#saints knowledge

[reformedontheweb]

Something for a conclusion should be spoken to the carnal world, but what shall I say unto them?

Something now for a conclusion should be spoken to the carnal world, who have heard me tell of all this love. But what shall I say unto them? If I should speak to them, and they should not hear; or if I should testify unto them, and they should not believe; or intreat them, and they should scorn me; all will but aggravate, and greaten their sin, and tend to their further condemnation. And…

[reformedontheweb]

Counsel Fifth - if you would improve this love, keep those grounds, and evidences that God hath given you

But, though it be easy, thus to admonish you to do, yet you shall find the practical part more difficult; wherefore, here it may not be amiss, if I add to these, another head of COUNSEL. Counsel Fifth, and lastly, Keep, to this end, those grounds, and evidences that God hath given you of your call to be partakers of this love, with all clearness upon your hearts, and in your minds. For he that…

[reformedontheweb]

Counsel Fourth - if you would improve this love, you must take root and be grounded in love

But, though it be easy, thus to admonish you to do, yet you shall find the practical part more difficult; wherefore, here it may not be amiss, if I add to these, another head of COUNSEL. Counsel Fourth, To this end, you must take root and be grounded in love; that is, you must be well settled, and stablished in this love, if indeed you would improve it. You must not be shaken as to the doctrine…

[reformedontheweb]

Counsel Third - if you would improve this love, keep yourselves in the love of God

But, though it be easy, thus to admonish you to do, yet you shall find the practical part more difficult; wherefore, here it may not be amiss, if I add to these, another head of COUNSEL. Counsel Third, If thou wouldest improve this love, keep thyself in it. “Keep yourselves in the love of God” (Jude 21). This text looks as if it favoured the Socinians, but there is nothing of that in it. And so…

[reformedontheweb]

Counsel Second - if you would improve this love, then set it against the love of all other things

But, though it be easy, thus to admonish you to do, yet you shall find the practical part more difficult; wherefore, here it may not be amiss, if I add to these, another head of COUNSEL. Counsel Second, Wouldest thou improve this love? then set it against the love of all other things whatsoever, even until this love shall conquer thy soul from the love of them to itself. This is Christian. Do it…

[reformedontheweb]

Counsel First - if you would improve this love, you must labor after the knowledge of it

But, though it be easy, thus to admonish you to do, yet you shall find the practical part more difficult; wherefore, here it may not be amiss, if I add to these, another head of COUNSEL. Counsel First, Then, Wouldest thou improve this love of God and of Christ to thy advantage, Why then thou must labour after the knowledge of it. This was it that the Apostle prayed for, for these Ephesians, as…

[reformedontheweb]

Use Fifth - Let us then labour to improve it to the utmost for our advantage

But what a man is he that is filled with all these things! or that is, as we have it in the text, “filled with all the fullness of God!” Such men are, at this day, wanting in the churches. These are the men that sweeten churches, and that bring glory to God and to religion. And knowledge will make us such, such knowledge as the Apostle here speaketh of.[14] I have now done, when I have spoken…

[reformedontheweb]

Use Fourth - Take heed of abusing this love

But what a man is he that is filled with all these things! or that is, as we have it in the text, “filled with all the fullness of God!” Such men are, at this day, wanting in the churches. These are the men that sweeten churches, and that bring glory to God and to religion. And knowledge will make us such, such knowledge as the Apostle here speaketh of.[14] I have now done, when I have spoken…