The Breastplate of Faith and Love

Besides love agrees with fire in this, that it is earnest and vehement: and indeed I take it, that in that regard it is chiefly compared to fire. For fire, as it is of a quick, so it is of a vehement nature, and so is love. Look what a man loves, upon that he bestows the top of all his affections, and the main strength of his intentions run that way. Examine by this therefore whether thou love the Lord or no. If thou love the Lord Jesus, thou wilt look upon other things, as things that thou regardest not much, thou wilt grieve for them as if thou grievedst not, and rejoice as if thou rejoicedst not, thou wilt use the world as if thou usedst it not, thy heart will be taken up about Christ, and about the things that belong to the kingdom of God, thy intentions will be set upon the things that belong to the service of God, and thy own salvation. This is a thing by which you may plainly discern the truth of your love: examine therefore what it is upon which you bestow the main and the top of your intentions. Indeed, my brethren, the greatest things that the world hath are not worthy of the top and strength of our affections; for they are but trifles. Therefore if you love the Lord Jesus, if you prize him aright, and be rightly affected towards him, you will esteem nothing great, but the enjoying of his favour, and nothing of worse consequent than the loss of it, nothing will be of any great moment to you, but only sin, and grace; sin that displeaseth him, and grace that brings you into favour with him: as for other ⟨p. 87⟩things, you will look upon them as trifles, you will not put the strength of your minds to any thing else; this is the nature of love, it is vehement toward the thing that it loveth.

Besides love agrees with fire in this, that it is earnest and vehement: and indeede I take it, that in that regard it is chiefly compared to fire. For fire, as it is of a quicke, so it is of a vehement nature, and so is love. Looke what a man loves, upon that he bestowes the top of all his affections, and the maine strength of his intentions run that way. Examine by this therefore whether thou love the Lord or no. If thou love the Lord Iesus, thou wilt look upon other things, as things that thou regardest not much, thou wilt grieve for them as if thou grievedst not, and rejoyce as if thou rejoycedst not, thou wilt use the world as if thou usedst it not, thy heart will be taken up about Christ, and about the things that belong to the kingdome of God, thy intentions will be set upon the things that belong to the service of God, and thy owne salvation. This is a thing by which you may plainly discerne the truth of your love: examine therefore what it is upon which you bestow the maine and the top of your intentions. Indeed, my brethren, the greatest things that the world hath are not worthy of the toppe and strength of our affections; for they are but trifles. Therefore if you love the Lord Iesus, if you prize him aright, and be righly affected towards him, you will esteeme nothing great, but the enjoying of his favour, and nothing of worse consequent than the losse of it, nothing will be of any great moment to you, but onely sinne, and grace; sinne that displeaseth him, and grace that brings you into favour with him: as for other