On HF.n. XI. 6. med our bodies, fo that all the parts confpire for the ornament and fervicc of the whole : Pfal. 139· 15. Jhine eye did fee •r:Y fahj/once hing,yet imperfeEI, and in thy book were all my members written; n.nd therefore La[f antius fatd t~uly, hommem non patrem e.f{efedg~ne· randi Minij/rum; man is only the inllrument whtch the Lord cloth ufe for the effectmg of his purpofc to raife the beautiful Fabnck of mans body: Now If we are obliged to exprcfs the dearelllove to our Parents, with how much greater rcafon !hould we love God who 1s the fountai n of all our beings J H~ hath breathed into man a fpiritual, immortal, rational foul, which is more wot:th than the whole world; this is in fome fort a fpark and ray of Divine brightnels; 'tis capable of Go~'s Image, 'tis a fit companion for Ange!s! . to joyn with them in the praifcs of God, and enjoy a bleffed etermty With them. 1 I£ capable of communiOn With God himfelf, who is the founta in of life and happinefs. The foul is endowed with thofe ~aecr~.~t~~~~v~~~~r~~~~~~I~~nk~~~vl~~~ ~~i~t~~d'r: thne tr1t~~da~fgh~~~~ll~~!~}:~~~: the wi ll by love embraces him as the !all and greatell in genere boni ; and fo receives perfection and fatisfaClion, which is the incommunicable priviledge of the rational foul. Beafls can only converfe with droffy and material objeCls, they are confined to earthly things . bur the foul ofman may enjoy the poffeilion and fruition of God, who is the Supre~e and Soveraign good. Now this !hould inflame our love to God; he formed our bodies, he infpired our fouls. Moreover, if we confider our lives, we fhalllind a chain of mercy which reaches fi·om one end to the other of them. 'How many Miracles of providence do we enjoy in our prefervation? how many unfeen dangers dei 'we efcape ? how great are our daily fuppl1es? The provifions we receive, do ferve not only for necellity, but for delight; every day we have the provifions of meat and dnnk not only to cure hunger, and all our tlHril, hu t to refrefl1 the heart, and to make us chearful in our work; every hour is filled up with the bounties ofGod : Now what !hall we render to the Lord for all his benefits ? he defires our love . this is the mofl: proper return we can make; for 10~ is of an opening and expanlive quali ty calling forth the heart; our love within flJOulcl break forth to clofe with God's love without; the love of obcdtence in us, with the love of favour and bounty jn him. 'Tis a principle of nature deeply implanted in the hearts of men, to return love for love; nay, the very Bealls are not deficient in this; Efay x. 3· The Oxe l<nows his owner, a11d the Aj[e his Majler's Crib; Thofe Creatures whicli are of all the moll ftupid and heavy, refpeCl their feeders, and exprefs dumb figns of love unto them. How much more !hould we love God, who !preads our Table, fill s our Cup, and caufes his Sun to fbine, and his Rain to fa ll on us ? 'Tis an argument of Secret Atheifm in the heart, that in the confluence of mercies we enjoy, we do not look up ro the Author of them, as if common mercies were the effects of Chance, and not of providence; if a man conftantly relieves our wants, we judge it the moft barbarous difingenuity not to repay love to him ; but God loads us with his benefits every day; his wifdom is illways bufied to ferve his mercy, and his mercy to ferve our nccelTities, but we are infenftble and unaffected; and yet the meanefl mercy as it comes from God hath an excellency frampt upon it. We fl10u ld upbraid our fouls for our coldnefs to God ; every where we encounter fenf1ble dc~onfiration s of his love to us; in rvery moment of our lives we have fome pledges of Ius goodnefs. Let us light our Torch at this Mountain of fire ; let the renewed aCls of his bounty conllrain us to love him ; we fl1ould love him for his exce ll ency, though we had no benefit by him; nay, though he hated us, we are bound to love Jum ; as he IS truly amtable m h1mfelf; how much more when he draws us with the cords of a man, with bands of love? whofoever requ ites the love of God wit h hatred, (as every impenitent !inner doth) puts off the nature of man, and degenerates mto a Devtl. 2. Fear; this is that eternal refpect which is due to our Creator; an hUmble rever.. ence we owe to him, as he is infinitely above us; the holy Angels cover their faces when .they have the clearell views of his glory: E[ay 6. 1 , >, 3. Tlu L ord is reprefented as fittmg on a Throne, and the Ser~phimsjfood about , each havmgjix nungs ; with twain he CO'Vered his face, m~d with twain Ius feet, and witb twain did he fly ; and one cried to ano• tlm, Holy, holy, holy Lordof Hojls, the who/:1: eartb is full of his glory, The Angels are pure and innocent Creatures ; they fear 'pot his angry juflice, but they adore his excellencies and l'crfetl:ions; he is a dread, when a mo!l: Serene Majeily. Penal fear is inconftfient with the joys of heaven, but the fear of admiration is perfeCted there; and m th1s fenfe the fear ofGodcontinues for ever, Pfal.r9. 9· In all ou r addreffesto him we ihould compofe our fpirits, by the awful appreheniion of that infinite diflance which is between God and us. Ecclef. 5· >. Let not thine heart be baf/y to ut ter any tbing hefore God;
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