Section 17

Having given directions how to attain love to Christ in the truth and in the strength of it, I come now to the last sort of directions wherein you should show your love to Jesus Christ.

More generally show your love to Christ in your obedience to Christ (John 14:15): If you love me, keep my commandments. Be faithful in the performance of all known duties which Christ does command, and be careful in the forbearance of all known sins which Christ does forbid; let your great care be to please Christ, whoever is displeased; and your great fear be of offending Christ, whoever be offended with your strictness. Show your love: 1. In the sincerity of your obedience, 2. In the willingness of your obedience, 3. In the universality of your obedience, 4. In the constancy of your obedience.

1. Show your love to Christ, in the sincerity of your obedience. Hypocrites will do some things which Christ commands, but it is from carnal motives and with carnal designs; but let love to Christ be the motive, and the honor of Christ the end of your obedience; obey Christ because you love him, and with a design to please him; what you do, do heartily to the Lord, and above all things desire and endeavor that what you do may find acceptance with him. Therefore we labor, that whether present or absent we may be accepted of him (2 Corinthians 5:9).

2. Show your love to Christ in the willingness of your obedience; some will obey Christ, but it is with great backwardness — they will perform duties, but they are burdensome, a weariness, and toilsome, and the commandments of Christ are grievous to them; they are scarce ready to any duty, but when they are scourged to it by the rods of affliction, or spurred and pricked forward by the goads of conscience. O the listlessness and indisposition in the most, to the most spiritual part of the service of Christ! which is an evident proof of the defect of love, either in the truth of it, or at least in the measure and degree of it. Let your love show itself in the willingness of your obedience, serve the Lord with a willing and ready mind, with alacrity and cheerfulness of spirit, looking upon the service of Christ as your honor, and esteeming every duty to be your privilege: If you have any constraints to obedience, let them be the constraints of love (2 Corinthians 5:14). If you be forced to obey Christ, let there be no violence but the violence of love; if you be dragged to duty, let it [reconstructed: be with no other cords than the cords of love]; let love be the spur and goad to prick you forward, that you may not only walk but run in the ways of Christ's commandments with an enlarged heart.

3. Show your love to Christ in the universality of your obedience. Hypocrites will perform some duties which are for their turn, and will serve their carnal designs; other duties they omit and totally neglect; let your love to Christ discover itself in your respect to all his commandments; though you cannot here attain perfection of obedience, yet let your obedience be universal; obey Christ not only in open duties, which men are witnesses of, but also in secret duties, and spiritual duties, which depend upon the exercise of the mind, such as meditation, contemplation, self-search, and ejaculation, as also in the spiritual part of all duties, which no eye can be witness to but the eye of God; and hereby you may be distinguished from all hypocrites in the world.

4. Show your love to Christ in the constancy of your obedience (Galatians 5:7): You did run well, who did hinder you, that you should not obey the truth? Some hypocrites are zealous professors for a while, and at first setting out seem to outstrip many that are sincere, but they soon tire, and are weary not only in well-doing but of it; they quickly stumble and fall, and not only fall down, but fall off; not only fall back, but fall away, and turn fearful apostates. Show your love to Christ not only in setting out well, but in continuing your Christian course well to the end of the course of your lives; begin well, and patiently continue in well-doing: Persevere in your obedience; be not weary in well-doing, knowing that in due time you shall reap if you faint not (Galatians 6:9). And if you be faithful to death, Christ has promised to give you the crown of life (Revelation 2:10).

More particularly, show your love to Christ: 1. In your learning, keeping, asserting and maintaining of Christ's truths. 2. In your public-spiritedness and zeal for Christ's honor and interest. 3. In your vigorous resistance and opposition of Christ's enemies. 4. In your following of Christ's example. 5. In your readiness to take up and patiently to bear Christ's cross. 6. In your desires after Christ's presence here, a longing for Christ's second appearance at the last day.

