GOD'S GOODNESS .VINDICATED. 597 ruin, whichbefell them for believing Satan, when he slandered both God's wisdom, truth and goodness to them ? 3. That they would bethink them to what end it is, that the tempter and the enemy of God do thus deny his goodness. Is it not a plain act of malice against God and us ? Is it not that he may disgrace God as evil, and rob him of his glory ; and also that he may hinder man from loving him, and so destroyall piety, and virtue, and goodness in the world ? Who can love him whom he believeth to be bad, and so unlovely ? And what grace or happi- ness can there be without the love of God ? 4. That they would think what horrid wickedness this sin con- taineth, (where melancholy and involuntarinessdo not extenuate it.) Is it any better than a denying that there is any God ? As is said before ; to be God, is to be perfectly powerful, wise, and good'; and if there be none such, there can be no God. And then who made the world, and all that is good in it by derivated goodness ? Yea, is it not to represent the most amiable, blessed God in Sa- tan's image (" who is most evil, and a murderer from the begin- ning ; " John viii. 44.) that so men may hate him, and fly from him as they do from devils? And can you tell how great a crime this is ? 5. That they would consider how this impious conceit is calcu- lated for the licensingof all manner of villany in the world, and to root out all the relics of goodness from among mankind. For who can expect that any man should be better than his Maker, and that he should have any good, who denieth God to be good ? 6. That they would labor hard to be better themselves ; for he that bath a true created goodness, is thereby prepared to relish and admire God's primitive, untreated goodness ; whereasa wicked or a guilty sinner cannot much value that which he is so unsuitable to, and which he thinks will be to him a consuming fire. " Truly God is good to Israel, and to such as are of a clean heart;" Psal. lxxiii. I. But he that liveth in the love of sin, will be doubting of the love of God, and fearful of his wrath, and unfit to relish and delightfully perceive his goodness. "Taste and see that the Lord is good ; blessed is the man that trusteth in him;" Psalm lxxxiv. 8. 7. Study God's love as manifested in Christ ; then you shall see what man on earth may see. But think not falsely, narrowly, or basely of his office, his performance, or his covenant. 8. Dwell in the believing foresight of the celestial glory ; the reflections of which may wrap up a believing soul on earth, into ecstasies of gratitude and delight. 9. Remember what goodness there is in the holiness of God,
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