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

Quest. If love to our selves be not only lawful, but a duty; why is there no direct and express command for it it in the Scripture?

1. Answ. ^(f)There is no such need of an express command for this. Though the Law of Nature, since the fall, be very much defaced and obscured, that much of that which is our duty, is hardly discerned by us; yet there is no man whom the light of nature doth not move to love himself: we find a Law of self Preservation stamped upon the whole creation of God: it is plainly to be seen in all the Creatures, whether animate or inanimate; and in man in a special manner. To this end God hath placed affections in mans Soul, that he might use them as feet, to carry him forth readily to that which is good, and from that which is evil or hurtful to him. Hence it is that when any thing is represented as good, there is not only an inclination to it, but [Greek or Hebrew] a pursuing of it: when evil and destructive, there is not only an aversation, but [Greek or Hebrew], a flight from it. It is said of the prudent man, that he foreseeth the evil and hideth himself, and of Noah, that being moved with fear, he prepared an ark; And even Christ himself, who was altogether void of sin, when they sought to destroy him, withdrew himself; as he did hide himself at another time, when they took up stones to cast at him; thus he did, till the hour was come,² when he was to lay down his life, according to a command that he had received from the Father.

1. Answ. ^(f)There is no such need of an express command for this. Though the Law of Nature, since the fall, be very much defaced and obscured, that much of that which is our duty, is hardly discerned by us; yet there is no man whom the light of nature doth not move to love himself: we find a Law of self Preservation stampt upon the whole creation of God: it is plainly to be seen in all the Creatures, whether animate or inanimate; and in man in a special manner. To this end God hath placed affections in mans Soul, that he might use them as feet, to carry him forth readily to that which is good, and from that which is evil or hurtful to him. Hence it is that when any thing is represented as good, there is not only an inclination to it, but a pursuing of it: when evil and destructive, there is not only an aversation, but , a flight from it. It is said of the prudent man, that he foreseeth the evil and hideth himself, and of Noah, that being moved with fear, he prepared an ark; And even Christ himself, who was altogether void of sin, when they sought to destroy him, withdrew himself; as he did hide himself at another time, when they took up stones to cast at him; thus he did, till the hour was come,