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[ 919] Love to Christ, how to be recovered when it is once lost.
A Man upon the way having accidentally lost his Purse,* 1.1 is questioned by his fellow-Travailler, where ••e had it last; O, saies he, I am confident that I drew it out of my pocket when I was in such a Tow••, at such an Inne; Why then (saies the other) there's no better a way to ••ave it again,* 1.2 then by going back again to the place where you last had it. This is the case of many a Man in these loose unsetled times, they have lost their love to Christ and his truth, since their corn and wine and oyl have encreased, ••ince outward things are in abundance added unto them; they have sleighted the light of Gods countenance, the love of Christ is defective in their souls; but when they were poor and naked of all worldly comforts, then they fasted and prayed, then they sought Gods face both early and late, nothing was more dear and precious unto them than the truth of Christ, O how they loved him! What then is to be done, to recover this lost love of Christ? back again, back again, directly where you last had it, to the sign of the broken and contrite heart, there it was that you drew it out into good words and better works, and though it be since lost in the croud of worldly imployments, there and no where else you shall be sure to find it again.