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

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.

V. Christ will manifest himself unto his Lovers: He will discover his Love, and that in the worst condition ye can be in. While ye are in Prosperity, many may manifest much Love unto you, but when ⟨p. 205⟩ye are afflicted, distressed, and stand most in need of their Help and Love, will with-hold it from you. Job 19.13. He hath put my brethren far from me, and mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me. 14. My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me. 15. They that dwell in my house, and my maids, count• me for a stranger; I am an alien in their sight. 16. I called my servant, but he gave me no answer; I entreated him with my mouth. 17. My breath is strange to my wife, though I entreated for the children's sake of mine own body. 19. All my inward friends abhorred me, and they whom I loved are turned against me: But Christ that dwells in the Hearts of his Lovers, is to them a Bosom friend, that he makes the time of their greatest Troubles and Distresses, to be the time of the discoveries and manifestations of his love.