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

7. Prop. To be afflicted and troubled for the loss of any Creature-comfort more than for the loss of God, and things spiritual, denotes predominant love to the world. As our love is, such is our sorrow for the loss of what we love: Immoderate Affliction for the loss of any worldly thing argues Inordinate Affection to it, when enjoyed: and if the heart be more afflicted and troubled for the loss of the creature than for the loss of God, it is a sure sign, that the enjoyment of it did more affect and please the heart, than the enjoyment of God. This was Israel's case Isa. 17.10, 11. Where the prophet compares the state of Israel, in her Apostasy, to a curious Lady, that delighteth in beautiful flowers, choice fruits, and pleasant plants. But he concludeth, the harvest should be an heap, in the day of grief, and of desperate sorrow. Now this desperate sorrow, or deadly pain, [as [Greek or Hebrew] importeth] for the loss of her pleasant Idols, argues predominant love to them. This also was the case of the young man, Luk. 18.23. And when he heard this [i. e. v. 22, that he must part with all his riches for a treasure in heaven] he was very sorrowful. [Greek or Hebrew], he was sorrowful in a superlative degree; for so [Greek or Hebrew] here in Composition signifies, which is not (as some conceive) a preposition, but Adverb intending the sense. And what filled him with this extreme desperate sorrow? Why surely thoughts of parting with his goodly treasure, which he valued and loved, more than treasures in Heaven. They that cannot support themselves under the privation of any temporal good God calls for, but choose rather to part with Heaven, than with their beloved Idol, are under predominant love to the world.

7. Prop. To be afflicted and troubled for the loss of any Creature-comfort more than for the loss of God, and things spiritual, denotes predominant love to the world. As our love is, such is our sorrow for the loss of what we love: Immoderate Affliction for the loss of any worldly thing argues Inordinate Affection to it, when enjoyed: and if the heart be more afflicted and troubled for the loss of the creature than for the loss of God, it is a sure sign, that the enjoyment of it did more affect and please the heart, than the enjoyment of God. This was Israel's case Isa. 17.10, 11