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

9. Character.

¹There will be a Willingness to part with all for him: How many goodly things do persons of all sorts contemn for some one thing, which they love? Amnon, Ahab, and Haman, are three great examples of this: Take but one instance, and it shall be of a Covetous man; why, he disregards all the learned accomplishments in the World, for a little gain; He thinks himself better, when he hath got that which comes out of the Bowels of the Earth he treads on, than that which comes from the Mansion house of God, in the Heaven above him: and therefore, how familiarly, and easily will he part with the one to choose the other?² no bonds of nature or religion, are enough to restrain him; 'Tis the resolution of a soul that loves Christ, that nothing shall part them, they are habitually Martyrs already, and if he put them to it, 'tis not life it self that they will account too precious to lay down for the sake of him. All the waters, and floods of persecution, temptation,³ and affliction, shall not quench their flames of love. Cant. 8.7. Witness those words of Ignatius [[Greek or Hebrew] &c. or] let fire, cross, &c. and all the torments, which by men or beasts can be Inflicted on my body, yea, and add to them, what all the Devils in hell can do upon it, if it were by solemn sentence of Excommunication delivered to them, yet would I go through them all, to come to the bosom of my Lord.

¹There will bee a Willingness to part with all for him: How many goodly things do persons of all sorts contemn for some one thing, which they love? Amnon, Ahab, and Haman, are three great examples of this: Take but one instance, and it shall bee of a Covetous man; why, hee disregards all the learned accomplishments in the World, for a little gain; Hee thinks himself better, when hee hath got that which comes out of the Bowels of the Earth hee treads on, than that which comes from the Mansion house of God, in the Heaven above him: and therefore, how familiarly, and easily will he part with the one to choose the other?