Twenty-four sermons preached at the merchants-lecture at Pinners Hall by Timothy Cruso.

SERMON IV.

July 30. 1695.

PSALM XXVI. iii.

For thy Loving Kindness is before mine Eyes: And I have walked in thy Truth.

3. THE Promises which Declare and Confirm the Love of God to us, are special means of working Holiness in us. As they assure our Deliverance from Wrath, so they promote our Salvation from Sin. Divine Promises do not on∣ly tend to beget us to a lively Hope, but they help to produce and maintain the Life of every Grace; they are the spiritual Food of Souls, which does both nourish our Faith, and strength∣en us to Obedience. We do not obtain any Gospel Priviledge by the Performance of Duty, but Duty is effectually enforc't by the Enjoy∣ment of Gospel Priviledges. God brings us to take hold of hsi gracious Covenant, and there∣by fortifie us against turning from the Holy Commandment. This is plainly set forth as the Way and Method in which he first Works up∣on us, and enables us to Work, 2 Cor. 7.1. Ha∣ving therefore these Promises, let us cleanse our

selves from all filthiness both of Flesh and Spirit, &c. The Promise of God's being a Father to us (which is mention'd in the last verse of the foregoing Chapter) is a stronger Inducement to purifie our selves and be Followers of him, than any threatening of God's being a Reven∣ger. So 2 Pet. 1.4. Exceeding great and precious Promises are given unto us, that by these you might be Partakers of the Dikvine Nature, &c. As the chief Thing communicated from God is the Di∣vine Nature, whereby we are made to resemble him, so the Promises of God set home upon the Soul, are the means of Communication; they are to Milk and Honey of the Scripture, which do not cherish the Old Man, but support the New; they are not Pillows for sinful Sloth, but spurs to Holy Diligence. The Promises of Grace animate the Soul to Duty; and when we thus see the goodness of the Lord, it encoura∣ges our Subjection to his Government.

4. A Sense of the Love of God will create in us a more perfect hatred of Sin; Divine Reconcilia∣tion to our Persons, breeds the most implacable Enmity against our Lusts; when we know that God is pacified towards us, it makes us loath and abhor our selves the more, in remembrance of the Evils we have done. If he passes by Transgression, the pardoned Transgressor sixes his Eye upon it with greater Indignation; as David's Sin was ever before him, though Nathan had told him from God, that his Sin was put away, Psalm 51.3. compar'd with 2 Sam. 12.13. For the Title of that Psalm informs us, that it was penn'd after Nathan the Prophet had come to David. A Sinner is never so odious in his own sight, as when he is persuaded of his

being precious in the sight of God. How does Paul repeat and aggravate the foul Abominati∣ons of his natural Pharisaical State, when he knew himself to be belov'd of God, and establi shed in Christ; he speaks of his persecuting and wasting the Church of God beyond measure, Gal. 1.13. So with Holy Confusikon he bewails what he once was, after he had obtained Mercy, and after the Grace of our Lord Jesus had exceed∣ingly abounded towards him, 1 Tim. 1.13, 14. Though God had made him whiter than Snow in the Lamb's Blood, yet he still sets out him∣self in his own black and filthy Colours. We do not lose the Prospect of our own vileness, by having the Kindness and Love of God before our Fyes, but we see it the better. His gracious Absolution kindles the most flaming Zeal and Re∣venge in us against the Sins from which we are absolved; consequently is a mighty furtherance of our Obedience.

5. A Sense of the Love of God is most apt to be∣get an awful fear of Falling under his displeasure. That I may not be mistaken, let it be consi∣der'd,

1. That this awful Fear is not only distinct from dreadful Horrour, but opposite unto it. The trem∣bling of a Devil, and the trembling of a Child are real Contraries. Godly jealousie of our selves, and sinful Distrust of God, are two things of most different Kinds. The fear of Caution (which I would recommend) keeps us walking closely with God, the fear of Desperation (which I would warn against) hurries us vio∣lently away from God.

2. That this displeasure of God, which Believers are lyable to fall under, is exercis'd only in this

World, and not in the next. That Wrath which God occasionally lets out against his own, is not the same with that which comes upon the Children of disobedience, Eph. 5.6. We must not confound the temporary hidings of God's Face, with Everlasting Destruction from God's Pre∣sence. He that believes, is secur'd from sinal Condemnation, but nevertheless he is still inci∣dent to sad Desertion. Now for the Soul to be kept under the awe of this, is a great help to our Obedience; and where the Love of God is perceived by the Soul, this awe will certainly prevail. God's sanctified ones can say it from Experience, Psalm 130.4. There is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayst be feared. Not only a readiness to forgive, but actual forgiveness is with God; and as our Fear of God is the end of his granting it, so 'tis the effect and issue of our receiving it.

