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15, 16. Hab. i. 13. Pfal. v. 4, 5, 6. Eph. ii. 3. Here he is now revealed peculiarly as love, as full of it unto us; the manifestation whereof is the peculiar work of the gospel, Tit. iii. 4.

1. 1 John iv. 8. God is love: that the name of God is here taken perfonally, and for the perfon of the Father, not effentially, is evident from ver. 9. where he is diftinguished from his only begotten Son whom he fends into the world. Now (faith he) the Father is love, that is, not only of an infinitely gracious, tender, compaffionate and loving nature, according as he hath proclaimed himfelf, Exod. xxxiv. 6, 7. but alfo one that eminently and pecularly difpenfeth himself unto us in free love. So the apostle fets it forth in the following verfes; this is love, ver. 9. this is that which I would have you take notice of in him, that he makes out love unto you, in fending his only begotten Son into the • world, that we might live through him.' So alfo, ver. 10. He loved us, and fent his Son to be the propitiation for our fins.' And that this is peculiarly to be eyed in him, the Holy Ghost plainly declares, in making it antecedent to the fending of Christ, and all mercies and benefits whatever by him receiv ed. This love, I fay, in its felf is antecedent to the purchase of Christ, although the whole fruit thereof be made out alone thereby, Eph. i. 4, 5, 6.

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2. So in that distribution made by the apostle in his folemn parting benediction, 2. Cor. xiii. 13. The grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, the LOVE OF GOD, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghot be with you. Afcribing fundry things unto the diftinct perfons, it is love that he peculiarly affigns to the Father. And the fellowship of the Spirit i mentioned, with the grace of Chrift, and the lov

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of God, because it is by the Spirit alone that we have fellowship with Chrift in grace, and with the Father in love; although we have alfo peculiar fellowship with him, as fhall be declared.

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3. John xvi. 26, 27. faith our Saviour, I fay not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you, ' for the Father himself loveth you:' but how is this, that our Saviour faith, I fay not that I will pray the Father for you,' when he faith plainly, chap. xiv. 16. I will pray the Father for you?" The difciples with all the gracious words, comfortable and faithful promifes of their Mafter, with moft heavenly discoveries of his heart unto them, were even fully convinced of his dear and tender affections towards them; as alfo of his continued care and kindness, that he would not forget them,, when bodily he was gone from them; as he was now upon his departure; but now all their thoughts are concerning the Father, how they fhould be accep ted with him, what respect he had towards them. Saith our Saviour, take no care of that, nay impofe not that upon me, of procuring the Father's love for you, but know, that this is his peculiar refpect towards you, and which you are in him; he himfelf loves you. It is true indeed (and as I told you,) that I will pray the Father to fend you the Spirit, the Comforter, and with him all the gracious fruits of his love; but yet in the point of love itself, free love, eternal love, there is no need of any interceffion for that, for eminently the Father himself loves you; refolve of that, that you may hold communion with him in it, and be no more troubled about it. Yea as your great trouble is, about the Father's love, so you can no way more trouble or burden him, than by your unkindnefs in not be

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lieving of it. So it muft needs be where fincere. love is questioned.

4. The apostle teaches the fame, Rom. v. 5. The love of God is fhed abroad in your hearts by 'the Holy Ghost, that is, given unto you,' God whofe love this is, is plainly diftinguished from the Holy Ghost, who fheds abroad that love of his; and ver. 8. he is alfo diftinguished from the Son; for it is from that love of his, that the Son is fent; and therefore it is the Father of whom the apostle here fpecially fpeaketh: and what is it that he afcribes to him? even love; which alfo ver. 8. he commendeth to us, fets it forth in fuch a signal and eminent expreffion, that we may take notice of it, and clofe with him in it. To carry this bu finess to its height; there is not only most frequent peculiar mention made of the love of God, where the Father is eminently intended, and of the love of the Father exprefly, but he is alfo called the God of love, 2 Cor. xiii. 11. and is faid to be love, fo that whoever will know him, 1 John iv. 8. or dwell in him by fellowship or communion, ver. 16. must do it as he is Love.

5. Nay whereas there is a twofold divine love, Beneplaciti, and Amicitia, a love of good pleasure, and destination, and a love of friendship and approbation, they are both peculiarly affigned to the Father, in an eminent manner.

1 John iii. 16. God fo loved the world that he fent,' &c. that is, with the love of his purpose, and good pleasure, his determinate will of doing good. This is distinctly afcribed to him, being laid down as the cause of fending his Son. So Rom. ix. 11, 12. Eph. i. 4, 5. 2 Thef. ii. 13, 14. 1 John iv. 8, 9.

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2. John xiv. 23. there is mention of that other kind of love whereof we fpeak. If any man love 'me (faith Chrift) he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him,' The love of friendship and approbation, is here eminently afcribed to him; fays Chrift, we will come, even Father and Son to fuch a one, and dwell with: him, that is, by the Spirit; but yet he would have us take notice, that in point of love, the Father hath a peculiar prerogative: My Father will love him.

6. Yea, and as this love is peculiarly to be eyed in him, fo it is to be looked on as the fountain of all following gracious difpenfations. Chriftians walk. often times with exceedingly troubled hearts, concerning the thoughts of the Father towards them : they are well perfwaded of the Lord Christ, and his good will the difficulty lies, in what is their acceptance with the Father, what is his heart towards them? Shew us the Father and it fhall fuffice, John xiv. 8. Now this ought to be fo far away, that his love ought to be looked on as the fountain from whence all other fweetness flow. Thus the apoftle fets it out, Tit. iii. 4. After that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared. It is of the Father of whom he fpeaks; for ver. 6. he tells us, that he makes out unto us, or sheds that love upon us abundantly, through Jefus Chrift our Saviour. And this love he makes the hinge, upon which the great alteration, and tranflation of the faints doth turn: for (faith he) ver. 3. We ourselves alfo were fometimes foolish, difobedient, deceived, ferving divers lufts and pleafures, living in malice, and envy, hateful,

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and hating one another. All naught, all out of order, and vile, whence then is our recovery? The whole rise of it is from this love of God, flowing out by the ways there defcribed. For when the kindness and love of God appeared, that is, in the fruits of it, then did this alteration enfue. To secure us hereof, there is not any thing that hath a loving and tender nature in the world, and doth act fuitably thereunto, which God hath not compared himself unto. Separate all weakness and imperfection which is in them, yet great impreffions of love muft abide. He is as a Father, a Mother, a Shepherd, an Hen over chickens, and the like, Pfal. ciii 13 .Ifa. lxiii. 16. Matth. vi 6. Ifa. lxvi. 13. Pfal. xxiii. 1. Ifa. xl. 11. Matth. xxiii. 37.

I fhall not need to add any more proofs; this is that which is demonstrated. There is love in the perfon of the Father peculiarly held out unto the faints, as wherein he will and doth hold communion with them.

Now to compleat communion with the Father in love, two things are required of believers; 1. That they receive it of him.

2. That they make suitable returns unto him. 1. That they do receive it. Communion confifts in giving and receiving. Until the love of the Father be received, we have no communion with him therein. How then is this love of the Father to be received, fo as to hold fellowship with him? I anfwer, by faith. The receiving of it, is the bclieving of it. God hath fo fully, fo eminently re vealed his love, that it may be received by faith You believe in God, John xiv. 1. that is, the Fa ther; and what is to be believed in him? His love for, he is love, I John v. 8.

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