John 8:42

Unto the end of verse 47. we have Christs reply to this exception, containing several particulars. And first, He evinceth that they are not Gods children; which he proveth from this reason, that if they were so, certainly they would love him, seeing he is from the Father by eternal generation, and cometh into the world by his Incarnation, not of his own head, but being sent of the Father. Whence learn, 1. Christ is a lovely object, and ought to be beloved of his Church; for, so is here required that they should love him. And who so do not love the Lord Jesus Christ, they are excommunicate in the highest degree, 1 Cor. 16.22. 2. None can justly pretend any interest in God as his children, but they that love Christ, who in his divine nature is the expresse image of his Father, and in his office, is employed by him; for, so much doth Christs assertion and argument hold forth, If God were your Father, ye would love me, for I proceeded forth (or came out, pointing at his eternal generation) and come (in the present time, as it is in the Original, to performe this office of Mediatour) from God. 3. It is a point beyond all contraversie that Christ was sent of the Father, to be the Mediatour and Messenger of the Covenant to his Church, and consequently, that all his doctrine and works were according to his Commission from the Father; Therefore is it added for confirmation, neither came I of my self, but he sent me. 4. These reasons, given by Christ, wherefore Gods children should love him, taken from his eternal generation by the Father, and his being sent by him in Commission, may further teach us in general. 1. True lovers of God will give a roome in their affections to others, according to the measure of their communion with, and interest in God; for, if the Fathers children do love Christ, who is begotten of God, and is the expresse image of his person, then they will also love others who are begotten of him, and bear his image in part, 1 John 5.1. 2. True lovers of God will love to have intercourse with him, and will love every Messenger sent by him, and the Messenger for the message sake; for, that other ground, I come from God, and he sent me, holds out this general, That they could not be Gods children, unlesse they liked to hear from him, and liked these who bring the tidings. See Gal. 4.14, 15.