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

2. Although there be no direct and express command saying, Thou shalt love thy self; yet all the Commands of God do virtually, and implicitly enjoin it. No man can comply with that first and great command, of loving God with all his heart^(g), but in so doing he loves himself; because in the fruition of God is a mans greatest happiness. The like may be said of every other commandment in proportion; for as it is good in it self, so it will be found to be good for us: David had experience of it, when he said, that in the ⟨p. 52⟩keeping of them, there was great reward; And when he prayed, that as God was good, and did good, he would teach him his statutes.

2. Although there be no direct and express command saying, Thou shalt love thy self; yet all the Commands of God do vertually, and implicitely enjoyn it. No man can comply with that first and great command, of loving God with all his heart^(g), but in so doing he loves himself; because in the fruition of God is a mans greatest happiness. The like may be said of every other commandment in proportion; for as it is good in it self, so it will be found to be good for us: David had experience of it, when he said, that in the ⟨p. 52⟩keeping of them, there was great reward; And when he prayed, that as God was good, and did good, he would teach him his statutes.

1. (g)Diligere De•m est diligere se ergo cum precipitur ut Deum dilig•mus praecipitur eidem operà ut no metipsos dil•••mus, Davenantius. Psal. 19.11.