Value God and his love more than all the world, though there were millions of them. He valued you before the world, and therefore is beforehand with you in his love. He not only loved you from everlasting, (whereas your love is but of yesterday,) but in the valuation of it, he loved you before all worlds, and preferred you to all worlds: though you loved the world first, before you loved him.
Interpretation
This quote emphasizes the importance of valuing divine love above all worldly desires.
Thomas Goodwin's quote reflects on the profoundness of God's love for humanity, suggesting that it transcends the fleeting affections humans have for the world. It encourages people to prioritize their relationship with God, who has loved them even before the creation of the world, over the temporary values and attachments of earthly life.
In practice
In a sermon on the value of divine love.
The Indwelling of Christ by faithis to have Jesus Christ continually in one’s eye, a habitual sight of Him. I call it so because a man actually does not always think of Christ; but as a man does not look up to the sun continually, yet he sees the light of it. So you should carry along and bear along in your eye the sight and knowledge of Christ, so that at least a presence of Him accompanies you, which faith makes.
Grace is more than mercy and love. It super-adds to them. It denotes, not simply love, but the love of a sovereign, transcendent Superior. One that may do what He will. That may wholly choose whether He will love or no. Now God, who is an infinite Sovereign, who might have chosen whether ever He would love us or no; for Him to love us, this is Grace.
Oh despise not election! therein lies all your hope, that there is a remnant who shall infallibly be saved.
Paying attention is the most basic and profound expression of love.
Give crowns and pounds and guineas But not your heart away; Give pearls away and rubies, But keep your fancy free.
So excuse me forgetting, but these things I do_x000D_ _x000D_ You see I've forgotten, if they're green or they're blue_x000D_ _x000D_ Anyway, the thing is, what I really mean_x000D_ _x000D_ Yours are the sweetest eyes, I've ever seen.
The weak would never enter the kingdom of love.
Love yourself-accept yourself-forgive yourself-and be good to yourself, because without you the rest of us are without a source of many wonderful things.
To love is to see myself in you and to wish to celebrate myself with you. What I love is the embodiment of my values in another person. Love is an act of self-assertion, self-expression and a celebration of being alive.
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