A64995:142
The true Christians love of the unseen Christ, or, A discourse chiefly tending to…
The true Christians love of the unseen Christ, or, A discourse chiefly tending to excite and promote the decaying love of Christ in the hearts of Christians with an appendix concerning Christs manifestation of himself to them that love him / by Thomas Vincent.
London: printed by J.R. for Samuel Sprint, 1677
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.
7. Consider the Usefulness of this love unto Jesus Christ.
1. The love of Christ is useful in Prosperity to ballast the Heart, that it be not overset with the full gales of a flourishing condition: it is of use to moderate the Affections to lawful things; and it is of use to keep the Heart from unlawful and sinful loves; if Christ have not your Hearts, some base and foolish lusts will have them, ⟨p. 108⟩which will wound your Consciences with guilt, and pierce your Hearts through with many sorrows.
1. The love of Christ is useful in Prosperity to ballast the Heart, that it be not overset with the full gales of a flourishing condition: it is of use to moderate the Affections to lawful things; and it is of use to keep the Heart from unlawful and sinful loves; if Christ have not your Hearts, some base and foolish lusts will have them, ⟨p. 108⟩which will wound your Consciences with guilt, and peirce your Hearts thorow with many sorrows.
2. The love of Christ is useful in Adversity, to bear up the Heart from sinking and being overwhelmed with the Winds and Waves of Trouble and Affliction; it is of use to establish the Heart from being extraordinarily moved in the most Stormy times: not only Faith but Love too is of a fixing nature to keep from amazing fears of evil tidings, and the greatest perils; and of a strengthening Nature to stay and support the Spirit and keep off pressing Griefs and despondencies in the darkest and most doleful days.
2. The love of Christ is useful in Adversity, to bear up the Heart from sinking and being overwhelmed with the Winds and Waves of Trouble and Affliction; it is of use to establish the Heart from being extraordinarily moved in the most Stormy times: not only Faith but Love too is of a fixing nature to keep from amazing fears of evil tidings, and the greatest perils; and of a strengthning Nature to stay and support the Spirit and keep off pressing Griefs and despondencies in the darkest and most doleful days.