Riches of mercy to men in misery, or, Certain excellent treatises concerning the dignity…

But when is this love inordinate?¹

1. 1Quest. Answ. When love to outward things is inordinate.

Then you may know it is inordinate and adulterous love, when it is a let of your love to your Husband: God gives you leave to take and to use outward comforts; you may rejoice in them, he commands you so to do: only this you must take care of, that your love to your Husband be not lessened. If a man be so busy in his calling and business, that he find himself more indisposed to draw near to his Husband the Lord, that he is more unfit to pray, and to holy conference, it is an adulterous occupying of himself about the works of his calling. So when he loves his children, or friends, his sports and recreations, whatsoever his mind is occupied about, look how far it lessens his love to God, and daunts, and hinders, and interrupts that, in the same measure it is adulterous. Therefore if you would draw near to Christ, consider how your affections run out: for he looks on you with a jealous eye.

Then you may know it is inordinate and adulterous love, when it is a let of your love to your Husband: God gives you leave to take and to use outward comforts; you may rejoyce in them, he commands you so to do: onely this you must take care of, that your love to your Husband be not lessened. If a man be so busie in his calling and business, that he find himself more indisposed to draw near to his Husband the Lord, that he is more unfit to pray, and to holy conference, it is an adulterous occupying of himself about the works of his calling. So when he loves his children, or friends, his sports and recreations, whatsoever his mind is occupyed about, look how far it lessens his love to God, and daunts, and hinders, and interrupts that, in the same measure it is adulterous. Therefore if you would draw near to Christ, consider how your affections run out: for he looks on you with a jealous eye.