Then & Now · 9 of 17
Chapter VIII
Chapter VIII
Vse 1. THis may serve for a sharp Reprehension to such as have not a dram of love to God in their hearts:81 And are there such Miscreants alive? He who loves not God, aut lapis est, aut belluae, he is a Beast with a mans head. Oh wretch, Dost thou live upon God every day, yet not love him? If one had a friend that fed him continually with money, and gave him all his allowance, were not he worse than a Barbarian, that did not respect and honour that friend? Such a friend is God, he gives thee thy breath, he bestows a livelihood upon thee, and wilt thou not love him? Thou wilt love thy Prince if he saves thy life, and wilt thou not love God who gives thee thy life? What Load-stone so powerful to draw love, as the blessed Deity? He is blind whom p. 94 beauty doth not tempt; he is sottish, who is not drawn with the Cords of love. When the body is cold, and hath no heat in it, it is a sign of death: That man is dead, who hath no heat of love in his soul to God. How can he expect love from God, who shews no love to him? Will God ever lay such a Viper in his bosome, as spits forth the poyson of malice and enmity against him?
- 81. Vse 1. Reproof.
Use 1. This may serve for a sharp Reprehension to such as have not a dram of love to God in their hearts:81 And are there such Miscreants alive? He who loves not God, aut lapis est, aut belluae, he is a Beast with a man’s head. Oh wretch, Dost thou live upon God every day, yet not love him? If one had a friend that fed him continually with money, and gave him all his allowance, were not he worse than a Barbarian, that did not respect and honour that friend? Such a friend is God, he gives thee thy breath, he bestows a livelihood upon thee, and wilt thou not love him? Thou wilt love thy Prince if he saves thy life, and wilt thou not love God who gives thee thy life? What Load-stone so powerful to draw love, as the blessed Deity? He is blind whom beauty doth not tempt; he is sottish, who is not drawn with the Cords of love. When the body is cold, and hath no heat in it, it is a sign of death: That man is dead, who hath no heat of love in his soul to God. How can he expect love from God, who shows no love to him? Will God ever lay such a Viper in his bosom, as spits forth the poison of malice and enmity against him?
- 81. Use 1. Reproof.
This Reproof falls heavy upon the Atheists of this Age, who are so far from loving God, that they do all they can to spight him; They declare their sin as Sodom, Isa. 3.9. They set their mouth against the Heavens82, in pride and blasphemy, and bid open defiance to God; These are Monsters in Nature, Devils in the shape of men: Let them read their doom, 1 Cor. 16.22. If any man love not the Lord Iesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha83; that is, let him be accursed from God, till Christs coming to Judgment84; let him be heir to a curse while he lives, and at the dreadful day of the Lord, let him hear that heart-rending sentence pronounced against him, Go thou cursed.
This Reproof falls heavy upon the Atheists of this Age, who are so far from loving God, that they do all they can to spite him; They declare their sin as Sodom, Isa‸ 3:9. They set their mouth against the Heavens82, in pride and blasphemy, and bid open defiance to God; These are Monsters in Nature, Devils in the shape of men: Let them read their doom, 1 Cor‸ 16:22. If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maran-atha83; that is, let him be accursed from God, till Christ’s coming to Judgment84; let him be heir to a curse while he lives, and at the dreadful day of the Lord, let him hear that heart-rending sentence pronounced against him, Go thou cursed.