Wherefore, Christian,
improve this love of God as thou shouldst, and that will improve
thee as thou wouldst.
It is natural for children to depend upon their father for what they
want. If they want a pair of shoes, they go and tell him; if they
want bread, they go and tell him; so should the children of God do.
Do you want spiritual bread? Go tell God of it. Do you want strength
of grace? Ask it of God. Do you want strength against Satan's
temptations? Go and tell God of it. When the devil tempts you, run
home and tell your heavenly Father; go pour out your complaints to
God; this is natural to children--if any wrong them, they go and
tell their father.
If thou wouldst improve this love of God and of Christ, keep thyself
in it: "Keep yourselves in the love of God." Living a holy life is
the way, after a man has believed unto justification, to keep
himself in the favor and comfort of the love of God. And O that thou
wouldst indeed do so. And that because, if thou shalt want the savor
of it, thou wilt soon want tenderness to the commandment, which is
the rule by which thou must walk, if thou wilt do good to thyself,
or honor God in the world. "To him that ordereth his conversation
aright, I will show the salvation of God." He that would live a
sweet, comfortable, joyful life, must live a very holy life.
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