This considered, what Thinking man can forbear to grieve, abstain from floods of Tears, and bitter Lamentation, when he seeth that the Love of Man, such a Noble Affection in it self, is set so much on Sin, that is so bad in it self, and unto its Lovers, ⟨image 3⟩and upon the World, that proves a vexation to those that are so fond of it, who Love and vex, who vex at it, and yet still continue and increase their Love unto it, and their vexation by it, doth not abate their inordinate Affection to it; while Christ, that is the primary, principal, and most delightful Object of Love, is slighted by so many, even by the most? Blind Sinners! Do ye thus love Sin so vile, and the World so contemptible, and not Christ, that is altogether lovely and desirable? What perverseness is this, that Christ, that is best in himself, and best for them, should be refused, and Sin, that is worst in it self. and worst to them, should be embraced? What folly and madness is this, that Christ should be kept out, standing at the Door, when Sin and World are admitted in, and Lodged, and kindly Entertained in the chiefest Room of their Hearts? Cursed doings! When Sin should have no Love, shall it have all? When Christ should have all, shall he have none? When the whole World, like that part, [the Earth] should be as your Footstool, shall it, or any thing in it, be set up in your Hearts, as in its Throne? How is it that ye are so much mistaken, as to think ⟨image 4⟩ye see Beauty in Deformity, and Deformity in Beauty it self? Why is odious Sin so lovely, and a precious Christ so unlovely in your Eyes? Have ye considered what Sin is, and what Christ is, that ye have greater Love to that Work of the Devil, than ye have to Gods own Son? And this, when Sin is so bad and vile, that as Sin, it cannot be loved by the worst of men, till it be first disguised, and dressed up with the appearance of Good, and Christ so good, that as Christ, he is to be loved most of all? When called, invited, and charged, in the Name of God, by the Ministers of Christ, showing you God's Call, Invitation and Charge, to love this lovely Jesus, why do ye retort, and say, What is your Beloved above another Beloved, (O ye Teachers of Christ?) What is your Beloved more than another Beloved, that ye so charge us? How long will ye say, He hath no form or comeliness? We see •o Beauty in him that we should desire him?
This considered, what Thinking man can forbear to grieve, abstain from floods of Tears, and bitter Lamentation, when he seeth that the Love of Man, such a Noble Affection in it self, is set so much on Sin, that is so bad in it self, and unto its Lovers, ⟨image 3⟩and upon the World, that proves a vexation to those that are so fond of it, who Love and vex, who vex at it, and yet still continue and encrease their Love unto it, and their vexation by it, doth not abate their inordinate Affection to it; while Christ, that is the primary, principal, and most delightful Object of Love, is slighted by so many, even by the most? Blind Sinners! Do ye thus love Sin so vile, and the World so contemptible, and not Christ, that is altogether lovely and desirable? What perverseness is this, that Christ, that is best in himself, and best for them, should be refused, and Sin, that is worst in it self. and worst to them, should be embraced? What folly and madness is this, that Christ should be kept out, standing at the Door, when Sin and World are admitted in, and Lodged, and kindly Entertained in the chiefest Room of their Hearts? Cursed doings! When Sin should have no Love, shall it have all? When Christ should have all, shall he have none? When the whole World, like that part, [the Earth] should be as your Footstool, shall it, or any thing in it, be set up in your Hearts, as in its Throne? How is it that ye are so much mistaken, as to think ⟨image 4⟩ye see Beauty in Deformity, and Deformity in Beauty it self? Why is odious Sin so lovely, and a precious Christ so unlovely in your Eyes? Have ye considered what Sin is, and what Christ is, that ye have greater Love to that Work of the Devil, than ye have to Gods own Son? And this, when Sin is so bad and vile, that as Sin, it cannot be loved by the worst of men, till it be first disguised, and dressed up with the appearance of Good, and Christ so good, that as Christ, he is to be loved most of all? When called, invited, and charged, in the Name of God, by the Ministers of Christ, shewing you God's Call, Invitation and Charge, to love this lovely Jesus, why do ye retort, and say, What is your Beloved above another Beloved, (O ye Teachers of Christ?) VVhat is your Beloved more than another Beloved, that ye so charge us? How long will ye say, He hath no form or comeliness? VVe see •o Beauty in him that we should desire him?