1. Show your love to Christ in your learning, keeping, asserting and maintaining Christ's truths. First, learn Christ's truths, acquaint yourselves by diligent reading of the Scriptures, and other books that may be a help to this, with all fundamental truths of the Christian religion in the first place, and so go on and proceed further to learn those truths which are superstructory; and whatever truths you find a foundation for in the Scriptures which are the word of truth, receive them, not only in the light of them, but also in the love of them; if the branches of truths be in your heads, and the leaves of them in your profession, and the fruit of them in your actions, let the root of them be in your hearts. Second, having learned the truths of Christ as they are in Jesus, let them not hang loose in your understandings but get them fastened and fixed, and close girt about the loins of your minds; hold the truths of Christ fast, prize them above all jewels, don't part with them upon any terms, let all go — estate, liberty and life itself — rather than any of this rich treasure which Christ has entrusted you withal. Third, assert the truths of Christ; be not ashamed or afraid to own any truths of Christ in the most adulterous and gainsaying generation, profess your belief of Christ and of the truths of Christ, endeavor that the light of these truths may shine abroad, and cast forth such bright beams in the dark world where you live, that others may be brought hereby to the knowledge of the truth. Fourth, endeavor to maintain Christ's truths, earnestly contend for the doctrine of faith once delivered to the saints, endeavor to convince gainsayers, and to defend Christ's truths against those corrupt and erroneous opinions and doctrines, which like leaven is very apt to spread and infect the minds of men.

2. Show your love to Christ in your public spiritedness, and zeal for Christ's honor and interest: let your affections be public not private, narrow, contracted and centering in self; let your love be a public and general love, love not only relations, but love all Christ's disciples, though of different persuasions and interests, because of the image of Christ, and love not only your friends that love you, but also your enemies that hate you, because of the command of Christ. Let your desires be public desires, desire the welfare of the universal church, and of all God's people throughout the world, and accordingly pray for their peace and prosperity, and endeavor as you have opportunity to promote the public good more than your own private advantage; seek not your own things, but the things of Jesus Christ. Let your griefs be public griefs, grieve not only for your own sins, but also for the sins of others, whereby Christ is dishonored in the world; grieve not only for your own afflictions, but also for the afflictions of Joseph (Hebrews 13:3). Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them, and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body. You are in the same mystical body with all Christ's afflicted members, and when some members suffer, the rest should suffer too, by way of sympathy. Bleeding in their wounds and grieving in their sorrows, be ready also to relieve any, especially Christ's disciples when they are in distress and want according to your capacity and as you have opportunity. Employ all your talents for your Master's glory, and endeavor to promote the interest of the Lord Jesus to the utmost of your abilities. 1. In reference to those which are without. If you are called yourselves, labor to call others to Christ, as Andrew called Peter, Philip called Nathaniel to the Messiah (John 1:40-41, 44-45). If you have found the Messiah, or rather have been found of him, let your love to Christ, and love to souls prompt you, to endeavor the conversion of others that are your relations, your friends and acquaintances. Put your unconverted friends in mind of their miserable estates while under the guilt and reigning power of sin, while slaves to the Devil and their own lusts; mind them of death and the fearful consequences thereof to all unpardoned sinners; tell them of Christ that he is the only Savior and Redeemer of mankind. How able and willing he is to save them, if they seek after him and apply themselves to him; tell them that not long since you were in the same estate with themselves, living in the practice of the same sins and going on in the same way to destruction; and that the Lord has shown mercy to you in your conversion, and bringing you into a state of salvation: tell them that there is mercy also for them if they look after it, that God's grace is most free, his mercy most plentiful, that Christ is most gracious and casts out none that come to him: tell them of the amiableness of Christ's Person, of the surpassing love which he has shown to fallen mankind in his dying for them; and that though he were dead, yet he is alive and lives for evermore to intercede for all them that make choice of him, and make use of him for their advocate. Therefore persuade them that they would break off their sins by repentance, which otherwise will be the ruin both of their bodies and of their souls in Hell, and without delay that they would come to Christ and accept of him upon gospel-terms. If any of you cannot manage these arguments well yourselves persuade them, if you can, to hear such ministers and sermons, as through God's blessing have been effectual for your conversion, and thus you may be instrumental to augment the kingdom of Christ, which is one of the best ways of expressing your love to Christ. 2. In reference to them which are within; labor to promote the interest of Christ among them that are truly gracious, by vigorous endeavors to strengthen and establish them, to quicken and encourage them in the ways of the Lord: communicate the experiences which you have had, as you see there is real need, and it may tend not so much to your praise as your Master's honor. Labor in your places to be both shining and burning lights; be forward to every good word and work. Look upon yourselves as the devoted servants of Christ, and that you are not your own, and therefore lay out yourselves to the utmost for him, and give all diligence to glorify him with your bodies and spirits, with your estates and interests, with your gifts and talents, all which are his, and ought to be at his devotion.

