A36320:385
Love to Christ, necessary to escape the curse at his coming
Love to Christ, necessary to escape the curse at his coming by Tho. Doolittle ...
London: printed for Tho. Cockerill, 1692
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. Is it not great folly to love that which is worse than your selves, and not that which is infinitely better? Do ye think your Silver and your Gold is better than your selves, as much as ye love it? That your Houses, and your Lands, as bad as ye are, are better than your selves? But ye are not yet so good, nor yet so bad, but I hope ye will say, and acknowledge, that Christ is better.
1. Is it not great folly to love that which is worse than your selves, and not that which is infinitely better? Do ye think your Silver and your Gold is better than your selves, as much as ye love it? That your Houses, and your Lands, as bad as ye are, are better than your selves? But ye are not yet so good, nor yet so bad, but I hope ye will say, and ackdowledge, that Christ is better.
2. Is it not great folly to love that which cannot love you again, and not him that would? Ye love your Gold, but that cannot love you again: The Clothes upon your back, the Furniture in your Houses ye love, but these can make no returns of Love. Ye give your love to them, but ye receive no love from them. Are ye not vexed, when ye love a Man that doth not love you again, nor return love for love? And why are ye so well pleased, and are so well contented, in placing the very strength of your love on Worldly things, where the return of love is not only not actual, but impossible? But would ye love Christ, ye should have more love from him than ye give unto him, if ye strive with all your might to love him with the utmost love ye can, Joh. 14.21, 23. Prov. 8.17.
2. Is it not great folly to love that which cannot love you again, and not him that would? Ye love your Gold, but that cannot love you again: The Cloaths upon your back, the Furniture in your Houses ye love, but these can make no returns of Love. Ye give your love to them, but ye receive no love from them. Are ye not vexed, when ye love a Man that doth not love you again, nor return love for love? And why are ye so well pleased, and are so well contented, in placing the very strength of your love on Worldly things, where the return of love is not only not actual, but impossible? But would ye love Christ, ye should have more love from him than ye give unto him, if ye strive with all your might to love him with the utmost love ye can,