The Practice of Piety

Lastly, this discovers how few there are who do truly know God: for no man knoweth God, but he that loveth ⟨p. 70⟩him; and how can a man choose but love him, being the sovereign good, if he knew him? Seeing the nature of God is to enamour men with the love of her goodness; and whosoever loveth any thing more then God, ¹is not worthy of God: and such is every one, who settles the love and rest of his heart upon any thing besides God. If therefore thou dost believe that God is Almighty, why dost thou fear Devils and enemies, and not confidently trust in God, and crave his help in all troubles & dangers? If thou believest that God is infinite, how darest thou provoke him to anger? If thou believest that God is simple, with what heart canst thou dissemble ⟨p. 71⟩and play the hypocrite? If thou believest that God is the Sovereign good, why is not thy heart more settled upon him, then on all Worldly goods? If thou dost indeed believe, that God is a just Judge, how darest thou live so securely in sin without repentance? If thou dost truly believe that God is most wise, why dost not thou refer the events of crosses and disgraces unto him, who knoweth how to turn all things to the best unto them that love him? ²If thou art persuaded that God is true, why dost thou doubt of his promises? And if thou believest that God is beauty and ^*Perfection it self, why dost not thou make him alone ⟨p. 72⟩the chief end of all thine affections and desires? for, if thou lovest beauty, he is most fair. If thou desirest riches, he is most wealthy: if thou seekest Wisdom, he is most wise. Whatsoever excellency thou hast seen in any creature, it is nothing but a sparkle of that which is in infinite ^*perfection in GOD: and when in Heaven we shall have an Immediate communion with God, we shall have them all perfectly in him, communicated unto us. Briefly, in all goodness he is all in all.