VeR. 23.] SERMONS UPON JOHN XVII. 85
but not the sense. God may love a man, and he not know it, nor feel it. But we are to look after both. Therefore I shall do two things — (1.) Press you to get the sense ; (2.) Speak to the comfort of them that have indeed the effects but not the sense.
First, I shall press you all to get the sense and comfortable appre- hension of this love, that God loved you as he loved Christ.
1. Motives. The benefits are exceeding great.
[1.] Nothing quickeneth the heart more to love God. Certainly we are to love God again, who loved us first, 1 John iv. 19. Now though it be true that radius rejiexus languet, that God loveth us first, best, and most, yet the more direct the beam, the stronger the reflection ; the more we know that God loveth us in Christ, the more are we urged and quickened to love God again : 2 Cor. v. 14, ' For the love of Christ constraineth us.' And this consideration is the more binding ; if you expect those privileges which Christ had, you must express your love by suitable obedience : John vi. 38, ' I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me ; ' John iv. 34, ' My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work ;' John viii. 29, 'And he that sent me is with me ; the Fatlier hath not left me alone, for I do always those things that please him.' You must love him as Christ loved him. Will you sin against God, that are so beloved of him ? Thus we must kindle our hearts at God's fire, for love must be paid in kind.
[2.] It maketh us contented, patient, and joyful in tribulations and afflictions : Rom. v. 3, ' And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also ;' and 1 Peter i. 8, 'Whom having not seen, ye love ; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeak- able, and full of glory.'
[3.] Nothing more emboldeneth the soul against the day of death and judgment than to know that God loveth us as he loved Christ, and therefore will give us the glory that Christ is possessed of : 1 John iv. 17, ' Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is so are we in the world ; ' the greater apprehension we have of the love of God in Christ, the more perfect our love is.
2. Means that this may be increased in us.
[1.] Meditate more on, and believe the gospel. It is good to bathe and steep our thoughts in the remembrance of God's wonderful love to sinners in Christ : John xvii. 26, ' I have declared to them thy name, and will declare it, that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.' Fervency of affection followeth strength of persuasion, and strength of persuasion is increased by serious thoughts,
[2.] Live in obedience to the Spirit's sanctifying motions ; for this love is ap[)lied by the Spirit : Rom. viii, 14, ' For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God ;' compared with 16th verse, * The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirits, that we are the children of God.' The Spirit obeyed as a sauctifier will soon become a comforter, and fill our hearts with a sense of the love of God.
[3.] Take heed of all sin, especially heinous and wilful sins : Isa.
86 SEKMONS UPON JOHN XVII. [SeR. XL.
Ixix, 2, ' Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you that he will not hear ; ' Eph. iv. 30, ' And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption.' Otherwise you may lose the sense of God's love once evidenced. Men that have been lifted up to heaven in com- fort, have fallen almost as low as hell in sorrow, trouble, and perplexity of spirit. One frown of God, or withdrawing the light of his counte- nance, will quickly turn our day into night ; and the poor forsaken soul, formerly feasted with the sense of God's love, knoweth not whence to fetch any comfort and support.
Secondly, I shall seek to comfort them that have but the effects, not the sense. For many serious christians will say, Blessed are they who are in Christ, whom God loveth as he loved Christ ; but what is this to me, that know not whether I have any part in him or no ? To these I will speak two things — (1.) What comfort yet remaineth; (2.) Whether these be not enough to evidence they have some part in Christ.
1. What may yet stay their hearts.
[1.] The foundation of God still standeth sure : ' The Lord knoweth those that are his,' 2 Tim. ii. 19. He knoweth his own, when some of them know not they are his own ; he seeth his mark upon his sheep, when they see it not themselves. God doubteth not of his interest in thee, though thou doubtest of thy interest in him ; and you are held faster in the arms of his love than by the power of your own faith ; as the child is surer in the mother's arms than by its holding the mother.