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

VI. Pray much to God to work this Love in your hearts to Christ; it is the Fruit of the Spirit, and wrought by him. It is your Duty, but it is God's Gift; it is your Act, but it is God's Work. Eph. 6.23. Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. Not only Peace is from God, that is the God of ⟨p. 192⟩Peace, and Faith from him the Worker of it, but Love is from God that is the God of Love. Love to Christ must be had from God and Christ, or you will never have it. For this the Apostle prayed for others, 2 Thess. 3.5. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ: And you may be the more encouraged to ask for this, because such a Petition is pleasing to God, that you beg an heart to love his Son, rather than for Riches, and Honours, and length of Life in this world, as in that of Solomon's, in asking for Wisdom, 1 Kings 3.9, 10. And in your praying be earnest for love to Christ, more than for your Life; for love to him will be to you everlasting Life; and take that Promise and turn it into a Prayer, and then most like to be effectual, Deut. 30.6. And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, that thou mayst live.

VII. Improve the Principle of self-love to the promoting of love to Jesus Christ; and say, Do not I love my self? Have I not so much love to my own Soul, as to wish it well for ever? Would I have my self miserable and accursed for ever? If I be sick, do not I love my self so far as to desire health? If in pain, to desire ease? If in want, to seek supply? And is there any way for me to procure good, everlasting good, but by Jesus Christ? I might love my self, to please my self in sinful delights, to destroy my self and damn my self, without loving of Christ: But such Self-love at last will prove Self-hatred; and is that the best love, I