Love is that jewel of human nature which commands a valuation wherever it is found. Let other circumstances be what they will, whatever distances between persons may be made by them, yet real love, where it is evidenced so to be, is not despised by any but such as degenerate into profligate brutality. If it be so stated as that it can produce no outward effects advantageous unto them that are be- loved, yet it commands a respect, as it were, whether we will or no, and some return in its own kind. Especially it doth so if it be alto- gether undeserved, and so evidenceth itself to proceed from a good-
166 THE PERSON OF CHIIIST.
ness of nature, and an inclination unto the good of them on whom it is fixed. For, whereas the essential nature of love consisteth in willing good unto them that are beloved — where the act of the will is real, sincere, and constantly exercised, without any defect of it on our part, no restraints can possibly be put upon our minds from going out in some acts of love again upon its account, unless all their faculties are utterly depraved by habits of brutish and filthy lusts. But when this love, which is thus undeserved, doth also abound in effects trouble- some and chargeable in them in whom it is, and highly beneficial unto them on whom it is placed — if there be any such affection left in the nature of any man, it will prevail unto a reciprocal love. And all these things are found in the love of Christ, unto that degree and height as nothing parallel unto it can be found in the whole creation. I shall briefly speak of it under two general heads.
(1.) The sole spring of all the mediatory actings of Christ, both in the susception of our nature and in all that he did and suffered therein, was his own mere love and grace, working by pity and compassion. It is true, he undertook this work principally with respect unto the glory of God, and out of love unto him. But with respect unto us, his only motive unto it was his abundant, overflowing love. And this is especially remembered unto us in that instance wherein it carried him through the greatest difficulties — namely, in his death and the oblation of himself on our behalf. Gal. ii. 20; Eph. v. 2, 25, 26; 1 John iii. 16; Rev. i. 5, 6. This alone inclined the Son of God to undertake the glorious work of our redemption, and carried him through the death and dread which he underwent in the accomplish- ment of it.
Should I engage into the consideration of this love of Christ, which was the great means of conveying all the effects of divine wisdom and grace unto the church, — that glass which God chose to represent himself and all his goodness in unto believers, — that spirit of life in the wheel of all the motions of the person of Christ in the redemption of the church unto the eternal glory of God, his own and that of his redeemed also, — that mirror wherein the holy angels and blessed saints shall for ever contemplate the divine excellencies in their suit- able operations ; — I must now begin a discourse much larger than that which I have passed through. But it is not suited unto my pre- sent design so to do. Nor, considering the growing apprehensions of ma.ny about the person of Christ, which are utterly destructive of the whole nature of that love which we ascribe unto him, do I know how soon a more distinct explication and defence of it may be called for. And this cause "will not be forsaken.
They know nothing of the life and power of the gospel, nothing of the reality of the grace of God, nor do they believe aright one article
LOVE TO CHRIST PROMPTED BY HIS LOVE TO US. 167
of the Christian faith, whose hearts are not sensible of the love of Christ herein ; nor is he sensible of the love of Christ, whose affec- tions are not thereon drawn out unto him. I say, they make a pa- geant of religion, — a fable for the theatre of the world, — a business of fancy and opinion, — whose hearts are not really affected with the love of Christ, in the susception and discharge of the work of mediation, so as to have real and spiritually-sensible affections for him. Men may babble things which they have learned by rote ; they have no real acquaintance with Christianity, who imagine that the placing of the most intense affections of our souls on the person of Christ — ^the lov- ing him with all our hearts because of his love — our being overcome thereby until we are sick of love — the constant motions of our souls towards him with dehght and adherence — are but fancies and imagi- nations. I renounce that rehgion, be it whose it will, that teacheth, insinuateth, or giveth countenance unto, such abominations. That doctrine is as discrepant from the Gospel as the Alkoran — as contrary to the experience of believers as what is acted in and by the devils — which instructs men unto a contempt of the most fervent love unto Christ, or casts reflections upon it. I had rather choose my eternal lot and portion with the meanest believer, who, being effectually sen- sible of the love of Christ, spends his days in mourning that he can love hun no more than he finds himseff on his utmost endeavours for the discharge of liis duty to do, than with the best of them, whose vain speculations and a false pretence of reason puff them up unto a contempt of these things.