_Vse_ 1. This may serve _for consolation_ against those feares that arise sometimes in the soules of the godly, for that they have but a little measure of peace, joy, and the like fruits of the Spirit, whereby men perceive the goodnesse of God towards them: for they must understand that the faithfull do usually perceive but a little measure of this grace at the beginning. 2. For exhortation, so much the more to long for the state of perfection, and not to rest in these small beginnings. Doctrine 11. _That taste of the grace of God which we either now have, or formerly had, should stirre us up to desire and seeke after the same more and more._ This is gathered from the connexion of these words with those that went before. _Reason_ 1. Because to that end is there a taste of this grace given, to stirre up the appetite. 2. Because the goodnesse of God it selfe is in a manner contemned and vilified, if it be neglected, after it hath beene once tasted: & therefore in this respect they sinne more grievously, who when they have tasted this grace of God, do little esteem of it, then they, who out of ignorance make no reckoning of it at all. _Use_ 1. This may serve to reprove those that have left their first love, _Apocalypse 2.4._ 2. _To exhort us_, in meditating upon the goodnesse of God in Christ, and from the sense and experience that God hath given us of it heretofore, to inflame our mindes with an earnest desire to have a fuller measure of this grace, and to that purpose religiously to use all meanes, whereby it is usually communicated unto men. Doctrine 12. _The primary duty of Christians, whereby it is also that they are made Christians, is to come unto Christ._ This is gathered out of the fourth verse. Now to come unto Christ, is nothing else but to believe in him. So _Iohn 6.35._ _He that comes unto me_, and _he that beleeves in me_, are made all one. So _Iohn 5.40._ _To come unto Christ, to receive Christ, and to believe in him_, are one and the same. And _Hebrews 10.22._ We are said to draw neere by an assurance of faith. _Reason_ 1. Because our salvation depends upon that union which we have with Christ: whence it is also, that we are said to come unto Christ, that we may have life, _Iohn 5.40._ 2. Because by nature we are strangers and far remote from Christ, and salvation obtained by him, yea and after that we are called unto Christ, we are not so perfectly conjoyned. 3. Because all Christian piety is nothing else, but a continuation and renovation of this accesse unto Christ, and by Christ unto God. In the hearing of the word we come unto Christ, as our Teacher; in our prayers we come unto him as our advocate; in the administration of the Lords Supper we come unto him as the Authour of a Kingly mariage feast, Matthew 22. And all other duties do so depend upon these, that looke how we approve our selves in these, such must we needs be in the others also.