A44690:22
A sermon directing what we are to do, after strict enquiry whether or no…
A sermon directing what we are to do, after strict enquiry whether or no we truly love God preached April 29, 1688.
London: printed for Tho Parkhurst, 1696
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.
He that indulges himself in the inconsistent love of this World, 1 John 2.15.
He that lives not in obedience to his known Laws, John 14.15. 1 John 5.3. (with many more.)
Now, if you will pass a Judgment of your case against the Evidence of such Characters, come forth then, let the matter be brought into clear light, put your sense into plain words, and this it will be.
I am a Lover of God, or I have the love of God in me, though I can't tell that ever I put forth one act of love towards him in all my Life; I have the love of God in me, though I never knew what it meant to do good to any for his sake, against the express words of Scripture: How dwelleth the love of God in such a man? I have the Love of God in me, though I have constantly indulged my self in that which he maketh an inconsistent love: Love not the World, nor the things which are in the World. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. I have the love of God in me, though I would never allow him to Rule me, though I never kept his Commandments with a design to please him, and comply with his wll: I have the love of God in me, though I never valued his Love: I have the love of God in me, though I never cared for his Image, for his Presence, for his Converse, for his Interest and Honour: I beseech you consider how all this will sound! Can any thing be more absurdly spoken? And shall it be upon such improbabilities or impossibilities as these, that any Man will think it fit to venture his Soul! I'll pawn my Soul upon it, I'll run the hazard of my Soul upon it, I am a lover of God for all this? Would you venture any thing else so besides your Soul? Would you venture a Finger so? an Eye so It's to place the name where there is nothing of the thing: It's to place the name of a thing upon its contrary: The Soul of Man can't be in an indifferency towards God, but if there be not love, propension; there is aversion, and that's hatred: And what, is hatred to be called love? If you bear that habitual disposition of Soul