The Parable of the Ten Virgins Opened and Applied

2. The soul also feels his love, and so abundantly loves him again. For how come men to seek themselves in every thing, and they cannot but do it? 'Tis because they love themselves, and that abundantly, necessarily, as fire burns; though they burn so hot in this love that at last they consume themselves. So how do any, can any seek the Lord? We know the Apostle saith, 1 Cor. 13. 5. Love seeks not her own. When the Sun hath put out this fire of our self-love, when the sense of the Lords love hath kindled that love to the Lord again, as that it abundantly loves Christ, now it will seek the things of Christ, and not its own things. And as there is abundance of self love, that men are eaten up with it; so there must be much love, which must be abundantly shed in the heart, so as to eat up that; arising from the sense of the Lords love, and that abundantly. For many a man comes to have some good will, and affection, and love to the Lord, but yet never comes to seek the Lord as his last end, and live to him. Why? Because he hath not tasted abundantly of the Lords Mercy, Grace and Love, ⟨p. 217⟩Psal. 86. 12, 13. And hence the incomparable Spirit of Paul, I seek not yours, but you; Wherein? In being willing to spend. But save your self Paul: nay, and to be spent: With much ado; Nay, most gladly. Though you love me not, because I love you: So here, though Christ should not love it, yet he is worthy, he hath done enough, and now the soul will not only do, but rejoice, nay, in sufferings; because his love is not dropped, but shed in our hearts. And hence 'tis a never-failing rule, little love or assurance of it, little seeking the Lord; much assurance, much seeking of him.

2. The soul also feels his love, and so abundantly loves him again. For how come men to seek themselves in every thing, and they cannot but do it? 'Tis because they love themselves, and that abundantly, necessarily, as fire burns; though they burn so hot in this love that at last they consume themselves. So how do any, can any seek the Lord? We know the Apostle saith, 1 Cor. 13. 5. Love seeks not her own. When the Sun hath put out this fire of our self-love, when the sense of the Lords love hath kindled that love to the Lord again, as that it abundantly loves Christ, now it will seek the things of Christ, and not its own things. And as there is abundance of self love, that men are eaten up with it; so there must be much love, which must be abundantly shed in the heart, so as to eat up that; arising from the sense of the Lords love, and that abundantly. For many a man comes to have some good will, and affection, and love to the Lord, but yet never comes to seek the Lord as his last end, and live to him. Why? Because he hath not tasted abundantly of the Lords Mercy, Grace and Love,