Poetical fragments heart-employment with God and it selfPoetical fragments heart-imployment with God and it self

Jesus. Natural Love of Self is the foundation Which Grace builds on, and useth for Salvation. He that loves not himself, loves not another: It's as thy Self that thou must love thy Brother. Thy own Salvation is the lawful end, Which Grace and Nature bind thee to intend. ⟨p. 111⟩Why was I made man, but for man's Salvation? I suffered Death to hinder thy Damnation. These are the ends for which thou must believe: Life through a Saviour's that thou must receive. •t's Carnal Self that wicked men do love: The Lawful Love of Self they'll not improve. They all prefer sin's pleasure for a season; Their fleshly appetite doth rule their Reason. Me and my healing Grace they will not have; They'll not endure that Mercy should them save. They hate the Light that would their sin display, And would direct them in the holy way: Though they fear Hell, they always fear much more The loss of honour, pleasure, health or store. No fear of Hell will take their Idol down, And make them seek first the Eternal Crown. The Fear of God is Wisdom's true beginning: It calls to Duty, and preserves from sinning: God must be feared, as one that can destroy The Soul, and shut it out of endless Joy. The Fear of God's the Just man's Character: They fear not God indeed that wished are. God would be feared as a consuming fire: This is no sin but what he doth require. Love may lie hidden as a covered seed; When Fear in troubling Passion doth exceed. If angry Parents make the Child afraid, He feels not Love, till Passion be allayed. Excessive Fear may hinder active Love, And yet the […] not […]: ⟨p. 112⟩When God's rebukes and frowns the Soul affright, It may dispose his Children unto flight. Where Love is true, some Hatred may arise, When terrors and despair the Soul surprise. A loving Child will not his Father own, When through mistake or distance he's unknown. The pleasing part of Love cannot appear, Under prevailing Grief, and too much Fear: Until the Soul be calmed, and these abate, Love is oppressed, and seemeth turned to hate. But doth not Love appear in thy Desire? Wouldest thou not Love God more? & fain get higher? Would it not please thee more if thou couldst find His Image clearly printed on thy mind, His Love and Spirit dwelling in thy heart, Then of this World to have the choicest part? Wouldst thou not have a heart that can Repent, And hate sin more, and tenderly relent?