A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved

III. Set your selves more diligently than ever, to overcome the inordinate love of the world: It will be a happy use of all your troubles, if you can follow them up to the Fountain, and find out what it is that you cannot bear the want or loss of, and consequently what it is that you overlove. God is very jealous even when he loveth, against every Idol that is loved too much, and with any of that love which is due to him. and if he take them all away, and tear them out of our hands and hearts, ⟨p. 280⟩it is merciful as well as just. I speak not this to those that are troubled only for want of more faith and holiness and communion with God, and assurance of Salvation: These troubles might give them much comfort if they understood aright from whence they come and what they signify. For as impatient trouble under worldly crosses doth prove that a man loveth the world too much, so impatient trouble for want of more holiness and Communion with God doth show, that such are lovers of Holiness and of God. Love goeth before desire and grief. That which men love they delight in if they have it, and mourn for want of it, and desire to obtain it. The will is the love: and no man is troubled for want of that which he would not have.

III. Set your selves more diligently than ever, to overcome the inordinate love of the world: It will be a happy use of all your troubles, if you can follow them up to the Fountain, and find out what it is that you cannot bear the want or loss of, and consequently what it is that you overlove. God is very jealous even when he loveth, against every Idol that is loved too much, and with any of that love which is due to him. and if he take them all away, and tear them out of our hands and hearts, ⟨p. 280⟩it is merciful as well as just. I speak not this to those that are troubled only for want of more faith and holiness and communion with God, and assurance of Salvation: These troubles might give them much comfort if they understood aright from whence they come and what they signifie. For as impatient trouble under worldly crosses doth prove that a man loveth the world too much, so impatient trouble for want of more holiness and Communion with God doth shew, that such are lovers of Holiness and of God. Love goeth before desire and grief. That which men love they delight in if they have it, and mourn for want of it, and desire to obtain it. The will is the love: and no man is troubled for want of that which he would not have.