inContribittg sl`an'lEebentption. eth father or mother, fin or daughter more than Hine; Chap. XI. is not worthy of Him. And He tells us in other pla- ces that We mutt hate them, to thew, that our Love to him (hould Co far exceed the Affection that is due to thole relations, that in all occafiions where they divide from Chrift, we fhould demean out felves as ifwe had only for them an indifference, and even an averfation. Indeed the preferring ofany thing before Him, who is altogether defirable in HimCelf, and infinitely de- ferves our Love, is brutifhly to undervalue Him, and in effect not to love Him. For in a Temptation where Chrift and the beloved object are fet in competition 5 as a greater weight turns the scales, fo the ftronger Affe&ion will caute a perfon to renounce Chrift, for thepoffeffion of what he loves better. 'Tis the Love ofChrift reigning in the Heart,that is the only Principle ofPerfeverance. 4. What an high Provocation is it to defpiCe Re- deeming Mercy, and to defeat that infinite Goodaefs which hath been at fuch expence for our Recovery? The SonofGod hath emptied all the Treafures of his Love, to purchafe Deliverance for guilty and wretch- ed Captives, He hath pair through fo many pains and thorns to come and offer it to them ; He rollicks them to receive Pardon and Liberty, upon the conditions of Acceptance and Amendment, which are abfolutely neceffary to qualifie them for Felicity: Now if they flight the Benefit, and renounce their Redemption; if they fell themlelves againunder the Servitudeof Sin, and gratifie the Devil with a new conqueft over them 5 what a bloody Cruelty is this to their own Souls, and a vile indignity to the Lord ofGlory? And are there any fervile Cpirits fo charm'd with their mifery, and fo in love with their chains, who will ftoop under their cruel Captivity, tobe relerved for eternal Punifhment? D d 2 Who
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