in Contribing cotites Ectimiptiolf. 197 the words ofa devout Writer, His guilty Confcience Cha- -- as deCperate askt him, gyía /Je, with what hope ? He rV.J replied tohimfelf, fila qua Pater eft. Ego perdidi quod erat filii , ille quod patris elf non ami(It : Though I have negleted the duty and loft the Confidence of a Son, he bath not loft the compafíion ofa Father. That Parable reprefents Man inhis degenerate forlorn ftate, and thatthe Divinegoodnefs is theMotive that prevails upon him to return to his duty. 3. The tranfcendent Love that God hath expreft in our Redemption by Chrift, fhould kindle in us a reci- procal affection to him. Forwhat is morenatural than that one flame fhould produce another? We love him, becaufe he loved usfirfl. The original of our Love to God is from the evidence of his tous : this alone can ftrgngly and fweetly draw the heart to him. 'Tis.true,. the divine excellencies as they delerve a fuperlative efteem, fo the higheft affection: but the bare contem- plation of them is ineffe&ual to fire the Heart with a zealous Love to God. For Man batha Diabolical Seed in his corrupt Nature; he is inclined not only to Sen- fuality, which is an implicit hatred of' God, (for an eager Appetite to thole things which God forbids, and a fixed Averfation from what He commands, are the Natural effects of Hatred,) but tomalignity and direct hatred againft God. He is an enemy in his mind IN 2.16. through wicked works: and this enmity arifeth from the confideration of Gods Juftice, and the effects of it. Man cannot Sin and behappy, therefore he wifh.s there were no God to whom he mutt be accountable. He is no more wrought on by the Divine perfections and beauties to love the Deity, than a guilty petfon, who refolvedly goes on tobreak the Laws, can be per- fwade4 to love the Judge, for hisexcellent knowledge, and
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