A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…

And thus having after my poor manner put you upon practice, and pointed you the way from the lowest to the highest step of divine love, I am sensible that both good and bad have their exceptions ready against what I have delivered. The humble trembling Christian, he fears that if the lowest degree of love to God, hath such heights in it, he shall never be able to reach it; and he is grieved whom God would not have made sad. On the other hand, those that call themselves Christians (though there's no reason for their usurping that title) without any consideration of either the duty, or themselves, will bear you down, that they love God with all their hearts, souls, and minds; and that they have always done so; and they are unworthy to live that do not love God; and if you enquire into any particulars whatsoever about their love to God, they'll rather quarrel with you than give you any satisfying answer. If I could therefore propose any thing that would apply it self, i. e. by its own evidence work it self into the conscience, I might hope to dissolve their self-flatteries, I cannot at present think of a more compendious way of undeceiving both these, and of further persuasively urging the love of God, than by plainly naming the infallible Properties, and constant Effects of this love hereby those that despondingly fear they want it, will find they have it; and those that groundlessly boast of it, will find they want it, and both be instructed what must be done to evidence and exert it.

And thus having after my poor manner put you upon practice, and pointed you the way from the lowest to the highest step of divine love, I am sensible that both good and bad have their exceptions ready against what I have delivered. The humble trembling Christian, he fears that if the lowest degree of love to God, hath such heights in it, he shall never be able to reach it; and he is grieved whom God would not have made sad. On the other hand, those that call themselves Christians (though there's no reason for their usurping that title) without any consideration of either the duty, or themselves, will bear you down, that they love God with all their hearts, souls, and minds; and that they have always done so; and they are unworthy to live that doe not love God; and if you enquire into any particulars whatsoever about their love to God, they'l rather quarrel with you than give you any satisfying answer. If I could therefore propose any thing that would apply it self, i. e. by its own evidence work it self into the conscience, I might hope to dissolve their self-flatteries, I cannot at present think of a more compendious way of undeceiving both these, and of further perswasively urging the love of God, than by plainly naming the infallible Properties, and constant Effects of this love hereby those that despondingly fear they want it, will find they have it; and those that groundlesly boast of it, will find they want it, and both be instructed what must be done to evidence and exert it.