Tliirdly, Whence love to Christ cometh to have such a force upon us ; or, which is all one, how so forcible a love is wrought in us ?
I answer, (1.) Partly by the worth of the object ; and (2.) Partly by the manner how it is considered by us and applied to us.
1. From the worth of the object. [1.] When we consider what Christ is, what he hath done for us, and what love he hath showed therein, how can we choose but love with such a constraining, unconquerable love, as to stick at no difficulty and danger for his sake ? The ciicuni- stances which do most affect our hearts are these, our condition and necessity. When he came to show this love to us, we were guilty sinners, in a lost and lapsed estate, and so altogether hopeless, unless some means were used for our recovery. Kindness to them that are
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ready to perish doth most affect them. Oh, how should we love Christ, who are as men fetched up from the gates of hell, under sentence of condemnation, when we were in our blood ! Ezek. xvi. ; had sold our- selves to Satan, Isa. Ivii. 3 ; cast away the mercies of our creation, and had all come short of the glory of God, Rom. iii. 23. When sentenced to death, John iii. 18, and ready for execution, Eph. ii. 3, then did Christ, by a wonderful act of love, step in to rescue and recover us ; not staying till we relented, and cried for mercy, but before we were sensible of our misery, or regarded any remedy, then the Son of God came to die for us.
[2.] The astonishing way in which our deliverance was brought about by the incarnation, death, shame, blood and agonies of the Son of God who was set up in our natures, as a glass and pledge of God's great love to us : 1 John iii. 16, ' Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us.' We had never known so much of the love of God, had it not been for this instance. He showed love to us in creation, in that he gave us a reasonable nature, when he might have made us toads and serpents. He showeth love to us in our daily sustentation, in that he keepeth us at his expense, though we do him so little service, and do so often offend him ; but herein was love, that the Son of God himself must hang upon a cross, and become a propiti- ation for our sins. We now come to learn by this instance, that God is love, 1 John iv. 8. What was Jesus Christ but love incarnate, love born of a virgin, love hanging upon a cross, laid in the grave, love made sin, love made a curse for us ?
3. The consequent benefits. I will name three, to which all the rest may be reduced.
(1.) Justification of our persons: Rom. v. 1, 'Being justified by faith, we have peace with God ; ' and Eph. i. 7, ' In whom we have "redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins ; ' and Rom. v. 9. ' Being justified by his blood, we are saved from wi-ath through him ; ' to be at present upon good terms with God and capable of communion with him, and access to him, with assurance of welcome and audience, to have all acts of hostility cease, this is to stop mischief at the fountain- head — for if God be at peace with us, of whom should we be afraid ? — then to have sin pardoned, which is the great ground of our bondage and terror, that which blasteth all our comforts, and maketh them unsavoury to us, and is the venom and sting of all our crosses and miseries, the great make-bate between God and us ; once more, to be freed from the fear of hell, and the wrath of God, which is so deservedly terrible to all serious persons that are mindful of their condition, so that we may live in a holy security and peace. Oh, how should we love the Lord Jesus, who hath procured these benefits for us !
(2.) To have our natures sanctified, and healed, and freed from the stain of sin, as well as the guilt of it, and to have God's impress imprinted upon our souls, this is also consequent of the death of Jesus Christ : Eph. v. 26, ' That he might sanctify, and cleanse it by the washing of water ; ' and Titus ii. 14 ; ' Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works ;' so that being delivered from the thraldom of sin, which is a great ease to a burdened soul, and fitted
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for the service of God, — for Christ came to make a people ready for the Lord, — to be cleansed from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, and have a natm'e divine and heavenly. Let diseased souls desire worldly great- ness, swine take pleasure in the mire, and ravenous beasts feed on dun^^ and carrion, an enlarged soul must have those higher blessings, and looketh upon holiness not only as a duty, but a great privilege, to be made like God, and made serviceable to him. This is that which endears their hearts to Christ, ' He hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, that we might be kings and priests unto God,' Eev. i; 5.