Two Things will make this more evident,

1. This joyful Sense of the Love of God, supposes a sorrowful Sense of his displeasure going before it. Ordinarily God does not thus set Men up on high, till he hath first brought them into the Depths; the does not make them glad with his Countenance, till he had laid them (more or less) in the lowest Pit, Psalm 88.6. How few are admitted to take the Cup of Salvation, with∣out Drinking for some time of the Cup of God's Fury! How few are call'd into this pleasant Light, without passing through a scorching Fire? Sore Conflicts prepare the way, for the most part, to ravishing Comforts; and the Heart knows a great deal of bitterness, before it comes to taste how good the Lord is.

2. They that have been sensible of God's displea∣sure,

and are sensible of his Love, will take Care to avoid the one, and continue in the other. Who so likely to be afraid of receiving a Spirit of Bondage again, as they that have felt it? Who so far from provoking God to carry them back into an howling Wilderness, as they who have been there before? Who so cautious of inter∣rupting their sweet Communion with God, as they that have enjoy'd it? Who so capable of rightly valuing that Priviledge, as they that are possest of it, and therefore who so ready to en∣deavour the preserving of it by a circumspect Walk? Souls that are thus favoured of God, are most seriously convinc't, That in his Favour is Life, Psalm 30.5. Therefore when the Spirit of God hath carried them up to this Pinnacle, this heighth of Consolation, they are the more a∣fraid of doing any Thing to occasion their ca∣sting down.

6. The commonest and strongest Temptations to departing from God are best overcome by a Sense of his Love; viz. The Temptations which a∣rise both from the flatteries and frowns of the World, the Love of Life, and Fears of Death. He that hath the Loving Kindness of God before his Eyes, is most able to make a resolute and successful Resistance to all these. As particu∣larly,

1. The Flatteries of the World do too often allure Men from their Obedience to God; but they that have a Sense of God's Love upon their Hearts, are best armed against this Temptation. Here∣by the World, with all its gaudy Vanities, is Crucified to us, and we unto the World; here∣by all these Things are stript of their seeming Glory, as the Sun puts out the lesser Lights, and

as the Works of Nature spoil the Reputation of the Works of Art, Psalm 4.7. Thou hast put gladness in my Heart, more than in the Time when their Corn and Wine increased. If we had more spiritual Delight in God, carnal Fruitions must needs be a less powerful bait. 'Tis in vain for the Devil to entice that Soul with a few drops of Pleasure that run through broken Ci∣sterns, which partakes of satisfying Refresh∣ments from the Fountain of Life; these Things are only suited to the Palates of those that ne∣ver know the Joy of the Lord. Heaven's Favou∣rites cannot fall in Love with Earths, 'tis natu∣ral for a Believer that's cloathed with the Sun, to have the Moon under his Feet, Rev. 12.1.

2. The Frowns of the World too often scare Men from their Obedience, but a due Apprehension of the Love of God, is a good Security against this Temp∣tation also. The belief of God's reconciled Heart, and view of his pleased Countenance is enough to make us Triumph over the fiercest ma∣lignity of Men and Devils. It Matters not who they be that are against us, nor what they can do against us, so long as we know that God is for us. This will make us Glory in Infirmities, Necessities, Distresses and Afflictions of all sorts: For he that can encourage himself, with David, 1 Sam. 30.6. In the Lord his God, will not be dismayed by any of these Things. Bitter Herbs will go down very well, when a Man hath such delicious Meats which the World knows not of. The Sense of our Father's Love is like Honey at the end of every Rod; it turns Stones into bread, and Water into Wine; and the Valley 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Trouble into a Door of Hope; it makes the biggest Evils seem as if they were none, or bet∣ter

than none; for it makes our Desarts like the Garden of the Lord, and when we are upon the Cross for Christ, as if we were in Paradice with Christ. Who would quit his Duty, for the sake of Suffering, that hath such relief under it? Who would not rather walk in Truth, when he hath such a Cordial to support him, than by the Conduct of fleshly Wisdom, to take any in∣direct or irregular Methods for his own Delive∣rance?

