Holy living in which are described the means and instruments of obtaining every virute, and the remedies against every vice, and considerations serving to the resisting all temptations : together with prayers containing the whole duty of a Christian, and the parts of devotion occasians [sic], and furnished for all necessities / by Jer. Taylor.

The Measures and Rules of Divine Love.

But because this passion is pure as the brightest and smoothest mirrour, and there∣fore is apt to be sullyed with every impurer breath, we must be careful that our love to God be governed by these measures.

1. That our love be sweet, even, and full of tranquillity, having in it no violences or transportations, but going on in a course of holy actions and duties which are proporti∣onable to our condition, and present state; not to satisfie al the desire, but all the pro∣babilities and measures of our strength. A new beginner in religion hath passionate and violent desires, but they must not be the measure of his actions: But he must consider his strength, his late sickness and state of

death, the proper temptations of his condi∣tion, and stand at first upon his defence, not go to storm a strong Fort, or attaque a po∣tent enimie, or doe heroical actions and fit∣ter for gyants in Religion. Indiscreet violen∣ces, and untimely forwardness are the rocks of religion, against which tender spirits often suffer shipwrack.

2. Let our love be prudent and without il∣lusion: that is, that it expresse it self in such instances which God hath chosen, or which we choose our selves by proportion to his rules and measures. Love turns into doting when religion turns into superstition. No degree of love can be imprudent, but the expressions may: we cannot love God too much, but we may proclaim it in undecent manners.

3. Let our love be firm, constant and in∣separable, not coming and returning like the tide, but descending like a never failing river, ever running into the Ocean of Divine ex∣cellency, passing on in the chanels of duty and a constant obedience, and never ceasing to be what it is, till it comes to be what it desires to be; still being a river till it be tur∣ned into sea and vastness, even the immensity of a blessed Eternity.

Although the consideration of the Divine excellencies and mercies be infinitely suffi∣cient to produce in us love to God (who is in∣visible and yet not distant from us, but we feel him in his blessings, he dwells in our hearts by faith, wee feed on him in the Sa∣crament, and are made all one with him in the incarnation and glorifications of Jesus)

yet that we may the better enkindle and encrease our love to God, the following ad∣vices are not uselesse.