with thy Wife and Children about thee, having what thy heart can wish, canft thou fay then, Now would I most willingly leave all these to goe to Chrift? when you prefer his company above all things, count that delight the beft, that comes from communion with him; then thou lovest the Lord Iefus.

Love is exceeding bountifull, apt to doe much for the Lord, and to fuffer any thing gladly. The Apoftle, in the first Epiftle to the Corinthians, Chapter 13. fets downe many excellent properties of Love; the that loved Chrift, bad a box of Oyntment; it may bee it was the best thing fhee had, it may bee it was all the had, yet flie bestows it on Chrift. So Abraham, when God would have his Sonne, hee go's willingly about it; not formally, not out of neceffity, but he rose up early to doe it. It may bee there will come a time. when God Thall need thy Wealth; it may be, thy Credit.

5

Now, you can deny him nothing, if you love him. So, Dalilah would not bee perfwaded that Sampfen loved her, fo long as hee kept backe any thing from her. If there bee any thing fo neere unto thee as thy life, and it bee told thee that the Lord hath need of it, he fhall have it. Thou wilt fay, It wasawife action of David, to poure out that water as an offering to the Lord, which he fo longed for, and obtained with the hazard of the lives of three of his Worthies. As when a man hath a good bit, he will fend it to his friend: foin another place, he would not offer to the Lord of that

F

which

3

which fhould cost him nothing, 2 Samuel 24. But what can I beftow upon the Lord, thou wilt fay? If thou art a Preacher, preach the Gospel for Chrift; fo, every man in his calling, let him doe fomewhat for the Lord, and if he shall call for thy life, let it not be deare unto thee. And as love is thus bountifull, fo it feekes not its owne, 1 Corinthians 13. And now, how few will bae found that love Chrift? wee may well complaine with Paul, All men fecke their owne, and none the things of Iefus Chrift, Philemon2. Paul that loved the Lord, how was hee affected? hee regarded not himfelfe, tooke not care what should become of himselfe, heetooke the care of all the Churches upon him: Who is offended, and fo by taking of fence, fals away, and I burne not? Art thou a Minifter, and lovest the Lord Iefus, thou wilt not be fo carefull for a living, and that it be a convenient one, but thou wouldeft preachas Past, though for nothing; for every man might doe much for the Lord, if he fought the things of the Lord; if hee did plod with himfelfe, how to bring advantage to Chrift.dda.

2

And then if this fhould come in, if I doe this, I fhall hinder my eftate, lofe my friends, it would be nothing: the love of the Lord would be farre better to thee than any thing, Love doth much for the Lord; Faith workes by Love, he loves much, that doth much. Paul, as he was abundant in love, fo in labour. If you love me, faith our Saviour, keepe my Commandements. Are you willing then to take much paines for the Lord? Doeft thou · feed

feed the lambes of Chrift? If thou art a Minifter, or if thou art in the way to that calling, art thou diligent to fit thy felfe for it? And love not onely workes, but it makes that the commandements are not grievous. The wife may ferve her husband, and the fervant him, but with a different affection. The covetous man when he is before fome great man that can imprison him, or put him to death may part with his wealth, or if with one that can greatly preferre him, in hope of that, he, may be brought to part with his money; But wil lingly be will not. But you muft finde delight in that you doe: when you doe a kindneffe to one that you love, you doe but doe your felfe a kindneffe on that party. And in this feufe what thanks deferve you? you doe but fatisfie your love. As a mother loves her child, and doth the of. fices of kindneffe to it with delight, though thee fhall never have any thing for it. If you had this love, you would come to fay, It is meate and drinke to doe your Fathers will. Now, you neede not bee hired to eate and drinke.

i

John 4.

Laftly, love fuffers all things. Are you wil. 1 Cor. 13. ling to fuffer any thing for the Lord? when David did a religious act, Michal lookes upon him with an other eye, as men looke now on religi ous actions. It is no matter, faith David, I will beare it, for I did it to the Lord, who chose mee before thy fathers house. And if this bee to be vile, I will bee yet more vile. Can you endure to be pointed at, fcoffed and mocked, for

Aas 20, 24.

Col. I. 11.

Acts 5.

6

the Lord? It was a fore triall to have his wife fo against him, yet wee fee how hee did beare it. Bonds and afflictions, faith Paul abide mee in every Cities But none of these things move mee, neither count I my life deare unto my felfe, so I may finish my course with joy. Are you able to doe thus? But I cannot like, you will fay, to bee put to it, you doe not know, it may bee you may lofe your wealth, your credit, and refpect, among those whom you loved, and this is fomewhat: yet love makes it as nothing. We fee when a man loves a Maide, neither Father nor Friend, nor the fpeech of people will move him to give over. True, this is a finfull love, but yet fhewes what the nature of love is. Nay I will goe further, you will fuffer all with joy, Strengthened with all might according to his glorious power unto all patience and long fuffering with joyfulnesse. So when the Apostles were whipt where the shame was more then the paine, yet they rejoyced that they were thought worthy to luffer for Chrift.

3

نماز

Put all the fe together, Are ye bountifull, that if the Lord fhould put you to any coft, cost of purfe, labours of life, hee fhould willingly have it Doe yee take care for the things of Chrift, ? plod how ye may glorifie him? Doe ye do much, and fuffer much for the Lord? Take thefe notes no further then yee fee reafon for them: And know that this is that word of the Lord, if you love not the Lord Iefus, you are cur fed.

The

The next property of love is, it defires nothing fo much as love againe. If a man bee fer viceable to another, and not out of love, fo he bee officious to him, hee is content. But love will be paid in it's owne coyne, it will not have mercy without grace. A kingdome without grace, will not content it. It is very obfervant in this kinde, Quis fallere poffit amantem? They will be very curious this way. They muft fee love in every thing, or else they can take no delight in it. It is not a kingdome that can quiet them without the love of God.

4

How ever it goe with corne, wine and ovle, their prayer is, Lord lift thou up the light of thy Pfal. 4. countenance on us. Ifa mans turne were ferved, fo he might be freed from hell, and made happy, and then love him, this man loves not the Lord. That which Abfalom did in hypocrifie, wee are to doe in truth, Sam. 14. What avails it mee that I enjoy (faith he) my lands, and that I live in Jerufalem, fo long as I may not fee the Kings face? So if God fhould give you abundance of all your hearts can with, free you from the fire of hell, yet this will not content you without you fee his face, if you have this love. And thus if Gods people humble themselves and feeke his face, hee 2 Chron.7.14. will heare in heaven, and have mercy on them: when a people are oppreffed and in captivitie, they may come to the Lord and humble themfelves, but for their owne liberty, they may feeke their owne good in it, as they, Howled on their Hof. 7. 14, beds for corne, wine, and oyle but Gods people F3

fecke