A77360:87
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation
Christ and the covenant the work and way of meditation. : Gods return to the soul, or nation; together with his preventing mercy. : Delivered in ten sermons, (viz.) 1. Christs personal excellencies, the object of our love. 2. Christ crucified, the object of our faith. 3. The new covenant of grace opened. 4. Christ the mediator of the new covenant. 5. The way and spirit of the new covenant, or New Testament. 6. The blood of sprinkling. 7. The sweetness and profitableness of divine meditation. 8. The work and way of this meditation. 9. Gods return to the soul and nation. 10. Preventing mercy. / By W.B.
London: printed for N. Ranew, 1667
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But you will say, Wherein doth our love to the very Person of Christ exceed, or excel our love upon the account of benefits, though spiritual? Many ways.
But you will say, Wherein doth our love to the very Person of Christ exceed, or excell our love upon the account of benefits, though spirituall? Many ways.
First of all, If your hearts de drawn out in love to the very Person of Christ, by your loving him you make him your own. 'Tis not so in other loves: By my loving Gold, I don't make it my own; by my loving Silver, I don't make it my own; but by loving his Person, I make him my own. 'Tis not so in regard of benefits: By my loving the benefits of Christ, the comforts from Christ, I don't make Christ my own, but by my love unto the Person of Christ, I make Christ my own.
2. The less of Self in your love to Christ, the more pure and clean it is, and so the better. Now if your heart be drawn out in love to the benefits of Christ, your love is more selfish, you love him in reference unto your selves; because you have such enjoyments, and such benefits. But if your hearts be drawn out in love to the Person of Christ, your love is less selfish; so the more pure, the more holy and clean.
2. The lesse of Self in your love to Christ, the more pure and clean it is, and so the better. Now if your heart be drawn out in love to the benefits of Christ, your love is more selfish, you love him in reference unto your selves; because you have such enjoyments, and such benefits. But if your hearts be drawn out in love to the Person of Christ, your love is lesse selfish; so the more pure, the more holy and clean.