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

VI. 1. A Christian indeed doth love God in these three gradations: He loveth him much for his mercy to himself, and for that Goodness which consisteth in benignity to himself; But he loveth ⟨p. 17⟩him more for his Mercy to the Church, and for that Goodness which consisteth in his Benignity to the Church. But he Loveth him most of all for his Infinite perfections and essential excellencies; His Infinite Power, and Wisdom and Goodness simply in himself considered. For he knoweth that Love to himself obligeth him to returns of Love: especially differencing saving grace. And he knoweth that the souls of millions are more worth incomparably then his own, and that God may be much more honoured by them than by him alone: And therefore he knoweth that the mercy to many is greater mercy, and a greater demonstration of the goodness of God; and therefore doth render him more amiable to man. Rom. 9.3. And yet he knoweth that the Essential perfection and goodness of God as simply in himself and for himself, is much more amiable than his Benignity to the creature: And that he that is the first efficient must needs be the ultimate final cause of all things: And that God is not finally for the creature, but the creature for God, (for all that he needeth it not) For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things. Rom. 11.36. And as he is Infinitely better than our selves, so he is to be better Loved than our selves: As I love a wise and virtuous person, though he be one I never expect to receive any thing from, and therefore Love him for his own sake, and not for his benignity or usefulness to me: So must I love God most for his essential perfections, though his benignity also doth represent him amiable. As he is blindly selfish that would not rather himself be annihilated or perish, than whole Kingdoms should all perish, or the Sun be taken out of the world; (because that which is best ⟨p. 18⟩must he loved as best, and therefore be best loved:) so is he more blind who in his estimative complacential Love, preferreth not Infinite Eternal Goodness, before such an imperfect silly creature as himself (or all the world): We are commanded to love our Neighbour as our selves, when God is to be loved with all the heart and soul and might, which therefore signifieth more than to love him as our selves; (or else he were to be loved no more than our Neighbour.)