what thou hadst done then? So I did, saith he, at last, and thou
forgavest the iniquity of my sin (verse 5).

(5.) When the sins of saints are so visible and apparent to others,
that God for the vindication of his name and honour must punish
them in the sight of others; yea, must do it, as he is just: Yet
then for Christ's sake, he waveth such judgments, and refuseth to
inflict such punishments as naturally tend to their destruction,
and chooseth to chastise them with such rods and scourges, as may
do them good in the end; and that they may not be condemned with
the world (1 Cor 11:31,32). Wherefore the Lord loves them, and
they are blessed, whom he chasteneth and teacheth out of his law
(Heb 12:5-8, Psa 94:12). And these things are love to a degree.

(6.) That Christ should supply out of his fullness the beginnings
of grace in our souls, and carry on that work of so great concern,
and that which at times we have so little esteem of, is none of
the least of the aggravations of the love of Christ to his people.
And this work is as common as any of the works of Christ, and
as necessary to our salvation, as is his righteousness, and the
imputation thereof to our justification: For else how could we
hold out to the end (Matt 24:13); and yet none else can be saved.

(7.) And that the love of Christ should be such to us that he
will thus act, thus do to, and for us, with gladness; (as afore
is manifest by the parable of the lost sheep) is another degree
of his love towards us: And such an one too, as is none of the
lowest rate. I have seen hot love, soon cold; and love that has
continued to act, yet act towards the end, as the man that by
running, and has run himself off his legs, pants, and can hardly