Sermons preached

4thly. Our backwardness to Obedience, and the tediousness we find in it, shows a great Imperfection in our Love. All goes on easily, sweetly, acceptably, where Love is at the bottom. Gen. 29. 20. Seven years to Jacob seemed as a few days, for the Love that he had to Rachel: and so Love sweetens our Obedience; His Commandments are not grievous. But when we are wedded to worldly things, and will not be reclaimed from them, then every heavenly business is an interruption to what we would be at, what we delight in.

4thly. Our backwardness to Obedience, and the tediousness we find in it, shews a great Imperfection in our Love. All goes on easily, sweetly, acceptably, where Love is at the bottom. Gen. 29. 20. Seven years to Iacob seemed as a few days, for the Love that he had to Rachel: and so Love sweetens our Obedience; His Commandments are not grievous. But when we are wedded to worldly things, and will not be reclaimed from them, then every heavenly business is an interruption to what we would be at, what we delight in.

5thly. The many conflicts we have with Carnal Self-Love, or our own foolish and hurtful Lusts, show our Love is not perfect; as the weakness of Faith is seen and felt by the remainders of unbelief, and our frequent conflicts with doubts and fears; Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief, Mark 9. 24. So the weakness of our Love is known by the opposition of carnal and inordinate Self-love. The Flesh will say sometimes, Favour thy self, or, what a weariness is it? Mal. 1. 13. and grudge every thing that is done for God. It doth excuse us in our stragglings and deviations from our great End, and applaud us in our negligent course of living; as the sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven Men that can render a reason,