The blessedness of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /The blessednesse of the righteous discoursed from Psal. 17, 15 /

and give the day to their own sensual inclinations at last. In some degree, escape the corruptions of the world, ¹by the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but are again entangled, and overcome, so as their latter end is worse then their beginning. Such a man is so far from being advantaged by his former faint inclinations towards God, that he will be found, at last, under this aggravated wickedness beyond all other men: that when others wandered from God through inadvertency, and inconsideration; this man will be found to have been his enemy upon deliberation, and again the various strivings of his convinced heart to the contrary. This is more eminently victorious and reigning enmity, such a one takes great pains to perish. Alas! 'tis not a slight touch, an overly superficial tincture, some evaned sentiments of piety, a few good thoughts or wishes, that bespeak a new man, a new creature. 'Tis a thorough prevailing change, that quite alters the habitual posture of a mans soul; and determines it towards God; so as that the after course of this life may be capable of that denomination, a living to God; a living after the Spirit. That exalts the love of God into that Supremacy in him, that it becomes the governing principle of his life; and the reason and measure of his actions; that as he loves him above all things else, better then his own life; so he can truly ⟨p. 225⟩(though possibly sometimes with a doubtful trembling heart) resolve the ordinary course of his daily walking, and practice into that love, as the directive principle of it. I pray, I read, I hear, because I love God. I desire to be just, sober, charitable, meek, patient, because I love God. This is the perfection, and end of the love of God, therefore that must needs be the principle hereof) obedience to his will▪ Herein appears that power of godliness, ²denied (God knows) by too many that have the form: The Spirit of love, power, and of a sound mind. That only is a sound mind, in which such love rules in such power. Is not love to God often pretended by such, that when ever it comes to an actual competition discover they love their own flesh a great deal more; that seldom ever cross their own wills to do his; or hazard their own fleshly interest, to promote his interest? we may justly say (as the Apostle, in a case fitly enough reducible hiher) how dwells the love of God […] that man?