An end of doctrinal controversies which have lately troubled the churches

§. 10. I am not able to confute or deny what Adrian (afterwards Pope) hath written (in his Quodlibets) That an unsanctified Man (not in a state of Salvation) may so far love God, even above himself, as to consent rather to die, and be annihilated, than (were it possible) God should be annihilated, or not be God. For a Heathen might consent to die for his Country: And he is a B•ast and no Man, that would not rather be annihilated, than all the World, yea, or all the Kingdom, or all the City should be annihilated, or than the Sun should cease to be, or to shine. And he that knoweth that if there were no God, there could be no World, no Being, Motion, Knowledge, Goodness, or Felicity in the World; besides, that which is worse, the Cessation of the Infinite Good himself; must be yet more unmanly, if he would not rather be annihilated alone (if per impossible, you suppose he could live alone) than all this greater Evil should come to pass. He that tells men, that they shall be saved, if they would rather be annihilated, than that there should be no God, doth make them a promise which God hath not made.

§. 11. But (as the same Author observeth) that which the unholy cannot do, is, to love God as God, as the ultimate Object, and most amiable Good to be known, and by Love and Holiness enjoyed, and pleased by a holy Soul; and this above all sensual terrene Delights, and to love him as the holy Ruler of the World, who forbiddeth all sinful sensuality, and all mens inordinate Conceits, Desires, Delights, and Practices, and requireth holiness and purity of Mind, and Life, and Sobriety, and Temperance, and Self-denial in all that will be saved. And as he is a just Judge who will execute all these Laws, and condemn the ungodly to endless Misery. They love not God, as he is the holy Go••••our, and righteous Judge of men, that would restrain them from their sinful Wills and Pleasures, and damn them if they will not be holy. And consequently they love not his Laws, and other means by which this is to be done: Because loving the pleasure of their Lusts, and being averse to things spiritual, high and holy, they love not that holiness and rectitude in themselves, which God commandeth,