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

IV. Christ makes the hearts of his Lovers the seat and place of his special Residence. Lovers love to dwell together, and Christ hath prepared Mansions for us that we might dwell with him hereafter; but Christ, through the greatness of his Love, being impatient of so long absence, till we come to be present with him in Heaven, makes our Hearts a Mansion for himself, that he might dwell with us on Earth, till we are lodged with him in Glory. Joh. 14.23. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words, and my father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Oh blessed Change!

When thou lovedst not Christ, Satan, the World, and reigning Sin, had their abode in thee. These were the Lodgers in thy Heart, that had the best Room, and chiefest Seat in thine Affections: While thou wast in the World, and not in Christ, the World was in thee, and no• Christ. While thou wast in thy Sin, thy Sin was in thee, as Lord and Ruler; but now thou hast changed thy Love, thou hast changed not only the Lodgers, but the Governors and Rulers of thine Heart, for now the Father is come, and the Son is come, and the Holy Ghost is come, and have taken up their abode in thee. Will God dwell in Hearts of Clay? Yes, if Love to him dwell there.

When thou lovedst not Christ, Satan, the World, and reigning Sin, had their abode in thee. These were the Lodgers in thy Heart, that had the best Room, and chiefest Seat in thine Affections: While thou wast in the World, and not in Christ, the World was in thee, and no• Christ. While thou wast in thy Sin, thy Sin was in thee, as Lord and Ruler; but now thou hast changed thy Love, thou hast changed not only the Lodgers, but the Governours and Rulers of thine Heart, for now the Father is come, and the Son is come, and the Holy Ghost is come, and have taken up their abode in thee. Will God dwell in Hearts of Clay? Yes, if Love to him dwell there.