The true Christians love of the unseen Christ, or, A discourse chiefly tending to excite and promote the decaying love of Christ in the hearts of Christians with an appendix concerning Christs manifestation of himself to them that love him / by Thomas Vincent.

Section III.

Thirdly, Concerning the Love which True Christians do bear un∣to this unseen Christ. Love is the going forth of the Heart unto the Object Belov∣ed; and the Love which True Christians

do bear unto Jesus Christ, is a Grace wrought by the Spirit in their hearts, whereby upon discovery and believing Apprehensions of Christs infinite Loveli∣ness and Excellency, his Matchless Love Grace and Mercy; their Hearts do go forth towards him in Earnest desires after Union to him, and Communion with him, wherein they take chief Complacency; and this accompanied with a yeilding and dedication of themselves unto his will and service.

1. The Love of Christians unto Christ, is a Grace wrought in their Hearts by the Spirit. It is a Flower most Sweet and Fragrant, but there is no Seed of it in the Nature of any Man since the Fall, it is planted in the Soul by the Spirit of God. Love to Christ is a Divine Spark, that comes down from above; a fire which is kindled by the breath of the Lord, whose Ess••nce is Love.

2. The Ground of this Love to Christ, is the discovery and believing Apprehensions of Christs Lovelinesse and Love. There must be first a discovery of Christ as a suta∣ble Object for Love, and not a bare No∣tion of this, but believing apprehensions of it, that Christ is Infinitely lovely, Su∣perlatively Excellent; and that his love is

Matchless and Transcendent towards the Children of Men, that there is a Treasury in him, and a Storehouse of all Graces, and the most Needfull and Rich Supplies; otherwise there will be no going forth of the Heart in love unto him.

3. The Actings of Christians love to Christ, is in their desires after Vnion unto, and Communion with Christ. It is the Nature of love to desire Union to the Object beloved; especially of this love to Christ: and this Union being attained, the desires are after Communion with Christ, Converse and Fellowship with him; no Converse is so desirable as with the Persons whom we most dearly love: and this Communion being attained, there is chief Complacency therein, the Soul doth sweetly rest and repose it self in Christ, and rejoyceth in his presence and love.

4. The Concomitant of this Love which True Christians have unto Christ, is a yield∣ing and dedication of themselves unto his will and Service. Lovers do give them∣selves unto those whom they love; this accompanieth the Marriage Union: and such as love Christ, they are Espoused and joyned unto Christ; and they give them∣selves unto Christ to be his, and wholly at

his dispose, as the Wife giveth her self un∣to the dispose of her Husband.