Bates - BT775 B274 1675

q`8 tie 1 t1nottWof tie Zu1 tue tttribute , Chaj con- demn him. Betides, the great and abundant bleffings, which God, as Creator, and Preferver, bef}ows upon all, cannot prevail upon guilty Creatures to lovehim. Indeed the goodnefs that railed us from a Hate ofno- thing, is unlpeakably great, and laiesan Eternal Ob- ligation upon us. Thewhole hockofour affections is due to Him, for conferring upon us the humane Na- ture, that is common to Kings and the meaneft Begger. All the Riches and Dignity of the greateft Prince, whereby he exceeds the pooreft Wretch, compared to this benefit which they both (hare in, have no more proportion than a Farthing to an immenfe Treafure. The Innumerable expreffions of God's Love to us eve- ry Day fhould infinitely endear him to us. For who is fo inhumane as not to love his Parents, or his Friend, who defended him from his deadly Enemies, or re- lieved him in his poverty, efpecially if the vein of his bounty be not dryed up, but always diffufes it fell in new favours? If we love the memory of that Empe- rour, who reflecting upon one clay that pall without his beftowing fome benefit, with grieffaid, Diemper - didi, I have loft a day ; how much more fhould we love God who every moment beftows innumerable bleffings upon his Creatures ? But finful Man bath con- traaed fuch an unnatural hardnefs, that he receives no impreffions from the renewed Mercies of God. He vi- olates the Principles of Nature, and Reafon. For how unnatural is it, not to love our Benefa&our, when the dull Ox and the ftupid Afs ferve thofe that feed them? And how unreafonable, when the Publicans return love for love ? Now there is nothing that can perfely overcome our hatred, but the confideration of that Love which hath freed us from Eternal Mifery : for the guilty,Creaturewill be always fufpicious, that not- with-

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