A51845:338
A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer
A practical exposition of the Lord's-Prayer by ... Thomas Manton.
London: printed by J.D., 1684
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.
6. Love to God (if it be unfeigned, and hath any Strength in the Soul) will necessarily put us upon this. Love seeks the good of the Party beloved, as much or more than its own. Those which love, have all things in common between them; and one counts it done to himself what is done to the other: So it is in the Love between us and God. Look, as Christ loves the Saints, and counteth what ever you do to them it is done to him, because done to those whom he loved, Mat. 25. So reciprocally, the Saint which loves God, what is done to God is done to us; when God is honoured, we are comforted as much or more than with our own Benefit: And when God is dishonoured, we have the Grief and Sorrow. Psal. 69. 9. The Reproaches of them that reproached thee, are fallen upon me. Or if they hear God's Name rent in pieces, and Men dishonour him by their filthy Lives, it goeth to their Hearts; for God and they have but one common Interest: Nay, they prefer God's Interest before their own, or any others; Joh. 21. 15. Simon, Son of Jonah, lovest thou me more than these? By the Worlds Maxim, Love should begin at home; but by Christ's Direction, it beginneth with God: They are more tender of God's Glory, than their own Lives, and outward Comfort. I count not my Life dear to me, saith Paul. Thus you see, what reason ⟨p. 140⟩there is why our main Care and Thoughts should be taken up about the Concernments of God, and about the Glory of his Holy Name.
6. Love to God (if it be unfeigned, and hath any Strength in the Soul) will necessarily put us upon this. Love seeks the good of the Party beloved, as much or more than its own. Those which love, have all things in common between them; and one counts it done to himself what is done to the other: So it is in the Love between us and God. Look, as Christ loves the Saints, and counteth what ever you do to them it is done to him, because done to those whom he loved, Mat. 25. So reciprocally, the Saint which loves God, what is done to God is done to us; when God is honoured, we are comforted as much or more than with our own Benefit: And when God is dishonoured, we have the Grief and Sorrow.