And with all consider, that we may be called to do many things in this World; surely there are none of us but we have many holy actions to perform, we have many things to suffer, and endure in the World, many temptations to resist; what shall, or will carry us through all? Nothing, but love; if we have loving, and gracious hearts, this affection will carry us through ⟨p. 49⟩all good actions, through all oppositions and temptations: for love is strong as death. Considering therefore that there are so many things that will require this affection, this blessed wing, and wind of the soul, to carry us along in spite of all that is contrary, through all opposition, let us labour for love, and that affection will carry us through all. Indeed if we have that, it is no matter what a man suffers: a man can never be miserable that hath this affection of love; if this heavenly fire be kindled in him, he cannot be miserable, take him in what condition you will, take him upon the wrack. S. Paul in the dungeon sung at midnight ⟨p. 50⟩in the dungeon, in the stocks, at an uncomfortable time, and place, when he had been misused, his heart was enlarged to sing to God out of love. Nay every thing increaseth it; the things we suffer, increaseth this flame: let a man love God, whatsoever he suffers in a good cause it increaseth his love, he shall find his love increased with it; the more he loves the more he can suffer, and the more he suffers the more he loves God, and the more he increaseth in a joyful expectation of the times to come: and love is alway with joy & hope, and other sweet affections; it draws joy with it always, and hope of better things; and as joy increaseth, ⟨p. 51⟩and hope increaseth, so a mans happiness increaseth in this World. Therefore it is no matter what a man suffers that hath a gracious, and loving heart, enlarged by the Spirit of God: let him never think of what he suffereth of pain, of losses, and crosses, if God discover his fatherly breast, and shine on him in Christ, and he look on God reconciled, and taste of the joys of Heaven before hand: if you tell him of sufferings, you tell him of that that encourageth him. It is an argument I might be long in, and to great purpose: for if we get this holy fire kindled once, we shall need little exhortation to other duties, it would ⟨p. 52⟩set us on work to all, and like the fire of the Sanctuary that never went out:
And with all consider, that we may be called to doe many things in this World; surely there are none of us but wee have many holy actions to performe, wee have many things to suffer, and indure in the World, many temptations to resist; what shall, or will carry us through all? Nothing, but love; if we have loving, and gracious hearts, this affection will carry us through ⟨p. 49⟩all good actions, through all oppositions and temptations: for love is strong as death. Considering therefore that there are so many things that will require this affection, this blessed wing, and winde of the soul, to carry us along in spight of all that is contrary, through all opposition, let us labour for love, and that affection will carry us through all. Indeed if we have that, it is no matter what a man suffers: a man can never be miserable that hath this affection of love; if this heavenly fire be kindled in him, he cannot be miserable, take him in what condition you will, take him upon the wrack. S. Paul in the dungen sung at midnight ⟨p. 50⟩in the dungeon, in the stocks, at an uncomfortable time, and place, when he had been misused, his heart was inlarged to sing to God out of love. Nay every thing increaseth it; the things we suffer, increaseth this flame: let a man love God, whatsoever he suffers in a good cause it increaseth his love, hee shall find his love increased with it; the more hee loves the more he can suffer, and the more he suffers the more he loves God, and the more he increaseth in a joyfull expectation of the times to come: and love is alway with joy & hope, and other sweet affections; it drawes joy with it alwayes, and hope of better things; and as joy increaseth, ⟨p. 51⟩and hope increaseth, so a mans happinesse increaseth in this World. Therefore it is no matter what a man suffers that hath a gracious, and loving heart, enlarged by the Spirit of God: let him never thinke of what he suffereth of paine, of losses, and crosses, if God discover his fatherly breast, and shine on him in Christ, and he looke on God reconciled, and tast of the joyes of Heaven before hand: if you tell him of sufferings, you tell him of that that incourageth him. It is an argument I might be long in, and to great purpose: for if we get this holy fire kindled once, we shall need little exhortation to other duties, it would ⟨p. 52⟩set us on worke to all, and like the fire of the Sanctuary that never went out:
