itt CQntríbíng an'g ladvnaptífltt E 99 withflanding the ordinary benefits of Providence, God Chap. XI. j is an enemy to it : and till Man is convinced, that in loving God, he moil truly loves himfelf, he will never fincerely affe&him. This was one great deign of God in the Way, as well as in the Work of our Redempti- on, to gain our hearts intirely to himfèlf. I-le lavesus in the moil endearing, and obliging manner. As Da- yidsaffection declared it felt, I will not ferve the Lord with that which coft me nothing So God would not laveMan with that which colt him nothing, but with the deareft price hath purchafed a Title to our Love. God was in Chrifl reconciling the World to himflf, as well as through Chrifl reconcilinghimfelfto theWorld.. Hehath propounded fuch Arguments for our Love, fo powerful, and fublime, that Adam in Innocence was unacquainted with. He fent down his own Bowels to teftifie His Affe&ion to us. And that should be the greateft indcarment of our Love, which was the great - eft evidenceofhis. And if we confider the Perron ofour Redeemer, . what more worthy objeft of our affe&ion than Chrift ? and Chrift enduring the moll terrible things, and at lath dying withall the circumftancesofdifhonour and pain;. for Love to Man ? If he had no attra&ive excellencies, yet his cruel fufferings for us fhould make him infinitely precious and dear to our Souls. Ifby folemn regards, we contemplate him in the Garden, amaz'd at the firft approaches of that Cup mixed with all the Ingredi- ents of divine difpleafiire, fweating like drops of blood under a weight of unfpeakable farrow, and without the leafl relief from Man, whole Sins he then bore;. what kind of Marble are, our hearts if theydo not ten- derly relent at this doleful fpeetacle? Can we ftand by him proirate on the Earth, and offering up Prayers and Supplications with 'irons cries and tears ( the ef- fe&,s.
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