37+ `Ihe Spirituali Sonne(hip. of this loutofGod, invouchfafingtovs themeanesof grace, and of..ldep_ airs ? letvslabour toknow and feele (yet more) what weare in our felues, cues ofall Gods creatures (anyway capableofhis favour) the craft vnwor_ thy;themoftvnmecttobefoaduanced. Defareweetobebrought to thisac- knowledgement? let vsexercife thevery ftrength ofour belt meditations vpon this which the Scripture faith , that the fountaine of all that eternal= good whichwee hope to enjoy, is Gods loue; yea, and fuch a loue which had its beginning only from itfelfe. And letvs urge and prelfe vpon our felues outofthis meditation, thatif all beofloue, furely then there is nothing of defert : and then let vsproceede further, toripvp thevttermoft ofour na. turalleflate, thatwee may feeplainely, that in the children ofwrath, and limonesofSathan, there could nor be any fomuchasapreparátionto adop- tion. Thisduty is fount named,and as quickly heard; butataske it isof no flight performance. I may fayofit, es Ezra fpake ofthe peoples repentance ç.Exra, to a;, foragreat finne,lt isaot thewor4,e epeedayor twesilt is not amatter which can byand bybedone, itis workeenoughforaChriftian whilehe lines; he which once beginneth it , (hall find it a matterof thegreateft difficulty thathee ever yetvndertooke, tobring hisowne proud rebelliousheart tobe nothing,yea, won't thennothing laitowneopinion. See 'till in common experience,bone readycurryman is tomake the bell ofhis fpirituall eftate : who is ready with ahlatlas;.aó, the abafed Cananite, toreceiue the imputation ofa Dogge a, witha calme and vnrefilling fpirit? Who is not rather ready to replie with the floute Iewes, who , being challengedby the Prophet fortheir apparent finnes,yet bMala,& 3 werenot afhamed to fay ; Wherein have wee trefpaffed b ? Nay , thisoutbea_ ringhumour, ( which is the difeafeofall our natures) fficketh fo dole, and is io fitong in the unregenerate, that euenwhen they arc condemned, and are going awaytoHell, theywill yet tame againe, and fay ; Who, la rs sMadxr3.H, fs, andfoe? lfpeake this to flew how fallthis finne of fenfelefneffe bands as. ea andcleanesasclofeuntovsas ourskinne; that fowee may fee the n. dFiebaaae eetftyoffeteingour felueswith ourbellendeauours to (hake it off. He that chinken beebath made thebeil proceedings in it, yet let himknow Mabee is e asame. sa. boundwithDanid,to fecke to beyetmerevilee,to beyet morebare inhisowne opinion. The 3,Ili. Thirdly thisDo&eine ferues toquickenin all ourhearts the loue ofGod. Hath Godlo infinitely loud vs? what can we thendoe leffe then requitehim with loueagain? Loue is the groundofall good from Godto vs , it is the fubflance ofallthat isowing fromvsuntoGod. It isan honourable thingto ¡Inn.; s3. bealouer of God ; it is oneofAbrabom, titles of honour, hefe Iladad.3.. who,rifeifhivhreßrengtrht.Itodamifeablethingtotbevoideofthisa ffeetiont br Cor.a6.» for,=ferny more lodeneeehe Lordrefits Cler let him be anatbemamaranatbah. But (willfomeman fay)What needsany exhortation to the loue ofGod?for,who is there that doth not IoueGod?I know indeed thatthere isnot theverief(coo- netofReligion, the veriefi Libertine, there is no monfirous(wearer, nohor- ribleadulterer,no vileopprcffour, but Ikewill fay,andprotefl, that bee lo- uethGod withall hinheart, menu well as theholiefi ofthemall. But by that timeI hauebreflyIhewed thenatureof the loueofGod, and the market thereof, it will appeare, thatalbeit the Profeffours to louehim, be as the fand shay si.6 by theSeawhich cannot benumbred, yettheybebut asce thejlrafingefan0. line tree, oreor threeberriesin themime? boaghesi; for boththe right knowledge of the louingofCod , is (cant, and themarkes thereof are not common to be found. Torching thermairreefthe losingof God, itmay be defiled tobeailhelyaf. feaon, whereby wee brie God in Cbrif?for himfelfe. An aftftion w ee all con ceiueittobo: forwhat is louebut the bent of che alt/fjonyntothiuor that? Secondly,
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