We may know it by our former Convictions, and the rule is this; When e love to Christ is sincere, 1there hath been a Conviction of the souls undone condition without him, and of the sufficiency, and willingness of ⟨p. 225⟩Christ, to recover the soul out of that condition; And wherever this Conviction hath been fully wrought, and the wound made thereby Regularly healed, there dwells Sincere love to him. I put this first, as containing the original birth of Evangelical love. I dare affirm No conviction, no love; No contrition of heart for sin, no affection in the soul for Christ?2 Every degree of true Spiritual love (saith a Divine, that had well studied this point) proceeds from a proportionable Act of saving Faith. And to the same purpose (saith Dr. Preston) and he presseth it earnestly, two things must concur to beget love. 1. The sight of Christs willingness, and readiness to rel•ive. 2. His ability, and sufficiency to help. These two, willingness, and ability,3 are the Crown upon the Head of Christ, when undone souls do first take delight in him, they are the sweet ointments of our Lord, 4which by their Savour do attract Virgin souls to betroth themselves unto him. What ever men may vainly talk, 'tis brokenness of heart, 5and a sense of approaching Ruin, that gives the soul the first occasion of acquainting it self in good earnest with Christ, and when faith hath thereupon found the suitableness of Christ to it self, in its present State of misery, then the fire of love begins to burn. So that it is not a blind, casual passion, but a matter of right Reason, mature judgement, and choice. It is not a frame of spirit, that persons were delivered into, they know not how, but such, whereof they that have it, can give undeniable reasons, so that if the question were put to any love sick soul, as to the Spouse in the Canticles chapt 5.9, 10. What is thy beloved more than another beloved? she could give an Account; if not so Glossy and Rhetorical, 6yet as Logical and Rational as that, which is there given. She hath seen that in Christ, so much Excellency in his person, and so much readiness and sufficiency, as resulting from his several offices, which hath even ravished her, and made him comely to her for delights, yea, the very chiefest of ten thousands:
Wee may know it by our former Convictions, and the rule is this; Whe e love to Christ is sincere, 1there hath been a Conviction of the souls undone condition without him, and of the sufficiency, and willingness of ⟨p. 225⟩Christ, to recover the soul out of that condition; And whereever this Conviction hath been fully wrought, and the wound made thereby Regularly healed, there dwells Sincere love to him. I put this first, as containing the originall birth of Evangelical love. I dare affirm No conviction, no love; No contrition of heart for sin, no affection in the soul for Christ?2 Every degree of true Spiritual love (saith a Divine, that had well studied this point) proceeds from a proportionable Act of saving Faith. And to the same purpose (saith Dr. Preston) and hee presseth it earnestly, two things must concur to beget love. 1. The sight of Christs willingness, and readiness to rel•ive. 2. His ability, and sufficiency to help. These two, willingness, and ability,3 are the Crown upon the Head of Christ, when undone souls do first take delight in him, they are the sweet oyntments of our Lord, 4which by their Savour do attract Virgin souls to betroth themselves unto him. What ever men may vainly talk, 'tis brokenness of heart, 5and a sense of approaching Ruine, that gives the soul the first occasion of acquainting it self in good earnest with Christ, and when faith hath thereupon found the suitableness of Christ to it self, in its present State of misery, then the fire of love begins to burn. So that it is not a blinde, casual passion, but a matter of right Reason, mature judgement, and choyce. It is not a frame of spirit, that persons were delivered into, they know not how, but such, whereof they that have it, can give undenyable reasons, so that if the question were put to any love sick soul, as to the Spouse in the Canticles chapt 5.9, 10. What is thy beloved more than another beloved? shee could give an Account; if not so Glossy and Rhetorical, 6yet as Logical and Rational as that, which is there given. Shee hath seen that in Christ, so much Excellency in his person, and so much readiness and sufficiency, as resulting from his several offices, which hath even ravished her, and made him comely to her for delights, yea, the very chiefest of ten thousands:
- 1Esa. 55.1. & 61.1, 2, 3. Matth. 11.28.
- 21 Pet. 2.8.
- 3Cant. 3.11.
- 4Cant. 1.3.
- 5Act. 2.36, 37. & 9.5, 6. Matth. 9.12.
- 6Cant 1.3.12. Chap. 2.3.
