390 The Life of Faith. t. Though receiving duties (filchas hcaring,rcading,pray- ing, faith, &c.) go fist in older of nature and time, before expending, or returning duties, fo that the motion is truly circular ; yet we mutt not allay till we have receivedmore, be- fore we make returns to Godof that which we have already : But everydegree of received grace, mutt prefently work to- wards God our end : and as there is no intermi(fion between my moving ofmy hand and pen, and its writing upon this paper ; fo mutt there be no intermiffion between Gods beams ofLove andMercy to us, and our reflexiono of Love and Duty unto him. Even as the veins and arteries in the body lye much together, and one dothoften empty it feltinto the other, for circulation, and not flay till thewhole mats hath run through all the vcfhcls of one fort (veins or arteries) before any pals into the other, 2. The internal returns of Love arc much quicker than the teturn of outward fruits. The Love of God thed or (creamed forth upon the foul, doth prefently warm it to a return of Love : But it may be tome time before that Love appear in any notable ufcful benefits to the world, or in any thing that much glorifieth God andour Profeffion. Even as the heat of the Sun upon the earth or trees, is fuddcnly rcflefted ; but dothnot fo fuddcnly bring forthherbs, and buds, and blof- loins, and ripe fruits. 3. All truly good works mutt have one contlant Order of intention (which is before opened; Godmutt be firti intended, thenCbrift, then the univerfal Church in Heaven and Earth, thee,) But in the order of operation and execution, there may be a great difference amongour duties t As God appointcth us to layout forme one way, and tome another. Yet ordina- rily, as the emitted beams begin from God, and dart them- (elves on the foul ofman ; fo the refleïied beams begin upon, or from our hearts, and pats toward God (though ffrff be- loved and intended) by feveral receptacles, before they bring us to the ported fruition ofhim. 4. Therefore the order of Loving (ot complacency) and the order of doing good (or Benevolence) is not the fame. We mutt Love the univerfal Church better than our /elves But wecan- not do than finç«t fertsice, before we do good to our felves. And
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