Use 1. Is caution. Let us not have wrong thoughts of God wlien we come to him. We think of God the Father as one that is all wrath and justice, and unwilling to be reconciled to man, or brought to it with much difficulty. No ; Christ came on purpose to show the love and loveliness of God to us ; for our redemption came first out of the bosom of God ; and Christ's mission into the world, and dying for sin- ners, was the fruit of his love ; and mainly for this end, to give us a full demonstration of the love of God, and his pity to the lost world of sinners, that when our guilt had made him frightful to us, we might not fly from him as a condemning God, but love him, and serve him, and pray to him, as one willing to be reconciled to us : therefore take heed what picture of God you draw in your minds. Light and heat are not more abundant in the sun than love is in God.
Use 2. Of direction to us how to conceive of God in prayer, as one that loveth us. We have gained a great point when we are persuaded of this, and can come with this thought into his presence, that I am praying to a God that loveth me, and will do me good. You will say, If I could come to that, I have gained a great point indeed. But what hindereth ? There is, I confess, a twofold love, — his general love, and his special love. His general love, which intendeth benefits to us ; and his special love, which hath already put us in possession of them. His general love to the lost world ; and his love and mercy to us in parti-
150 THE FIFTEENTH SERMON. [2 ThES. II. 16-
cular, putting ns in possession of the saving benefits purchased and intended.
1. The general love to the lost world, that is a great thing the devil seeketh to hide and obscure, the wonderful love of God revealed in our Kedeemer, that we may still fly from God, as more willing to punish than to save; and many poor dark creatures gratify his design. We are still seeking signs and tokens of God's love, something to warrant us to come to God by Christ, and to persuade us that we shall be wel- come if we do so ; and because we cannot find anything in ourselves that he will admit us, we are troubled. But all this while we are but seeking the sun with a candle. What greater evidence of God's will- ingness to receive you than the death of Clnist, than the institutions of the gospel ? This is above all evidences, that he sent his Son to die foi- us. This is like the Jews, who, \vhen they had seen many wonders wrought by Christ, would still have a new sign : the greatest sign is given already, Christ dying for a sinful world. Men and angels cannot find out a sign, pledge, and confirmation of the love of God above that. Yet, if that be not enough, we have another sign, the promises and invitations of the gospel, which show his willingness to welcome sinners. Salvation is offered, but not to named, but described persons. There- fore, if we are willing to come under these hopes upon God's terms, this may satisfy our scrupulous minds ; there is no bar put to us but what we put to ourselves by our refusing the grace as God oftereth it. Certainly God's love and mercy to lost mankind is our first motive, and his willingness to impart good things to them upon his own terms ; and surely he is well pleased with our acceptance of them.
2. There is special love where this grace is applied to us : Eph. ii. 4, 5, ' But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, hath quickened us, when we were dead in trespasses and sins.' He did not begin to love us when we were converted — that is of a more ancient and eternal rise— but then he did begin to apply his love to us ; and this is no ordinary, but great love, when God was angry with us, and pronounced wrath on us in the sentence of the law, and appeared as an enemy in the course of his providence, and the apprehensions of our guilty fears, then to be reconciled ; and surely this is a great advantage to draw nigh to God as a reconciled Father. This is the object of our everlasting love and joy : Rom. v. 11, 'And not only so, but we also joy in God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.' And this is a prop of confidence in prayer. Could we once believe that he dearly loves us, and is reconciled to us, and taketh us for hi.s children, that he delighteth in our prosperity; oh, how cheerfully could we come into his presence! John xvi. 27, ' The Father himself loveth you, because you have loved me, and believe that I came out from God.' They have not only his intercession, but the Father's especial love, which is the ground and hope of audience. Now this particular interest dependeth on some- thing wrought in our souls l)y the Holy Spirit. Our Lord mentioneth two things— their faith in Christ, and love to God. (1.) Faith in Christ, or a thankful acceptance of him as our Lord and Saviour, therefore called receiving Christ, and entitling us to the privileges of Christ's children: John i. 12, 'To as many as received him, to them