Human nature in its fourfold state ... In several practical discourses

He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me. Luke xiv. 26. If any man come to me, and hate not his father and mother,—he cannot be my disciple. From which texts compared, we may infer, that he who hates, i. e. is rea•y to part with father and mother for Christ, is, in our Lord's account, one that loves them less than him; and not one who loves father and mother more than him. Moreover, ye are to consider there is a twofold love to Christ. (1.) There is a sensible love to ••m, which •s felt as a dart in the heart; and makes a holy love-sickness in the soul, arising either from want of enjoyment, as in the case of the spouse, Can• v. 8. I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my bl••a, this ye tell him, that I am sick of love: or else from the […], as in that case, Can•. ii. 5. Stay me with flagons, comfort mo••• apples: for I am sick of love. These glowings of affections ⟨p. 154⟩are usually wrought in young converts, who are ordinarily made to sing in the day of their youth, Hos. ii. 14. While the fire-edge is upon the young convert, be looks upon others, reputed to be godly, and not finding them in such a temper and disposition as himself, he is ready to censure them; and think there is far less religion in the world, than indeed there is. But when his own cup comes to se••• below the brim, and he finds that in himself, which made him question the state of others, he is more humbled, and feels more and more the necessity of daily recourse to the blood of Christ for pardon, and to the Spirit of Christ for sanctification; and thus grows downwards in humiliation; self-loathing, and self-denial. (2.) There is a rational love to Christ, which, without these sensible emotions felt in the former case, evidences itself by a dutiful regard to the divine authority and command. When one bears such a love to Christ, tho' the vehement stirrings of affection be wanting, yet he is truly tender of offending a gracious God; endeavours to walk before him unto all pleasing; and grieved at the heart, for what is displeasing unto him,