P.~:. :> ~1~ . l3 Ut. ~know you·will fay, [Ala~, wh~~t need you exhort m ra !J:zrtt nvd ~leafures andconfolations? Doy o-uthinlz_'there is an) · man m lovn:vuh ji'Jrrows ?or unwi!Jing .to live ajoyful life? 0 tha·t you cou!d.te/t ~?ow we mighta-ttaiNit; andjrnt-jhoPtld qfltick.JJ fee tb{lt we are wtlbng. ] , · .~nfw. And -tf you are{o willing to attain ·ir, as to be alfo 'W~llmg_ to ufe the tnetlns, you fhall quirkjyer fee th1it I {hall ccr• tamly mform you. how ' yt:rti· may attain -it'; and how yoe mG~y ~ome to find a ltfeof Heltnefs to be the mof.1: fweet and pleafanc Itfe. I thereforedefire and require you to praetife the.fe-Dired:i'". ons following.- . . - . ·. . DireCl. I. M i!iki it your firft rmd principal bnfinefs to attai?J the f~l~rjf fixed k..,nowiedge i~f God in hu Attribute~, ~md Covenant-Re-_ lattons toyou.] . · ' . . · I • Study him in his Attribute-s. If in~nire Go@dnefitake not up' the foul with Loveand w-ithDel ighr, it is becaufe it is net }zno-nm.· Whe~e.rhere is all things-that the foul of m?n defites to its hi·gh..: ~fi fe.ltctty and content, and yet contentment and deLight is wtmt– ~-ng, It mufi needs be;ignorance and diflance that is ~he caufe. ·· If theSun feemnot light to yo1:1, it:is. beca~fe youhave not eye-Gghr; . or Iooft not .on-the light• . If you find no pletz[14re ·in-the mofi pie~t.: f'!nt feod, i~ is bccauie your appetites are . difeafed,. or you-do noI· t·aile i~. 'If your moH fuit:abie and mofi affe·&ionare ·friei?-d feem1· not amiable-(.() you; iriis·becaufey0);i ·lzn~w..n~t h-is· fuitablenefs and: love. So if rhe eterH-al 'God, rh'aii>\rifinitdy ·powerful' wife-an·<v 'good, mofi p'erfeti:ratid .niofr-fuit1ib~e toi y·?ttr .highefi a.ffetlions ; do not po.ffe.fs you: with abandant Pi-eafures and Delight$ of Love; it-,i_s bec')ufe you are unacquaintedw·ithhim. Study then·his infi-, nire .perfections: aod -be·much wi_rh 'hirn in fecret pr~yer ~nd me· ditation,where the-retired fot>1l having fewefl avocauons, 1s fitrefl: · for rhe·moft near familiar converfe. Ancl ftill remember that:it is Loveit,fe.Lf -that you have ro do with.· For God -is·Love~ It is t~ef.qunrain of all ddigbts·and pleafur.es that you draw near ro. lt·1s acoldheart indeed rhat fire it felf cannot warm :and adefttd heart . i~de.:'d rhat !if; it {df cannot revive ~ Conceive of Go.d ~ G~d -~ ~~d·y~m will drligh_t in)1im ~ ~b.~~-!!'· ~11 1Jn~vo~thy dtrnhJnuthtve · -· .. -- t oug __ts · I •..., , ...... +-., • • ~ - . .. . . . ··"' ~ :
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