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Fire and Ice: Puritan and Reformed Writings [Table of Contents] [Fast Index] [Site Map] |
by Thomas Shepard
Object. 1. If the Lord be so desirous of me, why doth he not Overcome me?
Ans. If the Lord doth it, it is by these cords of love; and if not, the brand of a reprobate is upon thee.
Object. 2. But I do love him already.
Ans. Is it with such a love as makes you unable to resist him, to wrong him? As the apostle said, "We cannot speak against the truth, but for it;" for if not, it is nought. There is a natural love to Christ, as to one that doth thee good, and for thine own ends; and spiritual, for himself, whereby the Lord only is exalted. Hast thou this?
Object. 3. But I do not hate Christ.
Ans. If any man do not love him with a positive love, let him be anathema.
Object. 4. I can not love him.
Ans. 1. What canst thou love else? 2. Thou canst not love him so well as thou shouldst; therefore close with him, and love will follow. 3. Get the Lord to overcome thy heart. Jer. 3:19.
Quest. How shall I do it?
Ans. 1. Set him before thee. "Who will commit lewdness while her husband looks on?" Ps. 16:8.
2. See what content thou givest Christ by love. Smallest duties coming from love are accepted. What makes thee wrong him to please thyself? Let a thing cross thee, yet it contents Christ Jesus.
3. Get him, and wait by faith on him to overcome thy heart, and
the work is done then. Now, will you do this or not? If not, say,
then, you have had a fair offer, and tell the devils so, when
thou goest down to hell, as it may be thou mayst ere long. Men
talk of terrible sermons, but these sink deepest. Tell me, dost
thou love the Lord only? Wilt thou keep lusts or Christ alone?
If so, then look to it. In this country, a woman killed her child,
and she said when she did it, her child smiled upon her. Wilt
thou kick Christ's love now when he smiles upon thee? Afterward
she repented, but it was too late. Women, when they have a mind
to some other, murder their husbands; but if known, burned they
must be. But wilt thou have him and love him alone? O, if persuaded
to this, then happy forever! Let this day be the beginning of
eternal glory to thy soul, and the God of peace be with thee.
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