Love to Christ, necessary to escape the curse at his coming

Do you see many, whose Lives declare they have no sincere love to Christ in their Hearts, thrive and abound in outward Enjoyments? not love Christ, and yet are strong: not love Christ, and yet are rich: not love Christ, and yet be in honour: What then? Might not a man in health be a cursed man? nay, the more strength he hath, the more able he is to do the Devil Service, and so his strength is a curse unto him. The more he enjoyeth of the World, the more he hath to love, and the more he loves it; and so his Enjoyments are a curse unto him, when they keep him from placing his love upon Jesus Christ. Have you not read, that mens Blessings are cursed; Mal. 2.2. If ye will not hear, and if ye will not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, saith the Lord of hosts; I will even send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings: yea, I have cursed them already, because ye do not lay it to heart. God threatens to curse wicked mens Blessings; I will curse your blessings. I will! that is not to do now, I have cursed them already.

Many are apt to call the proud happy; Mal. 3.15. The Rich, though bad, are thought by many to be blessed: a great mistake! all men might see their outward Blessings, but all have not eyes to behold the inward Curses that lie under those outward Blessings. Is it not a Curse to have Riches without Grace? to have our Portion and Blessings, and all in this Life? to prosper in the World, and to be every moment in danger of Hell? do you look upon it to be such happiness to have all for the Body, and nothing for the Soul? to have Earth, and nothing of ⟨p. 92⟩Heaven, and nothing to show for them? You read of some that have their Portion in this life on Earth, Psal. 17.14. and you might read that their Portion on Earth is a cursed Portion, Job 24.18. and was it not so with the Rich man spoken of in the Gospel? that on Earth had his purple robes, and fine linen, and sumptuous costly dishes every day. O happy man! but stay till you hear the end: He died, and whither then? to Hell. Where is now your happy man? and what is his condition there? what, there he finds more pain, than on Earth pleasure: there he feels more torment and terror, than all his days on Earth had pleasure and delight;