PART III, of gracious 4fegions. 139 pear lovely to them, and Chrift may feem excellent. And if fuch Perfons are afked,whetheiGod appears lovely and amiable in himfelf ? They would perhaps readily anfwer, Yes ; when indeed, if the Matter be flrictl, examined, this good Opinion of God was pur- chafed and paid for before ever they afforded it, in the diftinguifh -- ing and infinite Benefits they imagined they received from God:; and they allow God to be lovely in himfelf, no otherwife, than that he has forgiven them, and accepted them, and loves them above moft in the World, and has engaged to improve all his infinite Power and .'Vifdom in preferring, dignifying and exalting them, and will do for 'em juft as they would have him. When once they rte iirrn in this Apprehenfion, 'tis eafy to own God and Chrift to be lovely and glorious, and to admire and extol them. 'Tis eafy for them to own Chrift to be a lovely Perfon, and the belt in the World, when they are firft firm in it, that he, tho' Lord of the Univerfe, is captivated with Love to them, and has his Heart fwallowed up in then', and prizes 'em far beyond moft of their Neighbours, and loved 'em from Eternity, and died for 'ern, and will make 'em reign in eternal Glory with him.in Heaven. When this is the Cafe,with carnal Men, their very Lufls will make him feem lovely : Pride it felt will prejudice them in Favour of that which they call Chrift : Selfifh proud Man naturally calls that lovely that greatly contributes to his Intereft, and gratifies his Ambition. And as this Sort of Perfons begin,, fo they go on. Their Affecti- ons are railed from Time to Time, primarily on this Foundation. of Self-love and a Conceit of God's Love to them. Many have a falle Notion of Communion with God, as tho', it were carried on.by Impulfes, and Whifpers, and external Reprefentations, immediately made to their Imagination. Thefe Things they often have ; which they take to be Manifeftations of God's great Love to 'em, and :Evidences of their high Exaltation above others of Mankind ; and fo their Affections are often renewedly let a going. ' Whereas the Exercifes of true and holy Love in the Saints arife in another Way. They don't firft fee that God loves them, and then fee that he is lovely ; but they firft fee that God is lovely, and that Chrift is excellent and glorious, and their Hearts are firft captivated with this View, and the Exercifes of their Love are wont from Time to Time to begin here, and to arife primarily from thefe Views and then, confequentially, they fee God's Love and great Favour to them It. The Saint's Affeaions begin with God ; and Self-Love ti " There is a Seeing of Chrift after a Man believes, which is tid Chrift in his LQve, 'c. Bit I fpealc Qf that fwit Sight of him c c that
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