A64995:15
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.
THE Life of Christianity doth consist very much in our love unto Christ. Without Love unto Christ, we are as much without Spiritual Life, as a Carcass when the Soul is fled ⟨p. 2⟩from it, is without Natural Life. Faith without Love to Christ, is a dead Faith; and a Christian without Love to Christ, is a dead Christian; dead in Sins and Trespasses. Without Love to Christ, we may have the Name of Christians, but we are wholly without the Nature: we may have the Form of Godliness, but are wholly without the Power. Give me thine Heart, is the language of God to all the Children of Men, Prov. 23. 26. And Give me thy Love, is the language of Christ unto all his Disciples.
THE Life of Christianity doth consi•t very much in our love unto Christ. Without Love unto Christ, we are as much without Spiritual Life, as a Carkass when the Soul is fled ⟨p. 2⟩from it, is without Natural Life. Faith without Love to Christ, is a dead Faith; and a Christian without Love to Christ, is a dead Christian; dead in Sins and Trespasses. Without Love to Christ, we may have the Name of Christians, but we are wholly without the Nature: we may have the Form of Godliness, but are wholly without the Power. Give me thine Heart, is the language of God to all the Chrildren of Men, Prov. 23. 26. And Give me thy Love, is the language of Christ unto all his Disciples.
Christ knoweth the command and influence which Love to him, in the Truth and Strength of it, hath: How it will Engage all the other Affections of his Disciples for Him; that if he have their Love, their Desires will be chiefly after Him; their Delights will be chiefly in Him, their Hopes and Expectations will be chiefly from Him; their Hatred, Fear, Grief, Anger, will be carried forth chiefly unto Sin, as it is Offensive unto Him. He knows that Love will Engage and Employ, for him all the Powers and Faculties of their Souls; their Thoughts will be brought into Captivity and Obedience unto Him; their Understandings will be employed in Seeking