Edwards - BX7230 .E4 1746

PART I. in holy 4ffeaions. I I fo great a Part of true Religion, that the Apofile rays we arefaved by Hope, Rom. 8. 24. And this is fpoken of as the Helmet ofthe chrif- tian,Soldier, 1 Thef. 5. 8. Andfor' an Helmet, the Hope of Salvation.; andthe fure and ftedfaft Anchor of the Soul, which preferves it from being caft away by the Storms of this evil World, Heb, 6. 19. Which Hope we have, as an Anchor of the Soul, bothJure andfledferfl, andwhich entreth into that within the Veil. 'Tis fpoken of as a great Fruit and Benefit which true Saints receive byChrift's Rèfurrektion, a Pet. 1.3. Bleffeed be the Godand Father ofour Lord fefus Chri/i, which according to his abundant Mercy, bath begotten us again unto a lively Hope, by the Reftrret7ion of Nis Chrifltrom the Dead. The Scriptures place Religion very much in the.Affeaion of Love, in Love to God, and the Lord Jefus Chrift, and Love to the People of God, and toMankind. TheTexts in which this is manifeft, both in theOld Teflament, and New, are innumerable. But of this more afterwards. The contrary Affection of Hatred alto, as having Sin for itsObjec2, is fpoken of in Scripture, as no inconfiderable Part of true Religion. It is fpoken of as that by which true Religion may be known and diffinguifhed, Prov. 8. 13. The Fear of the Lord is to hate Evilt And accordingly the Saints are called upon to give Evidence of their Sin- cerity by this, Pfal. 97. io. Ye that fear the Lord hate Evil. And the Pfalmift often mentions it as an Evidence of his Sincerity ; Pfal. 101. 2, 3. Iwill walk within my Houle with a perfect Heart ; I will ft no wicked Thing before mine Eyes : I hate the Work of them that turn afide. Pfal. i 19. 104. 'I hate every fall Way. SoVerfe 128. Again Pfal. 139. 21. Do Inot hate them, O Lord, that hate thee. So holy Refire, exercifed in Longings, Hungrings and Thirftings after God and Holinefs, is often mention'd in Scripture as an impor- tant Part of true Religion ; Ifai. 26. 8. The Defzre óf. our Soul is to thy Name, andto the Remembrance of thee. Pfal. 27. 4. One Thing have I defared of the Lord, and that will IPeek 'after ; that Imay dwell in the IouJc of the Lord, all the Days of my Life, to behold the Beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his Temple. Pfal. 42. r, 2. As the Heart pan - teth after the Water- brooks, fo panteth my Soul after thee, O God ; ilely Soul thirflethfor God, for the living God : When (hall I comeand appear before' God 2 Pfal. 63. 1, 2. My Soul thirflethfor thee ; my FleJh long - eth for thee, in a dry and thirfly Land, where noWater is, to fee thyPower and thy Glory, fo as I havePeen thee in the Sanctuary. Pfal. 84. 1, 2. How amiable are thy Tabernacles, O Lord of H s ! My Soul longeth, yea, evenfainteth, for the Courts of the Lord ; my Heart and my Flefh crieth out for the living God. Pfal. 119. 2o. My Soul breakethfor the Longing it hath unto thy yudgments, at all Times. So Pfal.'73. 25. and 143. 6, 7. and 13o. 6. Cant. 3. r, 2. and 6. 8.- Such a holy De fire and Thixít of Soul is mentioned, as one of thofe great Things which,

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