1. The principal part of it consisteth in an inordinate Self-love: This is a corruption so deep in the heart of man, that it may be called his very Natural Inclination, which therefore lieth at the bottom, below all his Actual sins whatsoever; and must be changed into a New Nature which principally consists in the Love of God. This is Original sin it self, even in the heart of it. This speaks what man by Nature is: even an inordinate self-lover; And as he is, so he will act. In this all other vice in the world is virtually contained: even as all grace is in the Love of God: which made the Schoolmen say, that Love is the Form of all Grace: not as they are this or that Grace in particular; not of Faith as Faith, nor of Hope as Hope; but of Faith, Hope, &c. as vital or gracious acts: because the respect to the End is essential to the means as a means: and therefore the respect to God as the End, is Essential to Faith, Hope, &c. as a means to him: and therefore that Grace (of Love) ⟨p. 91⟩which is terminated on the End, must have an essential participation, concurrence, or influence on those that are directly terminated on the Way or Means; and must convey somewhat of its very essence to them; and so far as they partake of that essence of Love, so far are they indeed those special Graces which carry the soul to God its End: And in this sense we may allow the distinction between Fides, Spes, &c. formata charitate (which is true Christian Faith and Hope,) and Fides, Spes &c. informis, which is but an opinion and dream. And so it is in the body of sin: When self-love doth reign, it is the Heart of wickedness: And though every sin hath its own specific nature; yet all are virtually in self-love, and are so far mortal, or prove men graceless, as they are informed by the essential Communication of self-love: For self being the End, informeth all the means as they respect it. I say the more to you of this, because indeed it is a weighty truth, for the right understanding of the true nature of Grace and sin; and I doubt many are in the dark for want of understanding & considering it. A man that feareth and Loveth God, and an unsanctified man may be both overtaken with the same sin; perhaps a gross one, as Noah's, and Davids, and Peters was: and yet this may be a mortal sin in the ungodly; I mean such as proves him in a state of death, and yet not so in the gracious person.
1. The principal part of it consisteth in an inordinate Self-love: This is a corruption so deep in the heart of man, that it may be called his very Natural Inclination, which therefore lieth at the bottom, below all his Actual sins whatsoever; and must be changed into a New Nature which principally consists in the Love of God. This is Original sin it self, even in the heart of it. This speaks what man by Nature is: even an inordinate self-lover; And as he is, so he will act. In this all other vice in the world is virtually contained: even as all grace is in the Love of God: which made the Schoolmen say, that Love is the Form of all Grace: not as they are this or that Grace in particular; not of Faith as Faith, nor of Hope as Hope; but of Faith, Hope, &c. as vital or gracious acts: because the respect to the End is essential to the means as a means: and therefore the respect to God as the End, is Essential to Faith, Hope, &c. as a means to him: and therefore that Grace (of Love) ⟨p. 91⟩which is terminated on the End, must have an essential participation, concurrence, or influence on those that are directly terminated on the Way or Means; and must convey somewhat of its very essence to them; and so far as they partake of that essence of Love, so far are they indeed those special Graces which carry the soul to God its End: And in this sence we may allow the distinction between Fides, Spes, &c. formata charitate (which is true Christian Faith and Hope,) and Fides, Spes &c. informis, which is but an opinion and dream. And so it is in the body of sin: When self-love doth reign, it is the Heart of wickedness: And though every sin hath its own specifick nature; yet all are virtually in self-love, and are so far mortal, or prove men graceless, as they are informed by the essential Communication of self-love: For self being the End, informeth all the means as they respect it. I say the more to you of this, because indeed it is a weighty truth, for the right understanding of the true nature of Grace and sin; and I doubt many are in the dark for want of understanding & considering it. A man that feareth and Loveth God, and an unsanctified man may be both overtaken with the same sin; perhaps a gross one, as Noahs, and Davids, and Peters was: and yet this may be a mortal sin in the ungodly; I mean such as proves him in a state of death, and yet not so in the gracious person.
