§. 41. Of Gods love in receiving those whom he doth 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
IT is here taken for granted, that God loves his Children. God himself profes∣seth* 1.1 as much, Mal. 1. 2. Ier. 31. 3. And Saints acknowledge as much, Deut. 7. 8. Eph. 2. 4.
No ground of this can any where be found but in God himself. It is therefore said of him, that he set his love upon the Israelites, because he loved them, Deut. 7. 7, 8.
Of Christs love to his Church, the order, the truth, the cause, the quality, the quantity, and the continuance thereof, See Domest duties, Treat. 4. §. 61, 63, 65, 67, 69, 72.
Of love, the cause of Gods chastening his Children, See the whole Armour of God, Treat. 2. On Eph. 6. 15. part. 5. §. 25.
It is said of those whom God loveth, that he receiveth them also, he taketh them into his house, he taketh the especiall care of them. The many invitations which the Lord maketh to such as come unto him, sheweth how ready he is to receive them, Isa. 55. 1. Ioh. 6. 37. The example of the Father of the Prodigall, is an evidence hereof, Luk. 15. 20. Christ is said to receive sinners, Luk. 15. 2. Namely penitent sinners: who thereby had evidence that they were loved of God.
The Lord received them, to assure them of his speciall care for their good. Men use to take care of such as they do receive, as of Wives, Children, Servants, Friends, and others: much more will God. This is one speciall reason of all those relati∣ons which God vouchsafeth to passe betwixt himself and children of men.
This is a forcible motive unto such as are received of God, to cast their care on him, Psal. 55. 22. 1 Pet. 5. 7. Children on this ground can depend on their Parents. Christ doth much presse this point, Matth. 7. 11.