A discourse much of the same nature follows, concerning the
love of Christ, after he hath treated his person and grace at his pleasure.
And this he takes occasion for from some passages in my book (as
formerly), scraped together from several places, so as he thought fit and
convenient unto his purpose. P. 209, “Thus the love of Christ is an
eternal love, because his divine nature is eternal; and it is an
unchangeable love, because his divine nature is unchangeable; and his love
is fruitful, for it being the love of God, it must be effectual and
fruitful in producing all the things which he willeth unto his beloved. He
loves life, grace, holiness into us, loves us into covenant, loves us into
heaven. This is an excellent love, indeed, which doth all for us, and
leaves nothing for us to do. We owe this discovery to an acquaintance with
Christ’s person, or rather with his divine nature; for the gospel is very
silent in this matter. All that the gospel tells us is, that Christ loveth
sinners, so as to die for them; that he loves good men, who believe and
obey his gospel, so as to save them; that he continues to love them while
they continue to be good, but hates them when they return to their old
vices: and therefore, I say, there is great reason for sinners to fetch
their comforts not from the gospel, but from the person of Christ, which as
far excels the gospel as the gospel excels the law.”