A Christian Directory

§. 2. I. All love of the creature, the world, or riches is not sin: For 1. The works of God are¹ all Good, as such: and all Goodness is amiable. As they are related to God, and his Power, and Wisdom, and Goodness is imprinted on them, so we must love them, even for his sake. 2. All the impressions of the Attributes of God appearing on his works, do make them as a Glass in which at this distance we must see the Creator, and their sweetness is a drop from him, by which his Goodness and Love •s tasted: And so they were all made to lead us up to God, and help our minds to con•••• with him, and kindle the Love of God in our breasts, as a Love-token from our dearest friend: And thus as the means of ou• communion with God, the Love of them is a duty, and not a sin. 3. They are naturally the means of sustaining our bodies, and preserving life, and health, and al••••ty: And as such, our sensitive part hath a Love to them, as every Beast hath to their food: And this Love in it self is not of moral kind, and is neither a virtue nor a vice: till it either be used in obedience […] Reason (and so it is good) or in disobedience to it, (and so it is evil.) 4. The creatures are necessary means to support our bodies, while we are doing God the service which we owe him in the world: And so they must be Loved as a means to his service: Though we cannot say properly that Riches are ordinarily thus necessary: 5. The Creatures are necessary to sustain our bodies in our journey to Heaven, while we are preparing for eternity: And thus they must be loved as remote helps to our salvation. And in these two last respects we call it in our prayers [our daily bread]. 6. Riches may enable us to relieve our needy brethren, and to promote good works for Church or State. And thus also they may be loved: so far as we must be thankful for them, so far we may Love them: For we must be Thankful for nothing but what is Good.

§. 2. I. All love of the creature, the world, or riches is not sin: For 1. The works of God are¹ all Good, as such: and all Goodness is amiable. As they are related to God, and his Power, and Wisdom, and Goodness is imprinted on them, so we must love them, even for his sake. 2. All the impressions of the Atributes of God appearing on his works, do make them as a Glass in which at this distance we must see the Creator, and their sweetness is a drop from him, by which his Goodness and Love s tasted: And so they were all made to lead us up to God, and help our minds to con with him, and kindle the Love of God in our breasts, as a Love-token from our dearest friend: And thus as the means of ou communion with God, the Love of them is a duty, and not a sin. 3. They are naturally the means of sustaining our bodies, and preserving life, and health, and alty: And as such, our sensitive part hath a Love to them, as every Beast hath to their food: And this Love in it self is not of moral kind, and is neither a vertue nor a vice: till it either be used in obedience Reason (and so it is good) or in disobedience to it, (and so it is evil.) 4. The creatures are necessary means to support our bodies, while we are doing God the service which we owe him in the world: And so they must be Loved as a means to his service: Though we cannot say properly that Riches are ordinarily thus necessary: 5. The Creatures are necessary to sustain our bodies in our journey to Heaven, while we are preparing for eternity: And thus they must be loved as remote helps to our salvation. And in these two last respects we call it in our prayers [our daily bread]. 6. Riches may enable us to relieve our needy brethren, and to promote good works for Church or State. And thus also they may be loved: so far as we must be thankful for them, so far we may Love them: For we must be Thankful for nothing but what is Good.