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SEcondly, * 1.1 I am to consider the infinite Greatenesse of the Gift, that God gaue to the Worlde, which was his only begotten Sonne. Wherein I am first to ponder, [ 1] that the Loue of God is not a Loue of Wordes only, and faire compliment, but a Loue of Deede, and of Action, doing good to those whome hee
loueth: and the more hee loueth, the greater Benefits hee bestoweth vpon the beloued. From hence it is, that to demonstrate the infinite Greatenesse of his Loue, hee gaue vs the most precious thing that hee could giue vs, which was his only begotten Sonne, of equall dignitye with his Father, and one, and the same God with him, willing that hee should become man like vs, * 1.2 that within one man might dwell the fullnesse of God, of the which all might parti∣cipate. And for this cause Christ our Sauiour desiring to endeare the greatenesse of the diuine Loue, saide: So God loued the wo lde, * 1.3 that hee gaue his only-begotten Sonne: as who-should say: Hee could not loue it more then to giue his Sonne; and that not any Sonne; but his naturall, sole, and only begotten Sonne. And in steede of this Worde, Hee loued: hee might haue put some other like Wordes, saying: So God esteemed the Worlde; so hee honored it: so hee glorifyed, and exalted it: so hee inriched, and protected it, that hee gaue his only-begotten Sonne: and this freely, and of meere Grace: for there was none that could merit so infinite a Gift.
Then will I ponder, [ 2] vpon whome this so precious Gift was bestowed: which was vpon a Worlde, peruerse, ingratefull, and forgetfull: vpon a Worlde so bestiall, that this greate, and onely-begotten Sonne of God comming to liue therein; Mundus eum non cognouit: * 1.4 The Worlde knewe him not; neither esteemed, nor reuerenced him, as it ought: neither knewe it how to bee thankefull vnto him for the greate Honour, and Benefit, which from him it receiued. And so comparing what God doeth for men, which is, to giue them his Sonne: and what men doe
against God, which is, to offende him, and to bee vngratefull for his Gift: I will greately admire the infinite Charity of God, desiring earnestly to loue him for this fauour, endeavouring actually to demonstrate my Loue, that as God gaue mee the only Sonne that hee had: so I may giue him the onely Soule, and the onely Hearte that I haue, employing my Memory, Vnderstan∣ding, and Will, with all my Senses, and Faculties to loue, and serue such a Father, that gaue such a Sonne to such a Worlde.
O eternall Father, * 1.5 I giue thee all the thankes that I can, for the infinite Loue that thou hast borne vs, giuing vs the most beloued, and precious thing thas thou hadst. I desire lo loue thee, as thou louedst mee, giuing thee the most precious thing that is within mee. Receiue my Hearte in pledge of this Loue, that from this day forward, I may not only loue thee in Wordes, * 1.6 and in Tongue, but in Deede, and in Truthe, seeking allwayes thy Glorye without mixture of any thing that is prophane. Amen.
Vt Filium suumvni∣genitum daret.
Coloss. 2.9
Ioan. 3.16
Ioan. 1.10
Colloquie.
1 Ioan. 13 18.