3. The Love of Life is a very frequent and per∣nicious Snare, which a Sense of God's Love must de∣liver us from being entangled by. What so desi∣rable as Life, if a Man have no Place in the Heart of God? This is the greatest Temporal Blessing, and nothing can out do it, but the Fa∣vour of the God of our Life. And this excels indeed; Psalm 63.3. Thy Loving Kindness is bet∣ter than Life. What Comparison is there be∣tween the Breath in our Nostrils, and the Fa∣vour of an Eternal God? Any more than there is between an Everlasting Light, and a poor va∣nishing Vapour, compare Isa. 60.19. with Jam. 4.14. Who would not therefore hate his own Life, which hangs in doubt continually before him, and of which he can have no Assurance, when he knows that the Living God is his cer∣tain Portion? Who would not freely yield up and part with Ten Thousand such Lives one af∣ter another (if he had so many) rather than the Wrath of God should be kindled but a lit∣tle?

4. The Fear of Death is a very usual and hurt∣ful Snare too, which can hardly be broken without a Sense of the Love of God. Death which will rend and tear the Soul from the Body, is the Lion in

the way, which discourages and affrights many from hazardous Duties; thousands through sin∣ful Cowardize have rather chosen to shipwrack their Faith, and prostitute their Conscience then mingle their Blood with their Sacrifices. But now they that have the Comforts of God to delight their Souls, are more willingly brought to this King of Terrors; if God cause his Face to shine, what should hinder our chearful descent into the Valley of the shadow of Death? Love is strong as Death, and a great deal stronger; one would dare to Dye for a good Man, whose Love and Friendship hath endear'd him to us; how much more for a God whose kindness hath been so exceeding? This hath made so many Martyrs glorifie God in the midst of the Fires; when they have been kill'd for Christ's sake all the day long, and counted as Sheep for the slaughter, they have been more than Conquerours through him that lov'd them, and through the lively Impression of that Love upon them, Rom. 8.36, 37.

7. The New Nature is ingenuous, and therefore will be wrought up to Obedience by the Love of God. After we have tasted that the Lord is gracious, we readily savour all the Things of God. Hu∣maue Nature indeed in our lapsed, depraved State, may Reward Evil for Good, and Hatred for Love (as David's Enemies did to him, Psalm 109.5.) before a saving Change is ac∣complish'd on the Soul; but it neither is nor can be so, when God gives Men another Heart, as he does at their New-birth. Then nothing eies us so fast to our Duty, as those bands of Love; nothing is so sweetly, and yet so strong∣ly attractive, Jer. 31.3. With Loving Kindness have I drawn thee; they that are only haled and

drag'd by legal Terror, will be striving to break away again, and loose themselves from the Yoke of Christ, but Love subdues all Things to it self; it constrains to such Acts of Duty, as make the mad World think us beside our selves; 2 Cor. 5.13, 14. The Soul is compell'd to come in to Christ, and yet it walks at Liberty; 'tis so swayed by a Principle of Holy Gratitude, as that it is always studying that Point, What shall I render? For this is a Principle that never fails to operate, where the Root of thankfulness is, the Fruit of Service cannot be wanting. There∣fore the Apostle beseeches by the Mercies of God, that we present our Bodies, &c. Rom. 12.1. Love hath a mighty prevalency in the obtaining of all that is desir'd; Herod would do any Thing at the Request of his beloved Herodias: Esther chose that Time to perfer her Petition, when she was expressing her Love to the King in a Banquet; so when Christ is feasting a Believer with his Fat Things, with his Love which is better than Wine, the ravisht Believer can de∣ny or grudge him nothing.

8. That Love to God which a due Sense of the Love of God does produce in us, is virtually all O∣bedience. This Consideration consists of two Branches, which (to give it the greater Evidence and Force) may be distincty open'd.

1. A due Sense of the Love of God to us produ∣ces Love in us to God, 1 John 4.19. We Love him, because he first loved us. Sic res accendunt lumina rebus. Sanctified Affections are blown up in us, by the believing Persuasions of Divine good Will towards us. As there is something like an exchange of Souls between Bosom Friends, so there are returns and reboundings of Love

betwixt God and those, whose Hearts are knit to him. The Spouse of Christ proclaims their mutural Endearments in one Breath, and also in the right Order. Song 2.16. My Beloved is mine, and I am his. God is the Ocean from which Love first flows out, and to which it al∣ways streams back. Love, when it hath de∣scended from Heaven to Earth, hath finished but half its Course, but when it ascends from Earth to Heaven, the Circle is compleated.

2. This Love which is the Product of God's, is virtually all Obedience; both as it inclines and dis∣poses unto all, and as it comprehends all in it.

