THE Second Use doth bring a Charge and an Accusation against you, for not loving the Lord Jesus Christ. Some openly declare by their actions and manner of conversation, That they do not love him. Some openly pretend Love to Christ, but really have no love unto him, Ezek. 33.31. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. Love to Christ is in their mouth, but love to the world is in their heart. Some say they love him, but God knows they do not. John 5.42. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. No! Do you know how great a sin this is? Why then do you make so light of it? Why then are you no more ashamed, that you want this love? Would you not be ashamed if this report went of you, That you did not love your Wife, your Children, or your Neighbour? And is it not an incomparably greater sin and shame, that you do not love the Lord Jesus? The only Son of God, the only Saviour of lost sinners. How is it that you do so seldom or never bewail the want of love to Christ, in your Prayers; or scarce put it in amongst the Confession of your Sins? What? do you love your Gold, and not your God? Or do you make your Gold your God, and then love ⟨p. 97⟩your Gold, instead of loving the true God? Can you love your Silver, and not the precious Saviour? Are you bound to love your very Enemies, and yet have no love to him that would be your surest, greatest, and most faithful friend? What shall I say? Good Lord, I am ashamed, and blush to say, which yet is true of too many of the sons of men, that they both can and do love their very beasts, their dog, their horse, and all their cattle, and yet will not be prevailed with to love thy Son, thy only Son, and by thee, beloved Son! Nay, what shall I say? That you do love your very lusts, and filthy sins, that will destroy and damn you for ever, and yet not love that only Lord and Jesus that would save you from your sins, and from Hell for ever. What can I say? but that you love not Christ, because you love your sin so much.
THE Second Use doth bring a Charge and an Accusation against you, for not loving the Lord Jesus Christ. Some openly declare by their actions and manner of conversation, That they do not love him. Some openly pretend Love to Christ, but really have no love unto him, Ezek. 33.31. And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness. Love to Christ is in their mouth, but love to the world is in their heart. Some say they love him, but God knows they do not. John 5.42. But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. No! Do you know how great a sin this is? Why then do you make so light of it? Why then are you no more ashamed, that you want this love? Would you not be ashamed if this report went of you, That you did not love your Wife, your Children, or your Neighbour? And is it not an incomparably greater sin and shame, that you do not love the Lord Jesus? The only Son of God, the only Saviour of lost sinners. How is it that you do so seldom or never bewail the want of love to Christ, in your Prayers; or scarce put it in amongst the Confession of your Sins? What? do you love your Gold, and not your God? Or do you make your Gold your God, and then love ⟨p. 97⟩your Gold, instead of loving the true God? Can you love your Silver, and not the precious Saviour? Are you bound to love your very Enemies, and yet have no love to him that would be your surest, greatest, and most faithful friend? What shall I say? Good Lord, I am ashamed, and blush to say, which yet is true of too many of the sons of men, that they both can and do love their very beasts, their dog, their horse, and all their cattel, and yet will not be prevailed with to love thy Son, thy only Son, and by thee, beloved Son! Nay, what shall I say? That you do love your very lusts, and filthy sins, that will destroy and damn you for ever, and yet not love that only Lord and Jesus that would save you from your sins, and from Hell for ever. What can I say? but that you love not Christ, because you love your sin so much.
