Directions for weak distempered Christians, to grow up to a confirmed state of grace…

V. From hence it followeth, 1. That a Christian indeed doth not serve God for fear only, but for love; even for love both of himself, and of his holy work and service: Yea, the strong Christians Love ⟨p. 15⟩to God and Holiness, is not only greater than his Love to Creatures, but greater than his fear of wrath and punishment. The Love of God constraineth him to duty, 2 Cor. 5.14. Love is the fulfilling of the Law, Rom. 13.10. therefore the Gospel cannot be obeyed without it. He saith not, O that this were no duty, and O that this forbidden thing were lawful, (Though his Flesh say so, the Spirit which is the predominant part doth not) But he saith, O how I love thy Law! O that my ways were so directed that I might keep thy statutes! Psal. 119.5. For the spirit is willing even when the flesh is weak: He serveth not God against his will; but his will is to serve him more and better than he doth: He longeth to be perfect, and perfectly to do the will of God, and taketh the remnant of his sinful infirmities to be a kind of bondage to him, which he groaneth to be delivered from: To will even perfection is present with him, though not perfectly; and though he do not all that he willeth: And this is the true meaning of Pauls complaints, Rom. 7. Because the flesh warreth against the Spirit, he cannot do the good that he would, that is, he cannot be perfect, for so he would be, Gal. 5.17. His love and will excels his practice.

V. From hence it followeth, 1. That a Christian indeed doth not serve God for fear only, but for love; even for love both of himself, and of his holy work and service: Yea, the strong Christians Love ⟨p. 15⟩to God and Holiness, is not only greater than his Love to Creatures, but greater than his fear of wrath and punishment. The Love of God constraineth him to duty,