3. Show your love to Christ in your vigorous resistance and opposition of Christ's enemies. There are three grand enemies of Christ which you are by your baptism engaged to fight against, namely the Devil, the flesh, and the world which war both against Christ, and against your souls. This trinity of adversaries agree in one, and combine together against his anointed, doing their utmost endeavor to break his bands, to untie his cords, and to unhinge his government; they would pluck the crown off of Christ's head could they reach it, and the scepter out of his hand, they would divest Christ if they could of all his power here on earth, and confine him to his territories in heaven; but all their attempts in this kind have been and will be in vain. Christ has tried the strength of these enemies; and has vanquished them, but still some life and power is left with them to war against the holy seed. You are Christ's soldiers, listed under his banner, show your fidelity and your love to your captain and general, in manfully maintaining the spiritual combat against his and your spiritual enemies; fight the good fight of faith, resist to blood, don't yield upon any account; disdainfully turn away the eye and ear when these enemies would entice and allure you, and stoutly make resolute opposition against them, when they do most furiously assault you. Hearken to no suggestions of the Devil, temptations of the world or motions of the flesh which would induce and draw you into ways of sin, or which would force and drive you out of the ways of Christ; resist and oppose, and labor to gain some victories over these adversaries every day, especially get conquest over the flesh, and the other two will be soon vanquished. Christ showed his love to you in submitting himself to be crucified for you, do you show your love to Christ in crucifying your flesh with its affections and lusts for his sake, in your self-denial and mortifying the deeds of the body, when you deny your carnal reason, your carnal wisdom, your carnal will, your carnal affections, your carnal interest, all inordinances of your sensual appetite for the sake of Christ; when you crush pride, envy, revenge, malice, inordinate anger, inordinate love, inordinate desire, inordinate grief, lustfulness and all evil concupiscence for the sake and because of the command of Christ, all these are acts and evidences of love to Christ, and herein you should exercise yourselves daily.

4. Show your love to Christ in your following of his example, discover your affection to him in your imitation of him, in writing after his copy, in treading in his steps, in walking as Christ himself walked, when he was here upon the earth, show your love to Christ by laboring after likeness to Christ, that you may be like him both in your inward disposition and in your outward conversation. Christ was lowly, be you humble and mean in your own esteem: Christ was meek, be you gentle, easy to be entreated, and not easily provoked: Christ loved God, let God be the object of your love: Christ hated sin, let sin also be the object of your hatred: Christ despised the world, do you get crucified affections to it. Christ was compassionate to those that were in distress, do you labor for the like compassion. Christ used to worship publicly in the synagogues, to pray with his disciples, and to spend time also in secret prayer, do you give your attendance in the public assemblies of God's people, worship God in your families, and be often upon your knees at the throne of grace in secret. Christ's mind was a heavenly mind, let the same mind be in you as was in Christ. Christ's will was submissive to his Father's will, let the same will be in you as was in Christ. Christ's words were gracious and edifying — let your speech be always with grace, savory and which may be for edification. Christ's life was an active life, he was always doing good, and he was exactly holy in all his actions, be you active and diligent in the service of God in doing good to others, and be holy as Christ was holy in all manner of conversation, thus should you show your love to Christ in following Christ's example, and in imitating of him in every thing wherein you are capable of such imitation.

