3. Love is not to be measured so much by the lively act, or the sensitive stirring of the affection, as the solid esteem, and the settled constitution. A thing may be loved intensively, as to the sensitive discovery of the affection, or appreciated by our deliberate choice, and constant care to please God. Partly, because the vigorous motion is hasty and indeliberate, is the fruit of fancy rather than faith. Some by constitution have a more moveable temper, and are like the sea, easily stirred. The reading the story of Christ's passions will draw tears from us, though we regard not God's design in it, nor how far our sins were accessory to these passions and sufferings. This qualm is stirred in us by fancy rather than faith; the story of Joseph in the pit will work the like effect, as of Jesus on the cross ; yea, the fable of Dido and jEneas. In all passions the settled constitution of the heart showeth the man more than the sudden stirrings of any of them. Men laugh most when they are not always best pleased ; we laugh at a toy, but we joy in some solid benefit. True joy is a secure i thing, and is seen in the judgment and estimation, choice and complacency, rather than in the lively act. So love is not to be measured by these earnest motions, but by the dehberate purpose of the heart to please God. And partly, because the act may be more lively where the af- fection is less firm and rooted in the heart. The passions of suitors are greater than the love of husbands, yet not so deeply rooted, and do not so intimately affect the heart. Straw is soon enkindled, but fire is furnished with fit materials, and burneth better, and with an even and more constant heat. These raptures and transports of soul, fan- atical men feel them oftener than serious christians, who yet for all the world would not offend God. And partly, because sensible things do
^ Qu. 'severe,' or 'serious ' ? — Ed
158 SERMONS UPON' 2 CORINTHIANS V. [SeR. XXIV.
more affect us, and urge us in the present state. While we carry a mass of flesh about with us, our affections will be more sensil^ly stirred by things which agree with our fleshlj' nature ; our senses, which transmit all knowledge to us, will be affected with sensible things rather than spiritual. I confess it is good to keep up a tenderness, and we should be affected with God's dishonour more than if we had suffered loss : Ps. cxix. 136, ' Rivers of tears run down mine eyes, because men keep not thy law ; ' but in some tempers grief cannot always keep the road and vent itself by the eye. Certainly the constant disposition of the soul is a surer note to judge by ; sensible stirrings of affection are more liable to suspicion, and not so certain signs of grace, as the acts of the understanding and will ; there is a possibility of a greater decay in them ; you cannot weep for sin, but you would give all that you have to be rid of sin ; a man may groan more sorely under the pains of the toothache, which is not mortal, than under the languishings of a con- sumption.
4. The effects of solid esteem are these —
[1.] When Christ is counted more precious than all the world, no afiections to the creature can draw us to offend him, 1 Peter ii. 7- But all our love to them is still in subordination to a higher love. Love was principally made for God, and it is many ways due to him. Those excesses and heights wliich are in the affections will become no other object: the genius or nature of it showeth for whom it was made. However, as God hath placed some love and holiness in the creature, so some allowance of affection there is to them. Worldly comforts are valuable as they come from God, and lead to him, as effects of his bounty, and instruments of his glory and service. All the value we put upon them should be this, that we have something of value to esteem as nothing for Christ. And when God trieth us, when Christ and worldly matters come in competition, then to be found faithful, and desj)ise the riches, pleasures, and honours of the world, this is a .sensible occasion to show the sincerity of our love. Which do you choose ? the favour of God, or earthly friends ? the light of his countenance, or the prosperity of the world ?
[2.] When you can for God's sake incur the frowns and displeasure of the creature : Luke xiv. 26, ' If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.'
[3.] When a man maketh it his main care rather to please God than to gratify the flesh and promote his carnal interests. Your great business is to walk worthy of God to all pleasing, Col. i. 10 ; you labour to get Christ above all, and to live in his love. All cares and businesses give way to this, and are guided and directed by this. His favour is the life of thy life, and his love is thy greatest happiness. And thou darest not put it to hazard, nor obscure tlie sense of it by any indulgence to carnal satisfactions ; and the greatest misery is his displeasure, and thereupon sin, which is the cause of it. is most hateful to thee. This is our constant trial, and certainly showeth how the pulse of the soul beateth.