[2.] By reasons taken from the properties of Christ's love.
(1.) It is a transcendent love. All love, where it is real, is earnest and vehement. Much more the love of Christ, for that is not to be measured by an ordinary standard, for the apostle saith, Eph. iii. 19, ' That you may know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge.' The love of Christ to lost sinners is so vast, boundless, and infinite, that there is no parallel whereby we may come to the knowledge of it, Kom. V. 17, 18. We may know it as to admiration, but we cannot know it as to comprehension to the full. Somewhat we may know by what is spoken of it in the scripture, somewhat by what we feel in ourselves of the effects of it ; yea, we not only may know it, but we ought to know it so far as may inflame our hearts with a love to God, and enable us to be faithful to him, whatever troubles we endure for his sake. Now what may we not promise ourselves from such a love, as is not only above our expression, but above our comprehension ? He that died for sinners, will he not be kind to his people ?
(2.) It is a tender love, and such as maketh him solicitous for our welfare. We use to say, lies est solicita, plena timoris amor — Love is a solicitous thing, feareth not the danger or trouble of what is beloved. As Jacob was solicitous about Benjamin, lest mischief should befoll him in the way ; as Epaphroditus had a solicitous care of the Philippians, and of any trouble or sorrow that might happen to them, Phil. ii. 26 ; such is the care of Christ over his people, especially when they are
408 SEKMOKS UPON ROMANS VIII. [SeR. XLVI.
most in danger ; then his lore is most at work for them, to provide help and cordials against all temptations. He knoweth our weakness and infirmities ; for his people are ' engraven on the palms of his hands,' Isa. xlix. 16 ; yea, carried in his heart, as the names of the tribes on the breast of the high priest. So Christ ' callelh his own sheep by name, and leadeth them,' John x. 3. Now, knowing the danger to which they are exposed, his love doth incline him to pity them, and give them renewed proof of his affection and care over them in their extremities, and doth strangely preserve them in manifold dangers.
(3.) It is a constant and an immutable love : Jer. xxxi. 3, ' With an everlasting love liave I loved thee.' God's love is a love of perpe- tuity, or eternity ; his love and affection continueth still the same to us, and shall do so for ever. God reserveth a liberty in the covenant, for correction : Ps. Ixxxix. 32, 33, ' Then will I visit their transgres- sions with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. Nevertheless my loving-kindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faith- fulness to fail.' The sharpest rods and sorest stripes do stand with loving-kindness to them ; yea, are rather effects of his love than hatred. But this new covenant-love is immutable.
(4.) It is an operative and effective, not an idle and hidden love. If Christ's love were only an affection in the heart, a well-wishing love, there were less comfort in it; but it is a love that breaketh forth in action and real performance. He will readily do good to his people whom he loveth ; not only hereafter, when he will accomplish our glorious hopes, but now his love is not without effects. Two I shall mention.
(1st.) His ordering all dispensations of providence for our good ; this God doth for them that love him, Eom. viii. 28. And surely it is a great testimony of his love to us. They know nothing in religion that know not that Christ's external government is necessary to the preservation of the saints, as well as his internal grace. See Ps. xxv. 3, 'Let none that wait on thee be a.shamed ; let them be ashamed that transgress without cause; '1 Cor. x. 13, 'There hath no temptation taken you, hut such as is common to man ; but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.' He withdraweth temptations, that they may not be too strong for feeble souls, and cause despondency in them, and moder- ateth our afflictions, that they may not trouble or discourage us, but only correct, antl keep us from security, vanity, and contempt of holy things. These temptations by troubles and afflictions are let loose to check other temptations to ambition, worldliness, and sensuality ; but when they are like to prove temptations themselves, the love of Christ is much seen in his wise and gracious mitigation and removal of them.
(2dly.) The assistances of his grace, or the operations of his Spirit Surely the property of love is, velle amato bomim. And God giveth the true good to his children ; the good we are capable of in this life is the gift of his sanctifying Spirit. Tempted souls find it a needful benefit ; and when they seek it, will Christ deny it to them ? No, he hath assured them of the contrary: Mat. vii. 9-11, 'Or what man is there of you, whom, if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone ?