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

From whence come wars, and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts, that war in your Members? [Greek or Hebrew], of your pleasures, i. e. by a Metonymy, from your lusts after pleasures and superfluous things, that war in your members. Hence note, that all extern wars and confusions come from the wars and confusions of intern lust in the heart. Now all intern wars and disorders are inconsistent with the love of God, which is peaceable and orderly. In these regards love to the world impedes and hinders the love of God.

From whence come wars, and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts, that war in your Members? 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, of your pleasures, i. e. by a Metonymie, from your lusts after pleasures and superfluous things, that war in your members. Hence note, that all extern wars and confusions come from the wars and confusions of intern lust in the heart. Now all intern wars and disorders are inconsistent with the love of God, which is peaceable and orderly. In these regards love to the world impedes and hinders the love of God.

(9). Love to the world is inconsistent with the love of God, in that it causeth Apostasy from God. The Conversion of the heart to the Creature, always implies its Aversion from God: He that cannot part with the World, will soon part with God. The world draws Men from God at Pleasure; because it doth engross your best Time, Thoughts, Affections and Strength in its service. How many professors, by being bewitched with love to the World, have lost many hopeful blossoms and beginnings of love to God? How little do Spiritual Suavities savour with Carnal Hearts? Yea, do not the Flesh-pleasing sweets of this World make all the Delices of Heaven seem bitter to a Sensual Worldling? What makes the heart poorer, as to things Divine, than the love of worldly Riches? How is the Honour of Christ and Religion degraded in that heart, which affects worldly Honours? what more powerfully stains the Glory of a Christian Profession, than an ambitious affectation of Mundane Glory? Where is that professor, who has his heart engaged in the world without being defiled by it, if not drowned in it? The world is filled with such a contagious air, as that our love is soon poisoned and infected by it. Love to the world is the Devil's Throne, where he lords it; the Helm of the Ship, where he sits and steers the Soul Hellwards. This was the bitter root of Lot's wife her Apostasy from God. So