of Gods people for Righteousness sake. How can they love the Head, that hate the Members? Christ accounteth himself to be persecuted, in the persecution of his Members;