Caryl - Houston-Packer Collection BS1415 .C37 v6

Chap. Icy. ,n E'xpofitión upon the Rook of J o E. Vert-. i q.. 253 as if we loved them not. Not that we fhould be unfound or cold in our love to others ( that were not onely urcivill , but fit full ) but that we fiiould not be confident, or 'make our felves lure of the love of any. That man who is unfound or cold in his love is Leff. then a friend, andhe that i§ confident or makes hisnlelfe fuse of the love of friend , makes him more then a man. That fpeech, So love as ifthou jt'.ouldef j$ortly lute, S;,. ano may have an ill ufe, yet there is a good ufe to be made of it ; For though (in regard of the hnceritle of our own affftions ) v'e fhould fo love, as if we were to love for ever,, yet in regard ofthe inftabilitie of mans atreeciors, we fhould fo love as if occalion might be given us to hate every moment. We muff fo love God as knowing that whom he loves he loves to'the end, that is, without any end of loving; yet we muff fo pleafe God, as if we feared his love might end , or be turned into hatred every houre ; But though we fhould be willing to pleafe and pleafure raen, in'ail lawfull things, as if their love towards us could never end, yet-we mull fo love them as knowing that their love may quickly end. Wee rarely give out friends' fö much. love as we ought, but we often expe ì more love from them then we fhould. We can never give God fo much love as we ought , nor are we able to hope for fo much love from him as we fhould. Ti's heft for us to give all our love to God and not to expert much fromman ; We may hope for molt from. God, when we expec leaf° from the creature. The ftefh fprings- of the confolation of God flow moil fully into us , when the frefh fprings of our affeeioq runchiefly unto God. And the Lord is pleated fometimes purpofely ro Elaine thebeautie of all, our comforts in the creature, with their failings and uncertain- ties; that while we ufe them we may enjoy none but himfclfe, and that while we love them, we might live onely in and upon his love. ... ¡l ¿)

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