5. Show your love to Christ in your readiness to take up and patiently bear Christ's cross: I don't say you should desire sufferings for Christ, but sure I am that strong love to Christ will not permit you to decline them. Don't go out of God's way for them, neither go out of God's way from them, if you meet with the cross in the way of duty, don't either turn back, or start aside, but cheerfully take it up, and when you have got it up, patiently bear it, and don't throw it off, till God take it off. When it is your duty to suffer for Christ, look upon it also to be your privilege and be glad of the opportunity, rejoicing that you have any thing to part with for the sake of Christ, if it be good name, or good estate, or good friends, if it be liberty or life itself; such expressions of love are very honorable and very pleasing to your Lord and Master.

6. And lastly, show your love to Christ in your desires after Christ's presence here, and in your longing for his second appearance at the last day. 1. Desire Christ's gracious presence here, and the manifestations thereof, that according to his promises he would come to you, that he would draw near, and that you might feel that he is near; desire that you might have clearer discoveries of Christ, and more intimate communion and fellowship with Christ; above all company and fellowship, desire the company fellowship and acquaintance with Christ, that you might walk with him and converse with him, and that there might be a daily intercourse between Christ and your souls, and that all distances between you, and strangeness might be removed; let your love express itself in desires after Christ when he is absent, and in delights when he is present; rejoice in the Lord exceedingly when he does manifest himself to you graciously, admire his beauty and delight in his smiles, admire his love and delight in the persuasions of his favor, let the actings of your love, and the workings of it, be such to your beloved daily. 2. Desire also and long for the second appearance of Christ at the last day; when he says, Surely I come quickly, do you say, Amen, Even so come Lord Jesus. Look upon time as slow of heel and wing, that it runs no faster, that it flies no swifter; look to the end of [illegible], and long for it, because then with these eyes you shall see him whom your [illegible] loves, because then you shall see Christ come down from the throne of God with such brightness of majesty, and brightness of beauty, as will transport you with wonder and joy. Say, When Lord Jesus will you take to yourself your great power, and clothe yourself with your authority, and come down to judge the world? When will you open the everlasting gates of heaven which have been shut so long? When will you descend from heaven with a shout, with the sound of the great trumpet, and send your angels to gather all your elect from the four winds, that all who love you may meet in one society? When shall we put on our garments of immortality, and be caught up in the clouds to meet you in the day of your triumph? When shall the day of our coronation come, and of our admission into the glorious mansions which you have prepared for us in the glorious palace which is above? When will you show us yourself, and give us to behold you face to face? When will you show us the Father, and give us to behold him immediately without a glass? When will you show us your glory which you [reconstructed: had] with the Father before the world was [illegible] and give us not only to see it, but also to share in it? When will you open the treasures of your love, and receive us into the nearest, closest, and sweetest embracements thereof, and give us to drink of those rivers of pleasures which are with you? O hasten Lord, hasten your glorious appearance, that you may be glorified before the whole world, and we be glorified with you, that we may be then taken to live with you, and reign with you, and be made perfectly happy in the full and everlasting enjoyment of you.

Thus I have done with these directions, the last thing in this use of exhortation.

And what do you now say after all motives to excite and persuade you to the love of Christ, and directions therein? Shall all be in vain?

What do you say, sinners? Shall Christ have your hearts or no? Will you harbor base lusts in your hearts, that will damn you, and keep out the Lord Jesus Christ who alone can save you? Shall I gain no hearts for Christ by all my sermons which I have preached concerning the love of Christ? My Lord and Master has sent me to woo you, to win your hearts for him; may I speed or no? Shall my message be accepted, and Jesus Christ the most lovely person find entertainment with you? If any person or thing in the world which you do most dearly love, do so well deserve your love, lock your ears still against all my words, and let them perish like an empty sound in the air; lock your hearts against Christ, who stands knocking at the door, and give an absolute and peremptory refusal to give him any room there. But if in the whole world you cannot find out a suitable beloved besides Christ, if there be nothing here below but is unworthy of your hearts, if all inferior things while they have your chief love do debase you and defile you, and unless your hearts be taken off from them, will certainly ruin and destroy you everlastingly — O then be persuaded without any further delay to open the everlasting doors of your hearts, to let Christ into them, and set Christ up in the highest seat of your affections. O be persuaded to give Christ your chief love, to give him your heart, and your whole heart; with grief and hatred let go your hold of sin, and embrace the Lord Jesus Christ in the arms of your dearest love. And then I would say to you as our Saviour did to Zacchaeus when he gave him entertainment in his house, This day is salvation come to you. O happy day to you! O happy you that ever you were born, if this day Christ should be heartily entertained by you! This then would be the day of your conversion, in which the angels would rejoice; and though grief and trouble might invade you for a while because of your sin, yet this would make way for your spiritual joy; weeping might endure for a night, but joy would come in the morning. But O the joy which you will then have in the day of your coronation, when all tears shall be wiped away from your eyes, and when you shall have admission into the glorious presence of the Lord, where there is fullness of joy and pleasures for evermore.

