Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

The Jîaei ofihe loue af the world. 26r pleafe ourfelues iii our corruptions, but labour to mortifie and fubdue thé,and to accullome and inure our hearts and tongues, to meditate and talke of fpirituall and heauénly matters, as being ofchiefelt worth and excellencie. And if we thus doe,then can we not be laid to loue the world more then God, although wee talke more of it : for not fimplie to thinke and fpeake more ofehefe things, Both Phew that we loue and affeél them more,but to thinke and fpeake ofthem. with greateft delight and chiefefl comfort. For feeing the obieEls both of our meditations and fpeeches, are offered vnto them by the minifierie of the fenfs, it is no maruell though we think and fpeake more offeníble things,though we lefí'e efleemc them, then of thole heauenly excellencies, which are onely intelleeluall, and not fubie9 to thefenfs, although we mull value them in our iudgements,and affei them with our loue. Againe, ourordinarie callings and ne- celfarie affaires of this life, do inforce vs ordinarily and com- monly to thinke and fpeake of them, more then of fpirituall and heauenly things; but hereof it followeth nor, that wee loue them more then they,for there is great difference be- tweene doing a thing often vpon neceffitie, and doing it with chicle comfort and delight. The workman thinketh more ofhisworkeand moles, the husbandman of his huf- bandrie,the painter of his piElure and colours,thenoftheir beloued wiues and moil deare children ; but yet it follow - eth not,that they affeot them with more loue,feeing the rea- fon hereofis,becaufe theft things are continually fubieEt to their fenfes,and the obiea of their labors and imployments; and not becaufe they moti elleeme them in their iudge- -ments. Thirdly,we loue thofe things moli, which we moll dcfire 4,Se ;4; to enioy, and bellow greateflpaines and fludietoobtaine The third fgne our delire ; for according to the meafure ofour loue in affe- ihuheewemoft Eling,is our zeale in deliring,and our care and labour in fee- defire there king that which we fo much affeél and delre. And this all() teremo tear; is ioyned with an carnet endcuour, to vie all meanes which andpaines in may further vs, and to auoid all impediments which might compa/Jing :1 ë, hinder vs in attaining unto that,which with fuch great reale S .3 we