§. 1. You are never truly changed, till your Hearts be changed: And the Heart is not changed till1 the Will or Love be changed. Fear is not the man: but usually is mixed with unwillingness and dislike, and so is contrary to that which is indeed the Man. Though fear may do much for you, it will not do enough: It is oft more sensible than Love even in the best, as being more passionate and violent: but yet there is no more Acceptableness in all, than there is Will or Love. God sent not Soldiers, or Inquisitors or Persecutors to convert the world by working upon their Fear, and driving them upon that which they take to be a mischief to them: But he sent poor Preachers that had no matter of worldly fears or hopes to move their auditors with▪ but had authority from Christ to offer them eternal life; and who were to convert the world by proposing to them the best and most desirable condition, and showing them where is the true felicity, and proving the certainty and excellency of it to them, and working upon their Love, Desire and Hope: God will not be your God against your wills, while you esteem him as the Devil, that is only terrible and hurtful to you, and take his service for a slavery, and had rather be from him, and serve the world and the flesh, if it were not for fear of being damned. He will be feared as Great, and Holy, and Just: but he will also be Loved as Good, and Holy, and Merciful, and every way suited to be the felicity and Rest of souls. If you take not God to be better than the Creature, (and better to you) and Heaven to be better for you than earth, and Holiness than Sin, you are not converted: But if you do, then show it by your willingness, alacrity and delight. Serve him with gladness and cheerfulness of heart, as one that hath found the way of life, and never had cause of gladness until now. If you see your servant do all his work with groans, and tears, and lamentations, you will not think he is well pleased with his Master and his work. Come to God willingly with your hearts, or you come not to him indeed at all. You must either make him and his service your delight, or at least your Desire; as apprehending him most fit to be your delight, so far as you enjoy him.
§. 1. You are never truly changed, till your Hearts be changed: And the Heart is not changed till1 the Will or Love be changed. Fear is not the man: but usually is mixt with unwillingness and dislike, and so is contrary to that which is indeed the Man. Though fear may do much for you, it will not do enough: It is oft more sensible than Love even in the best, as being more passionate and violent: but yet there is no more Acceptableness in all, than there is Will or Love. God sent not Souldiers, or Inquisitors or Persecutors to convert the world by working upon their Fear, and driving them upon that which they take to be a mischief to them: But he sent poor Preachers that had no matter of worldly fears or hopes to move their auditors with▪ but had authority from Christ to offer them eternal life; and who were to convert the world by proposing to them the best and most desirable condition, and shewing them where is the true felicity, and proving the certainty and excellency of it to them, and working upon their Love, Desire and Hope: God will not be your God against your wills, while you esteem him as the Devil, that is only terrible and hurtful to you, and take his service for a slavery, and had rather be from him, and serve the world and the flesh, if it were not for fear of being damned. He will be feared as Great, and Holy, and Iust: but he will also be Loved as Good, and Holy, and Merciful, and every way suited to be the felicity and Rest of souls. If you take not God to be better than the Creature, (and better to you) and Heaven to be better for you than earth, and Holiness than Sin, you are not converted: But if you do, then shew it by your willingness, alacrity and delight. Serve him with gladness and chearfulness of heart, as one that hath found the way of life, and never had cause of gladness until now. If you see your servant do all his work with groans, and tears, and lamentations, you will not think he is well pleased with his Master and his work. Come to God willingly with your hearts, or you come not to him indeed at all. You must either make him and his service your delight, or at least your Desire; as apprehending him most fit to be your delight, so far as you enjoy him.
- 1Passibilis timor est irrationabilis, & ad irrationabili• constitut••, sed •um praecipit qui cum disciplina & recta ratione consistit▪ cujus proprium est reverentia. Qui enim propter Christum & doctrinam •j•s Deum timet, cum reverentia ei subjectus est; cum ••e qui per v•rb• •a aliaque tormenta timer Deum, passibilem tim• rem habere videtur. D• d•rus Al•x. […] P•t. 1.Passibilis timor est irrationabilis, & ad irrationabili• constitut••, sed •um praecipit qui cum disciplina & recta ratione consistit▪ cujus proprium est reverentia. Qui enim propter Christum & doctrinam •j•s Deum timet, cum reverentia ei subjectus est; cum ••e qui per v•rb• •a aliaque tormenta timer Deum, passibilem tim• rem habere videtur. D• d•rus Al•x. 〈…〉 P•t. 1.