1. That by Gods love to us, we are to understand his Eternal purpose of good will, by which he appointed us to Salvation by Christ. Love is improperly attributed to God▪ in whom there are no Passions or Affections, properly so called, inasmuch as ⟨p. 7⟩they argue imperfection, and composition in the subject of them, which is incompatible with the most absolute first Being. But because these are in men the Instruments of the Will, by the Ministry whereof it performs its Imperate Actions, or they are the various postures of it with respect to its Object, according to the resentment that it hath of it; hereupon when we see such things done in Gods Works of Efficiency, as are wont to be managed by such an Affection; we, after our manner of conception, ascribe it to that Affection; because we cannot otherwise express it. Now love is an Affection in us, which beareth good will to the Object of it▪ and expresseth it self in acts of kindness to it. As therefore it is an Humane Affection, it is rooted in the heart or will, and is on all opportunities discovering it self in the carriage; and from this conception of it, when God manifesteth his benignity to the Creature, we conceive him, in his so doing, to act as a cause by Counsel, and so ascribe it to his Benevolence, and call it his love. And from this consideration, there is a divers love that is assigned to him, according to the different effects of his good will, discerned in the fruits of his Beneficence to the Subject of it. There is a common love attributed to him, wherein the good and the bad do promiscuously partake; and it appears in that Goodness of his which he confers upon them, wherein he gives them large tastes of ⟨p. 8⟩his bounty; and to this love we are pointed in, Psal. 145.9. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works. An• Acts 14.17. He left not himself without witness in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And there is an Especial love of his that we are told of, which he bears only to some, and in comparison with which others are said to be hated, according to Rom. 9.13 Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated; and it appears in those peculiar favours which he hath laid in for, and bestows upon them; of which we have such observations, Joh. 3.16.
1. That by Gods love to us, we are to understand his Eternal purpose of good will, by which he appointed us to Salvation by Christ. Love is improperly attributed to God▪ in whom there are no Passions or Affections, properly so called, inasmuch as ⟨p. 7⟩they argue imperfection, and composition in the subject of them, which is incompatible with the most absolute first Being. But because these are in men the Instruments of the Will, by the Ministry whereof it performs its Imperate Actions, or they are the various postures of it with respect to its Object, according to the resentment that it hath of it; hereupon when we see such things done in Gods Works of Efficiency, as are wont to be managed by such an Affection; we, after our manner of conception, ascribe it to that Affection; because we cannot otherwise express it. Now love is an Affection in us, which beareth good will to the Object of it▪ and expresseth it self in acts of kindness to it. As therefore it is an Humane Affection, it is rooted in the heart or will, and is on all opportunities discovering it self in the carriage; and from this conception of it, when God manifesteth his benignity to the Creature, we conceive him, in his so doing, to act as a cause by Counsel, and so ascribe it to his Benevolence, and call it his love. And from this consideration, there is a divers love that is assigned to him, according to the different effects of his good will, discerned in the fruits of his Beneficence to the Subject of it. There is a common love attributed to him, wherein the good and the bad do promiscuously partake; and it appears in that Goodness of his which he confers upon them, wherein he gives them large tasts of ⟨p. 8⟩his bounty; and to this love we are pointed in, Psal. 145.9. The Lord is good to all and his tender mercies are over all his works. An• Acts 14.17. He left not himself without witness in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. And there is an Especial love of his that we are told of, which he bears only to some, and in comparison with which others are said to be hated, according to Rom. 9.13 Jacob have I loved, and Esau have I hated; and it appears in those peculiar favours which he hath laid in for, and bestows upon them; of which we have such observations,
