A25478:119
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically…
A supplement to The Morning-exercise at Cripple-Gate, or, Several more cases of conscience practically resolved by sundry ministers
London: printed for Thomas Cockerill, 1676
Sermon 1: Quest. How may we attain to love God with all our Hearts, Souls, and Minds? Serm. I.
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.
2. Love to God is the most bold, strong, constant, and daring Grace, of all the Graces of the Spirit of God(n). Love is strong as Death: every one knows what work Death makes in the World. It is not the Power of Potentates, nor the Reverence of Age, nor the usefulness of Grace, can prevent its stroke, it conquers all. So doth love to God. Nothing can stand before it: what dare not love to God attempt? It designs impossibilities, viz. Perfection, and is restless for the want of it. I may in some sense say, it would fain have contradictions true, viz. to be without the Body, while in it; (the Body's being a clog is so wearisome.) Love to God not only baffles Satan, but through God's gracious condescension, it even prevails with God himself, that God will deny nothing to the Soul that loves him.
2. Love to God is the most bold, strong, constant, and daring Grace, of all the Graces of the Spirit of God(n). Love is strong as Death: every one knows what work Death makes in the World. It is not the Power of Potentates, nor the Reverence of Age, nor the usefulness of Grace, can prevent its stroke, it conquers all. So doth love to God. Nothing can stand before it: what dare not love to God attempt? It designs impossibilities, viz. Perfection, and is restless for the want of it. I may in some sence say, it would fain have contradictions true, viz. to be without the Body, while in it; (the Body's being a clog is so wearisome.) Love to God not only baffles Satan, but through God's gracious condescension, it even prevails with God himself, that God will deny nothing to the Soul that loves him.
- (n)Cant. 8.6.
3. Love to God is the only self-emptying, and satisfying Grace