The Morning exercise [at] Cri[ppleg]ate, or, Several cases of conscience practically resolved

6. Proposition.

The love of the soul to Christ in sincerity is not any one Indivisible act or habit, but a Holy frame of spirit, made up of many gracious Inclinations carrying the whole soul along with it unto Christ, for Union and Communion with him. I told you in the beginning, that it is used here by the Apostle as the periphrasis of a Christian, a Brother, a real Saint; And therefore it is not a sudden and transient flash of the soul, or any one act, but Comprehensive of much of that, wherein the nature of Christianity doth essentially lye. This follows necessarily from the last proposition; And Indeed to make faith or love to Christ, such single Physical acts, as many do, as it renders the Doctrine of Christianity perplexed, so doth it exceedingly tend to the amusing of the Consciences of weak Christians, and I am afraid, Engender also to licentiousness: It being too usual with such persons, who presumptuously conceive themselves to be Christians, because they discern, as they think, those supposed particular acts, to take up with them, and to grow remiss, and careless in other duties, as essential to Christianity, and necessary to Salvation, as those graces themselves. To conclude this Proposition, you may note, that as love to God, is the soul of natural Piety, and is Incorporated into every branch of it, so is love to Christ the very Spirit, that diffuseth it self through, and animates all those duties, which are required by the New Covenant, and respect Jesus Christ as Mediator.

The love of the soul to Chr•st in sincerity is not any one Indivisible act or habit, but a Holy frame of spirit, made up of many gracious Inclinations carrying the whole soul along with it unto Christ, for Ʋnion and Communion with him. I told you in the beginning, that it is used here by the Apostle as the periphrasis of a Christian, a Brother, a real Saint; And therefore it is not a suddain and transient flash of the soul, or any one act, but Comprehensive of much of that, wherein the nature of Christianity doth essentially lye. This follows necessarily from the last proposition; And Indeed to make faith or love to Christ, such single Physical acts, as many do, as it renders the Doctrine of Christianity perplexed, so doth it exceedingly tend to the amusing of the Consciences of weak Christians, and I am afraid, Ingender also to licentiousness: It being too usual with such persons, who presumptuously conceive themselves to bee Christians, because they discern, as they think, those supposed particular acts, to take up with them, and to grow remiss, and careless in other duties, as essential to Christianity, and necessary to Salvation, as those graces themselves. To conclude this Proposition, you may note, that as love to God, is the soul of natural Piety, and is Incorporated into every branch of it, so is love to Christ the very Spirit, that diffuseth it self through, and animates all those duties, which are required by the New Covenant, and respect Jesus Christ as Mediator.