462 DIRECTIONS FOR GETTING AND KEEPING O, how the subtle enemy disadvantageth the gospel, by the mis- apprehensions and dejected spirits of believers ! It is the very de- sign of the ever-blessed God: to glorify love and mercy as highly in the work o# redemption as ever he glorified,omnipotency in the work of creation. And he hathpurposely unhinged the Sabbath, which was appointed to commemorate that work of power in crea- tion, to the first day of the week, that it might be spent as a week- ly day of thanksgiving and praise for the now more glorious *work of redemption, that love might not only be equally admired with power, but even go before it. So that he hath laid the foundation ofthe kingdom of grace in love and mercy ; and in love and mercy bath he framed the whole stiicture of the edifice; and love and mercy are written in legible, indelible characters uponevery piece. And the whole frame of his work and temple-service bath he so composed, that all might be the resounding eohoes of love, and the praise and glorious commemoration oflove, and mercy might be the great business of our solemn assemblies. And the new creation within us, and witllout us, is so ordered, that love, thankfulness, and delight, might be-both the way and the end. And the serpent who most opposeth God where he seekéth most glory, especially the glory of his .grace' doth labor so successfully to obscure this glory, that hé bath brought multitudes ofpoor Christians to have poor, low thoughts of the riches of his grace ; and to set every sin of theirs against it, which should but advance. it ; and even to ques- tion the very foundation of the whole building, whether Christ bath redeemed the world by his sacrifice. Yea, he puts such a veil over the glory of the gospel, that men can hardly be brought to re- ceive it as glad tidings;till they first have assuranceof their own sanc- tification ! And the very nature of God's kingdom is so unknown, that some men think it tó be utirighteousness, and libertinism, and others to be pensive dejections, and tormenting scruples and fears; 'and but few know it to be righteousness and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. And the verybusiness of a Christian's life andGod's service, is,rather taken to be .scrupling, quarreling,and vexing our- selves and,the church of God, than tobe love and gratitude, and a delighting our souls inGod, and cheerfully obeying him. And thus when Christianity seems a thraldom and torment, and the .service of the world, the fleshy and the devil, seems the only freedom, and' quiet, and delight, no wonder if the devil have more unfeigned servants than Christ, and if men tremble at the name of holiness, and fly away from religion as a mischief. Whatcan be more con- trary to its nature, and to God's desigsi in forming it, than for the professors to live such dejected and . dolorous lives ? God calls men fromvexation and vanity to high delights and peace; and men come to God as from peace and pleasure to vexation. All our preaching will do little to win souls from sensuality to hohnr..e=.
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