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

2. But to close up this discourse with a few Practic Improvements and Uses.¹

2. But to close up this discourse with a few Practick Improvements and Ʋses.¹

1. 1Practic Uses.Practick Uses.

1. This Case, as before stated, serves for the Conviction and Condemnation of such, who profess love to God, and yet love the world more than God. Our Apostle saith Love not the world: and yet what do these love but the world? where is the Love which these owe to God? And what hopes can such have of God's Love to them? Alas! how poor and narrow is the love of most Professors to God? If they have some good liking to him, yet how far short do they come of fervent love to him? perhaps their Light and Profession is broad; but O! how narrow is their Love to Christ? And do not such as want love for Christ fall under the most dreadful curse that ever was, even an Anathema Maranatha, 1 Cor. 16.22. which was the formule of the highest Excommunication among the Jews, mentioned in Enoch's prophecy, Jud. 14. and imports a binding over to the great day of Judgment at the coming of our Lord. And Oh! how soon will Christ meet such in a way of Judgment, who will not now meet him in a way of love? Alas! what an hungry paradise have they whose love feeds not on Christ but the things of time? Is there not a sting in every creature our love dotes on? O! what abundance of Ingratitude and Injustice lies wrapped up in this Love to the world? Can there be greater ingratitude than this, to spend our choicest love on love-tokens, conferred on us by God to wind up our hearts to the love of himself? Is it not also the greatest Injustice to give that measure of Affection to the creature, which is due to none but the creator?