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

(2) Predominant Love to the world is inconsistent with the Love of God, in that it robs God of that Love and Honour, which is due to him as the Sovereign Chiefest Good. according to what measure the heart turns to the world and its concerns, in the same measure it turns from God and his concerns. When the heart is full of the world, how soon is all sense of, and love to God choked? how is the Mind bemisted, an Will charmed with the painted heart-bewitching shadows of the World? This was Israel's Case, Hos. 10.1. Israel is an empty vine, [Greek or Hebrew]. Expositors have variety of Conceptions on these words; but the most simple sense seems this Israel: is^(s) an evacuant luxuriant Vine, which seems to bring forth such abundance of fruit, as if she would empty her self of all her juice and fruits at once; so richly laden with fruit doth she seem to be. Ay, but what fruit is it? Surely fruit unto her self, rotten corrupt fruit: her heart and love is not bestowed on God, but on her Idols. So it follows, v. 2. Their heart is divided. i. e. This beloved Idol hath one part, that another: and thus God is robbed of that esteem and love which is due to him.

(2) Predominant Love to the world is inconsistent with the Love of God, in that it robs God of that Love and Honour, which is due to him as the Soveraign Chiefest Good. according to what measure the heart turns to the world and its concerns, in the same measure it turns from God and his concerns. When the heart is full of the world, how soon is all sense of, and love to God choaked? how is the Mind bemisted, an Will charmed with the painted heart-bewitching shadows of the World? This was Israel's Case, Hos. 10.1. Israel is an empty vine, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. Expositors have variety of Conceptions on these words; but the most simple sense seems this Israel: is^(s) an evacuant luxuriant Vine, which seems to bring forth such abundance of fruit, as if she would empty her self of all her juice and fruits at once; so richly laden with fruit doth she seem to be. Ay, but what fruit is it? Surely fruit unto her self, rotten corrupt fruit: her heart and love is not bestowed on God, but on her Idols. So it follows, v. 2. Their heart is divided. i. e. This beloved Idol hath one part, that another: and thus God is robbed of that esteem and love which is due to him.