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

(7) Love to the world forms our profession into a subservience unto our worldly interest, and so makes Religion to stoop unto, yea truckle under lust. Now what can be more inconsistent with the Love of God, than this? This was the case of the carnal Jews, Ezech. 33.31. With their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. They show much love in profession; but O; how little have they of sincere affection? and why? because their avaricious hearts made the whole of their profession to conform to their worldly interest? Thus also it was with unbelieving Jews in our Lords time, John 5.42. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I know you. There lies a great emphase in that, you; you, who profess so much, and yet have so little love in you. They had much love to God in their mouth, but none in their heart: this appeareth by v. 43, 44. where our Lord tells them in plain terms, that their worldly honour, and interest was the only measure of their profession. This also was the measure of ⟨p. 78⟩Judas's Religion, John 12.5, 6. where he pretends much love to the poor, but really intends nothing, but the gratifying his avaricious humour. The like, Hos. 10.11. Ephraim loveth to tread out the Corn, &c. because there was profit, liberty, and pleasure in that, but Ephraim loved not ploughing work; because that brought her under a yoke, and brought in no advantage to her.

(7) Love to the world forms our profession into a subservience unto our worldly interest, and so makes Religion to stoop unto, yea truckle under lust. Now what can be more inconsistent with the Love of God, than this? This was the case of the carnal Jews, Ezech. 33.31. With their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. They shew much love in profession; but O; how little have they of sincere affection? and why? because their avaricious hearts made the whole of their profession to conform to their worldly interest? Thus also it was with unbelieving Jews in our Lords time,