Chap.4. ~e[t.ti . H) ------------------------~-~---------------~ ------- atiencics towards fome of the brethren (for in the bell is impcrfe:tion of groces, m1ny ~aints arc in a great meofure carnal, and thou art rather to fee.< after truth then per– fecti on) yet, is thy foul troubled at this? doll thou pray down th ofe dcv1ls m thy heart? and art thou at no rcll ttll 1t be othcrwifc W1th •hce ?--.Or on the contrary, dolt thou not hate, oppofc, f-:offe, and reproach the brethren? ooll thou not fQy m th heart J c01dd lovejuch a one, bvnom: JttdJ a one, but I can not abtdc hzs .flnCfncj[e? o?if ind~ed thoulovelt them, is it not fur other rcfpccts then their godljnefs? as, be– caufe they arc wife, learned, potent ? becaufe they are of thy conltit•Jtion, conditi– on, opinion, or the like?_ ~rt thou I)Ot alhamed of them? doll: thou not prefer world– ly intcrcll:s before their fptntual good? art thou not afhamed to be called one of the believers one of the holy brethren, or one.of the holy fillers in time of perfecution? or if thou' love•t agodly man that lives remote .from thee, yet doll thou not envy him that is thy neighbour of thefame profrflion and dcaltng? cfpcetally when the emi– nency of his gl'aecs and worth carryes away the c!lccm and repute from ili~? . ·. . 6 . (]my foul, d.oll: thou love Chrirl:? doll thou evtdencc this love by kseping hi; Comma11dcments, and by accepting of his rebukes? doll: thou love him for himfelf, for his odoriferous oyntments, for his fragrant name ? IS thy love to Chnll: a long-lall:ing, evcrliving, and continuing love? doft thou Love him in jincetity? in incorruption l can not many waters ofaffliction qu~nch this thy love, neither fan tbc floods ofperfecmion drown it ? Is thy love a tranfcendent love? never lland cifputiug the poynt, whether thy lot•e differing from the love-of hypocrites, be only gradttal, or fpecifical? 1vhether extent ion tf parts, mtenfian ofdegrees, protenjion ll[ time, t"fl11maks their love. as thy love? or JVhcthcr oncly agradua/1 difference in nature, canmal~aJPecifica/1 difference in morality ? (oh that dear brethren would agree in the main, and palfe by thcfe notions! ) only ex– amine for thy fclf, is thy love to Chri(l: (for fo it mull: he, if it be true and fincere ' love) a tranfcendent love furpafling all otherloves? doth the love ofFather, Mother; Wife, Sonnc, Da11ghter, Brother, Sifler; yea, and of thy own life alfo give place to this love? doth Chrill: fit in the throne of thy heart, and do all thefc fit below at his foot-llool? doll thou bear fuch fervent, warm affection to Chrill, that thou wouldlt be content to part with all rather then part with him? canll: thou fay with David, the Lord is my portion? and tVhomjhave I in heaven but thee ? a11d whom in earth that I de– fire in comparifon of thee? the world it may be will be fomet.imes creeping into thy af" fe.'t:ions, and thou .canll: not be quite freed from the love of the world, yet doll thou in thy ordinary, fetlcd, prevayling judgment and affections, prefer Cbrill: before all things in the world? doll: thou make Chrill: the end of thy defires, and endeavours ? the very reafop wherefore thou hearell a11d prayell:, the very ground why thou de– firell: to li~e & breath upon ea.rth?Doll: thou firjl feek_the l;jngd•mc of Chrijle:;- hir righ– teoufnefs? tf thou doll: not feek tt fo deliroufly and zealoufly as thou fhouldell: yet hath it the chtefof thy defires and endeavours;and is nothing elf~ defired,and preferred before it? is th~ valuation of it fo high, th:~t thou wouldell: not exchange thy title to it, an4 hopes of1t, for any worldly good whatfoever? nay, art thou willing to labour, and fuffer for 1t? and though the flefh may fometimes fhrink, or draw back, yet art thou refolved and content to go through all ?--Or on the contrary art thou not dif'– obe_dient to Chrill:? or doll: thou not love Chrill: for carnal refp~<.'t:s, for the loaves, &c? doft thou not in thy heart prefer thy worldly happinefs, and flefhly delights be– fore Chnll:? though thy tongue may fay, that Chrill: is lovely, the chiefejl of ten thoufand;, yet cloth not thy heart otlwrwife ell:eem ofhim? ls not the the world the ch1efend of thy defires and indeavours? is not thy very heart fet upon it? is it not thy ~reatcll: care and labour to maintaine thy ell:ate, or credit, or flefhly delights? and 1s not the kall: of thy care and labour for that life to come? Nay, if it mull: come to~yal, that etther thou muft forfake Chrill:, or thy worldly happinefs, if' the wind whtch was on thy back doth turn in thy face, wilt thou not rather venture heaven than earth, and fo w1lfully deny thy obedience to Chrill ? · 7· 0 my foul, doll: thou believe in the Lord Jefus Chrill:? doll: thou find that'thou art naturally a loft condemned creature, for thy breach of the firll: Covenant? and doff thou belteve that Jefus Chrill is the Mediator who hath made a fufficient fatisfaCl:ion to the law?and confidcring,that in the Gofpel h'e is offered without exception to all doll: thou hearttly confent that he,and he alone /hall be _thy Saviour?yea, art thou cont;nt to take hun for thy King to govern & gui\le thee by his laws & fpirit? art thou willing to, Q_~ obey vr.r. 16. 1 • and 73 •s·
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