206 TheCrcIfyiig of the world, ther nature nor ..common grace did ever bring a foul fo. high. 3. it isaltoa certain evidenceof unfeigned Love. For wherein is Love fo clearly manifefted, as in thehigheft adventures for the perfon whomwe Love , and in the cofl;lyefl; expreflions of our Love when we are called to it ? Then it will appear that you Love God indeed, when there is nothing elfe that youprefer be- forehim, and nothing but what you lay down at bis feet : When thegreatef} profelíors that love theworld, do [hew that the love of the Father isnotin them, z ?o bi 2. i 5. So far ask is loved. 4. To be Crucified to the world, and alive toGod , is the ve- ry`Honesiy, and Chaflity, and Niceof the foul. This is your Fidelity to God in keeping the holy Covenant that you have made with him in Chrift. This is your keeping your felves un- (potted from the world, and undefiled by it : When the friends of it livein itsAdulterous_embracements, yam.-4.4. Thus do you give the Lord his own, even both the creature andyour hearts ; when worldlings do unjuflly rob him of both. This is thegreat command and requeft of God, Prov. 23. z6. MySon, giveme thy heart. Givehim but this, and he will take itas if you gave him all :;:For indeedthe reít .will follow this. But if you give the world your hearts,Godwill take all thereíl:as Nothing. Benefit 2. H E fecond Benefit is this. If you are truly T Crucified tothe world , Tour minds will befree for Godandhis frvïce ; When the minds of worldlings are like imprifened hampered things. What a toylfom thing is it for a man to travail infetters or to runa race with a burden on his back ? But knock off his fetters, andhow eafilywill he go ? and take off his burden, andhow lightly will he run ? Do you not feel your felves that the world is the clog of your fouls ? and that this is it that hindereth you from duty, and hinderethyou in :.duty, and keepeth youfrom the attainment of an heavenly con- verfarion ? When you fhould chearfully go to God in fecret,or inyour families, theworld is ready to pull you back : Either it catleth you away,by putting fomeother bufinefs into your hands; or elfe it dulleth and diverteth your Affections, fo that you have no heart to duty, or no life in it; or elfe it creepeth into your Thoughts
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=