A25467:1401
A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolvedA Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved
A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practically resolved by sundry ministers in October, 1682.A Continuation of morning-exercise questions and cases of conscience practicaly resolved by sundry ministers in October, 1682.
London: printed by J.A. for John Dunton, 1683
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And on the other side the souls of wicked men are of a fleshly worldly inclination, and love not heavenly works and company, and have nothing in them to carry them to God; but they love worldly trash and sensual bestial delights, though they cannot enjoy them, as poor men love riches, and are vexed for want of what they love, and therefore it is no wonder if wicked souls do dwell with Devils in the lower regions, and that they make Apparitions here when God permits them, and if holy souls be liable to no such descent. Love is the Souls poise and spring, and carrieth souls downward or upward accordingly.
And on the other side the souls of wicked men are of a fleshly worldly inclination, and love not heavenly works and company, and have nothing in them to carry them to God; but they love worldly trash and sensual beastial delights, though they cannot enjoy them, as poor men love riches, and are vexed for want of what they love, and therefore it is no wonder if wicked souls do dwell with Devils in the lower regions, and that they make Apparitions here when God permits them, and if holy souls be liable to no such descent. Love is the Souls poise and spring, and carrieth souls downward or upward accordingly.
Away then with the earthly fleshly Love. How long will you stay here? And what will Earth and Flesh do for you? So far as it may be helpful to Holiness and Heaven, God will not deny it to submissive Children; but to overlove is to turn from God, and is the dangerous Malady of Souls, and the poise that sinks them down from Heaven. Had you learnt better to forsake all for Christ, and to account all but as Loss and Dung, as Paul did (Phil. 3.8.) you could more easily bear the want of it. When did you see any live in discontent, and distracted with Melancholy, Grief and Cares for want of Dung, or of a Bubble, a Shadow, or a merry Dream? If you will not otherwise know the world, God will otherwise make you know it to your Sorrow.