The fountain opened: or, The great Gospel privilege of having Christ exhibited to sinful…The fountain opened: or, The great Gospel priviledge of having Christ exhibited to sinfull…

USE I. We may here take notice of the wonderful love of God to his Chosen in Christ. When the Scripture attributes love to God, it points to his good will in purposing good to be bestowed on them, and making them that are appointed thereto to partake therein: and this love is looked upon to be greater or less, according to the things that are willed in it, and the benefit received by them: and on this account, God is said to love some of his Creatures more than others, in that he hath done more for them, and prepared greater blessings to bestow on them. There is a common love of God, in which the whole Creation is a sha•er, appearing in his benignity in bestowing on them these favours by which they are preserved, supplied, and comforted; to this is to be referred that, Acts 14 17 He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness; and Chap 17 25 He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things. But then there is a special love which God hath for some of his Creatures, and that was in appointing, providing, and opening this fountain for them, from which they may derive everlasting life. This therefore is mentioned in the Gospel with an Emphasis, as if it were the only love, 1 Joh. 4 9. ⟨p. 59⟩In this was the love of God manifested to us, &c. & Joh. 3.16. God so loved the world, &c. Certainly then this love of God to those for whom it was prepared must be great beyond conception: Paul thus signalizeth the love of Christ to him, Gal. 2.20. Who loved me, and gave himself for me. Now it is certain that this fountain was ordained for the saving benefit of those, and only those whom God ordained to eternal life by Christ; but for whose sake it had never been. And though such to whom this fountain is opened in the Dispensation of the Gospel, are by virtue of it privileged singularly above others, as Psal. 147.20. He hath not dealt so by any Nation, &c. Yet the specialty of it appears in respect of those to whom it is applied by the Spirit, and they are made to drink of it, and to live by it; for to these only it becomes effectual in regard of the great design of it: and these are only the Israel of God, his Chosen and Called. For though it is Ministerially opened to others, yet spiritually it is to them a sealed fountain, and they participate not in the virtue of it.