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

3. Love to God rectifieth all other loves, and keeps them in due bounds. The same Author hath this other illustration, viz. I may love my servant, but if I do not love my child better than I love my Servant, I am defective in my love. Well then, I must love my child, but if I do not love my wife better than I love my child, I am defective in my love. Well then, I must love my wife, but if I do not love God infinitely more than I love my wife, I am defective ⟨p. 44⟩in my love. You shall see (saith he) a Mother so busy about her child, as if she had no love for any one else, as if her Eyes were for nothing else but to look upon it, and her Mouth for nothing else but to kiss it: But now if she must lose her child or her husband, her love to her Husband is so great, as if she had no love for her child at all. So when God and those we most dearly love, stand in competition; you may soon see the subordination of our love. Though let me add this for your encouragement, God never calls for the hating of other things for love to himself, but he doth most singularly make up in himself whatever any one parts with for him; when God requires the banishment of other Objects, it is to communicate himself more fully, more clearly, more sweetly. Look over what Martyrology you please, I think you will scarce find so much as One, dying for Christ any other way than Triumphing; whereas many of as eminent Graces as they, dye in their Beds, little less than despairing. What encouragement may this be for the worst of times?

3. Love to God rectifieth all other loves, and keeps them in due bounds. The same Author hath this other illustration, viz. I may love my servant, but if I doe not love my child better than I love my Servant, I am defective in my love. Well then, I must love my child, but if I do not love my wife better than I love my child, I am defective in my love. Well then, I must love my wife, but if I do not love God infinitely more than I love my wife, I am defective ⟨p. 44⟩in my love. You shall see (saith he) a Mother so busie about her child, as if she had no love for any one else, as if her Eyes were for nothing else but to look upon it, and her Mouth for nothing else but to kiss it: But now if she must lose her child or her husband, her love to her Husband is so great, as if she had no love for her child at all. So when God and those we most dearly love, stand in competition; you may soon see the subordination of our love. Though let me add this for your encouragement, God never calls for the hating of other things for love to himself, but he doth most singularly make up in himself whatever any one parts with for him; when God requires the banishment of other Objects, it is to communicate himself more fully, more clearly, more sweetly. Look over what Martyrology you please, I think you will scarce find so much as One, dying for Christ any other way than Triumphing; whereas many of as eminent Graces as they, dye in their Beds, little less than despairing. What encouragement may this be for the worst of times?