1. It disposes and inclines to all Obedience. When the Heart is melted by his Fire within, 'tis easily cast into the mould of any Precept whatsoever. As it puts us upon keeping the Commandments of God, so it keeps them from being grievous, 1 John 5.3. Obedience can nei∣ther be partial nor burdensome, where-ever this Love of God dwells; but it fulsils the Charge which David gave to Solomon, of serving God with a perfect Heart, and a willing Mind, 1 Chron. 28.9.

2. It comprehends all Obedience in it self. The end of the Commandment, is Charity, &c. 1 Tim. 1.5. Both Tables are reduc'd by Christ to two Commandments, and Love is the grand Inscription of them both. Therefore Love is sty∣led the fulfilling of the Law, Rom. 13.10. All the Duty which we owe to God and to our Neighbour is included in Love to each. And indeed we cannot walk in God's Truth, unless we walk in Love to one another, as well as to him. Our Alienations from our Brethren speak our distance from Christ the Center of our Union. The nearer any Lines in a Circle come to the

Center, the nearer they are one to another; but the further they go from the Center, the more they run out one from another.

III. To Apply this, What are we to be in∣form'd of, and exhorted to?

I. Ʋse, Information.

1. If our Obedience be excited by the Love of God, then the Love of God prevents our Obedinence. If we did first give to God, he is able infinite∣ly to recompence it again, above what we can think; but who is it that hath first given unto him? Rom. 11.35. There is not one whose Heart God hath touched, that will dare to pre∣tend it. We do not commend our selves to God, but God manifests himself to us. The Love of God was not purchas'd even by the O∣bedience of Christ, much less by ours, 1 John 4.10. Herein is Love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the Propiti∣ation for our Sins. The sending of the Son was the Effect of the Father's Love; and therefore the Son's coming could not be the Cause of it. How then can we procure what Christ did not? His Love is not bestow'd upon us for our Ser∣vice, but is the incentive to it.

2. 'Tis blasphemy against the Love of God to re∣proach is with being the Parent or Nurse of carnal Security. They that have the Kingdness of God in their Eye, can take no Encouragement from thence to set any wicked Thing before them; for Sin tends to Cloud that Light, wherein we rejoyce. If God be well pleased with us, it lays the greater Engagement upon us to walk worthy of him. How absurd is it to say, that

when God communicates his Thoughts of Peace, the Soul is embolden'd to new Acts of Trea∣son? As if Men should lay aside the Fear of God, because the Secret of the Lord is with them that fear him? Psalm 25.14. Or as if the Spirit of Adoption took Men off from Obedience to God, when they are call'd to be Followers of him as dear Children, Eph. 5.1.

3. They that by loose and disorderly Practices give any occasion to such Blasphemers, have a great deal of Sin to answer for, besides their own. If any of us Cause this way of Truth, to be evil spoken of, we bring the guilt of those Calum∣nies upon our selves. It will be an heavy load to a tender Conscience, if sound Doctrine is ar∣raign'd through our unmortified Corruption. How do we wrong the Purity of the Gospel, when we turn the Grace of our God into lasci∣viousness! For the Grace of God which bringeth Salvation, teacheth us the contrary, Tis. 2.11, 12. What is this, but to change the Glory of God into an Image made like to unclean Spirits! Wo to those Libertines, by whom this offence com∣eth! What Jealousie and Rage does that Adul∣teress deserve, who impudently abuses her Hus∣band's Love?

4. The Grace of God in us is a comforting Evi∣dence of his Love to us. Though Holy Walking is no Foundation for Trust, we may reflect up∣on it as a Token for good. 'Tis said of the way of Holiness, that the redeemed shall walk there, Isa. 35.8, 9. as Mary Magdalen's Pardon is concluded from her Affection, so if God ena∣bles us to make straight Paths for our Feet, 'tis a sign that he hath set his Heart upon us. As all Obedience issues from the Spirit, so the Gift

of that Spirit is a Testimony of peculiar Favour, Ezek. 39.29. Neither will I hide my Face any more from them, for I have poured out my Spi∣rit, &c.

5. A denial of the possibility of Assurance is injurious to Holiness. The first and best Christi∣ans were such as could say, we have known and believed the Love which God hath to us, 1 John 4.16. And they that have had the same Spirit of Faith, have always approved themselves the greatest Saints in all succeeding Times; but to say, that this their belief was a Delusion, is in ef∣fect to say that all their Religion was a Cheat too, which in this more degenerate Age is hard∣ly to be matcht. To stake Men down to un∣certain suspended waverings about their Inte∣rest in the Love of God, is to destroy the most quickening Motive to Obedience.

