Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

And of this I have given you this textual resolution. You have seen, 1. The Seat of this distemper, of a Luke-warm Frame or Temper, that it is in the heart or will. 2. The formal nature of it. 'Tis a defect or chilness of practical love and zeal, to and for God, and their concerns with us, and ours with them. The things which claim and merit the highest place in, and that should engage, and exercise our best affections, and most active zeal, are, 1. Gods glory in the Church and World. 2. The life and growth, and the vivid Exercises, Profession and Effects of Godliness in our selves, Tit. ii. 11.—14. Rom. xiv. 17 — 19. Jude 20, 21. ii Pet. i. 3.—11. For we must begin at home and set our all in order there. 3. The Power, Peace, and Progress of the Gospel in the World, Phil. i. 3.—11. ii. 19.21. That it may have its free course and ⟨image 156⟩be glorified. 4. The Harmony and Prosperity of the Church of Christ wherever this Gospel is accepted and profest. 5. The Case and Circumstances of particular professors as they variously are, and are evidently considerable, as to their Growth, Trials, Duties, Dangers, Decays, Wants, or Weaknesses, &c. 6. And the Sons of men as Strangers, Enemies, Persecutors, or any ways Endeavouring to supplant the Gospel interest, or to obstruct it or discourage it. And these it considered as reducible or incorrigible. Now heartlessness, Neutrality or Sluggishness of our affectionate concernedness about these things is what we call Luke-warmness. 3. The Cure hereof doth formally consist in our Inflamed love, Exercised and Expressed unto the life by constant activity congenial with this principle. The practical accommodating of all the regency & vigours of this principle of love to the concerns of Christian godliness; and of those that are concerned therewith, pursuant to the growth and prosperousness thereof. When we so value these concerns, & have such Sympathizing with, and such genuine adherence to, resolutions and activity for, and satisfaction in the prosperousness of the things of God, and Christ, and Souls, and Christian Churches, as that nothing can stand before us, nor be regarded or dreaded by us, that rivals or opposes them; then are we indeed effectually cured. Here our thoughts naturally fix; and work, here our hearts cleave and flame; and hereunto our vigours, time, interest and treasures, are most entirely and cheerfully devoted.