And what do you say, believers? You that have some love to Christ, shall this doctrine, and these sermons which I have preached, be a means to raise and heighten your love? Your love has been too much mixed — will you love Christ more purely? Your love has been very weak — will you love Christ more strongly? Your love to Christ has been but a spark — shall it now break forth into a flame? After such blowings, shall there be no burnings? When you think of Christ's person so amiable, his love so incomparable, his benefits so inestimable, shall not this fire your hearts? And will you not now love him more dearly and ardently than ever? Will you be persuaded to get off your hearts from earth and earthly things, and get up your hearts to your Lord who is in heaven, and to settle your love there upon him, so as never to withdraw it from him any more? Will you love the Lord Jesus much, whom you can never love too much? Will you now dwell in the love of Christ, and be more frequent and fervent in the actings of it? Then, O what comfort would you find in your love! and what sweetness in the sense of Christ's love! This would be the surest evidence that Christ loves you, because Christ loves first; and how would this sweeten your passage through the valley of affliction, and through the valley of death. This would sweeten a bitter cup, and make a sweet cup more sweet. In life, the sense of Christ's love will be better than life; but at death this will be the only stay and support which you can have — nothing else can give any well-grounded comfort in a dying hour. Death rages and plays the tyrant everywhere, shoots his arrows here and there; sometimes he strikes those that are older than yourselves, and sometimes those that are younger; sometimes those that are weaker than yourselves, sometimes those that are stronger; sometimes those that are better, sometimes those that are worse; sometimes the righteous are struck, sometimes the wicked; sometimes the profane, and sometimes the professors — that all might be awakened to prepare. And what is it that can give you comfort when you come to the sides of the pit? You may have the love of your dear yoke-fellows, weeping and mourning at your bed-side, children, kindred and friends wringing their hands, and looking with a pitiful countenance upon you, grieving to part with you, but what comfort can all their love yield to your departing spirits? Their love may disturb you, and make you the more unwilling to die and leave them, because they are so unwilling to part with you. But the love of Christ and sense thereof will be a comfort indeed, because he is a friend whom you are not departing from, but going to — and O the delight which then you may have, when friends look most sad, and death looks most grim, when the trembling joints, the clammy sweats, the intermitting pulse, the falling jaws, the rattling throat, and other symptoms give notice of near approaching death! Then to think, I am now come not only to the door of eternity, but also to the gate of my Father's house, where many saints are gone before me, and many angels are attending for me, and where my dearly beloved Jesus is, and has prepared for my reception and eternal habitation. Here are friends about my bed-side, who ere long will convey [reconstructed: them] to the grave, to be fed upon by [reconstructed: worms]; there are angels also by my bed-side [reconstructed: to attend my] soul, that so soon as it is loosened [reconstructed: from my] carcass, they may convey me [reconstructed: to] paradise. Within a few [reconstructed: moments], and I shall be with my dearest [reconstructed: Jesus]; faith will be swallowed up [reconstructed: in sight, and my] hope in fruition, and my [reconstructed: love raised] to perfection. O the glorious [reconstructed: light] there and then will shine into every [reconstructed: corner] of my mind! O the love and joy and ineffable delight, when I come to see and enjoy and live forever with my most dearly beloved! This, this only will make you willing to die, and this sense of Christ's love will effectually sweeten your passage through the dark entry of death.