6. The Christian Life is as far from being un∣comfortable, as from being irregular. What great∣er Pleasure can there be, than to be constantly influenc'd by the Love of God to the Service of God? A dull and sowre Complexion does not belong to real Christianity, Psalm 97.11. Light is sown for the Righteous, and Gladness for the up∣right in Heart. Though Cain's Countenance fall, Abel's Race may lift up their Heads. If there be any Consolation in Christ, they that are his, have reason to rejoyce; and what more sure, than that there is all in him, and none out of him? He hath a Chariet of Gold paved with Love, for the Daughters of Jerusalem, Song 3.10. What so delightful, as to go up and fit with him in that Chariot?

II. Exhortation.

1. Think not only on the Love of God in general, but on the most affecting Properties of it in Particular. Such as

1. Its Antiquity. God loved us from Eternity, before we were, and before the World was; and there have been Early discoveries of it; there is the Love of God to us in our Childhood, Hos. 11.1. And his Kindness in our Youth, Jer. 2.2. Which are both Seasons of Vanity. The Loving Kindnesses of God are not of Yesterday, but of very ancient Date; They have been ever of Old, Psalm 25.6.

2. Its Freeness, according to the Tenor of his Promise, Hos. 14.4. His Love is the Reason of it self; He loves, because he loves, Deut. 7.7, 8. And it must needs be so, if we consider what unamiable Creatures we are. God bids us to love our Enemies, and he himself is the great Example of it. He loves our Persons, when he hates our Enmity.

3. Its enlargedness. He shews Loving Kindness to Thousands, Jer. 32.18. And he Crowns eve∣ry one of those Thousands with it, Psalm 103.4. He hath many Objects to let it out unto, and every one of these Objects stands in need of multiplied Acts; yet the Fountain of Mercy o∣verflows to all, and remains still full.

4. Its Stability. 'Tis unmovable and Ever∣lasting, Isa. 54.8. No Creature can separate us from it. The Anger of God is transient, Isa. 12.1. But his Love is permanent. The Time will come, when God will be Angry no more; but the Time will never come, when he will be favourable no more. Let your Faith feed upon these Thing.

2. Beware of renouncing your share in that Grace which God hath encourag'd you to claim. Refusal of Divine Comforts is a Sin, as well as Disobe∣dience to Holy Motions.'Tis almost a funda∣mental Mistake (says Dr. Sibbes) to think that God delights in slavish Fears. 'Tis a very un∣pleasing Thing to him, to have his Kindness call'd into Question, Mal. 1.2. I have loved you saith the Lord, yet you say, wherein hast thou loved us? Therefore give not Place to the Devil, nor the unbelieving Suggestions of your own Hearts.

3. Attend to the Love-visits of Christ, and thankfully receive them. The Spouse smarted by grievous Dosertion, fro delaying to open to Christ when he knockt at her Door, Song 5.1, — 6. When our Beloved comes into his Garden, we must not neglect the holding of converse with him. We may lose him a great while, if we put by such an Opportunity once.

4. Avoid all Confidence in the Flesh, as a fatal hinderance to spiritual Joy. No wonder, if we hear God say, I have n delight in you, when we have fond Conceits of our own Performances. That House which stands upon the weak Foun∣dation of a personal Righteousness must needs be shaken with perpetual Doubts, and the fall of it at last will be great. We might Fear eve∣ry Day, the Heart of God being turned to hate his People, if their Hopes of abiding in Favour with him were built upon the best of their Du∣ties.

5. Take heed of spotting your Garments with the Flesh, after God hath been spreading his Skirt over you. Sinning against Love and Light at once, is a double Aggravation. It was a foul blot up∣on Solomon, That his Heart was turned from the

Lord God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice, 1 Kings 11.9. 'Tis reasonable to expect that you should not defile your selves any more with your detestable Things, Ezek. 37.23. If any part of your Walk be contrary to God, 'tis worse, than if the whole Walk of other Men be so

6. As you desire an increase of Comfort, make daily progress in a course of Obedience. If you covet a greater fulness of Joy, labour after an higher Exercise of Grace. God required more exactness in the Services of the Jews, when they were come to their rest in Canaan, than when they were harrass'd in the Wilderness, Deut. 12.8, 9. So you who look for extraordinary Love tokens from God, must remember, that he calls for great Improvements from you. An abundant entrance into the Kingdom of Christ is ministred to Believers in a way of unwearied Dili∣gence, 2 Pet. 1.11, with 5. The more ground we get, and the further we advance, the great∣er likelihood there is of meeting with more of God.