Downame - Puritan-02038 v2

The lgrre.;of the late oftheworld. 26; this tigne therefore let vs examine our loue, whether it be more fa vpon God, or upon the world ; and this may eafilie be determined,ifwe confider whether we doe morecarnefl- ly delire the favour and the affurance ofour owne faluation, or the fruition of worldly vanities;whethcr we bellow grea- ter (ludic, coil and labour, in Peeking after Gods fpirituall graces and eternall ioycs, and indure all this paines with more patience ; or in attaining vnto the pleafures and profits ofthislife. Finally,whetherwee could be content either ne- ucr to haue, or Toone to leauc, whatfoeuer in the earth is Beare veto vs, if the time oftriall fhould come; rather then we would nor purchafe the precious pearle, eucn Gods lone and our owne faluation. And left our fecure confciences fhould deceiue vs,with a falle conceit ofthis true loue,let vs further examine it according to the fecond point, namely, whether with more care and diligence we delire and feeke after thole meanes,whereby we maybe Allred that we flail obtaine thefe fpirituall graces and heauenly happines,which is a liuely faith,with a godly and fani5lified life (for fant ifi- cation affitreth vs ofour iuflification ,vocation,ele&ion,and confequentlyof our faluation) or the meaner whereby wee may attainevoto our earthly delires. And then againe,whe- ther we doe with more circumfpedlion and indeuour auoid thofe impediments, which might hinder vs from obtaining the heauenlytreafuresofGods kingdom,namely our finnes and the tranfgreffìon ofGods commandements, which are that wall of fepatation betweene God and vs; or thofe hin- drances and lets which croffe our worldly delires. And if in thefe refpeéls our confciences iuflifie vs, then doe we furely loue God better then the world; and prefcrre heauenly hap- pinef%,before earthly profperitie. But on the other fide, if our confciences witneffe againfl vs, that wee delire more worldly vanities,then eternall glorie ; that wee wholly neg- 1cE} this,and bellow all our fludie,cofl and labour in Peeking and procuring ofthe other, that wee can willingly finde in our hearts by committing of linne to make a forfeiture of our heauenly inheritance,fo as wee may obtaine by it force earthly profit or delight; and final ly,that we more carefully S 4 auoid