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

3. This also instructs us, that all natural irregenerate mens Love, is but concupiscence or Lust. Do not all men in their natural state prefer the creature before the Creator? are not the pleasures, profits, and Honours of this world, the worldly man's Trinity, which he adoreth, and sacrificeth unto? Have not all men by nature a violent impetuous bent of heart towards some one or other worldly Idol? are not their souls bound up in something below God? Do not all men naturally esteem, love, use, and enjoy the creature for it self, without referring it to God? and what is this but Lust?

4. We are hence likewise taught, that a regular and ordinate love to, and use of this world's goods, is very difficult and rare; Alas! how soon doth our love to creatures grow inordinate, either as to its Substance, Quantity, Quality, or Mode? yea, how oft, and how soon doth our love to things lawful grow irregular and unlawful? what an excess are most men guilty of in their love to, and use of things indifferent? how few are there, who in using this world do not abuse it, as 1 Cor. 7.31? where is that person that can say with Paul, Phil. 4.12. Every where, and in all things I am instructed both to abound and suffer want?

5. This also informs us, that where predominant Love to the world is notorious, visible, and manifest, we cannot, by any rule of judicious Charity, count such a Godly man. It was a Canon, common among the Jews, mentioned by Rabbi Salome, that^(x) the people of the earth are not called Godly, i. e. the Lovers of the world may not be called Saints. And, Oh! how many worldly professors are cut off from the number of visible Saints, hereby? It is to me a dismal contemplation, to consider, how many follow Christ in profession, and yet have the black mark of worldlings on there foreheads. O! how much love to the world lies hid under the mask and visor of professed love