A saint or a brute the certain necessity and excellency of holiness, &c. ...…

Dir. 7. If you would have the experience of the Pleasures of a life of Faith and Holiness, neither desire nor cherish any fears or sorrows, but such as as are subservient to Faith, and Hope, and Love, and preparatory to Thankfulness and Joy. Think not Religion consisteth in any other kind of sorrows. Nay if any other should assault you, be so far from taking them for your duty or religion, as to resist them, and lament them as your sin. That is true and saving Humiliation, 1. which makes you vile in your own eyes, and loath your selves for sin. 2. And maketh you more desirous to be delivered and cleansed from your sin, than to live in it, how sweet or gainful soever it may seem, and 3. which maketh you set more by a Saviour to deliver you, than by all the pleasures, riches, and honours of the world. What ever want of Grief or tears you find, if you have these signs, your Repentance and humiliation is sincere. Do not therefore refuse your Peace because you have not greater sorrows; nor disturb your souls by struggling for excessive sorrow: Take not part with them, but do your best to cast them out, if they are such as would destroy your Love and Joy, and drive you from Christ, and hinder your Thanksgivings. Know that the Life of your Religion consisteth in the Holy Love of God and of his Image and servants and holy ways. Love is your duty and your felicity and reward: Therefore let all tend to the exercise of Love, and value most those means which most promote it; and think your selves best when you abound most in Love; and not when you are overwhelmed with those Fears and Griefs which hinder Love. Study therefore above all, the Love of God revealed in Christ, which is the best attractive of your Love to him: and hate all suggestions which would represent God unlovely and undesirable to you.

Dir. 7. If you would have the experience of the Pleasures of a life of Faith and Holiness, neither desire nor cherish any fears or sorrows, but such as as are subservient to Faith, and Hope, and Love, and preparatory to Thankfulness and Joy. Think not Religion consisteth in any other kind of sorrows. Nay if any other should assault you, be so far from taking them for your duty or religion, as to resist them, and lament them as your sin. That is true and saving Humiliation, 1. which makes you vile in your own eyes, and loath your selves for sin. 2. And maketh you more desirous to be delivered and cleansed from your sin, than to live in it, how sweet or gainful soever it may seem, and 3. which maketh you set more by a Saviour to deliver you, than by all the pleasures, riches, and honours of the world. What ever want of Grief or tears you find, if you have these signs, your Repentance and humiliation is sincere. Do not therefore refuse your Peace because you have not greater sorrows; nor disturb your souls by strugling for excessive sorrow: Take not part with them, but do your best to cast them out, if they are such as would destroy your Love and Joy, and drive you from Christ, and hinder your Thansgivings. Know that the Life of your Religion consisteth in the Holy Love of God and of his Image and servants and holy ways. Love is your duty and your felicity and reward: Therefore let all tend to the exercise of Love, and value most those means which most promote it; and think your selves best when you abound most in Love; and not when you are overwhelmed with those Fears and Griefs which hinder Love. Study therefore above all, the Love of God revealed in Christ, which is the best attractive of your Love to him: and hate all suggestions which would represent God unlovely and undesirable to you.