486 CHARACTER OF A SOUND, far as he findeth himselfwithout it, he loatheth himself as an un- lovelycarcass; and so far as his prayers and obedience arewithout it, he looks on them but as unacceptable, loathsome things ; and therefore he is taken up in the study of redemption, because he can no where so clearly see the 'love and loveliness of god, as in the face of a Redeemer, even in the wonders 6f love revealed in Christ. And he studieth them, that love may kindle love ; and therefore he delighteth in the contemplating of God's attributes and infinite perfections ; and in the bdhol'ding of him in the frame of the creation, and reading his name in the book of his works, that his soul may, by such steps, be raised in love and admiration of his Maker. And as it is á pleasant thing for the eyes to behold the sun or light, so it is to the mind of the Christian indeed, to be frequently and seriously contemplating the nature and glory ofGod; and the exercise of love in such contemplations is most of his daily walk with God. And therefore it is, also, that he is more taken up in the exercises of thanksgiving, and the praises ofthe Almighty, than in the lower parts of godliness ; so thatthough he neglect not confession of sin and humiliation, yet doth he use'them but in sub- serviency to the love and praise of God: he doth but rid out the filth that is updecent in a heart that is to entertain its God. He placeth not the chiefpart of his religion in any outward duties, nor in any lower, preparatory acts; not doth he stop in any of these, however he neglect themnot. But heuseth them all to advance his soul in the love of God; and useth them the more diligently, because the love of God, to which they conduce, as totheir proper end, is so high and excellent a work. Therefore in David's psalms you find a heart delighting itself in the praises of God, and in love with his word and works, in order tohis praises ; Psal. cxvi; 1, &c. cvi., ciii., cxlv., cxlvi., &c. Rom. viii. 37. 2. The weak Christian is taken up but very little with the live- ly exercises of love and praise, nor with any studies higher than his own distempered heart : the care of his poor soul, and the com- plaining of his manifold infirmities and corruptions, ís the most of his religion ; and if he set himself to the praising of God, or to thanksgiving, he is as dull and short in it as if it were not his prop- er work ; Psal. lxxvii. Mark ix. 24. xvi. 14. 3. The seeming Christian liveth to the flesh; and carnal self- love is the active principle of his life and he is neither exercised in humiliation or in praise sincerely, being unacquainted both with holy joy and sorrow; but knowing that he is in the hands of God, to prosper or destroy him, he will humble himself to him to escape his judgments, and praise him with some gladness for the sunshine ofprosperity ; and he will seem to be piously thanking God, when
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